Hello All, returned this afternoon from the east side of the Appalachian Mountains. Judy and I left on Wednesday evening and headed for Louisa, which is just south of Ashland. It is on the Kentucky and West Virgina border, so we made a side trip into WV just so we could say we were there. We weren't exactly sure where the volunteer house was, but knew that if we could find the hospital and the church, we were close. Well, we found both of those but were clueless as to where the house was. We drove through a very nice, upscale neighborhood and stopped at someone's garage to see if possibly they might know where we should be. This kind man drove his vehicle to the house so we could follow. Thanks much mister and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. We spent the night with Mary and had a grand time catching up on everything.
Thursday morning Judy, Mary and I walked over to St. Jude Catholic church for Thanksgiving worship. Father Beiting was leading the service. Father Beiting is the founder of The Christian Appalachian Project so that was way cool to be able to worship with him and introduce ourselves after the service. He was very nice, but I just thought he would be taller. :)
We had about 12-14 volunteers that all gathered at Louisa House for dinner. It was wonderful. Everyone brought something and we had a feast! After dinner a few of us went for a walk to see the neighborhood and it was just beautiful. Quite lovely indeed and many had pools in their backyard. Quite different than the population we have come here to serve. Diane Beckmann came from Floyd House to join the festivities and brought the jams so she could stay overnight. Yeah!
On Friday we all took off and explored the area. There were some really cute little shops and we just went exploring. On Saturday we all met up and checked out some of the other areas. We were in Lawrence County and Martin and Floyd and I think some others. Stopped at Pig in the Poke for some excellent pulled sandwiches. It was really great to see the other volunteer houses and also the offices in Hagerhill. The countryside was very similar but there seems to be a little bit larger set of communities and towns than what I have experienced on the west side. All in all was a great weekend.
This will be a busy week for me getting everything put together for Christmas. We have a Christmas gift distribution scheduled for December 15th, so I better make sure I have all my ducks in a row.
Today is my Mom's birthday so a big Happy Birthday to you Mom. I love you and hope you had a great day!
Until next time - God Bless
Jane
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Much to be Thankful For
Just returned from an afternoon with my good friend Marilyn Gierczak. We only see each other about every 3-4 weeks, but when we get together it is always a wonderful time. We started at the Kentucky Artisan Center on the edge of Berea. This is a wonderful place to see all the craft work that is done in the Appalachian area of Kentucky. There are so many beautiful items to see and choose from. I even got an early start on some of my Christmas shopping. Nothing too expensive but found a few items that I think my friends and family will appreciate. Marilyn found a few things also, so the trip was very worthwhile. From there we visited Tator Nob Ceramic shop and enjoyed a cup of coffee and some delicious punch. Didn't purchase anything, but this is a must stop if you are looking for some beautiful and unique ceramic pieces. From here we went on to Richmond to visit an Irish Pub. It was great to have a sandwich and enjoy a bit of brew. First one since I left Wisconsin and it went down very well! We had a great day and I look forward to the next time we get together.
This has been a very interesting week for me. On Tuesday I drove to McCreary County with some of my housemates to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner with the housing and family advocacy crews. It was a delicious meal and a great time to get together with everyone. McCreary County is right on the Kentucky Tennessee border. This is a beautiful area and the roads are more windy than any place I have driven thus far. Dinner was awesome and with a staff meeting we filled the whole day. On the drive we pass through the Cumberland Falls area and this place is amazing. Many rock walls along the drive and the waterfall is beautiful. This is the where the moonbow comes out right around full moon time. There are only two places in the world where the moonbow happens. I think the other place is somewhere in Africa and then in little old Cumberland Falls, Kentucky! How cool is that! I have not seen the moonbow yet but am looking forward to a trip down in hopes to witness this event.
I had another meeting this week with some ladies from Clay County and a woman from Red Bird Mission in Clay County. With their help I have a great listing of resources for Clay County and the surrounding area. I think this will help me alot in making sure that I am assisting people with all the resources that are available to them. I also visited the Community Church Food Pantry in Manchester. These people really have it together. The woman in charge has been working there for 14 years and she really has it down to a science. I was really impressed with how they handle all the families in Clay County. The church seems pretty cool too so I think I will have to make a Sunday morning trip there for worship.
Next week I am heading over to the east side to celebrate Thanksgiving with some other volunteers. I am really looking forward to this because I have not been to the east side yet. I am also excited to spend some time with people that I don't get to see very often. We will be staying at the Louisa volunteer house which is on the West Virginia and Kentucky border. I have heard that this area is really in the heart of the mountains, so I am very eager to see the countryside.
