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Faith Bates, Miss Fort Worth
February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I hope your life is as full of love and support as mine has been blessed with! I owe a lot of this love and support to my Lone Star Princesses. The Lone Star Princess program became apart of the Miss Texas Organization as a way for the titleholders to have the opportunity to mentor young girls. I have loved mentoring these incredible young ladies, but I did not expect to learn so much from them. My seven partners in crime have taught me a great deal about how to love and how to live up to my responsibilities as a mentor. My princesses love me unconditionally and that is the best feeling in the world. These girls are spread across the state and some drive quite a long way to be a Fort Worth Lone Star Princess. The fact that the girls’ parents are willing to drive such a long way to allow me to spend time with their daughters means the world to me.

My princesses and I have had an amazing year thus far and I look forward to many more adventures together. My favorite memory of this year so far has been the Christmas slumber party. We began the party by going to Tanglewood Retirement Home and singing Christmas Carols to the residents. The girls did such an amazing job and brought more joy than could ever be expressed to the elderly. I could not have been more proud of how outgoing and loving the girls had been to complete strangers. At the end of caroling each girl passed out candy canes and a Merry Christmas to all. The rest of the night was filled with a pizza party at Cici’s, gingerbread house making and sugar cookie baking. These girls have astonishing talents and maybe have a future in cookie decorating!

Every moment I spend with these girls brings me more joy than I could ask for in 10 lifetimes. These young women are the reason I want to be Miss Texas. The opportunity to meet and mentor children across the state would be the most amazing job I could hope for.

To my princesses:

Princess Aubrey,
Your sweet spirit and enthusiasm for life inspires me to love life the way you do! Thank you for always being a great helper to me and all the other girls.

Princess Bailey,
You are my little super star! We all know that one day you will be Miss America. Your confidence amazes me and I always can count on you to give me pointers on how to work it!

Princess Gatlynn,
You are so mature and precious. I know I can always count on you to lend a helping hand. You will always achieve the impossible and make me feel like I can do the same!

Princess Grace,
My little firecracker! You can always put a smile on my face. You are truly a joy to everyone. I know you will continue to bring joy to everyone you meet.

Princess Maddox,
My little love bug! Your big hugs mean more to me than you could ever know. You could bring peace to the world with your big bear hugs.

Princess Sage,
You are so gentle and lovely. You have grace and poise beyond your years. You have a heart for others and use your compassionate heart to love on others. That inspires me to do the same.

Princess T’yonna,
Girlfriend you are incredible! Your independence and free spirit teaches me more about myself every time I am with you. You are a quick learner and you are comfortable in every situation.

To my perfect teen Kaitlyn: You are so beautiful and sure of yourself. You handle yourself with more grace than anyone I have ever seen. We have amazing times together and I could not love you more! 

We are the Fort Worth family! I love you girls with all of my heart!

Faith

Kristen Blair, Miss North Texas
January 27, 2008

Ice-Storm Induced Update!

Since the weather has so devastatingly caused the UNT campus to close down for the day…I find myself with a little extra time on my hands and quite a bit of inspiration to write since there is in fact so much to write about!

It’s hard to believe that a mere 48 hours ago I was in Las Vegas celebrating our fabulous Miss Texas, Rebecca Robinson. Needless to say, anyone who has had the privilege of meeting Rebecca was stunned that her name was not called into top 15. However, I cannot imagine anyone filling her shoes as Miss Texas had she won. So, in the long run, it is still our gain. I could not have been more proud to be from the Lone Star State that week at Miss America, and on top of it all, we brought home a Miss Congeniality! I think we can definitely vouch that America loves Rebecca! 

