Miss Washington Week: Days 1 & 2

THE FUN......HAS ARRIVED!!!!

8 days, ladies and gentlemen!  8 days of craziness and fun, at the end of which we will have our Miss Washington 2012!  Those 8 days have finally arrived and are at our fingertips!

Miss Washington week takes place in Renton, just 15 minutes south of Seattle.  All week the contestants are housed in a hotel, and keep an incredibly busy schedule leading up to the competition, which takes place this coming Friday (preliminary night with all 22 contestants) and Saturday (final night with the Top 10).

All 22 Miss Washington 2012 contestants!

 

Day 1:

My official badge for the week!

The fun began on Sunday evening with wardrobe check-in.  All of the contestants were to bring their competition wardrobe (including all shoes, jewelery and undergarments) in a single garment bag and suitcase, and sign for their contents before handing them over.  In exchange for our competition wardrobe, we received our official badge for the week which gives us "full access" to the events/stage on-going through the 8 days.  Through this exchange of wardrobe and badges, though, is also when the contestants got to see each other for the first time since Spring Forum, and BOY was there excitement in the air!!

After checking in, we all then changed and prepped for our official "arrival" at the Miss Washington Premier Sponsor: Brotherton Cadillac in Renton.  At the official arrival, each contestant was announced one at a time, and then given a chance to shake hands with the mayor or Renton and pose for pictures.  After our introductions, we all posed for group shots and signed autographs.

Signing autographs alongside Reina, Miss Yakima County at Arrival.

Following our "arrival", we returned to the hotel and checked into our rooms, and at that point were all officially checked into Miss Washington week!  Meaning, we had all entered into the 24/7 lockdown.  During this week, the 22 contestants are not allowed anywhere, not even the restroom, with out an escort.  Cell phones and computers can not leave our hotel rooms, and our schedules are full nearly 14 hours a day, so "down time" in the room with our phones, etc. is severely limited, if not non-existent some days.  BUT, for bonding time with the other contestants, this is truly not such a terrible thing!

Next up, we had our first of many rehearsals.  Followed by dinner, and then another rehearsal!  At 10 pm, we returned to our hospitality room (where all meals are served) for a midnight snack, and finally bed time!


Day 2:

The day started off with an early morning dance rehearsal, and it was at this rehearsal that my dancing skills (or lack there of), finally began to creep their way out.  Fortunately, I was/am not alone in my struggling in this aspect, but Daniela (Miss Northwest, and another piano player) shared in my amazing skill (or, again, lack there of).  But, after some reassuring breaths, valiant effort put forth, and the teasing threat that we would give everyone a piano lesson that they had to keep up with (I mean, hey, if piano players have to learn to dance for the pageant, shouldn't the dancers have to learn piano?), we ended rehearsal and headed up for lunch (Applebee's) and to get ready for our visit to the Seattle Children's Hospital.

Break time during rehearsal.  Rehearsals are often VERY long, but always fun!

Riding in our group bus!

We all rode our little bus to the Children's Hospital (singing the Miss Congeniality "Our Lady Liberty" song on the way, of course), and once there spent time with the patients and their siblings.  I had an incredible time teaching a 15 year old girl (with no previous music background) a basic jazz scale, and had her jam up an octave from where I played some background jazz chords.  After a little bit, we were impressively good together and ended up having some background dancers (both patients and other queens) for our jam session!

Later, with the great generosity of the hospital staff, I was able to head up to the dialysis unit and spend time with a 4 year old boy there, who, while I was sitting next to him did not want to talk directly to me much, but once I tried to leave, truly did not want me to.

Our group outside the Seattle Children's Hospital.

After many shared laughs and stories with the young patients, we all loaded back up in our bus and headed back for dinner.  Of course, while we are all trying desperately hard to keep our swimsuit bodies in swimsuit shape, the delivered dinner was from Olive Garden....complete with delicious breadsticks.  Sigh.  Why do they do this to us?!?! ;)  It truly is incredible though, the delicious donated food we get.  I just wish I had an easier time saying "no thank you" :).

The group in the hospitality room, where we eat all our meals.

After dinner we had more rehearsal, and again ended with a snack and bedtime.



