Keep Your Eyes On The Horizon

One of the most important and valued hobbies in my life is that I write. I not only write on my blog every so often, I am currently writing 3 books. My books take me places I have always wanted to go. I can experience adventures in a way with out expense and risk. I can express an emotion with out having any repercussions. My books are my escape from reality. Ready to hear about them individually? Here we go!

My first book is by far my favorite and my first real true love in life. I have been writing this story since I was 12 and have yet to be complete it. This is a story inspired by Titanic, Romeo and Juliet, Tristan and Isolde, and the Notebook. So can you guess the genre (theme) of this book? Romance :) This story is full of tragic romance, family honor, history, chivalry and action. The title of this book is called The Island. Strangely this story has nothing to do with an island, at all. The story goes: in 7th grade I had an assignment to write a paper on a mystery. I wrote about five kids who were stranded on a mysterious island, I titled it The Island. I got an F on this paper and was told I could never be a writer. To prove a point I started writing a love story, which ended up being 12 pages long in size 16 font. Silly enough, I forgot how to change the name of a file on the computer so I erased my school paper and copy and pasted it under the file name The Island. Since that day, the name has stuck and I couldn't image it being titled anything else. This will be my first book to be published.

My second book is a memoir of my life before transplant and my recovery afterwards. I plan to use this book as a way to release my emotions on my journey. Most people don't realize that the emotional aspect of a life with a terminal illness is harder to manage than the deteriorating physical battle. I want to give people a direct connection with my story. After people read my book the last page will read alone "If I can do it...You can do it".

My third book is still in the process of unorganized sketches and notes. This will be a non-fiction scientific fantasy. I am creating a world called Kristanya that has templets sealed in diamond that explains the fundamentals of the new world. There will be 6 separate battles between good and evil. This will be a new and interesting topic I am working on. This will transform into something no one has ever written about. I am going to be a little secretive with this right now because I am still putting much of it together. My inspiration for this book is Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and the Chronicles of Narnia. I plan on this to not only become a story but a full series of more than 4 books.

I have been writing since I can remember. When I was a child I would staple printing paper together to make my own book and I would draw and illustrate short stories. If you are reading this, I promise you a signed copy of any book of your choice. My goal is to be a published author before I reach the age of 25, keep your eyes on the horizon.

XO- A

Miss Grand Canyon 2014

This past Saturday I competed for the title of Miss Grand Canyon 2014. This was the first ever Miss Grand Canyon! I had so much fun. This was probably one of the top pageants I had the most fun at. I want to congratulate my friend Hannah Morgan as the new and first Miss Grand Canyon 2014! She is so deserving and such a great person. Although I did not win the title, I did win the Quality of Life award again!! I am very proud of this. As of right now, there are no more open pageants left for the class of Miss Arizona 2014. I will be back next year!
XO- A

Retrospect

I have decided to compete for Miss Grand Canyon after a very encouraging conversation from a beautifully dedicated friend of mine. My admiration for her give me hope to carry that in myself one day. With that being said, I am faced again with the last open pageant of the season. I was sad I did not make it to Miss Arizona last year, but after everything I went through in 2013, I can now understand why things happened the way they did. I know everything has a reason. I also understand that I may never know that reason. But I accept it and move forward. I look forward to compete with 8 other women competing for the title of Miss Grand Canyon 2014. All 9 of us deserve the crown, but its not about who deserves it. Its about who's time is right. We will all have our time and until then we have to know we are just not ready. We have to know something else is coming in our lives and it was not meant to be to become a titleholder this year. I have made so many friends this year and I am grateful for each chance I take in life. Retrospect is an unusual thing in my life. I seem to find it when I feel most centered. As I grow further into an adult I am seeing it more often. Retrospect is making me humbled and grateful. I love it.
XO-A

