Miss Maine 2009

So when I first told my friends and family that I was competing in the Miss Maine America Pageant they were surprised and asked... but wait, aren't you going to El Salvador??? However, I am passionate and full of energy. I run in a million directions at once and somehow all those directions lead me to Papa Dios. Saturday night I won fourth runner up at the Miss Maine Pageant so not only will I be going to El Salvador but I will be using the scholarship money I won to take a combined EMT and wilderness first aid course at this place called SOLO in North Conway, New Hampshire. I am excited because without the scholarship money I would have just been able to afford the basic week long wilderness first aid course but now I can take a month long and really be fully prepared to help in El Salvador as much as possible. Not to mention the week of the competition was fun in its self. 

The first day we visited the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland and played with the adorable kids and their siblings. One girl reminded me of my niece Ava and we had a great time playing trains... or crashing trains together and then laughing hysterically.

The next day we drove up to the veterans hospital, Togus. While Miss Maine 2009 Adrienne Watkinson played her violin, or "fiddle" the veterans enjoyed the music. At one point she was playing for one gentleman in his room and another patient came wheeling in.  Before we knew it he had jumped up out of his wheel chair and was dancing and clapping with us. I was afraid he would fall, but Hank was good. He told us that he had just come from a session of physical therapy  and was full of energy. Then Miss Pine Point Marissa started singing "My Funny Valaentine" to him. He then began to serenade us too. They made me smile with my heart <3

As a fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network (Miss America's National Platform) before the competition I sang at the Highlands and it brought me the same kind of joy. I am starting to look for songs in Spanish that I can bring with me to El Salvador to sing down there. 

The one downside of the week is that I lost my rosary ring :-(  

I wear it all the time and I have lost it before, but found it- I hope that I can find it again soon!

It was an amazing week and the new Miss Maine 2009 Susie Stauble is someone I admire, and i hope that everyone watches her go for the crown at Miss America in January!

God Bless!