I'm thankful for....

A little over a month after being crowned Miss Gateway to the West, I have a lot to be thankful for! I have cherished getting to know my wonderful board and am so grateful for their enduring support, friendship, and love. Morgan, Charlee, and Jillian are three of the most inspiring women I have had the pleasure to meet and I am so glad that our year together is just starting! Thank you, Mike, Mary, Gina, Gary, Mallory, Caitlin, Kerri, Paula, Tricia, Jillian, Charlee, and Morgan for providing me such an outstanding opportunity to grow as a person with your input and encouragement!

Fortunately, clinic was canceled for Thanksgiving, so I was able to drive home to Columbia, MO to visit with my family and friends. I have just finished dinner with my parents and am sitting with Brande, our family dog, enjoying a fire in our fireplace.  Coming home to relax like this always reminds me of all of God's blessings in my life, most of all my family.  (Miss you big bro and sis-in-law!). I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family foundation.

Here's hoping that you and your family are filled with good food, great love, and genuine gratitude on this holiday! Happy Thanksgiving!

Chariots of Fire meets Christmas- The Jingle Bell Run 2010

I can remember sitting in our first Gateway meeting, the morning after my sister queens and I were crowned, when the board told us we would be running in a 5K. I think the silence after that announcement was broken only by the sound of our jaws dropping to the floor. While I've always thought of myself as fit and healthy, never, NEVER did I think of myself as a runner (frankly, because I'm not!). After our involvement with the Halloween 5K for Miracles, I was even more intimidated! Thank God our board is equipped with seasoned veterans for marathon running! If it wasn't for the constant encouragement from Kerri, Mike, Caitlin, and Mary (in spirit!), as well as Jillian, I may have chickened out. But now that it has been said, done, and run, I really enjoyed the exercise and experience, and actually, I am signing up for more 5Ks in the future!!

The team in front of Harrah's, ready to get the race started!

The Jingle Bell run is an annual 5K, famous throughout the Midwest for the runners that wear, what else, but jingle bells on their shoes, wrists, and hats. Our team was decked out in Santa hats embroidered with our names/titles on them (Thanks Mom and Dad for such a great early Christmas present!) All proceeds raised from registration went to benefit the Arthritis Foundation, the leading health organization addressing the needs of some 46 million Americans living with arthritis, one of the nation's leading causes of disability. This Foundation uses there financial support to provide public health education, pursue public policy and legislation, and conduct evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis. Every step I ran, I realized more and more what a blessing it was to be running, pain free, unlike so many of the patients that we were helping through our participation. Who knew a 5K could be so humbling!

Caitlin and I after the race... I don't think we look THAT tired, right?!

This event had even more meaning to the McIntosh members of the Gateway board.  Kerri, our avid marathon runner, convinced the family to run the Jingle Bell 5K 7 years ago.  Continuing to register and run every year, it soon became a Gateway tradition as well as a family tradition.  The goal this year: to finish under 33 min. I had made a bet with Kerri that she would reach that goal. If I won, she would get to pick any song for me to try for talent. If I lost, I would get to pick a random song instead (Like we needed this run to be more interesting!).

All 1600 runners! Somewhere in there is our team LOL!

Kerri and I catching a quick picture after crossing the finish line.

After the first 5 minutes of Jillian and I running together, we began calculating how fast we could finish if we walked the rest of the way. We found that setting little goals and encouraging each other to run to the next stop sign before we walk again or run until the next mile then walk for 3 minutes, helped us stay motivated despite our lack of endurance. If I had to put a moral to this experience, it would be to never be intimidated by a large task, but instead, rejoice in the minor accomplishments that help tackle the major goal.

With about a mile left, we caught up to Kerri and put on the afterburners! Of course, the last stretch was uphill! But with Kerri by my side, we crossed the finish line in a full on sprint! Time: 32.20. Mission accomplished (and bet won)! :-)

Thanks to the McIntosh family and the Gateway board for scheduling such a fun and encouraging event! Also, thanks to the Arch 106.5 and Harrah's Casino and Hotel for sponsoring the run!

