We finally made it home from our very exciting competition weekend.  As many of you know, we had a very nasty ice/snow storm go through, so we ended up not being able to get home Saturday after competion. Jenna was ok with that though, because we had to stay a second night in the hotel, and she got to go swimming with some friends.

I am so proud to tell you all that she came away with a Gold score for all five of her dances. She went out there and danced her little heart out like always. I put some new pics in the photo gallery of her at competition.
 
I just can't believe that she is able to do all of this already. She is so determined not to let anything slow her down, and to not let this tumor take over. I must tell you that this little girl has taught me so much in such a short time.  You always think that you appreciate your children, and everything that they do, but I must say that I personally took so much for granted, like all of the beautiful smiles I get from them everyday, all of the I love you's, all of the hugs, all of the toys on the floor, all of the little socks I get to fold, and the list goes on and on.

 I read a poem in a scrapbooking magazine the other day, and it really makes me think of Jenna, and when I start to lose the positive I just read this poem, I wanted to share it with you all:
       
               Hope works in these ways:

                 it looks for the good in people instead

                         of harping on the worst;

      it discovers what can be done instead

              of grumbling about what cannot;

                      it regards problems, large or small,

                         as opportunities;

            it pushes ahead when

               it would be easy to quit;

                     it "lights the candle"

             instead of "cursing the darkness"

                                  

                                    Anonymous

We have always wondered where Jenna gets her "worry bug" from, and well now I guess I have to take the blame. I really thought it would be a good thing to know when the next MRI will be, but maybe I was wrong.  Ever since we received it yesterday I have had a knot in my stomach, kind of like the knot that was there while we were awaiting surgery. I know God will take care of her, but I just  can't seem to stop worrying, I guess that is my job?!  

<> Well anyway I can't tell you how excited I am about the cookbooks!  Jenna is so busy working on the artwork for the cover.  She really is good at it.  I am just sure it is going to be one great book.

I am also excited about the upcoming dance competition. A little nervous there too, but I know she will be just great.  She is working so hard, practicing all day it seems like, to make up for lost time.  I really was so sure that she would have to miss this first competition.  She is dancing to five routines throughout the day.  She is doing a solo to the song "Iko Iko", a duet to a song called "Raggedy Ann" that always makes me cry, A trio to a song from the musical "Seussical the Musical" called "Amaizing Maizie", a large group number to "Jump Shout Boogie" and a hip hop number to "Wiggle, Shake and Wind it" and believe me they shake it!  I really can't wait to post pics of her in her costumes, they are all so cute.

Well I guess I will go now, I will post more and pics on Sunday to let you all know how she did on Saturday.

Thank you so much for all of the great comments,we really love them, especially Jenna, That is the first thing she does in the morning.

Talk to you soon!

Jolece