By GINNY COOPER/Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA — Many schools across Shelby County housed students overnight whose parents were unable to traverse the icy roads. Cornerstone Christian School faced the same problem, but instead of staying at the school, teachers Cyndi Sims and Rachel Martin graciously invited the children into their own homes.

“We were actually prepping to spend the night at the school when Mrs. Sims and Mrs. Martin announced that they had four wheel drive vehicles and plenty of room and would be glad to take the kids to an actual home for the evening,” said Jay Adams, Dean of Cornerstone Christian. “At that point, it took very little time to call parents and acquire permission.”

Rachel Martin took five students, a parent, and another teacher into her home.

After a big dinner, the younger kids watched the Disney channel and played games while the older kids and adults got to know each other.

“It was one big sleepover,” Martin said.

Martin said that the opportunity to welcome people into her home was a gift.

“Romans 12:13 tells us to ‘Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.’ It was a blessing for me to be able to carry out God’s word,” she said.

Cyndi Sims welcomed six children into her home in addition to her own daughter.

The kids also watch made chocolate snow cream, watched movies, ate frozen pizza and nachos, watched American Idol and had several conversations about people being stranded and others throughout the community helping, Sims said.

“Cornerstone staff didn’t do anything special,” Sims stressed. “We just did what all the school staff all over the county did, loved on these kids like they were our own.”