REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD

For the Enquirer

Deneetria Eaddy frequently looks at the photos she took of her
daughter opening gifts on Christmas Day 2002.

"That was the last Christmas we spent together. She got a lot of
clothes," said Deneetria, 39. "But we'll be together this year."

For the past four years, Deneetria lived at shelters such as SAFE
Place and Gracious Homes in Battle Creek. And her daughter Crystal,
now 18, had spent the four years in several Battle Creek foster homes.

Deneetria said she was using drugs and needed help. And when she
heard about Gracious Homes, a residential safe house for women
struggling to get their lives back on track, she decided to get help
there. Gracious Homes was founded by Grace Cowens in April 2004.

"Grace has a good heart," Deneetria said. "There's no telling where
I'd be without her."

Through the support of Gracious Homes and other programs, little by
little, Deneetria was able to fulfill all of the steps. She
completed her requirements from the program during the summer.

Among those requirements were, first of all, becoming drug free,
which Deneetria did three years ago. She also had to undergo regular
urine tests, go to court every three months and have successful
visitations with her daughter.

Crystal admits that there were times she felt some hesitation about
being with her mother because of her past actions.

"But then I decided I wanted to try to get back with my mom if I could."

Once Crystal had made that decision, she became very determined.

Crystal's foster mother Cecelia Coleman said, "The closer Crystal
got to going home, she'd say, 'This is my last weekend, Mrs.
Coleman,' and she'd get a glow about her."

By the close of this summer, Crystal and Deneetria finally got
together and moved into their own home.

A quiet girl by nature, Crystal gets a sparkle in her eye when she
talks about how it feels to be back with her mom.

"I just like to see her every day," she said. "And I like having my
own closet."

And Grace Cowens was right there, helping behind the scenes.

"Once Deneetria met those requirements, we were then able to assist
the family in moving into their own home, and we're now helping
Deneetria find work," she said.

For now, Deneetria and Crystal are simply eager to get their Battle
Creek home furnished and are trying to find such basic items as a
dining room table and chairs, living room furnishings and a washer and dryer.

Deneetria is also eager to find work to begin supporting herself and
her daughter. Crystal, a Battle Creek Central High School junior, is
an honor student and eventually would like to become a computer
service technician.

"We're getting along pretty good," Deneetria said. "I enjoy spending
time with my little girl."

In order to celebrate their reunion, Deneetria and Crystal plan to
make a traditional holiday meal -- with chitlins, greens, ham,
cornbread and cherry pie -- together this holiday season.

Patricia Edwards, Deneetria's mother, is proud of both her daughter
and her granddaughter.

"They need to be together," she said. "And I think Crystal is going
to do good with her mother."