Kicking off the Holiday Season with the Salvation Army!

If you know me, you know I LOVE the Holiday season, yes I am "that" person that starts listening to Christmas music in October, and nothing can kick off the Holiday season like the sound of Christmas music and the Salvation Army bells. On Monday night I had the wonderful opportunity of being a volunteer and greeter at the first annual "A Gathering of Angels Benefit Concert!" the concert took place at Christ Church on Old Hickory Blvd and was a free show for all those willing to come and hear some of the best Christian and Country artist in Nashville. This benefit concert featured Victory recording artist Jimmy Wayne, Belmont graduate Julie Roberts, Grammy award winning Christian artist Matthew West, and one of the most famous and successful country groups Restless Heart!

All of these artist share not only their love for music but also love for children and those less fortunate, all of these artist came together for free to raise money and awareness for the Salvation Army and to kick off the annual Christmas event, "The Angel Tree."

The Angel tree is a project that the Salvation Army adopts every year to insure that each child is given the Christmas that they deserve. I challenge you to at least adopt one angel from the angel tree so that no "angels" are forgotten this year! The Salvation Army did a wonderful job of putting this event together and making sure that everyone at the event did not leave without an open heart for such a great cause! I want to thank everyone that was there at the event last night, as well as the artist and all the volunteers without you all our community would not be what it is today!

If you are downtown MUSIC CITY on December 11, you will find me there ringing that wonderful Salvation Army bell before the Predators game! Come out and see me, and DO NOT FORGET to grab an angel this year!

Miss Music City at Del Webb Lake Providence

WOW! That is the only word I can say to explain last night,what a great group of people I met in such a wonderful community but the night didn't start off like that, let me explain! Well you see I'm a girl, and I get caught up in what outfit I should wear, what shoes I should wear and of course how I should wear my hair, and you see I didn't give my self enough time to look at the map and make sure I knew exactly where I was going so I did what any person would do, I put it in the GPS and that is where the plan went down hill.

As I am driving along, following my GPS ("Cynthia" is her name) all of a sudden "she" tells me that she does not know where she is going. If you know me, you know by this point I don't know where I am going! Long story short, Cynthia the GPS remembers where she is and we make it right on time to Del Webb Lake Providence, where I was greeted with the nicest people I have ever met in my life! After the residents had eaten dinner I was wonderfully introduced by Mrs Shirley Hawkins, a resident there at DWLP and a person very involved in their community; after my introduction I gave a short concert and then we enjoyed the rest of our time together laughing and talking! I took a lot of pictures and signed a lot of autographs, which of course made my night! I am so thankful that I was able to spend my night at Del Webb Lake Providence, it is truly a wonderful place to live and an enjoyable place to visit!

If you will be at Miss TN make sure you look in the Miss TN Program book to see more pictures from Del Webb Lake Providence, because they are sponsoring a page for me! Thanks again to Shari Arnold who made all of this possible and Del Webb Lake Providence for making me feel right at home, I'll be back!

Much Love,

Victoria

Miss Music City at Del Webb Lake Providence

I am so excited about working with Shari Arnold the Lifestyle Director at Del Webb Lake Providence in Mt Juliet, TN on my visit to this wonderful community. Del Webb Lake Providence is ranked number four out of all Del Webb Communities, which are located across the United States. I will be visiting all the residence and attending their Friday Night Social this coming Friday, November 5th. We will all enjoy time to fellowship, take pictures, and a wonderful pot-luck dinner. I am also so excited about singing for the residence as well as sign autographs. I can not wait to share some pictures of our Friday Night Social! Thank you again Del Webb for opening up your doors to Miss Music City I can not wait to meet each and every one of you!

Much Love,

Victoria

I have also attached a link to a video that shows off Del Webb as well as Mrs Shari Arnold!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cI6gNP7-Ho

A look at Miss Music City

Whew! It is was a long 7 hour drive back to NC to see my family but I made it, and while I was here in NC I just had to get a few pictures in with my favorite photographer and brother, Tyler VanDyke! Tyler is only 15 you guys and is already so in depth with his career as a photographer and well as you can see he is GOOD AT IT, if I say so myself! I thought I would share just a few of the pictures that we took this weekend....check out my website for more!!!

Miss Music City goes PINK!!!!

I am sure that no matter who you are, you or your family has been affected by CANCER, particularly BREAST CANCER. During the month of October we celebrate the lives of those who have both survived and fought the battle of Breast Cancer, and remember that one day with the help of awareness, early detection, and funds that WE will find a CURE for Breast Cancer, and ALL CANCERS!

Today I was thinking of all the people that I know that have had breast cancer, and it is sad that you know so many people now that have had or have cancer that you can not remember what type of cancer they have. As Miss Music City and as a friend that has lost a friend to cancer I want to make a difference, I want to look back one day and have my kids have to ask me "what is cancer?" because it is as rare as Polio! With all that said nothing can be changed unless we change it ourselves so I am asking YOU to donate NOW to Relay For Life, in honor or in memory of those that you have lost! Please follow my teams page "Queen For A Cause" at the following link: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=3866229&fr_id=28978&pg=personal

Even if it is just $5 you are making a difference in the lives of every American!

If you have a story that you would like to share of how a friend, co worker, family member, neighbor, or just a stranger you met battled their cancer whether they are still alive or not I want you to share their story! The words that you share may be a light of hope for someone who is going thru the long process of battling cancer themselves or thru a family member or a friend. I want to hear from all of you! Please send the stories to VMVanDyke@yahoo.com I am going to do something very special with them, if you do not want your story to be public please say so in the email!

Remember that October is all about BREAST CANCER awareness, honor all of those that have put up the fight for Breast Cancer!!!! Also remember that early detection is the LIFE SAVER for Breast Cancer, women and men over the age of 40 are at risk, yes I said MEN! Contact your physician to find out more information and get checked for Breast Cancer! If you have questions or want to know more about how to do a personal exam or where you can go to for help please visit: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/crfbbreast

I can not wait to hear all of your stories, have a blessed and PINK OCTOBER!!!!!

Lupus Walk for Nashville

What better way to spend a wonderful Saturday afternoon than at the park with two of the sweetest girls I know, who are they? Macy Moyer and Camille Gear. Macy Miss Capital City Teen Princess and Camille is Miss Music City's Outstanding Teen, both of the girls will compete in March in hopes of bringing home the state title to wonderful Music City! Lupus is Macy's platform and I was so excited when she asked me to come and get involved! Lupus is not something that everyone knows about, and I think that being apart of such an event really opens your eyes to that reality. You may still be asking what is Lupus? Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. This results in symptoms such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart, and lungs. If you would like to get involved and help people that are diagnosed with Lupus look up the Lupus foundation nearest you!

I had such a good time getting to know these girls and can not wait for more appearances to come! I will be posting more photo's on my personal website, but here are a few to look at!

Music City Women's Marathon

In preparation for Miss TN I saw it only fitting that I participate in the Music City Women's Marathon, only I'm not running Im leaving that up to YOU ladies! Its not too late to register for this fun, fun, fun event! It will be in wonderful Music City and you will have the chance to meet tons of new girl friends, win a really neat medal and of course come say hey to me! I will be there for registration on Friday as well on Saturday to hand out medals with the wounded soldiers from the Air Borne!

If you would like to know more about the race go to: www.womenshalfmarathon.com

I look forward to seeing all you ladies at the race!!!!