I’m almost a high school graduate. Can you believe it? I am personally stuck in la la land a little. As much as I am ready for graduation to be here, I can’t believe it really is. I had my last class last Friday, and this upcoming Friday I will get my diploma (wearing a gown that could basically be used as a bathrobe…extremely unflattering). This week I have event after event. Starting Thursday, I have prom, followed by a movie, and then a party at my lake house (can you say late night!); Friday I graduate; Saturday I have dance rehearsals along with the party I’m throwing Ashley Stallard for her Birthday. Then Sunday I’m in two dance recitals, plus I’m leaving for Dallas so I can be there for my high school presentations on Monday. Wew. I’m already a little tired.

     For Prom I will be attiring a Camo Duck tape dress…I hope. I still have yet to make it, but I do have the duck tape and the drive, so hopefully it all turns out. If not, I have plenty of back up gowns. I went to prom with Clay Tyner from Lampasas. I dressed up in a beautiful gown for his prom. It was actually a dress Katie Robertson had in her left over belongings. It was absolutely beautiful though. If you don’t believe me, check out the pictures on the “current events” page of my site. Clay Tyner will also be escorting me to my own prom. Although before prom Taylor Hicks and I plan to watch him receive his track awards at his banquet before heading to prom. It should be fun!

     So…..What I have been up to? To start off, I placed 3^rd/4^th place at the State Tennis Meet in singles, but I didn’t come home empty handed at all. Not only did our girl’s team take 1^st place as a team, but I also played an amazing match. Every point felt great even the one’s I lost. We played for almost four hours and it was good clean tennis. I enjoyed it. And to be honest, I was consistently two points away from winning the entire game. I am the first to ever take my opponent to a third set in the TAPPS division. The girl she beat in finals didn’t even come close to taking her into a third set. Even though winning would have been amazing, It felt great to know I played so well.

     Now as far as college planning goes, I am proud to announce I got accepted into Oklahoma City University’s dance program, AND I received a scholarship for almost $7,000 a year. It has been very rewarding to receive a scholarship after years of telling my father that’s why he was spending so much on dance classes was for me to get. He he he!

     Miss Texas things are coming along great. My dance is close to ready. One more month with the dance and it will be more than ready for a talent prelim! It’s a wonderful, but killer routine. I feel like I have played a four hour tennis match by the time I am one with the short routine. I am also proud to say I have all my clothes, shoes, and jewelry. Now, I admit, they are not all fitted and ready for stage not all perfect, BUT I do have and love them all!

     Well, I think that’s the jest of it all. I have added pictures to almost every page, so please take your time looking through them all.

     Oh, one last note, please make sure to spread the word about C-A-R-E Kids Camp. It is only a one day camp at the Johnson City Park in Marble Falls and I feel it will be extremely educational for children ages 6-16 years. Check out the details on my C-A-R-E Kids page. It is easy to sign up online or give me a call.   

If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!

--Zig Ziglar

What a beautiful year it has been so far. 2008 is gonna be Great! Although, I feel like in these past two months, I have done more than is usually done in two years. Well, maybe not that much, but definitely close. First off.... I must congratulate the new Marble Falls International Girl winners. I was a first time director for the MF International Girl pageant held Sunday February 10th. I am very proud to say it went well and when all was done I was very happy with the outcome. The 2008 Marble Falls International Girl royalty is: Alaina Denham as Baby Miss Queen, Kyla Kinman as Peite Miss Queen and sweepstakes winner, Lynssi Grace Cole as Little Miss Queen, and Jordan Badillo as Young Miss Queen. Additionally, Sabrina Handsel and Alyxandra Van Brockline went home as Princess, and Zoe Stedman won 1^st runner up in the Petite Miss division. Congratulations girls….you all did super and I hope you all have the desire to continue on to the State pageant in June. It will be in Plano this year from June 18^th to the 21^st. More information can be found on International Girl’s website, www.internationalgirlpageant.com

Next, I must brag about how fun Miss America was. Mom and I spent a week in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood watching the pageant and going to several Miss America parties and banquets. I met many of the past Miss America’s, as well as Miss America 2007, Lauren Nelson. Might I add that Miss America '08 is only 19 and was the youngest girl competing! She deserved the crown though. She is very sweet and I know will do a great job representing the Miss America title this year.

