The Common “Tator”

Following a year of non-Blogging, it is important for me to share a few words about the significance of the date of “August 29th” in my life.

Today, August 29th, 2006, Sandy and I celebrate the 36th Anniversary of our marriage; the event took place at Noon on a Saturday, in New Orleans, during the hottest month of the year in 1970. That takes Faith! Oh how fast those years have passed !! But there is ‘much more’ to the beginning of this marriage story that I need to share; Faith was certainly the basis for our meeing, and our life together… more on that in a few moments.

Also today we are remembering with heavy hearts the indescribable tragedy of August 29th, 2005 and the affect of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana, and especially on “our home town of New Orleans”. Anyone who has not yet been back to the city since Katrina and driven around the neighborhoods, truly has “No Idea” of the massiveness and extent of the devastation. Between mid-September 2005 and late-June 2006 I have spent about 75% of my time in suburban Metairie, LA helping to accomplish getting my Dad and his wife back into their home and a “normal” life again. This was just one, relatively small, residencial restoration project following the flooding resulting from Katrina; and only in a western suburb that had two feet of water for a day or two…

It is was a truly memorable 35th wedding anniverary for Sandy and me last year, on Monday August 29th, 2005, as we sat here in the comfort and safely of Chappell Hill, Texas, with my Dad and his wife as evacuees, and watched TV as the reports of the storm damage in the New Orleans area slowly began to unfold. It was a somber time for us all. As native New Orleanians, it is not possible to express in words what we have experienced and observed regarding the demise of our home city! It will never be “as it was”, but knowing the spirit and determination of New Orleans folks, it will most likely, eventually, be much better!!

As Sandy and I enjoy our 36th anniversay this year, it is with tremendous appreciation for the provisions of God during these happy years of marriage. As mentioned above, Faith in God was a guiding factor in initiating this long and loving marriage, relationship and friendship. It was on a day May 1967 day in a football practive field at Holy Cross School on the corner of “Reynes and Burgundy Streets” in New Orleans, during a religion class ‘one-on-one’ outdoor discussion and prayer session with a close friend, when I extended a prayer to Almighty God to “provide me the proper life mate that would be according to His plans”. It was the first specific prayer on this topic that I had ever prayed, but it was a special time, with a trusted male friend, and I prayed this and “let it go to the hands of Our Lord”… Then I actually forgot for a while that this prayer had been shared with God. This prayer was lifted up at a very simple place, inside a fence near the street corner; that property remains just about the same today, with the exception of extensive Katrina debrie as shown in January 2006 photos.

This is the very first specific prayer that I realize was answered by God in a very clear and precise manner. At the end of September 1967, a good friend arranged a ‘Blind-Date’ for me; this at a time when I had become rather “less than enthusiastic” with dating… On that evening God delivered Sandy into my life; He had permitted me to arrive at a “low ebb of social dating ambivalence”, and then clearly jolted me into attention with His Provision!

What a blessing His answer to this prayer has been. I am a very grateful man that God has, and continues, to be faithful in loving me, and in blessing Sandy and me in our shared married life together!! There are far too many of our shared married life experiences to list or mention here, for which I am humbly grateful to God. He has sustained our marriage, and provided us with joy and strength as and when needed; on a continuous basis. Our three children are now active and contributing adult members of society, thanks to His guidance and Hand. They are a very important part of our legacy, resulting from His hand, in placing us together as a loving married couple! May God bless them fully, and may they listen, trust and obey His guidance daily!!

We look forward to the many happy years ahead in marriage, and are confident that God will provide exciting new experiences, fruitful times, and good friends, as He has in the past 36 years. Having lived in three European countries, and three states, as well as having traveled to very many countries during the international travels and expatriate assignments in our lives, we have been further blessed to see so many beautiful places that are a part of God’s earthly creation. Awesome!

Sandy and I truly celebrate our lives together on this 36th anniversay, and we pray that many other married couples enjoy a Godly anchored marriage filled with joy, love and excitement. I remain extremely grateful to God for answering my specific prayer of May 1967, with the lifemate in Sandy via our blind date about four months later. He delivers in ways much beyond our imaginations — when we seek Him, ask and trust.

His plans are clearly much better than our plans!!

On this first anniversary of Katrina, we continue to pray for all of the people in the Louisiana and Mississippi areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Their uncertainty for the future, ongoing pain and discomfort can only be fully grasped by Almighty God Himself! May He continue to provide His peace and His power and love to advance the people in these states in the direction of His purposes and plans, and to the entore USA. Sandy and I are thankful for His Love in our lives, and seek His guidance and power daily to live our lives to the fullest of His Plan for each of us, and for us together!

In Jesus precious and holy name we humbly pray… Amen!

Owen Batt

Tuesday, August 29th, 2006

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