Here Comes the Rain Again

Disclaimer: this blog starts out with some background info, but my opinion is that it becomes rather profound as you read. Hope you enjoy! ;-P

Well, the weather outside is frightful! I never really thought much about thunderstorms; living in Cincinnati they are not uncommon, especially in spring. The only thing that bothers me about them is I'm gripped with paralyzing fear if I'm trying to drive in rain (even if it's not storming). But that's another blog entirely...

All day today, it has been raining off and on. Around 5 pm, the sky opened up and rain poured and the thunderstorms started. Despite the storms, Jesse took the kids to the school carnival (what a great guy!) to give me some peace and quiet...

But an hour or so into my kid~free quiet time, an ear~splitting crash of thunder and a simultaneous huge bolt of electricity struck right outside my window. Even though I wan't sleeping, this really woke me up to some things that I have obviously been ignoring for quite awhile. I have been so ignorant of the tragic natural disasters that have recently happened in the world; I simply avoid watching the news, reading newspapers, and even stories on the internet. Too depressing.

The incidence of thunder and lightning stemming from this incredibly intense storm made my heart skip ever so briefly, and I thought, if only for a moment, "What happens if that lightning just struck a tree and it falls on the building?" Within five minutes or so, I concluded that this fear was an irrational one, because a) the trees aren't tall enough to reach the apartment, even if one was to fall, and b) we are on the second floor of a 3~story apartment complex. At one point during my five minutes of worry and woe, I flashed to the panic, turmoil, sorrow, and pain that people must experience during hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes. I am prone to panic attacks. Didn't have one. Thank you, Holy Ghost.

I am so grateful to Heavenly Father that this Cincinnati dweller and her family will more than likely ever have to experience such natural disasters as these.

If you know me at all, you know I absolutely love New Orleans (NOLA)...and Hurricane Katrina ravaged the majority of my beautiful and most favorite city on 8/29/05. Then along came Hurricane Rita (9/25/05) which flooded NOLA once again before she even hit land. Rita destroyed all the tiny seedling of progress that had been made in the rebuilding efforts, which had only just started. My heart still breaks for "All These People" (a Harry Connick, Jr. song written about the condition of NOLA, his hometown, immediately following Katrina).

Since the NOLA tragedy, I honestly cannot remember any specific natural disasters ~ even though Katrina was almost five years ago. I didn't listen to the news or read any newspapers because it depressed me; therefore I didn't pay attention and therefore I did nothing to help. Ever. I helped in NOLA and still do when I can. I think about NOLA and Hurricane Katrina everyday. I know, it's not normal.

This made me realize that I am being with my charity. I have a vested interest in rebuilding NOLA and seeing it "live again" because I have friends there and, as I mentioned earlier, I am crazy in love with the city. I need to develop a bigger heart to and a thicker skin so I can do as much as possible wherever disaster strikes.

Right now, I cannot contribute monetarily or physically to any of the places hit by natural disasters, simply because I'm broke and can't afford to travel. I want to help, though. So what can I do?

I can:

• Pray for people affected by such tragedies & remember those who've died
• Thank Heavenly Father for putting my problems into perspective
• Tithe; I know the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS allocates funds to help in crises worldwide
• Keep my family strong and steadfast, teaching them compassion for others
• Serve others to the best of my abilities and talents whenever possible

Finally (and I will not *pretend* to have any expertise on this subject), from what I understand, it has been predicted both in the Bible(?) and by Prophets that in the latter days, the earth would suffer many natural disasters and mortal humans would be at war for many years. To me, this means that: a) I need to study the Scriptures more thoroughly and talk to someone who knows a bit more about this; and b) we are in the latter-days of human mortals inhabiting the earth. Again, this is my theory; I am not certain if it is Gospel.

This storm opened my eyes to the fact that we truly are in the latter days; this is all the more reason to follow the Scriptures and live the Gospel. In addition, I need to keep my finger on the pulse of the needs of others. One positive thing I can say about myself is that I am pretty sensitive and empathetic of how someone else is feeling and I'm a good listener.

While I love seeing my friends and other Ward Members from Church, I do have to be alone or only with the kids, who aren't the best conversationalists. So sometimes I just have to rely on the Holy Ghost for comfort; and it makes me want to pray more. Tonight I was alone and, even though it was just for a few minutes, scared silly. I know the Holy Ghost was with me, because I was able to stay calm. I need to pray more, because you can never pray too much, right?

And I need to thank Heavenly Father for sending me a constant companion to, literally, weather the storm with me.

Twenty Four Hours Seems So Far Away

Right about this time tomorrow (Wednesday), I'll be boarding a plane bound for my favorite city, New Orleans!! I am so excited and filled with a mix of emotions that wash over me when I realize how long today is actually going to seem for me. I couldn't sleep last night just thinking about my trip, so just know that tonight's slumber is going to present a major challenge.

When I visited two years ago, there was really no expectation, because I'd never been there before, I'd never met my 'roommates' in person, and I had my nightly activities pre-planned. Plus the kids were younger and school wasn't as much of an issue, plus Jesse had the week off work so he just stayed home with them.

Since this is technically a 'business trip', much of my itinerary is already in place and part of me worries that I just won't have time to do all the running around and sight~seeing that I will want to take part in.

Since I'm going with my Dad and he is partially disabled, I don't want him to feel left out because I felt the urge to go see a gig if I find out one of my boys is playing some night. This trip wouldn't even be possible without my Dad and I owe him absolutely everything...I would love to be able to explain why I love the city so much in words, but I simply cannot, so perhaps I'll have the chance to do so while we are there and I can show him some of the sights.

Regardless of my level of tourism vs. conference participation level, I'll be in New Orleans, which is awesome.

But today, the day before my trip, I am pregnant with anxiety; I feel like my nerves are swollen and overly sensitive. Putting my two eldest on the bus was bittersweet, because I know I won't see them again until Sunday evening. Right now, my youngest (who doesn't attend school until around lunchtime) is being quite a little pill! Although his special needs hold him back in some areas, he knows something is going on or that something different is about to happen. So he's giving me a hard time, and I'm guessing that will be until the very moment I put him on the bus today.

I'll be picked up around 2:30 this afternoon so Dad can avoid needing to get up extra~extra early and running into a.m. rush~hour traffic tomorrow a.m. picking me up on the way to the airport. I have the distinct feeling I'll be even more nervous at Mom & Dad's house, so I'll arm myself with my Scriptures & coloring materials. =P

I figured by the time I finished what must be an incredibly boring blog for anyone (but me) to read, I'd be hitting the 24~hour mark of when I'd actually be boarding the plane. And I have to say I'm pretty darn close.

I know what it means to miss New Orleans

There are only a few truly 'defining' moments in my life. The birth of my children, marrying my husband, and becoming a Mormon stand out in my mind. But right at the top of my 'list' would be my first trip to New Orleans, LA in February 2008. From the moment I could see the mighty Mississippi River from the airplane, my heart skipped a beat and I felt like I was coming home.

Stepping outside of the airport, drawing my first breath of New Orleans' air, feeling New Orleans' earth beneath my feet, and watching the people hustling and bustling by as I was engulfed with the city's metropolitan sounds swelling around me was surreal. Taking it all in was nearly impossible and I had to take pause before I motored to my hotel...I guess because I always said I'd make it to New Orleans, but I never actually believed I'd get there. During my brief but incredibly eventful stay, I took in as much as possible of the city I love.

I visited with my local musician friends, two of whom are a part of Harry Connick, Jr.'s big band. The entire time I was there, Harry was in town coordinating all of the music for the NBA All-Star Weekend, which was being held in New Orleans, coincidentally! Mardi Gras had just ended, a week or so earlier, so there were still beads hanging from the occasional tree branch or caught in a trolley track...a common sight for the locals, I'm sure, but super exciting for me ~ authentic MG beads!!! And I didn't even have to compromise my morals to obtain them!!! Heh.

Another friend of mine (who is in real estate) was kind enough to give me a tour of the FEMA disaster areas and Harry's Musicians' Village site he was building through Habitat for Humanity.

When it was time to say goodbye to my beloved city, I boarded the plane, quite depressed. I wasn't finished!! And just because I'd promised myself I'd come back, I was never certain it would actually happen.

Coming home was so bittersweet. As terrible as it sounds, I wasn't gone long enough to be homesick! Seeing the kids waiting for me at the airport was a delight, but coming back to Cincinnati's frigid negative wind chill factors and icy roads was definitely no fun.

As the song goes, "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?" ~~~~ YES, I certainly do!

The good news, no, great news is that I'm goin' back!!! March 3rd!!! And I can't wait. Dad is taking me along to EPICon 2010 (Electronic Publisher's Internet Connection's annual writer's convention. Along with meeting some very cool authors and networking for my Dad's publishing company, we'll be taking a cruise on the Steamboat Natchez and staying at the Sheraton on Canal Street. Sooooo nice! Thank you, Daddy, for taking me along...I could not have asked for a more amazing gift! This was truly straight from his heart. I just hope I can show him a good time there and give him even a taste of the city I love so much. I do know we will forever have these memories that are yet to come but will be simply fabulous!