A Phone Call I Have Been Waiting For....

October 20, 2013 ~ This afternoon around 3:00 PM I would receive a phone call that I have been waiting a few years to receive. It was Sharon Paulsell on the other end of the line and she told me that I would be going on the 25th Central Missouri Honor Flight on Tuesday October 22nd. I was so grateful for this opportunity and for the next several hours I was like a kid in a candy store with a dollar bill burning a hole in my pocket!

I can't tell you what this phone call meant to me and all the emotions that were running through my head. I was proud to be a part of this milestone flight, scared that I would do something wrong (not intentional of course), I was smiling yet tears filled my eyes. This trip would be something that would forever change me and I was excited to be among some of our greatest heroes that fought courageous battles to protect our freedom. They signed a check payable to the United States of America for up to and including their life. What an honor!

How does one sleep after getting this kind of news? This was something that was on my bucket list and I was going to be able to cross it off! Brandon knew how important to me this trip would be and was a rock star hubby allowing me to take off and be with these wonderful men and women over the next 24+ hours.

I was ready.... ready to create memories, understand a little more about this wonderful organization and the amazing leaders (Steve, Sharon and Mary Paulsell) as well as the amazing volunteers and guardians that make this trip so memorable.

Do you know a WWII and a Korean Veteran that is able to fly to see their memorial? Please visit Central Missouri Honor Flight (or Google Honor Flight in your town/area) to learn more about how they are making sure veterans are able to see their respective memorial in Washington, D.C.

http://centralmissourihonorflight.com/

(Please note: Veterans from other conflicts are welcome to apply but for now the main focus is on our WWII and Korean Veterans. When they no longer have a need to fill these two wars with our veterans that are able to fly they will begin to fill other conflict veterans. Of course they will make exceptions for those that are able to fly and are terminally ill. Veterans from other conflicts can certainly apply to be a Guardian. Please ask questions to any Honor Flight hub that you live near.... they are happy to answer any questions you may have.)

My 10th 5k ~ Access Run 5k

October 12, 2013 ~ Today would mark my 10th 5k and get me just a little closer to my goal of 13 5k's in 2013! It's hard to believe that until April 2013 I have never ran or even participated in a 5k in my life... then to set a crazy goal of doing 13 of them... was I completely nuts???

Here I am before the race! These little chicken legs want to get going! 

This race was a fundraiser for Access Arts here in Columbia, MO. Proceeds would benefits those in our community and that I loved! Oh and Midway Electric, Inc. just happened to sponsor this one!

To learn about Access Arts you can visit their website at:

http://schoolofservice.org/index.html

and we're off! 

The Color Run was a fun 5k that kept you motivated along the way! They had volunteers stationed at different places along the course and would blast you with color!

 Finished at 35:43! 

My goal is to get under 30 minutes at least one time but I guess if I don't do any training in between races then I can't expect to reach a goal  can I? Well sugars, have no fear... Michele loves a good challenge and no matter what I will give it all I've got! 

This was a messy yet fun run!

At the very end they took group photos but I didn't hang around that long...
Congratulations to everyone that participated!

Paint The Night Away!

October 10, 2013 ~ Tracy Eichhorn (a great lady I met at Greater Missouri Leadership in 2012) invited me to come paint with her Ashland Artist Group in Ashland, MO. This event would be a fundraiser for the Ashland Artist Group Scholarship Fund that would be for seniors attending the Southern Boone School District who are pursuing a degree in art. It sounded fun and pumpkins should be easy to paint right? (The above picture was what we were going to paint....)

I arrived at the Copper Kettle in Ashland, MO and found my seat for the evening.

So things were going pretty good up to this point.... we painted the evening sky and the moon.

After this we began to paint our pumpkins and this is when things went south.... My pumpkins were looking good until I started adding the stems... then at which point I threw a fit like a little two year old! Yes, it's true... I got mad and this happened....

I totally repainted the sky to cover up my pumpkins that I destroyed! 

It's not a proud moment ... however as promised I painted them at home then posted a picture for those wonderful ladies to see! 

You see sometimes in life we just have to throw a fit, get over it but the real key is that we have to finish what we start. I don't just love this painting however I am proud that I finished it!

A Baby Shower for Alexis!

October 6, 2013 ~ Today would be a very special baby shower for a good friend! Roni and Josh Spicer would soon become parents and in order to get ready for this huge life event we needed to have a baby shower! Kayla and I would be the hosts of this fun day and we worked around some dates that worked for Roni. She would have a couple of out of town guests that would be coming in town and today was the best day for all of us! (I love how plans come together and I love planning stuff! Oh and huge thank you to my momma and Kayla's little sister for helping to pull this off with us!)

