My dad sent this to me tonight… as I have been thinking about her all day! I also found a Dime today randomly on the island after shopping. — It saddens me to leave 2021…. Because this was the last year I saw my mom alive. I will already no longer see her until my time on earth side is over but also I’ll never be able to come back to this year, the last year she was here. — This was taken 2018. Fitting it was New Years Eve and a gem for me because I have never seen this picture before. — Mom, I miss you! Today marks 60 days being sober and let me tell you as of late it hasn’t been easy but your face keeps popping in my head and keeps me going. I love you and although I had to say bye already I now have to say bye to 2021 and just put this year on a shelf along with all the other memories I store. — Love you and miss you and thank you for the simple “hello” today❤️ #grief #loss #mom #sober #60dayssober #newyearseve

Merry Christmas from The Cruse Family! — It’s been an adventure but thankful to have each other! Very thankful to be in a cozy home to spend the holidays with the BEST of friends who have opened theirs and made us feel like family! — Thankful that Jesus was born today for all of us! He is the true reason for today! — Christmas 2021❤️

We got our keys to the house we closed on 12/10/21! — Buying blind sided from a different coast can bring challenges and let’s just say when we got to explore the house we bought, Chris and I were both disappointed. — We are very thankful for having a roof over our heads and rooms for our kids but the house lacks the storage space we need as a family. It’s very frustrating when pictures look a certain way, having trust others opinions and seeing it in person only to be let down. — Now we are having to spend more than expected to get it to some what functioning for our needs. Believe me, I know there are far worse problems in the world, but nonetheless disappointing! — Cheers to cleaning and painting and fixing what we can before movers get here and the continued list of fixing that’s needed! #crusesareinRI #rhodeisland #pcs #militarymove #sad #home #warwick #newhouse

First NFL game!!! Let’s Go Brownies!!!#tagboard #browns

I forgot to bring the picture with me to the park, so I couldn’t remember where I took the picture. Oops! Still in Toontown and just across from that fountain. — Same face and same smile 😂 another thing that holds true is both of these girls are sober 👊🏻 Everything else in between is lot of life that has been living, ups and downs, good times and bad but at the end of the day the pictures both represent a day at the Happiest Place on Earth! — This journey driving across America has been tiring for sure. I’m ready to be settled. It has been fun but truth is I’m in survival mode. Get from point A to point B. I know all will work out but the human in me doesn’t fully know how to just let life be. House in Rhode Island isn’t closing tomorrow but now on the 10th. Praying that this date holds true. — I can’t wait to just be in our own space again and back on a routine. As much as we are having fun and enjoying the journey, nothing about this holiday season is magical and I miss the magic it brings. #crusesaremoving #rhodeisland #sober #comparison #love #truth #disneyland #30yearsapart

Cheers to officially 30 days sober! — I’ve had a lot of triggers in the last 30 days to want a drink but I’ve held strong💪🏼 — I’m doing it for me and that’s why I haven’t broken my promise to myself, even if my brain says “just have one drink”. I am proud of myself and it’s been nice to see things in a clear perspective, depression down a wee bit and my anxiety well…. Not so much but that’s because of the circumstances of moving. — Cheers to many more milestones to celebrate! #30dayssober #sober #killinit #crusesarecrusin #notanotherone #change #proudofmyself

Tonight I was surprised by the beautiful women in my neighborhood with a “last” dinner for a while😢 — It truly means a lot to me that all of you carved out time to come and just have some girl talk and laughs. — I truly am going to miss this neighborhood but I thankful for the friendships that I have formed. Thank God for technology and being able to stay in contact ❤️ Thank you ladies for being such amazing beautiful human beings! It isn’t Goodbye it’s See ya later ❤️ #bestneighborhood #neighbors #strongladies #friends #pcs #friendship #girltalk #happyheart #thankful #mexicanfood🤤

Happy Thanksgiving from The Cruse Family! — We were blessed with neighbors/friends who shared their Thanksgiving with us! Belly’s are 100% full! ❤️ Very Thankful … also a sober Holiday and it feels great! #thabksgiving #sober #turkeyday #family #blendedfamily #pcs #militarymove #bonusmom

It’s taking me all day today to find the words for this post. Not sure I even have them… — Woke up today with great sadness on my heart and it didn’t make it any better that the sky was grey and the clouds were crying. We would have celebrated your 60th today and I know that we would have done some sort of surprising you today❤️. — I hope you’re dancing in Heaven with Jesus and He is throwing you the best 60th birthday ever. We are all thinking of you down here and ever so wish you were here celebrating with us. — We bought you a cheesecake and sang you happy birthday. I even had a piece too. Dylan helped you blow out your candles. I miss you more than ever mom. We love you, I love you and can’t wait until we are together again one day. — Happy 60th Mom! (Even though I am sure you would kill me for advertising your age 🤣) #rip #missyoumom #momsbirthday #happy60th #1stbirthdayinheaven #heaven #brokenheart #happybirthday #sober

Wow what 10 years can do…. I woke up to the top two pictures as memory and my first thought was “I’ll never get to take a picture with my mom again.” — Tomorrow would have been her 60th Birthday. She was young. I can tell you this … this is what not addressing your mental health looks like and being an alcoholic. — Not going to lie I said to myself if and when she passes I’ll be done with alcohol. Well I lied to myself and kept drinking. I finally said enough is enough and am now 11 days sober and going to keep going. — 2011 (surprise 50th birthday) to 2015 (dads 50th bday) to the last picture I took with her 3 weeks before she passed 2021. — Just know if you are struggling, you aren’t alone. Don’t let the enemy win in thinking you aren’t good enough. Anything you do will just mask what you’re feeling for a little bit. Talk to someone, reach out and ask for help. — What I have found in my sobriety is my head is clear, I’m facing my feelings and trying to understand them, I have friends that have reached out and continuously check in, I’m putting in the work even though some days are harder, but that’s because I know I deserve better. Tomorrow is not promise and I don’t need to actively shorten it. I know it may seem like a hard road to go down but so far I can tell you it’s worth it because you are worth it! #addictionsucks #alcohol #alcoholic #missmymom #sober #motherdaughter #1stbirthdayinheaven #strong #mentalhealth

Happy Veterans Day to this dude, aka my husband 🤣 — Thankful for his service to keep us safe and everyone else along with providing for our family! Truly appreciate the sacrifices made throughout his 16+ years of service. — Thank you to all the other Veterans in our lives as we have many family and friends who have and are serving!❤️ #veteransday #2021 #lovemysailor #navy #family #blendedfamily #marriage #growth #thankful #freedom

Our girl is home! I can’t speak enough about The Good Life. They have been amazing throughout this whole process. — Can’t say that I didn’t kiss her little snout 😢❤️ I miss her but know she is better in heaven and not in pain anymore. — Miss you Bambi girl! #bambi #thegoodlife #16yearsold #mybaby #lossofapet #chihuahua #sober #love