Cupcakes, Yoga, and Jesus: Overcoming the Sticky Situation of Addiction

by Dr. Lyn G. Litchke

Overview

This is a modern day true story of the bible coming to life in the 21st century as a mother and son overcome the sticky situation of addiction. It contains 12 easy to read chapters turning the 12 steps of recovery on their head, literally by doing yoga inversions.

Each chapter highlights one of the 12 miracles experienced by the mother who commemorates them in 12 cupcake recipes with flavors such as: Out of the Dark Chocolate into the White Light, and Go Bananas for God with Peanut Butter, as she bakes her way through 5pm happy hour instead of drinking.

The book shakes up the notion of what an alcoholic looks and acts like. You can be a very successful athlete, professional, and drinker. It dispels the myths that you have to wait to hit rock bottom in order to get help and that getting and staying sober has to be some nail biting miserable ride. Her ride is covered in bumper stickers celebrating the speedbumps overcome along the road to recovery. Join the ride and learn how to Get Hooked on Hope, One Step at a Time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781512769067
Publisher:	WestBow Press
Publication date:	02/07/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	146
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Dr. Lyn Gorbett Litchke is an associate professor of recreation therapy at Texas State University in San Marcos, where she has taught since 2002. She is the 2016 recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Service. She has been a certified therapeutic recreation specialist for over twenty-five years. Lyn has practiced in early intervention, physical rehabilitation, and psychiatric hospitals for twenty years prior to getting her doctorate in adult professional and community education at Texas State and teaching there. She is a certified Lakshmi Voelker chair yoga teacher and two-hundred-hour integrative yoga therapist. Her yoga and meditation research is dedicated to helping persons with Alzheimer’s disease and those who love and care for them; youth with autism spectrum disorder; and Wounded Warriors on the water engaging in paddleboard yoga.

Her son Zac completed his chair yoga certification with Lakshmi and just finished his two-hundred-hour yoga teacher training course. Zac and his mom continue to bring the healing magic of yoga to persons who need it most.

Dr. Lyn, as she is called by her students, is still pursuing God and all His wonder for her life. She is sober and symptom-free of IBS and anxiety, thanks to cupcakes, yoga, and Jesus! By the way, this is being published in honor of her fourth sober birthday! Best birthday ever!

Editorial Reviews

2017-07-20
One woman details her journey of finding Jesus, overcoming alcoholism, and helping others do the same. Litchke spent most of her life as a high-functioning alcoholic. In this debut, she first shares how she endured her son's turbulent teenage years that were filled with heartache and uncertainty because of his struggle with addiction. When he was sentenced to prison for marijuana possession, it was a turning point for both mother and son. Litchke writes, "I hit my knees and gave my life to Jesus." She transformed from a helicopter parent to one who put her trust in God. Over a year later, she finally faced her own alcoholism and made a decision to get sober. In addition to attending a 12-step recovery program, she strove to replace her drinking habit with baking cupcakes and creating inspirational bumper stickers. She also discovered yoga, which played a vital role in her personal and spiritual development: "I had finally created a space to accept myself without judgment….I think God just wants us to create a space during yoga to invite Him in." Yoga and counseling gave her the courage to approach her husband about his drinking problem and assist him in his recovery. Litchke's candor, especially about her parenting mistakes and alcoholism, brings power to her words. Her conversational, gung-ho writing style may inspire like-minded Christians but will probably turn off others. For example, she says that she used to think born-again Christians were "weird" until she became one. "I love being weird. I just love Jesus! I am a Jesus junky for sure." Because the topics are so varied—parenting, alcoholism, cupcakes, yoga, Jesus—some readers might skim sections that don't particularly interest them. That said, the book carries great value as a clear-cut, real-life example of recovery from addiction. Also, sweet-toothed readers will enjoy the cupcake recipes that accompany each chapter. A mishmash of lightly sketched topics but still a beneficial, uplifting memoir of recovery.

Kirkus Reviews