Woman of the Week for 06/21/2012: Cheryl Miller

Nominated by: Karen Daigneault

Cheryl is a single mother of 2.  Her little girl lives with her in Sanford and her son lives in New Smyrna.  Cheryl also works, goes to school, and takes care of our mother, who also lives with her.  A few days ago I had a banking mistake, classes all day, and no way take care of it before 6 PM.  Cheryl went out of her way to take care of it for me (paying the full amount and putting extra in my account) and also went to New Smyrna to get her son to bring him back to Sanford to run his errands.  Then she told me it is not necessary to repay her.  Even with my mother, she does not allow my mother to help with household expenses.  She believes my mother did her job raising her and now it is her turn to help and that is how God would want it.  She always goes out of her way to help family and friends.  She is a selfless person who has always worked hard for everything and has never asked for a handout.  She is my best friend; I could not ask for anyone nicer.

Woman of the Week for 06/14/2012: Jennifer Verga

Nominated by: Dominick and Sophia Verga

My eleven year old daughter and I are writing this for our love for a woman of faith.  Jennifer is the women of my dreams and the best mother a child could ever ask for.  God had a special plan for Jennifer!  She makes me smile in the of hardest times.  Jennifer enjoys praying and worshiping the Lord.  I believe by her setting an example of faith, our daughter has grown in faith.

My mother works hard and always has a smile on her face.  My mom is like a machine never stopping.

My wife does everything for our family.  Our dog would have to agree as well.  She would run into a burning building to save one of us.

Mom,Jennifer, we love you and we hope you know that.  God bless you!

Woman of the Week for 06/07/2012: Cala Stadel

Nominated by: Debbie Juehring

I have a wonderful woman I want to tell Z land about as she is a very dear friend of mine.  Having a large family was a dream of hers when she was little and at age 46 she has accomplished it.  She had 6 girls and finally ended up with a son on the seventh delivery.  She has the patience of Job and is very involved in all of their lives.
Being a very spiritual person she has raised all 7 of her children in Christ.  They range from 21- 6 years of age.  Her son has just finished Kindergarten in May.  We have figured that Cala will have 48 proms in her lifetime as well as homecomings, and other special events . We joke they should start up their own consignment shop of all the dresses, shoes, and jewelry they will need to buy over the next years.  I don’t know when she sleeps because she is at every basketball, softball, or volleyball game that any of her active kids are involved in through school.
To add one more thing to her very busy agenda every day, she just recently started her own business helping others get healthy after she successful lost 94 pounds.  She is finding time to make her health a priority these days because she knows that our bodies are our temples.  She now wants to show her family that God wants us to take care of our bodies.
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19
Another one of Cala’s favorite quotes she likes to remind me of is: God can dream a bigger dream for you then you can dream for yourself!
She is a true inspiration of mine because I am from a large family myself. I was the youngest of 7 children and I know the commitment it takes to be a woman of God raising kids in our world today, and she is a blessing in showing us all how to do this.  I know how much she relies on God day after day.
Cala, I am proud to be your friend.  You are a true Woman of God. You have so much wisdom to share. Thanks for sharing your life with me as well as being such a wonderful mother, wife and friend to so many who look up to you in every thing you do.

Woman of the Week for 04/26/2012: Annette Parkhurst

Nominated by: Ashley Parkhurst

My mom is the best mom a girl could ask for; she’s not only my mom but my best friend.  She’s loving, caring, generous, and just all in all amazing!  She always puts everyone before herself, rather it be one of her five siblings, her husband, my sister, or myself.  She has dedicated her entire life to my sister and me; there isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for us.  She took us to all our dance competitions growing up, and has always helped us with our school work (including now while we’re both in college).  She would go to the ends of the earth to do any for us.  Not only does she take care of us and her family but she loves to help anyone in need.  She has this incredible vision to one day own her own homeless shelter to help people get back on their feet.  Everything she does in her life is to serve God and glorify Him!  Mom, thank you for being such a great role model for me, I pray that when I have kids I can be half the mom you have been to me!  I love you!

Woman of the Week for 04/19/2012: Laura Costanzo

Nominated by: Amanda Costanzo
My mother is such an amazing woman.  She is devoted to God, and is one of those people who doesn’t care if others give her strange looks when she prays in public.  She is strong, and has been through so much in the past years, and I look up to her for her courage and faith that everything will turn out all right in the end, and that everything is part of His plan.  One of my favorite Bible verses is, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”  It always reminds me of Momma and her strength and determination. Once when she saw a Bible verse that I had put up on my wall, she was so happy that I was reading the Bible.  I think that she is glad to see that she is making a difference in my life, and she really is.  She is one of the greatest influences in my life, and I am glad to have her here.  I really don’t know what I would do without her.  Sure, Momma can be annoying and obnoxious sometimes, but I know that she does everything she does out of love.  I love you Momma, and am so glad that you are here to guide me through my life!

