South Louisiana is known for hot summers and mild winters. We have blistering heat and high humidity. Our water table or sea level is about 35 feet below my house. We have rivers running through almost everywhere. The only state that has bigger misquitoes is Alaska. We have alligators, bobcats, muskrats, beavers, nutra rats and crawfish. And all of those animals have recipes for them. I’m joking, except for the alligators and crawfish. South Louisiana is called Bayou Country. The French Acadians came to Louisiana when there was nothing but bayous and misquitoes. They settled here and populated the state. I’m French and Irish. My french family settled in North Louisiana. Then moved to Lafayette.

All my life the weather patterns have changed drastically. If we had a cold winter, we had hurricanes in the summer. If it was a mild winter, then we had a blistering heat in the summer. I can remember days that were 100 degrees with 100% humidity and it wasn’t raining. Louisiana is a green state, beautiful oak and magnolia trees everywhere. So to my surprise, when an arctic storm to come through from Texas to Georgia.

As I am writing this, it is 12 degrees Fahrenheit with about 10 inches of snow on the ground. The last time that I saw cold and snow like this was when I was 8 years old in 1957. Everything is white and beautiful. The snow will stay for another 2 days. It is suppose to warm up to 70 degrees this weekend. Which means all the snow will be gone. Life changes every day. Nothing remains the same. This is the true test of life. If you can survive the change. This is a challenge that everyone faces. And not everyone survives.

I struggled when this change until I couldn’t go on. I was about 28 years old. Some dear friends lead me to the truth. I couldn’t survive the changes in my life without one person changing my life for the better. Of course, I am talking about Jesus and His life changing ways. I gave in and decided His way was better than mine. I have never regretted that decision. Whatever the weather does outside, my life is set on achieving one goal. That goal is to make it to heaven and to live with God, my Father and Jesus, my older Brother, forever.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

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