March 2004

 

March 27, 2004:

Our computer is down so I'm not going to be able to update much until it is fixed.  I hope to get it fixed this weekend.  But, wanted to let you know I had a great week!  Practices were good and I almost have my Bielman spin (Spelling?).  I love it!  It's fun working on it.  I leave for Kansas City on Thursday for the Skate Kansas City competition.  It is very big and there will be a final round.  I am hoping to make it that far.  That is my goal.  I have double double combinations that I want to hit.  I want to skate clean. 

We had our annual skating club banquet this last week and it was so much fun.  There was alot of good food and everyone dressed up.  The kids did karaoke and danced.  We also had a slide show with pictures of us all from the past year.  It was really cool!  There were fun awards and I got awards for "Joy of Skating", "Volunteer from Learn to Skate" and "Holiday SHow" . 

The weather has been beautiful lately.  Today it is raining but it is so nice out.  I've been swimming alot at the YMCA, which helps with my shoulder movement for jumps.  It is amazing how much better I skate after swimming. 

Please pray for us that I am able to go to the Virginia Beach off ice camp in May.  It will cost about $2,000.00 but it is very important to my training.  Anyone can go so if any skaters out there want to participate just let me know.

Love ya all,

Sarah

March 15, 2004:

This is the craziest place to live.  Yesterday my mom and I went for a walk because it was so gorgeous out and then we went to "Sundae Sunday" for the opening track meeting.  Now, today it is snowing and everything is white.  By the end of the week it is suppose to be almost 70 degrees.  Isn't that crazy?  That's what I love about this place.  Anyway, most of you know I live in an apartment that is on the very edge of town so that we have country on one side of us.  Well, today while I was doing my homeschool stuff, I looked out the window at the beautiful snow falling.  It has been coming down really hard all day.  You will never guess what I saw!  A skunk!  He is laying next to the neighbor's front door!  The maintenance guys tried to get him but gave up.  I guess animal control is going to come out but how weird!  A skunk sitting out in our front yard.  I'm not used to this country stuff yet but it is really cool.  I just hope the skunk does not try to spray our place....yuck!  I'll let ya know what happens.  One thing about this state, there is always something new to experience.

Later....animal control is here and there is a lady trying to trap this skunk and she is not doing a very good job.  He is very smart!  She does not seem to be afraid to get sprayed....I'm waiting to see what happens. 

 

March 12, 2004:

It's been a very good week for me and I can't wait until the  annual banquet.  It is on the 20th and it is going to be so much fun.  I will take lots of pictures and share them on the website.  Also, the Skate Kansas City competition is coming up on April 1-4.  It is going to be a much bigger competition than the Heart of America.  But, I am really excited.  Each competition this year will be a little bit tougher than the one before.  It is all leading up to regionals in October. 

This week I landed my double sal double loop and a really cool thing is I did a double toe double toe.  I was so excited!  Now I have a total of 8 doubles plus my axel in my program.  I'm also learning a new spin...one that is getting me ready to learn the Bielman.  (I'm not sure I spelled that right.)  It's alot of fun! 

Sarah Elizabeth Kidd

March 1, 2004:

Hi!  I can't believe it is already March!  And let me tell you, the March winds are blowing today.  It was raining a little but mostly the wind is really howling.  It's kind of cool out. 

Today I got up early to get to competition practice ice.  It was a great competition for us.  The club I am with as an associate member here in Omaha is called Premier Figure Skating Club.  My full membership is with All Year FSC.  Anyway, Premier won the team trophy this weekend in Kansas City at the Heart of America Figure Skating Championships.  It was awesome!  There were 21 clubs represented so it was a great achievement.  Most of our kids placed.  As you may already know, I placed 2nd in my freestyle and 4th in my compulsories.  I felt great about my program, even though I fell on my opening jump, because it is getting better every time I put it on the ice.   A neat thing at the competition was seeing Morry Stillwell there.  He was judging and was also a ref.  I remembered him from Fiesta Skate.  He is such a nice man.  He loves figure skating and loves to share his ideas and thoughts with all the skaters. 

As soon as I was done with skating and watched most everyone on Saturday, my mom and I rushed out to get back to Omaha because we had tickets to see The Passion of the Christ.  I couldn't wait to see it.  I was tired but I wanted to get back to see it. .  We left Kansas City around 5 pm and had to be at the movie in Omaha by 8:30 pm.  It's about 200 miles.  We got home in 2 1/2 hours.   I'm so glad we made it.  The theater was packed and we sat about 3 rows back so we were really close.  The theater was very quiet and there were no ads playing on the screen.  The lighting was dark so it was like we were being prepared for the movie.  Then, when it came on there was only one preview and then the movie came on.  And I have to tell  you, this movie is so awesome!  You HAVE to go see it!  Be prepared for some gory things though, especially the part where Jesus is scourged.  THAT is really gross!  But, the rest of the movie was so amazing!  It's hard to describe or to even put in words.  My first thought afterwards were words like, "Whoa" and "Wow" and "Outstanding".   I really believe Mel Gibson did a fantastic job with this movie.  I know it followed the Bible very close and it was so realistic.  The time era was right on with what was happening, too.  A favorite part of the movie, for me, was the resurrection, the tomb where the empty shroud was laying and then beside it was Jesus sitting with a healed body.  He stood up with his nail pierced hands and walked out.  AMEN!  He had defeated death; had died for our sins so that we could be with Him for eternity.  And the amazing thing about that is He did it for us even though we are the ones who mocked Him, beat Him, denied Him, and crucified Him.  We are not worthy of His sacrifice and yet He still died for us.  That is what I call real love and anyone who says that movie shows something different does not know the meaning of love.  I also liked the part where the temple was destroyed when the earth shook about the time Jesus died on the cross.  He had told the Jewish leaders that He would destroy the temple and rebuild it in 3 days.  They did not believe Him.  And then, right before their eyes the temple is destroyed and when Jesus rose on the 3rd day it was rebuilt through Him.  It did not show the rebuilding but that is what happens.  We should all learn through this, that we are needed to work out God's will.  Oh, I could go on and on with favorite parts.  You will just have to go see it.  I really pray many come to know Christ from this magnificent movie.  

 My next competition is April 1-4 in Kansas City, again.  It's called Skate Kansas City.  We also have our annual banquet on March 20th and Josh is coming to do the entertainment with his comedy act.  I can hardly wait to see him.  We are also going to fly JJ out.  It will be so good to see them again because it has been almost a year since I have seen my brothers.  I will tell you all about it later.

Well, I gotta finish my homework.  I am studying history right now.  I just finished India for Ancient Civilizations and am also studying World War I.  (Thanks, Jack, for the great World War I book...I love it!)

Talk with ya later,

Love,

Sarah Elizabeth Kidd