If You Wonder What Youth Ministry is like…

Here’s a taste.

-Micah

A weekend to celebrate

We had a lot of reasons to celebrate this past weekend, not the least of those being Micah’s birthday!

Friday night, we went out to a ranch near Giddings, TX to celebrate the engagement of a couple of our favorite people. Jacob proposed to Charis and then arranged for us and a crowd of other friends to meet up with them and celebrate. We had a great time listening to them recount the proposal story, enjoying s’mores over a bonfire and just catching up with a couple of friends we don’t get to see often enough. Of course, the ranch was gorgeous too! It had that Texas-country thing going for it, and made for a perfectly romantic spot for these two to get engaged.

(I borrowed this pic from one of Charis’ friend’s Facebook. She is a professional photographer, and obviously great at it!)

We also had some friends in from Baton Rouge this weekend. Laura & Patrick stopped in for a couple of nights on their way to San Antonio, and to assist with the Woodard’s move.

That brings me to our next reason to celebrate – we have new neighbors! Mark and Tamara have moved to Katy in a nearby neighborhood. Their new house is beautiful and we’re so happy for them having bought their first house! We’re already exchanging favors, and I’m sure it won’t be long before one of us is knocking on the other’s door to borrow a cup of sugar (regardless of the fact that there are probably 3 grocery stores between our respective neighborhoods!).

We might just be pretty terrible friends, though, because we weren’t much help with Mark and Tamara’s move. I guess we had a pretty good excuse, though. We had a marathon Camp Tallowood sponsor meeting Saturday morning. Camp begins Sunday and we’re scheduled to head out on Friday. It’s soooooo hard to believe that it’s already here!

Last, but certainly not least, our main reason to celebrate over the weekend was Micah’s birthday! We celebrated with… well, a meeting. We tried our best to still make it a celebration, with Micah’s favorite – a Great American Cookie Cake!

Doesn’t the green dinosaur just make you smile? Ha ha! We also had dinner Saturday night with our friends, and then Sunday lunch with the same peeps. Good times, good times…

-Laura

Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

We celebrated tonight with some great friends, Matt and Krissy, and their little son, Thomas. Some of our students had recommended a place called Lupe Tortilla, so we gave it a try. Seriously, it was the best Mexican food I have ever had! The fajitas were FABULOUS!!

Since arriving in Texas, I have been trying to figure out what all the fuss is about “TexMex” food. After tonight, I think I’m getting it. If you’re in Houston, check out Lupe’s… you just might fall in love!

-Laura

Monthly catch-up

A lot has gone over the last few weeks, highlighted, of course, by our two year anniversary on March 3rd! It’s hard to believe that it has been two whole years since we walked down the aisle, said “I do,” went on our honeymoon, moved in to our first home, etc. Time really does fly!

Our anniversary presents to each other were the tickets to see Billy Joel and Elton John at the Toyota Center! The show was absolutely fabulous and even better than anticipated. These two might be getting up there in age, but they still know how to entertain!

They started off the show together with grand pianos facing each other. A few ballads and a lot of musical “showing off” got things started. Then, Elton began his solo act (and Billy’s piano sank into the stage). A few highlights were Tiny Dancer, Crocodile Rock and Rocketman.

We were really just gearing up for Billy’s solo performance at that point…

He didn’t disappoint! Billy Joel played the hits I’ve heard since I was a little girl, including Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Uptown Girl, We Didn’t Start the Fire, Big Shot, New York State of Mind, Just the Way You Are, She’s Got a Way, Only the Good Die Young, Allentown, She’s Always a Woman, etc.

His solo act was amazing… but something was missing. Elton John came back out and they rocked a number of other duets, switching back and forth between the artists’  greatest hits. They even played a couple of Beatles songs.

But, alas, the duo left the stage… and something was still missing. When they came back on stage for the encore, the crazy drunk dude behind us would have been really excited – that is, if his wife hadn’t insisted they end the evening early because of his ridiculous (and pretty hilarious) antics! Elton rounded out his night of hits with Candle in the Wind (answering the drunk guy’s calls from the entire night of “Dooo the Marilyn Monrooooe soooong!” and “Norma JEEEEan!!”).  

But, something was still missing…

Then, the first few strands rang out on the harmonica, and we knew they had chosen the right song to end the show - Piano Man!! I’m sure that’s how they end every show, but it sure made me happy!

(We took a video on Micah’s cell phone, but I can’t get it to load right now, so this random person’s video will have to do…)

And here’s the good ‘ole video -

-Laura

Piano Man and Rocketman

Lots to update on the good ‘ole blog, but one very important thing I wanted to point out – tonight we are headed to see Billy Joel and Elton John in concert!!!!! I can’t believe that in a couple of hours we will be hearing Piano Man, Tiny Dancer, Circle of Life, Uptown Girl, Crocodile Rock, Big Shot, etc! AHHHHHHH!!!!!

Also, our Tigers won today! March is going to be pretty darn “mad” whenever we head East to play UNC… that should be interesting.

-Laura

Legally Blonde!

Just a quick note to share two pieces of news – First of all, we got our Gambino’s King Cake in the mail today!! Woo-hoo! We’ll be treating some of our Texas friends to a REAL King Cake, and getting a little taste of home for ourselves.

Also, as you may have guessed from the title, I’m going to see Legally Blonde: the Musical tonight!! One lazy Saturday last summer I caught an entire marathon of the reality show where they chose the next Elle Woods. So, imagine my excitement when I heard the show was coming to Houston! Here’s a little taste of what you’re missing (you know you’re jealous!):

And here’s the girl who won the reality show (I guess she’s the one performing tonight?!) -

-Laura

Mardi Gras Mambo

For the second year in a row, I am going through withdraws. Apparently Texans don’t celebrate Mardi Gras (who knew? Ha ha).

