A Morning with Colorado and Company

A Morning with Colorado and Company

It was an exciting morning as I was invited to be a guest on the 9 News show Colorado and Company.  As Mrs. Colorado, I am fortunate to have amazing sponsors and one of them is the famous Dr. Raj Terkonda.

A true specialist – Dr. Raj TerKonda specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. He is one of a handful of surgeons in Colorado who have completed a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and is double board certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. He is also a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Surgeons (FACS). Dr. TerKonda gives his patients comprehensive care of the face, ranging from from noninvasive procedures such botox and fillers to full surgical rejuvenation for the aging face. He also performs reconstructive surgery for facial injuries, deformities, and skin cancers.

Dr. Terkonda recently received the 2011 Patients’ Choice award. This award honors physicians who have made a difference in the lives of patients. Each year hundreds of thousands of patients rate their doctors and those doctors who have near perfect scores on these patient evaluations are selected for the patients’ choice award. Only 5% of all physicians in the US recieve this honor.

In all of my thirty five years, I have never had compliments on my skin like I do today. I was the lady who used bar soap as my facial regiment.  I know, horrifying! After only 3 months of using Dr. Terkonda’s facial recommendations, I have had numerous people stop me and compliment me on the texture and glow of my skin.  Thank you Dr. Terkonda for making me feel so confident about my skin!

Look for his ad with my photo in this month’s 5280 Magazine!!

The Amazing Staff of Dr. Raj Terkonda

Emily Stark and I at the Studio

 

A Princess Party

I was so excited to be invited to attend our dear friend's daughter’s fourth birthday party. It was a Princess Party at a puppet theater in Littleton. Being a mother of two boys, I jumped at the opportunity to spend a morning with little girls in princess dresses. I presented each girl with a sparkling tiara and each little boy with a King's crown. My oldest son helped me get ready and even escorted me to the party. It was so cute. I was so honored to be part of a fabulous princess party!

Me and the Birthday Girl

Come Join Me This Sunday, October 7th at the Race for the Cure

Race for the Cure at the Garden of the Gods

In Colorado Springs

With my dear friend Shauna, in Aspen- We ran a 10k

 Come Join the Races, Oct 7^th 2012- Let’s Fight Breast Cancer Together

I have been fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to speak and participate in several Susan G Komen Race for the Cure events in Colorado this summer/fall.  As many of you know, our family was impacted with the horrific disease, breast cancer.   Breast cancer does not discriminate, it does not have to run in your family to be contracted, and it can touch anyone of us.

Please join me this Sunday, October 7^th 2012 as we walk to fight breast cancer.  I will be speaking at 6:20am during the Survivor Breakfast, will run the 7am competitive 5k, and then will walk the 5k.  Please come and participate in all or one of the events. Please contact me and let me know which race you’ll be attending so that I can give you our meeting location. 

• To register, please visit:  http://www.komendenver.org/site/PageServer?pagename=rfcd_race_homepage

• Click on the Register button

• Click on Join a Team

• Type in The Queen Team as the team name and then Mrs. Colorado as the Company Name

Thank you in advance for your participation and I can’t wait to see you there!

Pink Hugs and Good Wishes,

Mrs. Colorado 2012

A Great Weekend Supporting A Great Cause

A Great Weekend Supporting A Great Cause

We had a great time at the Stop Child Trafficking Now (SCTNow) race this past weekend.  SCTNow was formed to make an impact in the fight against child sex trafficking—A problem that has been deemed as a growing issue in our nation, and nations around the world—one that needs every voice and every nation to rise against it.

SCTNow seeks to protect and deliver children from this heinous crime, by focusing funding on efforts on stopping the demand (buyers, predators, traffickers).

SCTNow believes that focusing efforts on stopping the demand has the power to interrupt the cycle of supply, demand, and distribution, resulting in fewer predators, and ultimately fewer victims.

SCTNow realizes that while a focus on the demand is necessary, child trafficking is a complex, multi-faceted issue requiring a comprehensive response. SCTNow’s Partnership Program funds other non-profit organizations providing shelter, care and victim services.

A huge thank you to the ladies who were able to attend!! Even though I did not WIN the stiletto race, it was still fun!!

