God's timing!

Oh.....oh......is it real?!? if I touch it will it disappear?? After almost three years of hard work, persistence has paid off: I have won a preliminary title and am going to the state stage!! Guys, my heart is very full right now. It is so humbling to have the title of Miss H.C. and a crown to go with it. I am, right now more than ever, a huge believer and advocate that you can have whatever you work hard for and put your mind to get. God is so good. So good. His timing is always perfect and over the past few weeks has pounded in my heart how HE was in control; how HIS will is already done; how HE has the perfect board for me to work with; in HIS timing.

My platform, Girl Talk: instilling confidence and integrity into HS and MS girls through mentoring, is very near and dear to my heart. I am a living testimony that mentoring works. Having gone from very little self esteem, and even going through a mild eating disorder because of that,  to becoming a woman of confidence, worth, and belief in my self, I can say that every girl out there has a purpose and plan for their life. Don't ever doubt it. Even when the going gets tough, DONT GIVE UP!!! My heart is leaping for joy and abounding in love for all the girls that I will now be able to reach through my title. Of course, it does not take a title to make a difference but it sure does help ;-)

I am so overwhelmed by the amount of support I have had. There is an enormous amount of people that have believed in me from the start. It is just incredible to know so many people have faith in me. And not necessarily me, but the gifts God has given me. They see Christ in me; THAT is the one goal I asked God to help me achieve... not to "get a crown" but to shine for Christ and to be a positive role model to everyone I come in contact with. Having a crown on my head and a title in my hand does not give me permission to get cocky, stuck up, or think I own the place. It gives me permission to be an even bigger example of what a role model is and to reach a far greater area. At the end of the day, I take the makeup off...I put my hair in a ponytail....I throw on norts and a t-shirt....I take off the crown and the sash....I become an normal girl. The question I ask myself then is "how are you a role model and example of Christ when its all said and done?"

I have a TON of work to do before I get to the state stage, but I have been very, very, very blessed with an amazing board who will help me prepare at my absolute best. God will provide all that I need and will give me strength to do whatever I need to. He has huge plans for my life, as I have already seen unfold. I am extremely motivated and excited about the next months ahead!!

A standing ovation for talent almost made me faint. So grateful God has given me a talent of tickling those ivories ;) Looking forward to the next few months preparing for the Miss Georgia stage and working with an INCREDIBLE board, as well as my new sister queen and our sweet teen!! To have the three people in the world that have pushed me and believe in me the most there to watch me own the night, my daddy, mommy, and first pageant coach, made the whole thing unbelievably perfect. My words of gratitude are not enough for all people have done for me. To each person that has had faith in me....my original pageant coach, my parents and family, my little sisters who knew I wanted a title so bad, judges from day #1, judges from #4368346, directors and boards who offered little bits of advice along the way, friends I have met through pageants, everyone....Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!! ♥ 

 

Sunsets

Sunsets excite me. I see them as being kisses from God. Little things make me happy, but few things make me really happy. Sunsets make me really happy. Enjoy the pictures I've taken over the past few year from sunsets I've seen (including my heading which is a picture I also took).

October 2010

  

November 2010

 

June 2011

 

July 2011

 

September 2011

Things I'm loving for fall: Blazers

 

Busy

I am so addicted to Pinterest. It fuels my OCD and organizational needs very well.
Wine is my new favorite thing, aside from avocados and sushi.

Here is my random post for the quickly ending summer, since I have neglected to post anything since the end of May. I didn't make an outline for this post, nor do I really know what I'm about to ramble about. Be prepared. I am warning you beforehand so you can brace yourself for some strange English coming....:

Life is too crazy. During the past few months my life has been constantly in a number of different transitions. I am honestly exhausted. I like being busy, always keeping my mind active doing something; I feel its not busyness that is making me tired but rather the changes occurring. Maybe I am just exhausted from all the late nights I stay up playing word search. Or maybe its that my body is still adjusting to getting back into a good running routine. Or maybe it is all the stressing I do about life and silly, piddly little things. I don't know, but I need to. I like having a sense of control over situations, knowing what their outcome will be. All these changes and no-changes have made me very nervous of the future. Doors keep closing to opportunities, plans that have been made are suddenly changed, people I thought were supposed to be in my life for a long time are leaving. What the heck is going on? I know God has it in control though, so I need to just chill out.... wait....maybe that is just it: I don't really trust Him. Ah. He may have just gotten me thinking. I have become so consumed with ME and with what I want that I have pushed him out of the picture. Consume, take, want, crave, self, me. These words all go together. I'm so worried about what I want that I have lost sight of what is really important. Things like my family, my relationship with M, my relationship with Christ. I mean, really, I have pushed them away from the top and put myself above all. Its less about my family and their needs; less about serving others, which is sad for a future nurse; less about seeking out Christ and his plan for me; and I really feel like its getting less and less about my gentleman. I think it is time to get things back in order, starting with putting Christ at the top. Le sigh. Bisous, SLR

