Don't forget!

Fall Back! Enjoy an extra hour of sleep tonight.
At 2 AM, you can set your clock to one o'clock.
I LOVE Daylight Savings Time (especially in the fall.) :)

2009 Tulsa Run

I ran the 5K this morning in the Tulsa Run! I feel great! This year's run benefited LIFE Senior Services and the YMCA of Greater Tulsa. Please visit the links to learn more about these wonderful organizations.

I was proud to represent Tulsa and the Mrs. Oklahoma America organization in this wonderful local tradition. I can't wait to do it again next year!

Happy Halloween!

Bobby and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!

Have fun and be safe tonight!

HallowZOOeen

With my partner in crime, Christy Brock

Last night, I had a blast at HallowZOOeen! As a volunteer game attendant, I staffed the Jack-O-Lantern Toss with fellow volunteer Christy Brock. Christy is such a sweet person. At the beginning of the evening, I manned this station by myself. I was going behind the jack-o-lantern, picking up bean bags, bringing the bean bags to the next child in line and handing out candy as prize, all at pretty much the same time. It was very fast paced, quite a sight and definitely amusing! Many parents helped by passing me bean bags. Someone noted that I am going to have great quads after doing all of those squats! LOL Then Christy came (my hero!) and we worked together to make the game as fun as possible for the kids!

Our station - The Jack-O-Lantern Toss

Bobby took this photo of me in our living room
I was a Mrs. Tulsa princess.

All of the volunteers were given the opportunity to dress up. I thought, "Little girls always ask me if I'm a princess. Why not just go with it?" I dressed up, wearing my crown and sash, with one goal in mind: to be as princess-like as possible. I brought two extra tiaras for the girls to try on and they loved them! My only wish was that I had enough tiaras to give one to every girl. It was so hard saying no when they asked me if they could keep it! I said, "If I let you take it, then no one else will be able to try it on." This is a lesson learned. Many people asked, "Are you the real Mrs. Tulsa?" I took lots of photos with ghosts and goblins of all kinds -- from scary princesses to witches to super heroes. The children were so adorable in their costumes and very sweet. They were generally very determined to do well in the Jack-O-Lantern toss and that was really cute too.

I was so busy working that I didn't have a chance to take many photos once the Pumpkin Patch Playroom got busy, but I have a couple of photos with kids that I took for parents who didn't have cameras. I emailed the photos to them just before I sat down to write this. At the end of the night, I was wiped out but the evening was a huge success! I think the kids had a great time and parents were happy to have a place to go where the kids can get safe candy. I can't wait to go back to the zoo to volunteer again next year. If you don't have plans, HallowZOOeen is also open tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Tickets are $6 for members and $7 for general admission.

Have fun and be safe tonight! ~ SMPT

With Two Scary Princesses

With a precious ladybug princess - so cute!

Tulsa Zoo's 20th Annual HallowZOOeen!

Join me tomorrow night, October 30, at Tulsa Zoo's 20th annual HallowZOOeen! I will be volunteering at this spooky, but not too scary Halloween adventure where boys and ghouls can trick-or-treat in an evening of safe family fun! HallowZOOeen is open on Halloween night as well. I hope to see you there!

Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum
6421 E 36th St N, Tulsa 74115
$6 for members, $7 general admission
6:30 - 8:30 PM

Coming Up November 13: Bethel Foundation's All American Idol

Oklahoma's Bethel Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting single mothers, is excited to announce its first annual "All American Idol" competition. The event will take place on November 13 in Oklahoma City at the Coca Cola Bricktown Events Center. The foundation was recently contacted by Megan Joy from the Fox Network's American Idol Season 8. Megan expressed her desire to assist in raising money for the organization that helps get single mothers back on their feet. This event will not only increase funds and heighten awareness for Bethel Foundation, but also give upcoming artists a chance to display their talents and take the next step in their career. There are some amazing artists competing on the final night. Please bring a guest. This event is open to the public.

The Bethel Foundation provides help for single moms - by helping moms to find temporary housing, complete the college application and financial aid application processes, and find work and pursue career advancement opportunities. The foundation also provides necessities in times of struggle. I remember my mom working full time, going back to school, and rebuilding her life, all of this while raising three girls on her own. I know she could have benefited tremendously from such a program and that there are many more women out there who can benefit from the tangible help and hope provided by the foundation.

