It's Almost Christmas!

Since I've talked to you last I have been crazy busy, but what else is new?  I recently tag-teamed an awesome event at the University of Buffalo with my good friend Katelynn Smith otherwise known as Miss Empire Rose 2012.  The event was a Dance Marathon affiliated with Children's Miracle Network (the National platform of the Miss America Org).

There were so many people, many more than we had anticipated which was wonderful.  The event raised thousands of dollars for Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo.  One thing that was really great about the event was how colorful it was.  The basketball court was filled with happy students in every color of the rainbow.  At the beginning of the event it was explained to everyone that each color represented a child who was in attendance that was either fighting pediatric cancer or who had recently finished treatment.  I was touched at what a great idea that was.  It really connected the students to an individual child and their story and there was so much hope and great energy in the building.  I was a bit confused though when I didn't see a child with a blue shirt like the ones Katelynn and I were wearing.  Then at the end of the presentation we were told that the blue shirt represented the children who were too sick to be there that night.  I was honored and also saddened by this realization until I met a girl named Stella.

Stella, or "Stella Swift" as many like to call her, is a little girl who is bravely fighting leukemia.  She has a lot of ups and downs and I was grateful that she was feeling well enough that night to grace me and everyone else with her presence.  She was also feeling well enough to bounce around with her best friend in the bounce house, (each girl adorned with matching sequined hats.)  Stella has one of the best personalities I have ever been lucky enough to witness.  She was team "red" in honor of her favorite artist Taylor Swift's new album.  Now if you know anything about me, you would know that I immediately wanted to steal her and run away and sing Taylor songs all day.  Instead, we danced the night away and tweeted Ms. Swift and talked.  I learned that she uses music as therapy and that her dream is to record with Taylor herself.  We had lots in common regardless of our age difference. 

Overall the night was a huge success and it was great seeing the kids running around happy, carefree and feeling like the little celebrities that they are.  This was the first time that UB has hosted this event and I really hope they have it again.  Below is the photo that we tweeted Taylor of Stella, myself, her best friend and her little brother Nigel (what a cute name!)  Also, please click on the link that says Stella's name and "Like" her facebook page and pass it along, it really means the world to her!

 

In other news, I recently received a tentative job offer from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and I am extremely excited!  I was pretty down when I realized that I wasn't going to be receiving a call for a different police job I had worked so hard on but I realize now that bigger things are in store for me.  I was reminded recently by a good friend of mine named Shelby that "God does everything for a reason" and boy was she right.  It will inevitably be a very long background process but I will keep you all posted.

I am also very excited to visit Watertown in a couple weeks!  I will be gift-wrapping as a fundraiser with my Teen Maggie Ackerman and my Star Princess Veronica Neff at the Ritz Day Spa and Salon.  The Ritz is the official Salon and Spa of the Miss Thousand Islands Pageant and they keep me looking great from head to toe with their skincare, haircare and luxurious make up.  There will be two separate dates, December 15th and 22nd from 10:30am to 1:30pm.  Please stop by for some glamorous Christmas cheer and let us make your Holiday a little easier by wrapping your gifts!

Three more things on my agenda, the first is to tell you about my friend Aili Makuch.  Aili is a 16 year old girl who is a family friend and is also battling pediatric cancer, multiple forms of it.  Her and her family are struggling with this fight physically, emotionally and financially.  Hoping to ease some of their burden, a benefit basketball game and benefit dinner has been organized.  When I was asked to take part in this event I was a bit hesitant because my ball game isn't all it used to be.  Then I was told that they wanted me to sing the National anthem and had no intention of allowing me to touch a basketball, so I said I was in.  The event is this Saturday evening and I can't wait!  It will be a great event filled with good times, laughs, great people and great food.  For more info please visit the event page on facebook and if you would like to donate money or any kind of goods to Aili or her family please email me at MissTI2013@gmail.com

Second to last item on my list is me pleading with you to spend 30 seconds a day and vote for my amazingly talented friend Mallory Hytes Hagan, Miss New York 2012 as America's Choice 2013!  By winning America's Choice Mallory will have a secured spot in the top 15 (as if she wouldn't anyway!) I am so proud of the hard work she has done for this organization in the past year and am proud to call her my dear friend.  She has been competing in this organization for ten years and has done more than earn her stripes.  She is educated, funny, down-to-earth, talented and never forgets where she came from.  This June she made me feel comfortable in an extremely intimidating environment.  I am so grateful to have met her and I know she will make us proud.  Please help her in her journey to Miss America 2013 by voting once a day (it is VERY easy) by clicking this link: Vote Mal!! Love you Mal!  I will be having so many heart palpitations on January 12th you have no idea.

Last on my list but most certainly not least, I have received my official autograph cards as an early xmas gift from my Miss TI family!  I am so excited to give them out so if you have an event you would like me to attend please email me at MissTI2013@gmail.com, you can also send me your address and I will mail you or a loved one an autograph for free!  I am more than willing to send cards to service members at home and overseas as well!  Below is a sneak peak of what my cards look like, with wonderful photography by Priscilla James.

 

Until next time, 

Peace, Love and Deer Jerky ;-)

Lonna