“In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet”- I found this quote fitting tonight.  While over 50 girls competed for the title of Miss America tonight only one, Laura Kaeppeler Miss Wisconsin, was crowned.  After seeing the contestants come out to meet with their friends and families I feel that this quote was fitting for each of them that night.  Some girls came out and represented the opposite of this quote.  They were not focused on the outcome but rather on the journey they had taken to get them to this point in their personal and professional lives.  These women are truly inspiring and I know every person in the audience that night could look at that stage and see each of those contestants and find something to look up to in those women.  Whether it is their confidence, dedication to community service, scholastic achievement, or beauty; they all have something admirable and inspiring and many of those girls encompasses ALL of those qualities listed. 

What was hard to see was the women who came out to meet their friends and families and were disappointed in the results of the evening.  Although I may never understand that disappointment personally, I thought about it in regards to everyday struggles when we work so hard and put all of our time and energy into something and it does not work out the way we planned or prepared for.  That night I sat in the audience in awe at the amount of community service that each young women had completed in their own communities and thought how amazing would it be if they could inspire the world to make simple changes and take time out of our lives to dedicate towards others.  That night each girl had reached for the moon and hoped for the dream job of a lifetime to become the next Miss America.  It is important to remember that the Lord always has a plan for us even though we might not understand or be able to see it.  While many girls were still focused on missing their shot at the moon, many of them did forget to look at the ground they stood on and the beautiful things they have planted in each of their own home states. 

I think now about Miss Minnesota, Natalie Davis.  She did beautifully each day and night in competition leading up to finals night and was even named quality of life award finalist.  I have watched and admired her journey to Miss America back from when she was Miss Mankato and then named Miss Minnesota this past June.  Her journey is one of grace, beauty and most importantly passion.  Her passion for her platform is something that is not only inspiring but also moving.  As she speaks about her brother Trevor you can see the passion in her eyes and in her voice.  When she talked about him on stage at Miss America during her on-stage question portion, even though I have heard her story and dedication to her platform before, I was brought to tears still.  Natalie is one of the most beautiful and talented women I have ever met and her success at Miss America just enhanced everything that she has done so far and what she will still do as Miss Minnesota and in her future.  At the end of the night after the pageant today I thought about this quote and how Natalie exemplifies it.  All week she gave it her all towards competing for Miss America, but at the end of the journey she has an amazing flowerbed that she has created.  I know each of us that will compete to become the next Miss Minnesota is part of that flowerbed because Natalie has inspired and instilled in us a passion for this organization and each of our own personal platforms.  She has nourished us with her gifts and inspired us to become the best we can be. 

I will never forget sitting in the audience tonight and watching something live that I have watched for so many years on television.  If anyone is ever feeling uninspired in life or having a rough day I would ask you to re-watch this pageant or YouTube clips of it.  These women should serve as an inspiration to all.  I know I personally left this week being inspired and motivated and feeling as though “the sky is the limit” on the journey that lies ahead of me.

Congratulations again to Natalie Davis on a beautiful job at Miss America!! J

-Caitlyn 

Today I arrived in the fabulous Las Vegas with my wonderful Mom!  You might be thinking why go to Vegas in January.  My answer is simple… The 2012 Miss America pageant!!!  My mom and I woke up bright and early today to fly out to Las Vegas for the week to attend all of the preliminary rehearsals, preliminary competitions, shopping and designer trunk show, and Miss America Finals show (which will also be live on ABC).  I am excited to see each area of competition and what these women look like both on and off the stage.  Through the past few months I have followed their journeys in their home states and now all of these women come together to compete against each other for the dream job of becoming the next Miss America.   Follow the Miss America link on my site to learn more about each of the contestants and this wonderful organization! 

Happy New Year to All!

New Year’s is always a time to look back at the year past and forward towards the year ahead.   When I think about the last year I like to focus on what all I accomplished.  Each of those accomplishments had its own feats and was a journey in its own way.  In my reflection of last year the items which I am the most proud of include: traveling through Europe in the spring, working at the nursing home and also getting my 1st ever job at a hospital, and  becoming Miss Heart of the Lakes 2011.  When I think about the year ahead I set high goals for myself and where I hope to be next year at this same time.  Each year this list may be a little too lofty and have too many items or items that will be impossible to complete and focus on this year.  What I hope to accomplish is to at least give each item some time, whether I get all that I wanted to accomplished or only take a few days or hours incorporate something new in my life both are a form of success in my book.  Many times I know when I talk to my family or friends they simply create a list of resolutions and then when things get difficult and change they cross items off all together.  While there is a time when your life may changes and different goals become more realistic or feasible, it is understandable that these goals might change.  The challenge that I will ask of everyone is that maybe this year you will not simply cross off an item if it becomes seemingly obsolete in your life, but rather just downgrade your ultimate goal in that item so you are not eliminating it from your resolutions completely.  Each item that makes your list should be an important one.

Here is a list of some of my New Year’s Resolutions- Maybe some of these are items which you want to add to your own list J

1)      Laugh more often- It is easy for me to get bogged down with the seriousness of everyday life but laughter enhances even the tensest situations and opens up the mind. 

2)      Increase my number of volunteer hours for Breast Cancer Research – speak in schools and publicly about the cause as well as plan a large fundraising event to donate directly towards research. 

3)      Work on my physical fitness- Yes, this is what everyone typically has on their list but it is more about lifestyle changes to become healthier and respect my body.  It will also help in the lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit competition in June.

4)      Prepare for Miss Minnesota- this means just working on being the best Miss Heart of the Lakes I can be and being the best that I can be.  This may seem cheesy but that competition will just come down to a competition against me and it is the same with each contestant.  I hope to prepare to work towards the dream job of being Miss Minnesota but that will come through developing my own passion in life. 

5)      Make new friends- This should be easy I hope.  I have already met so many amazing and inspiring people through the Miss America Organization and hope to take every opportunity I can in the next year to meet and connect to as many people as possible whether at events or even just the grocery store. 

Blessings in the New Year,

-Caitlyn