On top of all the pageant festivities, Keith, Ron, and I had a mass-shopping extravaganza and were lucky enough to start knocking some things off of our list for Miss Texas this summer. It’s hard to imagine that it’s going to be February so soon. Having been to Miss Texas before, I know exactly how fast these months are going to fly by! It’s a huge relief to have some shopping done… I am sure Keith and Ron are equally relieved ;-)

The holidays were an extraordinary time for me.  The most memorable event of my year as Miss North Texas thus far has been the Make-A-Miracle radio-thon hosted by 103.7 at Cook’s Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth. I signed up to volunteer and answer phones but ended up experiencing far more than I could have imagined. Apart from helping to raise over $460,000 in pledges, several patients whose lives have been changed, or even saved thanks to Children’s Miracle Network came by to visit and be interviewed on the show. Meeting these children was not only the highlight of my Christmas season, but a huge reminder of how blessed we all are to have our health, family, friends, and above all, faith.  These children have lived through more trauma in their short lives than most of us do in a lifetime. Yet, they were the most loving, optimistic, and SOCIAL (I could have talked to them for hours!) kids I have ever met. Thank you to Julio and Sabrina especially for taking time to chat with me and share your stories. You are such a joy and inspiration and I wish you nothing but the very best for years to come!

If you would like to donate to CMN, please check out my link here. The Miss America Organization has been partnered with CMN for the past few years now. So not only will you be helping out children’s hospitals across the nation, you will be helping me reach my goal to participate in the Miss Texas pageant this coming July!

I am off to enjoy the rest of my unexpected day off from school! Now that the holidays are passed, I can’t wait to get some new projects up and running! Most importantly, I will be making school appearances throughout the remainder of winter and this spring. If you are interested in having my student-program--The Extra-Curricular Advantage--visit your school or organization, please feel free to contact me to set up a visit!

Wishing you warmer weather, and the happiest of New Years,
Kristen

Faith Bates, Miss Fort Worth
January 12, 2009

One week and counting until Miss America 2009! I am so excited for Rebecca Robinson, our Miss Texas, she looks incredible and will undoubtedly be the best dressed contestant in Las Vegas this year. The Miss Texas Organization held a Winter Meeting on Sunday giving us some great information about really exciting changes coming this July. The pageant will be held in Arlington this year for the first time, and from the sound of the plans for the pageant it should be amazing! We also got to see Rebecca’s wardrobe for Miss America and hear about her year thus far as Miss Texas. She is one of the most beautiful people inside and out I have ever had the privilege to know, and we should all be so proud to have such a dynamic woman representing us at Miss America! I will be heading to Las Vegas on Tuesday January 20 for Miss America to watch the action. I know I will learn a great deal while I am there and get to rub elbows with former Miss Americas. The trip will be a great way to kick start my preparations for Miss Texas 2009.
I have some very exciting appearances set up in the next couple of months, but I am most excited to continue working with my platform.

Pediatric Cancer Awareness is something that is near and dear to my heart. This time of year always reminds me of the person that who inspired me and challenged me to look at my life in a completely different way. If you visit my website at www.cinderellasociety.org there is a section dedicated to Aaron Rivera. Aaron died five years ago now from cancer. He was a dear friend of mine and he was one of the single biggest influences on how I look and think about life. Aaron defied all odds when he lived past the age of three. He contracted cancer so early in his life, and he kept dancing after losing a knee to cancer and being told he would never walk again. He had a positive attitude even in his situation and was the source of great joy to everyone he encountered.

I think of Aaron often and the gift of perspective that he continues to give me daily, but yesterday I remembered a song that Aaron inspired. We were a part of a theater group called “Kids Who Care.” Every summer we would learn an original show, written by the directors and a few members of the cast. There was a song in one year’s show called “Cross Over.” The lyrics still touch me even today:

The line in the dirt meant you have to be older
You’re not the right color, you don’t have the money
The girl’s clothes were ragged, she had pockets of conviction
She waltzed to the line and then she crossed over

The line in the dirt meant we’re in this together
It doesn’t matter that we’re not the same
If you stay and defend this land with me
Take a leap of faith and then cross over

Cross over the fears in our lives
They trap us inside of ourselves
Cross over each line with hope
Cross over each hurdle you face
When you have faith in the choices you make
Cross over

The lines from the doctor were delivered with kindness
As the boy and his mother awaited their news
You may not walk or dance again my son
He said I don’t think so and the trio crossed over

This is only a portion of the song. The last verse was referring to Aaron specifically. He beat the odds and lived what he considered a full life. I learned more from him and his attitude than I have from anything I have personally had to face. I am humbled by the opportunity I have as Miss Fort Worth to learn from everyone I meet. Aaron is the reason that the Cinderella Society exists and his major lesson has become our motto: A Smile Will Cure A Bad Day. I thank God that I have that motto in my life because it is so true. Life is what you make it and even is the worst of circumstances, joy will see you through! I hope that Aaron’s story will inspire you to look at your hurdles and cross over. I challenge everyone to remember attitude is everything.

