Can someone please tell me how it is MARCH ALREADY?! We haven't had much of a winter here in the hills of West Virginia.... a few snow showers, but nothing major. We were so spoiled the first year we moved here with three different snows of 12, 14, and 18 inches...but this year we got nothing. It's a little saddening. We love WV winters, but I have to admit I am ready for the spring. I'm ready for sunshine and outdoor adventures!
Here's a glimpse of what's been happening in our lives lately:
-I have moving fever. 3 of our friends moved last month... and I'm getting the itch. Steven and I have moved just about every 2 years (or more) since we've been married... and July will make 2 years at our current place. I keep having to remind myself that we got a steal on housing & to be content. Not to mention we just got new "neighbors!" Ian and Nikki Rountree - and their adorable 5-month old twin boys now live less than 1/4 of a mile from me!!! AND my very best friend lives 2 miles from me.... so I should stay put.
-Steven finishes school in two months. FINISHES. Woa. He starts testing for his license on April 27th. Gosh... is this already happening?!?! Please start praying for job opportunities :)
-My hair. This is a random thing to post about, but I've been blown away by how long my hair is getting! Finally. It's growing!! And I'm in love.
-I've been battling an upper respiratory infection for almost 2 weeks now and it is starting to get annoying. I went to the doctor on Monday & got a shot in my b.... bottom & I've been taking amoxicillin & some cough meds all week. My cough is lessening - and it isn't quite as painful, but it is definitely still present. Illness is spreading like wildfire around here.
-I've been working on our new church website for a few months now and it's almost ready to launch. I'm so excited about this. Keep an eye on wvcrossroads.com :)
-I've had the most incredible opportunity to see the gospel transform the life of one of Steven's classmates. I plan to post about this in greater detail soon. It's one of the most beautiful & amazing things Ive ever been a witness to. It's powerful.
-The baby situation - let's see... we are at 13 months with no ovulation. We're still deciding when to go see the baby-making doctor. I have a coworker who is currently seeing this doctor & their recommendation was .... you better be sure. His job is to produce results & he goes to extremes to get them. We're thinking early fall... but aren't 100%. So many factors to consider. We're still praying that God would intervene so that we don't have to decide :) We are both content though... being a parent is scary & neither of us want to rush it. Especially with an increased risk of multiples :)
Friday, March 2, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Scholarship Don'ts.
Each year my company has a scholarship competition. Last year we awarded over $80,000 to students in the United States and Canada. The deadline for applications is tomorrow and after looking at over 250 applications, I thought I'd do something nice for all of you fine people out there. I'd like to offer you a list of things you should not do when applying for a scholarship. This list specifically applies to the essay portion of a scholarship application. Pay attention. This list could save your future.
1. No matter what question you are asked to write about, your essay should never be “I do not have time to go into this these things. Please call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx."
2. When the topic of your essay is how formal training in your field could benefit you… ‘I like to study” is not an appropriate answer. Actually, this is not an appropriate answer... ever.
3. When you submit your application, it is not wise to beg the judging panel to proofread your essay and make corrections. Even if you are foreign.
Now, this last issue can get a little tricky, so I would like to preface it by saying that the scholarship my company offers is an equal-opportunity award. We do not award scholarships based on gender, sexual orientation, or religious preferences.
4. When asked how formal training could benefit you, the statement “As a gay teenager, I could not for the life of me find a gay man involved in construction” really has no relevance what so ever. While we agree that “sexuality is the least of anyones worries," I'm sure that the judging panel will be happy that you “realized your passion for estimating once you overcame your concerns of being gay” and that you can be a “role model for future gay teenagers.” But once again, since none of these things have anything to do with how formal training in your specific field could benefit you... I'd probably leave it out and just stick to answering the question
That's all of the advice I have to offer you this year.... so until next time.... good luck! (And for those of you wondering, yes.... these were real applicants.)
UPDATE:
If you are a business administration major, you should probably know that "administration" is not spelled "administardian."
1. No matter what question you are asked to write about, your essay should never be “I do not have time to go into this these things. Please call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx."
2. When the topic of your essay is how formal training in your field could benefit you… ‘I like to study” is not an appropriate answer. Actually, this is not an appropriate answer... ever.
3. When you submit your application, it is not wise to beg the judging panel to proofread your essay and make corrections. Even if you are foreign.
Now, this last issue can get a little tricky, so I would like to preface it by saying that the scholarship my company offers is an equal-opportunity award. We do not award scholarships based on gender, sexual orientation, or religious preferences.
