Rayne Drops.: Job's Daughters Nostalgia the "Grand Session Edition".

The time has come for Grand Session and Pageant for Ohio Job's Daughters. It's the first year that both are combined into the same time period. This will be another Session I am missing.

FYI Job's Daughters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job's_Daughters_International, http://www.iojd.org/ because typing it all out in my own words would take forever. Summed up it's a masonic youth organization for young girls. Job's Daughters can easily be described as a family. As a Job's Daughter you learn lifelong lessons, friendship, loyalty, and more. A "bethel" is the meeting place for a group of girls belonging to the order. Several bethels make up different states. The organization also exists on an international level - see IOJD.

Pageant happens once a year. At Pageant different girls representing the bethels of the state are chosen as "delegates" and "alternates". The delegates compete for the title of Ohio Miss Job's Daughters. The finalists are chosen by who performed the best on their tests and had a lasting impression on the judges. The finalists are asked a "final question". From that final question and the combined scores, a Ohio Miss is chosen. The OMJD travels around the state and speaks on behalf of Job's Daughters at several events. She also competes at Supreme Session for the title of Miss International. At Pageant an Ohio Miss Congeniality is also chosen. The delegates and alternates both vote on who they believe should be OMC (who they believe should represent them). The OMC travels around state (as much as she can). She should be congenial. She also raises money for scholarships usually.

Grand Session happens every year. Where all of the girls around the state get together. The "Grand Bethel" which consists of girls around the state representing every station. They conduct meetings. They perform ceremonies. At Grand Session members of the next Grand Bethel are selected. At Grand Session the Grand Bethel Honored Queen is also selected. The "GBHQ" is one of the top three girls of the state. She is the one who conducts the meetings of the Grand Bethel and presides over ceremonies. She also travels around the state (to different bethels and events). And when asked to, speaks on behalf of Job's Daughters. The GBHQ for Ohio is chosen by drawing. Girls who have accepted the responsibility and were chosen by their bethels are entered into the drawing, and one is the luck of the draw. Grand Session is also the time for the Grand Officers to be installed, these are the adults from the different bethels. They are there to guide the girls.

The Ohio Miss Job's Daughter, Ohio Miss Congeniality, and Grand Bethel Honored Queen are the top three girls for our state.

Anyways. Now that you know a bit about Job's Daughters of Ohio (if you aren't one) let's move on.
This will be my third Session I am missing.

I missed my sister's outgoing Pageant. I wish I could've been there. But she understands why I couldn't be (with my husband's deployment). My sister was crowned as Ohio Miss Congeniality last Pageant (and I was able to attend).

I wrote her a letter telling her my feelings and how proud I was of her. My sister spent time in my shadow. But now she's her own person. She's not "Katie's Little Sister" anymore. She's unique individual, and I'm sure she's made an impression on those she's come to know.

2006-2007 I presided as Grand Bethel Honored Queen. Grand Session 2006 I was chosen as GBHQ. I was the "luck of the draw". I know that when I was chosen some people were not so thrilled at first. I hadn't had much experience, I was young, I wasn't the best at ritual work, and public attention made me nervous. I'll admit, I was not ready for the position. However, I was determined to work at it. I spent the year traveling with my Grand Family. I spent the year getting close with my two counterparts Ashley and Tiffany. I grew a bond with my Grand Bethel. I spent the year creating memories that would last forever. I was thrown into it.. and I conquered the challenge. I made people proud. This year also changed me... it helped me grow in so many ways. I'm so glad I had the opportunity and experience.

Grand Session always brings up these old memories. It always makes me look back. I remember the excitement of attending Session. I remember all of the fun times.

I still talk to people I knew and grew up with in Job's. The older girls have become majority. The younger girls are now the older girls. It's a whole new territory than I am familiar with. Job's Daughters will always be a part of my life. I wish I could be with my family at Session this year. With my mom and my sister. With my Grand Family. Sharing in the excitement that is Grand Session.