December 2004
December 18, 2004:
Today was my last lesson with Valentin. I really enjoyed all my lessons with him this week. We worked on my entrances into jumps. He helped me so much! Last night we had jumps class with him. It was an hour and a half class. The class was awesome but my ankle is hurting alot again. My mom is ready to take me back to the doctor. I know I'm going to rehab again....physical therapy and will probably have to continue even when it feels good.
This week we also picked up our new Saturn. Well, it's not new. It is a 2002 L200 but it is new to us. We love it! It has leather seats that heat up. It feels great in the cold and my mom loves it on her back and for long travels to competitions. We also have a sun roof and a great stereo. I'm glad we finally have our own car. Mom had given the old Saturn to JJ because of his motor bike accident. Josh borrows it too because his car finally died. He is planning on getting another car but he was hoping to save a little more money before the other car died. I really wish they would come here for Christmas. That is the one thing I wish for this year. I miss them alot.
Tomorrow night I'm going to our church Christmas program. Rachel is in it. Ashlie and her mom are coming to watch and my mom and I are bringing Jennifer and her sister Laura. I can't wait to see Rachel in it. I know it will be alot of fun.
Well, better go...gotta shower and get to bed. Will write later this week. I hope you all are remembering the reason for the season and enjoying this time of year as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.
Sarah Kidd
December 10, 2004:
Today I am so excited because I passed my juvenile moves test! Yea! I never have to do those moves again! I think that is the best part of the whole thing. I will be jumping again and next week Valentin will be here to help me with them. I hope to work on the double axel! I'm having 3 1/2 hours of lessons with Valentin next week which means a total of $434.00. My mom is freaking out because we don't have that kind of money. I'm praying it all works out. I'm so excited to be working with Valentin!
Tonight we had jumps class off ice. It was awesome! We did double axels and they are just getting easier. I love it! Only my right ankle is hurting again. I put ice on it and it feels a little better. We had class on a basketball court tonight and it was pretty hard for all the jumping we did in an hour. I was just so happy to be doing them.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle
Gotta get to bed and dream about those double axels! I'm really tired from this week. I'm sleeping in tomorrow morning and then going to the rink to skate an hour. On Sunday after church my mom and I are going to the Premier Gymnastics to watch a meet. It should be alot of fun.
December 8, 2004:
Today is starting out to be great! No, there's no snow but it's better than THAT! Today I got up early to go to innovations class. I was very tired but the class was alot of fun. I skated for a little bit after class and then got off before my lesson to rest some. I still was not awake but had to get back on for my lesson. We worked on moves alot and they were good and I can't wait for the test to be over. Anyway, the best thing is.....My coach surprised me by having me start my double axel on ice! It was awesome! It was so much fun! I loved it! And, surprisingly I landed on one foot, cheated but hey! So what! Pretty good for the first time. At least I wasn't falling and killing myself. It really wasn't that hard. It just felt natural...like a regular double. Of course I have been preparing for it for quite awhile by doing axel double loops. I wonder what else we will be working on! I know I am to have alot of lessons with Valentin so I suppose I better get ready for jumping.....which is my favorite part of skating.
Another thing that is great about today...tonight is our Christmas party at GEMS, which is our girls group at church. GEMS is so cool. www.gospelcom.net/gems Check it out.
Well, gotta get to my schoolwork. Will write more later.
Sarah Kidd 
December 6, 2004:
I can't believe it is December already and almost Christmas! 
The month came in with a snowfall and me having a cold. I loved the snow! It was so fluffy with huge flakes. It was beautiful! 
I couldn't go out and play in it, though, because of my cold and it was only a few days and the snow was gone....melted. 
But, my cold is gone now too. I just wish it would snow everyday though. I love it!
Last week was Jr. Nationals in Jamestown, New York. Jill, our website friend from Florida, gave us the play by play on the cell phone. It was so cool. I wish I could have been there. It would have been so much fun! (Next year!)
This week I am practicing my juvenile moves because I test on Friday morning. I can't wait until it's over. Next week Valentin comes and we'll be working alot on our jumps. In January Evgeni comes to choreograph our programs. And then we start competing again. I'm excited!
Last Saturday I had my first gymnastics meet here at the Premier Gymnastics. It was so much fun. I earned four blue ribbons and won the all around with 36.60 points. My mom took alot of pictures and I'll share them as soon as I get them back.
Our Christmas tree is up and it is gorgeous! I'm so glad we finally got to our storage unit and brought our Christmas stuff back. We have a big tree with an angel on top and lots of pretty lights and ornaments. No presents under the tree but that is ok. We also have a little tree on our table and a manger set that lights up. My mom has put up other decorations around too. On the back patio we have blue icicle lights hanging from the top and a lighted snowman on the wall plus a wreath on the door. On the front it is really pretty with a Christmas flag, a wooden snowman in the corner by the front door, a wooden Santa on the left wall from the door and a Merry Christmas wreath on the other side. We also have a Christmas doormat. I love Christmas stuff! Now if it would just snow again.
Well, gotta get to ballet class. I'll write again later.
Love,
Sarah 
