natchitoches is for lovers

so the week was a doozy, that's for sure, but it started out the best if could ever. my hubba bubba gave me our best valentine's yet. besides a beautiful silver heart pendant, we also went out of town with my best friend, lydia (ling ling) and her boo- jared boo, and visited the enchanting town of Natchitoches, LA. we had a blast. not to be confused with Nacogdoches, TX. although, they were indian brothers, each town is VERY different from the other.

natchitoches (pronounced nak-e-desh) is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. it was established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana. It is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. It is the home of Northwestern State University. the cane river runs through out the entire town, and it populates a rich creole community to this day. i don't know if any of you have heard of this town before (besides it being the town that steel magnolia's-the classic was filmed) but it is definitely worth the trip. the town is lined up much like bourbon st. in new orleans, and is covered in beautiful restored homes of the 1800's that now work as bed and breakfasts. its like visiting another country and culture and you can check out the link above to see what this historical town has to offer. the rooms are very reasonable, and the food is great.

here's some pics of our
escapades.



stoppin' on our way in to pose with the town's sign.

we stayed in the "east-levy home" built in 1838 (our room was said to be haunted!!) didn't see much action other than a lamp mysteriously moved on glade's side of the bed....booooooo!!!!!!!

the home where "steel magnolias" was shot, and is still used today as a beautiful bed and breakfast.
me and lingmy studly beau.

meanwhile, the dude had a blast playing in the pasture all day and night out at pawpa and honey smith's house. he's a mess pot, LOVE HIM.

and so it begins...

here it is! MY BLOG! the interesting attempt i begin at putting my thoughts and feelings out there, really to appease myself and no one else really. not sure even really how to use this thing yet, but i'm happy to start. also not sure if anyone will ever "follow" me or my rantings, but it's mighty time for me to get out what goes on in this dreamy head of mine, once and for all! at least, that's what i'm hoping will help me to learn myself alittle better. i decided on the name GATORBUGG since that's what i call my little boy, gladen. it has two g's because that was all that blogger would let me use. =)

i'll just start by saying that i know this will be therapeutic because this age....the mighty age of 25 has been mighty good for me. you would think that having begun a career, served a mission, or had a child, i would have already had my "aha! year". the year where you really "search deep" and "learn who i am". (i'm strangely enthusiastic with the parenthesis for some reason) but nope! its has been 25! and its been a good year. i still have another month left with this number, than i head into my 2nd quarter of a century years, but i'm learning ALOT about who i am even in this very instant.

i am a very emotional, sympathedic, worry wartish, people pleasing, day dreamer type of woman. most that know me well will attest to all of this. but knowing this about myself always leaves me wondering, "am i ok with this, or do i want to be different?" most of the time i'm not ok with it. but then other times it think "well yeah i am, i don't know want to care about what anyone thinks ANYMORE!''........although, thats really only maybe 23% of the time. i guess thats why i have a this blog now. like i said, im not doing it for anyone else, but myself. i don't mind sharing it, but thats the truth of the matter. i hope in this next year i'll be able to really be comfortable in my own skin. i'll stop worrying all the time. i'll be more honest with myself and others. i'll think of others more, and above all else- i'll be content with my entire life.

now, i would only hope that nothing in this is portraying a depressed or insecure person. although i have insecurities, as we all do, (ok at least, most women do) i am well aware of the blessed life i have, and the unbelievable husband and son i some how achieved. i do love myself, and them and my amazing family-parents, siblings and sibling in laws. life is good, im just ready to know it alittle better. i know it will make me a better person, wife and mama.