So far, this week has been filled with incredible friendships being made (I am absolutely blown away by the character of some of the ladies here), and way too much incredible food ;).  I am so overwhelmingly spoiled to be here, and thank you for all of your support!

We are all headed to the gift room now, where we head every day to pick up any items left for us by family/supporters.  This is a great time for all (but perhaps admittedly more so for those with family/friends nearby, or with those with families familiar with and supportive of pageantry....large bouquets of flowers, letters and more are common sights).  My first day, I received an awesome cozy blanket from my director, and yesterday received several small, awesome gifts, including two autograph pens which I have been in DESPERATE need of this week!!!  (Oops, on my packing fault, but someone must've known ;)!!)  My friend, Shannon, also dropped me off some awesome additional wardrobe items, and an amazingly encouraging note.  I have also received little knickknacks from other contestants and volunteers I have gotten to know, and each and every one makes me smile and want to keep on the keeping on!

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in any way!  Having friends behind me - even by way of awesome little Facebook notes - makes this week just that much more exhilarating.  Thank you for your support!!

Miss Washington Prep: 5 Days in 5 Ways!

From the day I returned to Haiti, to the day I left for Miss Washington (today!), I had exactly five full days to switch myself over from one to the other!  And what a CRAZY five days it was as well!  BUT, I think I'm READY!!!!


Preparation 1:  Walking Practice!

Rosalie Black started out as my sponsor photographer, but quickly became so much more!  Not only is she now my walking coach as well, but I count her an incredible mentor and friend.  This week, and the weeks prior to my leaving for Haiti, Rosalie spent countless hours of her time making me walk and pose like a model!

It's funny, because I used to say "oh, I can impress with an interview and I can blow away an audience on piano, but stage stuff just isn't where I shine."  Now, I truly feel as though I can not only hold my own walking across stage in 4" heels, but am ready to take on the Miss Washington stage and compete at the same level as any other lady there!  Thank you Rosalie, so very much, for making me into your own little model ;).

Rosalie!  Gotta love this lady!!  Photographer, walking coach and super hero!

Preparation 2: Hair!

Growing up a tom boy, I am pretty sure that the bulk of my childhood friends were fairly confused when they heard that I was the new Miss Moses Lake.  But, while I still enjoy my sports and can rough it like any tom boy can for a couple weeks in Haiti, I have now also conquered the art of a curling iron and hairspray.  All this thanks to one fabulous lady who works at Eden Salon in downtown Moses Lake: Amy Culpepper!

A lot of people can do hair, but it takes a very special person to also be able to teach someone else to do hair.  And Amy happens to be not only a fabulous "do-er", but a fabulous teacher!!!  Amy worked with me four of the last five days, with our last meeting acting as a test of whether I could perfect "stage-worthy hair" on my own.  And I passed!!  Thank you so very much, Amy, for the gift of your many valuable hours, and for your patience as I learned the art!

With my Hair Expert, Amy Culpepper at Eden Salon!

Preparation 3: Nails!

After a poor nail experience elsewhere, I walked to Eden Salon to show Amy what had been done to my nails.  She rushed to grab the manicurist there at Eden Salon, Allison.  Allison was instantly aghast at my manicure, and seeing the concern in my eyes, immediately invited me to return the next day to let her take care of me.  And take care of me she did!!  Allison gave me a MARVELOUS Shellac french tip manicure that will last me all through Miss Washington week (it's a 14 day-no chip polish), and all as a gift to me.  Thank you SO much Allison, for rescuing my nails!!!

A manicure (can we call it that?) given by another un-named location in Moses Lake.

Allison at Eden Salon working her magic to fix the above "manicure".

My resulting manicure after Allison was done!

Preparation 4: Gym/Tanning Time!

One of the greatest rewards to being named Miss Moses Lake (over other local titles), is the gifted sponsorship of a year long membership and unlimited tanning I received from Anytime Fitness and Anytime Tanning.  Ever since returning to Moses Lake from schooling in Spokane, I have been using this particular gym countless hours, and I absolutely LOVE it!!  As I am still healing from when I was sick and hospitalized in Haiti last weekend, my gym time has been incredibly limited and slow-paced this week, but I have been using it to help get me moving again, and the tanning is always an amazing tool! 

Anytime Fitness in Moses Lake

Preparation 5: Down Time and Prayer Time!!

