Thankful for my Beautiful Mommy!!! A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice!!!

Happy Mother's Day to Sarah and Bristol Palin, as well as all of the other moms out there. I love my mom. If that old notion is true that a girl's mom is her best friend, then my mom is definitely mine. For my entire life, my mom has always put her kids first, making sure that we were always provided for. While my dad is awesome, and I love him to death, there is just something special about a girl's relationship with her mother. There are so many "girl moments" that I can recall having with my mom while growing up. I can recall a ton of funny moments and those moments that I had when all I wanted to do was be held and cry on her shoulder. I know I am lucky when I can truly say that my mom has ALWAYS been there for this Conservative Girl with a Voice.


I definitely know there were times when my mom probably wanted to pull all of her hair out over the antics of her three children, but she never quit believing in my brother, sister and me. She has always taught me to dream big and set big goals for myself. I can still remember the little things like her helping to run the PTA and always being there to pick me up after school and being the team mom for my softball teams. She has been there through think and thin- from consoling me in middle school over my "boy troubles" to taking me in her arms and telling me how proud she was of me even after I screwed up that puzzle during my appearance on Wheel of Fortune. I am so blessed and thankful God gave me a mom who has never given up on me even during the times I wanted to give up on myself.

I had a great childhood, full of so many ups and few downs, and mom made that possible. My mom was the individual who's responsible for the personal relationship I have with Jesus Christ. I will never forget sitting on the swing set, mom was on the swing beside me, when I was about five years old and accepting Jesus into my heart. I will forever be thankful to her and dad for bringing my brother, sister and I up in a loving, Christian home.

My mom has taught me so much, and I cannot wait to have a daughter whom I can teach the same lessons. One of the best lessons my mom has taught me is to always believe in myself and know that I can achieve whatever I set my eyes upon. This whole "world is my oyster" philosophy sticks with me to this day. I will never forget what mom told me recently as I sat in the car, on our way home from my Wheel of Fortune taping. I kept telling my family that I couldn't stop kicking myself for having screwed up that puzzle. I would have won about $17,000 and two trips- one to Britain and another to Cabo. I kept going on about the "what ifs" when mom told me to look her in the eye; now, for all you out there, you know good and well that when mama says to look her in the eye, you better listen and do it pronto! When I looked over at her, here is what mom told me:

"Rachelle, you were so blessed to be chosen to be on America's number one game show. Out of the millions who try out each year, you were selected. I know God has big plans for your life, and being on Wheel of Fortune is going to look like a small fete when you look back on your life. It is something to add to your bucket list. You are a beautiful, smart, intelligent young woman, and I know you will continue to succeed and do great things."

At that moment, with tears in my eyes, I knew my mom was right. I knew I had been blessed with the opportunity to do something so many people will never get the chance to do. With this said, I realize that I have so much to be thankful for and so much that I still want to do and achieve. It is because of the values and work ethic that mom has instilled in me that I know I can do it as long as I continue to work hard and rely on God in my life. Thank you, mom, for always helping me to believe in myself and NEVER giving up on me. I am so blessed and honored to be able to call you "mom." Although I may not tell you this everyday, I love you!!!

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Catch My National TV Debut!!! A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice

Last March, I received an email from America's most popular game show, Wheel of Fortune, inviting me up to Los Angeles for an audition. Since I studied English and Journalism in college and grad school, I have always enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune and playing along. In my wildest dreams, I NEVER thought that I'd actually be picked as a contestant. That is the same thing I thought when I filled out the online application for fun last February. After reading the information on the application, I knew that filling out an application did not automatically ensure that I would get an audition, but I thought, "What the heck; I'll give it a shot anyway." One of my fondest memories comes when I was a child and my family and I traveled to Los Angeles for a chance to be in the Wheel of Fortune audience. Now, I have to admit, I was a very spunky child, and I had many ornery moments that I look back now and chuckle about. One such moment came during the taping of the episode we attended. The employees are very meticulous with keeping the audience quiet, but being the spunky child I was then (I always loved the spotlight), I saw Vanna White approach backstage to the left of where my family and I were sitting, and I quietly yelled out, "Vanna" hoping she would hear me. Sure enough, Vanna heard me, and she waved and smiled at me. I was so stoked and excited, and I could tell that, although my parents thought that had to be the coolest thing ever, they had to be a little embarrassed too. The young employee wasn't too happy with my little stunt and glared at me, and I just smiled right back at her. Come on, I was a 14-year-old kid.