This year, Fat Tuesday falls on February 24th. All of Louisiana will be celebrating with days off of work, parades, doubloons, beads and king cakes… and all of Texas will be completely unaware it’s even a holiday.

But, alas, the folks at Zatarain’s are trying to make my life outside of Louisiana just a little more bearable. Check this web site out. It’s an official petition to make Mardi Gras a national holiday! I know we’re probably not lucky enough for this to actually happen, but I appreciate the effort from the guys who make some of my favorite Cajun spices, food mixes and frozen Louisiana dinners. (I am petition signee #469, Micah is #477.)

I have seen a few glimpses of Mardi Gras around here, though.

At our neighborhood Randalls (a grocery store), I was appalled to find a dozen cinnamon rolls arranged in a circle with purple, green and gold sprinkles - and labeled “King Cake!” Who are they kidding?! That is NOT a King Cake!

Now this is a King Cake -

Each year, Louisianians spend the months of January through March bringing these delicious treats with them to work, school, church or social events. And whoever gets the hidden plastic baby in their piece is selected to bring the next one.

Of course, there’s always a fight over who makes the best King Cake. My personal favorites are Gambino’s, Cake Palace and Hi Neighbor (yes, the grocery store). My dear friend Kerri will argue with you for hours about the pure dominance of the Cake Palace King Cake. This has been a hot-button issue of her’s for the entire 20 years I’ve known her!

One of these days, I’ll have to enlighten everyone on the origin of the King Cake… Fascinating, I know!

-Laura

A New View of Christmas

I know Christmas has long come and gone, but I wanted to show you our Christmas from a new view… or should I say a new viewfinder!

For Christmas, we got our first Digital SLR camera! Soooo, enjoy these new (a little more artsy) pictures of Christmas 08!

Also, I’m incredibly excited because I finally got to wear my big present from Micah today! For Christmas, he gave me a gorgeous charm bracelet and three charms. The theme? Louisiana, of course!

Of course, we got the cat into the Christmas spirit. Since he got his name from the movie “Elf,” we thought this present in his stocking was only fitting…

-Laura

Auld Lang Syne

Happy New Year everyone! And, of course, Geaux Tigers!

We are having a happy, peaceful New Year’s at home, just the two of us. I know, I know – party animals. Ha ha! But we wanted to settle in and enjoy ourselves after traveling for Christmas. Plus, what more entertainment do we need if the Tigers are playing in a bowl game?

Yes, our Tigers are currently dominating in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Despite the fact that they are basically playing on a home field, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets aren’t looking too good. On the other hand, our boy Jordan Jefferson is looking amazing! It might have taken all season, but it looks like the Tigers have found their quarterback.

Our annual New Year’s Eve ritual is usually to pack in as much “24″ as possible. Jack Bauer has helped us ring in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and maybe even 2004. (Like I said, we’re real party animals!) But this year, there is no new season of the show to watch on DVD. I guess we’ll have to settle for an LSU blowout, the sounds of our neighbor’s fireworks, the delicious steaks Micah just grilled and maybe some old episodes of “Friends.” It may not sound like much, but it sure makes me happy!!!

Hope you all have a very happy and safe New Year celebration, no matter what you do!!!!!

-Laura

Christmas Time is Here!

You know the first song that opens “A Charlie Brown Christmas?” In an extremely high pitched tone, the Peanuts characters point their one-dimensional faces to the sky and belt out “Christmas time is heeeeere!” Well, from the moment I see the first Christmas decorations going up around the city in November (or sometimes in October), this song plays on a loop through my head.

Yes, Christmas time is now here. Chestnuts are roasting, mistletoe is hung where you can see, silver bells are ringing, stocking are hung by the chimney with care, grandma is getting run over by a reindeer, etc. (Ok, maybe not that last one…)

Anyway, Christmas has come to the Cating household. We decorated last weekend, right before having a bunch of friends over for a party. We hosted the annual Christmas party for the young staff members from Tallowood. Because we are pretty much the only ones with true Louisiana roots, we decided to show everyone how to do Christmas “Cajun style!”

 

Micah did a great job on our front yard! (Note the LSU flag, of course)

 

We added some subtle Christmas hints to our kitchen, the garland on the pot rack, tree in the pot, etc.

We’ve never had a fireplace and mantle before! Now Santa won’t have to use the front door…

Our tree looks beautiful, if I do say so myself. Especially with our new tree skirt!

We cooked up and served two different kinds of jambalaya and crawfish ettoufee while the musical stylings of Louis Armstrong, Aaron Neville, Beausoleil, Luther Kent, Michael Doucet and Harry Connick Jr. blared from the iPod. During the party, the women showed off their domestic sides by decorating some fabulous Christmas cookies.

Rebecca

Theresa and Jess. Jess is wearing one of my good ole Louisiana aprons, courtesy of Momma Patz!

Ashley wowed us all with her cookie decorating talents by making this full manger scene!

Of course, in the grand tradition of Cating competition, Micah and I dominated the ornament exchange! We wowed everyone with our ability to silently work together to grab some great ornaments on the very last time they could be stolen. Alright, so maybe we only impressed ourselves, but it was great!

Jacob got the biggest ornament of the night.

Micah dominating the game!

Matt and Krissy debating about what ornament they should steal.

 

 -Laura