Mrs. Oklahoma 2009 Heather Rouba and I have the honor of serving as judges for the event. Don't miss it!! Find out more and purchase tickets: All American Idol.

My Platform Has a New Name...Family Matters

My platform has a new name! I chose the name "Family Matters" because it encompasses my primary messages:

First, family matters:
(a) Children of divorce and children experiencing instability in their home lives are often unable to reach their potential in the classroom (academically as well as socially) because we as adults and as a community fail to recognize and address this family instability. This part of my message focuses on the problem and negative impacts of the problem of lack of support for children from nontraditional families.

(b) Children whose parents have a healthy, thriving marriage tend to do better socially and academically.

(c) A healthy, satisfying marriage enriches every area of your life. Individuals in self-reported happy marriages tend to do better in their roles at work, home, and in the community. Of course, happy marriages are rewarding in their own right as well. I believe marriage teaches us to be better people.

Second, Family Matters expresses that the solution to the problem is to discuss and address "family matters".
(a) Peer support and educator training focus on helping children accept the new family status, showing them tangibly that they are not alone, that how they are feeling is natural and that there are ways to help themselves feel better -- while helping the adults in their lives to guide children to develop healthy coping skills.

(b) The secrets to a happy, lasting, satisfying marriage can be learned! We can do so much to enrich our relationships including protecting our relationships from negative, eroding patterns of interaction, handling issues well, learning to solve problems from a teamwork mindset, clarifying and communicating our expectations and protecting and nurturing fun, friendship, sensuality, sexuality, and spirituality -- all of the things that make relationships wonderful.

(c) When we choose, as a community, to embrace the fact that family matters and educate ourselves, do our part, and make conscious decisions to make healthy relationships and guidance for children a priority, all of our community benefits. No man is an island. We're all connected to each other. The health of a family increases the health of our community -- and that is a beautiful thing.

My service goals are to
*to educate the community about the experiences of children of divorce and the need for relationship education,
*to offer individual and community-based solutions to help children and youth,
*to increase access to divorce support programming,
*to connect students, parents and educators to divorce support programming,
*to connect individuals to relationship classes,
, and
*to build on strengths to help students and families recognize their self-worth and develop a strong, healthy family identity, make healthy choices, and meet their potential.

This summer, I began research to start a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under this name, but I quickly found that that course of action is unnecessary. Oklahoma has MANY wonderful nonprofits and private / public partnerships that support families in these ways and others, including the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative, the Bethel Foundation, Blended Love, Calm Waters, Divorce Care for Kids, Divorce Care, Kendall Whittier, Inc., Family & Children's Services, and many more organizations throughout the state that do what they can to support families and help them gain or regain to stability. There is no need for another organization to compete for funding while trying to meet the same needs. Instead, I'm focusing on connecting people to these resources and working with existing organizations using the skills, knowledge and connections I have to try to help them achieve their missions and make their visions a reality. Please contact me if there is anyway I can help. Enough about me and my goals...I hope you like the new name! I will post developments soon!

Forever. For Real. at Stokely Event Center

I had a great time today at the Forever. For Real. one day event for engaged couples at the Stokely Event Center. Stokely is such a fun location! There were huge signs everywhere, and free arcade games available to our engaged couples. I had to play a couple of games of ski ball! It was a lot of fun!

Love was definitely in the air, as evidenced by a lot of hand-holding, kissing, and learning as we presented highlights of the PREP curriculum: communication danger signs, time out, speaker-listener technique, expectations, issues & hidden issues, protecting the good stuff, forgiveness, and commitment. Amanda Carter organized this wonderful event where workshop leaders Lauren Gould Alvarez and Terry Buxton engaged the crowd of 125 people. They are both such great speakers! OMI coaches Gary, Otis, Terra and I assisted and coached couples throughout the day as they practiced their new techniques. We also celebrated Otis's birthday! Happy birthday, Otis! I will post more on PREP content soon (when I have more time!).

