friday finds ... Team USA!

"there is no purpose nobler than to build communities

of acceptance for all"

~Eunice Kennedy Shriver~

It is Friday once again ... and time for another Friday finds with Kim Klassen.  "It is a place to gather and share ... a place to cherish life's simple pleasures".  Doesn't that sound like such an inviting place?

I have been impatiently waiting months to share my news ... and now it is official ... I can shout it from the rooftops!

Our daughter, Michelle, has been chosen to represent the USA at the World Games for Special Olympics!  She is one of five rhythmic girls in the United States that will be competing this summer at the World Games.

 170 countries will be represented ... 7000 athletes from around the world coming together to compete in the sports they love.

Michelle has been training in gymnastics for over 14 years ... almost every morning after breakfast you will find her practicing down in the basement trying to perfect the elements of her routines.  It has truly become her passion.

But never in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine that she would be chosen to compete at the ultimate level!

This past week we sent her off to training camp in Indianapolis.  It was her final test to see if she would make the team.  She was nervous, but I sure did not let her know that I was even more!  She was heading off for one week of training not knowing a soul.  I kept telling her ... and myself ... if I did not think that she was ready for all of this, I would not send her.  I strongly believed that this was "her time" ... a time to show everyone what she could do ... she had prepared for years ... she was ready.

Everyday she called me and she was just bubbling with excitement ... every day was better than the last.  When the last day finally came and her training was over she said  "I do not want this experience to end ... I want to stay longer".  I knew at that moment that even if she was not chosen to go on ... she had fulfilled her goal of trying out for the top spot ...she had done her absolute best. 

Then the news came ... She had done it ... she had made Team USA!! 

So now the work begins, she will train with coaches three days a week and continue her work everyday here at home. 

Rope ... Ball ... Clubs ... Ribbon

 In nine short months ... July 24, 2015 ... opening ceremonies will be held in Los Angeles, California.  President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama will chair the event ... Steven Spielberg is orchestrating six hours of opening ceremonies ... ESPN has the rights to the coverage ... an estimated half a million people will be in attendance. 

And you can bet that we will be there front and center cheering her on and watching our daughter fulfill her dream!

Michelle is pictured here with her long time coach ...

Denise Quinn ...

 "what you get from achieving your goals

is not as important as what you become

by achieving your goals"

~Henry David Thoreau~



If you have a few moments, be sure to click here to discover more delightful finds at Kim's site!

Until next time ...
NancyJean