4. When asked how formal training could benefit you, the statement “As a gay teenager, I could not for the life of me find a gay man involved in construction” really has no relevance what so ever. While we agree that “sexuality is the least of anyones worries," I'm sure that the judging panel will be happy that you “realized your passion for estimating once you overcame your concerns of being gay” and that you can be a “role model for future gay teenagers.” But once again, since none of these things have anything to do with how formal training in your specific field could benefit you... I'd probably leave it out and just stick to answering the question
That's all of the advice I have to offer you this year.... so until next time.... good luck! (And for those of you wondering, yes.... these were real applicants.)
UPDATE:
If you are a business administration major, you should probably know that "administration" is not spelled "administardian."
Friday, February 10, 2012
From Grandma
Remember the letter I told you that my grandmother wrote for her funeral?
Here it is... it's beautiful:
On This Day: the Celebration of my Eternal Life
Things I would like Remembered
Because I had a special Love for my Children, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. My Brothers and Sisters were the best I could have ever hoped for. I had a wonderful childhood. My growing up years were some of the best times in my life. We as children always had chores to do. We had our share of scuffles, mama usually took good care of those. As you know Daddy didn’t whip or spank too often. We were a loving had working family. We chose to sing songs to make our chores or whatever to get done faster. We sang all of the way to school and back home. We played games.
__________________________________________________________
To my children: I am so proud of all of you. I know your Daddy would have been really proud of you had he lived to see all of your accomplishments. You all had to work so very hard in your childhood days. I look back now and I see just what has caused you all to advance and achieve the goals and careers you are in today. I want you to know I love and appreciate you for all the love you have all returned to me in my latter years after your Daddy passed away. I knew all I had left were my kids. I have held on to your love for 31 years now. I remember all of the fun times we had while you were growing up. We all had to pull our share of the work and most of the time then some. But we made it. I am so glad you all have the love for one another that you have. I want you to promise that you all will keep that love strong for the rest of your lives. Love will never fail you. Love will keep you strong. Love will see you through good, bad, hard, and easy times. Even through this day. I know it will be hard. Just remember I Love you! Most of all God Loves You! To my extended Daughters & Sons, I have tried to show my unbiased love and affection to you never to show partiality. My children chose great mates to have their children with. All 18 of you are the “GREATEST NEST OF CHILDREN A MOM COULD HAVE” I want to tell you about a group of grandchildren; 58 TO BE EXACT. You all know just how much grandma loves you. Remember I have told you so many times, and my Love for you had not nor will it ever change. It will just continue to grow stronger. Take this as if I were telling each of you individually by Name I Love You.
To my family and friends I want you to know how Much I Loved the Lord. How I want to see everyone in my family in Heaven one of these days. Some of the Songs I have chosen for today are for each of you to Remember me by. I want you all to know that I love you with all my Heart. I have always tried to share my Love with you. I don’t want you to weep over me. I want you to Rejoice With Me Because My Name was written down if The book of Life. So you know where I will spend Eternity.
I want you to know that “I’d Rather Have Jesus”. Than any of the pain and suffering I have had the past few years of my life. Tha I am “Sheltered Safe within the arms Of our God”. That I am in his “Green Pastures”. That “My Precious Lord has Taken My Hand”. “Oh and MY! My! My1 “What A Day” This is I’m having Here with your Daddy. My Daddy & Mama, My 4 Brothers (Wm F. I call him, some of you called him “Bill” others “Uncle Buddy”) “Jimmy”, “Claude” & Tommy. We have been catching up on all they have done before I got here. And Oh! “My Little Sister Tootsie”. We are singing all over Heaven. You know how we love to sing. Our voices well My! My! My! You will have to make reservations so you can hear us. “We all have new Bodies” (OH There Fit and Trim Light as a Feather) All of my Family is here they have been waiting for me! Because they Knew There “Aint No Grave Gonna Hold OUR Body Down”. “Just wait till you see my brand new Home” OH! Guess what it is true “Jesus was the First Face I saw when I left My Life on Earth” Oh, How Beautiful Heaven is! I want to see you one day here with me! (Mom, Grandma Renigar, Sister Renigar, Cousin, or Friend)
Because I LOVE YOU Remember:
I’ll see you later I Love you!
P.S. The Feast The Lord had prepared for me is even better that all for the family reunions, Christmas’, Thanksgiving and so on you can ever imagine. I know you will be eating there today. So every bite you take imagine you are here eating the fine feast the THE LORD HIMSELF PREPARED JUST FOR ME! CAN YOU IMAGINE ME!!!!!!!!!
