Crowned in Love: Bethany’s Journey- Part 2
You crown the year with Your goodness,
And Your paths drip with abundance. Psalm 65:11
Missed the beginning of our story? Catch up here on [Crowned in Love: Bethany’s Journey (Part 1)]!
Bethany’s journey holds two parallel realities. God’s presence and grace “crowns” her years with goodness and abundance! However, her path on this earth is also marked by some hard realities of having down syndrome. You’d never guess by the smiles and excitement she usually radiates, but if you’ve known her for long, you’ll also know how she struggles with extreme fatigue.
Life has Paths of Hard Realities
It was easier to have bigger dreams for her when she was in high school. She got her driver’s license, went to KU Project Search for a year, has gone to JCCC for some classes, and had some internships and two jobs. Covid interrupted all that and it’s been difficult to regain the momentum we had. She’s also been on a health journey the last 2-3 years. Hashimotos, a minor pericardial effusion, gut issues, plus chronic fatigue has impacted her life, limiting her daily energy. And, right before we left, Bethany completed a sleep study and found she has mild to moderate sleep apnea- another piece in the puzzle for us to tackle.
God Crowns Our Path With His Goodness
We all walk in two realities—the hard path of life and God’s good path. I often have to remind myself to focus on the greatest truth: while her road can be challenging, it is also overflowing with beauty and abundance. Bethany loves dancing, taking voice lessons, learning through podcasts, memorizing worship songs like nobody’s business, helping plan family celebrations and loving on her nieces and nephews.
Always Bethany’s favorite past time- surrounded by family
Between volunteering at Veritas as a teacher’s aide, serving at church, Bible study, family celebrations, Friday Friends, and JOY KC , her calendar and heart are full! All these things may tire her out, but these connections bring growth and rich friendships into her life! This is something important for all , but especially young adults with disabilities.
The Twists and Turns in the Path
The Lord charted our path to begin to attend JOY KC in Lenexa, KS. There she met Sara- another young woman with Mosaic Down syndrome. Sara, was an ambassador for Miss Amazing- an enrichment pageant program that provides friendships, opportunities to build confidence, grow new skills, and belong to an uplifting community. It sounded great, but not really understanding the whole scope of the pageant thingy- Bethany attended the Kansas State Amplify event for Miss Amazing last October.
She signed up, stepped out of her comfort zone and it morphed into an unforgettable experience. We had zero expectations of winning—we joined mainly because of Sara’s friendship but also to learn new skills and make new friends. The girls we met were sweet and welcoming.
It was truly amazing to watch girls of all abilities take the stage—each given a moment, a voice, and a platform. The audience was warm and supportive. To see girls who once struggled with shyness stand tall, make eye contact, and share their hearts was beyond beautiful.
We were shocked when Bethany’s name was called as Kansas Miss Amazing Miss Division. What was going on? We were so happy for her! As pictures were being taken, we needed to go to a meeting to find out how to prepare Bethany for Nationals. Nationals??????!
Bethany Anne Barclay - Kansas Miss Amazing - Miss Division- Amplify Event- 2026-
Sara won Miss Congeniality, which meant she wouldn't be competing at Nationals. Yet they decided as a family, to come to the whole Miss Amazing pageant anyway—and we’re so thankful for their decision! Sara was by Bethany’s side every step of the way, offering constant prep, encouragement, prayers and support throughout the pageant.
Sara won Miss Congeniality in 2025- and came to Nationals to support and cheer on Bethany! #Besties
What followed was a ton of preparation and a lot of fundraising! I can’t begin to thank everyone who became a part of our journey. The emotional and financial support was humbling and such a blessing! And to those who froze in the Barn Event: the Chili, Trivia, Auction Fundraiser- you all deserve a crown of your own!
She could not have gone if it were not for all of you.
Another big shout out to our fab family, who rallied around Bethany from start to finish! From helping her shop for the perfect look to teaching her how to do her makeup and practicing hair styles, they were all-in. During the entire weekend in Chicago, our family group chat was blowing up with love, prayers, and excitement. They even gathered together back home to watch the live feed—cheering her on in real-time, providing immediate love and feedback, and supporting her both emotionally and financially every step of the way.
