Blog | Deb Kalmbach

Let Freedom Never Be Forgotten

by Deb Kalmbach | faith, freedom, gratitude, patriotism, United States

In the late 1970s, Randy and I and our two sons spent three years stationed on Okinawa, Japan with the Air Force. On our first 4thof July overseas, we gathered with other families of the 15thTactical Reconnaissance Squadron to celebrate the freedoms I had often taken...

Letting Go: A Refresher Course

by Deb Kalmbach | addiction, alcoholism, difficult relationships, faith, letting go, mental illness, prayer

This post seems like deja vu. I’ve written about my “little” brother several times. Yesterday was his birthday. I called him to tell him I was thinking about him. His mental confusion seemed more pronounced. He admitted to using meth “so he...

Where Would We Be Without Friends?

by Deb Kalmbach | blessings, faith, friendship, grace, gratitude

When my mom had a mastectomy a couple of years ago, my dear friend Mary came to be with me. Mary arrived at the hospital after Mom came out of surgery. Seeing a familiar face felt so reassuring. I threw my arms around my friend. I knew I could walk through this...

Reach Out!

by Deb Kalmbach | Al-Anon, alcoholism, compassion, difficult relationships, encouragement, faith, gratitude, loving others, marriage, recovery, Sheila Walsh

The half hour drive from Meridian, Idaho to Boise seemed like the longest of my life. Late one night, I packed our 10 and 7-year old sons in the car with me to escape the turmoil at home. My husband Randy had been drinking again. I suspected that he was an alcoholic....

My Way or the High Way

by Deb Kalmbach | alcoholism, difficult relationships, encouragement, forgiveness, grace, loving others, marriage, perseverance, reconciliation, recovery, substance abuse

I used to think it was all Randy’s fault. If only he’d stop drinking, then we (or most importantly) I could be happy. I also thought I could change him. I could make him want to stay sober. I used ultimatums (you’d better stop drinking or…I’ll leave you…I’ll file for...