I did take the SAT while in Vegas too. I just got my scores back. I still need to raise it 50 points to be able to get into the Dance Management program at OCU, but I did raise it 150 points already, so I believe with some extra studying (yes MORE EXTRA STUDYING), and your prayers, I can & will do it. I will take the test again on March 1^st. I better get to studying! In the meantime, I have also taken the ACT again, keep that in your prayers as well….if they come out high enough I won’t even have to take the SAT again.

School tennis has started. We have a very busy Spring semester! So far our team is doing well though. At our first two tournaments, Hannah Still and I have met in finals (meaning we have taken 1^st and 2^nd place home for Faith Academy).

Overall, everything for Spring semester is going pretty well.  I am getting pumped about Faith tennis, Spring Meeting, dance recitals, and dance auditions at the end of March.

I have never been so proud! Yesterday my 2007 Lonestar Princesses made me one of the most proud 18 year old girls out there! Sarah Mason, Nicole Johnson, Ashley Stallard, Anna Pardue. Joanna Piatek. Bailee Stanford, and Jade Seelig! These girls worked extremely hard to learn and perfect a singing and dance number choreographed to a melody we named “A Princesses Dream.” It was not an easy number to learn or pull off and these girls not only pulled it off, but pulled it off with perfection! AMAZING! They looked beautiful in there pink dresses & performed even more beautifully.

 

This number was put together for the Miss White Settlement pageant held January 26^th where I gave up my Teen White Settlement Title. The pageant was a great success, there were 24 contestants and an hug audience. Several 2008 and 2007 titleholders where there, and I couldn’t be more thrilled they were there. These girls made me so proud! You wouldn’t believe what these girls did for me. They gave up 2 Saturdays and a Friday night to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and PRACTICE “ few more times” (so I would say)!

 

The entire pageant was an enormous success. Not only was it well organized, but the contestants were all very kind, pretty, talented, and REALLY fun to hang out with. There were even 2 VERY CUTE boys there as escorts. He he he….my princesses did a great job of talking me up, lol! Just Kidding. I left without any phone numbers so they didn’t do to well. He he!

 

Moving on….the girls were well behaved the entire pageant. There was a tone of things going on Friday and Saturday (all day), and my LSP’s did there work with no complaints and really stayed well behaved and looked beautiful the hole time. I was so impressed and proud. I will be putting pictures up on the website.

 

Thanks LSP’s! You Girls really sparkled and shined!

 

Quick Reminder: If you or anyone you know is interested in doing the Miss Marble Falls International Girl pageant, I am still taking applications! The pageant will be held at the Boys and Girls Club in Marble Falls on February 10^th. The competition is for ages 0-24 (divided into 7 different age groups) and the phases of competition include party dress, sportswear, and interview. If you compete for the overall title and you’re between the age of 7-18 you will need a talent. Talent is optional in all other divisions.  Contact me on my cell or e-mail me for an application. To learn more about the system visit www.internationalgirlpageant.com. If you would like to purchase a program book add page, it is $25 for a half of page and $45 for a full.

My family spent today @ the Epcot Center in Florida. I had a blast! But I wanted to share a piece of it with everyone, so click on the links below to receive a little e-card from me while here!

http://ms.go.com/retrieve?card_id=C2274D5DE99A4F3115CB858123C0CF67


http://ms.go.com/retrieve?card_id=1C977107422BED4C330AF35096FF8435

Over the holiday break I am staying very busy. I am working on school presentations, so this Spring I can visit schools to talk about my platform and C-A-R-E Kids program. I am also doing all I can to help raise my score for the S-A-T and A-C-T that way I can get into the major of my choice at Oklahoma City University next fall. Tomorrow my White Settlement Lonestar Princess and I are all getting to together to learn the choreography for the production we will be doing at the 2008 White Settlement pageant on January 19^th (when I give up my teen title). Bailee is coming all the way from Dallas and Anna is coming from Houston. I couldn’t be more thankful for these ladies dedication especially with it being so close to Christmas. I welcome anyone and everyone to come watch the Miss White Settlement/ Miss Arlington pageant in January. The number the girls are doing is beautiful and they would love your support

For Christmas my family and I are going to Sugarland, Texas to my Aunt and Uncles house. They just moved and have really gone overboard with decorations (lol…just kidding! it was for a home show); therefore we are not doing our traditional Christmas at Oma’s. We are going to their new house.

