...and she lived happily ever after. The end.

The US Continental pageant journey is over.  I gave up my title in July, but am just getting around to posting some pictures.  Sorry these came a little late, but I wanted to make sure and wrap things up.  The pageant turned out awesome, and it was wonderful to spend the extended weekend with my "sister queens" and amazing director, Loreen.  I am truly grateful for the experience and know that the new queens this year will have the time of their lives!  Enjoy your "trip" to Salt Lake City, Utah!

With some teen delegates after lunch at California Pizza Kitchen.

They were totally trying to steal my crown!  No way, ladies, not until Saturday night!  Just kidding ; )

 

 Loreen and her fantastic sister, Sandy. We couldn't have made it through the pageant weekend without her!

She stopped me while I was shopping in Gap.  They just moved from FL to UT and were happy to see a good 'ole Sunshine State girl!  Woo-hoo!  Little ones are the best.

Rena and I before posing before the baseball game...and discussing our methods for the first pitch : )

Pictures with delegates at our BBQ Cookout before the big game.

My "first pitch ball," signed by most of the baseball players on the team!  I didn't do too bad...hey, I made it to the catcher, and "looked good doing it" (from a fellow pageant queen).  However, she also added, "Honey, that's why you wear a crown and not a uniform." LOL.  Too funny!

There were lots of people there to cheer on their teams, while others had too much fun being

"queen for a day."  She struck a pose and everything!  Cutie.

The Sunshine State representing in Utah.

With Marc Reynolds, a very well-known photographer.  Great pictures, even greater personality!  Kept me laughing and smiling the whole weekend.

Some delegates before their interviews (my favorite part).

  

Rena and I are all smiles before the big production!  Hair and makeup? Check. Crowns and sashes? Check.  Big, cheesy smiles?  Double check!

Mia has gotten so much bigger since I last saw her.  She's our princess for the national pageant- what a gorgeous and talented young lady (she danced multiple routines for the show).

The newly crowned Miss Teen US Continental, ShaDelle Barnett (who represented UT).

Well, since we're no longer "queens," we can goof off as much as we want...

Just kidding!  We did that all along : )

(Rena, Ms. US Continental 08-09 on the left and Kandice, Mrs. US Continental 08-09 on the right)

Former and newly crowned queens of the US Continental Pageant system.

Thanks for keeping up with me throughout my reign-it means so much!  I really appreciate all your comments and feedback.  Just so you know, I have recently started a new blog, This Is Me.  I felt that All that Sparkles was no longer appropriate without, well, the sparkles!  Haha.  So if you ever want to see what I'm up to, check out the site.  I still have some work to do as far as looks are concerned, but I'll get to that after the 50 MILLION chapters of reading I have for my classes this week.  Hope to see you around in blogland! 

Dancin' in the Rain

Many times my younger brother can get on my last nerve, and he knows just which buttons to push to send me over the edge. Yes, I believe that both he and Chase (my older brother) have conducted thorough studies on what makes me tick and what ticks me off, because they are quite talented when it comes to the latter. But, then there are moments when I just have to laugh and smile and enjoy the moment…like today. Today I walked out of the shop, only to discover the supposed-to-be-hard-at-work Dalton, playing in the “mini river” that developed as a result of heavy thunderstorms this afternoon. He was intently focused on floating the empty Pringles can, carefully observing its every move. Simple things like that make him happy. I love how he’s still just a little boy at heart. In a way, I think we are all just little kids at heart, wrapped in some older person’s body. What is it about rainy days that make me wanna go jump in a puddle or feel the rain coat my skin as I dance in the street? Maybe I’m weird, but I feel like I still haven’t grown up. I mean, who wants to anyway? It’s way too fun being a kid. Just sayin’…

Ramblings at Odd Hours of the Morning

It is Saturday morning….4:30 am to be exact. And while I have no idea why I am up at such an odd time, I would like to share about what's been going on in life, as I have been a little reserved from blogging lately. These past couple weeks, I've been reading a very challenging book entitled Set Apart Femininity, written by Leslie Ludy. This book is a calling to my generation to step up and be the women of God that He has called us to be. Through reading, I have realized just how wimpy and lazy American Christianity has become. Instead of relying solely on Christ for happiness and fulfillment, we do "the Jesus thing" plus whatever else we feel will make us happy. We live in a constant state of mediocre, riding on the fence. Lukewarm, in complete honesty. Ludy reminds me, "We cannot love both Him and the things that charm and ravish the world. We cannot be dazzled by the images of pop culture and captivated by the King of all kings." It's one or the other. We are always wanting more from the world and our fleshly desires, instead of trusting Christ to do the very thing He promises to do for us- be our Everything, our Sustainer.