I will admit that, sadly, in the stress of preparing for Miss Washington, like many, for a while I fell to the trap of strictly focusing on preparation of the outside.  When I became incredibly ill just a week ago, stripping my muscle build I had been working on and leaving me temporarily incapable of going to the gym or having lengthy training sessions of any kind, it brought me back to the reminder that the most important preparation of all is that of my heart.  I worked on my heart, but as soon as I was well again, I was back focused on the external (tsk, tsk Analiesse).

My heart became hard a few days ago, after frustration with individuals that I love, and I realized that again my mind had wandered to the wrong kind of preparation: external, not internal.  This time I fell to my knees and prayed that God would soften my heart and help me see His light and His purpose for my taking this journey.

I then turned to a very dear friend of mine, Tashauna, and told her I needed a "go get 'em coach", and she gladly volunteered.  So, on my very last evening before Miss Washington, when many might be going over one last practice, I headed out for some laughs and dancing in the street (literally!!) with my dear friend!  Thank you, Tashauna, for helping me prepare mentally for the fun week of Miss Washington ahead of me!!

Tashauna and I taking in some down time!

 And now, I AM OFF!!!!  I am in Seattle, ready to officially check in tomorrow morning for 8 days of crazy fun!  I can not wait to spend time with all the other ladies, and watch all of our hard work culminate in a spectacular show next weekend!  Stay tuned for updates as the week goes on!

1 Peter 3:3-4  Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

To Haiti and Beyond!: Part 2

In Jacmel, Emily and I met up with a great new friend of ours, Owens.  It was with Owens incredible help that we made our way to the Jacmel bus stop and negotiated our way onto a public bus (think 17 people crammed into 9 person van, weaving through crazy streets) and headed three hours away to Port au Prince!

Port au Prince is an incredible contrast to Jacmel.  Jacmel is surrounded by a beautiful beach, palm trees greet every corner, and the people are calm and friendly.  Port au Prince, on the other hand, is covered in garbage, the beach is not something you want to visit, and the people are a bit more harsh, and in reality, desperate.  Needless to say more, it is not my favorite day when I have to return to Port au Prince :).

A scene from Jacmel

A scene from Port au Prince.  Yes, I am a tad bit biased :).

Emily and I arrived at the bus stop in Port au Prince to find that our ride was not there waiting.  Hundreds of Haitian eyes immediately turned onto the "blans" (white people), and feeling it was not the safest environment we could be in, Emily and I walked the streets until we found a nice little lotto bar.  I paid the owner to allow us to simply sit there, we chatted up with a few of the local guys watching a soccer game on TV, and I was able to make a new friend who spoke English enough that he could translate between my driver (searching for us) and us, via phone.  Soon enough our ride arrived, and we were whisked away for a dear reunion with some of my long standing God's Chosen Ones Ministries (GCOM) friends.

With Djenna, one of my young friends I know through GCOM!

Me using our new patient record system to see patients!

GCOM is a medical mission team that attracts medical workers from all over the world.  Prior to this last March, GCOM would write notes from patient visits on little scraps of paper, and throw away the papers at the end of each visit.  This means that no patient visit could in any way refer back to previous visits (past conditions, diagnoses and medications unknown). In March, I sent GCOM a pilot paper patient record system, and GCOM gave it a try, and again shoved the papers (and other scraps) into little plastic baggies.  Emily, four incredible young ladies from Minnesota, GCOM translators and I, worked tirelessly to transfer what information we could into the new paper system designed to provide lasting order.  We then worked medical clinics in two of the villages GCOM frequents (Thomazeau and Ganthier), and used the new paper system to take notes on patient vitals, history, physical exam and treatment plan (and as an aside, I was finally able to see my own patients, independently!).  After MANY hours of work, at the end of our several days with GCOM, Emily and I were thrilled to complete a fully functional and organized (organized by village and then last name) file system with paper patient records within!!!

GCOM patient notes before our effots - scraps of papers shoved, with no order, into plastic bags

 GCOM's new completed patient record system created by Emily and myself!

When business with GCOM was complete, and after many laughs and much fellowship was had with our new (and old) friends, Emily and I took off for part three of our trip!  On to Fort Jaques!!!

