Celebrate every success

My half marathon training plan called for 8 miles this week, and I did it! I don't know why my watch thinks I was running some of the time, I walked the whole way. Maybe when I walk faster than a certain speed my watch decides I am running.

I was in City Park. City Park is such a beautiful place, and holds so many happy memories for me I just love being there. I was able to take a picture of a group of people in town for a birthday celebration. One of them was going to be the picture taker, so I stopped and asked if they would like me to take the picture for them so that all of them could be in the picture. It was a great moment, and I was proud to be a good ambassador for New Orleans.

When I am in City Park, I can't help but think about how many people visit New Orleans and never experience the park and all it has to offer. When I am there I am always reminded of how complex and complicated the city of New Orleans and her people are.

There is an incredibly rich tapestry of history and culture and architecture and music and art and people. City Park has all of those elements. As I was walking I was able to listen to a musician practicing the saxophone, see sculptures in the sculpture garden, see the botanical gardens in bloom, view the casino and Cafe Du Monde, walk past Storyland and the amusement park, see the attractions at Big Lake, walk past the Louisiana Children's Museum, and past the New Orleans Museum of Art. Oh, and City Putt, the miniature golf course.

I am so grateful to live in such a wonderful place, and grateful for the health that allows me to walk eight miles. Life is hard right now, but God keeps reminding me it is also good.