I’m Back!
Hello friends, I know, unless you follow me on Twitter and Facebook, you haven’t heard from me in a while, and you might be thinking, “Where in the world is Miss Missouri?!” Well, I am about to tell you where I have been. Over the last several of weeks I have been traveling on warp-speed all around God’s country…or some may call it Missouri. I have been touring on a 7 day a week schedule, so between a busy schedule, 1 broken computer, and stays in several areas without internet access, I have been unable to update you all on my adventures. Well, you are in luck because you are about to get all caught up in a montage style recap of my last month. After I quickly outline everything I will go back over and give you all of the juicy details of some of my favorite events. Ready? Here we go!
After we last spoke I was asked to speak at the District 10 DECA Fall Leadership Conference. In high school I was a state officer for DECA, so I was honored to be a part of such event. Keeping in the theme of school, I then headed to Columbia and spoke at the Missouri PTA State Conference about my platform of Reconnecting the Family Unit. At the end of the week I went to Houston, MO and crowned a new Miss Texas County! After that, I jumped in the car with my madre and headed down to Jonesboro, Arkansas to make my talent costume for Miss America. We worked with Shelley Kelley at Clark’s Bridal, and let me tell you, she is AMAZING! She completely saw my vision for the outfit and ran with it. It ROCKS! Can’t wait for you guys to see it-the only thing I will tell you is that is pretty edgy and totally Sydney! The next day I headed to my alma mate, Evangel University and spoke to the Public Relations 1 class about media relations. Love this school! I made a quick dash down I-44 to Joplin, changed out of my crown and into a hard hat and got to work! I was able to help with ABC’s Extreme Makeover:Home Edition to help build 7 homes in 7 days for some of the families who lost their homes in the May 22nd tornado. That weekend brought a change of pace when Miss Branson, Tippe Emmott, and I were asked to be guests at Balloons Over Branson Creek, a hot air balloon festival in Branson. I sang, signed autographs, and got to take an hour and a half hot air balloon ride over the Ozarks! It was breathtaking 
The next week gave way for even more life changing experiences. I started the week in Mexico, MO for Red Ribbon Week. I spoke in 6 assemblies at 3 schools about being yourself and avoiding peer pressure. I was then asked to speak at the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association state conference. These are men and women who work with kids all across the state in our juvenile justice system. Their efforts tie in perfectly with my platform, and my time spent with them really re-enforced just how important this platform issue is. In the same week I sang and spoke to the Missouri Association of Counties about the “family” role that we play as community leaders in the lives of the children in the community. That Friday night I hosted a fashion show at St. Louis Mills Shopping Center, promoting women of character. Oh…and it just so happened to be the same night that the Cards won the WORLD SERIES! Holla!!!! The rest of the weekend was spent at Lake of the Ozarks, where I hosted the Miss Lake of the Ozarks Pageant (Part of which, I wore my personalized Miss Missouri Cardinals jersey). On Sunday afternoon I had a blast doing a photo shoot for LO Profile Magazine with Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen and the newly crowned lake title holders. The pictures will debut in the December issue, keep an eye out! Halloween was a great day of appearances too! I wanted to dress as zombie Miss MO, but because I was headed to an elementary school I opted to go for the more traditional Miss Missouri look 
I read to kiddos of all ages, all day long…spooky stories of course! After a few days of Miss America prep work I went over to St. Louis to speak at a Rotary luncheon. What a great group! That Friday evening was a night filled with heroes. It was a Children’s Miracle Network gala in Columbia honoring the CMN miracle kids and families of 2011! The next day I got to hang out with more miracle families at Washington University in St. Louis. Every year this amazing school raises thousands of dollars for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through their 12 hour dance marathon fundraiser. I’m not even a good dancer, but this event was so fun! I kicked off the next week in Oklahoma City with some Miss America prep work…and I experienced my first earthquake ever! Ahh!!! Once back in MO I did an interview in Springfield with KOLR 10 where I got to meet the legendary Buddy from TLC’s Cake Boss! He was the nicest guy ever, and he said he will make me a cake if I win Miss America…if you are reading this Buddy, I hope you know that I will hold you to that promise. I spent the weekend in Joplin at a charity banquet, raising funds for Ascent Joplin, a recovery center for area men struggling with addictions. The event was called “Tuxes, Tiaras, and Tillis.” I was the “tiara” in the equation, but I was able to spend the evening with the fabulous Carrie Tillis, daughter of Mel Tillis. And finally, I spent the day yesterday in Springfield with the 417 Magazine team doing a photo shoot for their January issue. Look for me on the cover!!!