Saying goodbye to our new friends!!

In Fort Jaques, Emily and I met up with my long-time translator and friend, Gardy, and set to work updating the education sponsorships I have in place on behalf of Moses Lake middle school students.  First was the updating of four young ladies high school sponsorships!  We met with the ladies, met with their principal, met with their care providers, and then conferenced with the girls again!

With three of the high school girls whose schooling is made possible by middle school students in Moses Lake!

And then was the updating of the younger students' sponsorships: two brand new first graders (as of last December)!  We spoke with the students, their respective guardians, their teacher and the director of their school.  The two young students then demonstrated their newly aquired reading and writing skills!  Just think, these are two young individuals who, with out the compassion of young students in Moses Lake realizing their potential to have an impact, would not have ever learned how to read or write!!!  These students' education was then paid for for another year with the funds raised by Chief Moses Middle School this last semester!

Michelet demonstrating his new writing skills as his father looks on.

Our last stop was checking up on the farming of one of our first grader's father, Keke.  I met Keke a year ago, and I can honestly say that I had never before met someone who had so little.  My heart was touched at not merely his desperate state, but at his honesty and genuine nature despite his circumstances.  He had previously had a small farm, but when his wife passed away two years ago, he had to sell his seeds in order to pay for her burial.  Left with land but no seeds or crop, I felt there was something that could be done to make Keke and his family self-sufficient again.  So approximately a year ago, Chief Moses Middle School students decided that they wanted to pay for Keke to have seeds, and six months ago I returned to Haiti to give Keke those seeds.  This trip, I was literally brought to tears when we pulled up to Keke's property to find his entire field teeming with green crop ready to harvest.  What an absolutely beautiful sight!!!

Keke giving a thumbs up in front of his new field!!!

The trip was absolutely full of ups and downs!  Emily had heat stroke and fell down a cliff resulting in scrapes and bruises, and I got an abscess and later became incredibly ill and had to be hospitalized toward the end of the trip.  BUT, we were sucessful in all we did, and Emily and I were able to act as not only travel partners and friends, but one anothers' doctors ;).


Truly, what a memorable and incredible trip where a difference was made possible (and the concept of the best kind of aid to deliver, explored), and I thank everyone for the prayers and encouragement that made this visit possible!  Please continue to pray for healing as I recover from my illness and head into the Miss Washington competition next week!! :)

With Love and Appreciation, Emily and I!!!

To Haiti and Beyond! Part 1

Last Monday I left for my sixth trip to a country I truly love: Haiti. 

My trip to Haiti this time around, can be divided into three separate parts: Part 1) Observing and learning in Jacmel, Part 2) Implementing a patient record system in GCOM’s mobile medical clinics in Port au Prince, and Part 3) Updating educational sponsorships in a rural, mountainous region of Haiti on behalf of Moses Lake school students’ compassion and generosity.  Today, we pack up our stuff, and leave Part 1 of our trip in the beautiful Jacmel, and head to Port au Prince for part 2 of our trip.

During this trip, I have the great privilege of having my very dear friend, Emily Fry, along for the journey with me!  Emily currently works as an ER scribe in Bellingham’s St. Joseph Hospital, making her the PERFECT addition to my efforts implementing medical record systems into clinics in Haiti.  BUT, more on this next time!!

Emily and I on top of our tap tap.

Through working in Haiti the last few years (this is my 6^th trip), I have come to have an outlook on humanitarian aid VERY different than your common person.  You see, while most believe that additional aid and help of any kind is good, I do NOT believe this to be the case.  I was in Port au Prince just weeks prior to the January 2010 earthquake, and I remember well what the city and nation was like then.  The last two and a half years, I have watched as aid groups (mostly American) have poured into the country, and I have watched as Port au Prince, and the attitudes/mindset within, has continually digressed.  I am by no means saying that we should not aid impoverished nations, but I DO think that additional thought needs to be put into the WAYS we are helping, as often times we are not truly helping at all, and may indeed be hurting a nation.   I like the way Kevin Taylor put it in a recent article he wrote about my view point, "as visitors we often don’t see – or we mis-see – the local realities."

