Happy New Year and Happy Trails!

Happy New Year and Happy 2012, all! 

The year 2011 brought some amazing, wonderful things our way, and the Mrs. United States Pageant was no exception.  It was an honor and blessing to get to be a part of the system, to be a Vanbros Girl, and to experience such an amazing production.  To see Vegas for the first time was unbelievable.  To meet some of the loveliest ladies from the inside out was priceless.  I treasure those moments in time.

To have the responsibility of once again representing my state through pageantry was such a gift.

I want to thank each and every one of the many responsible for bringing this to fruition, making it unforgettable, and participating in creating this the vehicle for service to others being a titleholder is meant to be.  Too many to name, but you know who you are...my heart's gratitude goes to you.

And now I pass the torch...to a new year with new beginnings!

I hope you'll continue to follow me, along with my family, in our many endeavors through our family blog!

God Bless!

Anji Meidel
Mrs. Illinois United States 2011

Miss Illinois USA 2012

This past Saturday was spent being a part of the chaperone team for Miss Illinois and Miss Teen Illinois USA.  Ties were tied, zippers zipped, swimsuit glue...a-hem...glued...and wiped away...Chargers were kept off the girls' floor...Ever see a tiny, little 5 foot-something lady take on two professional football players, informing them that they are not allowed around a bunch of young pageant girls, no matter how famous they are?!  It's something!  ;)

I want to thank Bev Turkowski for thinking of me and inviting me to come help.  I am looking forward to being there again! To Jen, Sara, Michele, Robin, Emily, Erin and Patricia as well...thank you for being so welcoming to me and for being an awesome team to work with.  I enjoyed getting to spend time with you all!

My pictures are courtesy of Tim Kretschmann / PageantCast.com since I was way to busy to get any shots.  My thanks for the immense generosity!

http://www.missillinoisusa.com/

http://pageantcast.com/

Miss HispanoAmerica Illinois Pageant

I was honored to be asked to judge the Miss HispanoAmerica Illinois Pageant this past weekend. 
15 ladies vied for the prestigious title, to continue to the national and international pageant at the historic Apollo 2000 theater in Chicago, IL.  There were some amazing performances, dancing, desert table, and more all culminating to a successful first year for the pageant.

At the end, Yesenia Hernandez took the crown, most deservedly, and two special ladies claimed spots in the final four.  Sisters...one who wanted to compete, one not so sure, but did it for the sake of being on stage for their mother who is the final stages of breast cancer, and had always dreamed of seeing her girls on stage in this arena.  She always thought they were beautiful and wanted them to feel beautiful as well...they took the next two spots after Yesenia, and it was a moving tribute to the family.  What's really cool is that we never knew about this story until after the pageant! WOW!!!

My thanks to Victor and Al, directors of the pageant, for inviting me and believing in me to be considered "head judge", to Vicki and Derrick for putting on and helping in organizing a terrific event, to my fellow judges, for being strong, thoughtful, insightful people to pick such a great group of ladies, to the h/m team for doing hair for me, makeup and hair for others, as well as all the ladies competing, and to the entertainment for keeping things upbeat and rolling.

The rest of the weekend was spent shopping with Vicki and Andria, my two Miss Teen USA state titleholders (TX and NM), that are still lovely as ever both inside and out.  They are darling!  FYI...anyone who saw the Playboy Club on NBC got to see our Andria on prime time television!  She was one of the bunnies! And Vicki is now the new state director for Mrs. Colorado US!!!

Photos are from the pageant and from shopping...the girls were with me for my first UGGs purchase! I love and miss you!  

My thanks to the talented Steve Starr for my photo...and again to the H/M team for doing my hair for the event.  And yes, there is this weird photo of a lady bug cow on the side of the hotel across from Feast restaurant...if anyone knows what that's all about, we would love to know!  ;)

American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Walk - Lake County

I am deeply touched by the outreach and growth the American Cancer Society has created in Lake County...this year's walk for breast cancer was the biggest yet, and I was honored to be contacted by the Society to be a part of their event this year as emcee. 

I want to thank Katie Oshinski of ACS for calling me and allowing me to be a part of this again as a speaker ( not to mention putting together a top notch script), to Ann McNamara, VP of IL Division of Giving for coming to our Lake County event, to our top "givers" , Airica Steed and Brenda Roca of Condell Medical Center, and Sally Saraceno of Sysmex, and of course to our breast cancer survivor who spoke, Karen Sussman. Each played a huge roll in the event, not to mention it running so smoothly with our faithful DJ Chris Thelen.

We began the event in cold wind and rain, but by the end of the walk, the sun was peeking out and we had dancing galore!  Big thanks to everyone who came to walk and raise money for breast cancer through ACS.  Fun Fact: 95 cents of every dollar goes to funding research for cancer!!!

If you'd like to know how you can help support the Society's fight against cancer, or if you'd even like to be a part of the 2012 event, please see:

http://www.cancer.org
http://www.illinoiscancerhelp.org/

2 jackets +2 scarves (one thanks to ACS Boutique) + 2 thermal shirts = really good laugh, really great padding, and warmth!

I love these last two pictures.  You can see all the walkers in the distance on the gorgeous paths of Independence Grove.  And the last picture...sing it with me, now..."to the right, to the right, to the right..."  Still having fun after walking in the rain and cold wind! :)

Susan G Komen for The Cure

Saturday was the Race/Walk in Chicago, IL - Grant Park. Another opportunity to be there for breast cancer. And was I this year...sadly, no.

I had signed up, donations in, had my team, my shirt and bib, hotel picked out...and from the week's BC walk before, I was still battling cough, cold, etc. And as time brought us closer, it was evident that I had no business being there. I had every excuse to be there...meeting friends in the city, I made the commitment, I posted information on Facebook and I was not about to miss an opportunity...

And then reality and humility set in. Which is better?! To go through with it and get others, potentially BC sufferers in the mix, exposed to my illness and by all accounts get worse myself for the sake of blogging it?! (WHAT?!?!) Or to get better to go to the next walk, rest and get well for not just me, but for my family, which is my main priority anyway?!? (Um, duhhhh!!)

So I am taking time to blog the obvious. We can't do everything. We may attempt to appear like we can, but who is it really going benefit or impress? Not many, if any at all...especially if it can't be done the right way. And isn't that ultimately destructive to ourselves and others? That's not right, either. In the end, what matters is that we are serving others, and that God sees our hearts, minds and intentions...and is pleased with them.

May we be moved to do what we can with what God gives us. Let us not be the detriment that turns others away from Him in our efforts to succeed in this world...there is no success without Him.

I know, pretty preachy for a pageant blog...but if we can't do the right things when opportunities come up, share God, and be an encouragement to others in all we do and say, we shouldn't be doing them.

Matthew 10:33"But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

 

Walk for Hope for Women's Cancers

Today was spent in Glenview, Illinois as a guest speaker and ribbon-cutter for the 17th annual Walk for Hope.  The exciting thing about City of Hope is that it has expanded it's efforts from just breast cancer to all women's cancers.  I have been a walker, volunteer and guest speaker for a number of years for them, and I am grateful for each event and opportunity, as each one brings more funds and awareness to find cures.

We had rain and cold, but it could not dampen the spirits of everyone.  Especially the very gifted chair, Beth, who was ever so kind  enough to "share" her purple boa with me, and to the generous and lovely Karen Rolls, who once again coordinated my part in this event.

We had music, food, entertainment, over 1,000 walkers despite the weather, and of course a sea of survivors to make the event sweeter.

If you couldn't be there, you always can in spirit by visiting:

http://nationalevents.cityofhope.org/site/TR?sid=1140&type=fr_informational&pg=informational&fr_id=1430

to donate or volunteer.

I'd like to add, that there's nothing better than a sweet, older gentleman coming up to you out of the blue, saying, "Thank you...you don't know what this means to me and to my family that you are here.  You did a good job."

May we never forget that we are here for others...to help, serve and love.

Our Check-In Team, before the rain...

Getting the cover on...

Sweet Beth and me, hovering under an umbrella in between stage times...

Dancer's testing out the stage to be sure they wouldn't slip too much!

Blessings!

(Oh, yes, I look tired. I have been very, very sick all week, as well as my family...our daughter was kind enough to share her illness...and I had been up all night before with her and Eric...but duty calls.  :)  Praise the Lord for concealer and mascara!)

Miss Universe, Mrs. United States Way

Any pageant on TV must be viewed in comfies, with junk food and crowns worn in our house.  It is the only way to truly enjoy it!  More than 20 years and counting on that tradition! 

There were years when I held "pageant parties", inviting friends over for whatever was on (Miss USA, Miss America, Miss Teen USA...) and everyone showed up in jammies, we'd order pizza, and I would have nachos and everything fried, and the room was filled with crowns and tiaras. Because every girl should have some bling!  ;)

For Miss Universe 2011, it was no exception, and I really liked the crown I was wearing this year!  ;)