Mrs. South Dakota International 2007

The Mrs. International System is an organization developed to promote today’s married women, their accomplishments, and commitment to family and marriage.  The Mrs. International System’s mission is “To Make A Difference” in the lives of married women by giving them the opportunity to work with their husbands and families as positive role models. The Mrs. International Pageant was held at the North shore Performing Arts Center in Chicago, Illinois July 16th thru the 21st.  This was a wonderful and exciting experience for me as I met so many beautiful women. 

Each woman has their own reason for being a part of this pageant system….to be a part of something, by working together, to make a difference in the lives of others. 

The world’s system may dictate that there is but one winner, decided by a select group.
Let me continue by sharing a bit of my post-pageant time with you. 

It is Sunday, the day after the pageant ended.  I am tired.  I am hungry.  I am disappointed. A clear reminder that I am human.  You see, I did not win the title of Mrs. International 2007…I did not even make the top ten.  I tried to rationalize the disappointment in my mind, as the old cliché’s would ring in my head; “it just wasn’t meant to be”; “maybe next time”; “we’re all winners”.  (I must interject at this point…I  felt the leading and peace of God throughout the entire week of the contest, and I believed that I had the ability to win).   I tried to set the thoughts of the pageant and the outcome of it aside in my mind as my husband and I decided to catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

I sat next to my husband; so loving and patient, in allowing me to ‘work’ through this quietly in my heart.  He did not say a word, but his love and concern clearly displayed by the gentle, reassuring touch of his hand on mine.  He shared in my disappointment – his love for me.  I reminded myself that God had a purpose in this.  I tried to enjoy the game, visit with those around me….but my mind kept going back to thoughts of the pageant.  I went through a time of questioning…‘What did I do wrong? What could I have done differently?; Why wasn’t I good enough?’

As I reviewed the personal judging interview process over and over in my mind; and rehearsing my presence on stage, I began to doubt myself.  I began to question my abilities, my appearance, even my age…and not winning or even placing in the top ten took a stab at my self-esteem; and it started to slide.  This debate in my mind went on for about an hour or two.  I was feeling very low in my spirit when I turned to God in prayer.  It was at that time when the voice of God spoke to me and said… “Why do you look to man for approval?”  I knew this to be true. I am reminded that as a Christian, I am in the world but not of the world.  It is hard to be in the world but not of it, isn’t it?  We can find ourselves caught up in worldly thinking, and before we know it….it slips in. My identity is in Christ Jesus.  I am an heir to the throne of God, a princess, holy and acceptable to God through Christ Jesus, his Son.  I asked God to forgive me for my worldly thinking.  It was then that I heard the voice of God speak to me again; he said…. “I never intended for you to win; I sent you to minister and that you did, joyfully!”  WOW!I was reminded of the call in my life…a call by God to minister to the hearts of women. 

The opportunity to participate in this pageant system is a gift in many aspects. 

• I had the opportunity to meet 53 beautiful women from around the United States and the world.  Each one brought to this pageant for reasons known only to them in their hearts.  
  
• I was given the opportunity through this pageant system to pray for many.  (This does not happen in all pageant systems). 
  
• I have many new friendships founded in Christ.
  
• I walked away changed.
  

I am reminded of my identity….in Christ Jesus! 

I must offer my heartfelt congratulations to Rebekah Negrete, Mrs. International 2007!  What an incredible, spirit-led woman and my life is blessed by having met and been given the privilege to pray with this lovely woman.  My prayer for her is that God will continue to work in and through her as she brings glory to him in all she does.     

I believe I was led by the hand of God to participate in this pageant system for a couple of reasons.  First, to make a difference in the hearts and the lives of those women God placed in my path.  Oh, to be so blessed by God, to have a “front row seat” to his blessing by being available for Him.  I consider every day, every opportunity to minister, a blessing.  I was ‘blessed to be a blessing’ as these women ministered to me as well…I will forever remember those women and the times we shared…times of fun, laughter, joy, and prayer for one another.

