Hello everyone! YES- I'm still alive, and thank you for your diligence in keeping up with this blog even during the break I've taken. The holidays and the New Year have been both relaxing and busy . . if that’s possible . . and I thank you all for your continued patience with me during this time. Since December, I've done a number of appearances. I had the opportunity to speak at Chetopa schools, and help emcee at the Miss Sunflower and Miss KC Metro pageant (your new title holders are Belinda Post and Felicia Fairly - Congrats ladies!! ) I spoke at Andover Middle School, Butler Community College, made two all day appearances at Towne East, helped to film a commercial for Boeing Wichita Credit Union and helped to shoot some advertisement photos for Grene Vision ( by the way they have been an excellent new sponsor and provided some VERY cool sunglasses for the trip to Vegas! Thank you guys
Dr. Blackman of Grene Vision also gave me an eye check-up as part of our collaboration- and guess what I got some new reading glasses! Don’t worry though, they’re hip and chic : ) . Two local pageants also took place during this span- Miss Wheat Capitol and Miss Great Plains - congrats, to Laura Blasi and Hannah Hendricks! (respectively) and Miss Ulysses - Alexandria Blasi congrats!
My wardrobe is all ready and although I kind of have to keep it semi-underwraps I can tell you this: IT’S AMAZING!!! The Miss Kansas Preparation team has helped me tremendously! And make sure that you watch (Lord willing) very closely in evening gown. I’ll be wearing an original design by A. Renee! It’s stunning! She did such an amazing job and if you are interested in her work visit Crown Chic in Kansas City. A big thank you to Valerie Mack and family as well for all of your help with talent. You have been such an encouragement. Thank you also to Daryl Woods for all of your help. ( Just a little tip- if any of you need help with your image, Daryl is the man to contact. Check out my marching band “before picture” on missamerica.cmt.com, and the Miss America “after picture” on missamerica.org. I don’t need to write anything else here to convince you - “a picture’s worth a thousand words.”
Although the gowns and glamour are a lot of fun, I’m surprised lately at how many people really think that Miss America is “just a beauty pageant.” I was at an autograph signing the other day when a grandfather walked up with his little grand daughter, pointed to me and said, “You see that lady with the crown over there? Do you know what that means? That means that she’s the most beautiful girl in all of Kansas.” I just wanted to pull him aside and say, “Actually it means that I’ve worked incredibly hard to better myself, give back to my community, communicate the passion I have in my heart to others, learn how to survive in the business world, represent all of the other contestants in my state and this year, at a pageant that helps to further the education and betterment of young women, I was rewarded for my hard work.” He walked away before I could articulate my thoughts . . . . I just wish people would start to see this program for what it’s really about. At every level it promotes women. At every level it helps to turn young women into scholars, and at every level it gives women a voice. That’s the message that needs to go out to people.
This past month has really been such a wild range of emotions for me. There’s an excitement and anxiousness about the reality of it all, and at the same time this overwhelming calm that I know is a “peace that passes all understanding.” I’m ready for this journey to happen, and deep down – you know that gut feeling - I keep hearing, “Get ready.” The reassuring thing about it is this: before time began, before God put the sun in the sky, before man took the first breath of air on this world, God already knew who Miss America 2007 would be. What He expects from me is my best. After that, I know what’s supposed to happen will happen.
A couple weeks ago I went back to Jeremiah to start reading and the first chapter just spoke to me. Paraphrased: the Lord tells Jeremiah He planned for him to be a voice, a prophet for Him, before Jeremiah was formed in the womb. Jeremiah comes back with a ‘great’ excuse: “ Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth,” The Lord tells him- Don’t say ‘I am a youth.’ You’ll go to all that I send you to, and speak what I command you. Don’t be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you.
The rest of the chapter is just straight comfort. God’s trying to remind Jeremiah who’s in charge. Sometimes it’s so easy to forget that God is sovereign IN EVERYTHING. He wants us to rest in that . . . even when it’s really, really hard. . . . especially when it’s really, really hard.
I believe that God has put me here for a reason, just like He has put you where you’re at for a reason: to Glorify Him. I don’t know if I’ll walk down that runway on the 29th as Miss America 2007, but if it’s God’s plan I will embrace it as the path He has given me to run my race well. I know that not everyone may like or agree with the things that I write or say, or even the cloths that I wear - but remember, God uses his vessels in different ways to accomplish His will. My path will not be the same as yours . . . and that’s okay. I think Solomon said it pretty well at the close of Ecclesiastes: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” I truly believe that if you remember and practice those two things, you will be used of God greatly.