We are supposed to look different, we are supposed to be radical, but the majority of us aren't. Non-Christians in the world look at us, many times, and see the very same characteristics they are harboring themselves. Why would they want to become a Christian, if they can just do their own thing instead of trying to juggle two things at once that still end up with the same result? I think a good point that she makes in this book is that God doesn't call just a select few to live a set-apart life for Him. He calls each and every one of us to lay down our own desires, shoulder the cross, and follow Him to the ends of the Earth.

As I've contemplated over the many challenging statements and the general message of this book, Satan began working. He saw my potential and immediately began using my mind as a playground to toy with me and stir up doubt. I was so excited when first reading the book and wanted to immediately put the ideas into practice daily. Then came the questions: Isn't that a lot to give up? Is it really that important? Leslie Ludy is a little too radical with this whole idea…you are doing just fine in your faith. Look at everyone else- why not have a little fun your own way and live a "Christian" life? That is exactly what Satan wants from me- a settlement. A state of mediocre, lukewarm- that will cause my Savior to "spit me" out of His mouth. While Christ calls us to lives of excellence, Satan is hoping we give into the easy way.

Honestly, I've been scared these past couple weeks. I've been scared that if I step out on faith and live radically…what will others think? Will it be worth it? A few times I've actually caught myself regretting that I read this book in the first place, like if I had never picked it up, it wouldn't be so heavy on my conscience. And through this all, I've realized that I normally care much more about what others think instead of what God thinks. That's just silly…I mean really, think about that. I'm saying that God, the eternal, everlasting God who created EVERYTHING in this entire universe and beyond- even the humans I'm trying to please- His approval isn't as important as the people's approval around me. Seriously?

"Don't expect a round of human applause when you choose the set-apart life. But remember that in its place you will gain something far better- a standing ovation from Jesus Christ." Wow. My Savior, standing up, applauding me? Pleased with how I've chosen to live? Why in the world would I sacrifice that for the approval of people around me? Fear. Fear that was planted in my mind by the Devil. He tried to scare me out of surrender- a word that has haunted me for the past few weeks. But yesterday, I realized that God isn't a God of fear. In fact, He offers quite the opposite- complete peace. He doesn't want me to live a set apart life for no reason- He wants me to do so because He knows me intimately, and He knows that that is the only way I will ever be fulfilled and happy, by keeping Him first. That's how I was designed- that's why I was formed: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Jesus loves me, this I know. Instead of running from Him at the sound of surrender, I should run to Him. For I know if I surrender my everything to Him, He will work in ways I never thought possible. The ordinary life is not for me.

"Trust me, my child," He says. "Trust me with a fuller abandon than you ever have before. Trust me, as minute succeeds minute, every day of your life, for as long as you live. And if you become conscious of anything hindering our relationship, do not hurt Me by turning away from Me. Draw all the closer to Me, come, run to Me. Allow Me to hide you, to protect you, even from yourself. Tell Me your deepest cares, your every trouble. Trust Me to keep My hand upon you. I will never leave you. I will shape you, mold you, and perfect you. Do not fear, O child of My love, do not fear. I love you." (Amy Carmichael)

HeTunes

I came home today and felt like just sitting down and playing my guitar, so I did. I brought it down to Fort Lauderdale with me for my last semester and picked it up every once in a while. Since I've been home, I haven't really devoted much time to playing, except for today. I opened my guitar case and got the tuner ready (because I knew it would need some fine tuning). Fine tuning….ha ha- that's an understatement. My guitar was so out of tune that the strings were registering under names that weren't even their own. Finding this quite humorous, I somehow drew this conclusion.

Lately, I've been feeling so "out of tune." Not that moving back to Lake Placid was a bad thing, but it has definitely required a change of schedule. I talked a few weeks back about how God gave me new friendships in Fort Lauderdale to be more dependent upon Him instead of on others. You would think that after all that drama, I would have learned my lesson. Apparently not. These past few days, I've been more concerned with spending time with friends or doing my own thing to even give God the time of day. And while it breaks my heart, because I know that deep down it isn't what I want, I can't imagine how much it breaks His. Reminds me of the "How He Loves Us" song. Mrs. Denise mentioned on Sunday morning of the incredible, unconditional, unending, undying, and passionate love Jesus has for us. That I even have the audacity to simply "fit" God into my day instead of building it around Him is just insane!!!

It's like Paul wrote in Romans about doing what he didn't want and not doing what he did want to do (that might have sounded a little confusing, but see Romans 7:14-25). Imagine going into a relationship and pouring hours and days and weeks and months of time, energy, love, emotions, etc. And then imagine the person that you have devoted all this to, just ignoring each and every gesture of love you sent their way. It would be heart-breaking, absolutely heart-wrenching. I can't imagine how it would hurt; yet, I do it to my Creator…more often than once! I know this is just the Devil trying to get in the way of my growth in Christ, but this time, I'm going to recognize the enemy and do something about it.

