Sending Love From Home

Jan 22,2011 Time to organize the supplies and pack some boxes for the troops! Joe, Reagan and I joined Iowa Troop Pantry and some new friends packing boxes. We were able to pack 27 this time! It is fun to do but never easy....once you see the boxes lined up, you realize..we have so many soldiers far from home. One of our friends and his fellow soldiers are in a remote part of Afghanistan in the mountains..... they were able to communicate and ask for us to send supplies..... one man has lost 30 pounds!! All the have a MREs (meals ready to eat)...which would be the equivalent of an adult working a very physical job and only having a Lunchable to eat. I don't know many that could handle that..... this is why, I do what I do!! To support our soldiers who sacrifice everything for us. I know I will never look at a can of ravioli again without thinking of them. The soldiers ask for it all the time....every box has at least 2 cans. They put the cans in the sun to warm, open and have a hot meal. They also go without simple things like soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, and deodorant. I am so thankful we have such amazing community members that also volunteer to take care of these soldiers. Many thanks to Whitney, Deb, Lisa and Lindsey!

Finally A Teen!! OH NO!

January 9, 2011 Today my "baby girl" became a teenager!! I was soooo excited the day she was born..... I really wanted a girl to go with my 2 boys....and God gave me the most beautiful girl he had!! She is an angel....Emily is a beautiful and smart young lady! She loves sports and the girly stuff!! ( and she LOVES pageants). We have so much fun together.....I can't believe she is 13!! I wish she could stay this age forever....of course I say that every year! At our house, I started the tradition many years ago of making a HUGE deal out of birthdays....with 4 kids, its challenging to always make sure each feels special. When the birthday person wakes up they find the house and their room has been decorated, they have a balloon bouquet tied to their chair at the table and they start the day with whatever sugary junk cereal they want!! (I don't normally buy those!) And we party on from there..... This is one of my favorite family traditions and the kids...no matter how big they get... still love it....even though they are "too cool" to say so!

Miss America Judging!!

January 8,2011 Today I was a judge for the local pageants that lead to Miss Iowa America! This was my first time judging a pageant, boy was it an eye opener!! I really learned what it means when people say, just compete with yourself!! We had an amazing group of beautiful and talented ladies, they made our decision very difficult! We crowned to new titleholders- Miss Muscatine County~Jessica and Miss Pearl City~Elizabeth. Both will compete in June for the title of Miss Iowa and that winner will move on to the Miss America Pageant in 2012
I had an awesome time, I became a "certified Miss America judge" and I can't wait to do this again!! Today also made me VERY VERY excited for my own National pageant in July!!

Patriots Light the Night

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Patriots Light the Night

December 19,2010 a candlelight vigil was held at the Iowa City National Guard. This was an event to honor and remember our deployed soldiers and their families as the Christmas season was upon us. I was asked to be the keynote speaker and to reach out to the families with words of hope. I was certainly honored and humbled! Writing my speech was a piece of cake, however giving the speech was way more difficult than I imagined! As I stood before this group of family members,all holding candles in honor of their soldiers, I could see in their eyes, they were sad, scared, lonely and worried. They were looking to me to help make it better! WOW!! It took every ounce of my strength to not fall apart right there! I have been the soldier deployed and the family waiting at home....I know everything they are going through. So please excuse the random tears during my speech....but when all you are saying comes from the very bottom of your heart.....its difficult to not become emotional. Every soldier deployed and every one of their family members and friends are my brothers and sisters...... I too worry......but my faith tells me, they will all be OK!! Until then...."we wait together for the big bus to roll into town!!!"

At Wreaths Across America, our community honored two families that have lost their sons recently serving our county. They were incredible young men and will be dearly missed. We also had our Congressman Dave Lobesack speak as well as Retired Maj. General Sentman, who both work hard to support the soldiers, veterans and their families of our community. It was an honor and a pleasure to be asked to speak at an event with such honorable men.

Wreaths Across America 2010

December 10,2010 I was honored to be a guest speaker at the Wreaths Across America event in Iowa City, Iowa. It was a very cold cold rainy day but that did not stop the many volunteers and Boy Scouts from making sure every Veterans grave received a wreath.
Wreaths Across America™, was formed as an extension of the Arlington Wreath Project. The Arlington Wreath program was started by Morrill Worcester (Worcester Wreath) in 1992 with the donation and laying of 5000 Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. This became an annual journey for Mr. Worcester.

It was relatively obscure until 2005 when a photo of the stones adorned with wreaths and covered in snow circulated around the internet. The project received National attention. Thousands of requests poured in from all over the country from people wanting to emulate the Arlington project at their National and State cemeteries spurred the creation of “Wreaths Across America™”. Unable to donate thousands of wreaths to each state, Mr. Worcester conceived the idea of sending 7 wreaths (one for each branch of the military as well as POW/MIA). In 2006 with the help of the CAP and other civic organizations, over 150 locations held wreath laying ceremonies simultaneously.

The Patriot Guard Riders volunteered as escort for the wreaths going to Arlington. This began the annual “Veterans Honor Parade” that travels the east coast in early December.

By 2007 the requests for more wreaths grew. The Worcester family established the non-profit group Wreaths Across America™ to further promote Veterans remembrance. The mission Remember, Honor and Teach characterized the projects goals perfectly.


By 2008 over 300 locations held wreath laying ceremonies in every state, Puerto Rico and 24 over seas cemeteries. Over 100,000 wreaths were placed on veterans graves. Over 60,000 volunteers participated.

WAA reached out to thousands of children with the message of Remember, Honor and Teach. The importance of honoring each fallen serviceman as an individual is stressed.

The wreath laying is now held annually on the second Saturday of December. December 13, 2008 was unanimously voted by the US Congress as “Wreaths Across America™ Day”. Wreaths Across America™ would not be successful without the help of the volunteers, many active organizations and the generosity of the trucking industry.

I wish to give special thanks to Mike, LeAnn and Maria Tyson who work year round to promote Wreaths and have spent countless hours searching the cemetary for the graves of our Veterans. They have even gone as far as doing pencil rubbings on paper to see the names on the older stones!!

I am proud to say I have a new tradition to add to my life..... making sure the 2nd Saturday of December is spent with Wreaths Across America. My goal is to someday make it to Arlington National Cemetary to lay wreaths.

If you would like more information on Wreaths Across America or would like to start the tradition in your community, please contact me or visit http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/