Phew! Woweee! Okay, hopefully from now on we will not encounter any further technological glitches and I will be able to keep you informed as I go. Check out the pictures in my gallery to see photos from some of these events
Love you all!
Syd
Never a Dull Moment
The last week has brought about a wide variety of experiences, experiences that I will never forget. Every day I am falling more and more in love with this job; it is always changing and never boring. Last Saturday night I had a great time at the Miss Columbia Pageant, and then snagged a few hours of sleep before I headed home. As soon as I hit the city limits I repacked my bag, I grabbed a plate of DELICIOUS food from the Friar Family Reunion and jetted off to Branson to attend a Tracker Marine Dealer Conference. This event was unbelievable! It was held at Big Cedar Lodge, a stunning resort nestled in the heart of the heart of the Ozark Mountains, and no detail was left unattended. I sang with a live band, met with boat dealers from around the world, took a trip on the Branson Belle, and celebrated a birthday. Tuesday, I traveled over to Joplin for a pep rally in support of the upcoming visit from ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover…speaking of that, I was selected as a volunteer! Next week I will be putting on my hard hat and work boots, helping to build 7 homes in 7 days for families affected by the May 22nd tornado. Midweek, I spent some time in Columbia, MO. I read to a group of pre-school kids and afterward, I hung out with one of my favorite people in the whole world, Margaret Romph. Margaret is an amazing 7 year old little girl who has been confined to a wheelchair since a car accident in 2009. I spent the afternoon with her in the pediatric ICU. We played games and took pictures making ridiculous faces-what a blast! One introduction with this girl will change your life. Despite her inability to move her arms or legs, she is never lacking a smile on her face. At the end of the week I was asked to spend some time at my alma mater, Evangel University. I judged the two day competition, EU’s Got Talent…I was blown away by all of the talented groups! I took a rest on Sunday and prepared for a busy, busy Monday. I woke up at 2:45 am Monday morning and headed to Kansas City. I spoke to four high school groups at Blue Springs and Blue Springs South High School. These were incredible kids, and after a great school day with them I headed to Belton for a breast cancer awareness dinner. Spending the evening with these women, these survivors was an incredible way to kick off the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Looking back on the busy week, I realize just how lucky I am to have a job that is always changing, but most importantly, it is a job that is always changing me.
-Syd
“Miss Missouri Defies Stereotypes”
The title of this entry holds more meaning to me than many will ever know. For starters, it was the headline for a front page news story in last week’s Joplin Globe, and when that article came out, I felt truly accomplished. You see, all of my life, I have dreamed of becoming Miss Missouri and Miss America, but I have never wanted to hold those titles if I ever had to be anything other than myself. I will always be the first to admit that, at times….okay, a lot of times, I am a bit of an odd duck, I am a total goof ball, and I love being just downright weird. And for that, I make no apologies. After years of struggling with with my self-esteem (a struggle that many people were not aware of) and constantly battling that inner voice telling me that “me” was not good enough, I have finally come to a place where I love being Sydney Friar. I love being wacky and zany, uncoordinated and clumsy, eccentric and unpredictable. I love that my best talents are yodeling and leg wrestling…that’s right, you heard me. I am obsessed with fashion, yet I hate shopping (I’m a huge bargain shopper and hate spending money). I am a pageant queen who also happens to be a rock star. I am a theater geek and a lover of football. I am an honor student and a smart aleck. I am a lot of things and I am comfortable in almost in any situation, but most importantly, I am always Sydney Friar and I am comfortable in my own skin. I am not a contradiction and I am not a chameleon. Quite simply, the way I look at it, none of us should be confined to one title or one stereotype. Why can’t we partake in a wide variety of activities, why can’t we be eclectic? We can. We just have to commit to being ourselves under any circumstance. Society wants to give everyone a label, society wants to put everyone in a box, but my advice to you is to step outside that box. After a pageant in one of my earlier years competing, someone said to me, “There is a box that pageant girls should be in..and you are waaaaaay outside that box.” I realize that this person had good intentions and wanted to help me succeed in the pageant world, but I am here today, telling you that I won the title of Miss Missouri being no one other than Sydney Friar. I never once stepped inside some box or tried to act out some formulated method to win. I won being me-wacky, clumsy, sarcastic, me. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Listen, I don’t care what you are doing or what your goals in life might be. There is no formula for success, but there is a formula for self-fulfillment, and that comes from always, ALWAYS staying true to yourself. Yes, I suppose that may sound a little cheesy, but I dare you to ask yourself, “Am I really being me or am I just being that person that others expect me to be?” It is crucial that we let our values and morals motivate our actions but we must never, ever sacrifice ourselves just to appeal to some stereotype. In this job, it is often heard that one must step out of the house looking like Miss Missouri at all times….hmm…what does that mean? Some may interpret that to mean that I must always walk around dressed to the nines, with my hair done up and my makeup painted on, but to me it means that I should always step out of the house being me, because for the year of 2011 Miss Missouri looks just like Sydney Friar and no other title holder before me. You see, I don’t want to fit into a pageant girl stereotype, nor do I want to fit into a theater buff stereotype, or a rocker stereotype…I don’t want to be confined by any stereotype. I want to have the freedom to be exactly me, not surrounded by any boxes or barriers. If I am constantly working to fit inside of some mold, I will not be the most effective Miss Missouri I can be, and after a lifetime of working for this job, that would be a truly tragic end to a story. So, to bring this lengthy message full circle, I had an incredible week of appearances, speaking in schools. And at the end of the week I captured a moment that I will always cherish; when a Joplin reporter noted that I defied stereotypes, won over my audience and related to the kids just simply by being me. Love yourself and be true to yourself-it is a simple message, but one that is so easily forgotten.
Syd
http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1243294830/Miss-Missouri-defies-stereotypes
One Day in Prison
At 10:45 Tuesday morning I unexpectedly stepped into, what would become, one of my favorite life experiences. I was invited to Vandalia, MO to speak to the over 200 inmates that are currently in the recovery unit of the women’s state prison. Although this was one of the appearances I was looking most forward to, it was also one that I was most nervous about. I wanted desperately to speak encouragement and hope into the lives of these women, yet knew that I would have to take special care in presenting myself in a manner that would be relevant. I did not want them the view me as some out of touch princess, I simply wanted them to see my heart and hear my message. I sat down to prepare a presentation for these women, but kept hitting road blocks. Every time I would begin the planning process my thoughts would become jumbled and my nerves would become rattled as I frantically tried to develop a message that was just what these ladies needed to hear. However, every time I hit another road block I felt God telling me just to rely on Him and have faith that He would speak through me. As difficult as it was for me to do, I did just that. I left the house at 5:30 am, without a single frill or sparkle and wearing very little makeup; I went being as real and as, simply stated- Sydney as I could be. I headed out on my 4 and a half hour journey to Vandalia without much knowledge of what I was going to say to these women. I spent most of the ride in silence, not even listening to the radio. I prayed and I listened. Suddenly, words began to come to me, an outline began to develop, and a message became constructed. Within a few short moments I knew exactly what I needed to say. My nervousness had subsided and the rest of the drive left me in a spirit of thankfulness, allowing me to just dwell in a state of peace. What an extraordinary feeling. I arrived at the prison and received a visual tour of the grounds and then found my place in the gym. Seats and bleachers were set up, facing my microphone down front. Soon enough the women all entered, some with smiles, some seemingly uninterested that Miss Missouri was speaking to them. One last time I prayed to myself that God would speak through me…and He did just that. I began speaking and, effortlessly, words just seemed to flow from my mouth. I looked around the room and watched faces as attitudes began to shift and interests began to peak. I spoke for about 30 minutes, but before I concluded I asked the women if they would mind to share some advice with me, advice that I could take and share with kids in our schools. I stood stunned as one women came forward, two more hands shot up, five women