Friday Funday

Great news this morning! Donna Knight was released from the hospital and doing very well!!! We miss her so much, but are very glad she is on a quick road to recovery. Thank you for lifting her up in prayer!

Our morning began with a visit to the Children’s Hospital in Tulsa. Taylor Treat Burget and Tiffany Tolbert were wonderful to help organize the event. Since 45 contestants can be overwhelming, we were split up as half tie dyed onesies for the NICU, and half walked from room to room. Lindsey, Damaris, Sarah, Betty, Victoria and I were fortunate enough to see the third floor and were joined by Lindsey and I’s driver, Melinda. The patients we met ranged from seven days to seventeen years old, each with a very different story. Though we always try to prepare ourselves, it is emotionally difficult to see children in pain.

Most of the new friends we made were being released shortly, though one was in remission with leukemia and would be back in just a few weeks. One sweet girl wanted to see us – crowns perched on our heads and hope in our eyes, but was so dizzy that she struggled to speak. Betty gave her an autographed photo and I know that when the medicated fog is lifted, she will cherish that picture. So many parents spoke highly of their experience at St. Francis, and while I wish children never had to visit, I am very thankful for the positive staff, cheery decor, and great care provided to them.

After lunch with one of Miss Oklahoma’s longest sponsors, Coney I-lander, we were taken to view the Miss Oklahoma museum!!! This was a major highlight for each of us and to say Steve Robinson and his crew did an amazing job would not do it justice. There are gowns, talent outfits, shoes, props, buttons, sashes, crowns, swimsuits and so, so much more. It makes you wish we could open a real Miss Oklahoma museum. If you haven’t had a chance to visit, please do – I could spend hours in there going through the history!

Tonight we will attend the Teen pageant and Top Ten party! Good luck to all the contestants!

Prelim #2

I feel like I’m losing track of my days while at Miss Oklahoma and am only following the schedule provided! The morning arrived with veery frightening news. Our feisty red coat, Donna Knight, suffered mini stroke while in the dorms last night. We are so fortunate that she was surrounded by red coats and contestants, including Brienne who is a nurse and was able to check all her vital signs to see how severe it was. I’m not sure how I missed the ambulance and fire trucks last night, but I could not be more thankful for the quick response. Please keep Donna in your thoughts and prayers as she recovers. Norma ensured me she was doing very well and would be back very soon.

Today began with talent rehearsals, which for me, were atrocious. It was my first time to sing on the Miss Oklahoma stage and while it was 90% empty, it was still daunting. Over the course of the day I took a lot of good advice and prayed with everyone I could get my hands on. Never have I felt more lifted up than I did today with the love and support of my pageant family – competitors, volunteers, family and friends.

After a rocky start, we ran through the show and were off to lunch provided by Mazzios. We then left for a very short stop by BounceU, where a fundraiser for CMN was being held. I love this event and wish we could have stayed longer. One of my students was able to come and her dream is to grow up to be a princess! I was over the moon to see her sweet face!

A little down time, a downtown dinner at McNellie’s, and a few rollers later we were ready for showtime! Each night I am blown away by our former titleholders, and the tapping trio was amazing! As my talent neared, I felt the peace within I had prayed for. As I worked through the song, I knew each moment was the best it could possibly have been and as I ended I was so overcome with pure joy! Thank you to everyone who prayed for me, and to Miss Shari who has shown me unconditional love and encouragement, and believed in me when I wasn’t sure of anything.

The official Miss Oklahoma twitter page tweeted pictures of our talents, and here is mine! Congratulations to Alex, Veronica and Brooklyn on your preliminary awards! We really are part of the BEST state pageant in the nation!

Prelim #1

Whew! Night one is done and we have an early morning coming. Tonight was amazing, particularly for someone like me who adores history and loves seeing pictures and videos of past Miss Oklahomas. It is incredibly special to see the talent, poise and genuine hearts of our Miss Oklahomas over the years and I am certain our new Miss O will carry each trait.

Congratulations to Veronica on her swimsuit win, Aly on her talent win, and Victoria on her rookie talent award! I met Victoria and her family while competing in National Teenager and have maintained contact with them so many years, so it was very exciting to cheer her on! Tomorrow will be a fun day with an appearance at Bounce U that I am ready to cut loose at! My poor feet are just regaining feeling, but it was a great evening with doughnuts after swimsuit. What could be better?!? I wish we had a bit more time at visitation, but I was so happy to chat with friends and family, furthering their encouragement during what has been a week of excitement and tragedy. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I am blessed to be surrounded by women I love this week – even if we stay up too late making sure our tans are even. I have never had so much FUN at Miss Oklahoma and I almost don’t want the week to end.

Please pray for peace during my talent performance – I can only hope to do the very best I possibly can. My goal is not to win any category, but to be who I truly am and walk off the stage knowing it could not have been better. Talent – here I come!

