I've not forgotten to post.  I've just been incredibly busy!  I want to announce...last Saturday night I was crowned Elegant Ms. US United!  I hold a national title!  The philanthropy for US United is breast cancer research.  My platform is Microfarming for Sustainability.  I am still in shock!  I have worked so hard for my title for several years.  I almost didn't compete this year.  I felt different, though.  As you will see in future photos, I was completely shocked.  I had tough competition this year.  I am dedicated to supporting breast cancer patients and research, and I look forward to teaching people about microfarming and chickens and how to bring the farm back into our lives.  If you had asked me five years ago, I wouldn't have a clue about urban homesteading, but now, I think about sharing it with all.
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Part of being a pageant queen is making appearances.  Stepping out of your comfort zone.  And I have done that several times already.  I helped inventory and count at Monarch Formals in Pittsburg, KS, and helped a bride and her family start looking for wedding attire.  Monarch Formals is a charity that helps provide formal wear for girls, women, boys and men in need.  They have two locations; Clovis, New Mexico and Pittsburg, KS.  They run on donations of formal clothing, shoes and jewelry, and on monetary donations to pay rent and utilities on their building.  To be able to volunteer in any capacity is quite an honor.

Today I was able to participate in our local fall festival.  I enjoyed meeting other people who want to learn about microfarming, chicken farming, and sustainability.  It was a lot of fun hanging out in my community.  

So here I am...a pageant queen!  A titleholder!  I may not be the standard age or size as the contestants you see on TV, but I'm just as dedicated, just as hard working, and just as proud of the difference I will be able to make during my reign.

We are a pageant family.  There.  I said it.  My daughter competes in the Miss America Organization pageant.  I compete in U.S. United and American Beauties Plus. Pageant has not only helped both of us to develop amazing skills in public speaking, outreach and self confidence, it has also brought us closer than anything I can think of.  It's been a real blessing to us.

Now, I'm a HUGE sports fan, and you can find me watching football on Sundays and baseball during the summer.  I always joke that I want to be a sportscaster when I grow up.  Seriously, though, many of our pageant friends, Emily and I bomb our Facebook feed with pageant fun during both the Miss America and Miss USA pageants.  Tonight was no exception.

Tonight's Miss America 2016 was no different.  Unfortunately our Kensie from Missouri wasn't chosen to move on, but that didn't mean it wasn't a fantastic pageant.  We were shocked at the plainness of the gowns, as well as the lack of butt glue during swimsuit competition.   The On Stage Questions were wonderful.  Everything from, "Which woman belongs on the first $20 bill?" to, "Should Kim Davis, the clerk in Kentucky who spent time in jail for not issuing same sex marriage licenses, quit her job?"    All great questions, and many good answers.  In the end, Miss Georgia was crowned Miss America.  She was fresh and fun, and her talent was phenomenal.  She sang opera, and it was beautiful.  

So, here are pictures of me and Emily competing.  Enjoy!