Quickly -- We are okay

Everyone I know is very concerned for us right now with the circumstances and Will and our beautiful newborn, Adelaide. We are okay. Baton Rouge is crazy, bursting at the seams with people who have nowhere to go, camped out in parking lots and sleeping in hotel lobbies. We just got power back but had a hotel with air-conditioning -- THANK YOU to all who have been praying for our family because we have been so blessed in our circumstances and how things have turned out for us. Continue to remember us and the hundreds of thousands of people in southeast Louisiana who need your prayers desperately. Pray that God will give the leaders the wisdom to see how to best deal with these situations and the strength to handle it all. Pray for the public health of all south louisianans -- those in the flooded areas, and those even up toward us who have contaminated water from pressure failures along the Mississippi...there are so many problems for so many people right now, and I am able to sit here on my computer in my home with my family and write this. MY husband still has a job. We still have our house. We are blessed and were protected.

We have lost a few roof tiles, but we are so fortunate. We have seen the huge majestic Louisiana oaks toppled, some on top of homes, some split down the middle from wind. We have friends who Ben works with who lived in Slidell and Metairie, some of whom we have no word on. There is little communication in the areas hardest hit -- landlines are gone and cell towers have been destroyed for much of the area. Ben's refinery fared better than some and they hope to restart operations as soon as power is restored to the area.

I will post photos soon -- I know I never even got around to posting any of the baby, and I will do that, as well. Once again, thank you all for your prayers, and please don't stop. It will be a long time until things can even begin to seem "normal" around this area again...if they ever do? It's hard to process. If you are in an area where there are collections for Red Cross-type relief efforts, I know the news down here is asking for clean underwear and t shirts, ANY baby supplies (I thank GOD I nurse my child!), toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc, and of course water, batteries, and non-perishables. I will post if I see any other items they keep mentioning.

Thank you all for your concern, your love, and your prayers. It has made a difference.