I wish I could just bundle you all up and take you on a tour with me, allow you to speak to the Haitian people, and understand things over time.  But for now I must settle with these next few posts, and ask that you do not take offense as I re-examine the good intentions and unintended consequences of certain types of aid.

Today, part 1 of our trip in Jacmel wrapped up.  Jacmel is a medium sized city on the southeastern Haiti coast, and is one of Haiti’s original trading colonies from the 1800’s.  I was not entirely sure what to expect in traveling there, but a three and a half hour drive south from Port au Prince later, I was pleasantly surprised to find beautiful colonial-era buildings (our hotel was built in 1888) and a breath-taking coastline.  But beyond that, the people are an INCREDIBLE people!  Where the people of Port au Prince may seek to take advantage, individuals frequently treat one another with a great lack of respect, and the streets are always dangerous; here the people are incredibly genuine and kind, the citizens respectful, and I have not felt as though I were in a compromising situation once, despite having walked all across this town with just Emily and myself.

With Owens on the Jacmel coastline.

After a day on our own, Emily and I were able to meet up with a contact of mine: Owens.  I met Owens at the Clinton Global Initiative University meeting in Washington D.C. last March, at which he represented Haiti’s USAID SEED program.  Owens just returned from the states earlier this week, and while I felt badly taking him away from his family while the reunion is still so fresh, it was great to hear his reverse-culture shock, and have him so openly discuss with me the failings and successes of the area he has spent most his life in.

The point?  Jacmel receives incredibly little outside aid.  Yet the people are better off both in spirit, and in physical wealth and health than what I have seen anywhere else in Haiti.

For me, Jacmel represents the Haiti ideal.  I wish I could give to all of Haiti what the people of Jacmel naturally have.  And so I have spent my days simply watching and listening to the stories and thoughts of the people here.  Again, the point?  I believe you can be of so much more aid to a place, if you can first truly understand a culture, the true needs of a community, and what works and does not work within a culture.

I wish I could say so much more right now, but at the moment Emily and I are supposed to be loading a bus to head to Port au Prince.  The problem?  We are having tummy issues, and looking at a hot and VERY stuffy 5 hour ride (think people piling on one anothers' laps in a large, dark, covered truck), in which the vehicle does NOT stop for any reason….we are trying to figure out what to do.

More later!!!

One of the natural wonders to be found within Jacmel.

10 Appearances in 10 Days

I am sitting in a nice little hotel in the Haitian coastal town of Jacmel, reflecting back on the crazy last couple weeks I have had.  From speaking at schools to being dunked in the water tank at Relay for Life, it has been a couple of very blessed several days, full of many exciting appearances!

For those not familiar with the world and language of the Miss America Organization, an “appearance” is an opportunity for a titleholder to volunteer in a specific capacity within the community.  With schools wrapping up their academic years, and a number of summer events and festivals taking place, I have been one incredibly fortunate individual with the opportunities I have been given lately!

Ceremonial Opening of Moses Lake’s New Bike Sharrows:  Okay, so admittedly, this event happened about a month ago, but I forgot to mention it in my previous posts (oops!).  In order to become more eco-friendly and bicycle aware, I am proud to say that my community has painted sharrows on select lanes throughout the town!  The sharrows encourage citizens to ride their bicycles, provide safer opportunities to do so, and remind drivers to be mindful of the bicyclists in those lanes.  On the day of the opening ceremony, the city provided a helmet fitting, there was a bike rodeo for small children, a semi-formal ceremony was held, and  then we all jumped on our bikes for a 5 mile bike ride around the town using the newly designated “shared” lanes, and (relatively) new bike paths down by the lake.

Building and Launching Bottle Rockets at Frontier Middle School:  For the record, in case you did not know, I am a nerd.  A BIG nerd, particularly with regards to the sciences.  Having been raised in Moses Lake, I attended Frontier Middle School and competed with their Science Olympiad team, and in the 6^th grade had the incredible opportunity of travelling to Washington D.C. and the University of Delaware to compete at the National competition.  In the last several years, I have had the great privilege and joy of coaching Frontier’s Science Olympiad teams (off and on, depending on my own education path), and have judged regional Science Olympiad competitions.  A week ago, I had the incredible opportunity of once again return to Frontier in order to build and launch bottle rockets with the 8^th graders!

