Luvin’ Louisiana

On August 21, 2016August 21, 2016 By kacinpointLeave a comment

http://https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flesley.howitz%2Fvideos%2F698316621848%2F&show_text=0&width=560

What you see in this video is what you see when you drive down street after street after street in and around Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Everything that people have worked for their entire lives has been reduced to a pile of wet, moldy trash at the curb.

My baby girl often says, “I need some luvin’.” just before piling her 5′ 4.5″ self into my lap. Right now Louisiana needs some luvin’. It’s time to hold my people.

Many of you have contacted me asking how you can help my family. I’ve asked several who’ve lost everything what they need most. They still need hands to help with gutting homes. If you are able to go there, go. I can connect you with housing while you’re able to be there. The immediate need for cleaning supplies and food is being met.

The immediate needs are just the tip of the iceberg. The needs are HUGE and hard to wrap my head around. The majority of homes that were flooded were not covered by flood insurance because they were not located in a FEMA designated floodplain. Federal aid is miniscule. Many people that I know and love are still trying to figure out where they will live and how they will rebuild and replace EVERYTHING.

Please look back over the list of my family that has been impacted. If you are interested in adopting one of them, let me know. I will send you the address of where they are staying and you can send help directly to them. I recommend gift cards (Amazon is great because they sell everything from groceries to furniture and clothing) and personal notes. Or, just send a personal note of encouragement. People are tired and short on hope, send some words of hope.

My uncle started a GoFundMe for my cousin Cori. She is a single Mom that worked her tail off to buy a home for her and her son. She has lost everything, including her car.

If you have a spare car to donate, we will find a way to get it to someone who has lost theirs.

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation has a flood relief fund that is a trustworthy place to make donations.

Every time my son Seth prays he says, “God thank you for giving us so much love so that we have love to give others. Please give us more and more love so we have more and more to give.” For the record: I didn’t teach him that. It’s not a parenting win. He just gets it. He knows that He is dearly loved by the Father and that the love he receives is to be given to others.

1 John 3:16-17 This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

In this last week I have witnessed The Church acting like Jesus in bigger ways than I can ever recall. People have shown up in Louisiana, worked, cooked, fed, encouraged, and loved like Jesus. People are pouring out the love of God on my tribe and it makes my heart smile. But there is still SO MUCH to do.

Galatians 6:9So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good…

I’m a Louisiana Girl and this is my tribe…

On August 16, 2016August 16, 2016 By kacinpoint1 Comment

I’m a Louisiana girl. I was born and raised in and around Baton Rouge. I have a huge extended family that is still there. They are my tribe. And they are hurting.

Between Thursday and Sunday FOUR TRILLION GALLONS of water fell on South Louisiana. That’s enough water to fill SIX MILLION olympic-sized swimming pools. The chances of that much rain falling in an entire year is 0.1%. Yet, that much fell in less than four days. The national media sucks. They’ve given very little coverage and the coverage they’ve given doesn’t come close to the devastating impact the flood has had on my home state. As of a few hours ago, TWENTY parishes (counties in Louisiana) have been declared federal disasters. For perspective, the damage covers an area equal to the entire DC Metro area from Prince William County in Virginia all the way to Baltimore County in Maryland. In Denham Springs, Louisiana, more than 90% of homes were flooded. Hundreds of thousands of homes and vehicles flooded. As of noon today, at least 30,000 people have been rescued and at least 10,000 are displaced in shelters. As of a few minutes ago, ten flood-related deaths have been reported.

My people… my tribe… These are the people who cheered us on as we journeyed to adopt our daughter from Serbia and embraced her as their own when we brought her home. These are the people who fell to their knees when I was diagnosed with cancer and for the nearly four years we waited for my husband to be exonerated. These are the people who jumped for joy and gave GOD the glory in every situation where we’ve seen God move. They are the people who knew me when I still wet the bed and invited to sleep-over anyway. These are MY people and they NEED prayer.

This is an update on everyone (to the best of my knowledge). If there is someone left off the list or if you see information that is not correct, please let me know and I will update the post. I’m not listing people that do not live in or around Baton Rouge. People all over the world read this blog and many have reached out to me asking how they can help (other than prayer). Family, please let me know what your top three needs are and we will start working on meeting those needs.

McAdams Family

Aunt Lorraine and Ron’s house in Central – Flooded – Last update they were staying with neighbors.

