Hey y'all!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Pretty sure I gained about 15 pounds over the holidays! AND we still have New Years coming up...Now's the time when we start packing up all the decorations, finish off the remaining candy canes, and un-string all of the colorful outside Christmas lights. BUT let's not forget the real reason for Christmas! Therefore, Christmas is not over. God still sent Jesus through a virgin, Mary, Jesus still lived a perfect life displaying nothing but love for others, he was still beaten and crucified on the cross to take the burden for EVERYONE'S sin. Keep that in mind!
I'm sure all of you had a great Christmas but I would love to share with you some of my fun family adventures that I encountered! The day after Christmas, my family took an impromptu trip to NOLA in my new car that I received for Christmas!! Talk about not expecting THAT! It's a beautiful car and I can't wait for school to start back (never thought I'd be saying that) so I can use it.
We only spent two days in New Orleans but we sure did book it to China and back! So many places to see in so little time. When we first got to New Orleans we visited what I believe to be the cutest little street in New Orleans!! Royal street has so many cute boutiques, antique shops, cafés, and thrift stores! I stopped at one café in particular.... Café Beignet. This is probably one of the best cafés to eat at if you want to have a delectable beignet. AKA French doughnut covered in lots of yummy powdered sugar. Their coffee is some of the strongest I've ever had, as well. Take a look at this cute place!
{trying to be clean and not messy}
My family and I also toured the streets for spontaneous jazz bands because that is the birthplace of jazz! Street performers. Instruments. Gymnasts. GALORE. I could spend all day traveling street to street to just to find what's new and being performed. I couldn't contain my fascination for all of the amazing instrumentalists (especially because I'm in the jazz and wind ensemble at my school)!
On day two we took a walk to find what I've dreamed of getting to see for years. New Orleans Clarinet!! The detail of every key and wood look is mind blowing. I can proudly say that I've checked off a pin on Pinterest that was one of many on my bucket list!
I just so happened to stumble upon the famous St. Louis Cathedral near Jackson Square that was hosting a daily visitation hour. When I walked in I wasn't expecting to see what I did! People these days are used to the tiny chapel stuck on a side of a mountain with the wood rigid floors and straight beamed ceilings. Or the modern church with sheet rock walls and comfortable chairs for pews. I can only imagine the time and work put out on this cathedral. If only we could have heard the beautiful pipe organ mounted on the back wall! 
I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Enjoy your new year! Here's to 2014. God Bless and be safe on this New Year's Eve. :)
-Savannah