To learn more, please visit: http://www.sctnow.org/

With Some of the Fabulous Mrs.Colorado 2012 Contestants

 

The Wonderful Chocolate Gala

On behalf of the Rocky Mountain Childhood Cancer Foundation (RMCCF),  Emily and I were blessed to attend the First Annual Chocolate Gala.  This event assisted funding to help families with children diagnosed with cancer.  All proceeds from this event help the organization support local Colorado families in their time of need and it is a foundation that I fell in love with.

That evening, we viewed fabulous silent auction items and listened to heartfelt stories from families who were personally devastated by cancer.  My favorite speaker was the young man in the photograph below (19 years old).  I first met him when I stood at the entrance of the Gala, greeting guests as they entered. He approached me and asked to take his photo with me.  I did not know who he was at the time but was delighted by his request.  We began talking and he shared that he was the keynote speaker of the event.  He also shared how nervous he was to speak in front of such a large crowd.  I gave him a hug and told him that I knew he’d be great. 

With the Keynote Speaker, A True Hero

Emily and I sat at our table and enjoyed the scrumptious dinner, good conversation, and entertainment.  Then it was time for the program and the young man I early spoke with walked gracefully to the podium.  His words flowed with ease and confidence and I was proud of him.  He then told his story of how he was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 17; he was a senior in high school.  My heart immediately felt heavy and the lump in my throat throbbed.  He spoke so calmly and smoothly as he gave personal details about his battle with cancer. I couldn’t help looking at his family who sat at the table next to me and just thought, I have no idea how they have dealt with this pain.  The thought of watching you child suffer is just heart wrenching. He was truly a hero to me, standing up there with so much courage. In his speech, he explained that his mother had to quit her job to take him to chemotherapy every day. They were behind on their mortgage and bills were piling up. He then shared that this is where the RMCCF stepped in and helped his family with the burden of trying to make their monthly payments like the mortgage, electric bill, heat, car payment, gas, etc.  I am happy to say that this young hero is in remission and enjoying life.

The teams at RMCCF are trained to step in and make a decision and move quickly to help ease some of the financial stress that families find themselves in at this devastating time of their lives.  If you are interested in donating money to families struggling with their child who has cancer here in the Denver area or would like to learn more about this foundation, I encourage you to visit the link below. This is an organization that I will personally be supporting forever.
To learn more, please visit: http://rmccfsite.org/

Chill... Girl, You Got This

I got an email yesterday from a dear friend of mine asking me to give her some advice on how to manage it all.  I am not the best at time management, but, I have had to get used to juggling a lot of different aspects of my life.

Balancing being a wife, working mom, professional, and being involved in the community can be a challenge.  Throw in making time for workouts, helping kids with homework, cooking healthy dinners, etc., it can be darn right overwhelming at moments.

Recently, I had what I call a “Moment.”  I was completely overwhelmed.  My husband of twelve years (not the first time he has witnessed this) calmly looked at me and said, “Honey all the things you are stressed about, you brought on yourself.  We have a great life, now get up and deal with it.  Put a plan together.”  And just like that, he was gone.  I remember laying there, the tears stopped and it was like those words were the reality I needed to hear.  That was it, I needed to put my big girl pants on and get a plan together.

From an accumulation of articles, blogs, advice from friends and my own project management skills, I have come up with some useful strategies for making it all work without going crazy (well for the most part). So… here it is.

Get Sleep, this is easier said than done but I have found that if I don’t get at least six hours of sleep, I am a wreck.  Eight hours is preferred but let’s get real, it’s not always possible. I have found that drinking tea before I go to bed helps calm my mind.

Workout Regularly- this is also easier in theory but it can actually work.  I use a monthly calendar and plan out my workouts in advance for the week.  I post that calendar on my desk at work and also on my refrigerator at home.  In addition, I sink it with my Outlook calendar so my schedule (my commitment) cannot escape me.  Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, I run with my girlfriend. We have a standing plan to meet at 5am at a particular corner in our neighborhood.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, I use my lunch hour to lift weights.  Tuesday’s I do arms and chest, Wednesday’s I do shoulders and back, and Friday’s I do legs.  Sometimes I will change it up but for the most part, that’s my routine.  I have also found that by having a buddy to workout with I am less likely to skip he workout.

For me, exercising can be the first thing I let go when I am stressed.  This is terrible because it is so self-defeating. I know a lot of moms in particular feel  guilty about putting themselves first, but, you absolutely need to because if “mama ain’t happy, no one is.”  That’s a funny saying but it is so true.  If you take care of yourself and feel good about “you” it will overflow into everything else that you do.