came forward…then ten….twenty…thirty. These women were eager to share their stories; desperate to inform others of why they shouldn’t get involved with drinking or drugs, why they shouldn’t waste time in unhealthy relationships, and why they should cherish their families and spend every ounce of their energy investing in the things that matter, like family and faith. Powerful messages were now seeping from the lips of these women. Life changes stories of valleys and victories, stories that need to be heard, stories that could positively shape the lives of future generations, stories that I intend to share. The women all eventually returned to their seats and when they did, the questions were now coming to me. They began asking me questions about being Miss Missouri, and let me tell you, when they found out that I sang Dream On, I scored MAJOR brownie points. They asked me to sing and they followed my performance with a standing ovation and chanting! I said, “Let’s hope the judges at Miss America feel the same way!” Throughout my 2 and a half hour visit we laughed and joked and hooped and hollered and even shed a few tears. Before I left I had time to go around and visit with most of the ladies, and I can honestly say that I have never felt more appreciated than I did that day. Each of the women that I spoke with were so thankful that I came and had nothing but nice things to say to me. These women have big hearts. They are good people who have just simply bad some bad decisions, but who hasn’t? We have all fallen short, we have all messed up, and not one of us is perfect. Yet, we all deserve forgiveness, we all have an opportunity to start again and we all have the ability to make a difference. I truly hope I can make the trip to Vandalia again to see these women, but even if I don’t, I hope they know that they have changed my life forever and my one visit with them has gone down in my books as a favorite life experience. I am inspired.
So Blessed.
-Syd
Espresso is the Spice of Life
The last couple of weeks have made for an exciting and busy chapter in my year. I watched my dear friend Tippe Emmott get first runner up in the National Sweetheart Pageant in Hoopston, IL. She was an absolute standout on that stage, I could not be more proud of the woman that she is, inside and out. Once returning from the eight hour trip I was able to speak to a women’s government group in Bolivar, MO with my local state representative, Sue Entllicher. I spent Thursday in El Dorado unpacking and repacking; one would be surprised how much time this can require. Friday morning I got on the road for Springfield to attend a one-of-a-kind event. Decade’s Vintage Boutique, a totally cute, retro store in Springfield, hosted a party on Commercial Street to celebrate the downtown revitalization. I wore a vintage dress and sang songs from the 50′s and 60′s, we took a tour in classic cars through the downtown area, and ended the night with a yummy meal outside. Such a fun night! After heading to bed around 11, I woke up the next morning at 5 so I could get to the Miss Metro St. Louis, River City, and Spirit of St. Louis pageant rehearsal. I had a fantastic time with 26 incredible young women vying for the teen and miss titles; congratulations to the ladies who are officially the first members of the Miss Missouri class of 2012 (Ahh! I hate to even mention that, I don’t want to think about my year being up!) After the show I headed back to El Dorado, where I arrived around 4:30 am…what a productive day! I saw all 24 hours of it! (*Disclaimer-I did have a place to say in St. Louis, no one encouraged me to make this trip. I just had to go home and pick up my momma so she could journey with me the next day!) The trip home was a breeze with the help of my trusty friends; espresso, energy drinks, and karaoke sound tracks. On Sunday, I woke up after a restful 4 hours of sleep, packed myself full of caffeine, and headed off to Branson, MO with Momma Rhonda for the MFA Oil National Convention. For those of you who don’t know, I am a spokesperson for MFA Oil this year (They are responsible for Break Time Convenience Stores and Petro-Card 24 stations). They have been a PHENOMENAL sponsor for me this year. I cannot sing their praises enough. That evening I had dinner on the Branson Landing with Tom and Jerry (The President and Marketing Director for MFA Oil, not the cartoon cat and mouse) and the board members for MFA Oil. What a great group of people! Monday morning I opened up their convention with God Bless America and returned to close out their session with a 30 minute song set. After, I enjoyed a feast with the hundreds of farmers/delegates there for the convention. I cannot imagine being surrounded by a nicer group of people. I headed back to Eldo to drop off my mom and hit the hay before my week really took off. What a fantasticly busy time in my life-I wouldn’t have it any other way! Love this job!
