This past weekend Matthew and I celebrated our first anniversary. Last year on February 7, the weather was absolutely beautiful with highs in the mid 70's. This year.....not so much.
We spent the weekend in one of our favorite places...New Orleans. As many of you already know, Hurricane Katrina actually did some good. It brought the two of us together. Matthew was living and working in New Orleans before Katrina in 2005. He actaully was an "evacuee" of one of the nation's greatest disasters. After Katrina, Matthew came back to New Orleans and began work of a different maginude. Before August 29, 2005, he was a civil engineer doing work for Weston. After Katrina, he was part of the team contracted by the EPA doing emergency response, living in tents and motor homes. Basically, salvaging what was left of the city. In April of 2006, I went to New Orleans to join in the emergency response. I know I have said this a million times, but that time in my life changed me in so many ways. Not only did I meet my future husband, I was able to see first hand, on the front lines, the ninth ward, the levees, the desperation of the evacuees, everything. I walked the levees and watched crews pull what was left of peoples lives and homes. Nothing will ever make you feel God's hand more than watch people go to the darkest places and come back stronger. There are images in my mind that will stay there for a life time. I was absolutely honored to be a part of that history. Luckily, Matthew's apartment was on the westside of New Orleans in River Ridge. He had very minor water damage. I think the worst part was the electricity being turned off for weeks and the refridgerator was beyond disgusting (that was thrown away before he came back to live in the apartment). After six monthes of him working bascially seven days a week well over 12 hours a day, he returned home to Alex City to prepare to take his P.E. (professional engineering exam). I traveled back and forth to New Orleans doing many different projects up to July of 2009. I could go on and on with stories...Anyway, New Orleans always holds a very special place in our hearts.
Matthew planned this surprise trip long before we knew the Saints were going to the Super Bowl, nor did either of us realize Mardi Gras was beginning. We traveled down on Friday afernoon and stayed at the Marriott downtown (were I stayed a long portion of my time). The city was buzzing and everyone was beyond excited to be celebrating the many events New Orleans was experiencing. We enjoyed our weekend playing at Harrahs, walking around the French Quarter, and watching the parades (on another note; the float people were really mean this year hurling beads as fast and hard as they could at peoples heads...). Unfortunately, the weather was about 40 degress with winds up to 30 mph. My hair had a rough weekend.
Views from our hotel room
One of the KREWE parades on Canal St right in front of our hotel
When returned home to Auburn on Sunday afternoon just in time to watch the Saints beat the Colts (which is a good thing, cause I am pretty sure the Saints fans would have torched the city if they would have lost). We enjoyed some yummy Rotel and our cake topper from our wedding...
It looks sad one year later, but actually tasted very yummy!!
Happy Anniversary to my husband! I love you!