Treynor – House dry, but business flooded.

Lynee – House dry.

Madelon’s house in Bellingrath got about five feet of water. – Angie is there helping her with demo and she’s staying with Staci. They need extra hands!

Margaret had water almost to her roof and lost her car. – Not sure where she is staying.

Bobbye Lee and Staci – both dry and helping Madelon with demo.

Kali and Thomas both lost their cars. Haven’t gotten back to their house in Watson, but were told that it’s dry.

Boo’s house (Aunt Abbie’s old house) – flooded.

Mac – Dry, but I think I saw that his daughter Angela’s house is flooded and they are staying with extended family.

Paul – Dry, but his business flooded

Shannon – Dry (it took us all a while to find them and thank GOD they are safe!). Shannon has offered space and hot meals to anyone in need. They live in Arbor Walk off S. Walker Rd.

Sarah – Dry in Lafayette

Uncle Marshall – Dry – He was even able to go to church on Sunday. 🙂

Peggy and her kids are all dry

Janell – Flooded – Peggy’s family helped her start demo today.

Rebekah – Flooded

Matt – Flooded

Jared – Dry

Marsha – Dry – After two nights in a shelter separated from Max, Virginia was able to get home last night – Thank God!

Dennis – Dry – Pray for his heart. He’s been activated to search door to door for flood victims.

Rusty – Flooded – His family is at Terrie’s house and they’ve lost everything including their vehicles.

Carolyn – Dry – She has a house FULL of people and Brian’s work flooded.

Cynde – Dry

Michelle – Lost everything including their vehicles – They’re also staying at Terrie’s house.

Kathy (Aunt Betty Faye’s old house) – Dry

Daniel – Flooded – His family is staying with Kathy.

Estelle – Dry

Jay – Dry

Amy – Flooded – Staying with Jay.

Uncle Emmitt – They’ve lost everything. House, business, vehicles… all flooded. I believe they’re staying with Gabe and Telly’s families at Telly’s in-laws.

Freeman – Dry

Wes – House is dry. Kelsey and Justin’s houses both flooded.

Todd – Dry

Telly – Flooded

Gabe – Flooded

Crenshaw Family

Daddy- Dry

Margie’s house in Denham – Flooded – She is in Leesville.

Uncle Harvey’s house flooded. Harvey is helping them with demo, but they can use more hands.

Harvey – Dry

Richey – Dry – Rescued Uncle Harvey and Aunt Gwen and got them to a friend’s house where they are staying.

Aunt Cindy – Dry

Chip – Dry

Clint – Dry

13895244_10207202670080543_3089146433880801980_n — Cori’s Neighborhood

Cori – Flooded – She lost her house and car and still needs help with demo.

Beth – Dry

Rusty -Dry

Stacy – Dry

Kayla – Dry

Todd – Dry

Little Todd – Flooded – They lost everything and they’re staying with Todd.

Nicole -Dry

Bagot Family

James Gay – Dry

Courtney – Dry

Marshall – Dry

I will update as I receive new information and I will write another post on ways to help.

Baton Rouge has been through HELL in the last month. But there is a dichotomy in that hell. After the shootings of Alton Sterling, Brad Garafola, Matt Gerald, Montrell Jackson, and Nick Tullier; we witnessed division that seemed irreparable. What I am witnessing now is the polar opposite. People of every race, class, and religion are working together to save themselves and their community. I see thousands of people sleeping on cots and floors right next to people who look nothing like them. I see people launching their boats off the side of a highway and spending every waking hour rescuing anyone they can find. I see people acting like Jesus. And for that… I am grateful.

a season of grace

On February 15, 2013April 2, 2015 By kacinpoint2 Comments

Growing up in south Louisiana is a privilege. I’ve been around the world and I’ve experienced no culture, food, or people, quite like those of my home. In south Louisiana Mardi Gras is a season. Much like Black Friday and tree sales initiating the Christmas season, I grew up with king cakes, parades, and Mardi Gras balls initiating the Lenten season.

As a little girl I wanted so badly to be Catholic. I was just about the only kid in elementary school who didn’t ‘get to’ go to catechism. We were (still are) non-denominational Christians and listening to the other kids plan out and talk about their catechism carpools and the mean nuns left me feeling like a red-headed step-child (no offense to my ginger friends). I wanted my own rosary and I wanted to see my friends get hit on the back of their hands with a ruler by a nun when they talked during prayer.