God Bless,
Faith

Kaitlyn Wilson, Miss Teen Fort Worth
January 1, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Hey guys! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I know my family and I sure did. We took a long drive to Tulsa, Oklahoma where we visited family. It was a blast! My 5 year old cousin Tyler, my brother Michael, Aunt Becky, Uncle Charlie and I played LOTS of Wii Mario Cart. Haha! It was so cute! OH, and my other little cousin, Rachel, who is now 3, got all fixed up with her new vanity table. :) I see pageants in this little princess’ future! It was a great trip! Then, it was time to travel back to Texas to Conroe where my other grandparents live. They are truly precious and we all had a great time telling stories and playing some cutthroat games of dominoes! Haha. It was so wonderful to see them.

I am always amazed at how people seem transformed during the holiday season. There just seems to be a sort of magic in the air. Through Christmas parades, trips to sing carols and visit with residents at nursing homes, volunteering at Mission Arlington and the Salvation Army with my friends and family, and performing at area schools with my school dance/drill team, this season has blessed me far more than I could ever express.

It truly is a special feeling to be able to bring a smile to someone’s face. Whether they are enjoying all the fun and sparkle the season offers, or whether they may be having a difficult day or are a little lonely, you can make a difference in their day just by taking time to let them know you care. Being a titleholder in this amazing organization opens the door for so many additional opportunities to do just that, and I am forever grateful to be a part of it.

Fortunately, these happy times are available all year round and not just at the holidays. Volunteering is something that can be done everyday, anywhere, and it makes such a difference even if it just touches one person. I would like to encourage you to try something…the next time you are feeling a little down or blue, call someone you haven’t spoken to for awhile and catch up, bake some cookies or a cake for a neighbor or friend who can’t get out much, or maybe when you’re at the mall or out to eat, strike up a little conversation and share a laugh or a smile with someone by themselves. I promise you will feel much better and so will they.

I am so happy the New Year is here! I’m excited to watch as Rebecca competes for and WINS the Miss America crown!! It means a fresh start and a renewed commitment to hard work preparing for Miss Teen Texas (Unfortunately, my grandmother makes the BEST desserts!) Spring Meeting will be here before we know it!!! But, most of all, it’s a clean slate for all. I wish every one of you a very happy, healthy, and blessed 2009!!

So grateful for all of you!!
Kaitlyn

Faith Bates, Miss Fort Worth
December 1, 2008

Tis the Season for Giving…

The aroma of holiday cooking with the chill in the air brings a smile to my lips.  I love the holiday season and all the merriment it brings.  It stirs within my soul a desire to become a greater version of the limited person I am.  I am suddenly filled with a sense of unlimited possibilities.  I want to feed all of the hungry, cloth the thread-bare and shelter all of the homeless.  Knowing that I can not begin to achieve all that I aspire to this season (as I am a poor college student myself), never the less, I WILL DO SOMETHING! 

Lots of little somethings!

• I do have the ability to spread joy with a kind word and a pat on the back.

• I do have the ability to look someone in the eye and ask “How are you today?” and    truly listen to the answer. 

• I do have the ability to return a blessing for a grumble or return a smile for a grimace.

• I do have the ability to show genuine care and concern for others instead of putting myself first.

• I do have the ability to drop my change in the red bucket of the Salvation Army and actually say “Merry Christmas” to the bell ringer as I run out the door of Walgreens

• I do have the ability to clean out my overstuffed closets and make a drop off at the Union Gospel Mission or Mission Arlington.

As these “little somethings” seem so insignificant by themselves, they can truly add up when multiplied by many.  My cup runneth over…so why not share?  I have been blessed beyond belief with a loving family, true and caring friends, a wonderful home and the best Directors in the Miss America Organization.  By those standards, I am the richest girl in town! 