Plan Ahead- this one is huge.  First, plan your meals. This is part of keeping a healthy diet and I have found that if I don’t plan ahead, I am at the vending machines. I have gotten in the habit of using a couple of hours on Sunday to prepare meals for the week.  I also prepare my food for the week by putting meals into little containers and label them Monday thru Friday.  This makes it easy because your meals are ready to just grab.

Second, get the kids ready.  The night before school, I go through my kids backpacks and make sure they are ready for the next school day. This includes making sure their homework is in their backpack, water bottles and snacks are in place, etc. This really helps to avoid chaos in the morning.

Third, back your gym bag. I mentioned earlier that I try to work out over my lunch break.  I pack my gym bag for the week and just leave it at work. This includes clothes, a towel to shower off, toiletries, etc.

Fourth, lay out my outfit for the morning. The one thing that can be really frustrating is not knowing what to wear in the morning. Or knowing what you want to wear only to find that it was not sent to the dry cleaners or is in a wrinkly mess on the bottom of your closet floor.  Planning ahead makes all of this go so much smoother.

Create a Vision Board- some people may roll their eyes at this one, but, I love having a bigger vision of my life. I put all kinds of things on my board and keep it in a place that I can see every day. I have things on their like my dream house, a picture of a place I have always wanted to visit, etc.   This is a wonderful family exercise because it teaches children to focus on the positive. When I walk by this board, it makes me smile.

 

Have fun- a few months ago, I was sitting on the floor in our office with piles of paper, bills, etc. I was on a mission to get things done and didn’t have a lot of time to do it. My six year old son came into the room with his tool belt on holding his hammer and said, “Mommy, please come outside and play with me.”  Immediately I said, “No, I have too much work to get done and besides that I have already taken a shower and have my pajamas on” and kept on sorting through the piles of paper. He started crying, sat down and said, “You can come out in your pj’s.  Mommy, I just want to be with you.”  His words hit my heart like a ton of bricks. My eyes filled with tears and I thought this is not the way I want him to remember me.  I put down the paper I was holding, gave him a hug and heading to the backyard to play.  All this is to say, at the end of our life, we are not going to be laying there on our death bed wishing we could file that one last bill or work another day at that company.  Instead, we are going to wish for one more moment with the people we love. From that moment on, I have made a conscious decision to have fun at least one time every day. And yes, sometimes that means scheduling it in the calendar.

 
Finally... CHILL...Because You Got This
It's important to remember that everything might not work smoothly at first and not everything will go as planned. Don't be hard on yourself, we are only one person. I love the saying at the top of this post because it is so realistic and so true. Nothing will happen over night, however, with a lot of planning, dedication, thought and faith it will all come together. Just remember, nothing great comes without a few obstacles and most importantly...You Got This!

Filling My Soul

Filling My Soul

Me in the side car of a Harley

 I was blessed to be invited to the Veteran’s hospital to celebrate the Harley for Hero’s event.  This ended up to be an event that filled my soul with gratitude and gave me fulfillment that I would have never expected. 

It started off as a typical Sunday morning and I was still feeling the exhaustion from my long work week.  Selfishly, I remember I was even regretting committing to this event because I felt guilty for disappearing to another Mrs. Colorado appearance.

I arrived at the VA hospital and there were a sea of beautiful Harleys.  Men dressed in leather chaps and bandanas attended the bikes and filled the parking lot.  My eyes quickly were drawn to our heros, the elderly men who sat diligently in their wheelchairs waiting for their ride.  I approached one man named John and engaged in a conversation.  He shared his story of being in World War II and then asked to take a photo with me.  I instantly felt surprised that he wanted his photo with me?  He was the hero, not me…  I stood proud and humbled and it was an honor to take my photograph with John. 

I was so touched to have been given this hand made quilt

Later on in the day, I conversed with the Chief of Nursing.   As she shared her experience working at the VA hospital, she pointed out an elderly man that was being hoisted into the sidecar of a Harley.  She said, “Do you see that man there? He is a World War II vet and he has an amazing story.”   I leaned in and eagerly waited for more.  She continued to tell me that he was a veteran from World War II and was shot down by the Germans.  She said that when they (the German’s) got him, they were ticked and made him pay the price. They made him sit on a concrete slab for 18 months.  When the American’s rescued him, he returned to the United States and got his law degree. He was a founder of the CIA.  She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “He is our gem… or crystal… and it is an honor to take care of him.”  My eyes filled with tears and my heart swelled with gratitude.  It was at that moment that I felt the true power of the crown.  What an honor it was for me to give up four hours from my Sunday to spend with these amazing war heros.  My only regret is that I did not bring my ten year old son to experience this amazing event. 