Yes and He will do the same for you! ou have to allow him to! You have to accept him!
Love, Mom
Here it is... it's beautiful:
On This Day: the Celebration of my Eternal Life
Things I would like Remembered
Because I had a special Love for my Children, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. My Brothers and Sisters were the best I could have ever hoped for. I had a wonderful childhood. My growing up years were some of the best times in my life. We as children always had chores to do. We had our share of scuffles, mama usually took good care of those. As you know Daddy didn’t whip or spank too often. We were a loving had working family. We chose to sing songs to make our chores or whatever to get done faster. We sang all of the way to school and back home. We played games.
__________________________________________________________
To my children: I am so proud of all of you. I know your Daddy would have been really proud of you had he lived to see all of your accomplishments. You all had to work so very hard in your childhood days. I look back now and I see just what has caused you all to advance and achieve the goals and careers you are in today. I want you to know I love and appreciate you for all the love you have all returned to me in my latter years after your Daddy passed away. I knew all I had left were my kids. I have held on to your love for 31 years now. I remember all of the fun times we had while you were growing up. We all had to pull our share of the work and most of the time then some. But we made it. I am so glad you all have the love for one another that you have. I want you to promise that you all will keep that love strong for the rest of your lives. Love will never fail you. Love will keep you strong. Love will see you through good, bad, hard, and easy times. Even through this day. I know it will be hard. Just remember I Love you! Most of all God Loves You! To my extended Daughters & Sons, I have tried to show my unbiased love and affection to you never to show partiality. My children chose great mates to have their children with. All 18 of you are the “GREATEST NEST OF CHILDREN A MOM COULD HAVE” I want to tell you about a group of grandchildren; 58 TO BE EXACT. You all know just how much grandma loves you. Remember I have told you so many times, and my Love for you had not nor will it ever change. It will just continue to grow stronger. Take this as if I were telling each of you individually by Name I Love You.
To my family and friends I want you to know how Much I Loved the Lord. How I want to see everyone in my family in Heaven one of these days. Some of the Songs I have chosen for today are for each of you to Remember me by. I want you all to know that I love you with all my Heart. I have always tried to share my Love with you. I don’t want you to weep over me. I want you to Rejoice With Me Because My Name was written down if The book of Life. So you know where I will spend Eternity.
I want you to know that “I’d Rather Have Jesus”. Than any of the pain and suffering I have had the past few years of my life. Tha I am “Sheltered Safe within the arms Of our God”. That I am in his “Green Pastures”. That “My Precious Lord has Taken My Hand”. “Oh and MY! My! My1 “What A Day” This is I’m having Here with your Daddy. My Daddy & Mama, My 4 Brothers (Wm F. I call him, some of you called him “Bill” others “Uncle Buddy”) “Jimmy”, “Claude” & Tommy. We have been catching up on all they have done before I got here. And Oh! “My Little Sister Tootsie”. We are singing all over Heaven. You know how we love to sing. Our voices well My! My! My! You will have to make reservations so you can hear us. “We all have new Bodies” (OH There Fit and Trim Light as a Feather) All of my Family is here they have been waiting for me! Because they Knew There “Aint No Grave Gonna Hold OUR Body Down”. “Just wait till you see my brand new Home” OH! Guess what it is true “Jesus was the First Face I saw when I left My Life on Earth” Oh, How Beautiful Heaven is! I want to see you one day here with me! (Mom, Grandma Renigar, Sister Renigar, Cousin, or Friend)
Because I LOVE YOU Remember:
- John 3:16 for God so Loved the World that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life.
- Joshua 24:15 Choose you This Day Whom Ye swill Serve…as for Me and My house We will Serve The Lord.
- Love God and serve him. Do it with all of your Heart.
I’ll see you later I Love you!
P.S. The Feast The Lord had prepared for me is even better that all for the family reunions, Christmas’, Thanksgiving and so on you can ever imagine. I know you will be eating there today. So every bite you take imagine you are here eating the fine feast the THE LORD HIMSELF PREPARED JUST FOR ME! CAN YOU IMAGINE ME!!!!!!!!!
Yes and He will do the same for you! ou have to allow him to! You have to accept him!
Love, Mom
Friday, February 3, 2012
Homemade Laundry Detergent!