Mrs. Irwin’s 1^st Grade Class:  Mrs. Kristine Irwin is a good friend of mine, and last week gave me the great honor of inviting me to speak to her 1^st grade class.  After speaking to the class for an hour about service to our community and our world, we went outside and collected trash together as a demonstrated act of service to our school.  Later, we had a great time in reading groups, and then all played soccer together at recess!  Thank you, Kristine, for allowing me to play a small role in your incredible students’ lives!

Speaking at Midway Elementary:  After visiting Mrs. Irwin’s class the day before, word got around to other teachers and students that Miss Moses Lake was on campus.  So, much to my excitement, the principal of the school (and my previous Elementary school principal) invited me to return the next day in order to go from class to class and speak to the students.  I spoke with every one of the 1^st through 5^th grade classes about higher education and service, and had a blast doing so!  I also signed a year’s worth of autographs and got a year’s quota of hugs in….but I was MORE than ready to turn around and do it all again!  I had SUCH a great experience, and SO enjoyed my time loving on the students!

Frontier’s 8^th Grade Field Day:  As Frontier Middle School 8^th graders finished up their final week as middle schoolers, it was time to celebrate!  Upon showing up to speak with one of the teachers who has been working on Haiti projects with me, I was quickly whisked outside where I soon found myself strapped to an odd harness contraption, stuck to a Velcro wall in a funky looking jump suit, dowsed with water, and playing piano as part of an impromptu jam session (where, by the way, I met some of the most talented students I have ever met in my life!).  I LOVE Frontier students!

Picking up Haiti Funds from Chief Moses Middle School:  After speaking to the Chief Moses Middle School 8^th graders about poverty around the world, the school (with the leadership of the 8^th graders) spent the last few months collecting funds for young children to attend school in Haiti.  Two days before I left for Haiti, I received that precious e-mail asking me to stop by the school to pick-up the money collected.  To my great and humbled amazement, these incredible students collected $798 to directly enable elementary aged children in Haiti (who would not otherwise have the opportunity), to attend school.  Thank you Chief Moses Middle School for your amazing hearts, and for humbly allowing me to be the deliverer of your incredible act of compassion.

Relay for Life:  I want to thank the directors of Relay for Life for letting me take on such a generous role in such an incredible event.  Miss Moses Lake’s Teen and I had a fabulous time signing-in survivors of cancer.  Living in a small community, I was overwhelmed by how many survivors or cancer are within Moses Lake….many of whom I have known for years and not known they fought cancer at some point in their lives.  After registration was complete, I had the privilege of triumphantly reading off each of the survivors’ names during the survivor lap.  Later, I walked several laps (baton in hand), made and lit the candle in a luminary bag in honor of my grandfather, and even took a turn in the dunking tank where money for the American Cancer Society was raised with each ball thrown.  This appearance, in many ways, was one of the most significant to me personally, yet.  Thank you again, to those who allowed my involvement at the level that I was!

There have been a few other appearances, and I thank the individuals at each for their gracious inclusion of me in their gatherings.  Unfortunately I am having to cut this short due to the internet going out here in Haiti!  Look for another blog posting soon with what is going on here in Haiti, but for now, here is a link of an article just recently published on my history with Haiti and work within: http://www.windowmagazine.org/window/index.php?section=Stories&id=265

And Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen 2012 is…

This last weekend, 27 fabulous young ladies from across the state competed for the title of Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen 2012.  Unfortunately, in order to be a part of Moses Lake’s biggest night of the year (Saturday of Spring Festival), I had to miss the first night of competition in which all 27 ladies competed in the preliminary competition.  As I could not be there for her, I had spent quite a while writing a letter to Miss Moses Lake’s Outstanding Teen, Erin Carter, to be delivered to her before the preliminary competition.  In the letter, I let her know just how proud I was of her, told her how certain I was that she would make herself, community and Lord proud with her presentation, and reminded her that the Lord had her in his hands and was in that auditorium as her biggest fan. 

But while I could not be there Saturday, on Sunday I eagerly made my way to Seattle for the final night of competition in which the top 10 competed for the state title!

