Gaia Community: treniff's Blog

What has not yet happened in life?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:07:04 GMT

I still have a long way to go in raising my children to be the successful adults I want them to be in the future, will be starting a new job soon as a private home health aid, and am hoping that someday my husband will join myself and my daughters in our christian faith.

Tags: QaR, life, future, waiting, anticipation, faith, christian, success, children

What has happened in your life?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:55:17 GMT

Too much to post. Where do I begin...kidnapped at age 3 for about a week by my own father, I beat up a guy on the wrestling team in high school cause he hit me first and then all the guys were afraid of me so never dated anyone from my own school, won tickets to an amusement park for being the top person in our fund raising goal ifor charity in 8th grade, took CNA training in high school, went to college for two years for human services, Got married, worked as a nanny, day provider, bill collector, manger, supervisor, sales rep, and day trader, took care of both of my parents when they were sick with cancer until they passed away, had back surgery, have three daughter, put a child molester in prison, and so much more. Every detail though led to who I am today and therefore I would never change any of the past as dreadful as some it was at times. I'm grateful for who I am and for my family. Would never change any of that if given the chance.

Tags: QaR, life, events, stories, college, school, work, grattitude, prison, change

Where in your life are you happiest?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:04:45 GMT

I am the happiest when helping other people whether it be family, friends, or strangers. Helping other people gives you an undescribable reward in return. If you've never helped a stranger in need, I highly reccomend it to anyone. Give it a try.

Tags: QaR, happiness, life, fulfillment, joy, helping, people, reward, stranger, give

What problem would you most like a solution for?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:46:41 GMT

Wow, That's a tough one! There are so many problems out there in the world how do you choose? I wish I could fix them all.

Tags: QaR, problems, solutions, resolution, help, assistance, world, fix

What is your wish for the week ahead?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:09:20 GMT

Our local relay for life is this week. I wish to double what we raised last year for the American Cancer Society. I wish for a clear sky so the relay will go as smooth as possible. I wish for my oldest daughter to be safe on her trip to Washington DC and that she might get the opportunity to meet the president on her tour of the white house.

Tags: QaR, week, future, dream, RFL, opportunity, cancer, president

What can you do right now to make a positive difference?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:57:06 GMT

I do many things on a regular basis, however, this week is our local Relay For Life. It's a fun way to raise money for the American Cancer Society. I am a team captain and also on the planning committee. My team is called Unity. Our motto is "United we stand, or in this case, walk against cancer. The money raised through the relay is used for researching new and improved treatments, looking for possible cures, funding a 24 hot line that cancer patients can call to receive information or support on any type of cancer at any time, to build hope lodges for patients and their families to stay in free of charge while receiving treatments, and this year they even gave my step-Dad money for gas to travel back and forth for daily radiation treatments when gas more than $4 a gallon. He lives an hour from the hospital and is on fixed income so it was a really big help.

I work on the relay all year long. I write sponsor letters to request donations and prizes. I recruit teams and team members. I attend many planning committee meetings and team captain's meetings.

This week, with only a few more days left before the relay, I am going to be extra busy. The theme this year is race for a cure. I am helping my kids build race cars out of car board boxes for the race car lap/contest. I am putting all the donated prizes together to make gift baskets, packages, and mystery boxes. These prizes will be used for our game at the relay. We are playing Deal or no deal. People can donate to our team for a chance to be a contestant in our game. Our cases are brown paper bags with index cards inside them. Each card has a prize written on it. Our million dollar prizes are a spa basket (many spa items including a gift certificate for a 30 minute massage), a nascar package (many items including a gift certificate for the online nascar store), and a pool party package (a swimming pool with a built in sprinkler and pool toys). Then the prizes get smaller all the way down to our penny prizes (travel pack of tissues in case you cry if you win it).

This week I will also be busy packing and setting up supplies and tents. I will be helping with a snack bar. I will be lighting candles and decorating luminaria bags. I will be doing lots of walking (last year I walked for 6 hours) and hopefully raising lots of money. Many people bring tents and sleep part of the night. I bring tents for my team but stay awake all night. We only relay once a year so one night without sleep is a small price to pay for fighting cancer.

Donations to my team may be made anytime throughout the year, but the majority of the fund raising is usually done at the actual event. Relays are held all over the United States. You can find your own local relay to create a team or join a team at www.relayforlife.org. Just click on find event and enter your zip code to find a relay near you. Last year my little country town raised over $30,000 and we are hoping to double that this year as we have recruited double the number or teams.

Tags: QaR, life, positive, change, future, cancer, RFL, charity, unity, passion

Are we there yet?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:21:04 GMT

That depends. Where are you right now? And where are you going?

