Finally Updating...

Ok, I am really trying to catch up, so thanks for the patience...I had the extreme pleasure of competing at Mrs. Illinois America this year in July and once again had the best time. Ladies, if you've ever wanted a great weekend of dressing up and getting to know new friends from all over your state, this is an opportunity of a lifetime! So I am posting a couple shots from the photographer, and a shot of Mr. Aceto (one of the directors) setting up. Just a little information on that: Mr. Aceto designed and made that stage himself over 25 years ago and they have used it every year since, minus one due to venue issues. It's a part of the Mrs. Illinois Tradition. You'll see a group shot at lunch the first day (some people missing since they were getting ready for interviews), the whole group at the pageant ball held after preliminary competition, a picture of Eric and I...which, please don't laugh since his eyes are closed, but I have to include it because my hubby is HOT in a tux! Then top 5 (I placed 2nd runner up this year), and then Mr. Aceto hard at work.

And now a word of thanks...

First, to God from Whom "every good and perfect gift" is from (James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.) Thank you Lord for allowing me the gift to be there, the blessing of time with these women, and the chance to share You through all things from encouraging words to spraying fannies...yes folks, God works ALL things together for good!

To Eric, for being my love, my best friend, for allowing me and affording me the chance to be a part of something great like this. For encouraging me to do my best and have fun in pageantry, making me feel like I am the most beautiful woman in the world, and giving me the best and most important title I will ever have...Mrs. Meidel...thank you, thank you. There really are not enough words to express my deep gratitude for you, Sweetheart. I don't deserve you.

To my parents for taking the massive trek up again to be there for me. Mom, thank you for the awesome work you did on the costume...just like always, you rock the sewing machine like nobody I know! Thanks Dad, for the "fabric runs" you made while we worked on the costume. You're so patient! Thank you both for taking me to the auditorium finals night...just like "old times", I remember being at Hemmens 14 years ago. Of course, then it was pantyhose runs for Dad, and costume making again for Mom...I feel a tear coming on...thank you for saying you're proud of me.

To Megan, for being my angel from heaven, for being my number one cheering section, whom has always believed in me, and has always had nothing but positive things to say regardless of the outcome. Her friendship stems far beyond pageantry, but she has always been the first to jump in and say "Go for it!" She is one of those people that makes you feel gorgeous while at your very worst (and Lord knows she has seen it). Thank you with all my heart for making me feel so special, and being the awesome friend you are.

To Julie, my "chosen sister". She is the epitome of a queen...she has grace, style, class, and a genuine warmth that invites you in...I said that three years ago in a news article writtten about her win as Mrs. Illinois America, and I believe and fully stand by that statement to this day. She is proof that "little girl's dreams" still come true even when we're only a little girl at heart anymore. Thank you for kicking my fanny when I needed it, for listening and talking for hours on end, for doing the endless things you did up to and during pageant weekend to make me feel like a queen, and for being the reason why I have returned to Mrs. Illinois America time and again. And really, just thank you for you. The enduring, sweet friendship I have in you is more precious to me than I could ever fit into words. I am forever grateful to have met you through pageantry and to be your "VQ".

To Dee, whom has stood the test of time physically, emotionally and spiritually. She still looks like the regal Mrs. Illinois she was (if not better) after...hhhmmm...how many years? ;) Thank you for all you do for the pageant, for all the ladies involved, and the gift of you. Your friendship is priceless, and you still exude that queenly quality that still makes one think there's a crown on your head. It's the crown in your heart that shines so bright.

Rena, my forever sister queen, my Miss USA, my constant pageant support whom is beyond beautiful both inside and out. Thank you for the flowers and encouragement, and thank you for your continued encouragement to "Go! Wear the crown, Be the crown, You ARE the crown!"(HAHAHA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mj4MWZIY5Q&feature=related (please ignore Mr. Shatner's 4-letter oopsie)

Holly, for your help and our work together, the phone calls and balloons, your "Sparkle", and your 100 ways to be better...I think you have 1,000! ;)

There's many more...my sisters, ladies in small group, my friends who span the US (Jeana and Lori...love you!)...all the prayers and loving words and thoughts, but then I think no one would read this anymore because it would go on forever.

Really, thank you for everything to everyone. You have all been Best friends, Reality checks, and Angels on earth to me...essentially, thank you for being my BRA....my support. I love you all! Cross my heart!!! HA(Sorry, I couldn't help that).

PS - Lisa, the Queen, leaves for Mrs. America in a few days. Please keep her in prayer as she prepares...that she may have a safe, enjoyable, memorable time. Pray for her family as well as they will be without Mommy and Wife for a week. Blessings!

Love you, Grandpa...We'll See you Soon.

July 23, 1924 - August 3, 2008

John 14:2-4

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

A little out of order, but too important...

I have so many other things to blog right now, but it's been a little hectic around here...but of course, most everyone knows how that is to some extent so I am sure the forgiveness is there for it.