When I showed up at the audition, I learned that I would be attending the second audition of the day. The audition was held at a hotel ballroom near the studio where Wheel is taped. I quickly learned that I would be trying out with about 120-150 other people, and I learned that about five of us would be picked to appear on the show. I knew it was going to be a huge long shot for me to actually be picked, but being the competitive girl I am, I knew I would give it my all and pray that I would be lucky enough to be picked.

The audition process took about two hours. The first part was a written test, and I learned that there would be a first cut and that over half of the people would be sent packing. After I took the written test, I prayed that I did enough to stick around. When the four contestant coordinators started to name those who would be staying, I almost fainted right then and there when I heard my name called about 10 names in. I knew that I had passed the first test, but I knew it was about to get a lot tougher as I was going to be playing a mock game with the remaining auditioners. After we said our goodbyes to those who left us, we got to take a small break before being put into groups to play the mock game. I had already had an exhilarating time and made met so many great people. I have always been an outgoing, bubbly person, so it was easy to connect with them. We got to talk a little about ourselves, and the judges told us that if we got a letter in the mail within the next two weeks that meant we had been been picked to be a contestant. If we didn't get a letter that meant we didn't and would have to wait an entire year to be try out again. (I met many people that day in which this had been their second and even third tryout.) I just kept praying that God would lead me and that I would trust him and the plans he has for my life. This is one of the things I really admire about Sarah Palin. Like fellow believers in Jesus Christ, she knows that God is in control, and God will direct her on the right path. We just have to listen to Him. One of my fondest memories of Sarah's interview with Greta, that appeared right after the election, was her telling Greta that if God opens a door, she is going to plow through it. This is exactly what I am doing, and I thank God for giving me this opportunity. The contestant coordinators made it clear that being picked as a contestant was a fete in itself. Each year, six million people send in applications and audition, and out of that six million, fewer than 600 people are chosen as contestants. I heard that you have a greater chance of being struck by lightning that appearing on the show. Talk about pressure, huh?

At the end of the audition, the contestant coordinators took each of our pictures and put them with our paperwork, wished us luck and we were free to leave. The contestant coordinators were really friendly, and I thank them so much for being so great and welcoming. I knew it was going to be a long two weeks, and I kind of came to the realization that it would be a long shot, but I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to audition. After that twelfth day of waiting, I began to assume that the letter would not be coming to my door, but on the thirteenth day, I almost passed out when I saw that white envelope with the Wheel of Fortune label on the return address, and I knew what the meant- I didn't even have to open the letter, for I knew what it said: I had just been chosen as a contestant for Wheel of Fortune. I couldn't control my excitement, and I immediately began screaming and jumping up and down. My mom was outside in the driveway, and I ran out to her waving the envelope in the air, screaming that I had made the show. I was walking, or should I say running, on cloud nine. As I read the information inside, I learned that I would be appearing within 18 months. I knew it was going to be a while before I would appear, but I didn't care because I just felt so blessed to have been chosen out of all those who try out each year.

Well, fellow readers, 10 months have gone by, and I am happy to report that I received a call from Wheel this past Tuesday informing me that I will be taping my appearance this Friday. I am so excited and studying all things Wheel of Fortune. I don't know how much I will win, but I know that I feel so blessed just to be given this chance of a lifetime. I have no doubt that this experience will be an experience of a lifetime. I plan to just get out there and have fun; after all, that is what life is about. Life is a funny thing sometimes, right? As a young girl, I dreamed of one day spinning that famous wheel and now, 14 years later, I get the chance too. How cool is that? My advice to all of you out there is to just go for it, whatever that "it" may be for you. I am living proof that dreams do come true! After all, if you don't go for it, you'll never know what may have been! I wanted to share with you, my blog family, this amazing news and to also let you know that this is why I will not be blogging as regularly for the next week as I prepare for my appearance. Don't worry, I will keep you posted on when my show airs. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and for the kind words of encouragement I have already received. You all are true blessings!!!

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