Tags: QaR, arrival, journey, process

What is going right in your life right now?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Sat, 09 May 2009 10:41:19 GMT

I have a wonderful family, a home, food to eat, and am publishing a children's book right now. The whole life's journey, the good and the bad has led me to where I am today. The bad parts of life my may have been difficut to endure, but I would never change them because I am happy with where this journey has led me to today.

Tags: QaR, rightness, messages, life, livingpublishing, family, home, change, difficult

What do you want most right now?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:35:08 GMT

I have everything I really need and wish others had everything they needed, too. (food, shelter, clothes, family, friends, love, and most of all God)

Tags: QaR, desire, want, wishes, satisfaction, gad, happiness, need, love

What do you want to be thankful for?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:38:36 GMT

Article written for church newsletter by Tammy Reniff for month of November: Gratitude Attitude: Thanksgiving is almost here. A time when everyone shows gratitude with a special holiday attitude. We buy greeting cards, prepare big meals, and have gatherings with family and friends to show how thankful we are for all of our blessings. Shouldn't we have a gratitude attitude everyday throughout the year?

It can especially be difficult to be grateful for our blessings when we are going through troubling times. No matter how bad things may seem, there is always something to be grateful for. When you are stuck in what seems like an endless depression, have a death in your family, go bankrupt because of the week economy, lose your job, experience a serious illness, or many of the other troubling things life brings your way, can you still be grateful? These are the times when being grateful is the most important.

What God Promises

He doesn't promise sunny days; just a rainbow at the end of a storm.

He doesn't promise silver and gold; but to provide for your needs.

He doesn't promise to make your life trouble free, just to give you the strength to see things through.

He doesn't promise all the answers; just that He'll direct your path.

He doesn't promise you understanding, but faith that will see you through.

He doesn't promise freedom from despair, only joy and peace in believing.

He doesn't promise that you'll never fail, just that your strength and hope will be renewed.

He doesn't promise you'll have no fears, but that He is always there.

Most of all, He promises unconditional and everlasting love.

~Barbara Cage

So maybe you lost your job but you still have the ability to work and to go out to look for a new one. Maybe you lost a loved one, but your still have your faith, special memories, and new deeper sense of compassion for others. Maybe you are depressed and discouraged, but still have a home to keep you warm and dry on rainy days and an understanding of a bad situation that you can share to help others who may be going through something similar. Maybe you lost your home, but have a wonderful friend or family member willing to take you in until you get back on your feet and a beautiful sunset to view at the end of a tiring day. Maybe you are terminally ill, but you have a savior who died for you to have a way to a breathtakingly beautiful heaven at the end of your journey on earth.

Always remember there's never a rainbow with the rain. Don't be discouraged if you are not able to see your rainbow yet. Have faith that your rainbow is there and one day when you least expect it, every thing will be ok. Isn't that something to be thankful for? Why wait for Thanksgiving to arrive...have a "Gratitude Attitude" today and everyday the whole year through!

Thankful

Week before Thanksgiving,
I limp around real strange.
Huddle in the corner,
As though I have the mange.

All the other turkeys,
Just gobble, gobble on.
I'm silent, and I act
As if my gobbler's gone.

Everyone is thankful
On Thanksgiving Day.
Friday it's forgotten.
You all go on your way.

I know what thankful is
So listen when I say.
"It's great to be a turkey,
After Thanksgiving Day."

-Grandpa Tucker
Copyright ©1996 Bob Tucker

Tags: QaR, thankful, gratitude, appreciation, thanks, thanksgiving, attitude grateful, god, church

"The Ultimate Gift"

http://treniff.gaia.com — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:30:10 GMT

As Christmas approaches, many of us are shopping for the perfect gifts to make our friends and family happy on Christmas morning. Christmas is a busy time of year with so many people feeling overwhelmed and stressed out as they make preparations for the biggest, most important holiday of the year. What can you do to make things simpler, but still feel like your holiday is elegant and complete?

Everyone knows the story of the first Christmas. A baby born in a manger, his parents were poor, stars lighting the sky for traveling visitors, yet nobody could ever be happier. Three wise men brought gifts on this special day. Gold, which was the usual offering given to a king by his subjects, frankincense, which was used to worship in the temples, and Myrrh which was one of the ingredients in the holy oil as mentioned in Exodus chapter 30. This first Christmas was the most special ever, yet so sweet and simple.

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Those who believeth in him shall not perish but have an ever lasting life. (John 3:16 KJV). God sacrificed his only son so that every person on earth can have a way to eternal life. Now, that’s the ultimate gift. The gift of love, who can top that?