After reuniting with the other “Miss” contestants, we all took our seats in the front corner, and shortly after, the house lights dimmed, show lights began to flash, and a deep, theatrical voice came overhead with a “Ladies and Gentlemen….”  In that moment, I think nearly every person in the theater had goose bumps, but probably few had as many as the Miss contestants in the front corner: the excitement that awaits us in just over a month at the Miss Washington contest, had suddenly become very real.

After some heavy anticipation with lights and announcements, the curtains parted with the opening dance number…and there they were!  All 27 beautiful young ladies!!

I very literally began to tear up as I watched my lady, Erin, dance with confidence, beauty and grace.  After the music died down, the ladies awaited the announcement of their contestant number and name, and each walked to the center of the stage to wave on their introductory cue.  But when Erin got to the center, instead of waving, she turned and looked square at me and blew a kiss.  I became even more teary eyed, and all the Miss contestants turned to smile at me as I screamed and waved in response.  There was MY girl!!!!  As beautiful as ever and making me proud as could be!

After a great first half with fitness and talent, there was an intermission, followed by second half with evening gown, on-stage question and results.  It is custom for the visiting royalty to be introduced at the opening of the 2^nd half, and as I waited backstage, I got to watch once again as Erin danced as part of the 2^nd half opener.  As she walked off stage, I called her over and gave her the biggest hug of her life.  While words cannot explain how proud I am, I attempted to tell her as I held her tight.  We both teared up a bit, and she let me know how much it meant to her that I was there and that my letter had made her cry.  As some of the other Miss contestants watched on, a couple got teary eyed themselves watching Erin and my exchange.  Simply put, I LOVE this girl, and wish she could know just how proud she made me that night!  Truly, a lady who defines beauty inside and out, and who has grown enormous amounts in the last few months!

With the beautiful Miss Moses Lake's Outstanding Teen, Erin Carter!!

In the end, 10 incredibly impressive ladies competed in the final night, and a few truly deserving ladies took the top slots.  A past Miss Moses Lake’s Outstanding Teen, and the current Miss Columbia Basin’s Oustanding Teen, McKenna Reis, took 2^nd runner up.  KcKenna graced evening gown better than any teen contestant I have ever seen, and made an absolutely breathtaking statement through her presence all night. 

First runner up went to Allison Arthur, Miss Auburn’s Outstanding Teen.  As the Miss Auburn program is brand new, it is incredibly impressive to already have one of their title holders place so well!  Congratulations to the Miss Auburn program!

And the winner?  A huge Congratulations goes to Miss Tri-Cities Outstanding Teen, Janae Calaway….our new Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen!!  By all accounts, she is someone the young individuals across our great state can look up to as a role model, and be excited to have as their representative!

Spring Festival!!

Before being crowned, in imagining the role of Miss Moses Lake, most all of my images were of the opportunities afforded her during Moses Lake’s biggest event of the year: Spring Festival on Memorial Day Weekend.  This weekend, all of my hopes for and images of the weekend, were beyond filled.  What an absolutely blessed couple days, filled with opportunities and experiences beyond anything I could have hoped for!

Spring Festival began for me on Friday evening.  I jotted over to the Parks and Recreation office to pick up my race number and packet for Saturday morning’s fun run, and received quite the welcoming in my crown and sash.  The room stopped and excitement filled the air as they learned that I would indeed be running the race, and asked if I would be willing to wear my crown and sash during.  After agreeing and being presented my race number, I headed over to the 3 on 3 basketball tournament.  There, I cheered on a few of the local teams, spoke with a radio announcer and reporter about the Miss America Organization and my work in connecting local classrooms with the impoverished world, and painted my hand blue as part of Blue Palm’s frozen yogurt give away.

"Blue Palm"ing it up for free frozen yogurt from Moses Lake's Blue Palm!

Next up was the lip sync concert.  Moses Lake’s lip sync concert is one of the town’s biggest events of the year, and draws an audience of roughly 1,000 to watch as local groups try to out-compete one another in dancing and lip syncing to music of the 80’s and 90’s.  The groups this year were phenomenal, and in the end, a group of three high school girls were named the winners and walked away with $400.  In the process of the event, however, they called for an impromptu race for the first one to make it to the stage with a penny from 1992.  I reached into my wallet, and completely by chance, the first penny my fingers grasped was from 1992.  I handed it to the sweet, young boy in front of me (who had just won a few minutes earlier with a quarter from the 1980’s) and I told him to “RUN!!!”  A few minutes later, I was being awarded an all access pass to the carnival rides!

