On the Ground: Humbled by hospitality in W.Va. mine country

A Massey Energy coal silo towers over Marsh Fork Elementary on April 6, 2010, near the Upper Big Branch Coal Mine in Naoma, W.Va. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner) © 2010 AP


It would be embarrassing if it were not so humbling.

Hours after the West Virginia mine explosion Monday, scores of journalists from all over the country started arriving — in a very rural area with no communications or places to sleep closer than an hour's drive away.

When the governor began giving press briefings at Marsh Fork Elementary School (this week happens to be spring break, so the children are out), journalists began getting comfortable at the site a few miles from the mine entrance, and we never left. By Tuesday, a couple dozen satellite trucks filled the parking lot, and classrooms with tiny chairs and paintings on the walls were turned into newsrooms and bedrooms.

And all of a sudden there was food — a lot of food. Pepperoni Pizza. Pulled pork and beans. Fried chicken, potatoes and green beans. Cookies. Crackers. Doughnuts of all stripes.

Usually I lose a few pounds while covering stories like this. The deadlines are too tight, the access to food often limited. This time, I'll be going home a little rounder, and with a touched heart.

The food was cooked by residents and donated by businesses in this community. Some of it came by way of a local Red Cross, a Wal-Mart and a United Way, but even more was the home cooking of kind West Virginians who just wanted to take care of us.

Imagine, here we are, an aggressive and hard-charging bunch of journalists in the middle of this devastated community, and it's THEY who are taking care of US!

The kindness hasn't been lost on any of us. By Thursday, two plastic jars — "school collection" and "community collection" — were put out, and by Friday both had a few hundred dollars. I feel like we owe this school and these people so much more.

When I asked interim principal Shelly Prince how folks could be so giving at a time like this, she said that many felt it was soothing to help others. This situation made them feel helpless, and helping others was doing something. She also said it gave people a chance to show the world what West Virginians are "really like."

"Often on TV, we are not portrayed in such a good manner. We often are portrayed as ignorant and backward," she said. "But we are just ordinary people who live ordinary lives."

I have to disagree. These people are extraordinary.

I AM PROUD TO BE A WEST VIRGINIAN !!

Help me spread the word

As most of you know I make fabric bulbs that include: memorial, graduation, Christmas, wedding, military, special occasion, and more. I can customize the bulbs with different colors, mascots, names and photos. Memorial bulbs can be made from loved ones clothing.

Graduation bulbs for Junior High, High School and College. Bulb can be customized with school color, mascot and/or student's photo.  This one was created for a school in Webster, WV.

Monday

Well it's been a while since I posted. I have just been busy crafting and enjoying the great outdoors. Yesterday hubby and I went and picked up our girls. They came home to spend a few days which is awesome. This is going to be a stressful week for my family but with God and our true friends we will get thur it. I feel so blessed to have my family all at home at this time.
Hopefully I will get the go ahead today to start on my first big memory ornament order. So I am excited about that. It will be an order for a graduating class which is so neat. I am also working on a couple tablecloths and possibly trying my hand at a pillowcase dress for my granddaughter.
I hope all have a great week and I will post again as soon as possible. Please keep my family in your prayers as I will be praying for all of you!!!

GO MOUNTAINEERS !!!!

This is the post of alot of WVU fans on facebook today .... WVU have played some awesome ballgames and I want to wish them the best !!!

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON WV HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING FOR KY!! FORECASTERS ARE PREDICTING HIGH WATER LEVELS TO EXCEED ANYTHING IN RECORD HISTORY!!! THE WARNING IS IN EFFECT ALL WEEKEND, AS THE WATER LEVELS SHOULD RISE TO FLOOD STAGE AT 9PM DUE TO THE TEARS CRIED BY ALL THE KY FANS!!! GO MOUNTAINEERS!!

It's Monday

Well it's monday and my day started by waking up to a very quiet house. My girls left yesterday and I am not coping with this very well. My daughter and granddaughter are in VA for awhile with her boyfriend. I have not been with out granddaughter for more than a few days and then they were only a few miles from me since the day she was born. She is the laughter on our gloomy days and it is really difficult without them there. But I know that the time is coming that they both will be gone from our home along with my son too. I am not real sure how I will deal with the empty nest thingy. Going to be doing alot of cleaning and crafting. If anyone wants to share any thoughts please feel free!!

CADENCE'S FIRST HAIR CUT

Well today was a big day for both Cadence and Mamaw. It was the day Cadence got her first hair cut and she did great. We went to town and stopped in and ask our neighbor which is also a beautician if she wanted to take a try at it. She said sure and Cadence sat in the chair and let Cheryl do what she needed to do. Of course Cadence is her Papaws and Uncle Bens girl so she had to show it off to both of them when she got home. She is the pride and joy in this family!!

Shirley & Marcy

This was an email sent to me by my cousin. I have seen this before but it is so touching I wanted to share it with you . If we could all see others and the world threw the eyes of children.

A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.
So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her. She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?
Do you know her?' Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'
'Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? 'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.
And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.