Breakdown and Breakthrough

I have had a busy couple of weeks! Last weekend I was lucky enough to have my mom stay over in Rochester with me because AJ was out of town; we went shopping, ate some good food and spent some much needed time together. Sunday I headed back to B-town for my very good friends Colleen and Randy’s baby shower! They have having a little boy and I was so happy to share in the celebration of the newest addition to their family. I then spent Monday packing up a bag for the rest of the week.

Every Easter holiday for the past seven years I have spent this very important season at Young Christians at Work. This is a program run by the Diocese of Buffalo’s Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, participate come to celebrate Holy Week in an unique fashion, by taking part in direct service and also by learning about the catholic social justice teachings and how they apply to our real world. This program had a profound effect on me in high school, helping me to choice a much different path for my life then I first had plan. It truly have a great impact on my life and every year as I come back I still learn something new and get new prospective and guidance for my life.

Also now as a group leader I hope I service to help give guidance to those going through the program now and a support. This year I was very blessed to have an amazing group of students and a co-group leader!!!! Kevin and I made a great team and having a co-leader really help at the work sites also. For work sites these year, I can say that God truly touch me at them. The first day we worked at Loaves and Fishes which is a soup kitchen. I went there my first year as a student and haven’t been back to the site since. The first time I was there I have a deeply moving experience where there was a woman at the site who looked a lot like my mom. As odd as it sounds it made me feel blessed that we never had that experience, it also help me see that maybe God took my mom when he did because she was in so much pain. This year I was able to be a support of my group who helped serve those that came into the soup kitchen.

The next work site was People Inc. I have not been to this site before but I spent the morning working with Lee a woman with disabilities that loved to do art. Together we decorated her Easter basket and made a picture of a cat , finally I color a picture I left for her to keep. We also interacted with the people who work there who truly create a sense of community at day facility.

On the last day we went to Villa Maria which I had gone to 4 years prior. We were able to talk the sisters there about their lives and they offered so much amazing advice. We also helped clean the church, scrubbing chairs. I was also able to meet Sister Peter again, four years ago I had a chance to talk to her about her life and it ended up she had taught school at the local catholic high school in my hometown. We contact, and it’s hard to explain how deeply she touched me. The next year I was able to visit with her again. However the last two years I have been unable to make it to that site. I walked into her room and her whole face lit up and she said how happy she was to see me again. She asked about the kids I had this year and also about school. We talk about how she has been and about her latest surgery. She told me to always keep my heart open to the young people I was working with, because the love I have for them will so through and never lost that. I was pulled away to help give some of the students a new task, however Kevin and Phil were also able to go in and chat with her. Funny enough she told Kevin to follow my lead that I was a good person to follow. It brought a smile to my face and also a shared laugh between me and Kevin, all the work sites were amazing but there is something so powerful about the sisters it’s hard to explain fully.

The learning sessions as always were eye opening and enlightening; I always come away learning something new even after taking part in the program 7 years. While by the end of the week I am tired and ready to kiss my bed at home after sleeping on an air mat from Tuesday night to Saturday morning, I couldn’t think of anything better.

Birthday

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” - Abraham Lincoln quotes

As many of you know I celebrated my 24^th birthday this past weekend. Honestly going into the weekend I wasn’t totally sure how I felt about getting a year old, and I am still not totally sure. 24 is an age that is not here nor there. It doesn’t make any large mile stone or life changing point. It did however make the official end to my Miss America career. I try very hard not to think about and enjoy where I am now.

I think it is very easy to look at everything that is wrong and horrible and it takes a lot more energy to try and be positive. Being in a in between age makes it a lot harder for me to look at a lot of the great thing. I feel like mile stone ages are easier to have great things to talk about.

Lately I have been all about Bethany Ever After on Bravo. She uses to be one of the New York housewives and ended up getting her own show. She just turned 40 of the show and she was having a very hard time with that age. However all her friends were excited about it because she has done so much in her life, especially during the last five years.

For me I have been having a hard time looking at everything I have done since high school, youth 20s are such a work in progress time. I am in the middle of my grad school program and have a ton of projects going on. I am doing an AmeriCorps Placement, working at Shelley’s office, building my personal business, helping to plan events for the YWCA. There is a ton of stuff I need to try to fit in and start doing, including ballroom dancing, Zambia and starting to work out more again.

I know I have fit a lot of life in the small amount of years but I am still worried that I am not doing enough. Luckily I have plenty more years to fill up.