QUEEN RUNNERS

The Mrs. Colorado Organization is a proud sponsor of the Stop Child Trafficking Now Campaign.  The annual stilletto/walk will take place on September 30 at Dicks Sporting Good Park at 9:00 am.  We have put together a group of walker/runners/racers and we would love your support.

Did you know...
Child Trafficking is the recruitment, smuggling, transporting, harboring, buying or selling of a child through force, threats, fraud, deception, or coercion for the purposes of exploitation, prostitution, pornography, migrant work, sweat shops, domestic servitude, forced labor, bondage, peonage or involuntary servitude.
Child trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. UNICEF values the global market of child trafficking at over $12 billion a year with over 2 million child victims. Men, women and children are all victims but, the most vulnerable groups, those with limited rights or protections, have been the hardest hit… especially children.
Trafficking children into the sex industry is done because there is a demand. Predators seek out vulnerable victims and lure them under false pretenses into situations they cannot escape from. No matter the reason, children have become sexual commodities to be bought and sold for the pleasure of exploiters. These children are scarred for life and need help – our help.

Can you help?  Join the group Queen Runners and support a worthy cause later this month. 

Sign up now, http://events.sctnow.org/site/TR?fr_id=1274&pg=entry

Join Courtney as she runs to stop child trafficking.

THE FINAL NIGHT AT MRS AMERICA

After eight long days of rehearsals, new friendships, and many pairs of fabulous shoes, the final night had arrived. I was on the stage at Mrs. America.  I could hear the cheers of “Team Colorado” in the audience and see the posters with my picture and name waving in the air.  At that moment, I had never been so proud to represent our beautiful state of Colorado.  I realized, standing there, that the outcome did not matter. Mrs. America was already chosen and we were all waiting for it to be revealed. It did not matter who got the crown at the end of the night because we had all made it this far. Each state sister standing next to me was just as deserving as the next and I knew it was going to be a challenge for the judges.  It was that moment that I decided to enjoy every second because I knew it would soon be over.

We performed our opening act and stood on stage as they called out the top 15 semifinalist… “Mrs. Hawaii… Mrs. Tennessee… Mrs. Alaska… Mrs. North Carolina… Mrs. Minnesota…” the list went on and with each state that was named my heart raced faster and faster.  They announced the top fifteen and I was not one of them.  My heart did hurt a little bit (I won’t lie) but I was truly happy for my sisters who had made it for each and every one of them is truly amazing. Mrs. Alaska was crowned Mrs. America and she was beyond adorablel. The crown had gone to the right girl and I was so thrilled for her.  I remember at that moment of truth, I looked out into the crowd and saw my family in the distance. My two boys had the biggest smiles on their little faces. My mom and sister were rushing to meet me with their arms filled with beautiful bunches of flowers.  My husband was beeming and "Team Colorado" was proud.  My heart warmed as I knew God was giving me the signal to remind me of what is really important, my family. 

I did not shed a single tear that night. I stood proud and felt honored to be Mrs. Colorado, a mom of two boys, a wife of twelve years, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and most importantly- HAPPY!

Janell Aims, Mrs. Colorado 2011, Me, Mrs. California- Lahoma and Mrs. California 2011

Me, Mrs. California, and Mrs. Hawaii

MY SUPPORT, MY FOUNDATION

In addition to “Team Colorado” my sweet family and friends arrived today. It was so exciting to get that text from my husband that they were in the lobby of the hotel.  I immediately kicked off my heels and ran to meet them.  My little boys, my handsome hubby, my dear mom, and my big sis all greeted me with huge smiles and warm heartfelt hugs.  Later that night we met up with our dear friends who flew in to support me as well. A huge “mahalo” to the Quirk family, you guys are terrific friends and so fun!

One of the many things that I have been made aware of throughout this process is the abundance of support that arises from the people who love you when you share your journey with them.  From letters to text messages, my friends, family, co-workers, pageant sisters, etc. have shown me such love and support. I am left without words, just gratitude.   