Second, it is not about any person or group of people awarding a title…for me, it goes deeper than any title ever could.  It is about doing what I am called to do wherever I am. Whether I am at work, home, or with friends, I am called to love and to minister to others.  I believe it is also important to see what it is, in going through the experience, we are to learn by having gone through it.  I pray that it takes me to a deeper level of understanding of God’s love, mercy and grace…to make me a better person…to be changed.  God never wastes an experience…so why should we!

 My life will never be the same and I must thank God for this experience.

I am honored to be chosen to represent the beautiful State of South Dakota in the Mrs. International Pageant.  As Mrs. South Dakota International I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel across the state as well as neighboring states to share my story with thousands of men and women.  Each contestant has the opportunity to share their platform….something that they have a passion for in their life.

Please allow me to share my story….

You see this beautiful young lady? This is my daughter, Janessa.  She is the reason for the passion I have for my platform… the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women.

Janessa has SVT (supraventricular-tachycardia).  Janessa is 23 now, but at the age of 19 was diagnosed with SVT.  Let me take you back to when her earliest symptoms appeared. 

At the tender age of 8, Janessa began having trouble catching her breath while playing at school and in physical education.  Her P.E. teacher brought it to our attention.  I took Janessa to our doctor in the rural community where we lived at the time.  The doctor told us that Janessa had athletic induced asthma and was given an inhaler.  Janessa was born three weeks premature and was prone to upper respiratory infections when she was a baby, so I accepted the athletic induced asthma diagnosis.  When Janessa would play, it seemed that she had trouble catching her breath.  She was forced to set out and rest before resuming play....she would use the inhaler and cough continuously for several minutes after using it.  Janessa is a very active young lady and an incredible athlete. She always gives 100%...participating in softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball and track.  Janessa continued to use an inhaler through junior high school…always ending with coughing. 

At the age of 19, as Janessa was working in the Emergency Room at the hospital, she felt clammy and felt her heart beating quickly.  She looked down at her chest and could see her chest bounding with each of the fast beats.  Her pulse was 160 and an EKG was performed.  Several hours later her heart beat returned to normal.  She was referred to a cardiologist.  After several tests they diagnosed her with SVT.  Janessa had another episode where her heart rate was over 250 (normal is 60-80).  She was placed on a beta blocker to reduce her heart rate and later, an electrophysiology test was performed, but was unsuccessful.  Janessa remains on a beta blocker to control her heart rate. 

A couple of years ago I went to my doctor for a routine exam and an EKG in order for me to obtain a life insurance policy.  I was surprised when he told me that I had arrhythmias (abnormal heart rate) and then to find out that I genetically may have passed this on to my daughter.  I had no idea that I had a heart problem.  I, too, would get short of breath when climbing stairs, running too fast…even sometimes while just sitting still I could feel the irregular beats.  The arrhythmias didn’t happen all the time, so it was easy to dismiss the symptoms for something else.  I related them to thinking I needed more cardio in my workouts or maybe I drank too much coffee.  Today, I have moments when I can feel my heart beat racing.  Strenuous cardiac workouts, steep inclines like climbing stairs, walking up hill, and stress can cause my heart rate to become irregular. 

Now…..I listen to my heart.  I know my limitations.  I was wrong back then, and had I listened to my heart and what it was telling me, I could have found out sooner that I had this problem…that this was genetic, and thereby would have had my daughter treated sooner.  I have a beautiful granddaughter now, and I feel relieved that her parents know what to look for should she begin to show signs or symptoms of heart disease. 

My prayer for you is this….Listen, listen to your heart!

(Please refer to “Heart Health ” section for additional information; such as:  Am I living at risk?  What are the warning signs of a heart attack?)

I must thank my sponsors:  Dr. Jeff Loftus at Amazing Smiles, Whiting, Hagg and Hagg, and Brian Hagg.  It is because of their generous support that I had the opportunity, not only to participate in the Mrs. International competition, but “to make a difference” as I share my story. 

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