Baton Rouge
While traveling to Pensacola, Florida for our 10th Anniversary
on our way back to Texas we stopped at Louisiana state capital.
Our travel ambitions one day will be to visit all 50 capitals.
Once again it's been awhile since I've updated our family blog.
So much happenings have been going on in the Cristales home.
For the last 13 months I've been asked to be the Young Women president
for about 15 beautiful girlies in my church.
Graduate school keeps me really busy. I finished
my practicum in the Spring. I had such a great experience and really enjoyed working
with my first clients. I had an opportunity to lead groups at the Juvenile Justice center.
Honestly, I was so scared I had never been in a Juvenile Justice center.
Those groups turned out to be my favorite Saturdays.
To all the crazy we added two beautiful lab/mix doggies to the mix.
Currently I have a big activity for the girlies coming up this weekend.
I have more studies I should be concentrating on and I could
share about so many adventures.
One day I will share about Uganda or not.
I hold that adventure pretty close to my heart.
So why Baton Rouge?
Someone once told me it was the poorest city they had ever visited.
Maybe so...
That wasn't my adventure.
Not sure how to put all my heart aches into words.
I felt so sad when I heard three police officers had been killed
in Baton Rouge.
Why? Why would an ex marine have so much hatred and kill?
For justice, revenge, peace.
For a movement and cause.
For equality.
To show a change needs to take action.
A mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, in-law, friend, neighbor,
community, and nation have all been affected by the recent loss of police officers
that sacrifice every day to keep communities safe.
In a split second a police officer has to make a decision.
A decision that could cost his life or a life of another human being.
A choice they will have to live with for the rest of their life.
As a counselor I can guarantee that one day I will be helping
police officers and the hard decisions they have to make everyday.
Has our society become so numb to all the killings
that we can justify and move along?
Personally I mourn for everyone and pray our beautiful country can find a peaceful solution
to all the problems we face as a nation.
As we drove to the capital it was a quite Sunday afternoon.
It felt peaceful and relaxing.
Our family walked around the capital.
A nice family took our photo.
Al wanted me to go inside the capital and get a brochure while he watched the doggies.
That's usually how it goes.
We take turns.
I went inside and looked in a few rooms.
I worried about taking to long and the boys being in the hot sun
As I walked out a nice gentlemen asked have you been on the 27th floor?
No, the capital has 27 floors?
Oh, yes. You have to see it.
Go on the elevator. Push the 24th floor button.
Once you get off take a left and on the right is another elevator that will take you to the 27th floor.
The man told me you have to see the view.
View?
Yes, you can go on the roof.
Immediately, I thought Al would love this.
So I took a selfie to send Al of my fun little adventure.
Such a beautiful city and I imagined what it was like fifty years ago.
I found the boys playing with sticks in the shade having a good time.
The capital has a beautiful park and we walked in the park and enjoyed the sunshine.
We then drove throughout the city and saw another fun park along the river bank.
We were getting hungry and so Al told me we can come back.
We ended up taking a few different turns and ended up driving along the University.
I had no idea the University was so beautiful.
Another time I would love to walk the University grounds.
It was so peaceful, a typical University campus.
Al found a hamburger restaurant.
It was perfect and had an out door eating area for our family.
Traveling with two doggies can be a challenge.
Oh, my goodness best burgers we've ever eaten right in Baton Rouge.
Who knew.
So big I couldn't eat all of mine.
We started with chocolate milkshakes and so refreshing on a hot summer day.
Al came back with two big plates of specialty fries.
The most delicious parmesan cheese on our potatoes.
If you are ever in Baton Rouge check it out.
I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
I would love to come back as it was getting late and we still had many miles
to get back home.
I'm sure the boys wouldn't complain traveling back to Baton Rouge to play along
the River banks.
A point I wanted to express is don't let someone else view
ruin the view you could experience.
Give, love, and be courageous to find joy
in things that make you happy.
Baton Rouge gave me joy
so Thank You Baton Rouge!