Whatever happens in the next two weeks, I want to thank all of you for the crucial roles you have played. My family, my friends, my supporters- thank you for all that you have done to make this year a success. Lord willing, the next time I write an entry I’ll be able to sign it “Miss America 2007!” Until then- pray hard and don’t forget to watch!
-Michelle
(CMT 7:00 January 29)
Dr. Blackman of Grene Vision also gave me an eye check-up as part of our collaboration- and guess what I got some new reading glasses! Don’t worry though, they’re hip and chic : ) . Two local pageants also took place during this span- Miss Wheat Capitol and Miss Great Plains - congrats, to Laura Blasi and Hannah Hendricks! (respectively) and Miss Ulysses - Alexandria Blasi congrats!My wardrobe is all ready and although I kind of have to keep it semi-underwraps I can tell you this: IT’S AMAZING!!! The Miss Kansas Preparation team has helped me tremendously! And make sure that you watch (Lord willing) very closely in evening gown. I’ll be wearing an original design by A. Renee! It’s stunning! She did such an amazing job and if you are interested in her work visit Crown Chic in Kansas City. A big thank you to Valerie Mack and family as well for all of your help with talent. You have been such an encouragement. Thank you also to Daryl Woods for all of your help. ( Just a little tip- if any of you need help with your image, Daryl is the man to contact. Check out my marching band “before picture” on missamerica.cmt.com, and the Miss America “after picture” on missamerica.org. I don’t need to write anything else here to convince you - “a picture’s worth a thousand words.”
Although the gowns and glamour are a lot of fun, I’m surprised lately at how many people really think that Miss America is “just a beauty pageant.” I was at an autograph signing the other day when a grandfather walked up with his little grand daughter, pointed to me and said, “You see that lady with the crown over there? Do you know what that means? That means that she’s the most beautiful girl in all of Kansas.” I just wanted to pull him aside and say, “Actually it means that I’ve worked incredibly hard to better myself, give back to my community, communicate the passion I have in my heart to others, learn how to survive in the business world, represent all of the other contestants in my state and this year, at a pageant that helps to further the education and betterment of young women, I was rewarded for my hard work.” He walked away before I could articulate my thoughts . . . . I just wish people would start to see this program for what it’s really about. At every level it promotes women. At every level it helps to turn young women into scholars, and at every level it gives women a voice. That’s the message that needs to go out to people.
This past month has really been such a wild range of emotions for me. There’s an excitement and anxiousness about the reality of it all, and at the same time this overwhelming calm that I know is a “peace that passes all understanding.” I’m ready for this journey to happen, and deep down – you know that gut feeling - I keep hearing, “Get ready.” The reassuring thing about it is this: before time began, before God put the sun in the sky, before man took the first breath of air on this world, God already knew who Miss America 2007 would be. What He expects from me is my best. After that, I know what’s supposed to happen will happen.
A couple weeks ago I went back to Jeremiah to start reading and the first chapter just spoke to me. Paraphrased: the Lord tells Jeremiah He planned for him to be a voice, a prophet for Him, before Jeremiah was formed in the womb. Jeremiah comes back with a ‘great’ excuse: “ Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth,” The Lord tells him- Don’t say ‘I am a youth.’ You’ll go to all that I send you to, and speak what I command you. Don’t be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you.
The rest of the chapter is just straight comfort. God’s trying to remind Jeremiah who’s in charge. Sometimes it’s so easy to forget that God is sovereign IN EVERYTHING. He wants us to rest in that . . . even when it’s really, really hard. . . . especially when it’s really, really hard.
I believe that God has put me here for a reason, just like He has put you where you’re at for a reason: to Glorify Him. I don’t know if I’ll walk down that runway on the 29th as Miss America 2007, but if it’s God’s plan I will embrace it as the path He has given me to run my race well. I know that not everyone may like or agree with the things that I write or say, or even the cloths that I wear - but remember, God uses his vessels in different ways to accomplish His will. My path will not be the same as yours . . . and that’s okay. I think Solomon said it pretty well at the close of Ecclesiastes: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” I truly believe that if you remember and practice those two things, you will be used of God greatly.
Whatever happens in the next two weeks, I want to thank all of you for the crucial roles you have played. My family, my friends, my supporters- thank you for all that you have done to make this year a success. Lord willing, the next time I write an entry I’ll be able to sign it “Miss America 2007!” Until then- pray hard and don’t forget to watch!
-Michelle
(CMT 7:00 January 29)