It is so easy to focus on the negative aspects of a situation but I thought it might be nice to have a place to share the positive:

Today I am grateful for another day spent with my man. It's not that we did anything particularly special (although I find every day special with him) but today I recognized a normalcy that is distinctly our own, this is how OUR LIFE TOGETHER is and it feels so good. Today was a good day.

Happily,
Patty

Ahhh, the peace and beauty of 'normal' days... How sweet of you to share this with us! :)

Thanks for the smile,

Q

qwerty ~ your welcome. I feel so blessed. I know others regardless of timing, situation, etc. feel the same. I share in hopes that others will look at their own lives with their partners and sigh at the wonder of it all, bad times notwithstanding, I know some are dealing with more than I am but if you are hanging in there I know there is a reason....

Share,
Patty

Patty I love hearing this stuff :) Keep on sharing!
So happy for ya,hoping my reunion is as wonderful as yours :)

Cali ~ I have come to learn that every relationship and homecoming is so different. I believe we all have the power to make the best of every situation it's just that sometimes we are overwhelmed and fail to accentuate the positive. That is a major goal for me at this time in my life. It doesn't mean that I don't have moments of pain, disillusionment, anger, etc. it just means that when those times happen I am striving to learn and move beyond them. I hope others will post here and feel good about it. =)

Patty

Hi Patty - I'm glad to hear you and Seb. are going strong....I'm trying to keep a smile on my face these days and you always help that....

hey dazzler ~ always good to hear from you. Thanks for your kind words. I hope things are going well for you, I wish that you get even the teeniest tiniest shred of hope and run with it!!!

Thinking of you,
Patty

Patti,

Great thread. So many times, we dwell on the negative, that negativity is all that we expect. Then, there are times where we are so afraid to speak of the positive, b/c we don't want to appear to be boasting, don't want others to think that we got it going on more than them, etc. I understand the cliche, misery loves company.

Patti, thanks so much. I am going to join you.

I am grateful for God allowing me to see another day and that He continues to show his mercy, blessings, etc. even when I've done nothing right.

I am also grateful for the man that God has allowed to come in my life. I am grateful for his love, support and positive outlook.

Patti, you're the greatest.

Awww thunder ~ such kind words, Not sure I would think of myself as the greatest but I do appreciate your sentiment. I am glad you are here to share in all that is positive. If we can encourage those that are having difficult times to consider one positive thing each day then I know this can go on and on...

Today I spent the day with my man and family and friends and it was joyous because we were together!!!

Many Blessings,
Patty

As I sit here reading posts I am grateful for another day to spend with my man. I have taken the morning off (I squirreled away every vacation and personal day I could). He will be here soon. I will make him breakfast and we will spend the morning reminding each other how much in love we are. The time is to be treasured and I won't soon be forgetting that.

Much Love,
Patty

patty i smile everytime i read your threads about you and sebastian, you both are so wonderful. :) you are truly a strong and determined woman, i am SO glad things are going so great for you and your man and i knw it will continue to get better b/c yall have the right attitude about things. keep posting! love ya, ashtynn

(((ashtynn))) I'm feeling sentimental this morning, it's true. I'm glad you enjoy the posts cause I really can't stop myself! LOL Your man will be home soon and I hope you will find time to tell us all about it. I think it's important for the others, I know it was for me while I was waiting and even now to read about how different couples handle what is thrown their way...

Have a wonderful day,
Patty

Girl- I want your day. When I got out of the shower this morning I thought how nice it would be to see his big, old boxers laying on the floor of the bathroom, which used to make me mad! Now I miss it! Enjoy those little things for those of us still waiting! :)

I think these are days are the ones we need to learn to hold onto with our hearts. There have been many good and bad days since my fiance got out in June as well and sometimes I think "what the heck is going on?" "when are things ever going to start looking up?"..... then I have a good day that makes me realize how fortunate I am to have him home...to have our family together. Yes times are tough right now for us, but we are in love and have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. We have a supportive family and wonderful friends. For that I am grateful. We are still able to laugh at night and make our own happy memories even when we feel like we have the world on our shoulders. :)

Thanks for sharing, I can appreciate your thoughts and they reflect my own :)

lonelyliz ~ I know what you mean about the boxers on the floor, I don't even mind him leaving the toilet seat up!!! =)

PJ ~ It's good to hear from you and I'm happy to know that you and yours are savoring the moments!!!

Hugggz to both of you,
Patty

I'm so gald for you, I can only hope Joe and I will be this content.May God Bless..

Patti, I know this is in the forum Now That Your loved one is Home, and mine isn' home yet it did touch a nerve. See last year I fought so hard for Herb to come home from Texas and he did. God gave us a blessed gift. And you know what we BOTH threw that gift away. Sure when he first came home it was I love you's, we would spend all our time together, all the stuff that we said we would do IF he got to come home. Then it was back to the same old ways. Us doing exactly what we said we would not do. Me being the tee total B**** that I could and can be. Him just going with the flow, not keeping a job, etc....
But what you said hit a nerve. When my husband comes home this time I will not take him for granted, I will cherish each moment that I have with him, and always, always point out our postive things that are happening in our lives with each other than always pointing out the negative things to him.
Thank you so much for staying here and sharing with us and helping us out.
You know they had a post on thank a PTO member and I thanked you, but spelled your name wrong. So from now on your just Patti to me, I can't spell that wrong.
Love and God Bless Jeanne

You're gonna be fine! And you can spell my name however you want!!!

Love ya,
Patty

Man Patty, I still got it wrong. Maybe one day I can learn how to spell. Today has been a real postivie note: Tuesday we buried my granny, but I also found out by letter from Herb that he also had his parole interview that same day. Girl you have helped me out so much you don't even know. You are the type of person that keeps it real and I like that about you. Thanks for being there for the rest of us. Love Ya Jeanne

((((Jeanne)))) Honey I'm sorry to hear about your granny. My sincerest condolensences to you and your family =( I am glad to hear of the Parole interview. You and your man will stay in my thoughts and prayers.

Today I am grateful that I have so many good friends here that actually care about what happens to me and Sebastian. We, none of us has to do this alone. :grouphug:

I love him,
Patty

Today is another day and am I glad the working part is over! Time to relax. I've been under alot of stress (unrelated to his coming home) lately and I must say I am grateful that he makes the time to listen to and console me. It makes all the difference in the world.

And I love him so,
Patty

Today is Wednesday and I am thankful that I have an understanding, cooperative boss who knows I would not leave any duties/deadlines undone and grants me the gift of the morning off to be with Sebastian.

I'm getting ready to put yet another new set of cheetah sheets on the bed. "Tarzan" they are called! LOL I don't know why but that tickles me so...

He called me at 4:50 am as always and we chatted about the election, family and friends, and of course our morning together. He'll be here in a few hours. (He lives just minutes away but we have house arrest to deal with or as he says, " work around"). It's all good. We are up to any challenges thrown our way as long as we move forward together.

I wish everyone a blessed day,
Patty

Patty I knew you would find the best in him and cherish it so I am smilin along with you. I love that you keep posting how the days are going, it brings normalcy to us and shows us when you try and when you trust your relationship thrives. You get what you give. My very best to you and sebastion!

Hi maidenheart ~ I couldn't NOT post. PTO came into my life at a time when I needed it most. I have made so many wonderful friends here and I recall eating up every morsel written about a loved one being home while I waited on Sebastian. I pray that folks won't get too bored with my postings as I know I can't be the only one that searches for a glimmer of hope that good things are around the corner. Yanno what? They are.

Have a great day,
Patty

Hi Patty and Sebas (hope you don't mind me calling him that:p ),

I am enjoying the day to day up dates on what life is like when your man is home. I think that you too are quite possibly the picture perfect return (well in your case home coming). I am curious though Patty, how does this house arrest work? He can leave and come from home at certain hours. Sometimes it seems as if he lives with you? Can he spend nights out? Please explain? Chat soon, and please keep posting. I love to hear happy stories:thumbsup: That is what we all live for.

Hi Jane!
It is good to hear that you and your Tarzan are so happy together. Has he found a job yet? I know it must be hard for him and consequently on you too. My own penpal got out about 10 years ago. It took him 2 years to get himself together and sorted.Society doesn't give much help really for those who want to make a fresh start. Thinking of you.
Jude

MsAkbar ~ Sebas (no I don't mind ) is on his way over right now and I was thinking about the very questions you asked and thought it might make an interesting and useful thread, we are on the same page. I will post about it tonight after work. Hope you stop in...

jude ~ He hasn't found a job yet and is looking into some classes thru the small business administration while he continues the hunt. We gonna be just fine. I can feel it!

Hugggz to all y'all,
Patty

is it still a good day patty!!?? i hope you and seb are doing well girl :) thinkin bout yall! love ya, ash

ash ~ We're all good as usual!!! Thanks for checkin' in hope things are good with you.

Hugggz,
Patty

I didn't mean he took that long to find a job. Sorry. He found a job within a short period of time, but it took him quite a while to get his act together. Your Sebastian seems very "together" and determined to get his life sorted, completely different to my penpal.I am sure you are both going to be okay!
Jude

Thanks Jude ~ We're feeling good about it. =) It's true Sebastian is very together, that is one of the first things that struck me about him even from afar...

Sigh today was a good day,
Patty

Tarzan sheets! Sounds like it is going to be a toasty warm evening at your house! I have been told I need to behave more like a lady (ROFLMAO) so I won't say anything else but keep us posted! :D

luv ya!
Angel

Angel ~ My grandma was a lady, I'm a woman!!! HA

Today was a good day,
Patty

HotlatinaMILF4u ********{HUGS}}}} Thank you so much about what you said about my granny. Man that woman had the faith girl...If I only had the ounce of faith she had is what I told my Pastor the Sunday after she died, and you know what??? I think she gave me an ounce of her faith, because ever since then I feel totally different inside. More spiritual, I have more faith.
I talked to gatesville today about Herb and they said to keep checking everyweek with them, because now that they have done the interview it could take 1 week to several weeks. Now it is down to just the paperwork and them putting it in the system.
I am trying to Keep it real. Yes my hopes are hope but as soon as they start to get to realisitically up then I just start praying. Because I know that is is in a hand way bigger than mine and that is God's hands....Herb has been helping guys out in there as being a witiness for the Lord and also where he is a recovering drug addict and recovering alocholic he is helping them out addicitions.
So the way I look at if the Lord is ready for him to come back to Florida to deal with his charges here that got texas revoke. They were all suppose to run concernt, but texas got him first........Then he will come back to Polk County and start taking care of it, but atleast we will be in the same county in the same state.....(this would be the yes vote)
Then I have to look at in another way, That God may want him there because there is someone coming for herb to help......Or someone that is coming to help herb....(this would be the no vote)
Bottom line, patty is this: Our Lord is working on Herb while Herb is doing God's will for Herb, Our Lord is working on me while I am working on doing God's will. If you ever have the time for me to tell the story about this I would love too. Patty you know you are one of friends that Include when I tried to do the one for florida and texas friends. (first one was ok second one no one responed)..

Patty, I know this is kinda of long, but I need to tell you something, You have taught me so much since I joined this support group. I go into illinois forum just to see what wonderful postivie things that you are going to say. Even we you can tell that you seem a little off, you have never talked like where upset or something was bothering you....you still sound "faithfull to a higher authority" That is one of the biggest reason I love to post in your threads.....Plus I do consider you one the friends that I have found for life. Jimbo's Lady is my other friend for live. Just wanted to let you. Jeanne

Your friendship Jeanne, I add that to the list of many things I'm grateful for. You are very kind and I appreciate you every single day. We'll have to get together soon and chat. Thanks for posting you made a great day even better! =)

Hugggz,
Patty

It's Sunday and while it might seem like a small thing I am happy that I love to cook. Food brings people together and over the past couple of months since Sebastian has been home he has brought even more family and friends to my table. This is our way of bringing our people together and so far it's been very successful. I must say we are quite a cast of characters, quite diverse in age, cultural, socio-economic, well just in many many ways but we come together and gather around the table together and talk and laugh and eat and we are thankful for one another.

Have a great day everyone,
Patty

Today I am grateful for another Wednesday morning spent together. I am a little bit apprehensive as after the first of the year all my personal/vacation time will be used up and we will have to come up with yet another way to find those few stolen moments together. It's just one more challenge we've got to meet. He keeps telling me, '' Look how far we've come" God I love him.

Gratefully,
Patty

Does your boss do what we call here, flexi time Patty? Maybe you could work some hours in the evening, when he can't be at yours? Just a thought

I'm not so much needed during evening hours but I'll find a way to work around it with my comp time if need be. Of course the best thing that could happen would be for Sebastian to find work before then. What will be will be.

Patty

Today I made the final payment on our "prison" phonebill wooooooooohooooooo

Happy,
Patty

What a great feeling that is to be able pay a bill, but especially this one for you Patty. No more prison phone bills!!
If Sebastian doesn't get a job yet, it won't be for the lack of good wishes coming his way from all of us. It is early days yet. I'm sure something will come his way soon!
Jude

Yes Jude it was a good feeling to put that behind both financially and emotionally. Thanks for the well wishes we appreciate them so much.

Hugggz,
Patty

What a great attitude you have Patty! Thanks for a very nice thread.

Thanks Isadora, I try and then I try again, yanno what I mean...

Today I 'm thankful for a day spent communicating with my man. We are faced with alot of lack of employment opportunity frustration on his part. I understand where he is coming from and try to find every lead available so far no go. The good news is we are solid, TOGETHER. I feel that with every breath I take.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough,
Patty

OK I'll try it! Today I am thankful that my husband has a job and that we are both going to counseling together and trying to work things out! And today I am thankful for the first snowfall of the winter. We have about 5 inches of snow on the ground that fell just this afternoon, it's beautiful!

Seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee? Okay I hate snow being that I'm a Cali gal transplanted to Illinois HOWEVER I am glad and thankful that you love it!!! I hope things improve for you, Isadora.

All the best,
Patty

This one is easy for me- I'm thankful that my man gets an all day furlough today to spend Thanksgiving with us, and even though the family made plans for later in the evening, I'm cooking a mini-Thanksgiving just for him! (And I am further grateful that it pretty much NEVER snows here!):thumbsup: You can keep those shovels and scrapers, Isadora!!

I am grateful to be home to enjoy my family and friends, the sound of children's play, and the comfort of family and friends - together to celibrate life.

I think it is time to greet the sunrise on the beach, and savor every moment of today.

Patti

oooooooooooooh Patti what I wouldn't give for a few moments on the beach!!! I am grateful to have fond memories of that and know someday I'll be able to share that with Sebastian.

Happy Holidays,
Patty