Happy Holidays to you all and God Bless,
Faith

Kristen Blair, Miss North Texas
November 5, 2008

Fall-la la la!

I was utterly bewildered as I went grocery shopping yesterday to find myself listening to Christmas carols and walking down aisles of candy canes and mini-Santas. The Halloween decor had all been tossed into 50% off bins and somewhere in the store I'm sure I could have found some Thanksgiving for sale as well. I had to ask myself where October went, and in immediate response came the cliché "Time flies when your having fun!"

October has been a busy, but great and very gratifying month. I just returned this past weekend from Cincinnati, Ohio where I spent Halloween with the UNT A Cappella choir and had the greatest choral experience of my life yet at the NCCO conference.  UNT was the hot topic of the conference and I have to brag that we definitely seemed to live up to our reputation and recieved a wonderful response during the concert. I am reminded of how incredibly blessed I am to have the chance to learn with some of the best singers and from some of the best instructors I'll ever meet. Nowhere else but UNT :)

Speaking of school, I also had a GREAT time riding in the UNT homecoming parade on the 24th of October. I owe a huge thank you to Angela Higginbotham, and to my princesses Amanda and Lexi for riding with me and doing a fabulous job throwing all that candy! Thanks so much to Shelli Bates for inviting me to take part in "Boo at the Zoo" in Fort Worth. It's always a blast spending time with Faith and Kaitlyn, and seeing all the fantastic costumes on people of all ages was priceless, definitely a highlight of my Halloween! I can't wait for the Marine Mud-Run this Saturday! I'm still secretly hoping we get the chance to get a little dirty and do just a portion of the course ourselves. I guess we'll see. I may be very happy cheering from the sidelines once I see just how outrageously difficult it is!

Thus far, fall is off to a great start and flying by! There is much to look forward to in November and December and I hope this coming Thanksgiving blesses you with lots to be thankful for! Drop a line if you should need me for anything at all, I'm here all season.  :-D

Kristen

Faith Bates, Miss Fort Worth
October 14, 2008

This has been the most incredible weekend!  I began by singing the national anthem at the Shrine Circus.  The Moslah were so accommodating and absolutely precious.  The show was a marvel to watch.  The acts consisted of the high wire, flying trapeze, dog and pony show, trained tigers and elephants, a fabulous contortionist, and several other mind-boggling acts.  The show was spectacular!  I kicked off the show in ring 1 and I was followed by a parade of animals and performers.  I had the opportunity to sign autographs and have my picture made with the circus fans, although I must admit the clowns stole my heart and almost broke my camera.  There was excitement in the air and new opportunities for me to expand my knowledge of the circus and all it has to offer.  I had my picture taken with the most beautiful snake I have ever seen.  Her name is Susie and she is a Bull Python.  I was terrified, but I let her wrap around my shoulders.  She was HUGE and not slimy like you would think.  I also was given the honor of riding the elephants and a camel.  I rode the elephant a couple times throughout my circus experience, but having to ride such an enormous animal was a little awkward since I am so petite.  I was scheduled at the circus one night, but after singing and having such a blast with everyone, I was asked to return the next night and sing the anthem with the Moslah Chanters.  They were the sweetest men I have ever had the pleasure of singing with. It truly was an honor to share the ring with them.  I didn't think the night could have gotten better, but then I was actually put in the show and rode an elephant around the arena after intermission.  I don't know how many people can say that they have been a part of the circus, but I am proud to say that I can mark that off of my bucket list!   I made so many new friends. Most of the performers are 3rd or 4th generation circus performers from South America or the Ukraine.  My new friend Toly offered me a chance to try the trapeze, but I was afraid I would hurt myself. I truly thank Allen and Janie Miller for giving me the royal treatment and allowing me one of the greatest experiences of a lifetime!

