Featured in the Winter 2010 National Tourette Syndrome Association Newsletter


My family is featured in the Winter 2010 National Tourette Association Newsletter sharing our Tourette Syndrome story! I pray by sharing we can encourage other parents of special needs children to never give up hope while being their children's number one advocate! (Just click on the article above to be able to read the article in larger font.)

Lakewood Pack 53 Cub Scout Christmas Party

Santa himself making an appearance at Lakewood Pack 53 Cub Scouts!
Our cute little cubs line up to see Santa and I have the honor of being his helper!

Pure joy as one of our Bear Cubs receives a toy from Santa!


Boy, Santa sure reminds me a lot of my husband the way that he is so loving, patient and good with kids.....by the way where is Mr. Washington?!!! Merry Christmas from our family to yours! May the Lord bless you and your family this Christmas Season as we celebrate the Reason for the Season - Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ being born so that we may have eternal life - God is good!

A Visit from Mrs. Hawaii!

I have met so many amazing women from all across the country when I competed in the Mrs. America Pageant in September. Some of them will be lifelong friends to include the beautiful Mrs. Hawaii - Alicia Jones. She is such a blessing - she even brought Christmas goodies for my husband and boys as well as special lotion from her Arbonne business for my youngest son's Eczema - so thoughtful. Thank you Alicia for the fun visit at the Olive Garden in Tacoma!

Date Night with Mr. Washington!

Finally, a date night with my handsome husband! Every year we attend an annual Christmas Party with his military buddies and their wives.... and every year we play some pool. We had so much fun! It's so important to take time out for your marriage and enjoy your spouse!
I just love playing pool with my hubby!

Our wonderful babysitter Taylor! I just love this girl and so do my boys. She is so good to them. We are blessed with the best babysitter in the world for our date nights! Thank you Taylor!

Joint Base Lewis McChord Christmas Party - 627th Squadron

My first little greeter - adorable Corey!
It was so much fun to see the fruits of our (my sons, nieces, my husband and I) labor in volunteering for Operation Homefront by picking up, sorting and delivering toys to military children at Joint Base Lewis McChord. These little girls are having a blast with their bubbles.
Christopher enjoying his Mickey Mouse Frisbee.


Maddie with her new paddle board and ball.


CeCe all dressed up for the Christmas Season.


With First Sergeant Bill Baker and Ashley. Bill is in charge of helping me get the toys to the different squadrons on base and Ashley was the organizer of the 627th Squadron Christmas Party today.

I had the privilege to visit with some very special Mommies today - they too have children with special needs. Thank you for making an impact on my life today Rochelle, Kate and Joanne. Your children are blessed to have you as their Mommies!

Dinner with Mrs. Washington Pageant State Directors

Ooops! This picture is posted a little out of order - I meant to post this earlier. After my appearance at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Public Officials Reception, I was able to meet with my Mrs. Washington Pageant Directors David and Pamela Curnel at the Westin Hotel for dinner. I also had a chance to visit with Anna Hiatt - Mrs. Emeral City 2011. Pam just had a full day giving private consultations to next year's contestants - we are blessed to have such helpful Directors!

Santa's Little Helpers - Operation Homefront/Dollar Tree Toy Drive

My son's Kenny and Cody have been amazing at being Santa's Little Helpers. We are delivering our last load of toys as volunteers with Operation Homefront to Joint Base Lewis McChord. We have now collected, sorted and delivered over 2,800 toys for military children. Thank you to Dollar Tree Customers for purchasing toys for military children this Christmas Season!
How adorable is this picture?! I am blessed with two helpful little boys!

Pierce County Precinct Committee Officers Meeting

With long time friend and fellow Precinct Committee Officer Phile Raschke at the Pierce County Precinct Committee Officers Meeting held at Steilacoom High School on Saturday, Dec. 11.
Sharing with Washington State Attorney General Rob McKena my platform as Mrs. Washington -"Embracing the Special Needs Child" as well as the Mrs. America platform of promoting music through MENC - National Association of Music Education.

I so enjoyed my visit with Washington State Attornery General Rob McKena. As a Precinct Committee Officer myself, I adhere to the motto "If you don't take an interest in politics, it will take an interest in you!"

Boy Scouts of America 100 Year Celebration Gala & Auction


On Friday, Dec. 10 I was the guest speaker celebrating 100 years of Scouting at the Tacoma Elks Lodge. I am pictured above with Emcee Tom Carroll (Council Commissioner of Pacific Harbors Council) and Mike Kiel (organizer of the Centennial Holiday Gala).


While greeting guests I had the opportunity to meet Mariala - what a sweetheart!


With Timothy Garber (Scout Executive/CEO of Pacific Harbors Council) and his beautiful wife.

Checking in guests with fellow Scout Leader Tracy Steinkoenig-Kapelski.


With Tyleen Byrd - another fellow Scout Leader. I first met Tyleen this last summer when I served as a Den Leader at a camp she directed - we had so much fun!


