Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast

On Saturday April 16th, I was a volunteer server for the Waynesville Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast. I was accompanied by my sister queens: Miss Southern Central Seanica Reineke, Miss Mid-Missouri Kari Gai (not pictured), Miss Pulaski County Outstanding Teen Samantha Caraway and several of our younger area title holders. We had almost as much fun serving as we did eating the delicious pancakes and biscuits & gravy. Yum!

It was a blast to be part of such a great team of young women.

Fun with makeup!

Over Spring Break, I was able to visit Layla and meet some of her amazing friends. We had a blast with a Make-Up How To Session with Veeah. She Rocks! :D

CMN Joplin

I recently had the privilege of volunteering to help Children's Miracle Network Hospitals- Joplin in one of their fundraisers, the Discount Diaper Sale. They purchase dozens of cases of Pampers at wholesale prices and sell them to Freeman employees at a reasonable cost. This saves employees money and still allows CMNH to make a profit. Our sale began at 7:00am and by 11:30, we had sold over $7,000 in diapers. Phew! I had a great time working with the other volunteers and Heather, our awesome CMNH Joplin Events Coordinator.

After the rush had slowed, Heather offered to take me to tour the NICU(Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).What a humbling experience. One of the nurses shared her knowledge and experiences with us. We were introduced to a resident and her motherwho allowed us to take a picture of her little miracle who was now up to an impressive 3 pounds. I am so thankful for the miracles that have taken place in that hospital; many of them are possible because of CMN. Heather was proud to inform me that Joplin CMN Hospitals would be giving $1.7 million to the expansion of this facility. 

 Thank you CMN Hospitals Joplin for all you have done for the children in our community!

Music In Our Schools Month

Cody performed an original song he has been working on.

Jacob entertains the little ones.

Michael, Cody, Jacob, and myself with my 8th grade math teacher, Mr. Durnell

Jacob impresses the ladies with his cover of a Taylor Swift hit.

Michael opens his heart up to the class about his love for music. 

Cody gave some insight into his passion for the guitar.

During the last week of March, I was able to celebrate Music In Our Schools month with several classes throughout my alma mater, El Dorado Springs. I visited 12 classrooms throughout the high school, middle school, and elementary that day with the help of a few special guests. Three gentlemen that are currently members of musical ensembles at our high school traveled to the classrooms with me to spread the message that "Music Is Important to Our Education". Each of us shared our most memorable moments and our current endeavors in music, as well as how music has improved our lives. We were also able to share some of our talents with the students. We brought plenty of contrast from Jacob's rendition of a Taylor Swift song with the acoustic guitar to a little bit of opera and Norah Jones from me. We had a blast and felt that our message was spread. Music IS an integral part of a balanced education.