Front Porch Thoughts

The enmeshment that is a symptom of the disease of substance use disorder is an insidious thing. Substance use disorder is a disease impacting  – in one way or another – an entire family system. So, it can be very...

Believe me, that 12 Step slogan was a lifesaver, when our family was struggling with the systems illness of  substance use disorder. It is so damn direct. It challenged me to realize changes needed to be made to combat the...

Today is Ash Wednesday. In Christian faith traditions it marks the beginning of Lent –  the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. This tradition is based on Gospel accounts of Jesus staying alone in the desert fasting from food...

Prayer is a place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.  Saint John Chrysostom  Prayer is one of life’s greatest gifts. It is a form of communication that...

My husband and I tried hard to find recovery solutions for our family when we were all deeply struggling in the systems illness of substance use disorder. In one way or another the lives of all six of us...

Who hasn’t been a Mama Bear for her beloved family?   I know there has been countless times the world has heard my roar on behalf of my four children.  When the systems illness of substance use disorder first began...

Old keys don’t unlock new doors. Unknown This week there is an amazing invite on the calendar.  After the breathless sprint to the finish of the holidays (which truly starts the day after Halloween) we can hit the reset...

Everywhere it seems families are decking the halls, fa la la la la-ing and sharing tidings of comfort and joy. The its seems part is the hard part. Because for the thousands of families struggling with devastation from the...

This is the start of the season of Advent in many faith traditions.  It is a time of intentional waiting. The practice of lighting four candles placed in an evergreen wreath against the backdrop of a dark winter night underscores...

The holidays were always times I dreaded during the years our family was immersed in the systems illness of substance use disorder. Once November rolled around, I could feel a big fat knot grow in my heart anticipating the...