Mrs. WV International is Ready to Compete at Mrs. International!

I am absolutely ecstatic that I leave for Mrs. International in just a few short days! I have been working very hard for JDRF and wanted to give you a monthly update.

I have met so many amazing newly diagnosed families through visiting local hospitals. I am growing my diabetic family by the day. My buddy Justyn has been released from the hospital and is currently getting prosthetic fingers and legs! He has overcome the worst and is still moving forward without a worry! He was diagnosed with type 1 this spring and had to have multiple amputations due to severe DKA (diabetic keto-acidosis). My little pal Evan is 6 years old and was also just diagnosed. He is now learning how to give himself his own shots. He is a little baby doll. I have been working with 3 newly diagnosed type 1 adults as well. We are building up their cooking skills with some of my fabulous diabetic friendly recipes.

My diabetic cookbook is coming right along. I am holding a potluck for the diabetic community in September so we can all get together and try out our favorite diabetic friendly dishes. I will be adding our favorites to my cookbook. I have also been working with JDRF executive marketing team on scheduling more speaking engagments and activities for JDRF. They will be cheering me on from New York next week. I am so blessed to have their love and support.

I had so much fun at camp Kno Koma, a week long camp for diabatic children ages 7-15. It's such an amazing place for parents to send their child to a place where everyone else is just like they are.  My Maddy has been attending camp for 6 years now. She will be applying for a youth assistant for next year to help the younger children throughout the week. The West Virginia JDRF branch and camp Kno Koma are partnering together in October for a symposium for the children. We can't wait!!

School will be back in full swing in just a few weeks. I have many events in store for schools around the state. I will be holding more Kids Walk for a Cure, teen dances, and Spirit Weeks. It is truly rewarding when a child can tell me why they are raising awareness for diabetes. They retain what we talk about and are able to spread the word by selling paper sneakers for JDRF, then celebrating with our Walk for a Cure for Diabetes. Life just doesn't get batter then that!

I look forward to meeting the 70 women in Jacksonville next week. I thank God everyday for being blessed to be a part of the International system. Dale and I are so ready to take on our passion for JDRF to the International level!

You can follow more from Judy at either of these sites:
www.diabeticfamilies.com
www.judysdiabeticresources.blogspot.com

Mrs. WV International Continues Promoting JDRF Statewide! A Note From Judy:

The past few weeks have been so amazing with JDRF! My Kids Walk for a
Cure raised almost $3500.00 in just 5 days. The children and I
celebrated the entire afternoon outside in the sun with our Walk for a
Cure for Diabetes. My family and I also attended the West Virginia
Branch JDRF Walk for a cure at the state's capitol. Hundreds of diabetic
families and many diabetes related vendors came to support JDRF. The
Walk for a Cure took place around the entire capitol complex. It is such
an amazing experience to be a part of raising both funding and awareness
with JDRF. I also hosted a middle school dance last weekend. It was such
a blast. I actually dressed up in a silly costume and learned a few line
dances from the  kids! It felt great to have so much support from the
teenagers.

I got to have the most moving moment with a mother at church last
week. I had spoken at a school the Friday before about what diabetes is,
and the effects of both types 1 & 2 diabetes. So Sunday came around and
a mother of a 2nd grader approached me after I finished teaching
children's church and said "I don't know what you said to those
children, but I had 3 different groups of children knock on my door this
weekend selling JDRF sneakers." She went on to say, "What the amazing
part was is that all of the children were able to tell me what JDRF and
diabetes both were!!" Of course, my eyes welled up with tears as I
hugged that mother and thanked her for sharing such amazing news with
me.

I have recently shared an amazing triumph with a newly diagnosed 16
year old boy named Justyn. He was just diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in
February. He was so ill with a diabetic term called DKA, that he just
lost both legs from below his knees down, and 8 of his fingers. Type 1
diabetes comes on so quickly and parents just don't know what is going
on  with their child until they are so ill that hospitalization is
required. It's the worst feeling in the world, as I have endured that
with my daughter Maddy at age 5. But the amazing news is that Justyn was
just released from the hospital yesterday to go home!!! He gets fitted
for his prosthetics in a few weeks and has such an amazing support
systems through me, diabetic families, JDRF, and many prosthetic
families to keep them up and running. He has such a great heart and
amazing personality. Justyn and my daughter Maddy are just 2 of my
little heros that struggle with diabetes. God bless Justyn and his
family!!

