The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that they weren't even crimes, but that was only after spending 2 years and 3 months in prison. His reputation, legal career, and life as a Catholic deacon had also been destroyed in the process. What was remarkable about my father, though, was that he never became bitter or lost his faith. In fact, he did his most powerful ministry from prison via a monthly newspaper column called "Faithwalk", as well as heartbreakingly beautiful (and funny) monthly newsletters to his family and friends. These are being published into a book, and his story has already been published in a book edited by Jeff Cavins and Matt Pinto called "Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer". I highly recommend it.

We had three "honeymoon" years with my dad after he was released from prison in 2000 before he began his 3-year battle with cancer. Had the miracle of his early release not happened, he would have died long ago, alone, and unjustly imprisoned. Our God is so MERCIFUL!!! Thank you, Jesus!!!!! And ten days before he died he was *finally* restored to the La. State Bar Association (after 6 years of waiting and red tape), and so he was also finally restored as a deacon in the Catholic church (that was the condition). That same day, my sister who was visiting from D.C. gave birth to a premature but very healthy baby girl. What a day! I have a beautiful picture of days-old baby Julia in my father's dying arms.

The funeral was on Monday, July 24, 2006 at noon, and I was blown away by the sheer numbers of people who loved and admired him. About 500 people stayed for the funeral, and 25+ priests and deacons celebrated the Mass with/for us. A full choir, flute, keyboard and guitar came together with no effort on our part, and everyone seemed to be singing in the congregation! My heart is so full right now...we have heard of a number of miracles and answered prayers that have happened since my father came home from the hospital two weeks ago, and especially since his death.

One of the people to eulogize him was a 40-year-old woman named Denise Dupont, whom my father met when he was helping to work a retreat for the physically disabled (HEC--Handicapped Encounter Christ). Denise has a brilliant mind in a body tortured by cerebral palsy. They have had a years-long, very special friendship, and he was truly a father to her. All had to strain to understand her words, and you could have heard a pin drop (between the laughter and sobs). The Holy Spirit fell so heavily on the room through her, even grown men who don't know Jesus were weeping! In the end she said, "If the price of knowing Carl Cleveland was my disability, then it was all worth it."

How can I top that? I believe that my dad is already a saint in heaven, as attested to by the miracles and especially by his heroic life and death, so please ask him for his intercession. God even gave us a beautiful double rainbow and the end of the day.

It was because of my father's imprisonment that I wrote the song "Surrender" and am now a music missionary. He loved coming with me to give our joint testimony, and he promised that he would accompany me on all of my future projects and tours. Over and over he listened to my music during the night to help him stay focused on Jesus as he bore the agony of cancer in his bones. I have a renewed devotion to making music that will be of consolation and hope to those who are suffering. What a need there is, my friends!!!! Let's make more beautiful music, more "beautiful things for God"--time is life, and we don't know how much we have left.

Yours in Christ +

Kitty