At the lip sync concert.

After the lip sync concert, I joined a few friends and wandered through the Spring Festival’s many fabulous food vendors and carnival rides and games, taking in the sights, sounds….and tastes!!

I love funnel cake!!!  (PROBABLY, not the best Miss Washington prep though ;). )

Saturday morning started bright and early, with an 8:10 am start to the 5K fun run.  With a lot of hairspray, bobby pins and prayer, I managed to keep the crown on top of my head with no problem, and crossed the finished line roughly half an hour later, side by side with my good friend, Tashauna.  As I crossed the finish line, it was announced over the loud speaker that the local royalty had just finished, and I had a great time smiling an exhausted smile in response, and explained that I was there to support health and fitness in the community.

After the Spring Festival 5K Fun Run!  Thank you to my running buddy, Tashauna!!

After cheering on the remaining finishers through the finish line, I rushed home to freshen up, and returned back downtown to the Miss Moses Lake food booth.  There, waiting for me, were several of my gorgeous “Little Sisters” (part of the Miss Moses Lake mentoring program) with adoring smiles, their families, and two of the ladies I had competed with for the Miss Moses Lake title: Shaudai and Angie.  The support of all of these individuals means so much to me, but more than anything, I cannot explain the gratitude and emotion I feel behind the continued support of Shaudai and Angie.  It would be incredibly difficult to watch the person you competed against walk around with the crown and sash, smiling and signing autographs, and these two ladies’ graciousness, generosity of time, and expressed love and encouragement, means more than words can say.

The next several hours were filled with acting as a trophy girl for the car show, presenting medals for the 3 on 3 basketball tournament, signing autographs, posing for pictures, interviewing with radio announcers and giving hugs to children.  It is amazing how much it can mean to young children for me to simply show up to their band concert in the park, and afterwards give a few words of encouragement for their pursuit of music.  I am so very blessed to be in the position of providing such inspiration, and I only pray I can provide nothing but positive encouragement.

Trophy Girl at the Car Show.

With two of the Little Sisters and speaking with announcer Donny Parker.

A hug just because!

Handing out gold medals for the 3 on 3 basketball tournament.

Finally, it was time to go get ready for my single biggest presentation to my hometown community: the Moonlight Parade.  A quick change, make-up application and hair-fixing later, I was back downtown for the royalty barbecue where I met nearly 100 royalty from all over the state.  As Miss Moses Lake, I felt the overwhelming pride of “this is my town and my time to shine!”  After meeting up again with the Little Sisters on their float, and greeting the driver of my convertible, at 9 pm we were finally rolling into the parade.  And for the next hour I was on Cloud 9 as I sat atop the incredible 1928 convertible, my precious 4 year old “Little Sister” next to me, and did the “elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist”. 

With the Miss Moses Lake Little Sisters

With Mrs. Washington in front of my 1928 convertible for the evening.

The streets lined with a couple thousand individuals, on multiple corners I received standing ovations, hundreds of times I heard “Look!!  There’s Miss Moses Lake!!!!”, and several dozen times I overheard “Wow!  She’s gorgeous!!”  Not a single rude gesture was made or word heard, and the overall reception and feeling was one beyond description.  Thank you, Moses Lake, for your humbling acceptance of me as your representative!

With my escort and Little Sister atop our carriage!

Through all of this activity, was the amazing support of so many individuals.  A huge thank you goes to Miss Moses Lake volunteers Eloisa and Lydia, for their many, many hours put into making this weekend’s activities possible.  A huge thank you to Jessica Mata for the sharing of her daughter, my own personal “Little Sister” Bella, with me.  And more gratitude than can be expressed to my dear friend, Tashauna, for her patience and graciousness in spending the weekend with me as my friend, personal assistant and body guard.  Tashauana, no-one could have better kept me safe, sane and smiling.  I love you lady!

I am now headed to the west side of the state to cheer on two of Moses Lake’s star young ladies, Miss Moses Lake’s Outstanding Teen, Erin Carter, and Miss Columbia Basin’s Outstanding Teen, McKenna Reis, as they compete for the title of Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen!