October events

Hi all, sorry it has been so long since my last update! I am looking forward to my appearance at the Kansas City Walk Now For Autism Speaks event at the Kansas Speedway. It is this Saturday, October 16th and the walk starts at noon. I will be there early to help with registration. You can still register or donate at www.WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.org/kansascity. I worked with this organization this past summer at an event and they are doing great things to raise awareness about autism and fundraise for a cure! Families with strollers and wagons are welcome to participate in this 2 mile walk.

On Saturday October 23rd I will be at Church of the Resurrection's Sacred Steps 5k Run/Walk helping with late registration and presenting awards. This annual event raises funds for widows, children and orphans living in poverty in Africa. Register or donate at www.cor.org/missions/beyondkansascity/sacred-steps-5krunwalk.

On a personal note, I am looking forward to shopping for a cause at the Junior League of Kansas City's annual Holiday Mart on October 21st. This event raises money for local children's charities and is one I look forward to every year! On October 23rd, I look forward to celebrating my friend Hailey Johnson's remission from leukemia with a costume party! Hailey was the 2010 LLS Girl of the Year. It has been a joy getting to know her and her family this past year!

Birthday Week

Hello family and friends! My birthday week was fun and exhausting! My virtual food drive ended up providing almost 1,000 meals to Harvester's Community Food Network in Kansas City. Several of us went down to the warehouse and sorted fresh fruits and veggies that were donated to Harvester's. I have never seen so many bell pepper, tomatoes and jalepeno peppers! We accomplished alot in a few short hours.

I enjoyed a birthday lunch with my dear friend Sherri Hoover, dinner with my family, and a girl's night out celebration on Thursday evening with my small group from church. We laughed a lot this week! Looking forward to being in the Overland Park parade in the morning. Will post parade pics soon after!

September events with Mrs. Kansas US

Happy September everyone. I have been busy with both girls in school, dance and volleyball! I ran on a relay team on September 11th in The Patriot's Run benefiting the Salvation Army in Olathe. Our team placed 5th overall with over 50 miles ran!
I also went on a kindergarten field trip with Lexi's class to Louisburg Kansas to see the Cider Mill. We saw how they make the cider and delicious apple donuts! I can't believe I live so close to this and have never been before!
This weekend I am preparing to celebrate my 40th birthday at Harvester's Community Food Network in Kansas City. My mom is coming into town to help us celebrate and about 40 friends are donating their time to celebrate my birthday and give back to our community. I have a virtual food drive at http://www.stephaniesbirthday.harvesters.org/. So far, friends have provided over 800 meals through my virtual food drive! I am also blessed to celebrate my 16th wedding anniversary on September 17th. Sixteen years has flown by!

Finally, I am looking forward to being in the City of Overland Park 50th Anniversary Fall Parade on Saturday September 25 in downtown OP. I am riding in a blue convertible Corvette and will be towards the end of the parade!

Dr. Bridenstine's annual customer appreciation event

I had the privilege of being invited to attend Dr. Bridenstine's celebration in Lenexa this afternoon. Dr. Bridenstine is one of my Mrs. Kansas US sponsors. My girls enjoyed playing on all of the inflatables, dancing, and the picnic of course. It was wonderful to see Kim McDowell and her daughter Megan there too! They drove in from Wichita just to attend this event. Dr. B invited the Lenexa fire department to come and the kids got to explore the fire truck and ring the bell.

I was also able to help out some wonderful young women from the University of Illinois in Chicago, who are working on their thesis studying beauty. One is a plastic surgery fellow who is using computer technology to help disfigured children rebuild their faces. The other is earning her doctorate in orthodontia and studying how jaw structure and tooth alignment affect the face and lips. I know I am not doing their work justice in my brief explanation but it was amazing to see how their research will help children all over the world have a more normal life through reconstructive surgery.

Here are a couple of pictures from this afternoon!

Touch A Truck Event in Overland Park

Today I was invited to attend the City of Overland Park's 50th Anniversary at a special event called "Touch A Truck." This event had several community helpers such as the police department, fire department, EMS, OP Bomb Squad, Animal Haven, Wayside Waifs, KCPT, Johnson County Library and so on. The event was free with food donations to Harvesters. They had over 5,000 people attend! Needless to say, I ran out of lollipops and autographed pictures for the kids about half way through the event! I saw so many young children climbing through fire trucks, buses, ambulances, you name it! I was so happy to see so many friends and their children enjoying themselves this afternoon! I even got to meet the Mayor of Overland Park. Here are some of my pictures from this fun day!

Autism Speaks & Race for the Cure

Hello all! What a great weekend! I was at Olathe Bible Church on Saturday helping raise money for Autism Speaks. I met one of their directors who has invited me to help out with the Walk Now for Autism Speaks race in October! They had a raffle, a car show, a BBQ contest, helicopter rides, pony rides, and tons of families at this event! Although it was hot, I had fun meeting people and seeing some friends in my community!

This morning I ran a 5k for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Kansas City. 28,000 people registered to walk or run in this event. They raised over $1 million dollars! I also ran my personal best time in a race of 26:56 and finished 23rd in my age group! Not bad since it was really hot and so many people. I was inspired by all of the survivors and reading the back of people's shirts where they listed who they were running in memory of. I have so many friends and neighbors who have fought breast cancer. What an awesome event!

America's Mrs. US results and other updates

Just home from Mississippi and the national competition. I did not win the crown but won first runner up. Congrats to Mrs. Kentucky on winning the crown! It was fun to see Kimberly McDowell and her wonderful family and meet so many new friends! Mississippi was full of trees, sunshine, and history. I had a lot of fun with my daughter Alyssa, Mom, and Dad.

I am moving forward! I will be at the Cruisin' Car Show at Olathe Bible Church this weekend from noon to 1:30. You can find me at the Autism Speaks booth.

I am really excited to do the 5k Race for the Cure in Kansas City this Sunday morning. I haven't been feeling that great but hope to be in tip top condition by Sunday. Can't wait to run with some girlfriends from Prairie Life Fitness Center in Olathe. Ford is sponsoring our team and I want to run to honor all of my friends and neighbors who have fought breast cancer.