Sunday morning I had the pleasure of appearing at the Alliance Air Show.  The show was replete with all types of civilian and military aircraft.  They even had a large semi-truck with jet engines attached.  Personally I would have been afraid to drive it going that fast!  I was invited to sing the national anthem while one of the Golden Knights jumped from the plane with the American Flag.  Just as I finished the anthem the Knight touched the ground. It almost made me cry with pride.  I had the opportunity to meet the Army Golden Knights and the Air Force F-16 Thunderbirds.  They were all so amazing and fearless.  I was pinned by both special units.  I was inspired and am attempting to talk my dad into allowing me to make a jump with the Golden Knights…wish me luck!  Dave Pelletier was my host for the day and made sure that I got to meet and greet everyone and see the amazing planes.  I also had a surprise visit from Sage, one of my Lone Star Princesses.  Sage was at the air show with her mother and it made my day to see her smiling face!   The air show was special to me because not only am I always proud of our military and their service, but I got to shake hands with one of brave soldiers who has done two tours in Iraq to date and will be returning soon to begin a third.  His name is Brandon so please keep him in your prayers. I will always hold a special place in my heart for our troops. They fight so hard to keep us safe and to protect all of the things that this country holds dear.

Late Sunday afternoon, I was on my way to the Botanical Gardens to help raise money for the March of Dimes at the Signature Chef's Auction.  I am not sure how much money was raised, but I am very confident that it was plentiful.  It was the perfect evening to hold this event; other than my heels sinking into the grass, the garden setting was perfect.  The theme for the night was Every Baby Has a Story.  Restaurants from all over the city graciously donated their culinary wonders as the Fort Worth Jazz Symphony played under the big white tent.  I definitely had my favorites such as lobster wonton from Lonesome Dove and the sesame tuna from Piranhas Sushi.  It seriously was to die for.

It truly was an amazing weekend.  I have some exciting new things ahead, but this weekend will be hard to top. It is an honor to have this job, and I look forward to seeing you all out and about in the Fort Worth community.

God Bless,
Faith

Kaitlyn Wilson, Miss Teen Fort Worth
October 9, 2008

Hey guys!  I am so excited to be writing to you as Miss Teen Fort Worth.  It is such a pleasure and honor to be representing this great city with all of its beauty, culture and history.   The pageant was such fun.  It was the weekend of the hurricane so hair was certainly a problem, but we all managed to work it out. ;)   Hanging out, laughing and being a little crazy with my pageant sisters backstage (or anywhere) is truly a highlight of competing.   I love every minute I get to spend with all of the organization’s amazing, sweet, fun and talented girls.  Winning the crown was the icing on the cake and I am grateful for the experiences and opportunities that await me because of it.

In the past 3 weeks, several opportunities have already come along.  I have volunteered at my first DIFFA event in Dallas, had a blast at the Fort Worth Zoo with our 7 precious Lone Star Princesses, attended a fall festival at Grace Lutheran Church in Fort Worth where I got to share my platform, sing, and meet some amazing kids from the Crowley Honor Choir (most of whom now have my number and are texting me! lol), went to Corsicana to cheer on the girls competing in the Ellis County & Duncanville pageant, and rode in the Starlight Parade at the State Fair of Texas.

This being only my 2nd year to compete, I’m sure many of you don’t know me.  I was born in Fort Worth, and am a 14 year old freshman at Martin High School in Arlington.  I am Captain of the Starlettes Dance/Drill Team at my school and attend additional dance classes in the evening.  I am so happy that I now have a group of young ladies ready to help with community service projects with VIP - Volunteers In Progress.  I founded the VIP Organization last year to help students plug into different opportunities for volunteer work, thus helping them find a good fit to minister to others, and at the same time providing the organization with the hands to complete projects.  It is important for my generation to learn to serve others and take the initiative to build our communities for the future.  VIP motto is “From Youthful Seeds Grow Mighty Trees”.

I love my Directors - Keith, Ron and Bobbie with the Miss Fort Worth Organization.  I am blessed to be a part of it and I look forward to serving you as your Teen Fort Worth!

