4 Year Anniversary!

February 20th is my 4 year anniversary. For the past few years I have been celebrating my recovery from alcohol addiction by hiking deep into the wilderness and enjoying nature with my newest coin. This year was the 4 year marker without a drink, so my 12 year old son and I did a three day backpack trip in Bug Sur, CA. The destination was Sykes Hot Springs and it was an enjoyable 21 mile hike! My son was a fantastic hiking partner and one of the major reasons I quit drinking. What a blessing to have this time together, a time both of us will always remember. I’m so thankful for the wonderful life I now have and the opportunities I have to improve myself to be a better me every single day. Life is good, friends! Thanks for supporting me in this journey!

Here are some photos I took from our trip!

To thine own self be true. Unity, Service and Recovery. Happy 4 years to me!

 

The necessities! Our packs with food and water for 3 days and all of the tools we would need to be safe!

 

My son is such a great role model for his little sister. I sure am proud of this boy and all of his goals!
4 Years!!!
Me and my coin after a soak in the Hot Springs!

 

I’ve loved being able to share this special time with him!

Last year’s token was also a special one for me. I’m proud of who I am today because of the changes I’ve made in my life.

Celebrate with me today, 3 years without a drink. Amazing how my life and art have improved!!

A photo posted by Man Sewing with Rob Appell (@mansewing) on

  • Deborah Saint

    Congratulations, Rob. God is so good and He will carry you through this journey you are on. Thank you for sharing! Deb

  • Melissa Watkins Lasseter

    Congratulations! To God be the glory! Keep up the hard work! Thanks for sharing! ML

  • Daniel Glasco

    Congrats Rob!! Huge accomplishment! Keep the faith Brother… before you know it, it will be 8 years!

  • Yvonne Shepherd

    Congratulations! Thank you for sharing.

  • eclectic-el

    Thank you for sharing your experiences. I had no idea that you are on this life journey. My son is in his first year of recovery. He has a 12 year old and a 7 year old, both girls. It is encouraging to read your positive thoughts and know that there is hope! One day at a time.

  • dharry1215

    Thank you for sharing! God Bless you and keep being an inspiration to others! You are a living an example for people who can’t see around the corner to what blessings might be ahead.

  • Gloria

    Thank you for sharing. You are an inspiration to others. What a great way to celebrate – spending time with your son. Love all your tutorials.

  • 1amKimmy .

    First off, congratulations on your anniversary! So glad you took those steps and now we can follow you! 🙂 I thought you’d get a chuckle out of this: When I saw the pic of all of your gear, at first glance I thought the plastic storage container was full of nothing but potatoes! haha! Hey, It’d work for me for a short trip. 😉

  • Sandra Tremblay

    Good for you Rob. Im glad you were able to accomplish this in your children’s lifetime. I lost my mom to alcohol when I was 17 (she weighed 42 pounds when she died) and my dad to alcohol when I was 19. Its a nasty thing and unfortunately has my brother in its grips as well. Congratulations Rob.

  • Cindi Johnson

    Congratulations! Big Sur is a great place to do your celebrating. Savor the moment and know that we are all so, so, so very glad to have you with us.. er, leading us! LOL! (At least, I think I can speak for us all in that respect.)

  • Sara Gdk Arroyo

    congrats!!!

  • Alison

    Congratulations Rob!! What an amazing accomplishment for you and for your family. You all are on this journey together and I’m sure you needed them to help you through. Your son is very handsome and looks very proud to be with his dad celebrating your journey and accomplishments together. Your instilling many things in him, one being you can do what you set your mind to. You’re a great dad!! Here’s to 100+ years of celebrations. Thank you for all you have taught me, you’re a great mentor to many!!

  • Lou Ann Schlichter

    Happy Birthday and many more to come! So glad you made this life changing decision! Keep on, keepin’ on!

