|
Louisiana State Rep Laura Richie sends us graduation pics and testimonies from grads at Louisiana Transitional Center for Women, Tallulah, LA  Tracy Sanchez
Congratulations my fellow classmates. It has been a long and prosperous six months, but well worth the journey. On July 25, 1993 my only child died due to pneumonia, from that day forward my life has been out of control and taken a dramatic turn for the worse. I was angry with myself and God for taking my child. So, I chose to turn to drugs, partying and the fast life as a way of dealing with the pain. Along my journey of destruction, I hurt family members, friends, and anyone who tried to get close to me. I had lost sight of my goals in life and did not care if I lived or died.
During my drug addiction, I found myself incarcerated more than free. But it did not matter to me because I was never really free anyway. I carried so much anger, hate, and baggage around with me that it began to weigh me down to the point that I had gotten tired of being the person that I had become. In 2001 I went to a drug rehab to get clean from drugs thinking that was my “only” problem. I still felt empty inside. There was always something missing inside of me. So my life of destruction continued and I ended up here. On the first day of Celebrate Recovery Mrs. Mary asked us to open our Bibles. I’ll never forget the feeling of fear that came over me. Why? Because I had not talked to God in 18 years since my daughter died. Since I have been in Celebrate Recovery I have built a relationship with God again as well as others. I have forgiven myself for my sins, and all of the hurt I’ve caused to others during my destruction. I have now realized that all of the changes I have been making in my life has been “God” working in me. Without Him, I can do nothing. In 1Peter 5:10-11 it says, “After you have suffered a little while, our God, who is full of kindness through Christ, will give you His eternal glory. He personally will pick you up and set you firmly in place and make you stronger than ever.” Today I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!!
 Stephanie Durr
They cried to the Lord in their troubles and He rescued them! He led them from their darkness and shadow of death and snapped their chains. Psalms 107:13-14 When I came to Celebrate Recovery I was broken, chained by addictions, hurts, habits, and hang-ups. I am now a great work in progress. Celebrate Recovery has helped me to know God, become so much closer to Him, and to have my own relationship with Him! I have seen Him work in my life and the lives of my Celebrate Recovery Family! We have laughed together, watched each other grow and change in astonishing ways and you know in Mrs. Mary’s classroom we have mostly cried together. AI love my new family and have the upmost faith in us all. We can do this. We can actually live now with God, instead of merely existing in the chaos of our addictions and pain. This program has taught me to forgive the people who have wronged me, admit to the wrongs I have done to others, and make amends. And most of all forgive myself as God has forgiven me! I know I have a chance at a life with purpose, a fulfilling drug free, chaos free life walking with my free life walking with God. Thanks to this program and the wonderful mentor who helped me to learn the tools for success, who helped me to learn just who my God really is. Mrs. Mary did not judge me, she only came to me with an open heart, arms, and the wisdom God gave her to help me overcome my past and snap my chains. Thank you Mrs. Mary from the bottom of my heart! I know that today I am a different person. I have different views, different goals, a different heart, and a different mind. I appreciate life more. Mrs. Mary, I think I am still working on that patience thing! I can notice my faults now, and I now know how to deal with my faults and change them. I now know how to have a better life and it’s only me who can screw this up. My Celebrate Recovery family and I have worked extremely hard in this program and have come a long way from who we used to be. This program has had a tremendous impact on my life. If I remember nothing else in my life – I will always remember these last six months, each member of my Celebrate Recovery Family and Mrs. Mary. This program is over in here, yet our lives are just beginning. We can continue our Celebrate Recovery out there with yet another Celebrate Recovery Family!! We did not go thru all of this just for God to leave us hangin! God has got us! Our chains have been snapped! The only thing we have to fear now, is fear itself. I love you all! And Mrs. Mary, you are Heaven sent! Stephanie was released on August 7, 2011 and is coming home to her Celebrate Recovery Family in West Monroe and settling into a Women’s Recovery House and attending Celebrate Recovery at WFR with us on Friday nights.
 Catherine Boyer
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. At times, life’s paths seem filled with many things that make the going rough and we wish there were a smoother road for we have had enough. But if we pause a moment and remember who is in charge, the mountains that are ahead of us no longer seem so large and every rock before us was not just a stumbling block, but one more stepping stone. No matter how things turn out, no matter what choices are made and the results that come from the decisions the days ahead will bring, one thing is clear, with God in your life, success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed. In life we find ever-increasing freedom to be who we really are in an identity that is continually emerging and never defined. Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do, but, to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart. That is true strength. We are now free to join the dance of life. I pray the God will guide all of us one day at a time in this journey. I pray that for each day, God will supply the wisdom and the strength that we all need. Catherine and State Rep Laura Richie are old friends; Catherine was Laura’s bunkie at Ouachita Correctional Center in 2007 before being transferred to Rosalind Lensey Good evening ladies. I first give all honor, glory and praise to God. I also want to say congratulations to each of you ladies for making this day possible. When I first got into Celebrate Recovery I was thinking here I go again, another program. I soon realized there was a big difference. In other programs I only spoke of my addiction. Celebrate Recovery has allowed me to define myself. In doing so, I have learned how to express my feelings in a healthy manor. I now know the true meaning of forgiveness. I realize my past hurts and hang-ups and habits do not determine my future. As I continue to stay focused on God and walk each day in love I can and will sustain my sobriety. Celebrate Recovery is truly a blessing. It has been a long rough six months but we fought a good fight and kept the faith. Congratulations Ladies!! When I say this, I pray I am speaking for all the graduates here today. Mother Mary, we love you, we thank you for the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the Bible that you imparted in us. We thank you for your inspiration and words of encouragement, but most of all for the courage to believe in ourselves. Thank you.
 Caitlyn Case
Celebrate Recovery has awakened the perspectives of my life that I had been ignoring for many years. It has started the changes I needed to live a life of success and happiness. It has taught me many different things about being connected with God and living a life with God. It taught me things about myself that I did want to discover. Spiritually I am whole again and that is because of Celebrate Recovery. I plan to join with my local CR group upon my release and continue to grow spiritually. Also, to help others who are not where I am today and learn from others where I want to be tomorrow. I can say I am where I am today because of Mrs. Mary and Celebrate Recovery and I am truly blessed to have shared this experience with her and all the ladies in our class. Thank you so much for everything Mrs. Mary. You will always hold a special place in my heart.
|
