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| News - Local Hurricane Katrina Update Tony & Marcie Marty Nearly 11 weeks ago, our family stood hand-in-hand as we said our prayers and last good- byes to our home of only 9 months. We knew things would be different when we returned, but we never imagined the changes that were to come. My last memories of home were the smell of fresh cut grass, chirping birds, and the tiger swallow tail butterfly we had watched emerge from its cocoon that morning. When my husband Tony returned only 4 days later, he described a foreign landscape of flooded homes, downed trees, and woods that were shredded by Katrina’s winds. On my first day home, I was amazed by the silence…there were no people, no birds, and no animals around. After a week of salvaging belongings and emptying the house, we cherished the gifts of hot showers and fresh smelling soap to help remove the stench of the flood from our bodies and our noses. Cold water, shade, and a new fan were life-giving in the heat and humidity. Since we are now living 2½ hours away from Slidell, we grieve the loss of our home, community, and our ME Family. We’ve lived at my sister’s house, in our camper, and now at my Dad’s house. Our hearts are pulled between our biological family in Lafayette and our ME Family in Slidell. Where do we start over, and how do we decide? At times our minds linger on all of the obstacles of the past few months, but we remind ourselves that we have so much more than others we know. Tony’s good friend not only lost his home, but both of his parents to Katrina’s floodwaters. We saved some clothing, my dear Grandmother’s rocking chair, and the baby’s cradle. We have been sustained by priceless emails and calls from our ME Family. We have been blessed with Gary & Marcia Daigle and Gil & Sheila Ganucheau and their children who have been willing to work and sweat with us in our home. We have been given shelter, food, and unconditional love from friends and strangers alike. The children have been showered with new books and toys; pure sustenance for their ever-growing minds. We also cannot forget that power was restored during week 5, phone service week 9, and our debris pile is now GONE! And after 7 weeks of borrowing vehicles, we replaced our family van with the help of the Katrina Relief Fund donation. Thank you! Our home may have been destroyed by floodwaters, but God’s love has flooded our lives through helping hands and gifts that have helped fill the void left behind. I believe that the Prayer of St. Francis is being fulfilled. There are many who have given us peace, hope, joy and understanding when we felt there was none. You are all God’s instrument of Peace in this time of uncertainty and grief. Thank you for your prayers and financial support and may God Bless you and your families. Tony & Marcie, Paul, Grace, and Luke Marty Click here for a printable version (PDF, 7KB)
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