Miss Minnesota week day 1

IT'S FINALLY HERE! Yesterday I checked in for Miss Minnesota week! I met up with my lovely roomie, Ashley Laine, Miss Frazee! We have had so many giggles in our room and it's only been a day! I can't wait for the rest of the week! After check in, Ashley and I had a rough start…we were so busy chatting and getting to know each other that we were late for the bus! Whoops. We hurried down there and headed over to the Mall of America (one of my favorite places in the world). We got to experience Barbie Dreamhouse. I think I died when I walked in. I had wanted to go so so so bad, but didn't want to spend the money on it. I was so excited to say the least. So. Much. Pink. We baked cupcakes in Barbie's kitchen, rode in her sleigh and moped, and walked the runway in Paris. I LOVED IT!!! Then we went down to Nickelodeon Universe. The first ride we went on was obviously the Rock Bottom Plunge. We spent an hour galavanting around and had a blast. By the end, I was starving. We went to eat at the Sky Deck on MOA's 4th floor. After our delicious meal, we had game cards to play arcade games and bowl. Bailey and I tried our hand at racing. I'm a terrible driver, so she won. We went on a virtual roller coaster and then ended up watching Miss USA! It was a full and fun day! Ashley and I settled down in our room with some tea and caught up on the news after we got back. 

Day 2 is in full swing and it has been great! Tune in for more! 

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Today is the day I leave for Miss Minnesota week! I am excited and afraid I am forgetting something at the same time. I have double and triple checked my lists, made last minute trips to Mankato, and packed up all 6 of my suitcases. I can hear my mom scurrying around upstairs trying to get everything organized for me. But I am, of course, still laying in my jammies. 

None of what I have done this year would have been possible without the support of my amazing friends, family, and committee, so THANK YOU!

Mother - thank you for coming along to each dress fitting, stretching the budget even when we shouldn't, putting up with me when I'm tired and sassy, and knowing my talent piece by heart so you know exactly when I hit the wrong chord. You had no idea what you were getting yourself into when I said I was going to compete. Thank you for being supportive and loving throughout this entire process.

Dad - thank you for being my financial backer, my silent support, and calming Mom down when she gets too worked up. I know I spent way too much money this year. I am sooo lucky to have you (: 

Ry - even though you are 1,075 miles away, you have still been my rock throughout this year. You give me the tough love I need when I don't want to practice, but know when I need to stop because I'm over thinking it. You keep me updated on current events, and never stop supporting me. 

Jaem - thank you for being my personal shopper, fashion consultant, and person to vent to. Without you, I would probably be the most high strung contestant with weird clothes. You da best.

Joseph, Molly, and April - you three have seen me at my worst and my best. Thank you for sticking by me through everything. I am sorry for constantly talking about pageant things. (: Love you.

My committee - Christy, thank you for going on endless shopping trips with me, texting me notes of encouragement, and never letting me settle. Jen, thank you for always being there even when I need you last minute! Also, thank you for always having all the information I need when I am so scattered I don't know what is going on. Molly - thank you for being you! You have been there for me all year no matter what I need. You are a rockstar and I love you! Thank you for bringing Ellie everywhere so I can get my baby fix often (: 

The Odenbretts - thank you for being my go - to pageant family! I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into, and you have helped me learn so much. Sadie, thank you for being a great little sis. We have had so much fun together this year. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY BABY SISTER QUEEN!

Lauren and Alyssa - I can always count on you two to make me giggle. Thank you for being great sister queens. Good luck this week, Lauren! I AM SO EXCITED!

Rachel - thank you for encouraging me, supporting me, and being there for me every step of the way. There is no one better I can look to in order to be the best titleholder I can be. You have been such a help this year! Love you! 

Sharri - thank you for allowing us to use your studio, being my sponsor, and just being great. You have such a busy schedule and it makes me sad that we never see each other. I am always so grateful for our 'little' chats! Thank you!! 

Brickhouse Fitness - thank you for being a great sponsor and allowing me to use your facilities and teaching me the things I need to know! 

Betty - thank you for all of my last minute trips to your house because I have had a clothing debacle and taking on every gown I have brought to you. You are a rockstar! 

Jacky Arness - thank you for giving me so many tips and words of encouragement. You always checked up on me whenever we saw each other and I loved that you cared so much! Congratulations, Miss North Dakota! I am so excited for you! 

I know I am probably forgetting so many others, but know that if you are reading this, I would not have been able to do so well without you! Thank you all! 

Waseca Strong

Balancing Miss Waseca, school, a brand new job, and figuring out my summer has been crazy. Thus, my blog has taken the back burner. Since my last post, I participated in the Easter Egg Hunt in Waseca that was put on by Grace Lutheran Church. I had a great time seeing so many kids from our community have a free for all at the park. I even got to see some of my favorite kiddos, Ellie and Rylee. 

