The Activities of a Ripley High School Miss Viking Candidate

I want to document every little detail of this event so that I can look back and remember every minute of the fun that we had!

At Ripley High School, grades 9 - 12 vote for three senior girls to be the Miss Viking Candidates for Homecoming.  When the votes were tallied, the three names are announced over the intercom system at the school.  When the names were read, they were Karli Casto, Samantha Faber, and MACI OILER!

And then the fun began (and it was lots of fun - really!).

On the following Thursday after the announcement, the local newspaper came to the school to take photos of the Homecoming Court.  The school gave Maci a form to fill out including our names, her school activities, etc. 

The school also provided Maci with a crown and a sash.

Molli allowed Maci to borrow one of her stylish outfits and jewelry for the pictures.  Molli also came to the house, before school on Thursday, and fixed Maci's hair for her.

The Newspaper Insert came out the following Tuesday.

The following Friday was the Homecoming Parade through town.  Myself, Molli, Tyler, Mom, Paula, and TL watched from a canopy that Tyler set up on the City Hall parking lot.  

For the parade, Maci needed.....

...a car and someone to drive,

(Thanks to Kevin Harris for the use of his convertible and for Mrs. Lough for driving.)

...signs for the side of the car,

(Made by Custom Detail for $68.90)

...a formal dress and shoes,  (She wore the dress and shoes that she wore to the Prom last year.)

...to get her nails done. ($23 at Ivy Nails)

...to have her hair done in an updo, 

(Maci signed out of school at noon and went to Molli's house so that Molli could fix her hair.)

...jewelry. 

(Molli helped Maci pick out some jewels from her dressing room.)

Friday night was the Homecoming Football Game.  

The school provided Maci with a carnation corsage.

Maci then needed a suit and to have her hair done. 

(We bought a suit at Macy's and she again went to Molli's and Molli fixed her hair for her.)

We ALL...myself, Jim, Maci, Molli and Tyler.....(Morgan did not get to come home from school because she had to work over the weekend ~ a story in and of itself about how very badly we missed her)  had a such a good time and so much fun!

Meet the Choir!

Maci's Meet the Choir night was held on Thursday, September 22, 2011 at Ripley High School. Maci is a member of the Chamber Choir.  The Chamber Choir performed Autumn, Song for the Unsung Hero, and Wade in the Water. 

Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.  2 Samuel 22:50

Virginia Elizabeth Oiler Oliver

Virginia Elizabeth Oiler Oliver

April 12, 1930 ~ September 14, 2011

Virginia Elizabeth Oiler Oliver, 81, of the Evergreen Hills community, Cottageville, passed away September 14, 2011 at CAMC, following a short illness.

She was born April 12, 1930, in Marting, a daughter of the late James Albert and Rosie Ellen (Crump) Oiler.  Her husband of 55 years, Enos Edward Oliver; brothers Leonard Oiler, Arnold Oiler, Vernon Oiler, Virgil Oiler, Harold Oiler, James Junior Oiler, William Oiler, Robert Oiler, and Max Oiler; and a sister Dorothy Oiler Meadows, also preceded her in death.  

She was a homemaker, an accomplished seamstress and an active member of Faith Assembly of God Church, Ripley.

Survivors include a son and and daughter-in-law, James F. and Lucinda F. (Hall) Oiler of Ripley; daughters and son-in-law, Sharon Rose (Oliver) and James W. Owens of Millwood and Karen Elaine (Oliver) and Gene A. Keller of Parkersburg; sisters, Marjorie Oiler Simms of Oak Hill, Susie Oiler West of Londonderry, Ohio, Margaret Oiler Brown of Cannelton, and Phyllis Oiler Myers of Montgomery; grandchildren, Jeni Rose (Owens) Smith and her husband, John of Kenna,  Molli Michael (Oiler) Markham and her husband, Tyler R. of Ripley, and Morgan Faith Oiler and Maci James Oiler, both of Ripley; and great grandchildren, Riley James Smith and Grayson Rose Smith of Kenna.

Graveside services and interment will be 1 pm Saturday, September 17, in Jackson County Memory Gardens, Cottageville, with Pastor Adam Nester officiating.

Casto Funeral Home, Evans, is providing arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to Faith Assembly of God, Route 1 Box 148, Ripley, WV  25271.

