Mary-Grace "Saint" Therese Landreneau

My sweet Gracie turns 4 years old today!!! And the title of this entry is how she says her name when you ask for it in full. She is named for Our Lady and for St. Therese, the saint who has interceded so much on my behalf.

The above picture was taken this morning over birthday donuts. And the wild hair TOTALLY fits her personality.

What a gift this child is! I haved learned so much about the character of God since she has been in my life. I have learned how merciful He is with me because I am constantly having to show her mercy. I have learned how patient He is with me while trying to be patient with her. She is such a light to us. She keeps us on our toes. There are many days that I thank the Lord just for having survived another day with Mary-Grace. She is intense when she is disobedient, but she is more intense spiritually. She has challenged me time and again, and the Lord continually refines me through her.

Happy Birthday, Brown-Eyed Girl! I love you so much!

"Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!" ~2 Corinthians 9:15

Youngsville Mardi Gras

Yesterday we went to the grand metropolis of Youngsville to celebrate Mardi Gras with lots of friends. In true Cajun fashion, there was a chicken chase and a boucherie (pig roast). The pictures speak for themselves...

The Chicken Chase

A chicken was tossed in the air. The kids all ran around trying to catch it. My kids were running away from those kids!

After the Chicken Chase...

Poor Frederica (yes, they named the chicken). That's her next to the pig. In a gruesome display that I chose not to watch, Frederica had her head chopped off and was thrown into boiling water (that makes it easier to pluck the feathers off). There she sits roasting by the pig. GROSS!

The tradition of chasing and killing a chicken on Mardi Gras Day goes way back, but it's pretty much only done in the smaller country towns. And it is a town-wide affair. There are men on horseback chasing the poor thing all over the place. Once the chicken is caught, it is killed to make a gumbo that the town feasts on that evening in preparation for the Ash Wednesday and Lenten fasts.

Apparently, this is the way to season the chicken once it's on the fire.

And this is how we Cajuns fan the fire. Nothing like a good ole leaf blower to get the fire blazing again!

Then came the parade. Now, in Lafayette, we are required to stand behind barricades, but in Youngsville, we can do cool things like walk up to the float and barter for the good beads...

...or stick your own advertisment on them. Here Kessie and Mr. Carroll, founder of Cajun Power Sauce, tie a shirt to the truck. The shirt reads "Vote Sloppy Boudreaux for President". I'd vote for him. That stuff is amazing!

Only in Cajun Country would you see this: a recliner rigged to a 4 wheeler base.

Me and my cute Gracie

Here comes the fun after the parade...

Time to eat the pig!

Chop, chop

No more pig head. Look at Jacob's face! He was not too impressed.

Eww. Just sick.

And that, my friends, is some mighty tasty meat, if you can get past the way it looks! We picked that pig clean.

And, last but not least, here are the crazies responsible for the festivities.

Yes, that's a wig. They are both bald.

Here's to 2009!