Miles For Hope Walk

Saturday, April 6^th 2013 was The Miles for Hope Walk.   The day started early in the morning with setup and pictures.  The team helped with registration, and the royalty gave Superman tattoos in honor of Dalton Andrew, who we meet at the walk last year. Dalton passed away March 29, 2013. We used the tattoos to show our support to his family and friends. Before the race started, we joined the runners doing stretches. Then our lead Queen Ali, gave the starting signal to the race. As they crossed the starting line, we cheered them on, and then a while later we cheered them on as they crossed the finish line.   When everyone returned, Nicole, May, and Nikohl handed out awards for the largest amount of money raised in a team. Also Dalton’s mom let a balloon up to heaven for him.  There was a minute when it looked like that balloon would get stuck in the trees but it snuck through and the whole crowd cheered! This year’s ambassador gave a speech about his journey with this terrible disease. Then, all the survivors came up and shared their stories.   Last, we lead the way for the survivor walk. We helped to disassemble and put away things and went home.  This walk was very inspirational and had great meaning to all of us and we can’t wait to be back next year!

                                                          Crusaders Royalty,

                                                                  Kathleen 

Dalton's Funeral

Hello all…On Friday, March 29, 2013, a courageous fighter of brain cancer died. His name was Dalton James Andrew.  He was 19 years old. He fought the battle with brain cancer with his family by his side for two long years.  On Good Friday, the Lord took his warrior Dalton home.  I got to meet Dalton at the Miles for Hope Walk last year where he was the ambassador for the event.

The funeral was held April 5, 2013.  I got the opportunity to be there and say a few words about him.  I did not have time to write down what I was going to say before I went up there to say it.  Wow was all I could think at first seeing his mom and all the people who came to support him and say goodbye.  Then I started to think about Dalton and what he said to me last year and his attitude.  Then everything came to me all at once.  He was kind, exciting, and a burst of energy and encouragement.  It felt like he was a new found role model for me and everyone else that was there supporting him.  From now on I want to be like Dalton because he taught me to live every day to the fullest and never waste a breath.

--Princess Malena

Stock show thank you dinner

           On Friday, March 1, 2013 the Crusaders Royalty attended the National Western Stock Show appreciation dinner. The evening was for all of the NWSS volunteers.  It was a good time, people were being honored for volunteering for many years,The cool part, was all of the Royalty was mentioned and thanked for their volunteer work, and long hours. Our Queen, Alicia, and I, earned NWSS Volunteer camping chairs since we had 60 hours or more our first year volunteering for the NWSS. Our royalty team worked many hours and days, we had so much fun meeting new people, The food at the party was great but the prime rib could be rarer, in my opinion, but then again I am a “rare” kind of person.  Before the evening came to an end all the Royalty got to take a picture with Dean, the most incredible and funny man, who helped with Pony Trails.  I cannot wait for our next adventure with the NWSS in 2014. 

Crusaders Royalty,

Nikohl Schlihs

 

                                                                                                       

Crusaders spend the day at Mount Saint Vincent

One of Crusaders favorite events is visiting the children at Mt St Vincents. We love it so much because we get to play with the kids and create positive reinforcement in their lives. They affect us by being so sweet and I can not believe how strong most of them are. They inspire us by living one day at a time and making the best out of their circumstances. They are told when to get up, when they can leave their rooms, when to eat, if they can go outside and how long, they get to play or read. Sometimes you will see that they do get frustrated and have a difficult time expressing their emotions. It was fun for us to play with them; we played games such as Jenga, Uno, various puzzles, beading and we made paper airplanes. Some of us had never played Jenga and while we were making paper airplanes the kids were teaching us how to improve our “planes” and make different things out of paper such as origami. It makes us appreciate the difference in our lives from theirs and how lucky we are to have it.

~Princesses Malena Blue And Nicole

Crusaders Royalty at the 107 th National Western Stock Show

This year our royalty had the extraordinary honor of being able to go down to the 107th National Western Stock Show and Rodeo to represent The Crusader Equestrian Drill Team.   Our group mainly worked Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  We learned new things and met new people. 

  Our responsibilities included Meet and Greet at the main events, helped with the Stick Horse Rodeos, Pony Trails, greeted guests at the Coors Art Show, and handed out ribbons at events.  

   Many of us had the chance to be interviewed on the radio and television. One Saturday 92.5 The Wolf booth interviewed Nicole, Alicia, Nikohl, May, Joanna and Katie. On the final Saturday the morning team was at the 9news booth. Joanna, Nicole and I were interviewed by Corey Rose with our friend, Elbert County's Queen Ashley.

  I met many other queens and princesses from County Rodeos and Equestrian groups that I had a lot in common with.  These are girls I look forward to seeing again next year.  Being able to work with the other girls was a learning experience.  I was grateful for the opportunity to have represented Crusaders at the National Western Stock Show.

   I'm proud of all of the girls and ready for next year. I would also like to thank our coordinator Diana and Queen Joanna for such great help. 

 

Crusader Royalty

Kathleen

"Crusaders Stock Is Rising", Newspaper Article

Recap from Christmas Drive 2012

Crusaders Equestrian Team sponsored a toy drive for Christmas. We collected toys and clothing from people in the Brighton area. Several local merchants helped by providing drop off boxes.

We stopped at two different trailer parks.It was obvious that the families living  there did not have much of anything, much the less money for Christmas presents. I enjoyed seeing families being thankful for new clothes for themselves and their children. When we  finished with both of the parks and were cleaning up I was very humbled because we put smiles on every one of those children's faces for Christmas. 

We all know the Lord is the real focus on Christmas but it’s still nice to have a present on that special day. Just knowing the children that weren't going to get anything on Christmas morning will now get that joyous feeling of having their own gift on Christmas. 

Children of all ages around the world whine and throw fits every day because they don't get the one or two things that they want and need so badly.(or they think they do anyway) What they don't realize is that the children in those trailer parks will most likely never get that thing or anything close to it.  Those children that do have the money for those items think they never get anything "cool" but how would you like it if you had 3 other siblings and your bed is right next to the door in a small trailer. Or you are 12 years old and having to work a normal adult job just to eat dinner. 

I thank the Lord everyday for what my family and friends have, I also pray for those who are less fortunate.When you get finished reading this piece  I hope you realize how truly blessed you are in life. Although I really enjoy what I have, this helped me realize the importance and privilege  of caring and service to others. I would love to do many more events revolving around these trailer parks, families and many more.

~ Princess Malena Blue