Pink Inspiration

This past weekend Buffalo was turned pink, it hosted the annual Mary Kay Career Conference. This event is called the “24 hour of power event” and it lives up to this nickname. The event was jammed back with everything you could as for and truly was inspirational and educational. The best thing about Mary Kay is it is truly about way more than lipstick. It lives up to its mission statement of enriching the lives of women.

There were so many amazing things I learn from the event. It would take me forever to share everything however here are a couple of them:

-Multitasking is bad for your brain; it’s have been proven in studies that your brain power can go down by 10 IQ points when trying to multitask. What you should do is something called power sessions; try to do 3 a day where you are completely focused on one task at a time.

-Dreams – God puts them in your heart and in your mind, and also puts people in your path to help. Maybe they are just to help focus you or to remind you others to support you along the way.

-No matter what you are doing, do it with your full integrity and focus.

-Winners= Listening, learning, helping and leading

-No victory without a battle

-“You will remain the same, till the pain for remaining the same is too much”-Barb Stimach

-Be careful who you listening to, do listen to anyone you wouldn’t trade places with. (Garbage in to your brain and garbage will come out).

Spring Break…What Break?

So last week was a very busy time for me, while I didn’t have school I found many ways to fill up that time. For starters I took part in the Advancing Youth Development training. Advancing Youth Development (AYD) Partnership offers professional development for youth workers in New York State. Using a train-the-trainer model, teams of trainers from a variety of youth serving organizations are recruited, trained and then supported in the provision of AYD trainings in their Home Counties or regions. They are also offer new, one-day, skill building workshops that address one of the ten core competency areas – skills, knowledge and attributes needed to do effective youth work – outlined by the National Collaboration for Youth.

This was the type of training I attended; the topic was Creating Inclusive Environments for LGBTQ Youth. While at my AmeriCorps placement this isn’t something I work directly with, it was a timely topic and something that I can come in contact more as I finish my Master and start looking for a full time job.

More than just the material what I took away from the training is the importance to make a welcoming environment, not only for youth but also for co workers. We were talking about sensitive topic and a topic with various levels of education. The presenters did a great job at making the training open to questions and offer advice. They came up with problems and situations and helped us work through them.

I also help do a presentation at Youth Bureau’s Annual 7^th and 8^th Grade Leadership Conference. Students heard from a speaker about the effects bullying has on brain development. While there was a wide range of topics and subject the workshop I helped in dealt with Asset Development and how to use that approach to be a better friend and how to be a positive support and influence on their peers. In the afternoon the students help in the creation of a service project that we are working on for the RSVP luncheon.

I also had a meeting for Young Christians at Work last week. A large number of the team met to start going over the details of the week. I am so excited about the program this year and also for the students to go through program. I learn something new every year and can only imagine and pray for how much the students will grow from the program.

I also attended an early morning meeting for Fabulous Females Luncheon, mark your calendars!!! The YWCA annual Fabulous Females Luncheon will take place May 7^th at Genesee Community College. It’s an event were we not only recognize outstanding women in our community but celebrate all women and how fabulous we are all are.

I also had A.J. Birthday last weekend!!! We celebrated by going out on Friday and having a party with his friends on Saturday. Sunday I attend the annual St. Joe’s Table at my church and had dinner with AJ family to celebrate his birthday.

I am also in the process of preparing to leave of a conference in Ithaca this week and getting excited for my Leadership Genesee Class meeting on Wednesday! Finally I am looking forward to Voices of Experience event tomorrow night at GCC. Other things that are coming up to look forward to: Zonta’s annual Lucky Numbers Lunch April 9^th (my birthday) at the Batavia Downs! Tickets for that event are going fast, let me know if you are would like tickets.

Now if I can only have a break from my vacation.

Voices of Experience

Voices of Experience 2011

Batavia, New York, March 16, 2011 — The YWCA and Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley Present Voices of Experience 2011. This event will take place on March 22 at Genesee Community College in the Conable Technology Building, Room T-102. Doors for the event will open at 6:30 pm; the program will begin at 7:00 PM with a social hour beginning in 8:00 PM. There is no registration fee to attend this event.

Young women ages 13-18 are invited to hear from a panel of community members from varying educational and professional backgrounds share their life and educational experiences. This year’s panel includes:

Sandra Gillard—Retired Librarian, Richmond Memorial Library

Roula Alkhouri—Pastor, First Presbyterian Church

Lisa Barrett—Prevention Educator, GCASA

Loren Penman—Retired Educator, Byron-Bergen Central Schools

Angela Barbeau—Youth Program Coordinator, Genesee Co. Youth Bureau

Join us for discussion, refreshments, and prizes! Please RSVP your attendance to Angela or Vicky at the Genesee County Youth Bureau, 344-3960.