  • Rhonda Noble

    You are an inspiration to so many people. Thank you for posting this. I will share this with a woman who has gone down a horrible path with drugs and alcohol. This morning was the first time in YEARS that we spoke. She has a gift of sewing, from making a lined blazer (in 9th grade and we are now 51 yrs old) to making all her bride maids dresses for her wedding (23 yrs ago).She has come a long way but still strugles with depression. It Looks like you too, have come a long way. Thank you for being YOU and I wish you many more years of sobriety. It is wonderful to see you content and happy while hiking with your son. Keep up the great work! Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

  • Rosie W

    This is the best post I’ve ever read from you and on a morning when I took a friend to a support group for her very first time. Congratulations on four years sober. You have great reasons for being THE MAN!

  • Raelene Highton

    How very brave, thanks for sharing…..love your tutorials.

  • Sandi Elizabeth James

    hey Rob! I follow your tutorials faithfully on youtube and absolutely crush on you 🙂 I had no idea that we are trudging the road of happy destiny together. Congratulations on another year ODAT.

  • Joanne Martin-roberts

    My daughter used crochet in her recovery. She taught herself and made 4 afghans in 1 month. Lol. She has 8 years now. My youngest son is still fighting recovery. We’re not a family of quitters. One Day At A Time

  • Andrea Clemmer

    Happy 4 yrs! So glad you’ve shared this with us. You are an inspiration to so many of us and a great teacher to all of us! Enjoy your time with your son. One step at a time, one day at a time. Bless you.

  • Loretta N Bob Potz

    Congratulations, great things come with great success.

  • Lana Stewart

    Congratulations, Rob! May God bless you and your family in your continued success in living a life full of His blessings!

  • Trish Schweitzer

    HUGE congratulations! One day at a time. But look how far you’ve come and what you’ve done in those 4 years – WOW. Your son must be so proud of his dad. Keep up the great work. I love your blog and all you teach us.

  • Susie Brown

    you have become an awesome human and an inspiration to quilters everywhere. I love your work and your determination to be as good as you can be. Keep up the good work. congratulations!

  • Alicia Gooch

    Congrats! A tough journey but so worth it for yourself & your loved ones. You are an inspiration for all of us out here to get up, dust ourself off and get ‘er done! Stay on that great path you are on, we all root’in for you!

  • Sherry Carabello-Walley

    Congratulations! You are an awesome person, keep up the great work.

  • Carole L. Daley

    Congrats Rob I’m happy for you that you are doing something you love (the sewing) on your journey of recovery. This is where a lot of people mess up they don’t see a future without drugs or alcohol. I watched you tutorial on free style quilting, love it.

  • Shirley -Anne Cecchini

    Really, well done. As they say here in Malta ‘prosit’. I follow your quilting stuff, which in its self is an inspiration. Keep it up.

  • Bettie Sue Goolsby

    Thank you for sharing your road to recovery. I have a 56 year old son who is an alcoholic, his twin brother died in 2012, and I think he is trying hard to do the same thing. It is hard on a mother to watch her only children go down. Congratulations to you for finding your way. Keep it up, you are doing well.

  • Carolina Montgomery

    congrats, rob

  • Bonnie I

    Awesome! So happy for you.

  • Laurie Andrade

    Love the Pictures, Love Your Show!! God is good, he’s so good to you…. Congratulations Rob on this awesome journey to a better life and a better and healthier you… Praying for you and your family that you stay on this road to recovery and you put God first and you’re family. ROB you are an OVER COMER and The VICTORY is YOURS Amen!!! I’m so blessed and proud to here this Great news especially for your family, your son needs you to mentor him, to look up to and say hey that’s my dad with a smile and love and confidence so he can grow up and he can call you his friend, so very proud of you Rod… May God Bless You in EVERYTHING you do may His face shine upon you… Amen…

    Here’s a little something something to help you with your recovery.. “Ephesians 6:10”

  • Nancy Bowers

    Congratulations, Rob — we love you and your enthusiasm for all the things you do!! God Bless you and your family members who, without a doubt, played a big role in your recovery. You are an inspiration to each and every one of your “fans”. Keep those wonderful tutorials coming as we look forward to each and every one of them.