Me and My Dear Friend Tris

Me and My Sweet Boys

Me, My Boys, and Our Dear Friends, The Quirks



Darrell (My Hubby), Me, Trish, and Chris

My Dear Friend Renee

I Could Feel The Love

My Sweet Cheerleader



PRELIMINARY COMPETITION

Well tonight was the preliminary competition. It was so much fun and I tried my hardest to make Colorado proud. It was such a great sensation to be on the Mrs. America stage, feeling my best and seeing all the support in the crowd. As I stood on that stage with 50 other amazing women, I could not help but to feel emotional. Being at nationals is so different than any other state competition because all the women on that stage have won their state. We are all WINNERS!  It was less about the competition and more about the power of camaraderie.   What will happen on Wednesday night… well it’s already in the stars. 

Me and Janell, Mrs. Colorado 2011

Me and Sheli







TEAM COLORADO, SO AWESOME

Sheli, Emily (My Director), Shalon, Me, and Janell

Shalon Polson, Mrs. Colorado 2010, Janell Aims, Mrs Colorado 2011, and Sheli Silvius

Today team Colorado arrived and boy, what a feeling!  Our amazing director Emily Stark, my queen sisters Janell Aims and Shalon Polson, my dear friend Sheli Silvius, the fabulous makeup artist Kari Kish and last but not least my personal “hair master” and dear friend DJ and his amazing assistant Suzy!!  Oh the love was strong today! I kept thinking, I can’t wait till next year when I get to come and cheer on the new Mrs. Colorado 2013!!!

My Hair Master,DJ



The Fabulous Kari Kish





Me and Suzy

Mrs. Ohio, Emily, and Me

MY FIRST FEW DAYS AT MRS. AMERICA

We have been putting in long days but they are well worth the pain of blisters and sore feet! I meet my roommate, Mrs. Ohio last night and she is a doll. Her name is Deanna Holiday and I have already become incredibly fond of her. The best part about having a roomie is sharing the experience. You not only have a friend to eat lunch with, etc. but a partner to share stories, feelings, laughter and most importantly to make memories with. 

Me and Mrs. Ohio, Deanna Holiday

Our days have consisted of early mornings with lots of hair and makeup, breakfast from 7:30 to 8:30 and rehearsals starting immediately after breakfast. We have an hour for lunch and a group dinner.  So to sum it up, we are spending a lot of quality time together!

A huge thank you to everyone who has been sending me thoughtful notes, letters, and gifts.  It is the best feeling ever to receive a token of support from back home after a long day of being “on.” I have never felt so loved and supported.  Thank you!!

At the Diamond Back Baseball Game

Mrs. Hawaii, Me, Mrs. Ohio, and Mrs. California

With Some of My First Friends








MRS. AMERICA – WE HAVE ARRIVED

I arrived today to the beautiful state of Arizona! Cactus and amazing architecture are everywhere. I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to be here. Thanks to social media, many of us have been lucky enough to connect on Facebook prior to arriving.  With that said, Mrs. Washington, Jessica Riggs, and I coordinated our car ride to the Lowes Ventana Resort.  Our town Ccr driver was hilarious and a total expert on astrology!  Jessica and I had a lesson on astrology and now have a full understanding of why we, our family, and close friends act the way they do. Don’t worry, it was all good stuff!

I settled into my room and a bunch of us ladies met up for dinner at the Lounge at 6pm.  What amazing ladies I have met so far. Business owners, professionals, stay at home moms, yoga instructors, etc.  This is truly like a sorority of women coming together to celebrate our uniqueness.  Stay tuned…

At the Lowes

MRS. AMERICA HERE WE COME!

As I approach leaving for the national Mrs. America pageant, I am filled with many emotions. The biggest emotion is one of thanks. I continued to be amazed by all of my friends, family, and people in our community who have given me support and encouragement.  I have said this before and I’ll say it again, none of this would be meaningful if I were experiencing this alone. 

The Friday night before I left for nationals, I was blessed with the advice from my Mrs. Colorado Queen Sisters as they host a sendoff party for me.  A big thank you to Janell Aims and Tricia Dampier who have worked hard to plan every detail, which I have to say was “Fabulous!”  My stomach literally hurt from laughing as I listened to the hilarious stories, advice and recommendations for this once in a lifetime adventure.   A huge heartfelt “thank you” to Sharon Nuanes, my Queen Sister, who designed and sewed my adorable Hammonds Candy Girl costume.  Sharon is the type of person who gives the world and expects nothing in return.  Sharon, we are going to rock the costume portion of this pageant and I want you to know that the entire time, I will be thinking of you and how kind you have been to me.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Once again, I am reminded of how lucky I am to be part of this sisterhood.