"It's a such a God thing!" - my friend Hayden Rush
I had the opportunity to share my platform of divorce support and divorce prevention with all of these people. I feel that in the few minutes I spoke, my sincerity was clear. I had many divorced parents approach me about support for children of divorce in their schools and communities. I met new people and rekindled old relationships with others who have the same heart, people who recognize that academic achievement and social and relational development suffer when there is instability in the home. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think God is finally opening the doors to allow me to reach children of divorce through school programs. Please pray for receptive principals, wisdom and guidance, and success in establishing divorce support programs in schools! Even as we approach public schools with secular programs and Christian schools with Christian programs, I know that supporting suffering children and families is God's work. I pray for these children and families every day. This is my ministry. I can't wait to see what God has planned next! Stay tuned...As details are finalized, I'll let you in on the good news!

Calling all engaged couples!

.
The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative is hosting a one-day event, especially design for engaged couples! It's Forever. For Real., based on the phenomenal Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program. You can save $45 on your marriage license by attending while learning skills that will help love last. The event takes place tomorrow at the Stokely Event Center in Tulsa from 10 AM to 4 PM. I will be there coaching couples. I hope to see you there!

Click on the link below to find Stokely on googlemaps!

Stokely Event Center
10111 E. 45th Place
Tulsa 74146

Creed concert!

On October 9, Bobby, Bobby's best friend Ryan & his wife Kara, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dave & Melissa, and I attended the Staind/Creed concert! We had so much fun. Many thanks to Jaclyn Stapp for arranging our reunion! I love Jaclyn so much. She has a huge heart, is a wonderful role model, and is a lot of fun to boot! It was great seeing my one of my best friends from pageantry after years of staying in touch while living across the country from each other, and it was nice to finally introduce our husbands! Ryan and Kara weren't able to stay, but Melissa, Dave, Bobby and I were able to stay after the concert and meet Jaclyn & Scott in the V.I.P. room. It was so much fun! I could also go on and on about the music...It was a blast!

Thank you, Sedona!

Welcome to Sedona!

In August, I contacted Sedona Fitness & Spa about sponsorship. I feel so blessed to say that the management, including store manager Tracy Wood, welcomed me with open arms! Since then I have been working out regularly with my amazing trainer Derek Zabienski! I know my body will be Mrs. America fit in time for the state pageant! Derek and I do weight training three times a week, while I do cardio six days a week on my own. As for diet, I try to eat lots of green vegetables, fish and chicken for protein, brown rice and sweet potatoes for my carbohydrates, and plenty of water. I do sneak in an occasional skinny latte at Starbucks (a girl has to indulge sometimes!) but I will be cutting out all of the unhealthy stuff as the pageant approaches.

Thank you to Derek and the entire Sedona team for believing in me and giving me the guidance to get into the best shape of my life! We will post before and after pictures closer to the pageant...so stay tuned! Come work out where I work out! I'll see you at the gym. :)

New photos from my photography sponsor, Wendy Mutz!

Yesterday I received several photos via email from the extremely gifted and talented Wendy Mutz. I had so much fun taking photos with her. She made me feel 100% relaxed and comfortable. She also has a great eye! Click on the photos to get a closer look, and visit her on the web at www.MutzPhotography.com. Thank you Wendy for your time, talent, and sense of humor!

Update

Hello friends! The past few weeks have passed by so quickly. I have been making appearances, preparing for the state pageant, celebrating my wonderful husband's birthday and my friend's upcoming nuptials, and teaching and grading.

Kendalll Whittier, Inc.'s annual benefit, titled "A Beautiful Night For the Neighborhood" was a huge success. We raised a lot of money that will enable us to continue serving the Kendall Whittier community through our youth mentoring program and emergency food pantry. It was a first class event, and Forever Plaid! was a hoot! I've decided that I need one of those jackets because they are too cool! I laughed so hard. We began the night with a raffle of wonderful prizes and heard inspirational speeches from a parent, a child, and a volunteer who have personally benefited from KWI programming. I am honestly thrilled to be a small part of the team that made that happen.

