French Quarter Festival

The French Quarter Festival is Louisiana's largest free music event, a three-day local music showcase scattered throughout the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. There are music performances on 17 stages which feature every genre from gospel to jazz, from funk to classical, from Cajun & zydeco to brass band. The community festival also features the "World's Largest Jazz Brunch," which are the festival food booths operated by nearly 70 local chefs and restaurants throughout the festival weekend. Here are some of the highlights:

Mary Anna and I sitting at one of the Riverwalk stages on Sunday.

Mardi Gras Indians. Really neat tradition and history. They only dress out three times a year--Mardi Gras day, St Joseph's day, and Super Sunday (and for concerts). This tribe is called the Wild Magnolias. 

Saturday I spent some time at the festival with a family from church. These are their two adorable kiddos making funny faces after I asked the to smile. Haha! 

Not a Morning Person

Is it wrong that I want to hurt the Mission's team that began working on replacing the tin roof next door at 7 this morning???? So thankful these guys are here but 7am... Really?? Let's start with something that doesn't require tearing out loud tin sheets and the use of hammers only 10 feet away from my room. I'm going to need an extra cup of coffee this morning.

March Madness

The month of March was crazy! I went to a good friend's wedding, Jordan came to visit, I went to visit my mom's family, the rest of my family came to visit, then spring break, and another good friend came to visit. Whew!! I can't believe it is April already.

My friend Alicia got married! Alicia was one of the girls in my program at Auburn and we all developed a bond as we experienced the trials of earning our degree. The night before her wedding another one of the special ed girls got engaged. Hooray!

Jordan and I at the St Patty's day block party near my house. My little brother is so big!

St Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter

Beignets at Cafe du Monde. Part of the whole Beignet experience is wiping off the powdered sugar all over you. :)

Sunset on the Mississippi river

Katrina and Sarah snuggled together on a deflating air mattress

Please pray

My friend Sam's roommate, also named Sam, was critically injured last night when a drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit Sam while he was riding his motorcycle. I don't know Sam's roommate but it breaks my heart that he is paying for someone else's bad decision and it angers me that the driver was previously arrested for drunk driving but, after pleading not guilty, was not convicted. I can't imagine what emotions his friends and family are experiencing right now. Please keep them all in your prayers.

Instant Cash Sweepstakes

The poet

Here is another poem that Katrina wrote--this one is about me:


Older, smarter, funnier you are
My bigger sister who likes cigars
I look up to you all the time
Even though we're like partners in crime
The good times we've had
Including the bad and the sad
And the memories we make
And those mistakes
You're here for me now, that's what matters
I understand your past with all the shatters
There were hardships that you had to overcome
I know those things made you numb
You hid away for so long
After things all went wrong
We lost a sibling which was hard on us all
Then you put up that bearing wall
It's almost like i lost you too
With everything that you went through
There was pain and hurt, too much to bare
And of that i was aware
But you were strong and got through it
Day by day, Bit by bit

Apparently there is no age limit

My 75 year old grandmother is on Facebook! The world is coming to an end!! I feel a facebook tutoring session coming on when I go visit this weekend. Some things we are going to have to talk about is how facebook relationships are not necessarily real relationships. Look her up if you want: Maud van Eysbergen.