The Big Easy or little India?

So I just had the most fantastic time in New Orleans, LA! Flew with a great friend of mine who's easy going, fun and willing to try new things. Love the Guse! We had such a good time! We were visiting my grade school friend Beth and her husband Chris, who had fantastic food waiting for us when we arrived at the house! Best hotel ever! Shippert-Meyers Inn and Cafe'! 5 stars. It never fails that when I'm with Beth that I laugh until my sides hurt. For two people who are complete opposites, we have a great respect for each other's opinions and belief's. We have been friends literally since the 3rd grade when she was the new girl in class and sat across from me. Fast friends indeed. I cherish her. When I'm with her I feel SO comfortable with myself and I never feel judged about who I am or how I look. You just don't find people like her all the time. I have several friends who have these qualities, but none like Bethy. She's just one of a kind and I adore her. Yay Beth!

So New Orleans! A-MAZING! Love the city, the culture, the food, the weather, the hospitality, the way they talk, the FOOD! I love that city. I don't ever want to live there, but I love visiting! My fantastic friend Krista and I walked all over the city. We rode the street car and had drinks "to go"! We found a few t-shirt shops on Bourbon St and we were in every.single.one.

We went on a tour of the St. Louis Cemetery no.1 and saw the fantastic tombs and heard a ton of history of the city. Again, fantastic! If this city actually sinks, as is what you expect it to do since it is built on a swamp, three feet below sea level, it will be the most tragic loss ever. Yes the city is dirty and old and full of bad things but it's beautiful! The culture is like nowhere else in the US. It's got such amazing architecture! Where do they build places like this in the US?

They celebrate everything! Everywhere you go there is color. Houses are multi-colored and not in bad taste like in the Mid-west. (You all know what I'm talking about!) I love love all the color!

Of course we went to the Lower 9th ward where Hurricane Katrina did the most damage. It was so hard to see it with your own eyes. Basically because it's in the United States. You want to be super sensitive to the people who lost everything they had. You don't want to walk around with your cameral hanging around your neck because this is someone's home and they lived it. It's not a tourist attraction. But hope is springing up there and one day it will be filled with homes that can withstand another flooding.

I had a great time in New Orleans! Great city!

What does India have to do with New Orleans, LA? A LOT! First of all, most of the shops on Bourbon St were owned/ran by an Indian family. It was awesome! Bourbon St reminded me the most of India because of how it's constructed. The streets are close together, there's a distinct oder in the air that most large cities have. The culture of the city is like no other! And of course, the colors! India is full of color & people. I love it. I love to just watch it all go by. India. It's so completely opposite of me and yet I have such a draw to it. The opportunitues are endless and there's always something going on. The people are warm and friendly. The food is great! What isn't there to love?

2 weeks to go before I'm in the land I love so much. So ready to go!

Numb

29 days and counting. I've officially been put on auto-pilot and my thoughts are too busy swirling around my brain to actually land and make sense. Today is family gathering #2 and I thought that I may have a lot of emotions for this day but I feel numb. Numb to every emotion because they're just too much for me to grasp today. And in some odd way, I'm feeling every emotion possible. Frustration, excitement, sadness, joy, anxiousness, nervousness, fear and toss a few more in there and you'll have a good picture of my head.
Thank God for God! Seriously, if I weren't able to stand in the fact that he's got me 100% I wouldn't be able to do this at all and I would be a complete wreck in trying to make it happen. There's comfort in knowing that he's just walking along side me, taking one day at a time, looking at the days pass by like a ticking clock. Only in that place can I have all of these random emotions and not have them swallow me whole. I feel them but they're not consuming me.
India is a dream coming true for me. I almost can't believe it. Wow...how did I get here?

Stress and details. Details and stressssss!

Oh my. The last few days have just been filled with ups and downs. Valley's & mountain top's if you will. When I have the valley moment's I just drive myself insane and then wonder if I'm making any of the right decisions at all. Am I? I don't even know. But I am getting on the plane and flying over the big bad ocean and placing myself in a land I hardly know for 6 months.

Of course the mountain top moments are fantastic. I can see the future and it's exciting and fun. I'm filled with hope. I see all the possibilities that lie ahead and I just lose my ever loving mind!

I hate what a little self doubt does to my mind and spirit. It literally comes up from behind me and takes me out at the knees. Stupid satan. My mind is already swirling around like a bad Wizard of Oz spoof and then satan sticks his big ugly head right in the middle of it all. C'mon already! I want one day where I can shut my thoughts out and be without thinking of all the things that I have to get done in the next 37 days. It's too much right now and I know that I need to curl up with Jesus and just rest in him but I can't even get my mind to calm down enough to do that. Drugs. I need drugs and lots of 'em people. I need Jesus and drugs and maybe some fuzzy slippers.

At least I still have a sense of humor in all of this or I would be a giant ball of mess on the floor in all my drama and ice cream. Oh! ice cream. That would make it all better. All is right in the world again! Thank you Jesus for cows who gave us ice cream!!!! AMEN!