2011 Golden Eagle Dinner

On Thursday, January 27 I was honored to be the Special Guest Speaker at the 2011 Golden Eagle Dinner to honor those that have contributed at least $1,000.00 to the Boys Scouts of America Pacific Harbors Council. It was held at the beautiful Tacoma Country Club. I had the honor of sharing our own personal family testimony how Boy/Cub Scouts have truly represented the motto of my platform "Embracing the Special Needs Child". Thank you to everyone for sponsoring such a fantastic cause and making a difference not only the lives of my boys, but in ours as parents as well - Jeff and I have been very blessed to be a part of such a life changing program! God Bless our Boy/Cub Scout Leaders and contributors! Over $187,000.00 was raised at this event!



Cub Scout Pack 148 from University Place provided the Color Guard. Great job boys! You make us proud!


Kyle - an Eagle Scout, is a living testimony of the quality program that Scouts provides young men such as himself. Congratulations Kyle!


Thanks to Mike Kiel for inviting me to be apart of this great event!


My partner in crime here - my handsome husband Jeff. He serves as an Assistant Scout Master with my older son Kenny in Boy Scouts and I serve as the Committee Chairman/Assistant Bear Den Leader with my youngest son in Cub Scouts.


I had the pleasure of dining with Tim Lonergan - former Tacoma City Council Member.

With Gary Gessel, Council President and his lovely wife and Tim Garber, Scout Executive.



What a treat to for me and my husband to have a date night while promoting a noble cause!



Sharing our family's personal testimony on how Boy/Cub Scouts have truly embraced my children with special needs by giving them the life skills, work ethic and follow through needed in order for them to overcome their challenges and become productive citizens of our community.



Multicare Health Foundation Board Members being presented awards for their role in being such vital supporters of Boy/Cub Scouts.


With Bill Weyerhaeuser, Golden Eagle Event Chairman


Pastor Dr. Eugene Wiegman and his sweet wife Kathleen - He opened up tonight's program with the Invocation.

With Peter Porman (Executive District Trainer and coworker/friend of my husband) and Debbie Smith.

With Homer Hodge - District Executive - Glacier View District

Congratulations Kenny!


Last night, Kenny and I kicked off the first South Puget Sound Support Group Meeting at Life Center Church in Tacoma. We were honored to have Todd Henry - the Washington/Oregon Tourette Sydrome Association President in attendance. Todd informed us that Kenny has been selected to represent the Washington/Oregon Chapter to attend the National Tourette Syndrome Youth Ambassador/Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. this March. With this selection he has also received a full ride scholarship to pay for expenses to attend the conference. While at the conference he will go to Capital Hill to meet with our State Senators and Representatives to educated them about Tourette Syndrome. I am so proud of my boy!

2011 Microsoft Asian Spring Festival Celebration

I had the honor to attend the 2011 Microsoft Asian Spring Festival Celebration as Mrs. Washington in support of my nephew Justin who is a student fashion designer attending the Seattle Art Institute. He along with a few other fashion designers were invited to showcase their designs at this very prominent Asian New Year event celebrating the contributions the Asians have made to the Microsoft Company.
Before the show I met such a sweet little girl named Katherine.

Enjoyed talking with Yutong (not sure if I spelled that correctly), a high school student attending the event tonight.


I met so many adorable children during intermission.


Gong was one of the organizers of this event. He obviously did his job well, as it was such a great show!

The fashion show is about to start!


My nephew Justin and fellow fashion designers on stage with their models.

Mathew has always been so supportive of my nephew Justin - always excited and willing to model Justin's designs! He is definitely one of my favorite models!


Backstage after the show with the models.

With Justin and his Men's Fashion Wear models.


Justin and his Couture Gown Models to include myself wearing his gown that I won the Mrs. Washington title in this last June!

Happy 13th Birthday Kenny!

I flew back from Spokane on Saturday morning and was picked up at the airport by Mr. Washington and my own Secret Service - my son Kenny and his three buddies: Viktor, John and Abe. We then went to straight to the Museum of Flight to celebrate Kenny's 13th Birthday!
In front of a Boeing 747 - Kenny's favorite commercial airplane.

Kenny pretending to be the President of the United States waving to the crowd from Air Force One!


I did like Clark Kent and changed into my Super Woman outfit in the bathroom of the Museum of Flight - Mrs. Washington! As you can see, my personal Secret Service Agents are on the job being very serious about their important role in keeping me safe as I prepare to leave for the next appearance!

Eastern Washington University Eagles National Football Championship Celebration!

Wow! It was so much fun to back to my Alma Mater, Eastern Washington University (EWU), as Mrs. Washington to celebrate our National Champions!

Got to love our very fun and energetic EWU Mascot - "SWOOP" the Eagle!


Congratulations to EWU's dedicated and talented Football Head Coach Beau Baldwin!



What a surprise for me! I was able to run into Pastor Bob Elfers and his wife Judy. Bob was my Campus Life Pastor while I attended Eastern in the late 80's/early 90's. Bob and Judy both made such a huge impact on my life by teaching me how to not only live for Christ, but how to share the good news to others! After all these years he is still making an impact at Eastern as the official Chaplain for the EWU Football Team - no wonder they won the National Championship!