This blog entry is dedicated to Grandpa Elmer. This past weekend family went to go see him as his cancer that he's dealt with for almost 10 years seems to have finally gotten the best of him. Soon, he will be with the Lord. I say that with all praise and gratefulness in my heart that I can muster and then some. It is never easy to lose a loved one, especially when you see them in the throngs of their demise. It spurs us to pray for them, for mercy, peace, and goodness, but most of all for the assurance that they will be going home to the Lord in Heaven, and that we will spend eternity with them. It is with great pleasure that I say, yes, I will be seeing my grandfather again, and that we all will be one with Christ some day. I thank the Lord for loving all of us so much, and to be so loving and awesome as to bring Grandpa to Him. His salvation has been a prayer on the hearts of all my family members for years, and to know that prayer is answered is truly beyond any words I could form.


With that, I ask anyone who would read this...if you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity? Do you know if you would be with The Lord God Almighty, or would you be separated from Him forever...in hell? That's harsh...but reality. And my love for the lives of others far outweighs the fear I have of offending any who would read this. God says in the bible...

Romans 3:23
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"


We can not get to heaven on our own merit...we fall short because of our sin, and so nothing we do on this earth will ever be good enough to get us there. God, however, in His infinite mercy and love gives us a way to Him, and eternal life with Him...

Romans 3:22-26
"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.


Dear friends, there is hope...despite ourselves, Christ came to earth to die for our sins, in our place, and rose again, defeating death itself for our sake. We can come to Him at any place in our life, at any time, regardless of what our life is like...so long as it is not after death. Then, it really is too late. (I stress this also in love, we are never guaranteed tomorrow. Right now is all we have.)

James 4:14
"Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."


My Grandpa said that he wanted us to come together as a celebration of life before he is gone. The best way I can think to celebrate life, is to plan for the life eternal, and make sure we can all do what we can to lead others to Christ to secure their place with Him. I don't deserve His love, His forgiveness, His mercy, or a life in heaven with Him. I am a depraved sinner. I am however, a saved sinner, who asked Jesus to forgive me for my sins(which, by the way, I still have to ask for forgiveness of sin when it happens, because I am still human on this earth), thanking Him for dying for me and rising again, acknowledging that there is NOTHING in me good enough to obtain heaven or presence with Him, that it is Christ and only Christ and what He did on the cross that saves me, and whom I have asked into my heart as my Savior and Lord. I want nothing more than to please the Father who Gives Greatly, and Greatly Forgives.



I pray as you read this, that you know how much you are loved...not by me so much as a Great God Whom sacrificed EVERYTHING for you and me. I leave you with pictures of my grandparents together for probably the last time, our family, and most important, these two final verses:


John 15:13 (New International Version)
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 3:16 (New International Version)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."


May today be the day you ask Christ into your heart. If you already have, may you be renewed in Him, and please, please share Him with everyone you know. He loved us enough...we should love others just as He has loved.

Such the little helper...helping others...secretly...

Elena has started a new phase of wanting to be "Mommy's Helper" lately, which has been very sweet. I turned to change the laundry out, and there was "Miss Thang" going to town with the swiffer in the living room. Cute as that is, it's also kind of a neat reminder of how we should all help one another. She is watching what mommy or daddy does, and copies it without care or thought of a reward. "Mommy, I sweep fo' yeewww," or "Waundwy, Mommy? I do machine! I pix it fo'yeewww!" (Sweeping the floor or doing the laundry by putting it in the machine and fixing it). Granted, she is announcing it, but as a three year old announces everything...like what happens in the bathroom with you that you didn't necessarily want shared with the world...So I am passing on today what I am being shown through a three year old example from God, and some great scripture to think on. May you all have a blessed day!



Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV)

Hebrews 13:16 "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (NIV)

1 Peter 4:10 "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (NIV)

Matthew 6:1-4 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (NIV)

What are we doing now?

Fourth of July Weekend has been filled with some entertainment around here! We went to some fireworks on Thursday and Friday to celebrate, Elena caught a nasty cold and we've been up with that the last few nights, and Eric began the next portion of work on the house by tackling the back-splash in the kitchen. Do we need any more going on? SURE!!! Let's throw Oscar into the mix and we have a full house of chaos (is that spelled right?!?! Not enough coffee today...ugh!) and nuttiness! The good thing is that all are for good causes...helping another family out, healing ourselves staying in and taking care of each other, and getting an even more beautiful kitchen...thank you, honey. You really are the best! That DIY TV watching is doing wonders for our home :) Here's a before-we-begin-the-next-stage shot, shot with the added handles on the cabinets, and a "during shot" so you can see where we are. I would put the finished product on, but Eric is literally working on it all right now (insert sawing, screeching, grunting noises and "glue-fumes" here)...hehe...oh, and of course, Oscar, who has taken Elena's seat...literally!

No Shame...

Being that it was hot this weekend...FINALLY...not that it is now, mind you, but anyway we picked up a pool for our backyard for Miss Elena to cool off in. We blew it up while she napped (another rare thing) and then explained to her when she woke up we could try it, but the water might be too cold. Miss thing took a flying leap down the back porch steps, threw off her clothes and went bounding in without hesitation. 2 seconds later she was out of course..."Mommy! COOOOOOOOLLLDDDD!"...then proceeded to play with her lion bubble-maker.

Thank You, Lord

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."