31 YEAR CHIP!

I picked up my 31 year chip on Friday, November 4th! It’s easy for me to remember when to get this awesome keepsake since John and I started the Celebrate Recovery journey 31 years ago this month!

Since Thanksgiving is also this month, I want to list some of the memories which keep me grateful:

*John’s ninth step of amends to me which changed the lives of our family.

*John’s first CR lessons when he was so nervous, it sounded like he had cotton in his mouth. But people kept coming back!

*John’s testimony at Saddleback church to help Pastor Rick kick off the Road to Recovery series. Church has never been the same!

*The moment I discovered that I was one of “those people” and am a codependent.

*Johnny and Laura supporting this program even when our house was filled day and night with people from recovery.

*The night I gave my testimony as a surprise anniversary present to John commemorating 25 years of marriage. He lost complete control of the evening, and his hands were shaking throughout my testimony. But the look of pride on his face—Wow!

*Checking the post office box for orders for the self-published step study books. This is how we knew where CR’s were starting. Lots of dances of joy!

*We learned we needed to read testimonies after a few disastrous adlibs!

*The evening that our meeting place, Charter Psychiatric Hospital, had a lockdown during the middle of our open share groups.

*Growing so fast we needed to add regional directors and state representatives!

*Gathering with friends after the meetings for food and brainstorming—our first fellowship events.

*Leaving our anonymity behind with our first Celebrate Recovery t-shirts which we wore everywhere.

*All the lost sleep while we worked on curriculum, the CR Bible and books. Sometimes we laughed hysterically because we were so tired.

*Traveling all over the United States, Canada, Australia, England, and Ireland teaching the Seven Keys of Celebrate Recovery. What an adventure!

*Johnny and Jeni becoming the co-global directors of CR.

*Continuing to work Principle 8 by starting online groups for those who are grieving.

*And, finally, getting to meet so many courageous people on this road to recovery of healing from hurts, hang-ups and habits.

I am grateful for every conversation and contact we have had over the past thirty-one years!

THANK YOU!

Would you share a memory with us?

Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”