ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First, I thank God for His Word and His Covenant. I give Him all honor and glory through His Son, Christ Jesus. Without Him, none of this would have been possible. I thank my husband, Peter Douet, for believing in my vision and helping to make that vision a reality. Thank you for standing beside me, for your love, your patience, and your support. This journey would not have been the same without you. To my children, Peter Jonathan Charles Douet, Matthew Emile Douet, and Melissa Kelly Douet: thank you for your love, your encouragement, and your support. You are a part of my heart, and I am grateful for each of you. To my father, John H. Kelly, you taught me how to survive. Through you, I learned strength, perseverance, and how to keep going when life became difficult. I honor you, and I love you. To my mother, Lena Meyers Kelly, you taught me how to walk through the fire. You showed me what it meant to endure, to have courage, and to keep faith when the road was hard. For that, I honor you, and I love you. I leave these words as a small part of myself for my family and for those who will read this book. My hope is that the story within these pages will remind us where we came from, who we are, and the strength that lives within our family. With love, LaTanya D. Kelly-Douet April 1955 – January 2020 Rest in Peace