Happy New Year of the Dragon

It's been a while since I last posted an entry in this blog.  Life has been treating me well and I thought I'd share some new photos.  

My favorite Miss KS USA 2009 family members! Momma Rewalt, Kiki, me, Momma Courter.

Me, Miss KS USA 2009 Courtney Courter, and Miss KS Teen USA 2009 Alexis Rewalt.

I went to watch the Miss KS USA pageant in December with some friends.  It was the first time in a decade that I was a complete spectator.  It seemed like any time I'd be watching a pageant, I would be preparing for my next pageant.  I'm thankful for having built friendships with some pageant gals and their families.  During my last year at the pageant, I was nominated by the teens and won the Mentor Award.  I feel that was one of the best awards to have been given, beside the crown.  My goal was to win the title and mentor young people.  Guess I didn't need the crown to do that :) It was amazing seeing one of the young ladies I helped recruit win Miss KS Teen USA 2011.  Then, at this pageant, I saw one of the young ladies that nominated me for Mentor win this year! 

Miss KS Teen USA 2011 Taylor Clark, me, and Miss KS Teen USA 2012 Katie Taylor.

I got to spend part of the holidays with my extended family - - the Rotary Family.  I had the pleasure of seeing Papa Kent again and the rest of the District 5690 family.  In regards to Rotary, this has been a full circle year for me.  From an Interactor at East to a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to the charter president of the Rotaract Club of Wichita.  Thanks to my Rotary family for always being my cheerleaders!

Rotaractor ladies volunteering at the Lord's Diner.

Have I told you how much I love my career?  I think I have. :) It's been about 16 months since I first got to live out my dream of being a reporter and I still wake up every morning eager to go to work.  This past weekend, I got to tour and report on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.  It's amazing the stories I have gotten to tell this past year and I can't wait to tell more in 2012.  You can follow my stories at www.facebook.com/kslilywu.

Posing in front of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with phojo Ausin and aviation reporter Chris Frank.

I hope you have all gotten a great start to 2012 and wish you all a Happy Chinese/Lunar New Year of the Dragon.  May it all bring you happiness, strength, and love.

Helping co-organizer the Miss Asia Pageant for the 2011 Asian Festival.

Asian Festival 2011

Co-emcee of the Asian Festival with the judges.