Don’t Cry Because It’s Over, Smile Because It Happened

Looking back on my four year journey in the Miss American Organization, this quote couldn’t seem more fitting. It has been an amazing, joyous journey with so many memories and true growth. I couldn’t have imagined, prior to beginning it, how I could have become the woman I am today without my involvement with this organization.

When I started to compete, I never thought I would gain so much. I started only to be able to perform on stage again after completing high school and not being in dance recitals and musicals anymore. Like so many things, the reasons I stuck around were very different then the reason I started. I continued to be involved because of so many different things and do not regret a minute of it.

So I am asking you all to indulge me for a moment. As I never had a farewell speech for giving up a title, this is my chance to thank all those who have helped me all these years.

First and foremost, I have to thank my Mom. While you were never there physically to see me compete, I knew you were always watching. You are my guiding force and everything I do is in honor and tribute to you. To my Daddy, who hates the spotlight more than anyone I know. Thank you for always reminding me that no matter what, I was your princess. No matter the outcome to any pageant, I knew you wouldn’t care either way and always be happy that “Lacey” came home again. Thank you for always letting me be the little one and always supporting me no matter what.

My little foot, aka Roz, how could I ever thank you for everything you do for me. You are always my loudest cheerleader and the person I can rely on. Your strength is beyond inspiring; thank you for everything you do for me. I know that no matter what my next journey in life is, I can count you being in my corner.

To my pageant sisters, god truly couldn’t have blessed me with better people with whom to go through this journey. I have learned so much from each and every one of you, and am honored to count you as my friends. It would take me over the limit of a blog entry to thank you all individually, but I hope you know how truly special and amazing each of you are. However I cannot go without saying a couple of words to Amy and Corri. Thank you seems to not fully say how much I appreciate you both. Thank you for believing in me even at times I questioned myself, your support as been so amazing and important. Also to my adopted sisters Kieran, Stacey, and Chelsea, I am so proud of you this year and look forward to being your cheerleader.

This amazing organization would not be possible without the volunteers that make each pageant work. It is because of them that we all get the chance to dream and compete. Calista, your advice and opinions have meant the world to me. Your dedication and passion for the organization can always be seen. Miss Greater Rochester was my first ever Miss America local, and I couldn’t imagine a better way to end this journey that back with your pageant once again.

Sue, Gary, and Shelby, meeting you at breakfast after Miss Finger Lakes that year was truly amazing and I am so grateful for the day I met you all. I can’t imagine or look forward to a better part of my summer then going up to Clayton for Thousand Islands. While I was never from there, you always made me feel like I was coming home. You truly put your hearts into this organization and I can’t thank you enough for all the love you have shown me. I also have you to thank for bringing Barb Yerdon into my life!!! I couldn’t imagine my life without you all in it.

Chris, Pilar and Jane, I can still remember when I decided very last minute to compete in Finger Lakes! My trip to Corning is yet another yearly highlight that I enjoy so much. You all put your hearts into your pageant, and I am so grateful to be part of the Finger Lakes family. I also must thank Karen Watson: from sewing me into an interview dress, to helping me with my crazy idea to put a slit in my dress, thank you for all your support and love.

To my Mary Kay family: Shelley, Jaclyn and the rest of not only our amazing Pink Sirens but extended Mary Kay family: thank you for all your love and support. I know that I am always in your prayers, but I know you always say some extra ones during pageant season. No matter what the outcome, you always make me feel like a queen and an important part of this amazing company. I truly see the heart and support of Mary Kay in each and every one of you.

To my Diocese of Buffalo family and my Young Christians at Work: Thank you for helping me find my passion for service and giving me the chance to share it with others. My involvement with the program and the youth and young adult ministry has truly shaped my life and made me feel that even without a crown I have made a difference in others’ lives. To my Young Christians, you are my inspiration and inspire my belief that this world will get better because you are all in it.

To Father Gary: I know you watch down on all the lives you touch and I hope you find joy in mine. You saved my life at the age of 16, and I thank God every day because he blessed me with you in my life for two years. It is because of you that my heart is truly open, and without that none of the wonderful things I have experienced would have ever happened. You not only inspired my platform but you are the inspiration every day when I get up to help make a difference in this world.

Blessed is the heart that finds joy in the journey. I have been blessed by my journey in this organization and cannot thank God enough for putting this in my journey of life.