A Huge thank you to my sponsors who have poured hours of blood, sweat, and tears with me.  Megan Anderson with Graphique Fine Art Photography, you always make me feel and look like a million bucks!  I will feel so proud to have my ad page in the Mrs. America magazine.  Your talents are incredible. DJ at Timothy D’s Salon, you are one of my angels.  You have believed in me from the beginning and your kindness is immeasurable.  I consider you a dear friend to me. Tiffany Yee and crew at The Body Statement Gym, thank you for keeping me on track and pushing this 35 year old, mother of two, to its full capacity.  You never let me give up and always push me to my limits.  From weight training to nutrition your team is always there for me.  I know that you believe in me, even when I don’t.  Thank you!  Dr. Raj Terkonda, you make my skin feel radiant!  I have never gotten compliments on my skin until now.  Athena at Rockstar Spray Tan, thank you for giving me that golden glow!  Raeanne at The Royal Image Boutique, you are my own fashion advisor.  Thank you for supplying me with amazing gowns for nationals.  Amy Nakos, what would I do without you?  You not only make sense of my mind but make me feel like I can conquer the world!  Christina Sacha, thank you for giving me a “one over” and sending me off with confidence.  To all my Queen Sisters, thank you for taking me in and encouraging me to stand proud.

As I sit here writing this, I am reminded of the movie Ms. Congeniality staring Sandra Bullock.  It really does take a crew of people working their magic (and some grinders) to transform a normal woman into a beauty queen.  Words could never be enough to thank all of the people who have supported me and I know I have missed many. I keep pinching myself and think …how lucky I am.

xoxo - Mrs. Colorado 2012, Courtney Graham

The Amazing Tiffany from Body Statement Gym

Me and My Queen Sister Sharon

Right before we loaded the car!

SEND OFF FOR COURTNEY

What a great night to celebrate Courtney Graham, Mrs. Colorado 2012, as she prepares for a journey of a lifetime, Mrs. America Pageant.  Thanks to the queen sisters for coming to celebrate!

And now you can follow us on twitter: @MrsCoPageant
follow us on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/MrsCoPageant
And visit the new www.mrscolorado.com website!

WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES



Me and My Son Hunter (10 years old)- His First Biathlon

My mom once told me, “You will never know how much you can love until you have a child.”  This statement does not mean to offend anyone who does not have children; rather I share it because it is something that resonated with me this weekend of the Foxridge Biathlon.   

Get up boys, get ready; we’re going to a biathlon!”  My two boys rolled around in bed and then slowly got up.  “What’s a biathlon?” asked my youngest son, Dane.  “It’s a race, similar to a triathlon but this one only has two sports, not three.  This race consists of swimming and running,” I replied. 
We continued to get ready and I asked my boys to wear their swimsuits.  Hunter, my oldest son, questioned, “Why do I need to wear my swimsuit?” 

“Because I signed you up to participate in the biathlon and I thought your younger brother could putz around in the baby pool,” I explained. “What?” He yelled!  “Mom, I didn’t even train for this!”  I chuckled and said, “I know, but, you’ll do fine. Its’ just a community event, relax!”  He looked nervous and excited at the same time and walked off mumbling something like, “my mom is crazy.” 

As any normal family morning routine, we took FOREVER to get moving.  I stood at the doorway of our garage and yelled for the boys to hurry up.  Moving with no sense of urgency, they approach the garage.  Hunter looks up at me as I’m wearing my banner and says in disbelief “Mom, you’re going to this biathlon as Mrs. Colorado?”

“Of course!” I responded.  “Mom, that puts a lot of pressure on me to perform.  I can’t believe you are doing this to me. First you sign me up without telling me and then you go as Mrs. Colorado?” 
I laughed and said, “First of all, you’re a great athlete and I wouldn’t have committed you to something that I knew you couldn’t do and second of all, why does it matter if I go as Mrs. Colorado?”  He quickly replied with, “Mom, I would have liked some time to prepare and everyone is going to be looking at us and they’ll expect me to win because I am your son.” 

“Oh Hunter, get over it and get in the car.  You’ll be great.” With that, we were off to the races.

