Yes.....I'm still alive!!
WOW! I wonder if I could get any worse at posting in a timely manner? With work being beyond busy this fall and Sister K and I exploring a new business venture, there hasn't been much time for anything extra. But, it's that time again. The gymnastics season has officially begun. RRVG kicked off the season with a preliminary meet this weekend.
Miss J worked her tail off during summer training and was able to make the leap to level 7. Level 7 is the first level of optional gymnastics. Unlike levels 4, 5, and 6 where the routines are compulsory, meaning every gymnast competes the same routines, with the same music, gymnasts in level 7 and up have their routines individually choreographed to suit their strengths and skills. It was very exciting to see Miss J's new routines in their entirety. She looked great, particularly since it is very early in the season. I can't wait to see how she progresses over the next six weeks in preparation of for the first official meet of the season.
2011 State Meet
Last weekend we journeyed to the Magic City for the North Dakota USAG State Meet. The drive is quite boring...errr I mean long, but thankfully the roads were clear and the weather was great. Not that I'm counting, but this trip brings our mileage to a grand total of 2700 miles....roughly equal to a drive to Acapulco, Mexico.
Even with the challenges of this season, Miss J once again brought her "A" game. She took silver on vault, gold on bars, silver on beam and silver all around.
To top off the excitement, the Level 6 team also brought home a 2nd place trophy. This in itself was no small feat. In order to qualify for a team score the team must consist of three participating team members. The three top scores from each event from each team are added together to make up the team score. You still following me? Having only three teammates is a great disadvantage because every score must be counted. One mishap on bars or fall on beam could have taken them out of the running.
Congratulations to all of the RRVG girls for a terrific state meet!!
Winding Down......
The gymnastics season is winding down. Two meets in two weeks and now we have only one meet left....our state competition. A few weeks ago we made our last trek to the Cities for Twin City Twister's Northern Lights meet. Miss J had a really good meet placing in the middle of the pack of girls from all over the nation; Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and even Texas. She even threw her first giant on bars by accident incurring a .8 deduction for the "added" skill. We are very proud of her tenacity and her "added" skill made us giggle! 
When we returned home from the Cities, Miss J immediately began running a 104 degree fever which continued for 3 days. Needless to say she was still weak and a bit off her game for our home meet this past weekend. She still placed in nearly every event and we're proud of her for gutting it out.
So...it's off to state we go.........
Jurassic Classic
This past weekend we attended the Jurassic Classic. It was a return to the gym where Miss J won her all around title last year. Maybe it was because of her fondness for this gym, good memories, or what have you, but Miss J did awesome! She finished 2nd on vault, 3rd on bars, 1st on beam and 2nd on floor. This earned her the silver medal all around in the junior age group. She posted the second highest all around score in both junior and senior age groups. I am so proud of her for overcoming the adversity that has been thrust in her way this season. I hope we have turned the corner to a strong finish!
Gymnastics, Changes & Life Lessons......
We've been busy. So busy in fact that the last thing I've felt like doing is updating this blog. We have put on 1500 miles, give or take, traveling for gymnastics meets so far this season. It does not sound like an extreme amount of windshield time....unless I add that we have only been to three meets. Three meets down, four more to go.
This season has been a little off, for lack of a better term, for many reasons, most of which I won't bore you with. However, we were slapped with the announcement from our team director/girls' head coach that he would be resigning to take a new position at one of Minnesota's biggest gyms. After 18 years, he was making the most difficult decision he has faced to leave our girls....in the middle of the season.
We
were (maybe still are)
DEVASTATED!
Miss J cried for a week. I cried for a week. This is a person, a coach and mentor, in my daughter's life that, in effect, spends more time with her during the week than Gym Dad or I do. He is the only coach she has known since she was 3. Not to mention that I consider him a personal friend. Devastated!
I hate change. Some people crave it. I avoid it like the plague and opt for the comfort and security of a set structure. I like structure...it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. Being her mother's daughter, Miss J is terrified of the changes that are certain to come. I have had to learn to step outside my norm and rely completely on my faith. Faith that we will hire a new coach...the right coach. Faith that our gym will continue to grow. Faith that there has to be an opportunity in this garbage dump of a situation.
I've had to rely on my faith...believe in my faith....in order to make my daughter believe that it will be ok. Life lesson learned!
We will miss James greatly and wish him nothing but the best. This was the job opportunity of a lifetime, he couldn't turn it down. 