We had her baby shower at The Lodge in Rothwell Park in Moberly, MO! 

We wanted to "SPRY-ize" Josh and Roni and when we got done with decorating we asked them to come up to see it before everyone else arrived. When they walked in this is what they saw.... I had taken maternity photos of them just last week to use at the baby shower and had them blown up in various sizes and placed on the wall with a removable tape (so we didn't damage the walls). 

We went with a simple country theme (which totally speaks our language) and I couldn't be happier with how it all turned out! It truly looked awesome and it spoke "It's a Girl" to anyone that was there!

All in all I think this wonderful couple was impressed and even more excited to meet this little girl! 

I loved all the pink hydrangeas!

This was my favorite table... but I love sweets! 

What I failed to do was two things... to get a picture of the hosts with Roni and a picture of all the amazing food that Kayla prepared! Oh my goodness .... she did an amazing job and I can't believe I forgot to get a picture! (Seriously Michele... old age is taking a toll on you girl) 

Roni had the motherly glow and looked beautiful! 

This was taken just before the baby shower started... 

I think little Alexis will have everything she needs from those that love her so much! 

Roni's sister, Shannon helped document all the wonderful gifts received! I'm pretty sure by the smile on Aunt Shannon's face that she can't wait to meet this wonderful little girl! 

Thank you to everyone that came today! What a great party and I am pretty sure we are all waiting patiently for December 5, 2013 when little Alexis is supposed to arrive!

37th Annual Mid-Missouri Emmy's

October 5, 2013 ~ You know I have been pretty lucky to be involved in some wonderful things in life and this year was no exception! Of course it would be no fun if I couldn't drag my best friend, Misty McKee along with me (since my hubby doesn't do the "black tie" stuff)! As many of you know I have been honored to be able to work along side Sarah Hill, Scott Schaefer, Dani Wexelman, Chad LaFarge, Bruce Garber and John Butterill in an exciting, emotional and educational part of history. We have been working directly with veterans that are too sick/frail to travel via an Honor Flight to see their respective memorials but because of dedication, passion and giving back is in our blood we are all part of something called Virtual Veterans Tours. A wonderful partnership among friends and an amazing journey using a wonderful platform of social media called Google+ has allowed this to be possible.

 This year marked the 37th Annual Mid-America Emmy Awards

This year was truly amazing and I can't tell you how awesome it felt to have an Emmy nomination! This Emmy nomination wasn't for me but rather the lives we have positively touched throughout the various Virtual Veterans Tours and/or Hero Tours we have been a part of. It felt good to have our name in the hat and knowing this was truly a team effort to make all of this possible for our true heroes... our courageous veterans!

One of the highlights for the evening was to actual meet these two wonderful guys! I met them both on Google+ but never in real life! Bruce Garber (left) is from Boston and John Butterill (right) is from Canada and we were all so glad they made the trip! (After all... their name was also on the Emmy nomination!) What wonderful people and I hope to see them again in real life! 

I love this woman! I am so glad our paths in life have crossed and she is someone that I look up to. Her passion and dedication towards our veterans is truly amazing and I truly enjoy working with her every chance I get! 

I had a hard time figuring out what dress to wear!

(From someone that never dresses up)

My beautiful date and bestie for 21 years...

Misty McKee! 

Walking on the red carpet! 

Grabbing a quick picture in front of the screen! 

Bruce and I totally photo-bombing this fun group! 

Dani Wex and her beautiful momma Mary!

Once inside the Emmy's getting ready for dinner! 

Can't tell you how much fun it was meeting these guys! 

Besties forever! Love this girl! 

This is what they served for dinner....

and dessert! (I liked the dessert best!)

I can't tell you how hard my heart was beating when it was our turn to be up for the Community Service Emmy.... You want to win so bad but you are happy just being nominated. Sadly we didn't win but not many people can say they have had an Emmy nomination! It was a really cool experience and one I am honored to be a part of! 

Sorry this picture is really blurry but what an amazing group of people! Congratulations to everyone on the Emmy nomination and just because we didn't win doesn't mean we will stop doing what we love! After all... it's for our veterans!

One of the sponsors was Skinny Girl wines... I took the two bottles on our table home to remember this evening! Looks good with my special collection! (No I don't drink wine but love wine bottles)

We even got "Emmy Swagga" 

I truly can't even tell you how much this whole experience has meant to me. To be around some of the most talented, passionate, caring and compassionate people that we all have something in common has been wonderful! I hope 2014 brings just as much fun 'cause sugars... count me in! 

 I found this picture on the main page of the Mid-America Emmy's website... this was from 2012 when we surprised Sarah Hill by attending the event to cheer her on! (She ended up winning an Emmy for interactivity!)