I just had to post this after reading Taylor’s blog for December!!  I am also posting the link for you to go read the rest of her blog… www.misstexas.org/teen/scrapbook/blog.htm

Lufkin… Home of Miss Teen Texas 2009!
I got home from school one day and my mom told me to get in the car because we were going somewhere. I learned a long time ago not to ask questions! We drove for about ten minutes and I wasn’t paying any attention to my surroundings as usual. My mom told me to look up and I saw my face the size of a mac truck up on my new billboard! It reads “Lufkin…Home of Miss Teen Texas 2009 Taylor Lowery”! I was so surprised and have been getting calls about the sign everyday. Special thanks to Mark Hicks for planning all the details and making the billboard possible!

Enjoy your holiday season Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Check back later for Taylor’s Christmas card!  Having technical problems loading right now….LOL

Every year after Christmas is said and done, it seems that our family is eating leftovers for a week!  Fruitcake for breakfast, sweet potatoes for lunch, turkey and dressing for dinner… every day! So this year, I thought it would be great if we could share our food and “spread the holiday cheer.” While many of us are able to have a holiday break from school and work to spend time with our loved ones, some are not that fortunate. Cooking fires increase on Christmas day, meaning the firemen are busy at work. Since they have to spend this day at the fire station, they miss out on a good Christmas meal! Good thing we had a LOT of leftovers to share!

They even let me put on a jacket and jump on the back of the fire truck!

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Kathryn Dunn

Miss Plano 2010

Aloha and Merry Christmas from the beautiful island of Kauai! Instead 
of a white Christmas like many of my Texas friends are experiencing, 
my family and I are having a white (sand) Christmas! Even though it’s 
not the typical Christmas, I’ve learned all about local Hawaiian 
customs like twists on classic Christmas carols.  Fun fact: some of 
the lyrics to 12 days of Christmas include "2 coconuts," "5 big fat 
pigs" and "10 hula lessons!"

In keeping with these traditions, there is a Christmas light festival 
featuring holiday decorations made out of everything from toothpicks 
to SPAM cans!! All the detail on the decorations was incredible and 
featured aspects of Hawaiian culture (like all the chickens they have 
here!).  I hope everyone has a wonderful day and remembers the real 
reason for the season!

   
As I spend the last few days of 2009 reflecting on what an awesome 
year I have had, I know that 2010 will be filled with new adventures, 
challenges and blessings. So, to all my friends, may this New Year 
fill your lives with love, your hearts with hope, and the world with 
peace.

Love always,
DaNae

Miss Frisco 2010

Christmas is the Time for Giving! As I was out Christmas shopping this past week, I made the point to stop by the Christian Community Action Giving Tree. Christian Community Action is a faith-based nonprofit organization that has been meeting the needs of the disadvantaged in our community for more than 36 years.

The CCA Giving Tree and Christmas Toy Store ensure that Santa will visit CCA children with the perfect gift. This program allows parents to provide Christmas for their children, despite the hardships they are currently facing, by selecting their children’s gifts from donations provided to CCA’s Toy Store. Everything they need, from stocking stuffers to boxes and bows are provided to ensure a memorable holiday. With the help of CCA, more than 2,900 underprivileged children receive toys each Christmas.

Although Christmas is a busy time of year, please do not forget the “reason for the season!” Next time you’re out buying those last minute Christmas gifts, make it a point to stop by the CCA Giving Tree and make a difference in a child’s life.

Guess who… No, that’s not Santa… it’s Miss Plano with her gifts for the Christian Community Action Giving Tree!

After visiting the Giving Tree, I also made a point to show my support of the injured troops by signing the banner! Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can make a difference in other’s lives! Make a difference in somebody’s life this season.

My first day of Christmas break was a very special day for me. I had the chance to work with the “Angel Tree” Charity in my hometown of Fairfield. I was able to pass out Christmas gifts to families who are less fortunate and can’t afford presents at this time of the year.

I got to see so many kids’ Christmas turned around because of a bike or a Barbie doll. They wouldn’t be able to open Christmas presents on Christmas day if it wasn’t for the “Angel Tree” and I am so glad that I got to help make their Christmas special. Today was a small reminder of how blessed I really am, and I am so thankful for all I have. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and remember what this season is all about.

Love,

Madison

Miss Teen Frisco

Tonight (12/17/09) I really got to experience what it is like being Santa because I helped pass out presents to hundreds of children at the Christmas Fiesta for Plano Children’s Medical.  What a busy job!
  
As soon as Santa arrived, the Plano East football team huddled up to lead Santa and I around 1st Baptist Plano to get the anxiously awaiting line of children and their parents excited about the event.  The boys started cheering like they would before a football game, but with a new twist…"Here comes Santa, Claus Claus. This is the Santa, Claus Claus" while Santa brightly called out his classic, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

Luckily for me, I had two of the football boys helping me pick out presents for me to give to Santa to hand to the children because as soon as we got back inside, the line began to form!! Children of all ages came to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas and were immediately surprised with an early Christmas present.  They also were treated to Fluoride Washes courtesy of Kids’ Dental Care although Dr. Holt laughed when I told him we were handing out candy canes!  Guess we weren’t helping the dentist out too much!  There were also tons of games led by more football boys as well as a local Boy Scout group.  All of the volunteers were so much fun and really made the children have fun too!

