Today I want to write about Nichole Webb Rivera. Many of you probably know this award-winning quilter and textile artist. Nichole lives and works in Houston, Texas with her husband and the youngest of her five children. On Saturday, a massive mudslide took the lives of Nichole's oldest daughter, Delaney, Delaney's fiancé Alan, Nichole's parents Thomas and Marcy Satterlee, and dozens of others in Nichole's hometown of Darrington, Washinton.
Alan and Delaney (Nichole says they were "crazy in love.")
Thom and Marcy, Nichole's parents
The term "mudslide" doesn't adequately describe the horror that was visited on this close-knit community. In truth, a small mountain fell down on them--raced down on unsuspecting folks. No warning, not time to move out of its way.
The mountain that fell
Nichole was teaching a quilting class when he learned of the disaster. She began trying to contact her daughter and parents. Delaney and Alan were visiting with the Satterlee's, Delaney's grandparents, when the mudslide hit. Not able to reach her loved ones, Nichole suspected the worst and immediately got on a plane to Washington. Faced with the full, horrifying scope of the event, she knew in her heart that her loved ones were gone.
Friends of Nichole set up a fund to help Nichole and her family. At Nichole's request, the scope of the fund has been expanded to help all the victims and families of the disasters, and there are many. Currently, 24 people are confirmed dead with some 170 more unaccounted for. Nichole's family members are not among those confirmed.
I feel very blessed to be a member of a community of quilters who rally around one of our own in times of crisis. In my own life, I have experienced this closeness and caring when my husband Vann became ill and passed away in 2009. We both received cards, notes, email messages, and small gifts from quilters all over the world, most of whom I had never met face to face.
If you would like to help Nichole and the other victims of the Washtington State tragedy, please go to this site and make a donation: http://www.gofundme.com/7r70jw. Large or small, it doesn't matter. And even more important, please keep them all in your prayers.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 03/27/2014, Sandy said ...
What a horrible tragedy for so many innocent people. So many questions about so many things. So few answers. Our hearts and prayers to all that have been affected by this nightmare. Peace for the survivors and safety for the rescuers. So very sad.
On 03/27/2014, Barbara Anne said ...
Tragic, indeed, and my heart goes out to all. I've been praying for those missing as I join in the hope they'll be found safe by some miracle, for their families, and for the resuerers. It is hard to see faces of the lost and to feel the hurt of their loved ones. What a heartbreak. Prayers continue.
Hugs ...
On 03/27/2014, Molly Nelson said ...
I live in Washington and this has deeply affected us all. It was so sudden and so fast and so very severe. I'm so sorry for Nichole.
On 03/28/2014, Sandy said ...
Susan, I just wanted to let you know there is an interview on Foxnews.com with Greta van Susteren and she is interviewing Nichole. It's beyond anything we can imagine. So very sad.
On 03/28/2014, Joanne said ...
Too tragic for words. One thinks of Ecclesiastes 9:12. Praying for help and comfort for the survivors.
On 03/29/2014, Sandra Clarke said ...
Susan,
Glad you posted this. I first learned of this quilter on FB, Judy Laqudara's post, and found the website gathering funds and gave a mall donation. This tragedy s so sad and I even hope to help make a quilt for one of the survivor's or one who helped with the search and rescue. Prayers to all the folks who lost friends or loved ones.
-----
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment