May 13, 2013- It seems like yesterday that I was moving to New Orleans with a gambit of emotions when thinking of what was to come in my life. A little over five years ago I got trapped by New Orleans’ love when it wrapped its arms around me and didn’t let go.

April 16, 2013- Yesterday was a day of juxtapositions. The news was focused on what happened at the end of the Boston Marathon; the explosions and how many people were hurt. All sorts of questions were being asked about who may have done such a horrific act.

March 15, 2013- Thanks to volunteers who gave time and money for materials, we’ve been able to restore Otha’s house this winter, with work including a new roof, siding, electric, plumbing with a handicap shower, window, subfloor, insulation, drywall, painting, doors, floor tile, kitchen cabinets and finally a ramp.

February 2, 2013- We continue to work in New Orleans East and in the Lower Ninth Ward, utilizing volunteers from across the country to refresh, renew, and recreate communities that have been stressed by multiple causes. There is a lot of work to do.

January 21, 2013- Old barriers are being torn down, lines are being crossed, and life is being lived to the fullest here. From this comes my hope for the future of our country, as did Dr. King’s.

December 22, 2012- My love affair with New Orleans began five years ago when I packed up my apartment in Richmond, Virginia and headed down in my trusty ol’ Jeep and saw the ‘Welcome to Louisiana/Bienvenue en Louisiane’ sign that welcomed me to the great state I now call home.

December 22, 2012- Well, it’s the time of the year when we wish each other Merry Christmas, shop and make plans to celebrate Christ’s birth with our family and friends. In my family there are a lot of people we consider family, but are not related to us. We like to call them “family by choice”.

A look at a smaller, but no less important, type of home restoration project we do from time to time.

Al worked all Thanksgiving and Friday with us, and the cabinets were in!

Let we who’ve already discovered the joy of service continue to encourage one another and do everything we can to share this blessing with our friends, neighbors and countrymen!