Yesterday, I threw a baby shower for my previous dance teacher and REALLY AMAZING friend. I must admit I enjoyed it more than any party I have been to recently. I think it’s one of the best I have ever thrown. I am not sure if that’s because I brought a group of people together who rarely get to visit because they are so busy, but are all really close friends, or if its cause I through good parties…either way, I prefer to think the second! I just throw good parties. Anyway, her baby is due January 3^rd, just five short days before mine. It can be my early Birthday gift to see her have a baby girl.

Right after we return from a brunch at my Uncles house on Christmas day, I am going to do my best to meet with all International Girl pageant contestants who seek advice and help. But I won’t have to much time, because I Sarah Mason and I are going to Dallas for the Cotton Bole Tennis Tournament. We leave the 27^th and will be their till the 30^th (HUNTERS BIRTHDAY!) Luckily most of my pageant family is in the Dallas area and are having the party up there. So on the 30^th we are sneaking away to celebrate Christmas with my Ellis County Family. Opps. And I almost forgot…on the 29^th, I will be helping the Make a Wish Foundation by performing some Christmas songs and dances.

My family and I are leaving for Florida on January 7^th. We will be there until the 12^th (my moms birthday) when we will leave to return home to return back to school. We plan on visiting several places including Disney World and Universal Studios. My dad has planned most of it, so it will most definitely be an amazing trip.

My birthday is January 8^th (while I am in Florida). I have one birthday wish that I need from each of you. Please mark your calendar for July 5^th as the Miss Texas pageant. I am working hard to do my best as a newcomer to the Miss division this year. I would love as many cheerleaders as possible that night. It will most likely start about 6 or 7pm at the Will Rogers Memorial Stadium in Ft. Worth. I know for some of you it is quite a drive. But I promise you it is your time and moneys worth! No matter what my outcome is, each year the constants (Teen & Miss) perform amazing and entertain hundreds of people. You won’t want to miss it. The girls this year are more beautiful, talented, and kinder than ever. It is going to be a tough decision for those judges. Let me know if you are interested in tickets. If I know early I can reserve some with my Ellis County family so you can all cheer as a group! The pageant goes on al week, so if you want tickets to a prelim night, please let me know that as well. The three prelims will be held on the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd (I think!).

Last note BUT IMPORTANT:

I am really would like to win the incentive award this year so I can visit Atlantic City with some of the Texas pageant family. To do this I will need lots of add pages. So please, if you have a business or work for a business that is interested in sponsoring me, give me a call or drop me a note. There are several different size and priced adds we can work with. It ill go into the program book that is distributed at the Miss Texas pageant. Hundreds will see the book, and I have heard of a lot of good coming from some of the adds in the book. People really do notice them and use the book as a reference for business. If you don’t want to sponsor me for an add page, please give a little donation to the Children’s Miracle Network for me! Simple go to the Miss Ellis County page of my website and read link is one of the first things you will see! All profits go to the Children’s Miracle Network. It is a new project the Miss America system has done. Right no I have the most donations for Miss Texas, but I don’t think that it will be easy to keep that title as it comes closer to the pageant. So any donation is welcome and appreciated. I love the Children’s Miracle Network and would love to show it through my goal of at least a $1,000 raised by April.

Thank You & Take Care!

Lana Luise Thomas

P.S. I added a new part to contact me. It makes it easy for you to drop me an e-mail. Simple scroll to the bottom and you can send me an e-mail right there on my web site. I would love to hear from all of you! Keep in Touch!

I am proud to say 2 of my Lonestar Princess were very successful in a Christmas pageant held at the Garland Plaza Theater last Saturday. Chelcie’s mom says, “I would hate to be a judge….all the girls did awesome and looked great!” But my girls outshined them all….In age 6-8, Chelcie won the queen title and the best dress award. Lynnsi won 1^st runner up, Best Personality, and Peoples Choice Award (out of all the age groups). Both girls took home trophy’s or crowns, but Miss Lynnsi also took home a cash award of $40.00. Congratulations Girls. You both make Jennifer and I very proud to have you as our Lonestar Princesses this year! 

 

"Nothing Happens Unless First We Dream"

                      --Carl Sandburg

I still have yet to have a letter from Oklahoma City University, but they did confirm that I have been accepted! We can only guess the letter is lost and has been lost in the mail for quite some time. They sent it a while ago and since then I have called and e-mailed so frequently they gave in. and spilled my acceptance. Opps! They are re-sending it so I can receive my official acceptance letter, but yea….what a relief! At least now I don’t have to approach the mailbox with caution and dig so carefully through the mail that you would think it's glass.

OCU, the University of the Stars….here I come!