  • Terri Lynn

    Great pictures and better story. Keep the good work up. You have already gotten over the initial hump. Keep on Truckin’!!!! 🙂

  • Debra Egan

    Congratulations Rob! On Feb 27th my husband will be celebrating 17 years – been a long journey but one well worth it. Congratulations to your family as well – the love and support of your loved ones is essential to long term sobriety. Happy birthday to you and your family! February is a great month!

  • Theresa Matlock

    Fantastic,a wonderful memory for you and your son. He will forever know the strength of his father. It takes a lot to quit an addiction and for four years you have been a winner. God Bless you and your family.

  • Congratulations Rob! I admire what you do and always enjoy your blog posts and videos – those tips you give are not only helpful but hugely entertaining as well. You found your path and stayed true to it – an inspiration to many 🙂

  • Karen Caldwell

    So proud of you Rob! Keep up the great work and I love the tutorials! We love ya!

  • Virginia Degnan

    Congratulations, Rob! You are a true testament that alcohol addiction can be overcome. You, your family, and the quilting community are the better for your having the strength to do it. I appreciate the tradition you have on your anniversary. You and your son are making wonderful memories. God bless.

  • Janae Butler

    Congratulations!!

  • Peggy Brown

    Congratulations Rob on your journey to overcome addiction. I love watching your tutorials and your enthusiasm is contagious!!! You are such a good role model, not only for your kids, but for others who are struggling with their own demons…..you are showing that it can be done! And you show me that I can be a quilter!!!! LOL!!

  • Rose Norton

    Congratulations Rob. I hope that one day my son will be able to celebrate his sobriety. It is a wonderful thing you have done for yourself.

  • disqus_NmH2Xmd8oh

    Congratulations on all your hard work; always remember it has been totally worth it!!

  • Milagritos Archilla Valentín

    Congratulations and go ahead! I celebrate with you every day, one at a time. Enjoy the support and love of your beautiful family.

  • Cheryl Gherna

    I didn’t know that about you. You are inspirational and show how much you love your family and yourself which of course you needed to do to be able to accomplish 4 renewed years of “being a better you”.

  • Patricia Norrad

    What an accomplishment Rob! It’s hard to believe but better days are still ahead and they keep getting better and better. My birthday is February 8th, 25yrs. I’ve never felt better and as we get older life gets better. I know your journey and I know your children are extremely lucky to have a Dad like you!

  • Joyce Lukas

    Congratulations! You are a gift to us all!

  • Bev Close

    Well done Rob it’s a great story and I wish you well for the future with your lovely son. I so enjoy your tutorials all the way from Victoria Australia. K
    Keep up the good work

  • Jude Bremer

    Congratulations that is awesome!- so glad you found sewing to share with us all.

  • Connie

    Congratulations on your 4th anniversary of sobriety keep up the good work. Glad you were able to have this special time with your son. Keep sending us these fabulous tutorials.!

  • Carolyn Ross

    Congratulations!

  • Peg Piepkorn

    congratulations on your 4th anniversary of sobriety! Thanks for all you do for the quilting community. Enjoy your tutorials.

  • Karen Rowell

    Congratulations! What a great accomplishment! Keep going and keep sewing.

  • That’s wonderful! Congratulations, wishing you many more successful years. What a great example you are for you children.

  • Linda Mundell

    Hurray or you Rob!! You are a true inspiration in your life and quilting. Keep on keepin on.

  • Linda Hall

    CONGRATULATIONS Rob…what an achievement! I know what a blessing it is for you in how God has brought you through your addiction. My son suffered from drug addiction and has been free of drugs for 5 years now. Very proud of him too! His life is good too!

  • Lyn Evans

    Congratulations, Rob! You’ve come a long way. I’m very proud of you!

  • Susan Hernandez

    Congratulations Rob! I never knew you had a problem when I first met you at the Cotton Ball years ago…so happy for you. One day at a time????????????????????

  • Sabrina Todd-Terranova

    You are such an inspiration to so many people. Congratulations on your 4 years and here is to many more! Quilt/Sew through the tough times.

  • Jerry Griffies

    I heard the 5th is the hardest. (26 here. It can be done.)

  • Doris McCarty

    Congratulations! You deserve it!

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