Bayou Farewell

When I first moved to Louisiana seven years ago, my friend Adrienne Moore recommended a great book to me called Bayou Farewell by Mike Tidwell.

I love this book for a number of reasons. For one, Tidwell introduced me to the problem of coastal wetlands loss in Louisiana. This is a problem for the entire U.S. Why? Let me defer to the experts: 

Louisiana wetlands are unique and vital ecological assets worth saving. Wetlands act as a storm buffer against hurricanes and storms. They act as flood control devices: holding excess floodwaters during high rainfall (much like a sponge). Wetlands replenish aquifers, and they purify water by filtering out pollutants and absorbing nutrients. Approximately 40 percent of the coastal wetlands of the lower forty-eight states are located in Louisiana. Unfortunately, this fragile environment is disappearing at an alarming rate. Louisiana has lost up to 40 square miles of marsh per year for several decades – that’s 80 percent of the nation’s annual coastal wetland loss. To date, Louisiana has already lost coastal land area equal to the size of the state of Delaware. This loss is at an average rate of an acre every 38 minutes. If the current rate of loss is not slowed by the year 2040, an additional 800,000 acres of wetlands will disappear, and the Louisiana shoreline will advance inland as much as 33 miles in some areas (Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, 1990).

I also love this book because of Tidwell's colorful description of the people who live along the coast of Louisiana. Their livelihoods have long been in shrimp and fish, but many of them can no longer support their families. The oil spill has not helped matters. After reading Tidwell's book, I knew I wanted to visit this part of Louisiana if given the opportunity.

Last fall, I was fortunate to be part of a team granted a grant from the National Science Foundation to study how journalists can best equip themselves to cover the ongoing story of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Part of this research project involves traveling to Chauvin, Louisiana this week to take part in a workshop for journalists, scientists and informal science educators. On Thursday, we will board the Acadiana and cruise out into upper Terrebonne Bay to gain a hands-on understanding of the tools and techniques used to collect oceanographic data in the wake of the Gulf Oil Spill.

I must admit, I am a little nervous because I really don't understand all of this science. But that is the point of this workshop. To help journalists translate science for their readers so they can be more informed on the issues.

I hope to have some stories and pictures to share when I return!

Spring, spring, glorious spring

I don't normally do pictures of the kids, but I couldn't resist sharing this one. This picture represents so much joy for me. Here are just a few things I am thankful for these days:

• Seeing the kids get to know each other and learn to love each other. As they get older, they play together more. I know the fights are coming, but for now we are in a very blissful stage of siblinghood.
• Saturdays! The weeks are busy in our house and Sundays are even busier. But Saturdays are family day and I treasure every minute. Today Fred cooked breakfast for all of us. Then we took the kids to the park to play and out to lunch. They both fell asleep on the way home. 
• John Parker's new ear tubes. On Friday he had surgery to get a second set of tubes and remove his adenoids. He did great. Here's to healthier days ahead!
• Beautiful weather.
• All of the colors outside. From pink azaleas to green leaves on trees, everything's in bloom and beautiful.
• New babies on the way - not mine! We have several great friends who are pregnant after long journeys to parenthood. It is such a joy to celebrate with them. These children are truly miracles. 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3

The Right Thing

Two weeks ago, Kate turned three. With kindergarten over two years away, we seem to already be talking about school a lot. When you talk with parents in Baton Rouge, school is a popular topic of conversation. The public schools have struggled and while we are hopeful that our children will have the opportunity to attend public schools like we did as children, we feel a responsibility as parents to check out all of our options.

So we visited a private elementary school last week. I have to admit, I drank the Kool-Aid immediately. Pristine playgrounds, cute little science lab coats, class pets, dance classes - the opportunities for Kate to expand her horizons seemed boundless. But I'm trying to temper my enthusiasm by thinking about education in a broad sense.

How do you measure the value of becoming friends with someone whose family is very different from your own? Can you overstate the importance of the daughter of a Christian minister becoming friends with a child from a different faith background? If we send our children to private elementary school, are we making a decision that will set them on a certain course?

The only answer I have right now to all of these questions is that God created our children and he alone knows what is right for each of them. We have to seek his wisdom to make the right decision. So that is what we'll do.

But those little white lab coats were so cute.

"Will I be older tomorrow?"

"Mommy, will I be older tomorrow?"

Kate asked me this simple, innocent, yet somewhat disturbing question tonight while I was putting her to bed. I feel like every time I turn around she's older. There are so many wonderful things about her being older. It's so much fun to take her places and we can do so many fun things together. But there are also growing pains for all of us. The other day, she told me a story of a couple of little girls excluding her on the playground. I was so mad. I think the anger really comes from knowing I'm not in control. I want to follow her around and make sure everyone in the world sees the wonderful, sweet girl I know. But I realize that everyone experiences pain and hurt and she is not immune.

Will I be older tomorrow? I definitely am tonight :)

From the Bumpy Road

I've been thinking about some changes to this blog for some time. We are the "Gators from Tiger Country,"  but I didn't think that was the best identity for the blog. A few months back, I thought of this idea. I grew up on a rural road in Florida that some of my family members lovingly refer to as "the bumpy road." Sometimes, when the limestone road really needed grinding, you would hit a bump and you weren't sure what direction your car (or your bike) would take you. 

I think that's a pretty good description of our life right now. Don't get me wrong - we have a great, great life. But there are bumps. There are questions. We are juggling a lot and trying to live a life that brings glory to God. It can be hard to be transparent about the bumps. It's more fun to talk about the birthdays, anniversaries, fun trips, etc. But life is about both. 

I hope you enjoy reading about our journey. Come along for the ride!

"K-K Reesa"

Dear Kate,

Three years ago tonight, I tried to sleep but sleep wouldn't come. Nine months flew by and the day was finally upon us. What would you look like? What kind of personality would you have?

My sweet girl, you bring more joy to my life than I ever thought possible. Every morning, I look forward to seeing your smile as you peak around the covers with your crazy, curly hair. Your laugh is contagious and your generous, kind heart is so beautiful. Like me, you have a running soundtrack of music in your head.  Like your dad, you are very detail-oriented and very busy all of the time.

Katherine Theresa Lundy, or "K-K Reesa" as you say, only God knows what year 4 holds but we can't wait to see it all unfold. Mommy loves you, sweet girl!

An everyday cathedral

"The world I live in is loud and blurring and toilets plug and I get speeding tickets and the dog gets sick all over the back step and I forget everything and these six kids lean hard into me all day to teach and raise and lead and I fail hard and there are real souls that are at stake and how long do I really have to figure out how to live full of grace, full of joy – before these six beautiful children fly the coop and my mothering days fold up quiet?  How do you open the eyes to see how to take the daily, domestic, workday vortex and invert it into the dome of an everyday cathedral?"

Ann Voskamp, 1000 Gifts

I've been reading this book and it's one of the best books I've read in a very long time. It's beautiful poetry. It's so relevant to my current journey in life, striving to see beauty in and be thankful for everything in life. I can't recommend this book highly enough.