Millennium Development Goals

Sometimes I am fickle.

Those who know me probably wouldn't use this word to describe me, but take my word for it. I'm fickle. A little more than a week ago I started a 30 day challenge. This post should be about my progress, but instead my fickle mind is full of much more important topics. Rather than bore you with stats about myself, I choose to attain one of my goals (#15) through talking about things much larger than myself.

I've decided that my first act in implementing a regular blogging schedule will be to attack an awareness campaign. The topic of this awareness campaign? (You guessed it!) The United Nation's Millennium Development Goals. There are eight primary goals and at a rate of digging into two goals per week, I will cover this topic in four weeks time. Check back tomorrow for a post geared at Goal #1: Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

Goal. Set. Go!

30 Day Challenge

I have been on a hiatus as of late, and decided yesterday on a long, thought provoking drive back to Jonesboro from St. Louis that it is high time I got back into gear in the blogosphere. What can I say?

I've missed you!

So in an effort to push myself back into the writing groove, I decided to attempt my own version of a "30 day challenge." The terms of which I had plenty of time to think through on my drive. I promise to work on more pensive posts again soon, but this is a marathon, not a sprint! That said, here are my terms:

1. Daily Bible Reading
          (Should already be a priority...how old am I?)
2. No Sodas
          (Or more appropriately in my case, NO RedBull!)
3. No fast food
          (Excluding 2 allowed Taco Bell purchases. All things in moderation, right?)
4. No gluten
          (The pageant career retirement has not been kind to my healthier lifestyle preference...)
5. More fruit
          (This was a diet "no-no" leading up to Miss Arkansas.)
6. Minimum of 10 minutes of exercise daily
          (Again, I've clocked ZERO exercise minutes post Miss AR 2013)
7. Must be able to run two miles at the conclusion of the challenge
          (Have my sights set on a Color Run!)
8. Bake an apple pie
          (refer to #4)
9. Limit of two Starbucks purchases a week
          (Caffeine addicts anonymous)
10. Take my vitamins...regularly
          (Because I'm not sure I still have an immune system)
11. ProActive every night
          (Bad skin? Ain't nobody got time for that!)
12-14. Are personal
          (Don't worry I know what they are. Cruel right?)
15. Finally, introduce (and stick to) a blogging schedule
          (30 days of accountability should do the trick!)

This will all begin today, Friday, August 23, 2013. Why Friday? Because it's not Monday. Why not the first of September, given that September contains exactly 30 days? Because I'm impatient. I think that about covers it!

Fingers crossed I'll balance back from this extreme swing in all directions that has plagued my post pageant self. Also, if all goes as planned, I'll even update you on my thoughts since July and plans for the future. But for now, we'll keep it slow. Marathon, remember?

What are ways you could challenge yourself for the next 30 days? (No reason to wait until January 1)

A Busy Time

Recently, I've dealt with a bit of anxiety. I've been anxious about the coming week's competition. You would think that after four years competing in the Miss Arkansas Pageant it would become routine to work through those last minute preparations and packing. But this simply isn't the case. In fact, it is quite possible that because of my past experiences I recognize just how important this next week is going to be. The way I see it, my blog is my personal space dedicated to keeping you updated and to keeping me sane by providing an outlet for my thoughts. That being said, I want to be honest with you going into this next week. It's tough!

There I said it. Competition is difficult. For starters, have you glanced through the other 44 girls competing this year? Take a moment and do so on the contestant page of the Miss Arkansas website that I'll conveniently link, here. These truly are some of the most impressive young women in our state. If you think that isn't enough to make me a little nervous, well, then I'll share a little more about my preparations as of late.

About two weeks ago, I discovered some issues with my talent selection. Nothing major, but these issues resulted in my needing to learn nine new measures of music only a couple of weeks before competition. Then, to top off my musical woes, my flute suffered a broken spring during pageant bootcamp. Needless to say, I was a wreck! Luckily, I've devoted more hours than I can count practicing on a flute I had repaired immediately following that week, and I can honestly say, I'm starting to feel that it is all coming together. There are a few other things that have occurred that I won't bog you down with. Overall just know, that we competitors put in a lot of hours practicing our talents, working out, and serving our local communities. 

Finally though, I'd like to share that the coming week is important to me for so many more reasons than just the crown and those few moments on stage. I recognize, after four years of competing, that the job of Miss Arkansas is going to be full of good days and bad days, but on all days Miss Arkansas must be prepared to act as a fully committed, energetic, creative, and personable, goodwill ambassador of the state. This is a daunting task and I'd be lying if I wasn't a little afraid of living up to the task. Of course, then I realize that most of the fear is just coming from my nerves, and the rest, the part that is a humble respect for the position, well, it serves to push me into becoming the best me that I can be. I work to improve myself so that if next Saturday night I am that fortunate girl who hears her name called when the scores are tallied, I will be able to step into that role fully prepared (with the help of some pretty amazing volunteers, family, and friends) to serve my home state and represent the Miss Arkansas Organization well. I do it, so that if I am not the girl chosen, I can walk away having gained invaluable life skills with my head held high fully in support of whomever becomes Miss Arkansas 2013. Because that is the kind of young woman that this program produces. 

Don't worry! The week hasn't been all stress. In fact, last Saturday I attended the Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen Pageant. My mum and I traveled together and made a stop in Little Rock to look for shoes for my interview outfit. We got lucky at DSW and found a great, surprisingly affordable pair of heels that compliment my new dress nicely! We made the trip on to Hot Springs in the afternoon and I had the privilege of helping collect tickets at the door with a few other Miss Arkansas contestants. The pageant, as usual, was phenomenal! The production team we have here in Arkansas is top of the line. A beautiful new Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen was crowned, and one of my sister teen queens was first runner-up. It was an incredibly exciting night! The remainder of this week has been spent in the gym, at dress fittings, practicing my flute, on an impromptu trip to Blytheville, last minute planning, packing, whew!, and even enjoying a slight bit of rest!

Amy Crain and I after the pageant (LOVE this girl!!!)

Such a sweet friend! Molly and I stage right

Now that you know the goings-on of my past week, I'll share the verse that has spoken volumes to me in the last few days.  

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

                                                                                               ~Matthew 6:25-34

I'll be heading to Hot Springs tomorrow! Thank you for all of your love and support! 

Blessings,

~Somer

A Pageant Girl's Bootcamp

I'm sure most of you are familiar with the fitness craze of "Bootcamp." Allow me now to introduce you to an even more intense, sometimes weight loss inducing, but primarily fun inspiring, Beauty Bootcamp!!!

We started the week with an on-air interview with Diana Davis at KAIT8 in Jonesboro. One of my favorite things is getting to share more about the Miss Arkansas and Miss America Organizations. I am so grateful to Diana for allowing us to tell the community more about the scholarship opportunities and community service hours that define this program. It's become almost a tagline in this system to say "I am debt free from college," but can you imagine a better tagline?! For me, this isn't just promotional material, it is what has allowed me to become the first person in my family to graduate college. And not only did I complete two degrees, but at 24 years old, I owe nothing in student loans! <--that deserves a round of applause especially in today's economy...

The rest of the week was spent in Blytheville where we managed our time between on-stage practice, mock interviews, and community service. We were invited to speak at the Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs during their weekly lunch meetings. While there, we each thanked them for their support and performed a preview of our state talents. One club member was so impressed, he wrote a scholarship check on the spot! To wrap up the week we also performed at Westminister Village, which is a retirement community, and for our final event we gave a wardrobe preview for our family, friends, and pageant board members.

Now this next photo needs a little explaining...

See what I mean? Yes, that is pink lipstick all over our faces. We thought it enhanced our extremely fashionable wardrobe selections. You see, on our first night in Blytheville, we enjoyed a fabulous dinner prepared by Miss NEA's ED, Abby Houseworth Whitener. This amazing meal was followed up with Weight Watchers Ice Cream. Fast forward to our final night and after the long week we were really desperate for more of the delicious desserts! We, of course, decided that showing up on our executive director Marrietta Jerome's doorstep around 10:00pm in these outfits performing our rendition of "Dream Girls" was the best way to go about achieving our goal of weight watching ice cream! As you can see from the photo, it worked!!!

The Gaggle

To top off such a wonderful week, Shelley Kelley of Clark's Bridal in Jonesboro, and Dr. and Mrs. Fletcher, also of Jonesboro, hosted a send off party for all of us NEA girls! They welcomed us into their beautiful home, served us delicious food, and most importantly overwhelmed us with their support and encouragement going into our state pageants. We are so lucky to have such phenomenal supporters in Northeast Arkansas!

For those keeping count, the Miss Arkansas Arrival Ceremony is just eight days away!!! Hope to see you there! Until then, if you're in Hot Springs, come out to the Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen Pageant this Saturday. I'll be there along with the rest of the young women competing for Miss Arkansas 2013! 

Birthdays, Fundraisers, and 4 Weeks

Four weeks from today a new Miss Arkansas will be crowned! Excited?!!! This weekend 14 contestants were added to the Miss America 2014 class. Miss Arkansas will be the final addition to the group, and I know all 45 contestants in our great state are feeling the thrill of being only 1 month away!

Monday, June 10th, I spoke with the Epsilon Sigma Alpha  (ESA) service organization in Blytheville. These ladies were so kind to allow me to share what I do as a local titleholder, my personal platform of service, and even a little about my testimony from my time spent in Uganda. These ladies do so much in their community and before I left they offered to make a donation to the charity of my choice. Of course, I chose Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! I am very grateful to them for allowing me to come and share my heart of service with those who share my passion of serving the local community.

This week has been very busy! It was my intention to share these things with you Friday, but you know what they say about the "best laid plans..." My goal is to get on a regular schedule of updates every Friday. Just an FYI. So be sure and check back each weekend for details on what I've been up to as Miss River Delta!

Last Saturday I celebrated my 24th birthday! It just so happens that I share this birthday with the Natural State! Arkansas officially became a state on June 15, 1836. Since this blog is meant to allow me to be more transparent with those reading, honestly, it was a bittersweet day for me. Turning another year older always presents exciting opportunities and challenges, but this year the day weighed heavily on my mind as it brought me into my final year of eligibility in the Miss America Organization. This year I will "age out" as we say in the biz. I have enjoyed four wonderful years with the Miss Arkansas Pageant and while turning 24 signifies my final year in competition, I look forward to all the times I will be able to spend in the coming years giving back to this program that has given so much to me!

Thursday of last week I visited the set of our local news station, KAIT8, to talk about my upcoming fundraiser, the Miss Summer Sweetheart Pageant benefiting CMNH. A big thank you to Diana Davis for taking the time to get this set up for me, and to Josh Harvison who I had the pleasure of being interviewed by. I'll tell you more about the event below.

KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

Friday, I

Also this week, I hosted a "Change for Children" drive with the Nettleton School's Programs, Little Raider and Camp Raider. When I was in elementary school I attended the Camp Raider program and I was ecstatic to return this week to raise money for CMNH! We began the fundraiser on Monday when I visited each of the groups to get them excited about the week of collecting spare change and  told them that the winning group from each program would receive a pizza party with Miss River Delta. As Friday brought the conclusion of the fundraiser, I got each group's contribution counted before heading back to chow down with the winners. All together both programs raised $361.07!!! Not too shabby for children ages 3-12!

The pageant was a wonderful success! I couldn't have done it without the help of my Diamond State Princesses' moms, Kim Adams and Liane Neshat. These two ladies took over a good majority of the planning and are the primary reason the event went off without a hitch. Thank you to these great ladies I have the privilege of calling my friends!

My beautiful princesses!

In my Master of Ceremonies look courtesy of Clark's Bridal and Formal in Jonesboro!

I'll be spending next week in Blytheville with my sister queens as we practice our on-stage competition, do mock interviews, and visit civic organizations and community programs for what my director has appropriately termed, Beauty Bootcamp. This will be my third year attending bootcamp and I'm looking very forward to serving the community of Blytheville. It has become a second home to me! 

Check back soon for more updates! 

Miss Missouri 2013

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen and Miss Missouri Pageants! Thank you so much to those who made this trip possible. The Miss Missouri Pageant is such a wonderful experience. The pageant production is top notch, and the emcee Sydney Friar,  Miss Missouri 2011, reminded me of our wonderful Lacey Fleming Glover, Miss Arkansas 2004, with her ease standing at the mic and keeping the whole audience entertained with quick wit and poise!

Never to be forgotten, is my growing relationship with my sister queens. If there was just one thing I could take with me when my time competing is all over, I could never give up the genuine relationships I've made with the other contestants. Our Miss Arkansas contestants are truly some of the most amazing people I've had the privilege of meeting. And my sisters this year are no exception. Jennifer, Miss Northeast Arkansas, and Maggie Benton, Miss Lights of the Delta, are two pretty impressive young women, and I can't wait for Arkansas to see that on the stage this July!

With the Miss Missouri royalty!

The Gaggle! 

(nickname courtesy of our Director, Marrietta Jerome)

Yes, we're definitely getting swimsuit ready at Dairy Queen!

The last thing I'll share with you this post is that in addition to the pageant highlights from the weekend, my time in Missouri also came with a very special lunch with one of my best college friends who I haven't seen in nearly two year! Shannon is one of the most faithful people I know, and because of her great relationship with Jesus she is someone I frequently turned to in college. She served as my Vice President when I was President of the Honors College Association, we were involved in the ASU Student Government Association together, and now she is excelling at her next big adventure: becoming Dr. Hutson. That's right, she's in medical school, and I just know this world is going to see some amazing things from her.

More to come soon from my latest appearances. So thrilled to say I have a booked calendar leading right up to the Miss Arkansas Pageant. Check back for frequent updates!

6 Weeks Out

We're now weeks away from the crowning of our next Miss Arkansas! Here's a quick update on what has been happening in my preparations recently. It's been a busy few weeks. I said in my last post that I would give you the run down on our Miss Arkansas Contestant Meeting weekend, so here it is...

We'll begin with the always fantastic, Tony Bowls' Photoshoot! I don't have any photos to share from the actual shoot as I wouldn't want to give anything away, but I can tell you that Tony Bowls and all of the volunteers ensured yet again that we contestants felt like royalty. And heres why:
Once we arrive, we're whisked away to have our make-up and hair done. A gorgeous Tony Bowls' gown is then chosen for us with shoes and accessories to match. Finally, the real fun begins when we got to work with Jason McMaster's and his team of photography geniuses. All the while, you can hear the team "ooo" and "ahh" over your photos which keeps the energy going and makes you feel very special. I can't say thank you enough to these wonderful people for what a perfect time they make this out to be for us contestants. Of course, my Saturday didn't end here. I quickly gathered my things after the shoot and drove back to Jonesboro as my very dear cousin, Bret Sanders, graduated from high school. She'll be attending Ouachita Baptist University in the fall and I can't wait to see the amazing things soon to come in her life!

Back in Little Rock Sunday morning we got started early with the Miss Arkansas Contestant Meeting Luncheon and Lottery. With a pretty decent lottery draw, I am thrilled to be returning to Group B this year. My official contestant number is B27 and I have the privilege of competing in this group with both old friends and new faces that I can't wait to get to know better!

Group B

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I have the best pageant family. The Northeast Arkansas Pageant Association has been up and running for 31 years now and their record of phenomenal young women who come through the program never ceases to amaze me! Just check out the number of girls who will be present on the Miss Arkansas stage this summer who were at one time members of this family. From left: Ashley Walthall, Miss Lights of the Delta 2011; Mason Magouryk, Miss Northeast Arkansas, 2012; Me, Miss Northeast Arkansas 2011 and Miss Lights of the Delta 2012; Jenn Ulloa, Miss Northeast Arkansas 2013; our reigning Miss Arkansas, Sloane Roberts, Miss Lights of the Delta OT 2007; Maggie Benton, Miss Lights of the Delta 2013; Daley Johnston, Miss Lights of the Delta OT 2009; and Mackenzie Moore, Miss Lights of the Delta OT 2008. 

Don't worry, all of the fun didn't end after Sunday. Bright and early Monday morning I drove one contestant to Arkansas Children's Hospital (as she was in a different group than me) and then made my way over to the Miss Arkansas Golf Tournament. 

Just showing off our Children's Miracle Network Hospital shirts

We enjoyed a fun filled morning of photos and golfing before my group made our way over to Arkansas Children's Hospital for a tour after lunch. Thanks to the hard work of some wonderful people all 45 contestants were able to walk through a comprehensive tour of the hospital and we even had time to make "Happy Birthday" and "Congratulations" posters for the kids. From someone who has seen what hospital care for children is like in the Third World, let me just say that we are blessed with such a wonderful facility complete with life-saving technology, the Angel One helicopters, well-educated doctors who make the difference for so many families every single day. 

After our tour, we returned to the Pleasant Valley Country Club just in time to see Miss Arkansas, Sloane Roberts, fly over the golf course in a helicopter. She went up to release 1500 golf balls over the eighteenth hole. Each ball contained a number and a few lucky participants went home with extra price money thanks to a very creative idea by the Miss Arkansas Golf Tournament planning committee. All-in-all, it was a very exciting (even slightly exhausting) weekend. It served to make me even more excited about the upcoming competition in July!

Lastly, I just want to say a huge thank you to the Jonesboro Visual and Performing Arts Magnet school, the Assistant Principal, Mrs. Rodely, and the mother of one of my Miss Arkansas Diamond State Princesses, Liane Neshat, for allowing me to come and encourage the 5th and 6th grade classes to work hard, to be involved in serving other, and to dream big dreams! My favorite part of these school visits comes at the end when the students get a little time to ask me questions. Interestingly enough my first question was from a young 5th grader who wanted to know if he could make a living playing the violin since I was playing the flute for the Miss Arkansas Pageant. As I was driving home that day, I passed a house in my neighborhood with a young man sitting outside with his family practicing his violin. Turns out: we're neighbors! One of the best parts of wearing the crown is the people I get to meet! 

That's all for now. I'm headed to the Miss Missouri Pageant this weekend so check back soon for updates from that exciting trip!

Thanks for reading! And comment below with what you think of the redesign!

Thus Far on the Road to Miss Arkansas 2013

Later today I will be leaving for Little Rock, AR. It's a very eventful weekend starting tomorrow with the Miss Arkansas Tony Bowls Photoshoot! I'll be keeping you updated via Twitter and Facebook all weekend so be sure and follow me. After coming back to Jonesboro for a couple of hours to watch my cousin graduate high school from my alma mater, it will be back to Little Rock for the Miss Arkansas Contestant Meeting, Golf Tournament, and tour of Arkansas Children's Hospital. See?! I told you it would be eventful!

So before jumping in this weekend after turning in paperwork as an official contestant for the title of Miss Arkansas 2013, I thought you might like to see what I've been up to as Miss River Delta 2013 so far! Fair warning, I plan to post lots of pictures!!!

First we'll start with some stage competition preparation. The Lifestyle and Fitness competition, better known as "Swimsuit," is very important to me. After struggling with my weight on a Ugandan diet of carbs and little protein, I made it my goal to put my body back to its healthy self. Luckily I found the perfect trainer to help me accomplish those goals. I can happily say that today I'm right on track with my goals to get back into a healthier lifestyle. I've even started running! (Huge, just trust me.) Thank you so much Robert Stafford at Stafford Training Systems! And who says the gym can't be fun? At S.T.S. we know how to work and play hard.

Why don't we catch up on a little philanthropy? As most of you reading this blog are already aware, the Miss America Organization partners with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to raise funds for 170 Children's Hospitals across the U.S. Every year it is an honor to team up with my pageant sisters and help to fund this life-giving cause. Thank you to McAlister's & Local Culture in Jonesboro, AR for allowing us to raise funds through your business!

If you'd like to make a donation to CMNH and help me get to Miss Arkansas, then click the link to the right of this post! I appreciate your support!

And last, but certainly not least, I'll share with you the goings on of last weekend. Thursday evening began with mock interviews after I got off work and drove into Blytheville, AR. Friday is where the real fun was had! See for your self:

These are a few of the students I got to speak to about their transition to middle school next year as the 5th and 6th graders move from Blytheville Intermediate School to Middle School. We talked about the problem of bullying, how to get involved in school and the community, and I encouraged them to dream big dreams! It's always a joy to share with others the reasons it is important to serve others, but what these precious ones don't know is that their attentiveness and questions served to make my difficult weekend a little brighter after the loss of my uncle. I just love these smiles!!!

