Spouses of Bipolar in Active Relationships

With Thanksgiving coming on Thursday, I have been busy planning meals, deciding who is going where with who..

shopping, planning, cleaning, oh my! (sorry, Thanksgiving reminds me of The Wizard of Oz, too!)

But back on track here, I have been so busy prepping that I really didn't have time, until I saw somehing similar in another group.

So, what are you thankful for?

I am thankful that we know the status of my SO's legal troubles.

I am thankful for my job.

I am thankful for my job, coworkers and friends.

I am thankful for family and husband's basic stability.

I am thankful that my family is healthy and peaceful again. I am thankful that my husband has accepted his disorder and wants to stay stable. I am also very thankful for my job that supports my family.

I have so many things to be thankful for this year. I want to start with you guys! I'm not sure that my life would be so good if I didn't have the wonderful people here to help get me through all of my ups and downs. I am extremely thankful that my husband has finally accepted responsibility for his disorder and stepped up to be such a wonderful, stable husband and father. My girls are such a blessing. And, I am very thankful to have a job that I look forward to go to every day.

I am thankful for this group. Wife, Lollipop, Sallyo are the best leaders! And our members!!!! I love our members! I know several of you have had a rough time on MDJ recently, but I hope you KNOW you are loved and appreciated here.

I am thankful for my job. It is my calling and it is also the support for our family. I am SO thankful that my job comes with wonderful health insurance. What a blessing that is.

I am thankful that my husband got serious about his mental illness and accepts it and fights for stability. This is a wicked disease. (And I don't mean that in the New England way--where wicked= very, as in "He is wicked smart!") It is merciless. It takes prisoners.

Some days are very very hard. But as long as we are both on the same team, fighting for stability, I am in the fight. I am thankful that my husband is very very frugal these days. (He feels SO BAD about his manic spending now.) He is also a true helpmeet. (Some of you might remember his "I am NOT your houseboy!" outburst over a year ago.) He does laundry, washes dishes, sweeps, cleans, and makes me feel loved. (He is VERY romantic.) I am so thankful for this transformation. It is the difference between striving for stability and living in denial. It is the difference between being stressed about life and between occasionally having life stresses.

Did I mention all of yall? And my parents and my children--step- and god- and of the heart. But god bless him, if I catch my godson sneaking food one more time....I might have to lock him in the closet till Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, I caught him eating sausage cooking to go in my dressing. Then I caught him with the spatula (yes, a 14 year old boy can use a spatula as a giant spoon) eating my sautee-ing celery, sage, and onion mix. Then spooning a whopping taste of my sage butter for the brussel sprouts....OMG. God give me patience!!!

I am so grateful for my family, my health, my friends and my home. I thank God for my friends in this group, pray that we all can not only survive this life with our SO's who have bp, but have a fulfilling life with them. If that's not possible, it is my prayer that everyone will find a way to be free from pain and find joy.

I want to especially thank married, lollipop, and sallyo for their GREAT leadership in this group. Their wisdom is a real gift to us all. I know how lucky we are to have a safe and respectful place to go for help. And the fact that we have so many members who have spouses who have found stability is a real inspiration. I care about everyone here and wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving!! Enjoy your day no matter who you spend it with!!

And married, guard that kitchen!!

My baby!He fills me with strength and love. I don't think I'd be sane without him.

Oh, and we're FINALLY getting the hang of breastfeeding!

Post edited by: patientlove, at: 11/23/2011 09:34 AM

@ patient- I am so glad you guys are getting the hang of things!

I am very thankful that I have food to provide a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

I am so thankful for all of our group leaders and members of this group. I am thankful to be allowed to be a part of it!

@patient-YAY!!!

I'm thankful for each and every one of you who have been there with me through the worst time of my life. I wish you all nothing but the best in the upcomming year.

I'm also thankful that I have learned to forgive my father, have compassion for those who have hurt me and become the strong independent woman I always knew I could be but didn't have the tools to do it.