Just as a musician tunes up a guitar, so God will tune me up and set me back on the right track. I might not get there right away and I might bounce back and forth before striking the right note, but I'll get there. My tuner? His word. I am just so thankful that I serve a God who is the Master Musician, who has created a beautiful song for my life. Forgive me, Father, for thinking my own music is better than yours. You can't tell a guitar is out of tune by simply looking at its appearance, you have to pick it up and play it. In the same way, people can hide how they feel and pretend to be something they aren't. It might look good, but oh boy, is it agonizing to the ears! When we are out of tune with Christ, we can never be as we were created, no matter how good we look on the outside. A guitar can look like a guitar, but if it is out of tune, it doesn't make music the way it was created to.

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the fake, American Christianity. I'm tired of people pretending that they have it all together when they are falling apart. Isn't that what the church is for- to help the broken? To restore peace to the restless? To give hope for the hopeless? Isn't that what Christianity is about in the first place??? Every Wednesday, every Sunday, when we join together should be an opportunity for us to minster to each other, pray for each other- keep each other accountable. I don't think once someone at church has asked me how my devotional life is going; on that same subject, I haven't really done that much either. Isn't that silly? When we greet each other on Sunday mornings, maybe we can ask if we need to pray for something instead of just the "Hey. How are you?" We know the answer we'll get from that one- "I'm fine, how about you?" (Oh-how original- lol).

What if our church started acting like a church instead of a bunch of perfect people who were too busy to do what we were created to do? That might sound harsh, but that's what God laid on my heart. I'm just gonna say it right here- I don't have it all together, nor do I want to ever pretend so. But, Jesus can take my brokenness and use it, if I lay it at His feet. The little pieces that I have, He uses to create something amazing. For sure, I am a work in progress!

We have to stop living a life that is content with "lukewarm Christianity," myself included. I know that if we all really tune in to what Christ has in store for us, we'll be much more effective in reaching the lost and ministering to fellow believers. God never used perfect people in the Bible. If He used people that didn't need His help, He wouldn't get the glory. Look all throughout the Bible and discover story after story of people that did the impossible because God was on their side. Then He gets the glory, instead of us. Let's stop being fake. Let's stop living safe. Tune into what God has- and prepare to live the most incredible musical melodies ever experienced (each one unique and captivating in its own way)! When people hear the music, they can't help but be moved and join in- and soon enough, this choir of believers will be worshipping the Lord of Lords in a land far, far away from hurt and pain and sorrow, and everything else the world throws at us. In fact, these things won't even be in view. Let the music begin! : )

Last Day at the Club

This post comes a little late- after all this packing up, moving, unpacking, and getting adjusted to a new schedule. Just wanted to post these pictures from the Boys and Girls Club where I've been volunteering for this past semester (the second picture definitely tells the truth- lol). They have been working on a show called "The Mystery of Gachet," and have developed into quite the playwrights, actors, actresses, dancers, and vocalists. I'm sure their shows next Friday and Saturday will not disappoint! It was a great honor to be a part of their hard work for the past few months, and I look forward to working with them hopefully next year when I return to the Fort ; ).

If These Walls Could Talk

So, today, when I was in the library (my newest point of inspiration, as you can tell from my last post), I started thinking about moving. And to tell you the truth, it's gonna be a bit hard. This might sound dumb, but I'll sort of miss Room 322-yeah, the one that can barely fit two people in it ; ). This is coming from the girl who was ready to call college quits and move home at the beginning of the year. Boy, have I come a long way! Even a few months ago, though I was finally used to it here, I was actually considering transferring. As I sit here today, I wonder, "What in the world was I thinkin'?" God has done so many amazing things in my life this year that I can't even begin to describe.

Looking back, it's just so obvious that He was in every part. From sending me my angel roommate Shawn, to my amazing Mom who talked me through tough times on the phone, to even my church, Calvary Chapel, my story throughout this past school year is nothing but God-inspired. I have grown stronger and more deeply rooted in Christ, as I was separated from my closest girlfriends, who I typically relied on for support. Almost every night the first month or so, I would cry and cry and just pray for God to send me some friends like them. And He didn't. God didn't bless me with an amazing group of girls like my friends from Lake Placid. Though that was the desire of my heart, it was not the desire of His. He wished to see me stretch and build my faith, without being dependent on other people around me. He loved me too much to leave me the way I was.