After a long night of handing out presents, Ricardo walked me out to my car, but not before all the football guys individually called out "Bye Miss Frisco!!" and one even asked if I needed anyone to walk me to my car!  I think I found some new fans!

With Christmas right around the corner, I’m left to think how truly thankful I am to have a way to give back to others even in the small ways.

Blessings,
DaNae

Miss Frisco 2010

December 14^th

Even though I’m in the midst of finals, I have been lucky enough to participate in some wonderful service projects.  This Saturday, I attended the “Love for Kids, Children’s Christmas Party” with Miss Teen Plano, Kaitlyn Wilson, and Miss and Teen Dallas!  What a fun event! We helped lead the sing along, danced with tons of different kids of all ages, signed headshots, and spoke briefly about the staying in school and pursuing your dreams.  There was singing, dancing, face painting, sand art and so many more things for the kids to do!  It was so much fun getting to spend the morning with Kaitlyn and getting to take silly pictures with everyone including a group of motorcyclists supporting abused children and the Home Depot Man!

Blessings,
DaNae

Miss Frisco 2010

Photo by Jim Hanson

Here’s to Another Great Year!

As I stood onstage anxiously waiting as Sunni Cranfil announced 2^nd runner up… 1^st runner up… “and your new Miss Plano is Kathryn Dunn”! Hearing my name at the end of that sentence overwhelmed me with such excitement and relief. I had told many people prior to the competition, that I was more nervous for the MPFO Pageant than I was for Miss Texas! Not because I wasn’t ready, but because I knew what I would be missing out on if I did not win. As many of you know, I was Miss Frisco last year and I gave up the opportunity to give up my crown on stage so I could compete for the title of Miss Plano, and the chance to work with MPFO for another year. The Miss Plano Frisco Organization holds a very special place in my heart and I cannot imagine going to Miss Texas without them. Since I first became involved in pageants, MPFO has been there every step of the way and have made me the person that I am today. This year marks a very exciting change to MPFO, and that is that David White has joined our board! David, ever since you were my “unofficial director” at capital day last year, I just knew that we were destined to work together. As Miss Plano, I am thrilled to be able to work closely with David and I know that we will be unstoppable together. Jan, you have been such an inspiration to me. If it were not for your encouragement, I would not be the confident woman I am today. To the both of you, here’s to a successful year together!

One of my favorite things about the Miss Texas Organization is the relationships that I have built along the way. This year, I am blessed to be able to work with 3 beautiful and talented girls. My beautiful teen, Kaitlyn Wilson, I cannot wait to get to know you better! Teen Frisco, Madison Fuller, WE DID IT! We get to spend another year together as MPFO girls and I could not be happier! The new Miss Frisco, DaNae Couch, I cannot think of anyone I would rather share this year with! I am glad that you joined MPFO and I hope you’re ready for an exciting year! I know the four of us are going to be a great group.

I am also excited to be able to spend another year with my Lone Star Princess, Elle. Since meeting you last year, you have held a special place in my heart and I am glad to be able to spend another year with you! You are a very special young lady and I think the world of you. The fact that I would be able to spend another year with you encouraged me to come back to MPFO, and I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for the both of us! Kristen, even though you aged out of the LSP Organization, don’t think you are getting away that easy! You will just have to be an “unofficial” LSP this year. Caitlin, I will miss you as my LSP, but I’m sure I will see you just as often! Marissa, I loved getting to know you last year and will certainly miss you this year.  Mallory, I enjoyed getting to know you last year and you will certainly be missed this year. And Marly, I’m looking forward to spending another fun year with you! We have so much to look forward to

To everyone else, thank you for your prayers and support. I am thrilled to be able to represent Plano in the upcoming Miss Texas Pageant and I am excited for another year as an MPFO girl!

Kathryn Dunn

Photo by Jim Hanson

Wow, I can’t believe I have the honor of serving as Miss Frisco 2010!  This weekend has felt like such a blur (probably because I had over 50 pages of thesis chapters and final papers due for school on Monday), but now that I have dead days, I have some time to think about the weekend.

Love always,
DaNae

Photo by Jim Hanson

Wow!! What an honor it is to be the New Teen Frisco! I am so excited about the year ahead of me! I am so blessed to have the opportunity to work with the MPFO for a second year! Last year I was Teen Plano, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I learned so much in one year and became very close to each member of the MPFO. I realized that this was more than just an organization, but a family. This family works so hard for their girls and they do everything they possibly can to make our dreams come true. After Teen Texas this past summer I knew that God was telling me that the MPFO was where I belonged. So I decided to come and compete another year, and I am so glad I did! I am so excited to get to work with the MPFO again, and spend another great year! The members of The Plano Frisco family are the most hardworking, caring, and loving people that you will ever meet.

Thank you to all of the people who put on the Pageant Saturday. Backstage all of us contestants were treated like we were already queens. Everyone was so kind and helpful and we thank you so much for all of your hard work! It was a great show!

I am looking forward to another great year working with The Plano Frisco family! I know that the year will fly by just as it did last year, so I will soak in every moment of it, and work very hard! I am excited to spend the year with my new pageant sisters, and make lifetime memories.

I am so honored to have the opportunity to represent the wonderful city of Frisco this year!  May you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Love,

Madison Fuller

Miss Teen Frisco