A few fun stats from my year as Miss Moses Lake: 63 "appearances", 17,000 miles added to my car odometer, 4700 views of my blog, from 350 to 820 Facebook "friends", COUNTLESS memories, and 1 God who held me together through it all!
It has been one crazy whirlwind of a year, serving as your Miss Moses Lake 2012, and I thank my Lord and I thank YOU for making it a year I will never forget!
Your new representatives of the Miss Moses Lake Scholarship Organization are: Miss Moses Lake 2013 Catherine Watters; Miss Columbia Basin 2013 Shannon Tuohy; Miss Eastside 2013 Kelsey Schmidt; and Miss Moses Lake's Outstanding Teen 2013 Laurie Kautzman. I encourage you to support these beautiful women throughout the next year, as they represent and serve you!
In the meantime, as I quietly take a step back out of the spotlight, I look back on my year of service and reflect with joy....
3 Favorite Questions asked of me this year:
1) Is your prince waiting for you at your castle??
2) Since you are Queen of Moses Lake, are you the one who made the rule that says I have to use a booster seat? 'Cause I don't like that rule very much!
3) Did you have to kiss a frog??
3 Favorite Appearances from the year (Appearance = An event at which the titleholder wears her crown and sash and volunteers/represents in some format):
1) Moses Lake community drug and alcohol awareness event, hosted by the Moses Lake Police Department - at one point in the evening, the local police had me put on "drunk goggles" and "walk the line" while several dozen on-looking children chanted "Princess! Princess! Princess!" When I failed the test, I was "arrested", and placed in the back of the police car. Afterwards, the Chief of Police came and personally thanked me for taking a public stand against alcohol and drugs. But, I am still explaining away, to this day, the accompanying pictures that plastered across Facebook that evening. ;)
2) Fundraiser for Moses Lake 5 Year Old, Lily, who has Leukemia - There are appearances for any titleholder at which we stand around, smile,
and try to busy ourselves with out feeling too out of place - and then
there are appearances like this one. Though I picked this event up at the last minute (I had less than 6 hours notice, and was 3 hours away, in Seattle, when I received the call), it was one I will never forget, and one from which I walked away with tall shoulders, knowing that I, personally, had contributed. But as much as I felt I was somehow able to contribute, what stands out in my memory is what I received in return. I watched on, that evening, as an incredible community came together in unified support for one of our own. With a heavy and humbled heart, at the end of the evening I said a small something into the microphone, and was received with tearful hugs and applause. But in that applause I was not being recognized for the crown on my head, but for being a loving part of one of the world's greatest communities. What a blessed woman I am to count myself one of you, Moses Lake!!
3) Speaking at the Moses Lake Presbyterian about Acceptance of Ones Self, and Acceptance of Others - As many of you know, a few months ago I took a very difficult step, and came forward publicly for the first time about my history with an eating disorder. I prayed about this decision for many months before choosing to do so, and yet still felt sick to my stomach as I hit "Publish" on the blog post that revealed such personal information. But in the hours, days, and months that followed - it was as though the sea that had separated me from reaching so many hurting hearts, had suddenly parted. In speaking at the Presbyterian church a few weeks ago, it was my first time bringing my personal story and message forward verbally - and again, while fear had kept me from doing so for so long, at the end of my message I looked out on to several young, tear stained faces, and KNEW that God was using my story for HIS glory, and to help relieve the pain of HIS children. And there is nothing better or more "best appearance" worthy than that!!
3 Favorite Moments from the Year
1) Reading my favorite book from my own childhood, The Napping House, to the Moses Lake Christian Academy 1st and 2nd graders. Talk about memory lane and a fun moment for me!
2) Hearing my name squealed in a very high pitch squeal "Analieeeeeeeesse!!!!" by a young girl. When I turned around, a 7 year old girl I had spent a day with nearly a year previous, was running for a hug, followed by her mother, who had tears in her eyes. The girl's mother explained the role I had played in her daughter's life our day together so many months before, and thanked me (for what, I am still trying to figure out) repeatedly. I learned that day, that you NEVER know when you may just be substantially impacting a life!
3) Crowning one of my very dearest friends, Shannon Tuohy, Miss Columbia Basin 2013, and then allowing her to remove the crown from my head - and exchange it for a stethoscope. There is no-one else in the world I would have rather held my hand as I walked from one life chapter into the next, than my fellow future doctor and prayer warrior.
Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart to all who played a role in making my last year what it was. I walk away with a new set of skills, and a whole host of incredible memories and friends, and I am a better person for it! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. Here is my farewell video, which captures my year in 3 minutes and acknowledges a handful of the key players (my Miss Washington sisters, included!!), and played in the final moments of my reign.
3 Things I am looking forward to MOST in the next year
1) Finishing my last year EVER in a classroom!! After 7 years of college, this is something to CELEBRATE!!
2) Sky Diving!!! Call me crazy, but sky diving doesn't have anything on this world traveling, athletic, medical school, beauty queen chic. ;) May 18th, that plane and parachute had best be ready for me!
3) Redefining Analiesse. I do not type this lightly, and the details do not belong here in a public post. But as many have already noted my choice to not run for Miss Washington 2013, my decision to discontinue modeling, my descent to further involve myself in national conferences and media highlights at this time, and many other tangible shifts - there is certainly some undeniable change happening! I assure you it is all good change, and all God-driven change. :)
And that brings us to one of the most beautiful things about this life....the fact we serve a merciful and loving God who allows fresh starts; the ability to redefine the way we live! I encourage you to take a moment, step back, decide what you want your life to look like, and then make the choice to make that happen, no matter the work and discomfort required. Be intentional about life! Write the next chapter in your life, the way you always wanted it to be read!
