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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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