My friend Christina and I having a great time celebrating EWU's win!



Definitely could not leave until I bought my very own official EWU Champions shirt!

Surprising Aunt Fern and Uncle Cliff

While in Spokane I surprised my Aunt Fern and Uncled Cliff with a visit from Mrs. Washington.
I brought flowers for my Aunt's Birthday and was able to also see my cousin Barbara. But even more exciting was being able to see the progress my uncle Cliff has made since having a stroke two months ago.
My Uncle Cliff with this therapist working on his speech and fine motor skills. He is an amazing example of how God can bless your life with a new perspective as you rely on Him for strength in getting through hardships

Visiting Calvary Chapel Spokane Valley

Calvary Chapel Spokane Valley Christian School
(Faces of students are edited for privacy purposes)
David Conine to my left is the Pastor of Calvary Chapel Spokane Valley. His lovely wife Colleen asked me to come speak at their school. David and Colleen are dear friends of both my husband and I - we go back more than 20 years from our College and Career Days with Calvary Chapel North Spokane.


Sharing with the students my platform "Embracing the Special Needs Child" and promoting Music Education. I explained to the children that when we struggle with a disability, disorder, hardship or challenge in life - it usually because God has a plan, and it is when we are in total reliance on His strength and not our own that we can be used for His Glory in encouraging others


A Pastor's wife is most certainly deserving of the crown! Of course, our ultimate crown is waiting for us in Heaven!

The Conine Family - Thank you for having me as your guest!

My wonderful friend Christina, who was so gracious to give me a place to stay while in Spokane, along with being my chauffeur and personal assistant!
Tonight I will be kicking off the first South Puget Sound Tourette Syndrome Support Group Meeting to include support for ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism and/or related conditions. The meeting starts at 7 pm and will take place at Life Center Church in Tacoma (room #211). Please click on the attached TS Winter 2011 Newsletter for more information.

Mrs Washington 2011 Pageant Workshop

From left to right: Kristal Grimstead (Mrs. Washington 2003), Anna Hiatt (Mrs. Emerald City), Beth Kovacevich (Mrs. Washington 1996), myself, Dionne Tarter (Mrs. Thurston County), Tamara Deporter (Mrs. Seattle), Derozette Banks (Mrs. King County) and Lisa Bluhm (Mrs. Pacific Northwest). Many thanks to Beth for hosting our first 2011 workshop!
Contestants asking questions and getting feedback in preparations for the Mrs. Washington 2011 Pageant which is only 2 months away!

Contestants answering mock questions practicing for the interview portion of the competition.

Feed the Dream - Martin Luther King Day of Service

On Saturday, Jan. 15 I had the privilege of meeting an incredible group of teenagers representing the Youth Group of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Tacoma. They were volunteering a day of service in honor of Marting Luther King by collecting food and donations outside of Albertsons in Lakewood. Their mission is appropriately called "Feed the Dream"! So proud of our youth today who truly understand that being a leader in the community is about serving others. What a pleasure it was to meet and visit with these kids - I am inspired!

Clover Park School District's Annual PTA Reflections Awards Ceremony

On Wednesday, January 12th I attended the Annual PTA Reflections Awards Ceremony with the Clover Park School District. I was honored to be the emcee and host of this very fun event. Reflections has played a vital part in the development of both of my boys for the past several years. Both Kenny and Cody are very artistic, and to celebrate their talent through the Reflections program each year has truly been such a blessing, especially with the challenges they face academically with their special needs. However, due to our very busy year we did not get a chance to enter, but plan on submitting art work this spring again at the Puyallup Fair.

The Reflections Program is a National PTA and Washington State PTA cultural arts competition. The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works. Each year, Reflections challenges students to create art that supports a specific theme. Themes are selected from thousands of ideas submitted by students to National PTA's Reflections Theme Search. 2010-11 Reflections theme is: "Together We Can". Young artists get involved in Reflections through their local PTA or PTSA. A student may submit an entry in any of six arts areas. Only original works of art are accepted. The six art areas are: Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts, Film/Video and Choreography/Dance.

Thanks to Elysia Mbuja and Barbara Green for doing such a fabulous job organizing the Clover Park School Districts PTA Reflections Ceremony. These women are just amazing PTA Mommies!


With Clover Park School Board Member Paul Wagemann

With my friend Cheryl who is also a dedicated PTA Mom and supporter of Reflections.


With Debbie Lebeau - Superintendent for Clover Park School District


Speaking to the audience about the important role that art and music education play in the development of our children. I personally shared my own family's story of the vital role that music and art plays in my own children's lives. As Mrs. Washington, I am proud to be a spokesperson for MENC (National Association for Music Education) and teaching others how they too can be advocates for their children.

Presenting Reflection Awards

Sarah - Photography. She had so much fun capturing nature with her camera!


Hannah and Grace - Visual Arts. They are both very creative and artistic as you can see!

Andrew - Photography. He is very techno-savvy here in combining his computer skills with photography.

Jaren - Visual Arts. I just can't believe this boy is only in 4th grade - beautiful piece!

Sadie - Visual Arts. I love how she incorporated faces into the American Flag implying that together we can make a difference instead of doing it alone.