October 27, 2012 - November 1, 2012
“So, I walked into a convenience store for a Coke and I walked out with a six pack. It came out of nowhere!!” Unfortunately, a relapse starts way before that. It begins with the little things. The story below is about an experience I had recently. Now, you are probably going to be like, really? That’s a silly story to tell! It’s not THAT big of a deal! Or how does that relate to the obsession to use? Well, I will tell you! If I start lying about the little things and justifying that behavior, all it’s going to do is perpetuate itself. So what is the good news?? Well, we can use these little signs to get back to doing what we need to do. I had been talking to a man that owns a successful recovery website. We were going back and forth about what they were doing and how La Hacienda might participate. One particular day he told me about an online event they were having and asked if I would participate. Of course I would; how exciting! So the day and time came and I chose to do something else. The next morning at around 7am he emailed me and asked if I enjoyed it and this is where my little monkey mind got to work. “Can he really tell if I was on a web meeting? What if I tell him it was great and then he asks me a specific question about it? Maybe I can see if a copy of it was posted in an archive on his site? Gosh, he is emailing me first thing in the morning; I guess he really values my input. How can I let him down? There is no way he can tell…but he could…but how…it’s just a little lie…” Round and round I go, until… “you know, a relapse starts with the little things.” So, what did I do? “In an effort to avoid making amends to you later, I have to say that I wasn’t there. I apologize because I think it is important to be where you say you are going to be.” He told me it was no big deal—I can always catch the next one!! So, it ended with a clear conscience and awareness that doing the next right thing isn’t so bad after all!
(Source: lahacienda.com)
Happy Valentines Day!! Dating and marriage can be quite different in recovery, however, both can be better than you could ever imagine. There are a lot of tools out there to help you! Here are two books that are geared to those in recovery. Our friends at Onsite have amazing workshops for couples too.
Give the gift of taking your relationship to the next level!!
(Source: lahacienda.com)
Feeling the love in February with
TWO ways to WIN a
“Jam Out With Jambox™. It’s simply the smallest, best sounding wireless speaker and speakerphone on the planet!”
First, for every NEW person that likes the La Ha fan page, your name will be entered into the drawing.
Already a fan? Like or comment up to 3 times on any of our posts and your name will be entered into the drawing each of those times.
Let’s have some fun!!
Good morning alumni,
Man, it’s been too long! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a safe and happy New Year. It sure was cool seeing you at all the alumni Christmas parties. I get asked quite often,” Joe, how do you do it?” Well it’s pretty simple; it’s because of the power of God and the charge I get by seeing all of you alumni out there doing this deal. It is a true gift to be able to watch alcoholics and drug addicts that come into La Hacienda, so hopeless and so broken, become reborn. It’s heartwarming to see lives restored, physically, mentally, and spiritually; to see you guys and gals out there taking the Steps with your sponsor, getting a home group and being of service to that group; becoming sponsors yourselves, greeting the new alumni coming out of treatment and helping them get connected to good solution based recovery. I’d like to thank everyone who had anything to do with helping put together the 9 alumni Christmas parties in 2011. We couldn’t have done it without you! We have a lot of exciting plans for 2012. More will be revealed. ‘Til next time —
Peace, love, Joe
(Source: lahacienda.com)
Recently, an Alumni asked on Facebook why he doesn’t get the alumni newsletter anymore. Great question, I went straight to Joe for the official answer.
In our last mailout (Christmas invitations), we explained that we would no longer be doing mailouts. Everyone else needs to register their emailaddress at the bottom of our website. If an alumni does not have access to a computer, we can still keep them on a mailing list, but they need to contact us.
Best, Joe
Most people find this a lot more convenient, private and a lot easier on our precious environment.
The newsletters are also always posted on our site. In fact, you can go back through all the newsletters!
What separates La Hacienda from other treatment centers? Our ALUMNI!!! Our alumni are the best! How cool is it that our alumni want to continue to gather and be helpful to other alumni coming home to the area. I am always in awe of the giving spirit that I see in our alumni. Some areas are able to meet weekly and, for those of you who participate in those weekly meetings, Joe and I would like to say thank you! Thank you for the work that you do in helping set up, break down, announce events and all the other things you do to make the alumni meetings so successful. I had a blast at our Alumni Christmas Party in Dallas. I was also able to attend Kerrville’s party where Chris R. spoke and I even got to hang out with Santa!! We are never alone when we return home; there is always a person to reach out to that understands where we have been. If you would like to be that person that a new alumni can contact, please email Joe with your information. On page 89 of the Big Book it states, “You can help when no one else can.” Even if you don’t have a local meeting, there are still alumni coming to your area that you can help. God didn’t get us sober so we could sit in a meeting and take; God gave us sobriety so we could be of use. For those of you who understand that, thank you for doing what you do. Thank you for making our alumni the success it is today!
