Missing Haiti as I often do.

I was going through some of my things the other day and came across a letter that my precious sister-in-law wrote me after returning from Haiti last January, just days before the devastating earthquake occurred. (I should probably tell you that she's from Peru). This is what it said…

I just wanted to say I love you my dear sister. I know it should be very difficult for you to see the news about what happened in Haiti since you have been there less than a month ago. I know what an earthquake can do in a third world country. My heart goes with you and with all of the people over there. I know you guys went to help them and I know they were amazing moments and even bonding with them. God sometimes works in some ways we cannot understand but you guys made many adults, children, teenagers and elders happy and let them know they were important to the world. A smile can do marvelous things, a hug can transform a life, and to share the word of God with them was probably the most amazing gift. I love the picture of you and the little baby you were holding. What a wonderful moment!!! I know it is hard but smile my dear because all of you changed lives over there!!
Love YA
JANNETT



It has been just a little over a year since the earthquake in Haiti, and my heart still aches for them. This past year has been a roller coaster for the Haitian people. Not only have they suffered from the earthquake, but also from the cholera outbreak, and a highly controversial election that left tires burning, gunshots fired, and police windows smashed in the capitol city of Port-au-Prince. People are still living in tents, without clean water, and without their families.

And I am still living in the comfort of my own home.

My friend, Brittany, has been living in Haiti for almost a year and a half now. I swear someday she is going to be a saint. She has such a big heart and a love for the people and she truly does inspire me to love and serve others each day. I am so proud of her! I love you and miss you B Galv. The Packs are in the Super bowl just for you my dear!

Another friend, Katie recently returned from a trip to Haiti. I’m so envious of her on many accounts. One, she got to be in Haiti again! Two, she got to see Brittany. Three and Four. She got to see Roy and Jackie. Speaking of which, she got some snapshots of my favorite little guy in all of Barasa. Thanks, Katie. You are the best! (Jackie is the little guy on the left. He is also in one of the pictures closer to the bottom.)




Here are some pictures from my past trips. Enjoy. And always remember to keep our Haitian brothers and sisters in your prayers.



"We had gone far enough together to listen easily in the quiet spaces."
You girls have forever changed my life. I love you all!

Granny Eights, As Some Would Call Her

My heart breaks a little more each time I walk through the doors of room 307 at Monroe City Manor. It’s not because my Granny is suffering. She’s as happy as a person could ever be. It’s because the person that sits in that burgundy recliner is not the Grandmother I grew up with.
My Granny Yates was a brilliant woman. Let me start from the beginning. My grandparents were married at a very young age. My grandfather was a handsome sailor (I don’t blame my granny one bit for wanting to marry him!) and he was away at war for the first part of their relationship.

My grandmother was told in the beginning that she would never have kids. After having 2 miscarriages, 11 kids, and one child lost shortly after birth….. my grandmother proved everyone wrong. They were devout Catholics, which is probably why my love for the beauty of the Catholic church is so amazingly strong. They instilled it so deeply into my mother’s heart and she has so willingly passed it onto me as well. (Along with my father – who is a Deacon who has taught me more than I ever thought I would know about the Church.) My grandfather died when I was only 9, but I will never forget his love for the Blessed Mother, Jesus Christ, the Blessed Sacrament and everything else he taught me about my Catholic faith. He truly was a wonderful man and I think about him every single day. (St. George, Pray for us!)
My Granny Yates was an author and columnist for many years. She wrote 5 or 6 books that I know of, and wrote for multiple newspapers about the random musings of life. She has always been somewhat of a forgetful woman, but this past year her mind has slowly started slipping away.
In June, her children decided it was time to put her in a nursing home because it wasn’t safe for her to be on her own anymore. I moved to Kansas City a couple of weeks later. Of course it was hard – new school, new people, new city, completely new journey ahead of me. But even more than that, I was so unsure of what would happen next with my granny. I love going home for many reasons, but I love being able to and see her every day while I’m back in Monroe.
Since I’m not able to go home as often as I would like I sometimes write her letters. She gets so excited about snail mail. It makes me smile just picturing her opening up the letter! This past November, on my 23rd birthday, I received an envelope in the mail from none other than my dear old Granny Yates. I was so excited! I thought to myself… there is no way she remembered my birthday! Well, I was right… She did not have any idea it was my birthday. But I know that it was meant to be for me to receive that letter on my birthday, and it made my day complete.
I recently came back to Kansas City after a 5 week Christmas vacation. I was able to see my Grandmother as often as I pleased and I loved every second of it, although it was very hard for me to see just how quickly her memory is fading. While she doesn’t always remember a lot of people, she has yet to forget who I am and I can hold onto that for now. I don’t know when I will see her again. I don’t know if she will know who I am. I do know that I have been blessed to have a Grandmother who loved me with everything she had, and that I have had twenty-three years to share with her.
Did I mention I was named Cecelia after her?! Thanks, Mom & Pops.

Reunited with Abby Rose

Six and a half years ago I was in between my sophomore and junior years of high school. My youth group decided to take a group to Catholic Heart Work Camp in Lexington, Kentucky. Of course I went… I did everything that had anything to do with Holy Rosary’s youth group, especially if it meant getting out of Monroe City for a week! Little did I know that it would change my life forever, and that I would meet someone who would end up being a lifelong friend. After this week of service, I had a completely different outlook. It was then that I decided I wanted to take part in service trips each year (and went on to take them to New Orleans, LA; Twin Cities, MN; Natchez, MS; Lake Waccamaw, NC; and Haiti twice).

That was the week I met Abby. Abby was in my small group and as soon as we met I knew we were going to be friends. We both came from big families, played basketball (#24!!!), high jumped (although she is much, much better than me. Division II champ, yes!) and had a love for Jesus and what we were doing. Everyone that week thought we were sisters, or related somehow!

A few weeks ago, I got on a plane and flew east to visit Abby. I hadn’t seen her in six and a half years (we write letters, facebook, text and call each other frequently) but when I stepped off the plane I felt like it was just yesterday that I had seen her. I absolutely love that about true friends. I love that God places people in your lives and allows your lives to cross again many years later. I felt so at home in the Kacsandi household. They took me in as if I were their own. I miss the nightly cups of tea, the endless supply of Christmas cookies, and constant eating : ), the 5 or was it 6 different girls calling daily for Alex, Abby’s adorable nieces, Cane’s and Graeter’s, the "Abby I usually double that recipe", hearing Abby's Dad say "Good night, sleep tight, God bless you" every night before bed and feeling as if I were telling my own Pops good night, and just simply feeling surrounded by people I felt like I had known all my life. Simply put, it was a good week. I just wish It wouldn't have taken me so long to get there!

Abby Rose, I miss you already! Let’s not wait another 6 and a half years to see each other!

Though miles may lie between us, we’re never far apart, for friendship doesn’t count the miles, it’s measured by the heart.