I have also had the pleasure with meeting many newly diagnosed
diabetics. One of my favorite jobs with being an advocate and
spokesperson with JDRF is that I get to deliver Bags of Hope to the
newly diagnosed diabetics. This past 2 weeks, I have worked with a 5
year old named Evan and a 33 year old named Tom. Type 1 diabetes has no
age limits, and is increasing it's diagnoses every year.. Every 30
seconds, someone in the US is diagnosed with diabetes.  JDRF is working
so hard at slowing and eventually stopping the prevalence of diabetes.
"Together, we are working on creating a world without type 1 diabetes."

My book is coming right along as well!! I have made the decision to
make it a 60 page cookbook/tips for cooking for diabetic families on the
go. My friends and family have titled me as an expert at 'kid and
diabetic friendly' meals and snacks. I absolutely love being able to
make sweet goodies and tasty meals for my family that we all enjoy and
that won't negatively affect Maddy's blood sugars. I will not be selling
my cookbook. I am in high hopes to add it to the information given in
the Bags of Hope to newly diagnosed diabetics. I know how tough it is to
find meals, school lunch foods, and snacks that kids enjoy and that you
don't have to worry about them eating, so my gift to our new diabetics
is a started kit to guide them through the process of learning how to
safely manage their diabetes but still have food that tastes good.
  I have a busy month ahead with holding more Walks for a Cure and will
be at various health fairs across the state. My family and I feel so
grateful and blessed that we have the opportunities to offer love and
support to other families that are learning how to live with diabetes.
We feel very fortunate to share our knowledge and experiences to assist
new diabetics.

Mrs. WV International Is BUSY!

Our Mrs. West Virginia International is already making such an impact in our state! Here is a quick update on her upcoming schedule:

I have a busy, busy few months ahead! 

I will be hosting my very own ' Kids Walk for a Cure" on May 16th!  There will be over 550 children attending this event. On May 18th, my family and I are attending the National JDRF's 'Walk for a Cure' at the state's capital, to support JDRF and to walk for my daighter Maddy. On May 30th, my teen dance to support my efforts with JDRF will kick off at 7pm in Preston county!! 

June is packed with action as well with my own COUNTY WIDE 'Walk for a Cure' in Harrison County, and the West Virginia International Children's pageant is on June 6th!! I have 5 families scheduled so far to hand deliver Medtronic sponsored 'Bags of Hope' that JDRF gladly has to offer to newly diagnosed diabetic families. I'm so proud to be an International Advocate and a state's spokesperson for JDRF.

In July, I will be representoing West Virginia the National JDRF conferecnce at the nation's capital through July 9-11th. On July 13th, I wll be traveling to Lewisburg WV with JDRF to Camp Kno Kome, a diabetes camp for children. Then!!! I will be leaving for the Mrs. International pageant on July 21st. I'm so excited for the God given opportunitites that I have been given. 

-Mrs. West Virginia International 2014, Judy Ridenour

Your Mrs. West Virginia International - Judy Ridenour

In this article, learn more about the day Judy Ridenour was crowned Mrs. West Virginia International 2014 and what we can expect during her reign this year.

How did it feel when your name was called?

"I remember standing on stage during the award portion of the pageant. My mind was going a mile a minute. I was shaking like a leaf and my heart was racing. I thought to myself "I wonder which one of these amazing women are going to win?". I stood on stage with a bunch of absolutely stunning and amazing women. I knew that West Virginia would be proud of any one of those ladies to represent the state. The time was finally here to announce the winner.  I took a deep breath and thanked God for giving me the strength to be on that stage and for the opportunity to speak on behalf of JDRF. I knew that I tried my best and felt proud of myself for making it through the day with pride and confidence, no matter what the outcome of this last award would be. Then.. out of my wildest dreams, my name was called!!! I almost fell over!! I couldn't believe that I had won! After I remembered how to breath and move my feet again, I thankfully stepped forward to take this amazing opportunity to represent both the great state of West Virginia, God, my family and JDRF proud!"