Childhood Obesity

I went swimming at a local city pool this afternoon and had a very eye-opening experience concerning obesity. The number of people I saw today who clearly do not care about their body, nor the shape that it is in, was quite disturbing. It is one thing to be slightly overweight, or curvy (after all, curvy is much more healthy than being stick-thin in my opinion), or have low metabolism that makes staying fit harder, or to have health problems that prevent you from being in shape. However, it is another if you simple do not take care of the one body you have been given, as was clearly seen today. Do most people not understand that you are given ONE body your whole life? You never get a chance to have another one... not even through plastic surgery (which, in my opinion does more damage).

Anyhow, it was not mainly the number of obese people that confounded me, but more specifically the number of obese children. What has gotten into parents heads that its okay to allow your twelve year old daughter to look like she is pregnant, and in a bikini strutting it no less (I saw this several times this afternoon in a matter of minutes)? What parent in their right mind would allow this? Every time I looked up I saw yet another child who was very much so overweight or obese. Georgia (my state) has one of the highest rates for childhood obesity... that fact is terrible. American families need to work together to get rid of the high statistics of childhood obesity and obesity in general.

During a pageant interview a few months ago I was asked, "who's fault is the high obesity rates in children: schools or parents?" My answer? The parents, hands down. It is the parents job to raise their children. It is the parents job to make sure their children are making good choices, or at least train them to make the right choices and when they are old enough pray they do just that. It is the parents duty to make sure their children eat healthy - and not snack on junk food, soda drinks, carb-loaded, high-sugar foods 24/7, or better yet, to not have fast food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is the parents job to make sure their child is having a lifestyle that promotes being active to stay healthy. It is the parents job, not the government. Sure, school needs to help out by not putting vending machines packed with junk food and sodas in the cafeteria or teaching them of ways to stay healthy, but ultimately mom and dad need to show Tommy and Suzy how to make and live out healthy choices. Unfortunately, Americans have not done a good job with this at all. I love my state, but I am ashamed that it is completely acceptable to be obese... actually, that it is perfectly normal to be obese.

Please keep in mind that I am not seeking to offend anyone by saying all this, although someone will always be offended no matter what I say. I am merely speaking my thoughts (or rather, venting) on a topic that needs to be addressed. It is okay to occasionally enjoy a coke, or to occasionally enjoy a yummy food. While I love eating healthy and trying to stay fit, I will on occasion indulge in dessert or one of those awesome foods you see on Culinary Porn. The key words to the two statements above is occasion. And it is combined with having an active lifestyle. Try walking every day at least. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Park just a little further away from the entrance. You've heard all these simple things for a while.... so put them into action. There is SO much more I could say about this topic but I guess I will end my venting on that note.

xoxo, SLR

Goodbye for now, my friend.

The world was a happier place with you in it.

Always making people laugh. Always putting a smile on someone’s face. 

You were greatly loved, and are greatly missed, JB.

Do not keep the alabaster box of your friendship sealed up until your friends are dead. Fill their lives with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering words while their ears can hear them, and while their hearts can be thrilled and made happier. The kind of things you mean to say when they are gone, say before they go. 

— George W. Childs

Jonathan’s death has had a HUGE impact on my life. So many lessons have been taught through this traumatic event. The words above have a new meaning. Read them and take them to heart. Don’t take anything, or anyone, for granted. Love is a verb. Put that verb into action.  - SLR

Dream Wedding: an Irish wedding

I am in complete LOVE with this wedding. I love wellies, they will now be used in my wedding. I love the color scheme. The flowers. The dresses. The suits. The beer. All of it. Dream wedding for sure. I used to say I would get married on the beach, but after seeing those pictures, I will either get married in the mountains or in Ireland.

Elegant Irish Wedding