Mrs. Alaska America Pageant

With Eden, one of my fellow contestants last year

On May 15th I attended the Mrs. Alaska America pageant for the first time. I knew a few of the contestants and was interested to see the differences between our pageant and this one. There were a lot of differences, but at the end of the night, just like in the United States pageant system, here was a group of Alaska’s married women willing to offer the best of themselves and their accomplishments to a panel of judges and an audience as they sought the title of Mrs. Alaska. It was also fun to get to see some of the girls that competed with me last year, including Eden, a hard-working mom of eight!

With Jessica Nolin, Miss Alaska 2008

I sat with my friend Jessica and her family to cheer on her mom who was competing this year. I've known Jessica for nearly ten years, since she was in 8th grade a I judged her in an FFA speaking event. From their she became a state officer and, in 2006, ran for National FFA Office. My husband and I mentored and coached her as she prepared for the candidate process and attended National FFA Convention with her in Indianapolis that year. Though Jessica did not get elected to a National Officer position that year, that process had quite an effect on her life. From there, Jessica competed for, and won, the title of Miss Alaska. It was pretty special to be there holding Jessica's hand and cheering for her mom as they announced the pageant winners, just as I'd held her mom's hand all those years ago in that stadium in Indianapolis as they announced the National Officers. Jessica's mom Marlene was awarded the business woman of the year award as well as Mrs. Hostess and 2nd Runner Up! We were all very proud of her for all her hard work, dedication and being willing to put herself out there in front of the judges in the first place.

With Marlene, Jessica's mom

Congratulations are due to Tracy Zadra, the new Mrs. Alaska America. She rocked evening gown in her stunning blue dress and portrayed a poise and grace that went unmatched. I look forward to seeing her at events this year and hope she enjoys her year as Mrs. Alaska as much as I am already enjoying mine!

With Tracy Zadra, Mrs. Alaska America 2010

Anchorage City Church Youth Missions Worship Night

Anchorage City Church’s youth missions had a worship night fundraiser to help generate support for their upcoming mission trip to inner-city Chicago. As a member of the ACC family, I was happy to help promote their event by attending as Mrs. Alaska. A group of amazingly talented musicians gathered to perform original worship songs for the crowd while we snacked, by candlelight, on cookies. Talk about gifted! Every song was a beautiful offering of praise, many based on Biblical scriptures.

My all-time favorite local worship group was featured. The team, led by my friend Suzi Rawalt played some new tunes as well as some older crowd favorites. Suzi’s CD has for a long while now been very inspiring to me. I listened to its soothing tunes while in labor with my second daughter, Ella, almost two years ago now and Suzi’s song Radiant was my “pageant theme song” this year and is now the ringtone on my phone. It's chorus, "Those that look to the Lord are radiant, radiant, and their faces will never be covered with shame- I sought the Lord, He heard my cry, He has delivered me from all my fear" is taken from Psalms 34:4-5 and reminds us that we never have to be ashamed of looking to the Lord rather than the world.

With Suzi Rawalt, musician, wife, mother and...woman extraodinaire

It is from our God, in whose image we are created, that our true beauty and value come. It is the fulfillment of His purpose in our lives that creates in us a radiance that shines to the world. Suzy is perhaps the most radiant, beautiful woman I know and that beauty comes from her life, from the righteousness of her character and the peace of her gentle, quiet spirit. If every there was a Proverbs 31 woman, Suzy is it and her servant's heart only adds to her glowing and inspiring personality. I pray God continues to guide and shape me that I, too, will look to Him always and be radiant in my own life.

Dimond High Baccalaureate

With some of my husband's graduating students

I had the pleasure of joining my husband (who served as the MC) at Dimond High's Class of 2010 Baccalaureate service on May 11th. The Baccalaureate service tradition is an old one at Dimond going back decades. Lem and I attended our own Baccalaureate as Dimond Seniors and Lem has been a part of this special service since becoming a teacher at Dimond six years ago.

Morgan works at my Sunsation Tanning, one of my sponsors

Baccalaureate is a non-denominational church service honoring graduating Seniors. Traditionally the service includes music performed by students, motivational speeches from faculty, student speeches and a blessing of the graduates as they leave high school and enter the next phase of their lives.