Appropriately, I spoke on my platform "Embracing the Special Needs Child" and explained how Scouting has done just that in making a lifelong impression on both of my boys who have special needs. I was able to share my testimony of how Scouting has played such a major role in our family and in the development of my children's self esteem, confidence and leadership skills despite their challenges. The impact a Scout Leader has on a boy's life will come back ten fold - I know!


Receiving my official Scout Coin for my service to Scouting


With John Disney - a lifelong Scouter who has invested 61 years now to the Boy Scouts of America - Amazing!

Seattle Chamber of Commerce Pulic Officials Reception

On Thursday, December 9 I was honored to be the official greeter at the annual Seattle Chamber of Commerce Public Officials Reception held at the Washington State Convention Center. Thank you Phil Bussey - President and CEO of the Seattle Chamber for having me be your guest.
Thank you Nicole Pastarnack for referring me to be a greeter for tonight's event. I met Nicole at the Precor Photo Shoot I did last month. She is such a lovely lady!

With Bill Southern - Director of Outreach and Public Affairs for the Washington Special Olympics. I am looking forward to working with him in the next year in advocating for children with special needs.


With Danielle McCarter - Delta Airlines Customer Support Manager.


With Larry Pike - Registration Manager for the event.

With Mark Grundberg - Registration Coordinator for the Seattle Chamber.

With Janice Fawcett with Delta Airlines - what a sweet lady.


With Mark Landreneau - Government Relations Specialist with Seattle Lighthouse - The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. I was so touched and impressed by this man. We spoke through an interpreter as he is deaf and legally blind. What an inspiration he is! For more information on his organization for the blind please visit www.seattlelighthouse.org.

Victorian Country Christmas - Washington State Fairgrounds

The All American Girl Pageant is one of the sponsors of Victorian Country Christmas - an amazing celebration of the Christmas Season showcasing hundreds of booths, holiday activities, talent and of course the famous Singing Nativity - which is how I start my Christmas every year.
I was so proud and honored to cheer on these young girls during their talent showcase held on the Opry Stage of the Showplex.


During intermission I was able to speak to the audience on how the All American Girl Pageant is truly a celebration of what is on the inside of the girls being that this is an all natural pageant. I also shared my platform "Embracing the Special Needs Child" along with promoting MENC (National Association of Music Education). I stressed that without Music Education we would not have a talent showcase to display nor the Singing Nativity which is the highlight of the Victorian Country Christmas.

One of our talent showcase highlights! What a cutie!



Honored to have a picture taken with the announcer of today's event! I am so impressed with these young ladies learning leadership skills through this pageant.



These young ladies are representing a new pageant system called the International Miss Tourism. Great job girls!


Well I can say I definitely got my girlie fix today! So enjoyed these talented young ladies!



My boys have been such troopers in being bombarded with the pageant world - now it's time to get some back-up with Frosty!



Awww.... the true meaning of Christmas!!! Christ our Lord and Savior was born so we may have everlasting life!!! If there is one legacy that I can leave as Mrs. Washington it is that I hope that somehow, someway I was able to stamp the imprint of the love of Jesus in people's hearts so that they too may have a place reserved for them in Heaven. That is my prayer.



What a way to start the Christmas Season - the Victorian Country Christmas Singing Nativity!


This is the wonderful lady who makes Victorian Country Christmas possible - Shari Furnstahl. She and her husband Dave are the owners of this magnificent event. Thank you Shari for having me be your guest!

Yelm Christmas Parade

Regretfully, I was not able to make it to the Yelm Christmas Parade after all. However, Mrs. Pacific Northwest (Lisa Bluhm) and Mrs. Thurston County (Dionne Tarter) did a great job representing both their titles and the Mrs. Washington Pageant by being apart of such a fun tradition for the City of Yelm. I just love this picture - too cute!

Lakewood City Hall Christmas Tree Lighting Fesitval

Santa and his Harley Sleigh!

Thanks Celina and Genesis for helping out - they are Homecoming King and Queen for their high school.


Sisters Lexi and Arielle - sweet girls - they attended elementary school with my son Kenny.


It was great to see the Doyle family again - little Zoe is such a cutie!


With Lakewood's finest! Thank you Lakewood Police for your service!



We got to be Santa's helpers and pass out cookies! These beautiful gals are cheerleaders at their high school. It is so nice to see our youth active and giving back to their community.


With Amanda Richardson - the mastermind behind it all! Thank you Amanda for doing such a great job coordinating Lakewood's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival!

Ran into my youngest son's teacher and his friend Devin!


Mr. Washington to my right dropping off our boys to see Santa. My husband Jeff and his military buddy Josh are heading up to Whidbey Island for Reserve Duty with the Navy. I have to say - I am proud to be a military wife! God Bless Our Military!


Finally, a visit with Santa! Kenny and Cody had such a great time with Santa!