Alright, so as I'm writing this, it's still Mardi Gras- a holiday I learned about while I lived in Louisiana.
My Mother used to sing to me and my siblings when we were young. She would sing all sorts of songs and lullabies, but each one of us had a "special" lullaby. MY lullaby is "You Are My Sunshine". When I received my mission call to Louisiana it felt right. I knew that was where I needed to go. My Mom did some researching and was the one to find out that Louisiana's State Song is: "You Are My Sunshine"- MY song. :)
Katrina. First off- I have always loved the names Karina, Katrina and Kalista (the last being the most different). But now to the Hurricane. My roommate and one of my best friends was dating a guy (at the time, long distance) from and then living in Metairie (just outside New Orleans). Through the whole thing I felt connected to those in Louisiana just through her updates. I remember my friend being terrified when he said they had to turn back towards Metairie, though he eventually did make it back out. We went to a Katrina Relief block party that rose money to help Katrina victims. I got my mission call later that same year. I was also friends with her boyfriend, and I remember telling him I was serving in "Baton Rouge Louisiana". I had to tell him three times. The first time he was like- 'haha, that's funny, now where are you REALLY going?'. And the second time 'haha, it was funny the first time, but where are you REALLY going?'. Finally I had to say, Andrew- how would I know it's the Baton Rouge Mission instead of New Orleans? And he paused... 'you're really coming here?!' Needless to say he moved back to Utah when I got to Louisiana and the 2 weeks they (my roommate and him) came to Metairie was during a 6 week period where I left Metairie before coming right back. But I still felt a connection to Louisiana and what happened during Katrina because of it.
Golden Birthdays. They say your "Golden Birthday" is the one where you turn the age that matches the day you were born. If you're born the 2nd of a month then it's when you turn 2, or when you turn 5 on the 5th, 10 on the 10th... etc. Well I turned 24 on the 24th. And guess what? It was on MARDI GRAS! So, I ordered a King Cake from New Orleans (delivered to Utah- where I was at the time) and found beads. Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday. A day of feasting. Most people don't understand the full significance of it. They associate flashing boobs and getting beads as the main event- but that's not what Mardi Gras is really all about. It's a Christian Holiday- or was in its origins. People are familiar with Lent- 40 days of fasting. It used to be about giving up food. Mardi Gras was the Tuesday before Lent started. The feast day. And used to be all about food. Then Lent became fasting from other things- temptations and sins... and hence we have a "sin-free day" way of celebrating in select areas that become better known than what most of Louisiana celebrates as Mardi Gras. For most it is about the beads, and the parade, and the food- the friends and the family and the King Cake. The King Cake which has symbolism pointing straight to Christ. Mardi Gras to me is a religious celebration like Christmas, with symbolism and meaning. My family will know the religious side of Mardi Gras and celebrate it with me. And I am grateful to have been lucky to have my Golden Birthday on such a joyous occasion.
As I have been looking back and feeling blessed because of my connection to Louisiana and Christ allowing me to serve there, let us all look back on our lives and see how the Lord has blessed us in our own lives. Let us have a day of feasting on memories of blessings from Christ. If ever we fast, let us remember Him and all that He has done. I am truly grateful today for many things, but right now, the most fond memories are those from Louisiana... and when my husband sang "You Are My Sunshine" to me- seemed to tie everything that means something to me together. :)
Louisiana (people of Louisiana and those I met there), my family, my husband, Christ- You are MY Sunshine. :)
My Mother used to sing to me and my siblings when we were young. She would sing all sorts of songs and lullabies, but each one of us had a "special" lullaby. MY lullaby is "You Are My Sunshine". When I received my mission call to Louisiana it felt right. I knew that was where I needed to go. My Mom did some researching and was the one to find out that Louisiana's State Song is: "You Are My Sunshine"- MY song. :)
Katrina. First off- I have always loved the names Karina, Katrina and Kalista (the last being the most different). But now to the Hurricane. My roommate and one of my best friends was dating a guy (at the time, long distance) from and then living in Metairie (just outside New Orleans). Through the whole thing I felt connected to those in Louisiana just through her updates. I remember my friend being terrified when he said they had to turn back towards Metairie, though he eventually did make it back out. We went to a Katrina Relief block party that rose money to help Katrina victims. I got my mission call later that same year. I was also friends with her boyfriend, and I remember telling him I was serving in "Baton Rouge Louisiana". I had to tell him three times. The first time he was like- 'haha, that's funny, now where are you REALLY going?'. And the second time 'haha, it was funny the first time, but where are you REALLY going?'. Finally I had to say, Andrew- how would I know it's the Baton Rouge Mission instead of New Orleans? And he paused... 'you're really coming here?!' Needless to say he moved back to Utah when I got to Louisiana and the 2 weeks they (my roommate and him) came to Metairie was during a 6 week period where I left Metairie before coming right back. But I still felt a connection to Louisiana and what happened during Katrina because of it.
Golden Birthdays. They say your "Golden Birthday" is the one where you turn the age that matches the day you were born. If you're born the 2nd of a month then it's when you turn 2, or when you turn 5 on the 5th, 10 on the 10th... etc. Well I turned 24 on the 24th. And guess what? It was on MARDI GRAS! So, I ordered a King Cake from New Orleans (delivered to Utah- where I was at the time) and found beads. Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday. A day of feasting. Most people don't understand the full significance of it. They associate flashing boobs and getting beads as the main event- but that's not what Mardi Gras is really all about. It's a Christian Holiday- or was in its origins. People are familiar with Lent- 40 days of fasting. It used to be about giving up food. Mardi Gras was the Tuesday before Lent started. The feast day. And used to be all about food. Then Lent became fasting from other things- temptations and sins... and hence we have a "sin-free day" way of celebrating in select areas that become better known than what most of Louisiana celebrates as Mardi Gras. For most it is about the beads, and the parade, and the food- the friends and the family and the King Cake. The King Cake which has symbolism pointing straight to Christ. Mardi Gras to me is a religious celebration like Christmas, with symbolism and meaning. My family will know the religious side of Mardi Gras and celebrate it with me. And I am grateful to have been lucky to have my Golden Birthday on such a joyous occasion.
As I have been looking back and feeling blessed because of my connection to Louisiana and Christ allowing me to serve there, let us all look back on our lives and see how the Lord has blessed us in our own lives. Let us have a day of feasting on memories of blessings from Christ. If ever we fast, let us remember Him and all that He has done. I am truly grateful today for many things, but right now, the most fond memories are those from Louisiana... and when my husband sang "You Are My Sunshine" to me- seemed to tie everything that means something to me together. :)
Louisiana (people of Louisiana and those I met there), my family, my husband, Christ- You are MY Sunshine. :)
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