- Both my children are now attending college full time
- My husband was promoted to management with UPS, so I am now Household CEO (He says it's a promotion for me too....but some days the laundry says differently!)
- I completed my CPCU graduate program (finally, after 4 years!)
- We got two new kittens in exchange for the two kids leaving for college. They don't eat as much and the TV doesn't get left on. Well, ok, most nights...
I tied for the win at Mrs NC United States not long after my last post, winning the Interview award as well. It was a very empowering experience to do so well amongst a field of over two dozen ladies, 6 of whom were also former state or national winners in other systems like myself. That gave me the courage to continue my journey in pageants and I have gone on to win my first Supreme title in East Coast USA (Pro at that!) here in Virginia as well as winning the Queens Of Hope pageant, Delmarva's Ambassador and probably my favorite title to date, Royal Ambassador for Pink Queens For Life.
Here's the link to the article in the news and a photo with my sister queens: http://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/article.cfm?ID=22745
My involvement with Pink Queens for Life has made me realize that with a crown, there are indeed a LOT of doors that can open for service with a title. I initially entered just for fun and also because as a breast cancer survivor myself, I thought it was really neat that they recognized that sort of contestant as a category all its own. I never really expected to WIN...that was definitely an added bonus!
If I can begin the journey to reach out to others about the importance of this cause with just a local title like this, I can only imagine what doors would open with a state or even national crown...
Since winning Pink Queens, I have focused my efforts on working with other organizations that support those suffering from cancer, whether children at Roanoke Memorial or adults dealing with the after effects of a breast cancer diagnosis. Not only is my mother a survivor as well, but one of my best friends had to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction...a mother of teenagers like myself.
In watching them and realizing what I've felt and dealt with, I have found that perhaps I can share my ups and downs with others facing this disease after diagnosis and have hope that there can be light on the other side of that dark tunnel. I've been down it and I know how it feels to be terrified you're going to leave your children behind. So my "platform", as it were, is about as personal as it can get. And I hope to share some of that with those who read my blog over the next months as I work with others to find that sunshine after the storm that so many of us need. Stay tuned!