-Syd
Wise Words-Not My Own
This week brought along an unusual, yet unforgettable experience for me. I took a journey, deep into the heart of the Ozarks, to Branson. While there, I got to spend some time with one of the most extraordinary women I know, Debra Barnes Snodgrass, Miss America 1968, and I sang the National Anthem and entertained at the Miss Missouri Nursing Home Pageant. Now, I’m sure most of you were like me, you have never experienced such a show. However, this ended up being one of my favorite events of my journey so far! Each contestant in the pageant had an opportunity to go on stage and, essentially, tell their life story. Wow! These were incredible women. Women with stories of war, stories of love, and stories of family. These women had been through deep valleys and sky-high successes. They were abundant with wisdom, it was practically overflowing from each one of them. These ladies may have been in their 80′s and 90′s, but they were still soaking up every moment-living each second to its fullest. They were truly inspiring.
The next day I went to the Oaks Retirement Community, where I spoke about my platform and sang. This too was an incredibly rewarding experience. I was speaking to them, yet, we were exchanging knowledge throughout the entire event. We were engaging- we were communicating. Despite the age gap, I left Branson feeling refreshed, rejuvenated. These people did not let age slow them down, they were living lives more abundant than most of ours. These were extraordinary people.
There were many lessons to take away from these events, but the overwhelming thought that kept coming to mind was to cherish the wisdom of those who have more life experience than oneself. Their knowledge of the past can easily help define the future. For far too long there has been a stigma that older demographics cannot relate with the younger. That is far from reality. Yes, times have changed, but life experiences are essentially the same. We all desire love, yet have all experienced heartache, we all crave inner peace and some have found the secret, we have all experienced defeat and we have all felt the joys of victory. These are life lessons that are timeless, and the stories that accompany these lessons are life changing. It’s time that we stop acting like we have all the answers and start listening to life’s solutions that lie in the experiences of others. Listen to your neighbor. Speak your heart. Let’s bring back the lost art of communication.
-Syd
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen!!!
I just returned from an unforgettable trip to Orlando, Florida, where I had the incredible opportunity to hang out with 52 of the most amazing young women in the U.S. I flew in on Wednesday afternoon and took my very first cab ride from the airport to the hotel. This may sound trivial to some of you, but it was pretty exciting for me! We all (meaning all of the contestants) stayed at the Rosen Centre Hotel, which was GORGEOUS! Once there, I met up with my roommate, Miss Arkansas, Kristen Glover. We had a great time, such an awesome girl! That night we went to the second night of preliminary competition for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant. Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen, McKensie Garber did an incredible job performing her talent. Such an entertainer! Thursday, we woke up and each had a 60 second video shoot, explaining in our own words, why we should be the next Miss America. Watch for it, my friends! It should be arriving on facebook in a few weeks After our shoots we each had an individual makeup consultation with Artistry by Amway Cosmetics, the official makeup sponsor of Miss America. They gave us all kinds of goodies-thanks Artistry! We relaxed that afternoon, hanging out by the pool, and that night got all fancied up to attend a dinner party as a group, all 53 Miss America contestants. (In case you were wondering who the 3 additional contestants were, they are; Washington D.C, Puerto Rico, and the U.S Virgin Islands.) This was such a fun opportunity for all of us to get to know each other. After our yummy Italian dinner, we went to the next night of prelim competition. McKensie did an incredible job, this time, in her evening gown and onstage question phase of competition. I had a few moments to hang out with her after the show, where she was so excited, telling me that she had no regrets. She felt like she had done her best! You certainly made us all proud, girl Friday there was no competition, but all of the Miss America contestants got to go to DISNEY WORLD!!!!! Ahhh! This was soooo fun! We arrived before the park opened, shot promotional videos and even got to hang out with the characters-that never happens! Goofy and I hit it off-he’s even tall enough for me! haha After the photos and videos, we rode rides, and get this, we got to cut to the front of all the lines. Ahhh!!! Just when you think Disney can’t get any better! After hanging out at Magic Kingdom, we headed over to Disney Hollywood Studios for lunch and more promotional shoots. We concluded our Disney trip with a ride on the Tower of Terror-Best ride ever!!!! The day continued to get better when we went to dinner that night…at a breath-taking mansion. We indulged in the most delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres. YUM! We mingled and enjoyed wonderful entertainment from a Jersey Boys style group. What a night! Saturday morning brought along a pretty surreal moment for me. I, along with the other 52 contestants, attended our orientation for the Miss America Pageant, where we heard messages from Art McMaster, Sam Haskell, and Miss America herself. It was the perfect way to begin the wind down of a phenomenal week. Saturday night’s competition was fantastic, with the final results being the crowning of Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen as the new Miss America’s Outstanding Teen-Congrats! McKensie ended up receiving a full ride scholarship to Troy University for her accomplishments! Way to go! That is a huge blessing!!! What a fantastic experience it was. Now, more than ever, I am looking forward to the Miss America experience. I could not be more thankful to have ended up in this position. Thank you Lord
