Freedom to be Fearless

Like many Americans, I have spent the last 24 hours filling my belly with yummy summer time treats and burning off my finger tips with short fused firecrackers. The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate with lots of traditions, a time where we celebrate our nation and our freedom. We are all extremely thankful for our freedom, but recently God has really been pointing out to me just how lucky we are to have the freedom to worship Him openly.

For those of you who don’t know, I competed for the title of Miss Missouri 5 times. The first few years that I went to the pageant, my prayer was that God would be with me, but as time went on I felt the the need to, not just have God by me, but to have Him work through me. This became prayer: “God, speak through me, radiate from within me. Let others see you when they look at me. Go with me in that interview and go with me on that stage and allow your words to be heard, your beauty to be seen, and your love to be felt.” Two years ago as I was praying this prior to the pageant I felt God telling me to start on evening devotional to be held in the evenings during the week of the pageant.  For a while I ignored this prompting, thinking that people might think I was all high and mighty or a  ”Holy Roller.” I knew the devotional would be beneficial and I knew it wouldn’t be a big deal, but I was still afraid of what people might think of me. Wow….looking back that seems really silly, I was afraid of what people might think of me?! There are countries all around the world that do not allow the Good News of Jesus Christ to even be uttered. There are people who risk losing their lives to worship. Everyday there are people around the world aggressively proclaiming the love of Jesus even if it means torture or death; yet, here in my comfortable U.S life I am hesitant to hold a little evening devotional because I am afraid of what people might think of me. A difficult lesson for me to learn, but one that I am so thankful for being revealed to me. We cannot be afraid to speak out about the greatness of God, because here in the United States of America we have the freedom to do so and through a relationship with God we have the freedom to be fearless in every walk of life, because God has given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and love, and of sound mind.

-Syd

Oh and just in case you were wondering, along with the help of several other contestants we began the tradition of evening devotionals during Miss Missouri week. To say that God has blessed those gatherings would be an understatement….just wait until you hear some of the awesome things He did during the week!

A Happy Homecoming

So, I drove into town (El Dorado Springs) this weekend and was overwhelmed by the support of my wonderful hometown. Just beyond our first of three stoplights I saw a fantastic surprise; there, stretched across the lawn of Brower Real Estate Office was  a 25 foot banner reading, “Home of Miss Missouri 2011-Sydney Friar!” I could not believe what I was seeing! I pride myself on being a far from emotional sappy girl, but I will admit…a few tears welled up in my eyes, and just as I was blinking them back, I caught my name again! This time in bright red blinking letters I saw the words, “Congratulations Miss Missouri 2011-Sydney Friar!,” scrolling across a marquis in front of our State Farm Office. I drove around the corner to get a closer look and as I pulled back onto the highway, there I saw my name again! Flying up on a flashing sign, running by after the local real estate listings in front of  our Caldwell Banker’s local office. From the moment I entered town till I pulled into my parent’s house I couldn’t wipe off the ridiculously cheesy grin that had managed to plaster itself across my face.  Once I got home, however, I learned that I hadn’t seen all of the messages displayed for me, so I jumped back in the car with my family to find two more congratulation messages; one outside of Mid-Missouri Bank and one outside of my high school. As much as I hate to admit it, I was giddy, knowing that I had the support of so many members of my community was overwhelming. After a quick tour through town I got cleaned up, threw on my crown and sash (which by the way,I  still get goosebumps every time I do that), and met Harold Fugate from Fugate Motors outside of town. As if he hadn’t already done enough for me by sponsoring a car for me for the year, he also agreed to drive me into my welcome home party. I knew that I was supposed to come in with Harold in a convertible, but I didn’t realize that I would also be receiving a police escort into the party…I felt so official!!! So, here we go, driving into town with the lights flashing in front of us…and once I again I am fighting back tears! Lined along the highway are community members, friends, and family with signs, whistles, and cowbells (More Cowbell! …You will understand that if you watch SNL)  cheering me on. We turn the corner and head down Main Street and just as we peek the hill, I see crowds of people standing midst our quaint, historic downtown cheering for me. Ahh!!! Well, as hard as I had tried to be tough this whole time…I could no longer hold back the tears. This was the most extraordinary display of friendship I had ever experienced. I felt so blessed to have an entire community of friends! We entered the party, that was beautifully decorated and deliciously adorned with yummy cake and punch sponsored by all of the El Dorado Banks. Thank You!!!! I’ve always wanted a cake with my face on it  200 people came out that night to show their support for me. In a little bitty community of 3,775 people, 200 friends came to hang out. Wow! I couldn’t believe it! I wanted so badly to make it around to each and every person to thank them for their love and support, but I just couldn’t make all the rounds. So, if you are reading this and I didn’t get a chance to talk to you on Saturday, just know that your attendance meant more than I can say! My fingers would fall off before I could type enough exclamation points for me to express  just how exciting this whole weekend was for me. To my fellow El Doradians, truly, thank you for loving and supporting me and for never giving up on me. I am so blessed. And for all of you out there who are from a small town and think that it is just awful to have everybody knowing your business, let me correct you. To quote my older but smaller sister, Ashley, “For everyone to know your business is a great asset, because here, we have 3,775 friends to grieve with us in the hard times and 3,775 friends to celebrate with us in the joyous times.” So, El Dorado, there have been all too many times when we have had to grieve together, but for these moments, thank you for celebrating with me. I love you!