Miss MN prep is going well. I'm squeezing everything in when I have time! I had a great time being interviewed by Kathryn Karg and her crew in early April! They had great feedback and gave me a lot to work on! My lovely baby sister queen's parents also have been a great help in preparing my interview skills! Thanks Luke and Rochelle! This weekend I am heading home to do some prep with my committee! It will be a busy weekend! I can't believe we are only 5 weeks away!

School has been so crazy with finals coming up and finishing up my clinicals in the school. My kindergarten class has been so great and such a learning experience. I had one little boy screaming today while his classmates were picking dandelions that "MISS SCHROEDER THEY ARE KILLING NATURE! THEY ARE KILLING NATURE!" There is definitely never a dull moment in kindergarten! 

Yes! You read it right at the top! I was accepted as the BSA (Bethel Student Association) Student Activities Director of Banquets and Dances. What does that mean? Next year I get to head a committee of 8-12 students in planning Bethel's Homecoming, Christmas, and Spring Banquets and dances along with the Halloween dance, BU's So You Think You Can Dance, and a bunch more fun activities! I am so excited to take on this challenge God has blessed me with! 

Things up at Bethel have been great, but things in Waseca have not been. I was so so disheartened and relieved to hear about the foiled school massacre that was planned in my hometown. Waseca has gone through so much suffering the past few years that I cannot fathom the amount of devastation we would feel if this would have gone through. I have so many loved ones at the Waseca High School including my baby sister queen, Sadie. Losing them is unimaginable. I am beyond grateful that God was watching over our small town. 

When I was reading the news articles about the event, I couldn't stop thinking about how someone could think such dark things. I am continuing to pray for the young man who found this to be his only way out and I encourage you to do the same. 

I did find a light in this terrible situation, however. Today, while scrolling through my Facebook, I noticed a picture from a very familiar place, the Waseca High School Commons (to the right). It was so uplifting to see the students make such a negative situation into something positive. The students and staff were encouraged to bring in newspaper articles of the Waseca students doing good in our community. I love seeing such inspiring things come out of my community! I am so so proud to represent such a strong town. 

xoxo,

Katie

Dreamcatcher Bingo and MMOT

It has been crazy! I haven't found time to blog for over a month, so let me catch you all up! 

The third weekend in March was the annual Dreamcatcher Bingo with Sleigh & Cutter. I have never seen Katie O'Leary's so full! It was so much fun to see so many people involved and having a great time raising money for an even greater cause! 

Last Thursday I had my first meeting with the Waseca Rotary for the Cake Auction! I am so so so excited to be helping with this event! The Rotary is raising funds for the Waseca County Weekend Backpack program and Semillas de Amor in Guatemala. The backpack program supplies food for a weekend to students in elementary school that are in need. Many people in our community do not realize how little some students have. This program allows the kids to have full bellies all weekend while they are away from school. Semillas de Amor is an orphanage in Guatemala that houses 24 children. The Waseca Rotary is donating water purification systems to the orphanage. Clean water + full bellies = healthy kids! The Cake Auction is May 15 at the Boat House in Waseca! I cannot wait for this event! It is going to be so fun! 

This past weekend was the Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen pageant! My sister queens, Sadie and Alyssa, have been preparing so diligently and it brought me to tears to see them shine on stage (I was actually crying). There hard work definitely paid off. Sadie was the best I had ever seen her! I was such a proud sister queen. And Alyssa took 2nd runner up! It was a successful day for both of them! HUGE congratulations are in order for Miss Lauren Algyer. You rocked the stage Saturday and are so so deserving of this! Congratulations! 

Saturday was also Miss Minnesota Orientation! It is crazy that Miss Minnesota week is only 2 months away. I can hardly believe it. It is SO real now! It was so fun to finally meet everyone. I decided on being contestant number 23 which means I will have lifestyle/fitness and evening gown on Wednesday (June 11) and talent and onstage question on Thursday (June 12). I also found out who I am rooming with!!!! I am so excited (I realize I say that phrase a lot, but I can't help it) to be rooming with Miss Frazee, Ashley Laine. We both love coffee, so we will obviously get along. (: We also got complimentary sunglasses (see the pic). Lauren and I were pretty excited about them if you can't tell. 

Miss MN is sneaking up so fast! I am so excited for school to be done because that means Miss MN is here! 

xoxo,

Katie

When times are tough

I spent my night doing my usual activities. I hung out with my mom, got ready for bingo, and headed over to Katie O' Leary's. I was a card seller, so while games were being played, I had time to scroll through my Facebook newsfeed. I came across this article. I am angry. I am sad. I am absolutely sickened. 

Ever since hearing about Caleb, I have been praying and asking why. This makes me want to scream "WHY" even louder at God. All night I have been trying to comprehend the position these people are supporting. I sat at my best friend's kitchen table staring at the website that said "God hates fags". This post is not to discuss my political view on same sex marriage. It is to discuss respect.

 Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I am thankful I live in a country where I am able to speak freely about what I believe. I am thankful for men and women like Caleb, my brother, and my best friend who are willing to give up everything in order to protect my ability to speak freely. I also understand that the people of the Westboro Baptist Church also have this right. 

All over their website they have pictures of upside down flags, signs talking about how much God hates America, and how soldiers die because America allows homosexuality. The most disheartening thing I found was a quote the said "Thank God for 8 more dead troops. We are praying for 8000 more." Those troops are people's loved ones. It is so extremely hurtful to hear these things. I cannot understand there reasoning. Yet again, I understand their right to an opinion. I just do not understand why they express it in such a disrespectful way. 

This is not the first time I have heard of the WBC, and sadly, it probably will not be the last. It is because of young men and women like Caleb that they are able to continue with their protesting. I hope and pray that God can change their hearts. 

As for now, I pray that our community can grieve together and support each other. It is a difficult situation that has just gotten harder. 

I love my community.

As a titleholder, I am often asked what I love most about the community. The answer is simple: I love the way the community pulls together and supports each other during a time of tragedy. I think back to seventh grade when Alec was killed, sophomore year with Jacob, junior year with Steven, and senior year with Abby, the entire community came together and did everything they can to support the suffering families. In our community, it doesn't matter who you are, you are affected. 

Last Friday, tragedy struck our small town yet again. Lance Cpl. Caleb Erickson of the United States Marines was killed in action on a combat mission. I was driving home from school when I got the news and the first thing I thought was "why?" He had so much life ahead of him. He had so many people who loved him back home. Why does God always have to take the good ones? 

 Caleb and I went to ECFE together. I have pictures of us hanging out with Sparky the Waseca Fire mascot, reading books at the library club, and so much more. So many people have posted on Facebook about how Caleb was known for making them smile. Although our exchanges were limited to youth group and quick hellos in the hallway during high school, he really did always make me smile. 

I will never understand God's plan. I have come to peace with that. Right now, I am able to appreciate the sacrifice that Caleb made to protect our freedom and a loving, supportive community. I believe that Catie DeBates said it the best, "Bluejays are known for their calls that carry for long distances. Remember to call upon one another during difficult times, and be there for one another." I am so beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to grow up in such an amazing community and so many bluejays to call upon. 

And the 1st ever Mr. Waseca is….

A few months back, I casually mentioned the idea of a Mr. Waseca pageant to Sadie as a way of fundraising money for our CMN accounts. We both agreed it would be a great idea! We talked it up with our directors and put it in motion right away! They were all so great with helping us along the way because they are the ones who know how to run a pageant! As Sadie and I were crazily running around getting sponsors, contestants, and advertising, Molly, Jen, and Christy were writing scripts, printing programs, and collecting silent auction baskets! 

About a month before the event, I was getting pretty nervous about how the turn out was going to be. We only had 3 locked in contestants (one being Joey, so actually 2) and little talk about it. Out of the blue I received an email from the Mankato Free Press asking about the event and if I could be interviewed (WHAT?!). After the Free Press, the Pioneer Press wrote an article and many other newspapers followed. Just a few days after, Jen called me and said the WCCO wanted to interview us (Okay, crazy right?). I was so excited! I set a date for us to meet up with Frank (yes, Frank Vascellaro) and Chris Shaffer! They were a hoot! Sadie and I taught them the fitness routine, witnessed their talents, taught them how to walk, and asked them on-stage questions. If you missed it on WCCO ,you can watch us here! Just a few days before, Molly said she heard about us on the radio! But even with the publicity, I was still nervous (just ask Sadie)! Thankfully, we had 10 contestants in no time! 

I don't remember which director said it, but one of them said that with big events, something always goes wrong. Honestly, I was not a fan of that statement. But they were right, we had a contestant drop out last minute…and the night went on :) JUST LIKE THEY SAID! 

Our contestants were such good sports (even though they all complained about the fitness routine (: ) They all got pretty creative up on stage whether it was interpretive poem reading, singing, or ripping their shirts off during the fitness routine…

Larry cooked us up a DELICIOUS Italian dish for his talent. #nomnomnom Cooking was a great talent for him to perform! Lauren and I sure enjoyed eating it (: 

My lovely sister queen, Miss South Central, Lauren, helped in the deciding factor of who would be crowned! The beautiful Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen, Corinna Swiggum, helped us judge and impressed the audience with her sweet ka-rah-tay moves. Ken was, of course, such a hoot. I sat right next to him and he was cracking up the entire time which made my night 100x better. Our emcee was HILARIOUS. Shout out to Ann Fitch for being so great. Our event would not have been as successful without you! 

Congratulations again to Mr. Waseca 2014, Larry Johnson! Thank you for allowing us to use the American Legion and everything you do for our program! 

At the end of the night, we ended up raising $900! It was way past anything that I expected! Sadie and I could not have been more excited about it! It was such a great way to get the community involved in our program! 

Thank you to everyone who helped put this event on! Sadie and I are so grateful to all of you! 

xoxo,

Katie