With Jim Anderson, my former math teacher and current sponsor

Being a part of the Dimond family, I knew many of the students and enjoyed the words shared by two of my former teachers (including Jim Anderson, owner of Anderson's Bride, one of my sponsors.) I am always impressed by the achievements of our teens and look forward to all that awaits these students in the future. I wish them all the best and pray they will enjoy blessings of joy and God's abundant and faithful provision as they embark on their journey into adulthood.

With Nicole Broquet, Dimond's prom queen (my daughter was the crown bearer at prom and presenter her crown to her)

CPC Spring Tea

With former Lieutenant Governor Loren Leman and his wife, Carolyn.

I attended the Crisis Pregnancy Center’s Annual Spring Tea and Auction on May 7th and 8th. On Friday afternoon I helped sort and set up items for the silent auction and attended the actual tea on Saturday.

CPC is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political organization dedicated to helping women (and their families) find solutions to unplanned pregnancies and offers offers life-affirming alternatives to abortion. I am a long-time supporter of CPC and their mission and it was a special experience to be able to take a stand for life as a public figure by attending this event.

The field of child development recognizes pre-natal development as a key factor in the developmental success of children. Without appropriate knowledge and quality pre-natal care for themselves and their babies, mothers cannot provide their children with the very best start in life. CPC provides training, resources and support for expectant parents that address a wide variety of topics including: fetal development, nutrition, child development, childbirth education, discipline, health and safety among many others. As an early childhood professional I support and commend the efforts of CPC, their staff, volunteers and supporters.

KASH 107.5 Morning Moo

With the Morning Moo Crew

I did my first official appearance as Mrs. Alaska less than 48 hours after winning the pageant. Bright and early on Monday, May 3rd I headed down to the KASH 107.5 radio station for an on-air interview. It was fun hanging out with the DJs and becoming an official member of the “Moo Crew” (the KASH morning show is called the Morning Moo.) They asked me a little about myself, my platform and what was in store for me this year as Mrs. Alaska. I have to admit that all those years I’d hung around the radio station with Lem’s best friend who worked as a local DJ made me feel pretty comfortable in the studio.

Blessed Beyond Measure

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

Less than 48 hours have passed since I was crowned Mrs. Alaska United States 2010 and already my life is changing! I have felt so many emotions since hearing my named annouced Saturday evening, but among all of them, it is my gratitude that stands out.


I am so very grateful to have the opportunity to represent Alaska's married women this year. I am grateful to get to do so while promoting my platform, Lifelong Impacts of Early Learning, and advocating for young chidlren in a new way. I'm grateful to my friends and family who have supported me as I prepared to compete for the title-for their words of support, their advice, their unconditional love, and most importantly, their prayers.

I am grateful to all of my sponsors for their tremendous support financially and through the donation of their services. To each of the following I express my most genuine appreciation: Anderson's Bride, Normandy Huckins of Trendsetters Styling Salon, Desiree Vasquez of Headrush Salon, Marie's Beauty Salon and Supply, Sunsation Tanning Salon, Robin Kim- independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay, Fitzgerald Photography, Law Office of Ian Wheeles, Shannon Briley, Jeannine Jabaay, Renee Scott, Paul and Elsie Hampton, Rod and Bonnie Wheeles and Larry Hatfield and Helen Spencer. Without each of you I could not have gotten here.

I'm grateful for the relationships that have been built through my pageant experience. I have met some amazing women and have been inspired by their stories and work they're doing in our community. I have built friendships that I cherish and know will last a lifetime. I'm so grateful that God has brought each every one of you into my life.

There are not enough words to express the gratitude I have for my husband and daughters. They see so much of God's good in me each and every day and never fall short in communicating that to me. I am so blessed to share every day of my life with a righteous man of God and am continually blessed by his unfailing love for me and our children. The unconditional and unbounding love of my girls inspires me every single day to be the very best possible mom (and woman of God) I can be for them. It is my example as a wife and mother that will lay the foundation for their future in those roles and I don't take the responsibility of modeling those roles to them lightly. I'm looking forward to taking on a new role of leadership as Mrs. Alaska this year and I'm excited for my girls to get to see how God uses us to influence and impact the world in a positive way.