"Your platform is your reality"

As I was cleaning my room today, I stumbled across my journal. But this journal is a special journal... Well kind of :) During the week of a pageant that I am going to compete in, I journal in it. It helps me organize my thoughts, and it relaxes me after  the day.

It started at one of my send-off parties. My Mom had given me it to me for exactly what I use it for, a journal. But I had a great idea to have my family and friends write a little something in it to give me that little boost of confidence right before I am about to go out onto the stage and compete.

A few days later, I brought it to school so some of my friends could write in it. The first friend I asked looked at me in a weird way, but took it and said she would give it to me tomorrow. Alright, fine by me. But to my surprise, I recieved the journal back the next day and she had written 2 whole pages! It was tempting to read, but I promised myself I would save it for "pageant day". I then passed the book on to another one of my good friends, and she wrote even more! Now I was really anxious to see what they had written that had taken up so many pages. By now, instead of me asking girls if they wanted to write in it, girls were coming up to ME and asking if they could write in it. Of course I said yes! I didn't see that journal for at least 2 weeks, it was bouncing between so many girls, until finally one of my good friends handed it to me. She was the last one to write in it, and she is the friend I've known the longest. She said to me that I needed to read them a day before the pageant instead of the day of because they were going to take me a looooonnnnnng time (she said it just like that too)!

After reading all of the entries once (and some 2 times!), I knew that I had the best friends in the entire world. Their words brought me to tears, and yes I am an emotional person, but WOW. I cannnot even begin to describe how inspirational those entries were.

Carly said: "... And yes of course, things are not always going to go as planned, but be patient because when one door closes another one opens. Just go out there and find that door!" These words have stayed in my head ever since I read them. They are SO true! You can't just sit back and wish for a door to open, wishing is not enough; you have to get up and push through the pain, push through the hurt and the sadness, and find that open door. You can't let ONE bad thing along the journey slow you down. There is a reason God did what he did, you just have to believe in His plan and timing.

"Anyone can buy a fancy dress or entertain a crowd for 2 minutes, but you are doing this pageant because you have a message to spread... You have a purpose!" These words were those of Abbie, the friend that I have know the longest and who was the last one to write in my journal. She also was the girl who said "Your platform is your reality", the title of this blog. "Pause for just a second up on that stage and catch the eyes of the person you are doing all of this for...  your Dad." Abbie truly does have a way with words.

I could sit here and complain about how I have to watch my Dad suffer everyday with an uncontrolable disease or have to watch my Mom become a single parent because my Dad is not able to do much, but I choose not to. I'm happy with life right now. Life is either an adventure or nothing. You decide which!

So as a bring this blog to an end, I'm reminded of how many great and supportive people I have in my life!

I think I might just have to continue this whole having-friends-write-in-my-journal thing :)
Bailey

"Get up on that stage and show us that a real girl feels pain, happiness, fear, disappointment, and excitement. Show us that you can have your world turned completely turned upside down but you still have the strength and courage to act and do something about it!" -Abbie

A Crazy 2 Days!

Wow. I cannot believe that tomorrow is already Christmas Eve... Where did time go? I feel like it was just last week that I was crowned, and now there is 3 and 1/2 months until Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2011!

The past two days for me have been pretty insane.

Yesterday, Bethany and I were scheduled to ring the bell for the Salvation Army at the Westgate Mall in Brainerd. The mall was suprisingly very busy and we were even inside and out of the cold! It was great catching up with Bethany because I hadn't seen her since we had our headshots taken together a few weeks ago. When I think about the friendships I have formed through pageants, I am truly blessed. I have friends from all over Minnesota, and although we may only see each once every few months, it's like we are best friends and we just saw each other yesterday. Distance means nothing. If it is a true friendship it can withstand anything!

After ringing the bell for a few hours, Bethany and I did some rehearsing for our Christmas Performance set for the next day at the Mall of America. I played piano and she sang along to some Christmas carols! We had a great time and I think it put us both at more of an ease for the following day :)

After I said my goodbyes to Bethany, I raced over to the Westgate Mall again for a little get-together and horse-drawn carriage rides. There were a lot of kids there so it was fun seeing all of their faces and asking me the typical question: "Are you a princess?". One little girl walked by me and said "Hi, Princess!", like she had known me her whole life. Kids can be so cute!

