Yes that's right - you're not dreaming, I am actually posting a Saturday blog on Saturday! I hope everyone had a great weekend and week. My weeks just seem to be getting busier, but it's definitely a good busy. On Monday I met with Habitat for Humanity to start discussing a Christmas Project- but it's still in the makings (I'll keep you posted on that). Tuesday I spoke at the BCC Life Enrichment Program in the morning, and then went to the United Way of El Dorado Campaign Kick-off - both were a lot of fun : ) Wednesday was especially busy. I gave my first "Right Decisions, Right Now" speech at Rose Hill MS, then went to lunch with some representatives from AT&T (We discussed a possible new sponsorship!!! Pray about this one !!!, and finally went to an employee meeting at Sherwin Williams of Andover and gave a speech. Thursday I spent the day with Auto Craft and their annual Golf Tournament. Friday I spent some time mentoring at Minneha Elementary, and I got to emcee the first night of "Andover Idol" that evening. The competition in Andover was so much fun! It carried over to Saturday night as well and I just finished emceeing those finals. Congratulations to the four new Andover Idols! Earlier today I was honored to represent Heritage Funeral Home of Andover in the Greater Andover Days Parade ( the staff was such a pleasure to get to know : ) , and in the afternoon I had a chance to hold a book signing in the park. Next week is pretty full as well, but I'm looking forward to it. I head out for western Kansas tommorrow night, and I'll spend almost all of next week out there.

I've been reading in Proverbs some more this week and there's a verse that's really stuck with me. You may have heard it before - it's Proverbs 3:27 " Do not withold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so." One thing I've always enjoyed is just being a servant - I love to voluteer and help however I can. But sometime service can become tiresome, and we're all tempted to give in and up. But God tells us that we are to keep at it - keep giving of ourselves to serve others. Well have a good week and I will catch you next Saturday . . . hopefully : )

Good Morning everybody! First of all I apologize for missing you last week, I just got so busy last weekend, and every time I planned to sit down and do it, something else came up! I hope you’ve all had a good past two week – as I said mine were kind of crazy. I had the chance to visit the State Fair and spend some time signing autographs. That was a lot of fun! Saturday I spent the morning at “Cruis’in for ROCKO,” a motorcycle and classic car fundraiser for ROCKO. I had such a fun time, and I even got to sit on some of the VERY cool motorcycles. From there I drove to Cheney Lake to attend and help emcee the Miss Cheney Lake Pageant. Your new Miss Cheney Lake is Jennifer Jones, and thanks to a very giving community and a dual title, your new Miss Sedgwick County is Alyssa George! Monday I had meetings most of the day, but I got to attend the “Sons of San Juan Keen” concert that night (sorry if I misspelled that). It was AWESOME!! I even got to meet the band before they went out, only to find out that one of the lead singers was a judge for Miss California this year! Tuesday I met Donniesha who I have the privilege of being a school based mentor to this next year. She is very cool, and we both love art. Wednesday I spoke at my first set of schools and it was so much fun! They seemed very responsive to the message, and time just flew by! I drove to Pittsburg after that and spoke at a BBBS dinner that night. Thursday I went to the Century II Business Expo with NCRI (National Catastrophe Restoration Inc.) and had the chance to visit with a lot of people- even my friends from Wild West World! Friday I was at WSU emceeing “Party on the Patio” for high school senior day. It was very cool and I even got to give away a $1000 scholarship to a student! Well, over all it was a pretty good (if busy) two weeks and Sunday was a much needed day of rest. We’ve been studying about the omniscience of God in church and it’s been really interesting. God knows EVERYTHING!! One of the questions that our pastor (my Dad) posed was this: If you come to a fork in the road and God already knows which way you will turn, can you turn the other way? That’ll make you think! We’ve learned that God has a perfect triad of attributes that makes Him completely omniscient : He is perfect in Knowledge, perfect in Wisdom, and perfect in Love. Without any one of these attributes, He would cease to be God. Well, have a blessed week, and I will catch you again next weekend ( hopefully : )

-In Christ,
Michelle

PS - A friend told me that I forgot to explain just what you would be able to see on TV the Saturday before Miss America when I told you all about LA last time. It will be a two hour "reality/documentary" entitled "Becoming Miss America," and it will be basically all the activities we did while in LA. : )

Hello everyone! And no I didn't forget about you! : D I just got back from LA and the weekend was just too full to sit down and write for you, so you get the Tuesday version of the blog. Well, I spent last week on Santa Monica Beach in California! It was a great experience but I gotta tell ya, there's "No place like Home!" I can't tell you everything. . . well actually I can't tell you most of what we did because it would ruin the suprise! But, tune in on the Saturday before January 29, and you can see it for yourself : ) It was very interesting to get to meet all of the other contestants this week, but I have good news - so far everyone seems very nice : ) I made some great friends this past week, and shot out to Iowa who was my roomie. I'm gonna miss that late night- order-in Dominos pizza : ) I can honestly tell you that we will have a great competition this year, and it will be one that you won't want to miss!

It's so neat how the Lord brings scripture to you at just the right time in your life. Before I flew out last Monday, my Grandpa reminded me of Proverbs 21:31 "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is the Lord's." I'll admit .. I spent the weeks leading up to this trip worrying about being completely prepared for everything and every circumstance possible (my overweight suitcases were testimony to the fact). But in the end, it was the Lord that got me through the week, and already had every step planned out. No matter how "prepared for the day of battle" that I was, ulitmately God knew every twist and turn. Sometimes I really wish God would let me look into the future . . it would sure make for lighter luggage.

Well hello again everybody : ) I hope your weekend has been enjoyable, and that your just about ready to spend a relaxing Labor Day tomorrow. I’ve had a good week so far- most of it just spent preparing for the trip this week. I did, however get to have my first round table discussion on Thursday. A big thanks to Shelly, Matt, Janet, Staci and Doug. IN MY OPINION – you guys are awesome!! We spent a good hour just talking and questioning about current events and my platform. A big thank you also goes out to Lan at Salon Knotty from my beautiful nails and toes : ) , De al for my cutting edge hair (pun intended: ) and Tan Lines for all of their support these past few months and this week. I couldn’t compete and perform at this level if it weren’t for you all and your kindness!

As I get ready to fly out this week to meet some amazing young women and learn more about the Miss America system , I’m reminded of a verse in Proverbs 31 that I think every woman should hide in her heart: Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord she shall be praised.” When it comes right down to it, it’s not so much about what dress I’m wearing, or if I have just the style of shoes, as it is about who I am on the inside. What we so often forget is that man looks on the outside appearance, but God looks on the heart. God wants to see a woman that lives her life in respect of Him, and when we do that, we truly are beautiful in every sense of the word.