This morning we baptized my youngest daughter. It was a very moving and spirit filled event for me and all the stuff that I was worried about did not matter. We sat in the front row and I felt very focused on the Lord. I kept watching the heat rise up from the candles and I imagined it was the presence of the Holy Spirit just like I did when I was a boy. There was a moment when father asked the congregation to welcome in the children with applause and my daughter smiled, laughed, and kicked.

I remembered that when I was talking to my dad yesterday I told him how I felt ashamed that my daughter was being baptized so late. He told me a story of when he and my mother were asked to be godparents for a friend but before the baby was born it was breached. My parents had to go to the hospital at 3:00 AM to attend the baptism for the deceased baby. I was able to release my self centered anxiety and fully appreciate the privilege that my child get's to receive this sacrament.

After the mass I went to the meeting at the treatment center. It was a great meeting, we brought a good topic, and we on the panel didn't talk too much. The patients asked good questions also. One thing that I remember is a guy asked each of us what our recovery activities are like each day. I wish I would have answered a little more concisely.

Last night I did written inventory and prayer before bed.
This morning I started my day with prayer, meditation, and a spiritual reading.
Throughout the day I have striven to maintain conscious contact with my higher power and live the spiritual life in all of my affairs.
I went to 4-5 meetings this week, at least one of those is in the addiction fellowship.
Every day I make sure to have a personal conversation with someone in the fellowship and I make sure my sponsor is one of them at least once a week.
I sometimes get the privilege of doing intensive personal work with another addict.

I work 40 hours a week, not much more.
I have a wife and 4 kids and I make sure that I spend due time and attention with them.
I have little league baseball with my son.
I have a home and vehicles to maintain.
We try to ride bikes and play outside.
We practice our religion and go to church.

This evening I felt compelled to go to the meeting at my home group. I wondered why and questioned whether I should go or not. The topic was the joys of the fellowship. That is why I went.

Thanks be to God.