-Syd
Life is Good
Just when you think life couldn’t be any better, more blessings fall on you. Ever since I won the title of Miss Missouri it has become increasingly apparent that, after five years of working for the title, this was the year that it was intended to happen. Because of that, I suppose I should not be surprised that things have been falling to place, but I continue to be overwhelmed by the experiences that I have been given. The week began with a great start; I spent Sunday in Lake of the Ozarks attending the send off party of the fabulous McKensie Garber, Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen. She is going to blow us all away at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. Monday I had an opportunity to spend some much overdue quality time with one of my best friends Emily. We spent a little bit of time shopping and if you don’t know me very well you might not realize that, because I am total cheap skate, I am actually the world’s greatest bargain shopper. I’m going to give myself a pat on the back for buying six dresses and still staying under my budget of $40. Holla! Tuesday my prep team for Miss America picked me up in Joplin and we set sail for Oklahoma. We stopped in Tulsa for a reunion with the beautiful and brainy, Jennifer Hover White, Miss Missouri 2001. While there, I experienced the nerve racking process of the Miss America Lottery. This is basically a drawing done by Miss America to determine what position you will have in the Miss America Competition line up. Hysterically, I was the 48th person to be drawn in the line-up, but nevertheless, I still received a good placement J From there, we scooted on over to Oklahoma City where we had a lovely, lake-side dinner, then settled into our hotel for the evening. Rise and Shine! The next morning brought a multitude of surprises and dreams come true. First, we met with Sherri Hill, the unbelievably talented gown designer to pick out my competition gown for Miss America. I’m sure when I met her I probably had some kind of ridiculous, star struck look on my face, but I composed myself long enough to work side by side with her and her daughter to create the perfect gown. Ahh!!! I would never have imagined myself to get so excited over a dress, but this was an exception- I am in love! After that we went over to see Brian at Results Fitness. I was simply expecting to receive a one-time consultation, but to my surprise, he decided to sponsor me for the competition. Oh my gosh, this guy is good! After one week of his fitness and nutrition plan I am already seeing results, and you can even work with him online! Seriously, if you are looking to shape up, he is the man to see. Thursday was a blast! I went to St. Louis for Dairy Queen’s Miracle Treat Day, where proceeds from all of the blizzards sold go to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH). I hung with an awesome miracle kid, John, who received the help of CMNH as young child and is now healthy as a horse J What a blessing to see lives changed through such an extraordinary organization. Friday I headed back home to Eldo and went out to visit another fabulous sponsor, Harold Fugate, at Fugate Motors for my third oil change since winning. Phew! That’s a lot of miles! He has sponsored my car for the year and has been nothing but accommodating since the win. He should be the poster child for honest business people. Saturday I was back on the road. I ended up in Jefferson City at the West Missouri Optimist International meeting. I spoke to their group about the role that a civic organization plays in the lives of children in the community as an extension of one’s family unit. This was the first opportunity for both of my parents to come along with me on an appearance. Other than getting lost about three times, we had a blast experiencing a taste of my job together. Truly, this was a blessed week. Headed to the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant- I’ll keep you posted!
-Syd
Weekly Recap
Last weekend ended splendidly with the wedding of two of my favorite people, the new Devin and Kylie Wright. I headed back to El Dorado after a fantastic reception and woke up early for a very special church service at home. The congregation threw a party and dedicated the day to their new Miss Missouri. The entire service was Missouri themed, from the music to the decor. They will never know just how moving that service was-Thank you all! Love you! I repacked that afternoon for another fast paced week and hit the hay before I hit the ground running. Early the next morning I headed to Columbia for a hair appointment, then jumped over to Mexico. Tuesday morning Mama Pat and Ms. Jackie picked me up and we ran around Mexico delivering thank you’s to all of the sponsors. At 1:30 in the afternoon I met Lou and Linda at the new City Manager’s office to discuss my platform and fill him in on the details of the pageant. That evening I went to the gorgeous Victorian home of Dean Meyers and spoke the PEO ladies about my year thus far. At 9pm, after the meeting I made the 3 hour trip back to El Dorado Springs for a quick photo shoot and repacking.