Victory! Score: the Gateway group-6, 5K-0

Congrats to the new Miss Audrian and Audrian OT!

Brittney Sears, Miss Audrain Outstanding Teen 2011

Jeni Dixon, Miss Audrain 2011

I love going to pageants.  Where else do I get to watch a great show with a lot of talented performers AND see some of my best friends? This weekend, Gary, Morgan, and I traveled to the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Mo to watch the Miss Audrain County pageant and to welcome Jeni Dixon and Brittney Sears into the Miss Missouri class of 2011!

Ready and excited to watch a great pageant!

Waiting for the show to start and FULL from the great BBQ at Porky's!

Catching up with Miss Missouri 2010, Erika Hebron. Don't forget to check out her blog!

Jeni wowed the audience with her fast marimba playing and gorgeous evening gown, while Brittney beautifully belted "Big and Loud" while shining on the stage. Congrats to these outstanding girls, as well as first runner up, Hilary Overfelt, and People's Choice Winner, Ashley Skinner! All 10 girls who competed for Miss Audrain and Miss Audrian Outstanding Teen did a phenomenal job! Thank you to the Miss Audrain board, especially Megan and Bev, for putting on such a wonderful show.  If you would like to read more, check out the Mexico Ledger's article on Jeni's and Brittney's win.

The girls who competed got to walk through an arch of sabers while modeling their evening gown.  How cool is that!?

Abby Grimmet, Miss Audrain 2010. We'll miss you while you're up in Michigan!

While the show was the highlight of the night, I enjoyed spending the day in a town that holds such rich memories for me. Mexico is the gracious host of the Miss Missouri pageant. I had a wonderful time catching up with the volunteers of the Miss Missouri Organization as well as my friends and family there. Gary and I also got to eat at our favorite restaurant in Mexico: Porky's BBQ! Being in Mexico again and watching the Miss Audrain pageant made me truly appreciate the opportunity I have been given to compete for Miss Missouri this June.  I'm geared up and ready for this summer!

Halloween 5K for Miracles

I finally have internet, again!! I have spent the last week moving into my new apartment, and made the mistake of disconnecting my internet service a week early. So sorry that this blog post is well overdue!

...And their off!

The costumes were the cherry to top off the day!

I can't think of a better way to celebrate Halloween than dressing up in flashy costumes and running a 5K to benefit Children's Miracle Network (CMN).  So that's what the Miss Gateway board and girls did! Thanks to sponsors like the Paul Mitchell Salon St Louis, Ghisallo Running, Miss Gateway St. Louis Organization, and Road ID, we were able to share October 31st's crisp morning with 26 runners as well as raise over $1,000 for CMN. While we didn't run, the Gateway girls and I had a great time cheering on the participants and handing out awards.Thanks so much to Phil and Maria from CMN for letting us join such a fun event!

Thank you to our CMN representatives!

Gateway board and Gals!

Cheering on "Thing1 and Thing2"

Children's Miracle Network saves the lives of children by raising funds and awareness for children's hospitals and foundations throughout North America. Almost 5 years ago, the Miss America program and CMN partnered in an effort to support local pediatric centers. All donations to CMN are used to provide charitable care, purchase life-saving equipment, and fund research and education programs for children's hospitals.  Also, all donations from a region or city are given to that area's pediatric hospital, so our 5K run benefited local St. Louis kids! If you would like to find out more information about Miss America and CMN's partnership click here.  If you would like to donate to CMN, please click here!

Awarding our "Medusa" for best time for under 20 years of age!

I have loved being a representative for this organization for the past 4 years.  While I have enjoyed raising money and awareness for CMN, the greatest blessing I have received from my involvement is the friendships and relationships built with the kiddos that CMN helps. As Miss Gateway to the West, I become a princess to these children and get to watch their eyes sparkle as I let them try on my sash and crown. It is truly a humbling and magical experience meeting and playing with these kids. I can't wait to share my CMN stories with you all throughout this year!