Twas the Night Before Check-In

IT’S HERE! IT’S HERE! IT’S HERE!!!

The big week has finally arrived and I could not be more excited! Clothes are stacked everywhere as I wait for the suitcases to be carted from Shawnee, healthy food fills my table, and garment bags flock the couches. I am absolutely elated for Miss Oklahoma week and will be updating nightly with the exciting events of the day. With the 40th anniversary of Miss Oklahoma – brought to you by the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa, it will be a year to remember!

Last night I had a wonderful send-off party with my Green Country family, friends and even a few sweet Girl Scouts I met over the past ten months! It was great to show them what Mi’Shell and I have accomplished this year and have a preview of the upcoming week. Tomorrow is a very big day with check-in, rehearsals and the Red Carpet Premiere.

Thank you to everyone who has made this year possible for me and who have helped me along the way! I could not have done it without your support and am bursting at the seams to get on that stage. This year I have a much different mindset, what I believe to be a more mature one. In years past I have set my sights on quantitative goals – making the semi-finals, winning a community service award, etc…. things I had no control over. I have realized that there is but one goal to have and that is to leave every aspect of competition knowing that it was the very best I have ever done.

This year, I just want to be the best “Britan” that I have ever been. Whatever that may bring, I’m ready for it! Looking forward to updating you throughout the week!

*Please keep Kent Parham in your prayers as it was posted on Facebook earlier that he was in a hospital gown. Not surprisingly, he made it look great and seemed to be in excellent spirits. I am unsure as to why he was there, but it looks as though he won’t have any trouble making it to practice tomorrow. Get better soon, Kent!

Powered Up!

The Girl Scouts have a fantastic anti-bullying program called “Powered Up,” and I was invited to work with several Tulsa and Muskogee troops during their week-long day camp. I have often been told that this curriculum is aligned perfectly with my platform presentation and I was amazed at the similarities! I spoke in the morning and later helped lead the initial Powered Up training.

The day-camp was held at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma house, built right in the middle of town with several acres behind it. I was even able to witness a flag ceremony – such a neat experience for these third and fourth graders! The kitchen was painted with Girl Scout words, and Girl Scout curtains flocked the large room. It is reserved for official Girl Scout meetings and used for a number of things. I was honored to attend and work with Powered Up! Thanks to the Girl Scouts for a fantastic day and my great new Powered Up shirt!!

Send a Little Love to Room 34

Imagine being five years old, and you are told your teacher is competing at Miss Oklahoma. She will wear a princess dress, she will sing, and she could become Miss America some day. I’m not sure if anyone can fathom what that might mean to a child, but I know of twenty sweet faces who want to see this unbelievable event with their own eyes.

Teach For America places corps members in schools which are located in low socio-economic areas. My students must apply and meet the criteria for Head Start in order to attend, making it little more than a dream to lavishly spend money for their families to attend Miss Oklahoma. At $10 a ticket, their brothers and sisters want to go as well – but around $50 a family, it’s a great expense.

I will be selling Scentsy to fundraise for my students and their families to attend Miss Oklahoma in June! Not only will they be experiencing the arts, but they are exposed to what could happen if they work hard and grow their brains. In 1993, Miss Oklahoma came to the Shawnee Public Library to speak and perform her talent. As a four-year-old, I cannot recall her message, but for the first time ever I thought the flute was kind of cool.

As I left with an autographed photo in hand, we saw Miss Oklahoma’s official car and of course I had to take a picture with it! Donning my best dance pose in curls and polka dots, I beamed next to her bright red car. Little did I know that I could some day be competing to wear her crown.

I know that if I can be affected in such a way, my students can and will benefit from the opportunity to see not just one Miss Oklahoma – but Miss Oklahoma from the past forty years, and a brand new Miss Oklahoma crowned. Please help me raise funds for my students to see Miss Oklahoma by ordering Scentsy from the link below. Twenty-five percent of the profits have been generously donated to me by David of DC Cake Appeal! Thank you David, and thank you to everyone for your orders!!

MISS OKLAHOMA SCENTSY FUNDRAISER

Girl Scout Troop #649

Of all the amazing things which come from being Miss Green Country, sharing my platform is by far, my favorite! On April 16th I met with the Girl Scouts of Metro Christian – Troop #649. They are a group of fourth-grade girls who were following my presentation so perfectly – with thoughtful insight and a yearning for positive change.

I had a wonderful time visiting Metro Christian and enjoyed every question they had. From asking about my most shocking experience with bullying to how I keep my high heels on – we covered it all! Troop #649 is truly so fortunate to have great troop leaders who recognize the need for this type of program and maintain a close eye on their member’s relationships.

One member stayed to chat as the girls transitioned to craft activities and said she wanted to be just like me. My heart absolutely melted. It is always so special to meet someone who is struggling in many of the ways I have and who is searching for some sort of hope. I was so flattered by her honesty and really enjoyed talking about our experiences with relational aggression together.

