Dear Vision Forum Family,

..I feel compelled to write you tonight. About 6 weeks ago my husband made the decision, during the weekend of his 30th birthday, to load up our little toyota corolla with our family (ie. him, me and our three precious daughters who range in age from 9 months to 5 years old) and our possessions of choice (ie. 3 weeks worth of clothes for each of us, my singer sewing machine, important paperwork, family documents, some potograghs and keepsakes). Hurricane Katrina was headed for New Orleans and we weren’t interested in hosting her visit. So off we went, two days before the storm came ashore. We visited an aunt and uncle in Killeen, Texas. Little did we know that our lives were about to change drastically. We lived in New Orleans East. Our home was one of the many homes that sustained damaged due to several feet of water. But not just us. Our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors and fellow homeschoolers lost their homes and most of their possessions as well. Many of our loved ones are still unaccounted for. Some we fear have drowned. We continue to pray. Close friends and relatives who are alive and well are scattered about the country.

Oh, but we are alive. My husband and I look at each other these days and we thank God that our little family is safe. I say little because we have a vision for more Godly seed. We want to have as many children as the Lod God will bless us with. Recently, I was wondering if I should adjust my thinking on the issue of childbearing, seeing as how we are in the process of starting our lives over. Surely, God wouldn’t want me to concieve while we were homeless and with an income. I shared my fears with God and he comforted me with his truth. I’ve been reminded that blessed is the man who has his quiver full. God’s word does not say blessed is the man who has his quiver full if he is employed or if he has a great 3 bedroom home with 2 baths (ie. like the one we left behind in New Orleans). No, God has told us as married folk to be fruitful and multiply. Period. That’s it in a nutshell. Right before my 9 month old was conceived I was blessed to read Nanvy Campbells book on being being fruitful and multiplying. It touched my soul, so. I was aching for another baby to give back to the Lord and love. The truth in the book encouraged me and gave me a peace that went beyond all understanding. Shoshannah, our youngest, was concieved shortly after.

Sherlin L.