I will probably not write again until after next weekend, so let me take this time to say a note of thanks. I have never been concerned about where my next meal will come from or whether or not I will have a place to live. I know that I will always have a church to turn to for support and a place to worship my loving God. I have been so blessed with many friends who I love and who love me. I have a family that is always there for me and who I love more than anything. I have more in this life than I have ever dreamed of. But more importantly than all this, I have a Savior who laid down His life for me and for all of you. How can we ever repay what He has done for us. On Thanksgiving day offer Him a prayer of thanks for all the gifts that you have, and for the love that He has shown that is beyond our human understanding.
May God bless you all richly on this Thanksgiving Day and always.
In His service,
Jane
This has been a very interesting week for me. On Tuesday I drove to McCreary County with some of my housemates to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner with the housing and family advocacy crews. It was a delicious meal and a great time to get together with everyone. McCreary County is right on the Kentucky Tennessee border. This is a beautiful area and the roads are more windy than any place I have driven thus far. Dinner was awesome and with a staff meeting we filled the whole day. On the drive we pass through the Cumberland Falls area and this place is amazing. Many rock walls along the drive and the waterfall is beautiful. This is the where the moonbow comes out right around full moon time. There are only two places in the world where the moonbow happens. I think the other place is somewhere in Africa and then in little old Cumberland Falls, Kentucky! How cool is that! I have not seen the moonbow yet but am looking forward to a trip down in hopes to witness this event.
I had another meeting this week with some ladies from Clay County and a woman from Red Bird Mission in Clay County. With their help I have a great listing of resources for Clay County and the surrounding area. I think this will help me alot in making sure that I am assisting people with all the resources that are available to them. I also visited the Community Church Food Pantry in Manchester. These people really have it together. The woman in charge has been working there for 14 years and she really has it down to a science. I was really impressed with how they handle all the families in Clay County. The church seems pretty cool too so I think I will have to make a Sunday morning trip there for worship.
Next week I am heading over to the east side to celebrate Thanksgiving with some other volunteers. I am really looking forward to this because I have not been to the east side yet. I am also excited to spend some time with people that I don't get to see very often. We will be staying at the Louisa volunteer house which is on the West Virginia and Kentucky border. I have heard that this area is really in the heart of the mountains, so I am very eager to see the countryside.
I will probably not write again until after next weekend, so let me take this time to say a note of thanks. I have never been concerned about where my next meal will come from or whether or not I will have a place to live. I know that I will always have a church to turn to for support and a place to worship my loving God. I have been so blessed with many friends who I love and who love me. I have a family that is always there for me and who I love more than anything. I have more in this life than I have ever dreamed of. But more importantly than all this, I have a Savior who laid down His life for me and for all of you. How can we ever repay what He has done for us. On Thanksgiving day offer Him a prayer of thanks for all the gifts that you have, and for the love that He has shown that is beyond our human understanding.
May God bless you all richly on this Thanksgiving Day and always.
In His service,
Jane
Saturday, November 14, 2009
The Smells of Autumn
It is Saturday afternoon and there is pumpkin bread baking in the oven, the sky is cloudy and you can smell the leaves decaying in the yard. Life is good and I love Kentucky in the fall. This has been another great week! I have been able to get around on the back roads much more and truly appreciate the winding roads and all the beautiful hillsides and mountains. Sometimes I wish I had a small car to make the trips but having a big truck to drive has it's advantages also. I may not have as much room to move over when I meet a car head on but I feel I have a bit more influence on the road.
Went to a meeting this week for long term disaster recovery for Clay County. It was great to meet more non-profit agencies and hear about what services they all offer to residents of Clay County. I have a meeting set up for next week to meet some others and have the same discussion. When people call my office I want to make sure I have a comprehensive list of all resources available so the needs of the caller can be met. I am feeling more and more comfortable in what I am doing as each week passes by. Speaking of, I have been here now about 8 weeks and cannot believe how fast the time is passing. Before you know it, I will be home for Christmas and celebrating with family and friends. I look forward to that.
I'm feeling a little short winded today. Had a nice talk with a friend of mine in Cleveland. Hadn't talked to her since I left and it was really nice to connect again. I hope you all are having a great autumn and as always may God bless you till we meet again.
Jane
Went to a meeting this week for long term disaster recovery for Clay County. It was great to meet more non-profit agencies and hear about what services they all offer to residents of Clay County. I have a meeting set up for next week to meet some others and have the same discussion. When people call my office I want to make sure I have a comprehensive list of all resources available so the needs of the caller can be met. I am feeling more and more comfortable in what I am doing as each week passes by. Speaking of, I have been here now about 8 weeks and cannot believe how fast the time is passing. Before you know it, I will be home for Christmas and celebrating with family and friends. I look forward to that.
I'm feeling a little short winded today. Had a nice talk with a friend of mine in Cleveland. Hadn't talked to her since I left and it was really nice to connect again. I hope you all are having a great autumn and as always may God bless you till we meet again.
