Prepare, pray, press on!

It's June! A month often dedicated to the excitement of weddings and the end of the school year, you and I know that it's also the month for Miss Minnesota!

Every time we get an update from the Miss Minnesota board, I think about what a unique experience the Miss Minnesota week is--for a short time we will all be together, able to encourage one another and see the amazing work that has been done throughout our time as local titleholders.

I see this time as a huge opportunity to learn from one another--I am excited to cultivate a community of women who are on the same page, ready to take on whatever comes with motivation and determination! I think this sort of "let's do it!" mindset is what the Miss America Organization has most instilled in me, and is one of the biggest reasons why I love this community. I especially love that this organization does not ask women to compromise anything, but instead encourages them to pursue their dreams and goals with all of their might.
As a result of such pursuits, I have grown much through holding the title of Miss Waseca County Sleigh and Cutter (a mouthful to say this title, try it!...then add a name behind it! Haha!). Despite its seemingly awkward "Sleigh and Cutter" attachment, I love what the title of Miss WCSC represents and the potential that it's given through the Miss America Organization.

The other day, I found out that pageantry is considered a sport by many. The preparation process for a pageant is one unlike any other sport, if that is the case! Wardrobe shopping, tanning, you know the checklist. I do not view the pageant as a sport, as a competition, because the competition only lasts one night, perhaps two. The essence of what we do can be found in the message of our platforms--often times this is far from the glitz and glam of the stage--it's in the business meetings, the churches, and the classrooms where titleholders really shine.

I think the most helpful thing to do in preparation for a pageant, or anything else for that matter, is to find a quiet moment in the process. Slowing down and soaking in Truth is far more helpful than hustling through my to-do list. All the preparations in the world will not help unless I understand my purpose in competing. And so, along with the aforementioned wardrobe shopping, tanning, dancing, I'm dwelling on the most important aspect of my life: faith in God, and trying not to change too much about my daily process. I'm giving Miss MN week, the competition, the outcome, and my ultimate trust to my Lord, and can't wait to see how it unfolds!

Keep on pressing forward ladies, we've got an exciting road ahead!

Sarah A.