What are you most excited for this year? 

I am most excited for the MANY opportunities that I have to promote JDRF. Diabetes impacts my family's lives everyday. My daughter Maddy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 5 years old. It's a daily struggle for her to make sure she counts carbs, checks her sugar with finger pricks and gets her insulin injections multiple times per day, and just to feel 'normal' most of the time. Diabetes affects so many children and adults everyday. Now that I am Mrs. West Virginia International, I have so many amazing opportunities to educate and support families on the types of diabetes, and can assist JDRF in raising funding to help them find a cure for diabetes. 

What can we expect to see from Mrs. West Virginia International this year? 

What can we expect- I will be traveling the state on behalf of JDRF. My main focus is to attend elementary and middle schools and will offer them many fun and educational ways to not only learn about what type 1 and type 2 diabetes are, but to show them how to be volunteers by helping raise funding for JDRF through fun activities such as school dances, spirit weeks, collecting ' Dimes for Diabetes' , and having a ' Kids Walk for a Cure'  at their school. I will also be attending various health fairs and festivals and will be setting up an educational booth for JDRF, which will have  a plethora of information of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. I also will be working with Christian Help, PURR WV, Chestnut Mountain Ranch, and the WVU Children's Forensic Science with their events and activities. 

Follow Judy's Journey on Facebook

Congratulations To Our Beautiful New WV International Titleholders!

March 29th brought sparkles, high heels and tons of hairspray to the WV Culture Center Theater at the WV State Capitol Complex in downtown Charleston, WV!

Women from all over the state competed for Little Miss, Junior Miss, Miss Teen, Miss, Ms and Mrs. West Virginia International 2014!

Congratulations to our new titleholders:

Miss Teen WV International: Allison Lowe
Miss WV International: Latasha Mitchell
Mrs. WV International: Judy Ridenour

Little Miss WV International: Kailee Nutter
Junior Miss WV International: Olivia Travis
Ms WV International: Courtney Lemley

Miss Teen WV International and Miss WV International will compete for the Miss Teen International and Miss International Titles during the first weekend in August and Mrs. WV International will compete for Mrs. International on July 25th and 26th!

We are thrilled with our new titleholders and look forward to the year watching them travel the state of West Virginia to promote their platforms. Stay tuned for more on their journeys! 

It's The Eve of the WV International Pageant!

Can you believe all of the absolutely GORGEOUS girls we have ready to rock the stage tomorrow? We truly are blessed for a group of competitors who aren't just competing for a crown. They are competing for a title which stands for women who want to make a difference.

We have a few pieces of advice and good luck from our current Teen, Miss and Mrs West Virginia International!


First, from Katie, our Miss Teen WV International 2013, Katie Gault-Wilson:
1. Always be yourself - don't change because you think someone wants you to be different.
2. Let the judges see the REAL you
3. Always be energetic!

"Good luck to the gorgeous girls. I'll be there to help if you need anything at all!"








Next, from Kalyn, our Miss WV International 2013, Kalyn Bordman:
"Be confident, kind and energetic both in front of the judges and behind the scenes. Good luck to each and every beautiful contestant competing. Do your best - and if you need anything, I'll be there to help!"









Last, from our Mrs. WV International 2013, Julie Warden:
"YOU have the power to come in tomorrow with the right attitude and the confidence you need to succeed. Remember all the hard work you have put in to prepare and come in with a smile on your face ready to embrace the day. Relax...get rest tonight and come in ready for an awesome day! I can't wait to crown the next titleholders, but most importantly, I can't wait to spend the day with women who believe in making a difference as much as I do. GOOD LUCK!"





Our titleholder spent the year promoting their platforms and the International System and we are so thankful to have had such great representation. The new titleholders certainly have big shoes to fill, but we can't wait to see what the new journey holds!

Happy Valentine's Day From Miss West Virginia International 2013

Happy Valentine's Day from Miss West Virginia International and her sweet furbaby Valentines!