It’s the holiday season, and I can’t get over how joyful I feel this year. It’s so wonderful being home and getting to spend time with my incredible family, catch up with old friends, and enjoy this time of relaxation and holiday cheer! The end of my fall semester at Notre Dame was definitely a whirlwind. I can’t believe it went so fast. There were so many late nights spent studying and laughing with friends before finals. I already miss school!

While I’ve been home, I’ve gotten to spend so much quality time with my mom. She loves taking photos, and we decided to get some Christmas themed ones in my sash and crown. Here are the results:

I hope to spend quite a bit of time doing service while I’m home as well. The holidays are a wonderful time to give back to the community to express your gratitude and extend a hand to those less fortunate than you. I’m making it one of my New Year’s Resolutions to start working on campus with a new charity. I can’t wait!

Speaking of New Year’s Resolutions, I recently read an article that really spoke to me about this time of year. We can get very caught up in trying to make unrealistic resolutions that don’t truly contribute to our lives in a positive way. This can lead to even more stress because we feel as though we aren’t meeting expectations for ourselves. It’s just as important to remember that you are a beautiful individual and you need to take good care of yourself. This means drinking more water, going to bed and waking up at a decent hour, doing service for others, pursuing your passions, and being able to say “no” when it’s necessary.

To close out my post this week, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who voted for Riley Hospital for Children at http://www.voteformiracles.org this Christmas season. Riley placed #23 out of 140 hospitals. It means so much to me that you all would vote, and I truly appreciate it. See what happens when you come together for the greater good? Although Riley will not receive anything monetary, this does show that by working together, we can make a big difference!

I hope you continue to have a blessed holiday season spent with your loved ones. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.

Your Miss Indiana Girl,

Madelyn… Miss Great Lakes 2018