I've heard of people doing this, so I decided to give it a shot! That's right ladies and gentlemen - I made my own laundry detergent! I found the recipe at:
http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/
A TON of people commented on her post & it seems that they all love it! It's really easy to make and it is supposed to last forever (or close to it!) Here's how:
You will need:
So then it looks a little like this: ( it does dissolve in cold water, so don't worry about it not being super fine. Though, I'm sure the finer it is the better!)
http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/
A TON of people commented on her post & it seems that they all love it! It's really easy to make and it is supposed to last forever (or close to it!) Here's how:
You will need:
(ALL of the following items can be found in the laundry detergent isle. I bought everything at WalMart!)
1 - 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) $3.38
1 - 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) $2.12
1 - box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) $3.24
3 - bars of Fels-naptha soap, found in the detergent isle $.97/ea = $2.91
1 - box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) $3.24
3 - bars of Fels-naptha soap, found in the detergent isle $.97/ea = $2.91
(you can also use pink Zote soap instead of Fels-naptha (sources say it can be found at Home Depot).
1
- 3lb tub of oxi clean (I used Green Works) $6.97
Total Cost: $18.62
Next: Grate the Fels-Napthan soap using a cheese grater or a food processor, whichever you have! I used a cheese grater using the largest grate to speed things up! ....
It looks like cheese!
I wanted to make the soap a little finer, so I put it my processor (its tiny, but hey.. it's all I've got!)
Mix everything together in a large bucket or bowl. Be carful because as you mix it powdery dust will fly everywhere! I did it in a large mop bucket that I had, but it might be a good idea to mix it in a large bucket lined with a bag (to keep the dust from flying everywhere) OR do it outside. The plus side of mixing it inside: it makes your house smell fantastic!
Then put it in a container of your choice!
This bowl is 2.5 gallons. (found in the food storage container section of Wally!)
Add one to two tablespoons for one load - and TAH DAH! The blog above recommends 2 tablespoons just to be safe - AND it just so happens a scoop that size came in the Oxi Clean container!
I will try to keep track with how many loads this will wash. The originator said that she washed 8 loads of laundry per week and this lasted her 9 months! $18.62 = 9+ months. WIN.
Some things that the Being Creative to Keep My Sanity Blog answered:
-It is safe for HE machines (added to the drum)
-The scent is mild, so you may be able to add some laundry crystals for scent OR use fabric softener for a stronger smell. Someone recommended adding one bottle of Purex laundry crystals to the mixture.
-Safe for sensitive skin
**Check out her blog for comments and other trouble shooting! **
I'll keep you posted on what I think of it!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Celebrating the Life of my Grandma...
On Monday, January 23rd (one week ago today), our family lost a great love. My grandmother, Annie Renigar, died at the age of 89. It is a loss that has been extremely hard on my family. She was the only grandparent my siblings and I have ever known & was one whom we loved dearly. There was no one quite like her - she was as smart as a whip... even in her old age... and loved us more than life itself! I flew home on Tuesday to be with my family and stayed all week. Her visitation was held on Wednesday evening & her funeral services were Thursday (both at Oak Hill Church of God in Forrest City, AR). On the evening of her visitation we pulled as many photos of her as we could get our hands on so that during her service we could remember her life as it was - full of joy!
Her funeral was the most beautiful service I have ever seen. She planned her own funeral! She even picked out her own dress. She chose her songs & even prepared a letter for her children and grandchildren. Ive never really considered my grandmother to be a "godly" lady. I knew that she knew the Lord & she read her bible on occasion - but we rarely talked about the Lord. Her entire letter was filled with Jesus! She shared some fond memories and charged her family to cling to one another.... and to the Lord. She was very descriptive in her writings and wrote from the point of view as if she were in heaven... the things she was experiencing.. but mostly her desire for us to see her again one day. At the end of her letter she challenged my family to accept Jesus as their Savior so that they could see her again one day. It was the most beautiful thing she's ever done. She shared the gospel with our family... at her own funeral!!
AND PRAISE THE LORD A FEW WERE SAVED that day!!!
The service concluded with a gospel song called "Aint No Grave Gonna Hold This Body Down" - and I was sure that the roof was going to blow off of that building! It was a perfect celebration of her life!
My grandma was a special part of my life... and I will miss her even more than what I know. I am so thankful to have had her as my only grandparent....
