COULD NOT be Prouder of our LUCY GIRL!!

There is going to be a lot of talk these next few months, about Lucy and her blackbelt. It's funny, because I knew this was coming, she's had this goal for almost 3 years, and it became more real when she got her deputy belt about 8 months ago, but now that it's here--now that it's REALLY happening--I can't believe how proud I am of her!

Keep in mind, it's not just one big test and it's over; she has 3 mandatory tests, each a month apart, and two sets of special mandatory classes and a huge physical fitness quota to complete. Her first "maintenance" test was on the 12th of January. She was nervous, and practiced with her dvd all week. We had a stomach bug going around our house that week, the kind that put you flat on your back without food or drink for 24 hours, and isn't nice to your digestive process at all. Guess who got it friday night: LUCY!!! She woke up saturday feeling just awful! Her Dad, in all his loving wisdom, offered to give her a priesthood blessing before he left for work. He blessed her that she has practiced hard, and that she was ready, and she would be successful in her test, then off he went. She was down flat all morning, until, gradually, she asked for a smoothie, then pretzels, then a banana...she was slowly recovering. 

By 1:00, she was still on the couch under the covers, but she was getting into her uniform under there. She left for the test with barely anything in her stomach and a nervous smile on her face. For 2 hours she stood and kicked and did forms, and sparred, and she passed!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

(she's second from the right...with the ponytail)

(she's in the middle, above the letters dd)

She came home and immediately went back to the couch, crept under the blanket and stayed there for the rest of the weekend. But she did it. The priesthood blessing and all her practice gave her the faith to believe she could do it with Heaven's help, and she did! What a girl. We love our little Lucy Girl so much!