How grateful I am that God sees the big picture and knows what's best for me, even when I can't understand! Sure, I've met friends, but not engaging in the same type of relationships I had in Lake Placid. God called me outside of my box to meet people who needed to know who He was, and praise the Lord, my new friend Jean came to know Jesus. My roommate Shannon, well, we're still working on her ; ). Just the other night, my teammate from my Persuasion class (yes, there is a class on that. lol) had dinner at Quarterdeck with me; out of nowhere, she began asking about my faith and said she wanted to come to church with me. Unfortunately, she couldn't make it this week due to finals, but I will definitely be making a trip down here this summer to go with her! God is at work here in Fort Lauderdale, and what a blessing it is to be a part of his miraculous plan!

Now, I see purpose in each day. I see purpose in every person that I run into. I finally realize that God orchestrates all this for a reason. I had always heard it, but never really lived it with conviction. Going into finals, I am so much more relaxed than I have ever been. Tina, a fellow LEAD 1 resident on my floor, said last night, "Why are you so peaceful? It's finals week, and you're not freaking out." No, Tina, I'm not. Because I have discovered a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that calms every worry and gives me a safe place to rest each and every moment. I know that I may face challenges, and quite often, challenges I can't handle. I have to pray through it and give it to God. It's all in His hands. When I really began believing that, it changed my life. When I really trusted that God allowed certain things to happen and other things not to happen, I was amazed. I used to stress out and get all agitated when things wouldn't work my way; but, now I know that if something doesn't happen, it is because God didn't want it to. Life just gets so much easier when you embrace that.

I know Room 322 didn't actually change me, but the lessons I learned at the feet of my Savior here make it hard to leave. When I surrendered to the One who knew me intimately before I was even born, I learned that He was much more capable of taking care of me than I was capable of taking care of myself. I'm not gonna sugar coat it and say it was all easy- it was hard. But the reward? Oh my! God's love unleashed, His blessings pouring down like rain, His hand evident in every move…that is something I don't ever want to live again without. The knowledge that my Savior sustains me daily is more precious than any college lecture I could ever hear.

If I could do it all over again, with the tears and the loneliness and the pain, would I? Absolutely, because I have never been more fulfilled or alive in my life.

If these walls could talk, oh, what would they say,

Of the college girl who lived here each and every day?

Would they recount the first months of her endless tears,

Or describe her confusion when faced with her fears?

Would they laugh at silly memories that often were shared,

Or tell of the routine that daily she fared?

If these walls could talk, and tell a story in time,

I believe that those listening would probably find…

That in her tears, she saw Light that shined brighter than the sun,

And in her fears, she found Refuge to where she could run.

She found joy and happiness not on her own,

But by trusting her Savior, who reigns on the throne.

She found a love that soaked deep in the depths of her heart,

And a God she could trust with her life, every part.

But if these walls could talk- not even they could detail,

Of the life that was altered day to day without fail.

No, not even they could understand the depth,

The importance of transformation occurring with each breath.

'Cause it's something she herself can barely, with words, capture,

A story so God-like, beautiful promise from disaster.

If these walls could talk, oh what would they say,

Of the college girl who lived here each and every day?

ADD? Just a little…

So, I'm sitting here in the library trying to get my exam reviews done before the week starts. And I just can't focus, but I think for now, this is a good thing. Remember in my last post when I said you should check out Kim Walker's song? Scratch that- check out her whole CD (Here is My Song)! I just downloaded it a couple days ago, and I can't get any of the songs out of my head, especially the ones called "Spontaneous Song (insert number here)". There are five on the CD. The best one has a line that continues to ring in my heart "I am my Beloved's, and He is mine." Isn't that just crazy? I belong to Him- I belong. Yeah, maybe at this college, I'm not the "cool kid" or the "popular one," or "the best dressed," but I have a place to belong. And that is wrapped up securely in my Savior's arms. He is mine forever. And as soon as I hear that, an immediate smile beams on my face and I am filled up with uncontainable joy. I just wish more people could see the God I've seen lately- His love has taken over my life, and I will never be the same. Each day, I learn of His goodness and drink deep of His strength, trusting Him more and more. Each day, I yield a little bit more until finally, I am free of these burdens and dance the dance I've always dreamed. No, not the waltz or the tango or the foxtrot. I've always had this image of happiness- when I hear the word, I think of myself as a child in a white sundress, spinning in a tall field of grass with hands held high to the sky and my face directed towards the golden sun- relishing in the moment, and feeling the warmth radiate on my skin. It's an instant of complete and utter happiness and purity, where nothing else matters. "I am my Beloved's, and He is mine." Kim Walker captures exactly how I feel in her songs- I love the little nuggets of truth sprinkled in the simple lines. Just when I think I've got it, God reminds me of another promise that blows me away. Okay, well, back to studying I suppose- that is, if I can focus ; ).