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22 August 2016

Louisiana Floods

I realize that I am very much behind on our blog and pictures. I will work on a few updates to cover the last 6 months soon. However, in the meantime, I wanted to address the historic and catastrophic flooding in south central Louisiana last week. As you know, we have lived in Louisiana just over a year. We have come to love our adopted home state. While we have recently moved to Bogalusa, we called Baton Rouge home for the last year. Fortunately most of our friends remained dry in the floods, but a few friends and former coworkers have lost their homes, cars, etc. Bogalusa was also spared of most flooding this time, though they were hit hard back in March. It is devastating and heartbreaking, but there are many examples of how the Lord in moving in Baton Rouge right now. Just one month ago the area was full of tensions following the police shootings, today people are coming together to help each other, no matter their differences.

If you are looking for a way to serve or contribute to the Louisiana flood relief efforts, please consider Samaritan's Purse. Owen and I served with them in Monroe, and I will be serving with them again over the coming weeks in Baton Rouge. Not only do they provide physical clean up from disaster, but spiritual support to homeowners. This is a tangible way to be the hands and feet of Christ to the community during a great time of need and grief.




Here are just a few pictures and links gathered from various Facebook and News pages to show the magnitude of the flooding (none of these are my photos, tried to credit where possible, many shared from numerous people on Facebook). Conservative numbers suggest 40,000 homes damaged in the floods. This will be a marathon recovery, not a sprint. Please continue praying for Louisiana, our loved and "adopted" home state. Probably the best compilation video of the flooding.
  

 (photo from The Advocate http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/weather_traffic/article_227feee2-6193-11e6-8476-0f9e4cad7923.html)

The park down the street from where we lived, about 1 mile from our BR house (no flooding at the house)


A personal favorite
(AP Photo/Max Becherer) Perfect photo to represent summer 2016 in Baton Rouge
Denham Springs
Woman's Hospital (I worked at this location 1 day a week)

I-12
Cajun Navy heading in to help with rescue efforts
(Shared FB photo from Casey Parker)

(Shared on FB by Nicholas Persac)






01 May 2016

Springtime in South Louisiana

These are the last of the highlights from the springtime in Baton Rouge. This catches me up to about May 2016, which I will get to posting soon. We got to visit with some friends and we had some family come to visit us! We did the St Patrick's Day parade in Baton Rouge. Went to a country trivia night at Owen's work. Went to Abita Springs to tour the brewery. Enjoyed the beautiful weather and sightseeing in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Had several crawfish boils. Did lots and lots of cycling, including a 100 mile ride!! We made sure to find time for lots of fun activities during our days off from work, knowing that once residency was to start in the summer, free time would be very limited. Here are some photos of our springtime adventures in south Louisiana!
Visit with Alie and Sean during Owen's interview in Shreveport

Lots and lots of cycling with Clint!
Houma House in the back
100 mile ride!! No pictures, severe sunburn, but we did it!
Sunny days in Baton Rouge
Old Capital Building in BR



Abita Brewhouse

Spring rains (not the ones that caused the serious flooding this summer), Owen rode his bike through the flooded path

St Patrick's Day celebrations
Trivia night fundraiser at Owen's work, country themed!

Mark came to visit, so of course we had to have some crawfish!
Riding on the levee
Perfect day in New Orleans









Tore and Tony came to visit!


Swamp tour (I had to work, but Owen, Tore and Tony had a great time and saw this huge alligator!)
Owen and Tore climbing at the park down the street
just one of the many crawfish boils we went to....so good!

15 April 2016

Match Week Celebrations!

After a long year and a second round of residency match cycle, we finally made it to match week 2016! Praise the Lord the news was much better this time! We found out that Monday that Owen matched into a Family Medicine residency, though we did not find out where until Friday, since that's how the match process works. We decided that Monday was really the big celebration for us, since just having a position was what was most important, so we went out for a really fancy dinner at Juban's in Baton Rouge. Owen had talked about making that our match celebration dinner since the year before! We got the hallelujah crab and it was awesome! It was such a nice evening together, we dressed up, even had drinks and dessert with our crab, it was great. Owen also surprised me with a beautiful new necklace, to celebrate and thank me for my support through this whole process, it was such a sweet gesture. I am so proud of all that he has accomplished and we feel so blessed that he is in a great residency!

That Friday of match week we found out that he matched into the Rural FM program in Bogalusa, Louisiana!! We were so excited to be staying in Louisiana and less than 2 hours from Baton Rouge! We celebrated with Clint, Paula, Barron, and Allison by having a crawfish dinner at the house. Here's some pictures from our celebrations! Thank you to all our family and friends who have supported us along this crazy journey! SO happy to share this great news with you!

Crawfish boil to celebrate staying in Louisiana!
With our Hallelujah crab at Juban's

Beautiful black pearl necklace Owen gave me


02 April 2016

Mardi Gras

Since we live in Louisiana (at this time wasn't sure if we would be here for more than just the year) I of course wanted to see Mardi Gras. Fortunately my good friend Meg let me tag along with her, some friends, and her cousin to do the whole Mardi Gras thing, but in a more family friendly, safe, fun way (not rowdy or inappropriate). The weather was perfect for it. It really was a lot of fun and most of Mardi Gras is not what people think of, that's only select parades in select areas. I hope to make it back again, since we are in Louisiana for a few more years! Now to make some crafts with all my beads!






End of the first night, those beads are heavy! Absolutely nothing inappropriate was done for these beads!
Beautiful day for round 2!



Time to get crafting!