More Pics!!

Opening Number!!
The beautifully decorated stage.

Evening gown competition!!
Final pictures - Top 5 in the middle.


My best friend and pageant 'mom', Bailey!!!




This has been an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience (yes, this is my one and only time!)!! I met some amazing people and wore some incredible clothes!!! Thanks for all of your support!!

It's All Over!!

And the weekend is over!!! Here are some pictures from my fabulous pageant experience!!

This is Shannon, Mrs. Star City (and Mrs. Congeniality!) and me!


The whole silly crowd in our pageant tee's.

Interview Group #2 on Saturday morning.

Mr. Lincoln

Doesn't Jamie look suave in his tux??

It's Almost Here!!!

The pageant is in 43 hours!!! I can't believe it!!! Tonight my friend Bailey came over and we practiced putting on fake eyelashes (good thing, too, because they take some getting used to!) and I tried all all my outfits (except the evening gown) with the jewelry.

This is for the production number.
Interview suit. (My eyes are really wide open because of the fake eyelashes)

The eyelashes look real!!!
We each have to take a gift for the other 14 contestants and last year's Mrs. Nebraska. I made lots (LOTS) of huge chocolate chip cookies and decorated them with crowns!!!
Tomorrow we have lunch, then rehearsals all day, and dinner at Mrs. Nebraska's house. Saturday morning the interviews start (!!) then more rehearsals and finally . . . the big deal!!!

Pictures from the Workshop

Here are a couple of pictures from the pageant workshop on May 2!
Practicing our runway walks!

More Fabulous Sponsors!!!

Thanks so much to even more great sponsors who are helping me get to Mrs. Nebraska!!!
*My parents, Robin & Kathy Stoops
*Jamie's parents, Dan and Pearl Brown
*My grandparents, Don & Shirley Hendricks
*Our close friends, Ted & Andrea Larsen
* Mark & Vicki Davidson, Davidson Insurance

I couldn't be doing this without you guys!!! Thanks so much!!!

Pageant Workshop!

Today was a full day of pageant prep in Omaha! Here I am getting ready to go . . . .


It was incredibly helpful and informative. I was surprised and relieved to find that I managed to walk AND do choreography in heels! I got to meet thirteen of the fourteen other contestants also. I got home just in time to go to Emma's volleyball game (in my ruffly dress) and am exhausted, as usual . . . but still have miles to go before I sleep.
I did some more brainstorming about ways to use my monarch to benefit CFS sufferers. I'm no expert, but I think a specific diagnostic tool is necessary before a cure can be found. I'd also love to do something with day to day social and financial relief for sufferers. I'd love to help start a foundation to help those who can't work full time, who've lost family support, who can't successfully receive disability benefits. Just musing, but it's gotta start somewhere!!!!