Happy New Year to all!
Julie Harvey
Alumni Support
(Source: lahacienda.com)
Part of my experience in being sober has been watching people make it back in to the rooms of Recovery. Often what I hear them say are things like this:
I am sorry I disappointed you all
I was scared to come back
I thought everyone would be mad at me
I was just too afraid to come back after so many times
I was afraid of what others would say/think about me
And on and on…
This and all the other excuses, judgments, and internal condemnations are nothing more than false pride.
I would like to set the record straight.
I have not once been angry with anyone who has been able to make it back into the rooms of Recovery.
Just the opposite. I am relieved beyond measure and grateful to see them still alive.
I know some people get cranky but I see that as their stuff, their inability to separate the person from the disease or lack of experience with empathy. It is their Spiritual Challenge.
Don’t let anyone or anything keep you from coming back into Recovery.
The Doors are all unlocked; we are here for you, waiting to help you get back up on your Spiritual Feet.
Come Home to where you belong, where you are wanted and needed.
We stand in the Sunlight of the Spirit waiting, The Fellowship of the Spirit is here for you.
Come back and make it soon.
CBS
12/23/11
(Source: lahacienda.com)
Austin
December 10th ~ 5:30 pm
Call: Grace 773-616-7726
Cedric 512-373-2549
Beaumont
December 12th ~ 6:30 pm
Call: Don 409-296-3653
College Station
December 8th ~ 5:30 pm
Call: Steven 979-777-0658
Mary 979-846-9500
Dallas/Fort Worth
December 5th ~ 7:00 pm
Call: Julie 214-912-2528
Houston
December 13th - 6:00 pm
Call: Robert 832-630-9703
Midland
December 1st ~ 6:00 pm
Call: Eddie 432-697-0272
San Antonio
December 17th ~ 7:00 pm
Call: Joe 210-861-4161
Barry 210-269-2945
J.P. 210-913-6965
Waco
December 14th ~ 6:30 pm
Call: Kenny 254-662-3439
Joe and Julie on Alumni Reunion!
Disclaimer: No burn bans were violated at the Friday night bonfire. Ok, we have dedicated employees and alumni. Alan, in our Inquiry Call Center (hopefully you will “meet” him in a few weeks), and friends created the mock fire pictured above. How impressive is that!! Thanks guys for helping make reunion like old times!
Joe:
Hey Alumni,
Wow! What a weekend! I was just thinking how cool the bonfire meeting was. I swear I saw embers coming off the fire. Thanks to all who got up and shared your experience, strength, and hope. Although this wasn’t our biggest reunion, the Fellowship of the Spirit was in full force! I’m so grateful for all your help and support. It was so good to see so many old and new friends alike. My only regret was that we couldn’t spend more time together. How cool it was for the patients to see that we are not glum. The speakers were great. Thanks goes to Leonard and his crew for providing us with great food. The whole reunion went off without a hitch. Can’t wait till next year! Well I could go on and on, but I get to go do the 1st step lecture now. Body, Mind, and Spirit! Yee Haw !
Peace, Love, Joe
Julie:
Alumni Reunion was a blast. It was so good to see everyone there. It was fun to hear how everyone is doing. The kick off Friday night with Leonard’s hamburgers was awesome. The speakers were spot on! To be able to hear Audrey talk about the cool things that God is doing in her life since she left La Hacienda a little over 7 years ago was inspirational. I loved that we were able to do a bonfire down by the river again…thanks to the guys who got that together; it almost made me cry. The work that everyone put into this event was endless. Joe’s presence was definitely missed due to some back pain but it sure couldn’t have run so smoothly without him preparing everything and everyone. Thank you Joe! Be sure to shoot Joe an email, I know how much he hated not being there the entire time. Thanks for everyone that shared at the bonfire. The Saturday speakers Layla and Bob were so powerful. Layla was on fire and Bob was just the coolest. Hope all of you had a chance to meet them. We have such a wonderful staff, thank you to all the Business Development team that helped serve and the entire staff that went out of their way to help. There were so many hands in this but without the alumni volunteers it could not have run so well. Man, did everyone step up without being asked. That is what I love about what we get to do. It isn’t about getting sober and taking back, it is about getting sober and giving of yourself. This would not have been the success it was without all the alumni that come back each year to show how this thing does work. We all know that it works if you work it!
Julie Harvey
Welcome to the La Hacienda blog! My name is Kristen Black and I am an employee and alumni of La Hacienda. I have been working for La Hacienda since October 2005. My new role is Interactive Media Coordinator and my hope is that this blog will connect our alumni, familes and referral sources. My goal is to bring La Ha to you! Peek around for all sorts of great information and if you have any questions feel free to contact me, kblack@lahacienda.com. Sincerely, Kristen
man i can relate to that…
You’re never alone in recovery
the cause of most of my probelms…
