Last Spring our dear friends, the Curriers, unexpectedly moved back to the South after living in Washington for more than a decade. Soon after we found out they were moving, we booked tickets to visit them because it was just too much to process at the time.

We bravely hopped on a plane to make our way to Mississippi in August! Many people asked, “Why are you going to the South in August?!,” as if we were crazy! Apparently, the heat and humidity is unbearable, but the tickets were affordable, there’s air conditioning everywhere, and more importantly, our friends are there – so on we went.

We visited numerous churches in four different states, ate too much Southern food, and relished in the time we got to be together. Here are some highlights:

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Biloxi, MS.

Most hipster place in all of the south, according to Krishelle. It reminds her of home in the PNW.

Isn’t she the cutest?!? Loved every moment we got to spend with our goddaughter.

Holy Family Parish in Pass Christian, MS.

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, AL.

While in Mobile, we drove by a filming spot in October Baby and stopped by the U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Park. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to tour the ship. Seeing all the historic places and knowing there’s so much more rich history to explore, we definitely want to go back!

We had dinner at Lambert’s Cafe, home of the throwing rolls. It was a fun experience trying to catch those flying rolls. They were fresh from the oven and incredibly delicious. I definitely ate way too many since I was in a full-on carb coma afterwards. 😂

Rex bravely ordered their frog legs. I had a bite but it didn’t taste like chicken like people say.

We went on a road trip to Florida. There we attended Sunday Mass at St. Catherine’s Parish in Orange Park, just outside of Jacksonville. While in Florida, we also visited the hospital where Elise was born and spent the afternoon with her birthmother.

Before heading back to Mississippi, we made a slight detour to St. Augustine, FL. We walked around the town a bit, visited the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine and went to the beach. The city was founded and established in 1565 and the cathedral is “America’s First Parish.”

We put our feet in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time! Hopefully next time was can go swimming.

There were a few chill days in Mississippi. Krishelle and I decided to craft a little to prepare for Elise’s upcoming 1st birthday. There was a moment in Hobby Lobby that I completely forgot where I was for a second. I thought I was just shopping with my friend like we had done countless times before in WA, but then someone said something very southern and I remembered I was in MS. 😭

Krishelle and I also managed to get a run in. It was a blessing to run with her again since she was the one who invited me to join the running group with her this past January and started this whole running thing for me. We only ran about 1.5 miles but that was plenty, since the air was humid it was hard for this Pacific Northwester to breathe. 😁

The tail end of our trip was spent in NOLA (New Orleans, LA), where we were all tourists. This year is the city’s tricentennial so NOLA300 was all over town. I ate my weight in beignets and drank a gallon of Cafe Au Laits at Cafe Du Monde – the original French Market Coffee Stand since 1862.

We walked around the French Quarter.

Attended daily Mass at St. Louis Cathedral.

I was struck to see several fortune tellers and card/palm readers lined up right outside the Cathedral. I’m sure it’s no accident that they are right outside the church. It reminds me of the saying, “If you don’t stand for something, then you’ll fall for anything.” I am saddened by the number of people who would ‘innocently’ participate, so I offered prayers for them.

Father, forgive them, they do not know what they do. – John 23:34

We toured an old Ursuline Convent, which is the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley. Attached to the convent is St. Mary’s Church which was built as the bishop’s chapel in 1845. One of the reasons I love visiting old churches is because I am reminded of generations of faithful people who have come before me and worshipped, participated in the same liturgy in a different time and place. I think about what their life was like, who they may have been: single, married, young and old.

St. Mary’s Assumption Church – the first German Catholic Church in NOLA.

National Shrine of Father Francis Xavier Seelos.

We ventured out and survived a swamp tour in the Bayou. Captain Jack was awesome! He’s very knowledgeable and a fun tour guide. The biggest alligator we saw was only 11 feet long, while most of them were about 4-5 feet long. It was a little disappointing since I hoped we would see a lot more big gators.

We had so much southern food. It makes my mouth water to look at these pictures.

We tried Calas cakes from The Old Coffeepot Restaurant. Calas cakes are a Creole rice fritter that aren’t as popular, but rival beignets, so we had to try them. It was good but I will take a beignet over calas cake any day.

Jackson square in the French Quarter.

The famous Mississippi River.

On Joe’s birthday, we took a cooking class. Hopefully one day, I’ll try to recreate the gumbo, jambalaya or bread pudding we had. I just know it won’t taste nearly as good so we’ll see if that ever comes to fruition.

Pretty early on in our trip, Krishelle made an interesting observation and said something to me I’ll never forget. She just matter-of-factly said, “Rachel, I think your children are always with you. I’ve noticed Elise will look past you smiling and giggling. She never does that. I believe she is seeing your kids; they are with you.”

Those words pierced this grieving mamma’s heart is such a loving and tender way. Our children are constantly on my mind. Sometimes I wonder what they would have looked like, what kind of cute mannerisms would they have, or what kind of things they would do that would just drive me crazy. I may never know, but I do know that they are my children and I rely on their intercessory prayers. Even if others forget they exist, I know they are real and are with me. God used Krishelle in that moment to give me some consolation. It was such a beautiful moment that I will always cherish.

We miss our friends dearly, but are eternally grateful for their presence in our lives and the time we had making new memories.

Praying for you,

Rachel