It's NOT a pageant . . .

Last night the girls and I attended the Junior Miss PROGRAM . . . as we were informed from the start that it's not a pageant, but a scholarship program designed for any High School Junior who'd like to participate, and they are awarded with money for college. We rooted for our Mackenzie - definitely one of my favorite people - a courageous, spirited, and virtuous young woman whom I've known for several years now. I have long admired the way she and her sister Mikaela live with their little people syndrome and it's accompanying vision and physical limitations. Fifty-five percent of the judging was done prior to this night so the categories we saw were "self expression" (i.e. the gown walk and interview question) "physical fitness" (an upbeat 6 minute routine that included for each girl a 20 sec. choreographed solo) and "talent." To put it concisely, Mackenzie stood out in every way. She totally rocked all her events - from singing a song in My Fair Lady, to the question (Outside your immediate family, whom do you admire? Rosa Parks was the confident answer), and especially the fitness routine where she put in extra hours (the girl can do a toe touch AND real push-ups!) to get it down. You would never guess beneath that radiant smile that she underwent knee surgery last summer and that they still constantly bother her, or that her vision is not good, or that she's a good three feet shorter than every other contestant. I'll admit I shed a few tears during the program knowing some of the things she has been through. All the contestants did really well and Mackenzie won second runner up!! She was also awarded the "Self Expression," the "Judge's Interview Favorite" and the "Best Self" awards for a total of $1600 in scholarship money. Not to mention she earned $50 for selling the most tickets.



Maddie's and Sage's favorites of the long night - besides getting to stay up until 11:00 PM - was going with 20 other exceptional girls and moms, riding in the 15 person passenger van, and the "entertainment" while the judges deliberated. The entertainment was a mock Junior Mr. program done by the four guys helping out. Words cannot describe how hilarious. But picture a lanky high school basketball player wearing roller blades, a pink junior miss t-shirt TUCKED into shorts and dancing to a song while doing an arabesque and leaps (he also happens to be the program director's son who is also the son of a member of our Stake Presidency). Maddie and Sage nearly fell out of their seats laughing at the these guys. However, even these boys could not top seeing their friend do well on stage. We are so proud of Mackenzie!!