The following weekend, several of Janitha Jendrzey's bridesmaids got together and surprised our friend with a personal bridal shower at the Jan's favorite restaurant, the Melting Pot! Jan is an excellent judge of character! Although I was meeting the majority of these women for the first time, we all laughed hard, had a great conversation, and had a lot in common. The whole group helped me repair Jan's bridal shower cake. Bobby made another incredible cake. The cake was in the shape of a Louis Vuitton handbag and the fondant "handles" fell out of the cake and ruined the icing as I was transporting it to the MP. In the end though, we creatively fixed the cake, Jan loved it, and all of us had the chance to celebrate Jan, our friendship with her, and the beginning of her fairy tale with soon-to-be husband Chris Moore.

The next morning I ran in the 2009 Run For Life/Walk For Adoption, a benefit for Catholic Charities of Tulsa. I ran with my local titleholder sash on. A person on the sidelines kept yelling, "Goooooo Mrs. Tulsa! There goes Mrs. Tulsa! Mrs. Tulsa is headed for the finish line!" LOL I felt the need to represent all of women in pageantry well so I ran the whole way! I'm still not a runner per se, but I'm getting there! It was a fun appearance and I took photos with several little ones who wanted to meet me. Anytime I can use my title to bring new excitement to the pro-life cause, I'm glad to do it. A lot of families were happy to know that Mrs. Tulsa is pro-life.

On September 30 and October 7, I co-led workshops 4 and 5 of the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative's Forever For Real workshop series at Family & Children's Services. I love leading this workshop. I love knowing that I am giving couples valuable information, information that could very well save and enrich their relationships if they are willing to apply it. I also learn a lot myself as I get to know the participants and present the material. The workshops always serve as reminders of how I can be a better wife to Bobby, a better servant and a better helper for him. In our workshops, we emphasize that each person should decide to make it safe to connect and to do their part -- and that each person should not worry so much about whether or not the other person is doing their part. My former pastor's wife, Becky Hunter, at Northland Community Church in Central Florida, wrote a book called Being Good to Your Husband on Purpose. That's the kind of wife I want to be. Every time I teach this class, I come home a little bit more ready to be good to Bobby on purpose.

On September 30, I spent the night at a hotel on the fairgrounds with my good friend Ashley Baumgartner. I was her chaperon for the Miss Tulsa State Fair pageant. I couldn't be more proud of Ashley. It's my understanding that she swept the pageant on Thursday, winning every competition, and of course, she won the title in the process. She is our new Miss Tulsa State Fair! I love this young woman so much. She has a heart for service and a heart for God. She's learning to be more confident with the gifts God has given her and I'm so proud of her for that. I also know that she's a sweet, hilarious and inspirational person. With or without a crown, she will continue to make a difference in the world. If the judges can see her for who she truly is, I know she will go far in pageantry! I am already confident that Ashley will go far in life. She has what it takes. I may be completely biased but I am very proud of my good friend "Baums!". :)

After the fair, we celebrated Bobby's birthday! We celebrated at Dave & Buster's on the 4th. It seems to me that Dave & Buster's WAS MADE for the Townsend family. After dinner and drinks, we had a blast playing ski ball, air hockey, and arcade games like kids. It was so much fun and the perfect place to celebrate a birthday!

This Monday, I was assigned the role of Grammarian at Toastmasters and I won the "Best Evaluator" award! These little things (awards, etc.) are very encouraging to a newbie like me. I can't wait to become a phenomenal public speaker. It's going to take time, but I know I will get there...and then I'll continue to participate in Toastmasters because I believe that (1) when we have been nurtured and taught by others, we should pay it forward and (2) there is always more to learn.

We had a spirited discussion at this week's Forever. For Real. workshop, and I think we learned a lot from each other in addition to what we learned from the planned material. I will post again soon about the subject matter: forgiveness.

Tonight, we go to the Creed concert and I get to see one of the sweetest people in the world, Jaclyn Stapp! Jaclyn and I finally have the chance to introduce our husbands. :) Tomorrow, I have a photo shoot with the fabulous Wendy Mutz in Oklahoma City. Next week, I have the last Forever For Real workshop in this series and the fairytale wedding of Janitha Jendzrey and Christopher Moore in Austin next weekend. All of this and grading...lots and lots of grading.

I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend! I hope God blesses you and guides you, and uses you to make a difference in the lives of others. I'll post photos soon!