What gifts would God want you give for Christmas this year as we remember the birth of his son?
Love: "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (NIV, Mark 12:28-30) The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. (NRSV, Mark 12:31)
So remember, the ultimate gift has already been given. You can’t top it, of course, but you can return the love as it was once given to you. Keep your holiday sweet and simple as you give the gift of love. After all, it’s not the toys children remember, it’s the time you spent playing with the child. The neighbors don’t remember the fancy cards, but they remember sitting down with you and having a meaningful conversation over a cup of tea. Your grandparents don’t remember the trinkets you bought for decorating their house, but the time you spent helping them decorate when they were no longer able to decorate on their own. There is nothing more special, elegant, and complete than giving the gift of love. ~Tammy Reniff

Tags: Ultimate Gift Christmas holiday jesus God family s

What area of your life could use healing right now?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:40:23 GMT

My home. It's old and falling apart. My husband likes to fix things himself, but he takes forever to get around to the things that need fixing. He doesn't like it if I ask anyone else to fix anything though. The house is 38 years old and still has most all the original things in it...carpet, ugly outdated wall paper, etc.

Tags: QaR, life, healing, soothing, heal, calming, home, fix, family, original

Who is your audience?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:15:21 GMT

The whole world around me. You can leave a lasting impression on people and not even be aware of it. Think about how many people left good, bad, or indifferent impressions on you in your life from day to day. Are they aware of the impressions they left on you?

Tags: QaR, audience, performance, self, behavior, world, people, impression, aware, lasting

What bridge would you like to build in your life?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:56:03 GMT

I would build a bridge of understanding. When people understand others, they are more compassionate, patient, loving, caring, helpful, and more likely to maintain a peaceful relationship. Understanding others is what helps the world go round.

Tags: QaR, connection, bridge, bridging, understanding, people, peace, relationship

What's the best thing you've lost?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:54:18 GMT

I lose things all the time. I have a bad memory, but I blame it on my kids. I used to never forget anything until I became pregnant with my first child, and it continued to get worse with each pregnancy. I learned that viatim B12 helps to maintain memory, so I bought some, hoping I would stop losing and misplacing things if I took it. Does it work? I might not ever know...I can't remember to take it.

The best thing I've ever lost...that's a tough one. I've lost so many things by now, it's hard to choose just one...

I lost a disc in my spine when I had back surgery. I had been living in chronic pain for such a long time that I couldn't remember what it was like to be pain free. I thought I might never be pain free again. I was forced to give in and have the disc removed when two different doctors told me I'd be an invalid the rest of my life if I kept avoiding surgery. Since I had already lost some use of my right leg at this point I believed them both and finally had the dreaded surgery.

What did I gain? I gained a donated bone from some generous,caring, anonymous person who passed away before me. I am now pain free! I can even sit on the floor and play with my kids! Something I thought I'd never be able to do again.

Tags: QaR, loss, positive, letting go, gain, memory, pain, believe, anonymous

What do you think is the hardest thing to change?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:56:24 GMT

Other people. Many desperately need change to a more positive life, but you can't change other people unless they want to be changed.

Tags: QaR, hope, action, care, people, change, positive, desperate

What did you think about Halloween when you were young?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:43:25 GMT

I loved Halloween. I always wanted to wear something scarey. It was a fun night to hang out with friends and trick or treat until you had been to every house in the neighborhood (we live in the country so that didn't take long). It was a time to tell ghost stories, watch horror movies and eat candy until you couldn't eat any more.

Tags: QaR, halloween, memory, childhood

Do you give yourself enough time?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:32:33 GMT

I do now. I used to never have time for myself. Now my youngest is in pre-k this year and I have almost 4 hours to myself 5 days a week now. It's nice to finally have time to just work on my own projects.

Tags: QaR, time, patience, space, self

What most helps your personal growth?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:15:00 GMT

God, Quiet time to sit and think, patience, good listening skills, and watching others. What slows me down is when I forget to take the time to do those things because I get too busy with the everyday fast paced life. I have to remember to take the time I need to do what's most important first, then everything else goes much more smoothly.

Tags: QaR, personal development, growth, unfolding, life, God, Patience, listening

How do you keep yourself busy?

http://treniff.gaia.com — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:08:18 GMT

Busy, that might be my middle name I think. I'm a Girl Scout leader, I'm our Girl Scout Service Unit's Public relations volunteer, I'm a Relay For Life team captain, on the Relay For Life Planning committee, the Relay For Life recruitment chair person, a volunteer for Chemo Angels, coeditor of our church newsletter, the bazaar helpers committee, the Women's Association, and a Sunday School teacher. I make my own greeting cards, read, surf the net, and answer emails.

Then, there's my kids. I drive them to friend's houses, NJHS, softball games, band, junior choir, youth choir, bell choir, Christmas plays, chorus concerts, school fund raisers, selling Girl Scout cookies, craft projects, home work projects, hiking, camping, soccer, swimming, doctor's appointments, orthodontist, eye appointments, playing at the park, Vacation Bible School, and so much more.

I drive my step-Dad to doctor appointments, help my Aunt, and the list is just too long to keep going.

Tags: QaR, busy, time, pressure, volunteer, kids, family, church, crafts, committee