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#039 - Are you or someone you know struggling with drinking? 

In this episode, we explore what the AA recovery process is like and how it can be a conduit for God's grace.  

Catholic author Maria Riley joins me to share her story of hope and healing as she went through the AA process--and what incredible freedom and joy she has found on the other side of her addiction. 

Some highlights of our conversation include: 

• How you don't have to be a "raging alcoholic" (i.e. have DUIs, get drunk in front of your kids, or jeopardize your marriage) for alcohol to be keeping you "stuck" 
•  How alcohol is just what many of us "do" after our kids go to bed 
• Mommy wine culture and "wine down" time 
• What it's like to realize that alcohol isn't serving you 
• The thought that helped Maria take action to end her "abusive relationship" with alcohol 
• What it was like to go to Alcoholics Anonymous--and why you don't need to hit "rock bottom" to benefit from this program 
• How alcohol is not the problem--it's the symptom 
• How to live a happy and whole life without self-medicating 
• Entrusting to God what is God's and taking care of the things that he's asking us to do
• That things will get worse before they get better--but how you can trust the process and heal your deep wounds
• And so much more 

This conversation was so powerful. 

Even if you don't struggle with any kind of substance addiction, I think you will get so much out of Maria's story! 

Maria is a passionate Catholic author who loves writing to share the faith in simple, engaging ways. You’ll find her volunteering with her local parish when she’s not writing or mom-ing around with her four daughters. 

She’s the author of the Catholic children’s chapter book series: Adventures with the Saints. 

Maria lives in Kansas with her family, where they love reading and playing board games together. She earned a B.A. in English Communication Arts from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX, and she has spent most of her adult life in her vocation as a wife and mother.  

Visit her at MariaRileyAuthor.com or on social media @mariarileyauthor

Thanks for listening!