My goodness, what a busy few months! Since my last post, I have had fun as a pageant-mom, holiday hostess, friend, and student!
My pageant-mom update includes a BIG WIN for my little Mady! In November, she competed in a Miss Heart of America Pageant (run by the fabulous Valerie Sweely). Mady won the Queen title for her division, and will be doing another of Val's pageants in May, Miss Crown Jewel. She will also be competing in June for Colorado American CoEd. This is a wonderful system and I encourage you moms to check it out for your daughters! http://www.colorado.gocoed.com/ !
As a holiday hostess, I had a great time having friends over for a holiday party in December. It was the beginning of an awesome time of the years! What a wonderful few months, celebrating the holidays with people that mean so much to me! For thanksgiving, it was off to Alamosa, CO to celebrate with my parents and my brother (in from Cincinnati), and a fun dinner with my in-laws, as well. For Christmas, we flew to Tucson, Arizona to meet up with my parents and brother again - and stayed with my great aunt and uncle, the "pair of jeans" (Gene and Jean!). We came home for a cozy Christmas Day at my in-laws' house, and then it was off to Copper Mountain for New Year's! PHEW!
The Nackerud family also welcomed its newest addition ... a 2010 Dodge Journey! :-) As Mrs. American Queen, I don't do a lot of "endorsing", but I do think I can give "shout outs"! We really enjoyed our time at Mike Naughton Ford, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a vehicle. We sure have enjoyed ours! :) Although, explaining to your three year-old that it is not okay to put her dirty feet on the upholstery has proven fairly difficult!
As a friend, I got to watch the MISS AMERICA PAGEANT this past weekend with great friends! Jennifer Lew, Anna and Ashley Berry (Ashley is Mady's "sister queen"!), Brenda and Makayla Fletcher, Holly Nugent, Angela Cartlon, and me and Mady all watched as Miss Nebraska took the title! Wow, how cool would it be to be Miss America at 17? Way cooler than prom queen!
School is back in session for me and I am keeping myself both challenged and excited. There are lots of things to learn in the nonprofit world, and I am excited to be sharing some of my new findings with the BEE board, this Sat. (Jan 22) at our meeting. We will be refining our programming and looking towards the future!
Speaking of the future ... I don't really do "resolutions", but I do think as each year comes and goes, we have an opportunity to evaluate where we are in life and "fine tune" some things! Here is what I am focusing on as 2011 continues ...
1. I want to support more music and art.
2. I want to go swimming more!
3. I want to sit quietly and read books, with no cell phone or computer to temp me.
4. I want to accept that, for now, I am a busy mom and full-time grad student, and can say, "no" to extra stuff that comes along.
5. I want to remember that I am smart, and intelligent, and capable - and can officially start ignoring anyone who disagrees with me.
6. I want to workout not to lose weight, not to win the next pageant, and not to "look better", but because it feels good and I want to be healthy.
7. I want to play more Barbies with Madelynn.
8. I want to say, "yes" more when nonprofit organizations ask for a few dollars.
9. I want to smile more ... and mean it.
10. I want to take the time to pray for people, and I mean really pray, because people need it.
Blessings to you and yours this year! Remember that Jesus Christ has a mighty purpose for your life ... trust His heart!
JNACK
