It is a beautiful day here in New Orleans and seemed unseasonably cool and dry when I left the camper this morning. Ah, the camper. Only 23 more days until I finally have indoor plumbing again! You have no idea how excited I am!

For those who don't know, I will be moving into the quad at the beginning of August when Mission Year, some of our interns, move out. As many times as I was there during the rebuilding process, I can't for the life of me remember the details of the inside. I am hoping to make a trip over there this week to check things out.

This is a photo of my new kitchen taken sometime during the remodel process. Once I get moved in I'll put up some before and after photos because the transformation is simply unbelieveable. When I was here with a group in October 2006, we helped to board up the windows on this house and we put locks on the doors as squatters had begun to spend time here. The whole unit, which is a 4-plex, leaned some three feet off it's foundation and had to have some major structural work done before construction could begin. It's hard to believe that this beautiful apartment once looked as it did.

I love all of the light that comes in to this place and I am perhaps most excited about the balcony that I have wanted for so long and will finally have. It is right off my bedroom, which is on the front of the unit and looks over the skyline. I am planning to have plenty of flowers and perhaps space for a grill.

The camper has been a good home. It has taught me about what I can live with, and especially without. As I began to load my things up to bring them here from Iowa it was hard to think about what I would really need as I have not used any of that stuff for almost a year. But I think I have also learned that people just aren't meant to live in travel trailers for very long and that makes my new home so much more appealing and so much more of a blessing. I look forward to sharing moving photos very soon!