We arrived at the biathlon and I registered Hunter to enter the race.  I looked over and saw him stretching and could tell he was psyching himself up to do this.   I walked over to him and reviewed what would happen once the race began.  He asked a bunch of clarifying questions, as he always does, and I was so proud to see him taking it so seriously. That’s my boy, a true competitor at heart. 

We stood by the edge of the pool and watched the adults compete. Hunter noticed a woman, who from the rib cage down, her body floated across the water. Her shoulders, pecs and arms did all the work. Her name is Ryan McLean and she is a world renowned athlete who is now paralyzed from the waist down due to a horrific car accident.  I can tell that Hunter was fascinated with her.  “Wow, mom she’s amazing,” he whispered.  I leaned down and said, “Yes she is.  For her to swim with only her upper body is not easy.  She had to work really hard to be a competitor after her accident.”  We finished watching the adult’s race and then it was time for the children’s heat.

The whistle blew and Hunter is off.  Swimming to his full potential, I was so proud. We stood at the edge of the pool yelling and screaming, “Go Hunter, you can do it!”  He finished the last lap, pushed out of the pool and ran to the transition area.  All ten years of him were fully engaged with the process of putting on his running shoes and gearing up for the big ONE mile race.  My heart gushed as I watched my little man take off down the running trail.  That timid boy in my car moments before was gone and a growing, confident, young man was sprouting right before my eyes. 


Dane and I ran to the finish line and waited his arrival.  Finally, there he was and we cheered his name and jumped up and down as he crossed the finish line.  He came over to us just radiating.  I threw my arms around him and told him how proud I was of him. We enjoyed the pancake breakfast afterwards and sat together with other contestants.   We noticed Ryan sitting with her friends.  Hunter looked up at me and said, “Mom, I just kept thinking, if she can do it, so can I.” 
On the drive home from the pool that morning, we were quiet.  I think we were all doing a lot of reflection from that morning, the race, and particularly Ryan.  As we approached the house, Hunter said, “Mom, thank you for making me do the biathlon.  I can see how things like this really make you feel good about yourself.  It was really fun.”   I smiled and my heart never felt so good.

 

WHO KNEW PAGEANT GIRLS COULD BUILD A HOUSE?

I believe the tradition started last year after my Queen Sister, Janell Aims returned from Mrs. America.  Janell is the kind of person who has the biggest, kindest, heart and always wants to help out others. So it was no surprise that after participating in Habitat for Humanity at Mrs. America, she came back and organized an event here in Colorado for the delegates of Mrs. Colorado to participate in.  I was not able to attend last year, but, this year I was there with my tool belt and all. 

I had never built a home before or anything really for that matter so I knew this would be an adventure.  Frankly, I was a little skeptical because I know my construction ability (it’s bad) and was concerned for the people who will be living in this house.  I figured that the other delegates and I were in good hands when I saw the slew of construction staff as I pulled up to the site.  Several of my sisters were there so my anxiety quickly lessened.  We started off with listening to the project manager explain the mission of Habitat for Humanity and then directions for the day.  We then finished the introduction part and joined hands for a prayer.  It hit me at that moment; I was being part of something that was huge.  The community was coming together, sacrificing their own personal time, to build a home for someone who desperately needed it.  What an honor to be part of such an event. 

That day, I along with my Mrs. Colorado “sister” contestants, put up drywall and painted rooms.  Others did things like install garage doors, seal windows, etc.  At noon, we stopped for the presentation of a new owner receiving her very first home ever.  Watching this family stand in front of their home and listening to them thanking all of us for our hard work was overwhelming.  It was such a privilege to be part of something bigger than myself.  All that sweat, prickly fibers from the drywall material, and anxiety of being a construction worker for a day was all worth it.  Who knew Mrs. Colorado could be part of building a house?

YOU'LL NEVER FORGET THE CATWALK

Being Mrs. Colorado, I am lucky to be invited to a variety of events.  Some are big galas while others are heartfelt opportunities working with charities in our community.  Late spring, I was asked to participate in the Mutts and Models fashion show at the Expo Center downtown and what a blast it was!  From outlandish tropical decor to fashionable pups dressed in gowns and bows adorned in their hair, it was an amazing experience. 

