July update...

So, it's been about a month since the adventure of Miss Michigan and I can say that firstly I miss the other women very much!!! I hope they are all doing well and that their summers are going as well as mine is. Brooke Hinkley came to visit me earlier this week. It was so good to see a fellow contestant, sister in Christ, and kindred spirit! I loved having that time just to speak to each other's hearts, and to hang with other friends close to my heart.

Over the last few weeks I have appeared at a few of Miranda's Parties in the Park for children and also begun, with the board, to plan for Miss Greater Grand Rapids on September 20. Please tell anyone and everyone about it. We would love to have a really big crowd there this year! Also, if you know any young women who might be interested in competing please send them to our site: www.missgreatergrandrapids.com. This is an incredible way to connect with who you are and to gain a confidence you never imagined you could have. I'll have my story up in a few days explaining what got me here from where I was 5 years ago.

Other than that I have been doing the job search thing and working the wedding circuit! haha I may not be Jane from 27 dresses, but by the end of the summer I will be Kelsey with 12! No, I'm not in them all...but I am going to them. I'm in 3. One of my best friends from high school got married this last weekend. The day went off with only one "hitch"...Adam and Morgan! Everything was so beautiful. I loved every moment of it!

Well, it's a lazy day Saturday...but I'm hoping to not let it be one... I'll be updating this with a bit more information as time allows. I hope you are well. And thank you again for your support on this journey to Miss Michigan and beyond! :)
~Kelsey Mae Dufendach

Thought I would give you all a few pics from the last few days :) I miss all these lovely girls already...goodness. They will do great things with their lives, I just know it!

God's plan...

Ashlee Baracy is the new Miss Michigan. And how beautiful she looked tonight. What a whirl-wind of a night. After opening number they called the top 10...I was so blessed to place in top 10. We then did the show, talent, swim wear, evening gown...wow, what a rush!!! I did not place in top 5, but I know it was not the Lord's will. God has a plan and I was so excited to even be here with all these beautiful women. I'm so impressed by all of them. What I said after day one was just magnified as I really got to know the hearts of these women. How truly beautiful they are.

Thank you all for supporting me this week. I am so blessed with such a solid support system. I love you all so much. This is me signing out for now...I'll add more pictures sometime tomorrow or this next week as well as keep you updated on appearances and other Miss Greater Grand Rapids events. I love you! Thanks again!

God Bless,
~Kelsey Dufendach
Miss Greater Grand Rapids 2007

almost forgot!

prayer:
-I'm tired.
-calm
-I want to be 100% okay with the judges decision...anyone of these 27 women could do this job, but only one gets it
-not feeling the greatest lately...
-nerves

....unreal!

That is the phrase of the night for me, "Unreal!" I think I have been saying that a lot. The cool thing about that is it totally puts it into perspective...God is so much bigger than this world. It is unreal...He does the impossible and the unreal. He works in wondrous ways. His plan is great. I was standing on stage tonight after the closer...and when my name was called for the swimsuit winner, I couldn't believe it. It was...unreal! I am blessed to be sure. I give it all to God. I was a bit nervous for it tonight so I asked Him to walk with me at my side. He must have been strutting His stuff!!! haha Oh goodness...I'm tired. It's time to hit the hay. Thanks again for all your unending support. I am so blessed by all my family and friends! (Missed you tonight Daddy!) Hugs and kisses!

God Bless,
~Kels

Thursday prelim...

Tonight went so smoothly, which I guess is what you want for on stage question and evening gown. I had fun though. Thanks again for all your prayers. I was a bit nervous for the question, but I felt I answered it well. Who knows... we will see what the judges thought on Saturday.

Everyone did so wonderfully!!! I really need to head to bed, but please check the Miss Michigan America website to see who won awards tonight. They were great!

I hope you all are doing well. Thank you for your words of encouragement and your comments...they mean so much to me!

Much love,
God Bless,
~Kels

Prayer
-peace.

So Blessed...

Picture this:
The curtain is down, the announcer is talking...and the lights go to black, then before you have time to breath the curtain rises and the lights shine bright. Music is playing, but you can't hear because everyone is screaming. What a rush as you turn around to dance the opening number. WOW!!! There is nothing like it. I can't believe it!!! So yeah, opening number went well, I think I messed up once (that won't happen again Kelly...knock on wood!).

now...picture this:
Standing of the wing, the stage goes to black, I'm told to enter, Gina Valo, the current Miss MI is announcing my name to sing talent. But, just before the lights go up I have enough time to close my eyes and pray, "Lord, help me to just do my best." And I did. It was so much fun. I had such a calm as I sang...with all your prayers I wasn't even nervous! I sing a song called "Someone Like You" from the musical Jekyll and Hyde. It is a beautiful song. Every time I sing it I think about all the children I want to help through mentoring. I know that it is what they would sing to their mentors if they could.


lastly picture this:
They have announced Ashlee Baracy as the Swimsuit Award winner. The teen talent winner has been announced... Carleigh Corrion-Rowley. The emcee is announcing the miss talent winner, "Contestant number 7..." pause...(I should be reacting...I'm not yet...I didn't believe it) "Kelsey Dufendach, Miss Greater Grand Rapids!" I couldn't believe it. I was the talent winner. I still can't believe it as I sit here and type it. Wow. How blessed I am. Again, thank you all for your prayers and support. It was so wonderful to get all your messages and e-mails today. Thank you times a million! I am so blessed to have you in my life. I not only dedicate my song to all the children I want to find mentors for, but I know that I have seen a world I would have never seen before, if you didn't love me. (Kinda the words of my song) Thank you so much.

I hope you are all enjoying the week and that your summers are nice and relaxing. Part of me feels like the world has partly stopped while I've been here...but I know you all have your busy days too, so please update me on what you are up to and how I can pray for you in my down time. You all mean more to me than words can say, and I say that with all the sincerity I can muster.

Love and hugs to all!

God Bless,
~Kels

p.s. to see the preliminary winners each night please go to www.missmichigan.org Have a great Thursday!

Prayer:
-nerves
-energy
-restful sleep
-all of us are a bit overwhelmed and stressed in our own ways and at different times...it would be nice to all have a calm come over us...