Thank you for your generous support to our family in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It truly helped us to care for our family while we were evacuated from our home. You continue to be in our prayers for your selfless act.

As our family waited just 100 miles from our home, all we could do was give thanks that our family was together and protected. For a week we only knew what the television showed us, until finally my husband, Cory, found a way into our town. Viewing the destruction firsthand really put things in perspective.

A huge tree blocked the entrance to our neighborhood and several more rested on the road to our house which made walking the only transportation. Upon arriving at our house, all he saw was the uprooted water oak tree lying through our master bedroom. Well, we didn’t like the tree in the front yard anyway! Cory brought back to me only the cross that hung above our bed.

It was over a month before we could return to our house and the electricity was restored to our area. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only thing we were missing. The tree happened to take down our gas pipe too! This is when the Lord taught me true humility. Although thanks be to God Cory returned to work in Metairie, it left me pregnant with three young children finding places everyday to bathe and wash loads of laundry. But these small sacrifices brought about many graces. Since out whole town was mostly damaged and hardly any stores were opened, people were helping each other with whatever was needed.

Though our house ten months post Katrina is still incomplete, we have found the Lord does use all things to bring us closer to His heart. The stress did bring about a premature labor but miraculously the Lord brought into this world a very health baby boy, Aidan Aquinas. Our family is thriving thanks to God and all His people reaching out their hands to us. May God bless each one of you and your families.

Love in Christ, the Hayes family:
Cory, Jennifer, Samantha, Abigail, Bennett, and Aidan