This sweet troop also gifted two delicious boxes of Girl Scout cookies (those amazingly decadent Thin Mints and a box of peanut butter delight – Do-Si-Dos!) – which will be such a treat. Good thing Thin Mints are even better frozen! Several girls also said they will attend Miss O in June – how cool is that?! Thank you Troop #649 for a wonderful afternoon and such excitement about  working against relational aggression! I absolutely loved meeting each one of you!

The Princess of Room 34

In October, we had a mere 13 students, since our roster had not been filled. Now that our class sits at a full 20, I was excited to share Miss Green Country with the kids! We have created big goals for our lives (them and myself alike!), and I wanted to bring my passion back to the classroom.

My students know that I am a “princess” and that I want to become the “queen” of Oklahoma. Keep in mind, my kids are three-five and explaining the Miss Oklahoma system can often be tricky to an adult, let alone a Pre-K student! We had a great conversation about what it takes to become Miss Oklahoma – helping others, using kind words, working hard, and getting smart! Miss Oklahoma has to “grow her brain” too! Each of my kids tried on the crown and I cannot wait for them to watch me compete in June – it is our last week of school! While I am SO disappointed to miss their last days of Pre-K, I know they understand and will continue to strive for their dreams as well!

 

 

Girl Scouts Troop #748

Sunday afternoon is my absolute favorite time of the week, and today I was fortunate to spend it with the Girl Scouts of Troop #748! The troop consists of girls between fourth and sixth grade, each attending a variety of school from Salk Elementary to Catoosa and Owasso. They are a great group and each shared their own experience with relational aggression. I enjoyed having such an intimate, small-group conversation with them – allowing us to dig more deeply into bullying.

While relational aggression covers a broad spectrum of possibilities, we were able to discuss name-calling, teacher and school responses, gossip, school uniforms, and how poverty can be a target of RA. Since I teach in an inner-city school, I often forget what a normal school with a range of financial situations looks and feels like. I need to remember this since my students could face similar obstacles in the future. Teach For America has helped train me to be the kind of teacher which will teach my kids out of low-income status and help put them onto a new life trajectory though – changing the cycle of poverty.

Troop #748 is planning to perform skits about bullying in April at Salk Elementary, and practiced their physical aggression skit with me today! I was really impressed by the thought and realistic approach they took to it, and was so honored when they asked for my help with a verbal aggression skit. We came up with several ideas, and I think each grade will be able to relate to the final script created.

This group has wonderful mothers who are prepared to help their children through any stage of bullying – whether it is as a target, bully or bystander. So often, we are unable to see our children’s faults and believe only the best. The women I met today are prepared to lead them in the right direction and teach them, rather than allow them to make the same mistakes throughout life.

Thank you so much, Troop #748! I cannot wait to see your skits and the impact you make throughout Tulsa!

Three Times the Fun – Troop #753, #1030 and #960

After a full day of teaching, a staff meeting, and a curriculum meeting I threw on a fresh blazer and pinned my crown into my hair. As I was racing out of the school to my car, another teacher stopped me to comment on how literally I must take the idea of “wearing multiple hats.”

She hit the nail on the head! I love the diversity of my days because there is never a dull moment. Maybe I have to keep a spare outfit in my car (I can’t even begin to explain the possibilities of what might happen to me during school), but this is the life of Miss Oklahoma and Miss America. There is no down time and you absolutely must be prepared for whatever might come your way!

Girl Scouts and Miss Green Country

Wednesday, January 25th held my second appearance of three in a mere seven days. I am overjoyed by the responses to It Has A Name: Relational Aggression, and the interest taken by each student group. Brownie Girl Scout troop #753 and Girl Scout troops #1030 and #960 were no exception! This group consisted of about 20 third, fourth and fifth grade girls – each at a point in their lives where relational aggression is starting to become more noticeable and confusing.

Each had brilliant thoughts about why relational aggression occurs and how a bully gets to that point. They loved our telephone game and giggled excitedly at the difference between the original sentence and the final words. Their concerns varied, and I received excellent questions about followers and gossip. Several had stories about being the target or bystander, and it never fails to hurt my heart when I hear about such wonderful young leaders being the point of a joke.

With every student group I speak to, I gain an even deeper understanding of my own experiences as well. There are so many occurrences they are brave enough to speak about, reminding me of my own childhood. It is with this that I have realized time, fashion, and technology have changed – but relational aggression has not.

These sweet angels decorated a chalk board in preparation for my visit (it was adorable!!!), and gave me a lovely card along with GIRL SCOUT COOKIES! The new Savannah Smiles are a delicious lemon cookie dipped in powdered sugar, and I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t have that box opened the minute I go to the car.

Thank you SO much, Troop #753, #1030 and #960! What a joy to speak with!