Thanks for all of your support!
Kaitlyn

Kristen Blair, Miss North Texas
October 7, 2008

Hello and Happy Fall everyone!!  It's hard to believe that nearly a month has passed since winning the title of Miss North Texas.  It was a great pageant, the directors and volunteers were fantastic, making for a wonderful experience all day long. All of the contestants were so amazing, I am still in awe that I was so lucky to have a crown at the end of the night.  On top of their talent, and countless wonderful attributes, they were a blast to spend the day with and made the experience all the greater.  I hope to see all of them compete again, first because I know they all have what it takes to win, and second so we can all ham it up some more together at the Miss Texas pageant this July :)

For those whom I have not met, my name is Kristen.  I am 22 years old and a vocal performance major with a minor in music theory at the University of North Texas School of Music.  If you are from the DFW area, you probably have heard of its reputation. UNT has the largest music school in the nation, ranking number one for jazz and percussion studies, and top five overall.  Needless to say, I barely knew what I was getting into when I auditioned for the school and performance program three years ago!  It has been the most challenging and rewarding experience in my life yet.  My participation in the Miss America Scholarship Organization has assisted my education not only financially, but has also provided me with an entirely new means of confidence and drive for success.  Though I have never competed outside of MAO, pageants and the service and preparations affiliated have become a huge part of who I am.  It makes it even more special to be a title holder here in the state of Texas.  I was born in Houston, but lived in 6 different states by the time I was just 10 years old.  Finally, in 2005 my family returned to Texas to reside in the city of Southlake.  The beauty of having moved around so much is that you learn quickly where home truly is.  For me, TEXAS!  I am so proud of my roots here, my school, and now of course, being your Miss North Texas!

I am very excited to be available for appearances across the Metroplex and particularly in Denton County.  Already I have volunteered and taken part in several events in Dallas, and look forward to my first appearances coming up in Denton.  In particular, I look forward to classroom presentations and after school programs.  My platform is "The Extra-Curricular Advantage," expressing the importance of activities outside of the classroom to promote self-confidence, personal growth, and of course, helping children find new and exciting ways to have fun!  If you are interested in having me attend or take part of your event or organization please do not hesitate to ask.  Above all, service is why we are here.

Here's to a great year across North Texas!
Kristen

Faith Bates, Miss Fort Worth
October 6, 2008

Hello everyone!

I am so honored to be Miss Fort Worth 2009! Fort Worth is my home and it is still very surreal that I have the opportunity to represent the place that has helped make me who I am. Since my crowning 3 weeks ago, I have been extremely busy out and about in the community. I have helped raise money for AIDS by volunteering for DIFFA, Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, representing Fort Worth at the opening day of the Texas State Fair, meeting my new Lone Star Princesses for this year, helping the LMAero Club at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics raise awareness for the United Way and other charities, sang and signed autographs at the Grace Lutheran Church in Fort Worth for their Fall Festival and welcomed some new local titleholders to the Miss Texas family. I have some more very exciting appearances set up for this month and on into the new year. I am having the time of my life representing this wonderful community to date.

To those of you who do not know me, I will tell you a little about myself. I was born and raised in Fort Worth. I am a graduate of R.L. Paschal High School in 2004 and now attend the University of Oklahoma. I will graduate from OU in May with a degree in Public Relations. This will be my fourth trip to Miss Texas so at this point I am a seasoned veteran. I sing opera for my talent and have been singing since childhood. I have an amazing family. I am the daughter of Dan and Shelli Bates, and have two siblings, Danny and Whitney. Danny is an actor living in Los Angeles and Whitney is currently living in Victoria, Brazil teaching English. My Dad is an attorney here in town and my mom, like most people in Fort Worth, works for Lockheed Martin. I am very blessed to have a supportive and loving family.

I have some pretty big plans for the year ahead. I am currently trying to set up meetings with Mayor Moncrief, Representative Barrett, Congresswoman Granger, US Senators Hutchison and Cornyn and State Senator Brimer. I would really love to meet with the FWISD and get into the schools here to talk about my platform, pediatric cancer, and the six pillars of character. I plan to be very visible in the community this year so if you have something you would like me to attend, please don’t hesitate to call Bobbie Crowder, my business manager, to get your event on the schedule. I am YOUR Miss Fort Worth! It is very important to me to get more involved in a community that has given so much to me. Expect the impossible and achieve greatness!

God Bless,
Faith