Hippity Hoppity...

...Easter's on its way! Can you believe its nearly April? I have to be honest. Spring usually isn't my favorite season (fall steals my heart), but this weather has been fab! I have loved being able to go for a jog outside and not freeze or sweat like a oinkster.

Southern Easters are the best. How can you not get excited thinking about seersucker, warm weather, pastel colors, family meals, and Easter morning service? I have so many memories of Mom making sure we always allowed enough time on Easter Sunday morning before church for lots and lots of photos of us in our Easter outfits. (And of course, opening Easter baskets that morning from Peter Cottontail!)

Easter just wasn't complete without a new Strausburg lace dress or hand-smocked bishop dress. Nanny usually hand-made mine, bless her soul. It was always so special. I can't wait to dress my kiddos up in their Easter duds in the future. They have some great looking little jon-jons for little boys now, too (that aren't too girly)! Call me a sucker for seasonal stuff! I can't go to Walmart or Target around any holiday without getting at least a couple little holiday-themed lovies.

Easter wouldn't be complete without getting sucked into the aisles and aisles of pastel-colored candy eggs, chocolate bunnies, or jellybeans. I'm not much of a candy person, but if I were going to choose one type of Easter candy it would be those adorable little Sweetarts chicks, ducks, & bunnies. They are just too much! So cute.

I curse Kendra Foutch (love you) for ever introducing them to me. :)

Now, this is not to say that this special, springy time of year is all about sweet light colors, confectionary eggs, and a big bunny who hides eggs. The real reason Easter is so special is because of our Lord, Jesus Christ & his Resurrection! That church service on Easter morning is always one that I look forward to each year. Plus, our preacher looks so cute in orchid :)

Jesus said to her, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" Romans 10:8-9

xoxo-C

The Luck of the Pageant Girl

Seems like a fitting title for my weekend, right? It has been an exceptional past 3 days, traveling 530.23 miles from McMinnville to Union City to Jackson back to McMinnville. Friday, a trip was made up to Joann's Of Union City for an always-exciting visit with Paige Carlton and Jared Hamlin. They are such incredible people and gracious sponsors of the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant. After finishing up in Union City, we checked into our hotel, went out for a yummy dinner, and visited with my sister queens, Camille Gear (Country Sunshine's Outstanding Teen) and Kristen Perry (Country Sunshine's Teen Princess). More on their pageants later! :)

Alarm was set early Saturday morning to get up and ready for the annual Miss Tennessee Workshop at Carl Perkins Civic Center (pictured below), where the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageants will be held this summer. The purpose of the workshop is to allow all of the contestants to meet one another, be informed on all of our upcoming pageant plans for June, receive our contestant numbers and groups, find out roommates, and basically get geared up for our big week of June 17-23! Since I am a first time contestant, I didn't really know what to expect, but I can definitely say that I was so pleased with the way Ms. Jane, Mr. Chris, and Mr. Tim, along with the whole pageant board, conducted the workshop. All questions were answered in a very clear manner, and from 9 AM-3 PM we were absorbing all of the information that I know we had all been wondering about since receiving local crowns.

By the way, I must brag on our own Miss Country Sunshine Organization. We received the Community Support Award, along with the MTSU/MTBR Organization!

Towards the end of the workshop, we had the Contestant Lottery. Each contestant's name is drawn from a bowl, and, one by one, each girl is allowed to choose a number in the line-up. The numbers are distributed until each girl has a spot, ranging from #1-#36. I had my sights set on Group C (numbers 25-36), which competes in Swimsuit Wednedsay night, Evening Gown Thursday night, & Talent Friday night. Well, St. Patty's Day luck must have been in my favor because my name was drawn about midway through and I chose to be #25.

After numbers were assigned, Allison Alderson DeMarcus announced the roommate list. I learned I will be rooming with Miss Bristol Amy Flynn. Ironic, because we were actually sitting two people away from each other in meetings, anyway! It's always exciting to find out who you will be sharing a room with during a high-energy, yet exhausting glamour week! Now to decide who will bring what... :)

Once the contestant workshop was over, first-time state contestants and parents were encouraged to attend a Judges Seminar Workshop. Mr. Chris Chambers did a fantastic job presenting all of the ins and outs of how a MAO pageant is to be judged. It really puts things in perspective!

Mom and I had about an hour and a half to recharge our batteries a little before the Tennessee Outstanding Teen & Tennessee Teen Princess pageants that night at 6 PM. As I said earlier, my two "sisters" Camille (OT) and Kristen (TP) competed in each pageant, respectively, and truly represented the Country Sunshine Organization with talent and grace. They both rocked it on stage, and Camille even brought home 3rd Runner-up! So proud of she and Kristen! Also, I must give a congratulations to the new TN Outstanding Teen Haley Butler and TN Teen Princess Hope Parker! All of these girls are an asset to the Miss Tennessee Organization.

The Teen & Princess pageants also gave us, as Miss TN contestants, an opportunity introduce ourselves on-stage and also give the audience a "preview" of who is competing in June.

The pageant concluded, and back to the hotel I went. The bed was surely calling my name!

Sunday (today), we made the haul back to McMinnville and are now back home safe and sound. (Props to daddy for being such a good sport this weekend, driving us women around!)

The next 3 months will surely fly by and I am so excited to do my best at the Miss Tennessee Pageant. I hope to bring McMinnville a sense of pride and accomplishment home. I am so thankful for all the supporters, family, and friends I have in my life. I would not be where I am today without them, and, of course, God. I will be relying on my favorite scripture for the months to come.... "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

xoxo-C

Return of Weekly Gratitude & the Best Holiday Ever

I need to apologize. Forgive me for having taken a prolonged hiatus from my "Weekly Gratitude" feature. That was (and still is) one thing that produces that "warm, fuzzy" feeling inside after I complete a post. So without further adieu...

This week I am thankful for:

1. Seeing Amy after she got home from her doctor in Nashville last night. Praise God for a good report and keep praying for her healing!

2. Plans to see my girls on Friday night. Miss their sweet cheeks so much.

3. Completing my Miss Tennessee paperwork! Getting it in the mail tomorrow! Can I get a whoop whoop?

4. Finishing the last few seconds of my Miss Tennessee dance routine. Thank the Lord for Krista Kent! Now...to polish it!

5. My precious momma for going shopping with me yesterday.

6. Jason's Deli. 'Nough said.

7. Ty for sending me an emoticon bird flapping its wings in a text message this morning.

Now! Much better. I'd like to keep this a weekly routine....but don't hold it against me if I skip a few! Girl's got a lot on her mind, ya'll!

And this post wouldn't be complete without acknowledging that today is... are you ready for this?!??! Today is...NATIONAL CEREAL DAY. That pretty much translates to National Caroline's Favorite Food on Earth Day. (Cheerios, yes please.) I would say I was going to celebrate, but, um...it's kinda not celebrating if you celebrate everyday regardless. :) Guilty!

xoxo- C