As I waited for the show to begin, I perused the program book and in bold letters it read “Celebrity Fashion Show” and then I saw my name, included in the list of celebrities.   I had to giggle as I thought, that’s funny- they are referring to me as a celebrity!  Continuing to giggle and a little flushed, I turned to my mom (my personal paparazzi) and showed her my name under the heading Celebrity.  She replied with, “You should save that one for the scrapbook!”

Back stage there was hair, make-up, and lots of beautiful outfits sponsored by Tommy Bahamas’.  By the way, I just love that store! I slip on their garments and instantly feel as if I should be lounging on a yacht. Oh, what a feeling!  As I sat back stage and waited for the show to being, I began feeling a little nervous as it has been some time since I’ve walked the catwalk.  Well, remember that saying, once you learn to ride a bike, you never forget how?  That saying apparently applies to the runway too!  The music started pumping, lights were flashing, the stage person raised her hand and the models were in line, ready to take over the runway.  I was up and I remember the announcer sounded just like the MC at one of those MMA fighting tournaments with that loud, drawn out voice “And heeerrrre is Mrrrrssss. Colorado 2012, Courtney Graham with her darling little Pebbles!”  Gosh, it sounded like he was going to continue with – five foot six and weighing in at 110 pounds (okay, I don’t weigh 110 lbs.!).  Anyway, his voice was funny!  The crowd started cheering and I started moving!  It was amazing; all that nervousness when out the window and my old moves on the catwalk came to fruition.  It was so fun!  My heart was beating so fast and I was shakin my “thang” as I sauntered down that runway.  Good thing my little Pebbles was nervous or I think someone would have had to drag me off that stage. 

I think my mom was right, this event was one for the scrapbook!

At the Mutts and Models Event

I loved the tropical

THE POWER OF A DREAM

Everything Great Starts With A Dream!

During my first couple of months as Mrs. Colorado, I was invited to attend Redstone Elementary.  I love this little school in Highlands Ranch partly because my children attend there but more importantly because of the wonderful teachers that fill the classrooms.  They have truly given my children the gift of a great education and love for learning. 

I was visiting the school as Mrs. Colorado and also to read my very own children’s book Be Your Own Dream Catcher.  At first, I was only going to visit my son’s kindergarten classroom thinking that my fourth grader, Hunter, would be too embarrassed.  Hunter caught wind of this and said, “Mom, come on, you’re not coming to my classroom?”  Like any mom, I jumped on the opportunity and said, “Of course I will, I just thought you’d be too  embarrassed.”  Oh, was I wrong. 

My Sweet Dane

Reading my Book

 I started my adventure in my son Dane’s kindergarten classroom.  The children were so excited to see me and I was incredibly nervous.  Wearing my sash, I sat down in the front of the classroom and displayed my crown on a table next to me.  A bunch of little girls ran over right away and one yelled, “Oh put it on!” pointing to the crown.  I laughed and quickly placed it on my head.  We took photos and then I let them try on both the sash and crown. As a mother of two boys, I had SO much fun helping them play dress up!  The teacher eventually hushed the children and I began talking about dreams.  I shared my dream of becoming a mom and also Mrs. Colorado.  I talked about how you have to work hard and have a plan make your dreams become a reality.  After reading the book, I asked if any of them had dreams. They all raised their hands at once, chopping at the bit to scream out and share their dream.  One little boy said, “I want to build a house made out of Jell-O!”  Another little girl said, “I want to be a princess just like you!”  A third little boy jumped up and yelled, “I have nightmares!”  They were so adorable, I had never laughed so hard in my entire life.   

The fourth grade classroom was hilarious too.  Even the boys wanted to try on my crown and of course thought it was hilarious to act silly wearing it.  After reading my book that’s essentially about making your dreams a reality, I asked the children to share their dreams and how they thought they would achieve them.  One little girl said, “I want practice singing every day and then enter America’s Got Talent.  If I do that, I know I’m going to win!” “Another little boy shared that he was going to study hard and become a physician.   I loved hearing the determination and ambition at such a young age.  After all, this is what achieving any goal is about- preparation, determination, and drive! 

The Fouth Grade Class

My son Hunter, Being Silly

At the end of my visit with the fourth grade class the teacher came up to me and said, “With budget cuts and pressure to have score high on tests we don’t make enough time to expose our children to this type of motivation.  This is the stuff that truly matters, thank you for getting them to think about their dreams.”  As Mrs. Colorado 2012, dreams matter to me.  I knew at this moment, I was doing a job that made a difference, sharing the power of a dream.