Busy, Busy!

Hello all! I know I have been slacking in the blog department lately, but things have been super busy here at the high school with the semester drawing to a close. Here is a quick update on what has been going on for Mrs. Kansas:

I met with a representative from PSU on the 20th to take photos for an article that will be posted on www.pittstate.edu in the next few days. The photographer came in to my classroom and took several shots of me working with my students. The article will feature general information about me as well as my time at Pitt State.

Saturday, we traveled to the PSU campus for my interview with KRPS, the university's radio station. It was my first radio interview, and I was a bit nervous, but it went really well! They are airing the interview on Friday at 3:50; it will also be posted on the PSU website. Enjoy!

This weekend, I will be riding in the St. Paul Mission Days Parade, in St. Paul, KS. I will be representing not only Mrs. Kansas, but also NCCC, where I earned my associates degree. This is going to be a very special appearance for me, as my husband, Shawn, and our daughter, Layla, will be in the parade with me. Because I will be working with the USO this year, Shawn has agreed to wear his military uniform for the parade :) I can't wait! If you get the chance, come down to St. Paul and join in the festivities!

One event I am extremely bummed that I will miss is the USO Fort Riley Grand Opening, which will be Tuesday at 2:00. I am so thankful to have been invited to take part; however, our school does not get out until Thursday. Manhattan is a three and a half hour drive for me and I simply wouldn't make it there in time. For those of you who will be attending, take pictures and have a great time! Thank you to the USO for all that you do for our Military and their families :)

For now, I should probably finish grading the pile of papers that has been glaring at me all afternoon (the only bad part about teaching). Students, don't forget that tonight the Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be hosting its final huddle meeting of the year. Kids, please be in my classroom at 6:30 to watch "Facing the Giants." The movie will be followed by a message by Minister DJ Dangerfield at 8:30. I'll see you all then!

Photos and Fort Riley Update

Thanks to my fabulous students at CHS, I will not only be mailing dozens of letters, but also EIGHT bags of non perishables, toiletries, and washcloths for our troops returning to Fort Riley. Way to go kiddos!

Also, here are a few photos from the Chanute Elementary School Carnival that was held on Saturday. Our booth (the third grade booth) was in charge of spraying hair. We had polka dots, stripes, half and half, and even a request to look like a ladybug! The kids were so adorable and the parents were great sports to allow us to get creative with their children's hair. It was cold and rainy, but the kids didn't seem to mind. What a fun afternoon! Enjoy :)

Sightings!

First and foremost, please continue to pray for Tamara Mathews, who was in a car accident yesterday morning. I don't know many details, but please pray for healing and comfort for her and her family. Tamara is an amazing woman, and an etremely talented makeup artist, nurse, and mother. She is the official makeup artist for several state pageants, including Mrs. Kansas. Her work can be seen at www.letmemakeyoubeautiful.com .

I met with a representative for Neosho County Community College on Wednesday afternoon to discuss ways I can become involved with college promotions. Several ideas were bounced around, all of which I am PUMPED for! A few ideas included billboards, throwing the opening pitch for a baseball game, helping at graduation, kids college, TV commercials, and even placing my picture on the back of a few semi trucks! I can't wait to get started :)

Mrs. Kansas will also be making an appearance at the Chanute Elementary School Carnival this weekend. I will be in the 3rd grade booth spraying hair! Shawn is going to bring Miss Layla down for some afternoon fun as well. I love children, and children (especially little girls) love sparkly crowns, so it should be a wonderful afternoon!

I have also heard back from the USO Fort Riley, and they will be working on different ideas for me to help them promote United Through Reading, an absolutely phenomenal program. United Through Reading provides military bases with equipment and books for soldiers to use to record themselves reading stories to their children while they are deployed. The video readings are then shipped back home for the children to watch. For children, actually seeing their mommy or daddy on TV is more comforting than hearing from someone else that they are okay. Not only does this program promote family and parental interaction, it also promotes literacy. I am proud to be involved with such a wonderful cause. More information (and an adorable video) is available at www.uso.org/whatwedo/usoprograms/unitedthroughreading/

Just a reminder, please help make a few Welcome Home/ Thank You cards for our troops returning to Fort Riley. We need 1,200 by May 9th! You can send them to the address in my last blog, or give them to me by Monday to add them to my shipment.

God bless you, and have a great weekend!

To my students (who hear this every Friday): Have a good weekend, be careful, wear your seatbelts, don't be stupid, wash your hands! :)

USO Fort Riley Needs Our Help

Mrs. Kansas has officially teamed with the USO, and we need your help! I received an email yesterday from the USO Fort Riley, and they are in need of about 1,000 cards to give to single soldiers in care packages upon their return from a recent deployment. Here is the information from the email:

All, we have a couple thousand single soldier homecoming kits to make between now and the end of summer. We need your help!

Our biggest need is with Thanks You/ Welcome Home cards--we are at least 1,200 short on these. If you can take time to write a little note, whether it be on a postcard, regular card, etc. to let our single soldiers know how much we appreciate them, that would be wonderful! We need more than 1,000 notes by May 9th. Every note counts!

Cards can be sent to or dropped off (between 10:00am and 5:00 pm Monday-Friday) at :

USO Fort Riley
6918 Trooper Drive
Fort Riley, KS 66442

I have my Fellowship of Christian Athletes kiddos working on a batch of these that I will mail out on Monday. I realize that this is crazy short notice, but we really need your help. As the message says, EVERY CARD HELPS! :) If you need additional information, let me know. Thanks everyone!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Hello all! Just a reminder that Military Spouse Appreciation Day is on May 7th. Click on this link to find out how you can help to honor our military spouses and their daily sacrifices:

http://blog.uso.org/2010/04/23/operation-petal-power-%E2%80%93-push-the-petal-for-military-moms/

Hello everyone! What a week! I can't believe it has been one week since the crowning. Time is already flying by! Tonight Shawn, Layla, and I went out to eat with Tim and Monica in Toronto, KS. The food was amazing! It was a wonderful way to celebrate with great friends.

Tomorrow I will be at Benchwarmers Restaurant, Jody's Attic, and Merle Norman Cosmetics to present them with an autographed photo for sponsoring me in the pageant this year. They have been fabulous sponsors to me over the last year.

This weekend (not sure Saturday or Sunday) I will also be at Chanute Health Care visiting my Great Grandma Tincy and the rest of the residents. I will have pictures posted soon.

For now, if anyone wishes to request an appearance by Mrs. Kansas, please feel free to contact me! Off to bed for now; thanks for reading :)

Mrs. Kansas Photoshoot