Rachel Roberts

Well, we are less than a month away from the Mrs. Oklahoma 2010 pageant. It has been a busy few weeks helping with the preparations and making Go Red appearances. On Thursday, February 4 I was invited to attend the Go Red Day at the Oklahoma State Capital. I was fortunate to attend this event twice during my year. It was very sentimental because it happened to be my very first appearance as Mrs. OK and one of my very last. I enjoyed sharing the day with my sister Oklahoma state titleholders as well as many of the local titleholders that are preparing to compete this year. Not only did we have an opportunity to meet with our representatives, but we also had the chance to talk with Lt. Governor Jari Askins. At this event last May, the Lt. Governor was out of town. Me and the other OK state titleholders were able to take a picture in her office, which she later signed and mailed to us. We were fortunate during this visit to take a picture with her and even have a few minutes of her time to talk. The highlight of our capital visit was sitting in on the House of Representative's session while a proclamation was read for Go Red For Women. What was even more special was that MY representative (Pam Peterson) was the one read it. It was an amazing day that concluded with a wonderful lunch with the local titleholders, state titleholders, Go Red representative, OK Intl'l director Lauri Rottmayer and friends of the OK Intl pageant. After lunch, we snuck in a visit to Sara Sara Cupcakes. WOW!!! Probably the best cupcakes ever! Visit their web site for more information and to read about Sara who was the inspiration behind the bakery. www.sarasarabakery.com

On Saturday, February 6 I met up with Lauri Rottmayer and two local OK titleholders at Macy's Department Store. We were given the star while we tried on red outfits for the Fashionable Fundraiser to support Go Red For Women. This has become an annual event for us to participate in and I am so excited to do this for the second year in a row. The fundraiser is held in conjunction with the Tulsa Women's Expo. Oklahoma titleholders will be manning the Go Red Booth all weekend and will participate in the fundraiser on Sunday. We will be modeling the outfits chosen from Macy's, which will then be auctioned off with all proceeds going to Go Red. You can find out more by going to http://www.womenslivingexpo.com/Tulsa2010/index.php .

As I said earlier, my year is almost over. I can't believe how fast it went and how much I was able to do and learn! I am so blessed to have been given this opportunity. I am true testimony to When God Closed A Door He Opens A Window. He gave me the trials and experiences of my past for a reason. This year, I found what that reason is. I am excited for the amazing contestants that are competing this year. Each one of them is very deserving of this title and would do amazing things with it. The pageant will take place on March 5 and 6 in Stillwater, OK. Until then, I will be doing a few more appearances and finishing up last minute preparations for the pageant. This is a bittersweet time, but I keep telling myself, because of all the doors that have been opened for me this year, it is not the end... but only the beginning!

Until next time...

-Rachel