Woman of the Week for 04/12/2012: Carrie Whitfill

Nominated by: Carl Crampton

Carrie is a wonderful person and an excellent sister.  She loves and cares for those around her and makes sure others have what they need before she takes care of herself.  She is a single mom and takes extraordinary care of her daughter, Alyssa.  She is a positive role model and a great person.

To make a very long story short, my circumstances left me medically discharged from the Air Force, homeless, and without a car. After my discharge, I moved to Louisiana to find a job, it took a while but I soon got one.  Then Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the area, and the company I worked for moved to Tennessee.  Carrie has been a true blessing.  When she bought a different car, she signed hers over to me until I could pay her back ($4,000.00!)  When I got a scholarship, she paid for the gas so I could go to school and work part-time here in Florida.  I’ve finished school now and I’m starting to get back on my feet, but I couldn’t have done it without Carrie.

Despite my misfortunes, Carrie proves that we are not defined by our circumstances and that God is faithful!

Woman of the Week for 04/05/2012: Andrea Carter

Nominated by: Ruth Ardis

When I was diganosed with cancer in 2010, she went with me to the doctors appointments.  She helped me tell an elder at my church.  She encourged me to hang in there and to stay strong in my faith.  She has been there to lean on when I need a shoulder to lean on.  She helped get housing for my kids when I had to stay in Tampa for treatments.  She was there when I had go back in after my cancer surgery for galblader surgery.  After I became a Christian, she studied the Bible with me.  She has helped me understand things in the Bible I didn’t understand.  When I felt like throwing in the towel, she has encourged me to hang in there.  She helped my daughter become a Christian by studying with her.  She is a great example of a good Christian friend and sister in Christ.  I’m honored to have her as a friend.

Woman of the Week for 03/29/2012: Susan Dempsey

Nominated by: Tom Dempsey

My wife of almost 32 blissful & blessed years is my most precious Angel God as ever made.  She always puts my needs ahead of hers.  Approximately a year and a half ago I got severely sick and if it wasn’t for my Angel I would be in my Heavenly Home.  After I recovered in the hospital for 14 days I came home and each and every day I had to return to the hospital for outpatient IV antibiotics for 10 days – I could not walk because I had a severe blood infection that required 2 knee surgeries – therefore I had to return to the hospital for antibiotic pic-line therapy.  My most precious Holy Angel helped me through it, by literally almost carrying me down the stairs to the car – driving me to and from the hospital where she never left my side.  If it wasn’t for my precious Holy Angel there is no way I could ever have gotten better, and still to this day she makes sure that all of my needs are taken care of before hers.  There is no greater Love that I feel for anything or anyone then my precious Holy Angel Wife, plus the most precious of all is that she has never asked for anything in return.  Our relationship is one that I thank God and Jesus for because my wife could never be replaced by anything, and believe me I am so blessed to have her in my life.

Woman of the Week for 03/15/2012: Gayle Andrews

Nominated by: Laura Andrews

I’ve known Mom for almost 26 years and over the years she exemplifies a Godly woman who truly cares for and loves people.  Anyone who knows her sees evidence of how she loves her family and others she sees during the week.  She’s always been there to encourage Godly spiritual growth, educational aspirations, and overall well-being.  As a former school teacher, she takes an interest in how others learn.  On a weekly basis, she co-teaches a citizenship class for adult ESL students at our church and leads a devotional time.  Her example of praying and ministering to others has impacted me as I work with children as well.  On a personal note, I call her Mom, because she treats me like a daughter, not a daughter in law.  My own mother passed away 14 years ago.  Mom (Gayle) has always stepped in when my children were born and while I was having contractions by truly “lending” a hand to squeeze.  She is always there with perfect timing.  She is a humble lady who would help without getting credit or a needed “thank you.”  I love Mom.

Woman of the Week for 03/08/2012: Judy Forbes

Nominated by: Karen Hartner

When I was 8 months pregnant with my first child, I had an important business meeting in Daytona Beach.  My mother lives on the WEST coast of Florida.  She did not want me driving by myself to Daytona so close to my due date.  She insisted and drove from the WEST coast of Florida, to my house in Orlando, picked me up, drove me to the meeting, waited in the car while I was in my meeting, then drove me home and then went back to her home on the WEST coast of FL.  After I gave birth, she came to our home and stayed for several days.  She not only helped with the baby and pampered me, but she brought over food and cooked meals for us, did our laundry and cleaned our home.  She is over the top!