I eventually got over the desire to be Catholic and decided to just embrace the parts of Catholicism that I found enjoyable and comforting. Even so, not living in Louisiana for more than twenty years means that I’ve missed out on being immersed in the season. For many years I whined about missing the parades and having to make my own kingcakes. And then, a few years ago, I realized that I was not only missing all the fun aspects of the Mardi Gras season. I was missing the reverent aspects of the Lenten season as well. Although I had been one of the few non-Catholic kids in school, just living in Baton Rouge meant that I didn’t have meat in the cafeteria on Fridays and that I didn’t have school at all the week of Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday. And, even though my Mom would explain to me every year from the time I was six that I “didn’t have to”, I still gave up something every year for Lent. I had to have something to add to the playground conversations and to be honest, I liked the discipline of the giving up. I still do. I fast from various things at various times throughout the year and I am always blown away at the really BIG WAYS that God shows up when I’m giving something up and replacing that something with Him.

A few years ago, during the Lenten season, something amazing happened. While I was in Lake Charles, Louisiana caring for my grandmother, my dear hubby was home in Virginia studying all things Ressurectionish. I returned home to find a mezuzah attached to the frame of our front door and a book laying on the kitchen counter telling how to prepare the Passover Seder. My former Catholic, very Italian husband, got in touch with his Jewish roots. He found a desire to honor the beauty of Christ’ life, death, and resurrection in physical, tangible ways.

As dear hubby and I gave homage to all things Christ-centered, we talked to our children about the Lenten season and the crucifixion and the resurrection. We reminded them over and over that all of it was for grace. That Christ did not just come to earth and live as a man and die FOR us, but AS us. We told them that he felt pain and misery and abuse so that we could let go of those things when they happen to us. We told them that he was tortured and beaten for every wrong thing that any of us would ever do. We told them that he conquered death so that all of those wrongs would not have the power to dictate how we live our lives. We told them that he died for our freedom. He died for our redemption. He died because he loves us. He died for grace.

Romans 8:38-39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We’ve told our children these things throughout their lives, but grace and love and freedom are so much bigger than what can be told. They must be shown.

Yes, my children know what this season is about. But the same year that my husband found his Jewish roots, I found myself burdened. I want my kids to experience Christ, not just know about him. I desire more than anything for grace and freedom to be part of their identities, not just part of their knowledge base. I knew all about Jesus when I was a teenager, but I was clueless when it came to grace and freedom and unconditional love. Unfortunately, my lack of understanding led me to believe that choices I made could never be forgiven. My lack of experience with the realness of Christ’ sacrifice led to years of running and self-destruction.

I want more for my children. God, let them know! Let them know how BIG your love is. Let them know how BIG your grace is. Let them walk in freedom every day of their lives. Give them total understanding that NOTHING can separate them from your love. Give me wisdom in showing them these things. Amen.

John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

When I was giving up something for Lent as a child I appreciate that my Mom made it clear that I had free will and that I did not have to. But I really wish she had taken the time to teach me what Lent was about. I wish I had known that the “giving up” was in honor of what Christ gave up for us. I really wish that I had had some tangible symbolic activity that I could connect to scripture as a reminder that freedom and love and grace are mine for the taking. But I didn’t. And now… I have a chance to redeem my story. I have four (not-so) little people in my care that I CAN provide with a tangible symbolic activity that can be tied to scripture. In my endeavor to find that activity, I came across this blogpost by Ann Voskamp. Read it. Be inspired.

On New Year’s Eve 2012, we had a little party at our house. Instead of having people sit around and discuss or write down their hopes, dreams, aspirations, and resolutions for 2013, I gave everyone a couple of index cards and a pen at 11:30pm. I asked everyone to go find a quiet spot and write down ALL of the things that they would like to leave behind in 2012. And then… just before midnight, we put our cards, one-by one, in the fireplace and watched them burn.

For the last few years, as an attempt to SHOW what Holy Week is all about, I build a repentance box. Our family (and friends who stop by during the week) write out our bad choices, our pains, every ounce of unforgiveness. All the junk Christ carried to the grave, we place it in the box and let it go. And just before midnight, on the Saturday before Resurrection Sunday, we will turn it all to ash.

Happy Season of Grace!

Go build your box. 😀