louisiana :: new orleans

on our way home from visiting family, we spent a night in new orleans. steve and i both have a special connection to the city. we first started dating there in 1999 (youth group missions trip, i was 14, he was 15... i know really crazy!), we returned at least every other summer until we had kids. i spent a summer on staff with urban impact ministries, serving and learning in the neighborhood. our various experiences with the ministry and in that city have deeply shaped who we are as a family.

it has been four years since our last visit, and it was lovely just being in a place that holds so much history for us. we were able to briefly visit with the pastor at castle rock community church (UIM's church) and get a quick look at their new facility. our short time there was such a great reminder of how God works in even the darkest of places and hardest of circumstances.

the boys had a blast walking the city and playing the tourist. we visited the insectarium, where steve, gabe and ezra all tasted various bug foods (yes, foods with bugs in them!), rode the streetcar, and ate beignets and muffalettas (no idea why i never liked mufalattas before, they are incredible!).

{yes, ezra kicked off his shoe while we were at audubon park and rode back on the streetcar with only one. we did go back and find his shoe later}

{also, i realize i am in not one of these pictures. i will try to do better, if for no other reason, to one day be able to tell my children that i did, in fact, exist and do things with them when they were little}

louisiana :: new iberia

for new years, we drove out to louisiana to visit my family in new iberia. all of my dad's brothers and sisters and most of their kids live there, so we try to make it out once every few years to see them. my parents met us out there, and we all spent a few days relaxing, laughing and watching the boys run crazy in the back yard. my uncle rod is a very impressive gardener and, as always, i so enjoyed taking a peek and being inspired by his work (and all of the kids loved picking and eating the carrots).

{disclaimer, a million pictures to follow}

{seriously, it was this foggy on every bridge crossed, at three in the afternoon!}