Phew!
Wednesday I did just that, had a photo shoot with Randy Brunton and repacked before I headed back to Columbia. I was in Columbia by 10 am for an all day fashion show for NAFA. Before the day was over I jumped on over to Kansas City to attend the wedding reception of another one of my favorite couples, Tyler and Lori Hillsman, at Union Station. By 10:30pm I was back on the road, headed to Mexico. I woke up and got back to Columbia by 9am for an autograph signing at a Missouri Trappers event, and by 12:30 I was in Mexico again; this time for Miss Missouri Bootcamp. This was an opportunity for girls who want to compete to come and learn the ropes. There were classes on walking and modeling, and discussions on talent and interview. Shelly Kelly was even there to show some of her fabulous dresses! What a successful day!
This morning I have to pack my bags and get on the road to get to the lake. Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen, McKensie Garber is getting ready to leave for Nationals and today is her send off party! Good luck girl, you will be fabulous-you have what it takes!
It has been a busy busy month and half, but I wouldn’t change that for anything. I am having the time of my life! 55 days in and 51 appearances down. Loving Life
-Syd
Tragedy and Triumph
Today, like every Sunday, my whole family got together for lunch. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, spouses and friends all gather round a feast of home cooked food to indulge in a delicious meal and delightful conversation. Sometimes we talk about old family traditions, sometimes we talk about current ventures, and often, we talk about the memory of loved ones who have gone before us; cherishing the legacy that each one has left behind. In the last few weeks, however, we have grown even closer as a family, cherishing the memories of our most recently passed.
For those of you who do not know, during the week of Miss Missouri we have four nights of competition. After the first night of the competition I had completed my personal interview, evening gown competition, and on-stage question. Along with this, our evening bible study had been a great success and each of the contestants had commented on the peace of the week. In my five years of competing, this was easily my best experience yet. I was eager to see my family at the reception after our first competition, and eager to share with them all of the week’s early happenings. Before the reception ended my mother and sister pulled me aside, instantly noticing a shift in their demeanor, I was nervous to hear what might come from their mouths. “We have to tell you something serious now, ” my mom said as tears began to well up in her eyes. My sister chimed in and proceeded to tell me that our first cousin had suddenly and tragically passed away that morning, at the age of 33…my heart dropped to my stomach…”how could this have happened?” So many thoughts and memories flooded my mind….”this can’t be real.” If you know my family, you know that the lines between cousins and siblings are blurred. We were all raised in the same town, we were all surrounded by the same people, and we were all at the same Sunday lunches. To say this was a tragic blow in the middle of my week was an understatement. How could I keep going? How could I make it through the rest of the week? How could I not be with my family when we needed to be together most? …well it was in these moments that I was reminded why my platform of reconnecting the family unit is so important to me. Calls and texts from my family came rushing in the next day telling me to keep going, to keep chasing after my dreams, to not give up. “We are praying for you, we are praying for everyone. ” It was that encouragement and faith in God that brought me through the week, and it was my family’s belief in me that made me work harder than ever to chase my dream. I was no longer doing it for myself, I was doing it for my family, my team.
I was able to make it home from the pageant in time for the funeral and was given a warm greeting by my family. We smiled and we cried. Never have I been on such a roller coaster of emotions as I was in those few days. I was experiencing some of my highest highs and my lowest lows, but most importantly, I was experiencing the ride with my family. Immediately after the funeral I had to get on the road to begin my new job as Miss Missouri, but I knew I had the love and support of my family as my travel companion. Midst the vacancy of losing my dear cousin, I left the funeral feeling full of thankfulness. My family has always been extremely close, we do everything together, we are truly each others best friends. Despite great tragedy, I know my family can make it through because we will always have each other. Not everyone has been lucky enough to experience this, but everyone deserves this, and that is why I am more passionate than ever to promote my platform of “Reconnecting the Family Unit.”
-Syd