A Few Random Pictures Left on the Camera

 Maci and Graci

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.  Hebrews 10:36

Weekend Football

The above pictures are of the Ripley High School versus Lincoln County High School Football Game on Friday.  It was very chilly ~ the first football game with coats, gloves, and a blanket.  There weren't many people there, so I stayed with our stuff and took pictures from the visitors side.  Usually we go over to the home side to watch the halftime show, but tonight Jim watched on the home side and I watched from the visitors bleachers.

The following pictures are of Jim and Maci as they headed out to the Marshall football game on Saturday evening.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  Hebrews 13:5

9/11 Tribute Ceremony

On 9/11 a tribute ceremony was held at the Ripley Wal-Mart to remember those who lost their life during that tragic attack.  The event included the RHS Chorus opening and closing, a raising of an American Flag containing the names of all 2,900 who lost their life on that day, speakers Mayor Carolyn Rader, Ripley Chief of Police Jim Fridley, and Mike Lewis who gave an account of what he experienced on 9/11.

Refreshments were served, along with a balloon release where people were given the opportunity to fill out a small card honoring someone and attaching it to the balloon. 

On 9/11/2001, I was working as a secretary at Gassaway Baptist Church.  There was a MOPS meeting going on at that time in the Jr. Church sanctuary.  Our girls were in school at Davis Elementary School.  Jim was at work at Toyota in Buffalo, WV.  I received a few phone calls at the church for the pastors and remember feeling as though something was going on.  The pastors were at a house watching the news.  I called Dad, who was at home in Kenna, and he told me what was happening as he watched it on TV.  I just know that I wanted my family close.  There was scheduled ball practice that evening for the girls.  Toyota sent Jim home from work, we kept the girls at home with us, and found comfort in being together and knowing that God WAS and IS in control.  It is a day that forever changed the United States of America.

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.  I Chronicles 16:11

A weekend of Football

 I must begin with....these are horrible pictures.  I didn't take my good camera with us on vacation, so I didn't have it for the football game (since we came straight from the airport to the game).  These pictures of the RHS football game against Nitro were taken on my iPhone.  This is a picture of the band.  I can only pick out Maci because I know where she is standing.  But, it is what it is - at least I have a picture.  

Molli and Tyler met us at the game.  We couldn't wait to see the girls and hug them. This is Molli with her Dad.

On Saturday there was a Marshall Game in Huntington.  Maci spent some quality time with her Dad, while Molli and I did some much needed retail therapy!  A win/win situation.  It was a good evening....I had new clothes, and Marshall won!

Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.  Psalms 35:9

Vacation

 This week Jim and I are celebrating our 25 year anniversary!  We had said that we were going to go to Hawaii on our 10th, but we were heart high in the middle of grade school activities, then on our 15th and 20th we were experiencing and enjoying high school, and now on our 25th we are paying for college - ha!  Anyway, we skipped the Hawaii vacation and flew to Myrtle Beach together.  I just needed a vacation - in a BIG way!  This was the first time that Jim had flown.  I was a little worried about him at first.  Made sure that he knew that they wouldn't land the plane and let him off if he didn't like it and that once he was in South Carolina he HAD to get back on the plane to get home.  He couldn't change his mind.  This first picture made me a little worried, but he loved it.  We flew out of Charleston at 6:15am on a rainy, windy morning.  There was quite a bit of turbulence. 

I told him that if he looked at me on takeoff or during landing and my eyes were closed, not to worry or disturb me - I pray through both - and I did!  He spent his whole time looking out of the window.  I must admit, it is quite a beautiful, breathtaking view.  Only God could create and orchestrate a view like this!

 We landed in Atlanta and then got on our second flight to Myrtle Beach.  

Our days were consumed with reclining and watching the ocean, napping, eating, the lazy river, watching the ocean during the late evenings, and just lots of relaxing. 

Jim spent alot of time "body surfing" (and I am using that term loosely). 

We enjoyed the beach Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  On Friday we flew out of South Carolina at 11:40am. 

We arrived back in West Virginia, and headed to watch Maci and the RHS football game at Nitro.  

I am so very thankful for my husband!  We had a great time......and will make it to Hawaii one day!  Although, I don't mind spending the rest of my life right here in WV sharing it with him. 

(We did really miss our girls!!)

My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.  John 15:12