When you are faced with one of the biggest catastrophes you could ever imagine, you learn quickly what’s truly important in life.  To know what it’s like to not have a home to go to, a car to drive,  or even to be able to make your family dinner.  Thousands of people on the Gulf Coast could tell you their tragic stories of what it was like to literally have nothing.  Many went from working all their lives to build a home for their family and memories that can never be recreated and to then have everything within minutes taken out from under you is an experience you can never forget.

I was actually pleased this time around while visiting the Gulf Coast to learn how so many people from all over have come together to rebuild the Coast and to actually see it as a newly rebuilt city instead of a place where it looks as though a catastrophe had occurred.  It puts you at such a sense of relief to know that many families are settling into their new homes while others are continually working hard at completing theirs.

Here are some of the photographs I captured while being on the coast, all the way from Pascagoula to Gulfport.  What I thought was quite intriguing was the Hurricane Katrina Waves Monument that was placed over in Beach Park in Pascagoula.  Driving past those waves will never let you forget the devistation it had caused and how the people are working their hardest to making the Coast better than it was before.

She has that laugh you can hear from miles away and such wit that intrigues you to want to know more about her.  Barbara is full of life and as a friend I’m ecstatic to see her so happy and so confident.  I had fun reminiscing about the good ole’ days and hearing how wonderfully happy she is with that certain someone.  As a friend you always genuinely hope your friends find their soul mates and with Barbara it’s the first time I have ever seen her gleam as much as she does when she talks about him! :)  I am truly and genuinely happy for you girl and only hope for nothing but the best!

Thank you Barbara girl for such wonderful southern hospitality and you are nothing short of FABULOUS!!

I couldn’t help myself but I just had to post these photographs of such adorable, squeezable little puppies.  Wendy’s dog had pups a few weeks ago and they couldn’t be more precious!  My favorite one is the chubbiest of them all (a/k/a “Porkchop”) and I was so tempted to bring one on the plane with me!!

What’s so great about my girl Wendy is she has a heart of gold when it comes to animals.  You would think she’s running an animal rescue clinic in her back yard.  She takes in strays ALL the time but then says “I don’t know how I ended up with so many pets” - Well Wendy I hate to break it to ya but feeding hot dogs to wandering animals passing through your neighborhood isn’t neccesarily a good way of scaring them away!!