Jane
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
It's Been a Great Week
What an absolutely beautiful day! Not a cloud in the sky and the temperature had to be in the upper 70's. I took a drive to London to do some shopping this morning. Drive into McKee and at the stoplight take a right onto 290. This takes me all along the hills and mountains and it was so gorgeous. Then 30 takes me all the way into London. It's a nice little town but a little too busy for me.
My week started out with 12 boxes of clothing, blankets, afghans and school supplies arriving at the office in Manchester! God Bless St. Paul's confirmation class that put in all the hard work and their time to bring these supplies to the families in Appalachia! I had a woman in my office whose husband's unemployment had run out and they had nothing in the house. Her daughter's birthday is coming up and I was able to give her a little shirt with sparkles on it for the present. She gave me a big hug and thanked me, because she had no money to get her daughter a gift this time. Moments like these are made possible because of the wonderful support I have received from not only the confirmation class but others who have opened their hearts to the people in Kentucky. Thank you all.
I had a busy week. I started out by driving to Corbin to Operation Sharing where they store wonderboard. Wonderboard is used for underpinning on trailers and also for floors in bathrooms or walls around heaters. Each sheet weights about 50 pounds and I loaded 60 sheets with two other women I live with. On the way back to the office I stopped at a participant's home and we unloaded 15 sheets for him to use on his trailer. This will hopefully stop the wind from blowing through and perhaps keep the heating bills down this winter. Very nice man and he was very thankful for the help. Wonderboard is donated by a company so we are able to give the sheets out for no charge. Otherwise, when we help supply people with home repair items we work with them to make sure half the cost is paid back to CAP. It's a great way to work together with a family to help them reach their goals. I had another delivery to make at the end of the week. It was pretty near to the end of a holler, so that was a beautiful drive!
My brother Steve turns 60 on November 10th and I would like to wish him a very Happy Birthday!!!! I believe the family is getting together to celebrate with him but of course I will not be there. Hope you all have a great day and toss one back for me too!
Tonight I am going to watch the movie called "Maetwon" which is about the Blair Mountain miners and strikers. I just finished reading Storming Heaven which is the book on the same story. It was a great read and I look forward to seeing this movie. If you are not familiar with the story it takes place in the early 1900's in Justice County in West Virginia. The book references a lot of the places I have been to around here so that made it that much more real for me. The book explains how the miners are attempting to unionize and the battles that prevailed between the "rednecks" and the mining company owners. There is so much to learn about this area and I have been enjoying all the extra reading I have been doing and just being able to talk with people from the area has been a great learning experience.
Hope you are all having a great weekend. Until next time.......
God Bless
My week started out with 12 boxes of clothing, blankets, afghans and school supplies arriving at the office in Manchester! God Bless St. Paul's confirmation class that put in all the hard work and their time to bring these supplies to the families in Appalachia! I had a woman in my office whose husband's unemployment had run out and they had nothing in the house. Her daughter's birthday is coming up and I was able to give her a little shirt with sparkles on it for the present. She gave me a big hug and thanked me, because she had no money to get her daughter a gift this time. Moments like these are made possible because of the wonderful support I have received from not only the confirmation class but others who have opened their hearts to the people in Kentucky. Thank you all.
I had a busy week. I started out by driving to Corbin to Operation Sharing where they store wonderboard. Wonderboard is used for underpinning on trailers and also for floors in bathrooms or walls around heaters. Each sheet weights about 50 pounds and I loaded 60 sheets with two other women I live with. On the way back to the office I stopped at a participant's home and we unloaded 15 sheets for him to use on his trailer. This will hopefully stop the wind from blowing through and perhaps keep the heating bills down this winter. Very nice man and he was very thankful for the help. Wonderboard is donated by a company so we are able to give the sheets out for no charge. Otherwise, when we help supply people with home repair items we work with them to make sure half the cost is paid back to CAP. It's a great way to work together with a family to help them reach their goals. I had another delivery to make at the end of the week. It was pretty near to the end of a holler, so that was a beautiful drive!
My brother Steve turns 60 on November 10th and I would like to wish him a very Happy Birthday!!!! I believe the family is getting together to celebrate with him but of course I will not be there. Hope you all have a great day and toss one back for me too!
Tonight I am going to watch the movie called "Maetwon" which is about the Blair Mountain miners and strikers. I just finished reading Storming Heaven which is the book on the same story. It was a great read and I look forward to seeing this movie. If you are not familiar with the story it takes place in the early 1900's in Justice County in West Virginia. The book references a lot of the places I have been to around here so that made it that much more real for me. The book explains how the miners are attempting to unionize and the battles that prevailed between the "rednecks" and the mining company owners. There is so much to learn about this area and I have been enjoying all the extra reading I have been doing and just being able to talk with people from the area has been a great learning experience.
Hope you are all having a great weekend. Until next time.......
God Bless
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)