Our Children Left and We're Still in Louisiana

Well, I thought I would be writing this update as we were getting on the road for Arizona. However, that is not the case. We will be here for a few more days due to doctor visits for Gina. Hopefully we’ll be on the road next week. So in the mean time we are just slowly getting ready to leave.

After Mike & Janna left we unloaded our truck and trailer of all the rocks and other items that we collected over the last five months. It was quite amusing to watch Gina with the rocks.

Gina kept saying "Look how unique this one is"

Of course she said that a lot, LOL

Gina admiring her rocks and acting like a kid in a candy store

You could have sworn that she just found them as she couldn’t stop herself from admiring them all. On Friday we watched LSU win the Cotton Bowl. Congratulations on their win!!! Saturday we had Nicole, Ashley & Parker, and Rickey & Dana over for Gina’s homemade Lasagna. She also made an extra pan that was frozen so Ashley could take it back with her to Grenada.

First thing Sunday morning Nicole stopped by to say goodbye as she was driving to New York with Zora and Scarlett.

Zora,(the doberman) and Scarlett, (the poodle)

Nicole telling us goodbye

After Nicole left Ashley & Parker stopped by to tell us goodbye with Parker parents and his sister and BIL. Ashley & Parker were heading to New Orleans to catch their flight back to Grenada.

Justin, Paiton, Ashley, Parker, Wanda, & Phil

Parker & Ashley telling us "see ya down the road"

Parker joking with us as we never tell our friends goodbye

Gina hung out at home while I took my dad to IHOP for breakfast for a father and son time before we leave. We both commented to each other that this is the first time that we have been home in Louisiana and our children are living elsewhere. Feels kind of strange but we are so proud of them as they pursue and live their dreams.

Monday morning we were up early for Gina’s doctor appointment. We did not set a date for our departure since we really didn’t know what this doctor would tell her. Well, it didn't go quite the way we had hoped for.  He scheduled her for two additional appointments, one on Wednesday for another test and then one on Monday to discuss results and his recommendations for a path forward. So if all goes well we should be leaving here on Tuesday beginning our trek out west.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Friends Depart for San Antonio

Monday found Mike and I in Baton Rouge to look at an enclosed trailer while Janna and Gina went to find a quilt store in Baton Rouge. The trailer didn’t work out since the rear door was not tall enough for their Jeep.  On the other hand Gina was successful in that she bought some material for place mats so Janna can teach her about quilting on a very small scale.  We met up with the girls at the doctor’s office so mike could get some immunizations. Janna had called last week to make sure they had them. However, that was not the case because they didn’t have them. We left there heading back home for an early dinner of Janna’s homemade spaghetti and bread. Thanks Janna for another great meal. Later that evening my dad stopped by since he had been out of town for the past week. We all enjoyed a wonderful time before we said goodnight.

Tuesday morning we woke up early to tell Mike & Janna “see ya down the road” as they were leaving us this morning.

"See ya down the road Mike & Janna"

Mike pulling out of our driveway

They’re heading to San Antonio, Texas to meet up with Jim & Ellie. Janna had a made a beautiful quilt for her and she was delivering it to her. Mike called us at 4:30 to let us know they made it and Houston traffic wasn’t too bad. Gina spent the morning with Nicole at her house getting it ready to sale before she heads to New York for a little while. Once I picked her up around two o’clock we went home and grilled hamburgers and began our process of getting our house ready for our departure. We spent most of the evening in the garden cleaning it up. We received a phone call from Thomas to tell us about Ashley’s first sonogram and that he heard the baby’s heartbeat. He was so excited and we are so proud of them and glad everything is going well with her pregnancy. We ended our day at my sister’s house to watch the Sugar Bowl with Rickey, my BIL. We told them goodnight at halftime and went home.

We really enjoyed having Mike & Janna here and even though it was hard to see them go we know we’ll see them soon. The real highlight of the day came with hearing the excitement in our son’s voice over hearing their baby’s heartbeat. Our focus will shift into high gear now as we prepare for a departure from Louisiana. Gina still has one last doctor’s appointment on Monday and depending on that visit will determine our departure date. Stay tuned as the desert in Arizona is calling for us.

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Another Great Day With Friends

We woke up Sunday morning undecided on our day. However, around noon we had a plan. Gina and Janna was going shopping with Nicole and Ashley. On the other hand Mike and I decided we were going sightseeing. Even though there are a lot of plantation homes around where we live. I only love to show our guests two of them. Not that the others are bad, I just believe Oak Alley has the grounds and Nottoway Plantation has the best house. Well, Mike and I took off toward Vacherie Louisiana while the girls went their way.

I took Mike through all the back roads and past Houmas House Plantation for a drive by viewing. Then we drove down River Road toward the Sunshine Bridge and crossed over the Mississippi River. We arrived at Oak Alley Plantation and the Live Oak trees are still as breathtaking as they were the first time I saw them.  If you are ever down this way this is a must see.

Mike standing in front of the alley of Live Oaks

The view from the house looking toward the Mississippi River

Mike looking across the mighty Mississippi River

After we took a tour of the home we walked up on the levee of the Mississippi River.  We then continued our journey heading south and did another drive by viewing of Laura Plantation before we crossed back over the Mississippi River. We then went through Lutcher and Gramercy where on Christmas Eve they light hundreds of bon fires on the Mississippi River Levee directing Papa Noel to all the Cajun children. The structures were not standing but you could still see the remnants of the fires.  We then drove past Manresa House in Convent, Louisiana.  It was dusk by this time so we  started making our way back home taking more back roads. The main sights along the way are all the houses and camps located along the Diversion Canal and Amite River in the southern part of Livingston parish. Once we made it back home we waited for the girls to arrive to eat a dinner of leftovers.

We had a wonderful day and I really had a great time showing Mike all the sights near our house.  Gina said she had a great time with Janna and our daughters. 


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.