In this New Year I feel like I need to be 100% genuine and honest. So (deep breath)…. with that I must confess, this is my first ever Blog!! I have read many, and thought about writing one, but that is as far as it has gone. So here it goes!!

Who would have thought that this is what God had in store for me in 2010!!  This week has been a test of Faith and an incredible show of Love from my Lord and Savior. I must tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you for taking this Leap of Faith and submitting a video. For putting yourself out there for all to see, and saying “I am worthy”. I have been inspired by all the love and support that has poured out from what Me Ra and Brian have created here!! How blessed are each one of us to have had the opportunity to cross paths and dream!!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Like many of you, last week began with anticipation and excitement. I was anxious to find out, and nervous all at the same time. I prayed that God would give me peace and take away the stress and anxiety. With that prayer he gave me an incredible sense of calmness. I realized that whatever the outcome might be, I would be okay! My Dad called to see if I had received any news. I told him “I think it’s a no Dad”. My Dad preceded to tell me, “You never know honey, Me Ra might show up on your doorstep tomorrow.” I laughed my tail off not realizing he was absolutely correct!!

So when I received a strange phone call from my husband on the morning I received the news, I thought little of it. My husband called me at home and asked the brilliant question, “Where are you?” To which I answered, “I will give you one guess, HOME!!” I laughed at how silly a question it was. Little did I know he was playing detective for one Me Ra Koh.

I was drying my hair, getting ready to pick up my kids from school, when the phone rang again. I strongly contemplated not answering but something urged me to pick up the phone. I picked up the phone,  and to my utter shock it was Me Ra!!! To say I was in shock was an understatement, I was floored. I quickly sat down and told Me Ra everything I had planned on doing that day, how goofy!! I am sure I sounded like a blundering fool. Me Ra explained a video guy would be coming by the house in roughly two hours. Panic struck, you are all thinking it, was my house video ready!! Nope, but who cared at this point I was SOARING!!

I got off the phone, took a deep breath and called my husband. The call to my husband was full of mostly unintelligible comments and tons of screaming. I began making calls and arranging for my husband, parents, nephew, in-laws, and grandparent in-laws to be there to support me when the video guy came. I picked up my kids, and started the task of readying my house. What a great distraction!! To say that I was bursting with excitement was an understatement. I am sure there was a Cheshire like smile eerily plastered on my face.

My family arrived, and we waited for the video guy to arrive. Sitting in the living room, I heard from someone in the group that there was a group of people walking up the street. I got up and looked out the window in utter disbelief at what I saw. A beautiful little girl was walking up my driveway carrying a pink package with a brown ribbon. I recognized instantly that the beauty was none other than Pascaline with Blaze, Brian, and of course Me Ra in tow. I was so worried about how I needed to act. Ok, confession number 2 of the New Year. I am not an actress or even close to it. I was terrified I would not look surprised enough, and would thus disappoint all of you that saw the video. I can honestly say that seeing Me Ra, Brian, and the kid’s walk up to my house was a complete shock and thrill. The next 2 hours were something I will cherish all the days of my life.

My time since that extraordinary call has been a blur. It has been a surreal experience – one that I never anticipated. I spent my time waiting for the announcement following all of your threads and comments. Your hope and support for one another was inspiring. I was anxious and nervous for all of you, as if I  was still waiting. I too was where you were, I dreamt the same dream. I told every person that saw my video and told me how much I deserved this that there were 262 other women that deserved it just as much.

I spent my Friday reading comments, and waiting for the announcement. I prayed for Me Ra and Brian on such a hectic day, and I prayed for each and every one of you. We took our kids out to dinner and a movie and returned home eager to see the video. We kept our kids up later then usual and finally decided to put them to bed – they had waited long enough!

Together, just my husband and I, watched the journey Me Ra and Brian took just like the rest of you. We watched and discovered who the other winners were, and I cried out of happiness for them.   Then with one eye open and volume turned down, we saw the arrival and start of my journey. With humble hearts we read the comments that poured in, and I felt proud to have been able to stand with you and say “I Can Soar”!!

I hope and pray that Me Ra, Brian, and the kids have been able to take a deep breath and relax, they so deserve it!! For anyone that has not had the pleasure of meeting Me Ra, Brian, Pascaline, and Blaze…. you are missing out. They were some of the most charming and genuine people I have ever met. You could not help but feel at ease within moments of meeting them. If I had received nothing else, the blessing of meeting these amazing people would have been worth its weight in gold!! Thank you Me Ra and Brian for being the amazing people God has intended you to be, I am both humbled and inspired!!