-Syd

Check out my facebook page to see pictures of the Homecoming!

From East to West

After 1,500 miles of traveling on the Eastern side of the state I have headed back to my fellow west-siders! Today I had a fantastic interview on KCTV5 in Kansas City. Perhaps my most entertaining interview yet! They surprised me, on-air, by requesting that I yodel for them. So I hope that made for an enjoyable wake up call for all you KC folks. Tomorrow is a work day for me. I will be working away on my Miss America paperwork…wow, can you believe that?! I am going to the Miss America Pageant. Such a surreal statement. Someone today compared my situation to winning the lottery, “You keep buying a ticket, hoping that you will win, but do you actually think that you ever will?” In a way, that has been my experience. I have competed for five years and have wanted this title for a lifetime. I have reached and reached for the crown, but I don’t know if I ever thought it would actually happen…but it did. I won the lottery, my dream came true, and what a beautiful reality that dream has turned out to be. I am truly blessed, and I am realizing more and more every day how true that really is. Saturday I will be going to my homecoming party in my hometown, El Dorado Springs, MO.  My hometown is easily one of  my biggest blessings. They have been the best group of cheerleaders I could have ever asked for, and there is no question in my mind that I could have never done this without their support. I am so proud to have made this accomplishment, but in my eyes, it was a team effort. I love my hometown and I love my family. So excited to be heading back their way.

-Syd

Miss Missouri Facebook and Twitter pages are officially up and running. Follow me to find out where I’ve been and where I’m going! Facebook: Miss Missouri 2011 and Twitter: MissMissouri11

Midway through the Media Tour!

Today was a fabulous day in Central Missouri! It began at 5am when I left Mexico, MO . After a drive over to Jeff City I kicked off the day with a radio interview, then I headed over to Lake of the Ozarks for another radio interview, and finished off the tour back in Jeff City with a TV interview. I regained my energy with a fantastic lunch at Roly Poly….soooo good After that I jumped back in my car and headed over to St. Louis. I have had an absolutely lovely night here, with some great company. We had a yummy dinner and took a boat tour around a local lake. Now I am gearing up for the big photo shoot tomorrow!

-Syd

One Week On The Job!

Hello All!

One week ago today I was sitting on the living room floor of my host family’s house discussing, with the Miss Missouri board, what the year ahead would look like for me. This was the most surreal moment of my young life…I was sitting there, in awe, thinking, “Wow! This has actually happened to me, I am Miss Missouri.”

The night before I had just been crowned Miss Missouri 2011 after 5 years of competing for the title. After a warm greeting from my fellow contestants, several media interviews and fabulous post pageant celebration with the pageant volunteers I had been swept away to my new host home in Mexico, MO. That night I barely closed my eyes…I just laid there, in disbelief that my childhood dream had actually come to fruition. I woke up the next morning to realize that it was, in fact, a reality; the crown and sash were still there on the night stand. I slowly got out of bed and put myself together for the day, trying so hard to drink in every second. Already, at the age of 22 I feel as though my life has flown by, thus, I tried so hard to savor every moment, knowing that in an instant my year would be over. I went down stairs and greeted my family, my host family, and the members of the Miss Missouri board that would be helping me prepare for the Miss America Pageant in January. The meeting was a perfect prelude to my first week on the job. As I like to say, both can be described  as, Pleasantly Overwhelming

Wow! What a fantastic whirlwind of a week it has been! My first priority was a brief trip home to attend my cousin’s funeral. He suddenly and tragically passed away during my week at the pageant, but knowing that I still had the support of my family to chase my dreams gave me the push I needed to fulfill my goal. With smiles, and tears of sadness and joy my family sent me on my way. Before I left, however, I had to pick up my new wheels! Harold Fugate at Fugate Motors in El Dorado Springs, MO has sponsored my new ride for the year. Thank you Harold!

I jumped in my cute little car and hit the road. I kicked off my reign with a media tour across the state. Already, I have done interviews for radio, magazines, newspapers, and televisions in St. Louis, Lake of the Ozarks, Columbia, Jefferson City, Branson, Springfield, El Dorado Springs, and Mexico….not to mention I just threw out the opening pitch in STL at a Cardinals v.s Royals game, and I made it over Home Plate Phew! And I’m not slowing down, folks, no siree! The next week looks pretty similar to the last, so be watching and listening to see if I end up in your neck of the woods!

What a blessed journey this has been. Lord, thank you for the countless lessons you have taught me and will continue to teach me through this wonderful organization.

-Syd