Let the Adventure Begin: An Illustrated Blog

Friday March 11:  Welcome and Introductions

Making New Friends

 Our First Session:  Disability Pride

Getting to Know One Another

Ice Breaker with Fruit Snacks

We learned about everyone's likes and dislikes using fruit snacks.  One color represented favorite foods, another favorite places to travel, and the last one represented hobbies. 

Deep in Thought

Saturday March 12: Networking, Judging,  Painting, and Fun Times

Saturday was packed full of various activities ranging from a networking session with Ms. Wheelchair America 2016, Dr. Alette Coble-Temple to two judging sessions that were akin to a very official job interview and an advocacy session to a paint therapy session to a "Blessing Bags" experience even to a pajama party for the adults for a little stress relief before the "big" day.  It was a welcome retreat from the events of the day, especially the intense interviews with the judges.  They were nice enough and they tried to make it as relaxed as they could. It was just a lot questions to think about and process.  The question that really stumped me was, "If you had 1 minute on CNN, what would you say?" and I couldn't think of anything under pressure ;-).

The Judges

Preparing for Our Interviews

Found out I'm not much of a painter, but I still had fun doing it ;-)

The Little Miss contestants, however, are quite the artists ;-)

Filling "Blessing Bags"

We had the privilege to fill bags with hygiene items to be handed out to those in need.  Since then, I have heard that one of the bags went to a woman who came to the shelter with nothing and another went to a woman and her 3 sons who lost everything in a fire. I feel so blessed and grateful to have been a part of that as a reminder to shift the focus off of what I'm going through and, instead, think of others as more important than myself!

Sunday, March 13:  The Crowning

We also gained a future MWKS supporter that day as my niece Hannah received her crown from MWA 2016.  My nerves were so frazzled that morning I could hardly eat, but it was all worth it in the end! :-)

Family Time Before Ceremony

It Becomes Official!!!

The Royal Court

  

A Year of New Beginnings

"A Year of New Beginnings"--little did I know, when I chose this as my "theme" for 2016, just how prophetic that title would turn out to be and that's not just true for me, but for both my sisters, as we all embark on journeys that will take us to all to "new beginnings."  It all started with my journey to become Ms. Wheelchair Kansas for 2016, as I was crowned on March 13th in Topeka. Two weeks later, my youngest sister and brother-in-law, along with their two kids, headed for Chicago so that he could start a new job.  In addition, my oldest sister will be getting remarried to a wonderful guy on Mother's Day (May 8). So, as it seems, the Lord has big plans in mind for all of us this year far above anything we could ask for or imagine and I can't wait to see what else He has in store in the coming months as I take you along with me for "the ride of a lifetime!"

I will admit that I did not feel this confident in the beginning and I do still waver at times even now.  In fact, for years I was terrified to even compete for the title of Ms. Wheelchair Kansas because of the high level of responsibilities that I would have if I was chosen as the new titleholder.  I kept thinking that there was no way I could handle ALL those responsibilities on my own and not to mention the fact that I don't particularly enjoy speaking in public nor do I have necessary finances to support myself or the ideal transportation to make it easier to travel.  The State Coordinator, Carrie Greenwood, can testify to exactly how hard it was to convince me that I should come on as a contestant ;).  So, what's different about this year? I decided to surrender all my plans to my Lord Jesus and let Him work them out as only He can because a man's heart may plan his way, but it's the Lord who directs his steps! (Prov. 16:9).

The Lord also reminded me that I don't have to fear because He will be with me and He will strengthen me, help me, and uphold me with His righteous right hand (Isa. 41:10) and He says, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will say with the Apostle Paul, in verse 10, that I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ might be seen in me; for when I am weak, He is strong!

What I hope to accomplish throughout my reign as my reign as Ms. Wheelchair Kansas is to encourage all of you to not be afraid to show your weaknesses and to admit you need help because we are not meant to go through this life alone and to carry all of our burdens on our own shoulders.
It is OK to be weak and to depend on others for help because we all need guidance at some point!  Our weaknesses can become our greatest assets if we are willing to embrace them!

This is, undoubtedly, the greatest lesson I have learned as a person living with a disability, as it has forced me to realize just how much I cannot do on my own, in turn, it causes me to look to the ultimate Source of my strength.  "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" (Philip. 4:13).

Of course, I still have many obstacles to overcome; however, I am confident that nothing is too hard for the Lord and that faith as small as a mustard seed can and will move mountains!  Furthermore, I  am blessed to now be a part of an amazing sisterhood that understands what it is like to live with a disability and who are willing to do whatever they can to assist me in this process, which I am so grateful for!!

In my next post, I will detail the adventure culminating in the infamous crowning and, yes, there WILL be photos ;-).