Most popular question of the day: "Does your crown have real diamonds?" 

Don't worry, the weekend didn't stop there. Saturday morning, my sister queens and I got up to join the Blytheville Fishing Derby. This was the last time for this annual event and we sure made the most of it! Check out my blue ribbon! (note: no fishing took place on my part which is probably for the best) ;)

I always enjoy spending time with Marrietta Jerome, the best director and friend a girl could ask for!

We concluded the weekend with Mayfest in Downtown Blytheville. We walked and talked with the different booth workers, marched in the opening ceremony, and sang to passers-by (Top photo). All in all, our pageant feet were good and sore by the end of the day, but spending time with the great people of Northeast Arkansas definitely makes the aches a little easier to bare. My final photo is just me spending a little time with Africa! I know, right?! What are the odds? She had heard me speak at B.I.S. the day before and was quick to tell me she shared a name with one of my favorite places in the whole world!

That's all for now, but don't worry, my camera and journal are going with me to Little Rock this weekend! More to come soon...

Until then...

Blessings to you and yours,

Somer

Miss River Delta 2013

I've thought quite a bit about what I wanted to say to introduce myself as the first ever Miss River Delta. For sure, I'm not new to this world of glamour, false eyelashes, and beautiful gowns. With this title, I am entering into my fourth year in the Miss Arkansas Organization. Still, there is something very fresh and very new about my final opportunity for the job of my dreams.

Since being crowned, I have been contacted by many people who after expressing their congratulations were quick to relay their shock at hearing I was returning to the state stage. Most people assumed I was finished because I had aged out of the system, a few figured I had just moved on, and the others, well they had heard it directly from me that I had decided not to continue competing. Yes it's true. I spent the majority of this year having convinced myself that I was not going to try again. I told myself comforting things like "you had a great run," "you ended on a good note," and "there just must be something else that God has in store for you." With this mindset, I set out to discover just what God's big plan must be.

I don't know if you've ever attempted this. I mean, the bible is clear that God intricately designed us and has a plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 is a favorite Christian quotation, "For I know the plans I have for you declare the Lord..." With this powerful scripture in mind, I believed that God was going to directly answer me with a plan, a goal, a something that would put me on that "one-single plan" He had for me. You see, 2012 was an intense year of self discovery and development for me. I spent a third of that year living in the Third world, and upon returning to the USA my life was consumed with all things pageant. By the end of last July nothing in my life looked as I had expected it to. There was a phenomenal new Miss Arkansas named Sloane Roberts. I wasn't leaving the country. I was scrambling to make ends meet with two jobs and a plan to finish my second degree. And so, I made some declarations. I put my trust in God. And I started seeking Him for that elusive plan.

My new sisters! 

....And nothing. Not a whisper. Not a nudge. Nada. Pretty much every decision I've made this year has been mine. Some of them good and some of them taught me a few tough life lessons. One of the biggest lessons learned: God gave us reason and logic for a reason. Seeking Him and desiring to live in His will isn't a recipe for easy answers and a smooth path. I think He wants us to make decisions. Indecisiveness never served anyone. And you know, throughout this season, I have grown. Stepping into the unknown unsure of God's ultimate design has required me to trust Him more than ever before.

My new teen sister!

So to reign this all in, what I want to tell you about my decision to compete in Miss River Delta 2013, is that I'm still unsure of what the future holds. But because of my intense desire to be Miss Arkansas, I'm positive that it includes preparing for that goal. God didn't tell me that this was my path, but He did tell me it was time to act and to make a decision. And I couldn't be more excited about it!

There are some wonderful people that volunteer their time throughout the year to ensure the success of the Miss Arkansas Organization. This year 45 young women from all over the state will compete for the position of the goodwill ambassador for Arkansas and I have the privilege of being one of them. I'll keep you updated on my service to local communities through this blog. I hope you'll follow along with my journey to Miss Arkansas 2013!