All in all it was a great day. I say this alot, but Brainerd is such a great town!

The next day, I was up early and so excited to get down to the metro. Bethany and I had our much anticipated Christmas performance at the Best Buy Rotunda in the Mall of America. The Best Buy Rotunda is the largest rotunda in the Mall. The Mall has 4 floors and this is the only rotunda where you can look up and see all 4 of the floors. So you could be standing on the 4th floor, and look over the edge and see us, we would look like ants, but you could still see us. It was amazing to be standing on the stage and look up towards the ceiling and see all of the people looking over the edge at us. And of course, to top it all off, our performance went smoothly!

And for the cherry on top to these wonderful past 2 days, I am relaxing at home with my family :) I love Christmas! I wish we could have it more than once a year.

I hope everyone has a great holiday and eats lots of cookies!
Bailey

P.S. Here is an article that was in my local newspaper... Check it out! http://brainerddispatch.com/lifestyle/2010-12-21/bhs-student-promote-alzheimer’s-information-help-area-children

Sertoma Winter Wonderland.

Every year, the Brainerd Sertoma Club does a "Winter Wonderland" were they take the ENTIRE trail at the our local Arboretum and decorate it with lights (For those who don't know... Sertoma is a group of business people that do alot with in their community). But these lights aren't just any lights... They make them into huge Christmas-y characters and things like Rudolph, Christmas trees, and Santa! It is really cool (and hard to explain.... forgive me!).

I arrived at the Arb around 5pm on Saturday night ready to battle the cold :) I was talking with a few of the other volunteers and they told me that it costs about $4,000 in just electricity bills to run this type of thing... Talk about expensive! But totally worth it!! Along with talking to the men about electicity and lights, I got to chat with Santa. Yeah pretty cool :) I even got a picture with him and Mrs. Claus!

After talking with Santa, I decided I had better go outside and help them sell tickets. It was suprisingly not too cold outside. I had about 10 layers on (literally!), and I stayed fairly warm until about half way through. I had an amazing time though! I didn't know selling tickets could be that much fun. A man, Brian, from the Sertoma Club was also selling tickets with me, and let me tell you... He was incredibly funny! Whenever a car pulled up with kids in it he would tell them that we had a "Queenie" working tonight and asked them if they would like to meet me. He then proceded to tell them that since I was Miss NORTH Metro Outstanding Teen I represented everything north of the Metro area. Which if you think about it, it makes sense. But Brain kept going and said that I represent the North Pole because that is also north of the Metro and that I have met Santa and a couple of his elves. Of course then the kids were all over me! Haha! Brain asked one little boy if he thought I was pretty and he replied with a simple "Yes", then Brian asked him if he wanted to marry me and the boy said "No"... Wow! Rejection! It's okay though, life goes on :)

So all in all, it was a fun night. I was told that that was the most cars they had EVER seen there in one night. Then of course Brian had to pipe in and say it was all because of "Queenie"... Okay Brain, whatever you say! I left before the final count but I know it was astounding.

I feel so honored to have been apart of that night. I came home to frostbite on my fingers and really bad shivers, but I would do it again in a heartbeat... without even thinking! It was so rewarding.

I just love Christmas!
Bailey

 Mrs. Claus and Santa!

 Brain is on the left :)

Selling tickets!

Salvation Army Bell Ringing.

On Monday, I volunteered to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. It was incredibly fun! I rang it at the Cub Foods in Baxter, which was nice because I was halfway in-doors so I could stay a little warm.

Melanie Clark, Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen Princess for 2010, came up to help me out as well! She came up with her Mom and brother. It was great catching up with them! I don't get to see them that often so to spend a few hours together was just what was needed.

You would not believe how generous people are. At least 4 people dropped 20 dollar bills in! It was so rewarding to know that all of that money is going towards a great cause and that I'm helping someone out during this holiday season!

I encourage everyone to visit your local Salvation Army to sign up to ring the bell. 2,3, or 4 hours are all that you need to put into this! :)

Bailey