We could truly feel all of your prayers and loved receiving so many kind words of encouragement. A massive thank you to everyone who helped Bethany polish her dance, fitted and tailored her beautiful evening gown, reviewed her onstage introduction, got her stage-ready, and practiced interview questions with her! I'm afraid to list names because I’d hate to leave anyone out—but please know we are grateful from the bottom of our hearts. You may never fully realize the invisible "crown" of love you placed on her head.
Our Winding Path To Chicago-
Jeff and I grew up in Central Illinois, so we decided to drive to Chicago, breaking up the long drive with a few stop and stayovers- one in Hopedale, Illinois with my Aunt Mary and another in Orland Park with my cousin, Connie. What a wonderful way to reconnect with family and spend precious time with so many cousins. They all loved on Bethany and helped her celebrate her birthday a day early. We finally arrived on Thursday, - her 26th Birthday!!!
Our trip to Chicago began and ended with celebrating with our family that still lived in Illinois #familyforever
🏆Jeff honestly deserves a trophy for hauling in all our luggage; the suitcases, snacks, garment bags, and extra gear. Not just at the hotel- but at every stop we made during this whole 9 day trip!!! After check-in and registration, we explored the Hyatt Ballrooms, then joined the girls in decorating their own hotel doors.
Following a quick rest, our Kansas families gathered at a fun indoor/outdoor spot that featured live music and fireworks. The energy was almost electric, and Bethany glowed even brighter as the server brought out a birthday dessert with a blazing sparkler candle. Between the great company and a fireworks display to end the night, we finally fell into bed at 11:00pm- whew!
Friday was a whirlwind of fun and new friendships! The girls got to practice their talent pieces and introductions and get instructions about performing on the big stage in the Grand Ball Room. Everywhere you looked, the hotel was sparkling with crowns, state sashes, and gorgeous gowns. Between the banquet, the inspiring kickoff, and the night-ending dance, again- we didn't crash into bed until 10:45— way past our usual 9:00 pm bedtime! (Bethany wasn’t the only one who needed a nap the next day.)
Saturday and Sunday were a whirlwind of hair, makeup, gown prep, and making sure we were at the right place and time. Whether it was the talent performance, the evening gown presentation, onstage introductions, or individual interviews with the panel of five judges, Bethany was ready! When she was afraid or overwhelmed, Sara was there to remind her, “You’ve got this.” Our Kansas crew even managed to sneak away for some authentic Chicago deep-dish pizza together—a wonderful break in the middle of all the excitement.
Miss Amazing was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It flipped the traditional pageant model upside down. It shifted the focus from outward perfection to celebrating inner resilience.
Girls and women, from all across the United States, representing every type of disability, gathered to shine their “lights”. From Autism and Down syndrome, to cerebral pasley, all variationsof physical, intellectual, verbal, and non-verbal challenges- these young women were given 4 days to shine, find her unique voice, build new friendships, and grow in confidence. I was brought to tears as I watched each contestant overcome her challenges and fears.
Watching Bethany on that stage reminded me of a truth we can often lose sight of: every single person carries a light meant to be shared, and every voice deserves a platform to be heard. To us, Miss Amazing wasn't just a pageant; it was a picture of what happens when a we come together to affirm, uplift, and celebrate the dignity of every individual—disability or not.
As we look back on this whirlwind journey to Chicago, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for each of you who prayed, donated, encouraged, and cheered Bethany on. You didn't just help her get to a pageant; you showed her that she is seen, valued, and loved.
My hope is we all look for ways to “build stages” for those around us. When families and friends join together, we bridge generations and build an unbreakale circle of support for young adults with special needs! Reach out, include them, and help create spaces where everyone gets their moment to not only belong, but to shine. When we place an “invisible crown” of love on someone else, we transform their world and can change the course of the generations yet to come!
Connecting Generations and Crowning Hearts- Cindy
Montage of Bethany’s journey to Nationals Miss Amazing- She’s an Overcomer.