With Much Love and Many Heartfelt Prayers,
Analiesse Marie
It has been one crazy whirlwind of a year, serving as your Miss Moses Lake 2012, and I thank my Lord and I thank YOU for making it a year I will never forget!
Your new representatives of the Miss Moses Lake Scholarship Organization are: Miss Moses Lake 2013 Catherine Watters; Miss Columbia Basin 2013 Shannon Tuohy; Miss Eastside 2013 Kelsey Schmidt; and Miss Moses Lake's Outstanding Teen 2013 Laurie Kautzman. I encourage you to support these beautiful women throughout the next year, as they represent and serve you!
In the meantime, as I quietly take a step back out of the spotlight, I look back on my year of service and reflect with joy....
3 Favorite Questions asked of me this year:
1) Is your prince waiting for you at your castle??
2) Since you are Queen of Moses Lake, are you the one who made the rule that says I have to use a booster seat? 'Cause I don't like that rule very much!
3) Did you have to kiss a frog??
3 Favorite Appearances from the year (Appearance = An event at which the titleholder wears her crown and sash and volunteers/represents in some format):
1) Moses Lake community drug and alcohol awareness event, hosted by the Moses Lake Police Department - at one point in the evening, the local police had me put on "drunk goggles" and "walk the line" while several dozen on-looking children chanted "Princess! Princess! Princess!" When I failed the test, I was "arrested", and placed in the back of the police car. Afterwards, the Chief of Police came and personally thanked me for taking a public stand against alcohol and drugs. But, I am still explaining away, to this day, the accompanying pictures that plastered across Facebook that evening. ;) 
2) Fundraiser for Moses Lake 5 Year Old, Lily, who has Leukemia - There are appearances for any titleholder at which we stand around, smile,
and try to busy ourselves with out feeling too out of place - and then
there are appearances like this one. Though I picked this event up at the last minute (I had less than 6 hours notice, and was 3 hours away, in Seattle, when I received the call), it was one I will never forget, and one from which I walked away with tall shoulders, knowing that I, personally, had contributed. But as much as I felt I was somehow able to contribute, what stands out in my memory is what I received in return. I watched on, that evening, as an incredible community came together in unified support for one of our own. With a heavy and humbled heart, at the end of the evening I said a small something into the microphone, and was received with tearful hugs and applause. But in that applause I was not being recognized for the crown on my head, but for being a loving part of one of the world's greatest communities. What a blessed woman I am to count myself one of you, Moses Lake!!
3) Speaking at the Moses Lake Presbyterian about Acceptance of Ones Self, and Acceptance of Others - As many of you know, a few months ago I took a very difficult step, and came forward publicly for the first time about my history with an eating disorder. I prayed about this decision for many months before choosing to do so, and yet still felt sick to my stomach as I hit "Publish" on the blog post that revealed such personal information. But in the hours, days, and months that followed - it was as though the sea that had separated me from reaching so many hurting hearts, had suddenly parted. In speaking at the Presbyterian church a few weeks ago, it was my first time bringing my personal story and message forward verbally - and again, while fear had kept me from doing so for so long, at the end of my message I looked out on to several young, tear stained faces, and KNEW that God was using my story for HIS glory, and to help relieve the pain of HIS children. And there is nothing better or more "best appearance" worthy than that!!3 Favorite Moments from the Year
1) Reading my favorite book from my own childhood, The Napping House, to the Moses Lake Christian Academy 1st and 2nd graders. Talk about memory lane and a fun moment for me!2) Hearing my name squealed in a very high pitch squeal "Analieeeeeeeesse!!!!" by a young girl. When I turned around, a 7 year old girl I had spent a day with nearly a year previous, was running for a hug, followed by her mother, who had tears in her eyes. The girl's mother explained the role I had played in her daughter's life our day together so many months before, and thanked me (for what, I am still trying to figure out) repeatedly. I learned that day, that you NEVER know when you may just be substantially impacting a life!
3) Crowning one of my very dearest friends, Shannon Tuohy, Miss Columbia Basin 2013, and then allowing her to remove the crown from my head - and exchange it for a stethoscope. There is no-one else in the world I would have rather held my hand as I walked from one life chapter into the next, than my fellow future doctor and prayer warrior.
Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart to all who played a role in making my last year what it was. I walk away with a new set of skills, and a whole host of incredible memories and friends, and I am a better person for it! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. Here is my farewell video, which captures my year in 3 minutes and acknowledges a handful of the key players (my Miss Washington sisters, included!!), and played in the final moments of my reign.
3 Things I am looking forward to MOST in the next year
1) Finishing my last year EVER in a classroom!! After 7 years of college, this is something to CELEBRATE!!
2) Sky Diving!!! Call me crazy, but sky diving doesn't have anything on this world traveling, athletic, medical school, beauty queen chic. ;) May 18th, that plane and parachute had best be ready for me!
3) Redefining Analiesse. I do not type this lightly, and the details do not belong here in a public post. But as many have already noted my choice to not run for Miss Washington 2013, my decision to discontinue modeling, my descent to further involve myself in national conferences and media highlights at this time, and many other tangible shifts - there is certainly some undeniable change happening! I assure you it is all good change, and all God-driven change. :)
And that brings us to one of the most beautiful things about this life....the fact we serve a merciful and loving God who allows fresh starts; the ability to redefine the way we live! I encourage you to take a moment, step back, decide what you want your life to look like, and then make the choice to make that happen, no matter the work and discomfort required. Be intentional about life! Write the next chapter in your life, the way you always wanted it to be read!
With Much Love and Many Heartfelt Prayers,
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for
good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
