Acclimating and ReAcclimating

Moving to your hometown after being away for about fifteen years can make for quite an adventure ...especially if it is the city of New Orleans ...especially if you decide to give new life to a completely gutted home in an area that was hard hit by Katrina (the hurricane that hit in 2005) ...especially if you are coming from a small town you HAD acclimated to for six years.
It has been an adventure, an adventure wrapped in God's faithfulness, goodness, and love. It is an adventure that I am glad to be apart of ...on most days (hee,hee)

>It is starting to be second nature to drive around town and see bars everywhere. When I first got here it was disturbing to me, particularly as a mom, all the many signs that have to do with clubs or bars. >It is nothing to drive somewhere now and it take at least thirty minutes. Where we came from, twenty minutes is all the way across town!! >And the heat, oh my, the heat. What can I say other then, 'it is daggon hot!' My hair is usually in an 'up do'

There are things that I am REacclimating to b/c somethings in New Orleans do not change and it is just a matter of getting used to those things again. But there is also an element of acclimating. Yes, even though I grew up here.
I have never lived here as an adult, I have a new found appreciation for the city and for its history. There is history in the communities, in the buildings,etc. I am getting to know it on a deeper level or from a broader scope, if you will.
I never used to view it through anything but a consumers eyes, there is a need that can sometimes be overwhelming. This city is bringing me to my knees. I am eager to find out about all the ministries around the area that are bringing hope and salvation to the people.
As I said earlier, I am a parent now in New Orleans and that takes acclimating. This is where I don't even know where to begin, what to even say ... My greatest desire for my kids is to #1 love God with all their heart and #2 have a strong bond as a family (particularly brothers) As we venture to raise a family here, I can only give it to God. He is the author and perfecter of our faith and He loves my children more then I love them.

Speaking of my kids, they have been awesome! How resilient (most) children are to change. They have handled the move so well. It sure helps to have Internet and endless minutes on our cell phones:) It is fun to show them around, to have them apart of all that we are doing, and to introduce them to things like beignets - mmmmmmmm!
We went this morning to a church on Magazine Street that is just getting on their feet and is meeting in the upstairs above a gym. We didn't park in a parking lot, we just parked on the side of a street. We also had to walk about a block to take the kids to 'kids church.' (a kids church of only 10 kids total) And as we are getting out of the van my oldest son (7 yr old) says, 'this is a weird church to go to' then my husband responds, 'that is what is so cool about New Orleans, things are just different here.' Weird/Different, it was fun to see them talk regarding just having a perspective on something different as being fun or cool.

The last thing I want to mention (I know this is lengthy and really wonder who will actually read it) is a devotion I read the other day that seems fitting - Colossians 1:11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy. Next to the verse it says, we learn to be victorious only by surrendering our lives completely to the Spirit of God, not by gritting our teeth and trying harder.