The Renshaw Family

I love hearing the Renshaws sing! Their music is touched by God and is always a blessing! I thought I would share one of my favorite songs they sing. I couldn't get the embedded code to work so you'll have to click on the link below to hear them. I hope you enjoy them just as much as I do!

Wedding Day in Heaven.

Happy to be Me?

"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself." — Anna Quindlen

"Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess, and to gain applause which he cannot keep." ~Samuel Johnson, The Rambler, 1750

A few months ago I met a man my parents have known for a long time. I knew him when I was young, but it was so long ago that I cant' remember him. This man really sticks out from the rest of the crowd because he is different. Some might think he is different in a bad way, but others love him for who he is and over look some of the odd things about his personality. I am one of those people who like him even though he isn't like most people. He is very nice, easy to talk to, fun to be around, stays active in his church, and loves God. But what I love most about him is the way he has accepted who he is. It really encouraged me to be myself.

I don't think I can say I want to change myself so that I am accepted by others or so I can gain man's applause, rather I wish I were different so that I could have more fun. I am so quiet and so unsociable that I usually don't enjoy big gatherings unless I know the people very well and I have been around them for a long time. Unfortunately there aren't many people like that in my life who I am comfortable around. So I usually stay to myself and watch everyone else have a good time. (Sometimes I wonder if this will hender me from finding a man I can talk to!)

But you know what? That is who I am! God did not create me to be a social butterfly and I am exhausted from trying to be one. I still wish I could talk to anyone with ease and jump in a crowd of people and have fun, but the awkwardness is still there and I don't know if I will ever overcome it. My timid spirit simply will not go away. So instead of getting discouraged about myself I am going to try to accept who I am . . . even if it mean dying an old maid! : )

A Gift in a Jar!

This past Sunday our church recognized our graduates. Our pastor charged them from the word of God and then we had lunch afterwards. We gave a gift to one of the girls who had just graduated from high school. Mama bought ever thing and I did the decorating! (I had the fun job!)

I got this neat idea from A Day in the Life of Gina. I think hers turned our a lot cuter, but mine does have a nice different look. I decided to use brown instead of black because of the Hershey bars. One of the things that makes this so much fun is all the possibilities! There are so many colors, ribbons, scrapbook paper, and rain dots to choose from! Over all, it is a fun, easy, and afordable gift to put together!

A Place of Comfort

Sometimes in this life we have to go places we don't want to go to. We have to be around people we don't like being around. Sometimes we are completely uncomfortable with our surroundings to the point that we want nothing more then to just get away. Thankfully, I know I can always go home. At home I feel comfortable, I feel loved, I feel appreciated, I feel needed . . . and I can be myself without worrying what anyone will think of me! No matter how crazy or annoying I can be my family will always accept me! That alone will put a smile on my face and help me out of a bad mood I may have previously been in. There is no place like home!

Picture of our home taken by Bethany.

Quit Holding Back

Today mama sent me a devotional by Mark Batterson. Mama knew what I was going through so the timing of this piece was perfect! I managed to locate it on the Internet so that I could share it with you.

Now here comes the disclaimer . . . I haven't read anything else on his blog, but from the looks of it I think I should tell you that I do not agree with everything on his web sight. I know nothing about him or his web sight.This post alone has really encouraged me. I hope it is an encouragement to you too!

What Caused Division Between My Siblings

There was once a time when Phillip and Amy got along great like every brother and sister should. They played together every day, went to places together, got over disagreements very quickly, and found common ground that they could be happy with. They were always together!


For the past few days I've noticed that they haven't been together as much. Lately Phillip has been in his room by himself while Amy is in her room alone. They no longer stick together.


In sadness I went on a mission to find out what caused division between my brother and sister. I was eager to see what made them part in such a way. Today I believe I solved the mystery. It is very clear why they are not spending as much time together.

They now have walky talkies!

Leave The Dictating to the Doctors!

Most of you know that I work in the medical field, something that God directed me to, and really enjoy. I work with two very good transcriptionist in my department who I am always going to when I need an x-ray typed. Having them there makes my job so much easier!

But they don't look at the actual x-ray film and decide what to put on the report. It is the doctors' job to examine the x-ray and verbally relay what he has found, through our phone system. This is called dictation. It is the transcriptionist job to listen to the doctor's voice and type the report as accurately as possible.

For the past several weeks I have felt like I am a trascriptionist and God is the doctor. When I write an article God has told me to write I can feel Him leading me what to write and what not to write. Sometimes God wont even let me add a few words to a sentence if it is not what He wants me to add. Interesting enough, I even found that unique words I usually wouldn't use come to mind while I am typing or writing something for my blog, my friends e-magazine, or anything else. I never knew writing could be so much fun and rewarding!

But let's think about the transcriptionist and doctor scenario again. Have you ever went to the transcriptionist and thanked them for transcribing their x-ray so well? Do you give them credit for finding a fractured bone or a mass in your stomach that could have caused potential harm to your body if it had been left undetected? Most likely not because they are not the ones who found it. All the credit goes to the doctor. In the end, the doctor is the one who God used to saved or increase your health. Not the transcriptionist.

So I cannot take any credit for the articles I write. As much as I would love to say, "Oh, thank you! It took such hard work and practice to write such articles," the truth is, the only reason my writing has changed is because I have decided to listen to God. I think the best way to get great results is to do what I am good at, and leave the dictating to the doctors!

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**Just a note: Of course it does take persistence and practice to become a good writer, but what I was referring to in this post is the effect of the article. No matter how well someone writes, their product will do no good if the holy spirit is not in it. Every writer wants their writings to make an impact on other's lives. To achieve this we must follow God word by word.**