16th Wedding Anniversary

Guy and I took a great 16th Wedding Anniversary to New Orleans. Guy explains:

We received 3 blessings on Saturday in New Orleans. We went to Jackson Square for café au lait and beignets at Café du Monde. We parked in back on the Mississippi River and as we walked to Café we heard beautiful voices singing hymns! Mennonite choir singing a capella. We stood and listened to the music filling the square. They were part of a permanent contingency to help with Katrina recovery. You should have seen some of the looks from the people passing on the street.

After breakfast we walked toward the French Market and stopped at a bookstore that had a beautifully illustrated Brer Rabbit book. We talked to the owner, a very nice soft spoken Nawlins' drawl. Later, after shopping in the French Market we came back to the bookstore to buy the book, he said, "I knew you would come back and I have something extra for you." He showed me a small metal box with a Papal insignia on top and 2 wafers inside. "You know what this is?" I said "no." He said "I am ordained as a deacon in the Catholic Church and I would like to bless you." He made the sign of the cross in a blessing in front of us and then touched my forehead making a cross, which he recited in Latin! (This was just so awesome, it brought tears to my eyes!! - Meli)

After leaving the bookstore we walked in front of Café du Monde where the little 3-piece band was playing. Feeling generous and blessed we dropped a $5 in the bucket. The leader of the band said "Hey, come here." I got something for you. "For a $20 donation to rebuilding our church destroyed by Katrina, I will give you this CD." Hack Bartholomew (hackb.com) blessed us with some great jazz gospel music on our way back home.

We had a wonderful weekend. We were able to come back home on Saturday, really quick trip! By the by, we inadvertantly left Astro locked in our bedroom. Needless to say, she tried desperately to get out! Poor baby. She was so pissed at us that she pooped on my side of the bed! I didn't notice (NO, I DID NOT GET IN BED WHEN I FOUND IT!) until I pulled the sheets back, getting ready to crawl in bed when I noticed. I had to sleep in another room :)