Follow Your Heart

I guess I should have clarified what I meant by "retired" in my last post. I am not permanently retiring from pageants. I love the Miss America Organization too much to leave. Even after I age out I plan to become a director. What I meant by retiring was that I was going to take a fairly large break from pageants. I will be back. My dream to become Miss Arizona one day is still something I plan to achieve. I currently feel like I need to take a break from pageants to fully enjoy other aspects of my life that have and continue to arise. I do plan to come back into pageants and in the Miss America Organization. I just feel like I am wanting to do things in life but say, "oh...but I have a pageant to do." or "I'd love to do this or that, or be here/there! But...I have a pageant." I feel like its dragging me down right now. I will return when my heart tells me to. I am finally starting to see what life has to offer me and I am going to take full advantage of it!
XO- A

Miss Tucson Pageant Results AND the Future

This past weekend I competed for 3 titles: Miss Tucson Desert Rose, Miss Tucson Old Pueblo, and Miss Tucson Del Sol. I did not win any of these. I did however win another Quality of Life Award. I have been pondering on this thought for a while and I have made my decision. I am going into retirement from pageants for a while. Pageants have been a part of my life for the past 4 years and I have loved every experience I have been fortunate enough to have. I no longer love pageantry like I used to. I am slightly discouraged but more so yearning for a different kind of life. I have been offered an amazing job and am really focusing on school. I want to be able to fully enjoy this summer working at a bar and restaurant on the river. I want to experience new things in life and right now I feel like pageants keep me from doing that only by the dedication I put into pageants. I never do things half-ass, always to the fullest. So in doing pageants I always put in 100% all the time. I am a little sad leaving an organization I love so much, but I know I have years to get back into it. I wish all of my friends the best of luck at state this year and always. Some day I may get back into pageantry. I'll always be around but my heart is leading me into a different direction. I am so grateful to all those who have supported me in this. I will never forget my experiences. I am so excited to watch my pageant sisters grow! New adventures are coming for me and I can't wait to see what comes next in my life!
XO-A

Beating The Odds

Today is my 21st birthday! Today I continue to beat the odds like I have my entire life. When I was diagnosed at 6 months old with Cystic Fibrosis my family was told that people with disease don't usually live past 5 years old. I happily enjoyed my Barbie themed fifth birthday. Later on we were told the average age of people living with CF was up to 12. I had my 12th birthday party at an aquatic center with dozens of friends. Years later we were told 18 years old. I celebrated my 18th birthday in my home with my most cherished family and friends. The average age is now early 40s. I beat the odds every year on January 14. I have beat Cystic Fibrosis for 21 years. Only one moment did I think CF beat me. I was scared and unsure of my future. This moment came to me the day before I received my double lung transplant. My doctor reassured me I was going to have a colorful productive future. I pushed through the last day with my old lungs and onto my new life with my new lungs. I beat the odds of a double lung transplant. I am also beating the odds of making almost half a year with out any sign of rejection in my new lungs! I celebrate my 21st birthday for those who couldn't beat the odds, those who never had the chance to be 21, and for those who didn't beat the odds of a double lung transplant. I am a rare case to have beat both with very minimal complications and recover with flying colors. My heart mind and soul are set on my future. I promise my future to those still fight the CF battle and those we have lost. I beat the odds not only on my birthdays but everyday. A great celebration is in store for my birthday! Lets make it unforgettable!!
XO-A

Miss Phoenix 2014 & Miss Cave Creek 2014

I had the greatest pleasure competing with 7 other young ladies competing for the title of Miss Phoenix and Miss Cave Creek. I had such an amazing time meeting my new friends. Congratulations to my friends Miss Phoenix Alexa Rogers and Miss Cave Creek 2014 Lauren McBurnett!! I was awarded Miss Congeniality (chosen by the contestants), Miracle Maker (I raised $630 towards Children's Miracle Network), and the Quality of Life Award. I am so honored to have won all 3 of these awards. One of the contestants zipper on her dress broke in dress rehearsal so thank goodness I brought a back up gown for her to borrow. I also had such a great time getting to know the contestants who competed for outstanding teen!!! Although I did not win the crown I had such an amazing time. I am also so excited and proud for my pageant sisters Whitney and Tiffany for putting on an incredible pageant! Continuing my journey, next weekend I am competing for one of three titles for Miss Tucson Desert Rose, Miss Tucson Old Pueblo and Miss Tucson Del Sol. Wish me luck!

XO-A