Annie Louise Renigar
October 16, 1922 -
January 23, 2012
Her funeral was the most beautiful service I have ever seen. She planned her own funeral! She even picked out her own dress. She chose her songs & even prepared a letter for her children and grandchildren. Ive never really considered my grandmother to be a "godly" lady. I knew that she knew the Lord & she read her bible on occasion - but we rarely talked about the Lord. Her entire letter was filled with Jesus! She shared some fond memories and charged her family to cling to one another.... and to the Lord. She was very descriptive in her writings and wrote from the point of view as if she were in heaven... the things she was experiencing.. but mostly her desire for us to see her again one day. At the end of her letter she challenged my family to accept Jesus as their Savior so that they could see her again one day. It was the most beautiful thing she's ever done. She shared the gospel with our family... at her own funeral!!
AND PRAISE THE LORD A FEW WERE SAVED that day!!!
The service concluded with a gospel song called "Aint No Grave Gonna Hold This Body Down" - and I was sure that the roof was going to blow off of that building! It was a perfect celebration of her life!
My grandma was a special part of my life... and I will miss her even more than what I know. I am so thankful to have had her as my only grandparent....
Annie Louise Renigar
October 16, 1922 -
January 23, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Ash Heap - January Edition
For starters: we got a new blog title. The motto for West Virginia is "Wild & Wonderful" - so I thought it was fun & appropriate!
Moving on:
After a very crazy 1.5 months, I am still playing catch-up!
Steven & I travelled to Arkansas (Yes! We flew this time & were there in 2 hours! GLORY!) over Christmas and were able to spend 10 days with my family. I dont think we have ever had such a great visit. My heart was heavy going in & the Lord completely blessed my time there. (THANKS GOD!!) I hope to share a bit more about our visit at a later date, but for now... I'll just stick with telling you what the heck is happening in this Wild & Wonderful world of ours:
Moving on:
After a very crazy 1.5 months, I am still playing catch-up!
Steven & I travelled to Arkansas (Yes! We flew this time & were there in 2 hours! GLORY!) over Christmas and were able to spend 10 days with my family. I dont think we have ever had such a great visit. My heart was heavy going in & the Lord completely blessed my time there. (THANKS GOD!!) I hope to share a bit more about our visit at a later date, but for now... I'll just stick with telling you what the heck is happening in this Wild & Wonderful world of ours:
- Steven & I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on December 17th! We spent a very classy evening with some friends of ours at an intimate church gathering/meeting about the church's vision for the coming year! We got to dress up & spend our night with some of our favorite people on the planet! I cannot believe it's already been 6 years. I am still clueless as to why the Lord continues to allow me to be married to that guy. He is more amazing than I could ever begin to tell you.
- ALSO - On Dec. 17th my drug study ended... which gave me the freedom to enjoy chocolate! Best anniversary gift ever. Will I ever do another study? Doubt it. It was great for what I needed the $$ for, but I dont think its for me :)
- Steven wrapped up his 3rd semester of college with a (drum roll please.......) 4.0! Cumulative GPA thus far? 4.0. He's a star.
- Steven starts his LAST SEMESTER next week! AH! Where has time gone...
- Speaking of college - b/c of our drug studies, we were able to pay for his final semester, meaning we have put him through college 100% DEBT FREE on basically one salary.
- God has been phenomenal to us in the area of work & money. I just pray that he continues to show us how to use this gift wisely & not for selfish gain & glory. It has been a great joy to see how He has provided for us since we've been in West Virginia.
- We spent 10 days with my family... but I said that already. My nieces & nephews are growing like weeds. Makes me sad that Im missing out on so much of their lives. Gosh, they have the greatest personalities and are some of the funniest people I know.
- I hate that I only get to see my mother twice a year.
- My grandma (which is the only grandparent I've ever had) isn't doing very well. Through various hospital stays & doctor visits... it seems that she has some form of leukemia/blood disease where her platelets are being attacked. After a few weeks of having to get blood/platelets 3 times a week, my family has decided to stop the treatment. Doctors say it wont help & every time she has to go she comes back weak and miserable. She is now on hospice & she is slowly fading away. This is super hard on my mother and my aunts who are caring for her. Its hard for me too b/c I'm so far away & I adore her. It was great getting to spend so much time with her while we were home... and as "off" as this sounds, it was good for me to see how much pain she's in. It helps letting go a bit easier.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Christmas with Marcus & Meredith
Steven and I went to Arkansas for Christmas! Usually we stay at my mom and dad's house, but this time we slept at my brother's! We were able to partake in their Christmas celebration and watch the kids open their gifts! We were both so excited about it and really enjoyed watching Caleb (3) and Emma (7 mos) open everything!
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