This year my goal was to qualify international elite and when I finally did I was so excited!! I just wanted to hit all four of my routines at the US Classic but I didn't so when I found out I made it to Nationals I was SHOCKED and so excited! I almost didn't go to Nationals though, because my mom was supposed to have my baby sister that week and I was allowed to go in the operating room for the C-section and I didn't want to miss my baby sister being born. My mom had her delivery date changed to the day before I flew to Nashville. So I got to watch my sister being born which was a little gross and at the same time the coolest thing I've ever seen.

I flew to Nationals the next day. I was a little nervous, it was the first time I had ever gone to a meet without any one in my family being there. I had my own hotel room and my moms credit card so that was kind of cool. A few times at night I ordered room service and I would wake myself up and go down to eat breakfast by myself, I felt really grown up. The first night at around 1:30pm I got a phone call in my room saying the hotel was being evacuated for a tornado! I ran to my coaches room but he would not wake up so I called my mom on in the hospital I was scared but I think she was more scared. Finally my coach woke up and so did Ivana and her mom and we went down stairs and waited for about 1 hour until it was safe. The next morning was a little rough but I was like well I guess it can only get better from here, and it did! After that night though, every time I got a phone call I was a little freaked out. I kept telling myself I was just there to have fun and enjoy the experience.

Even though I left out part of my bar routine on both days (oops!) and didn't make my leap connections on beam but that was ok because I didn't have any expectations of myself. At least I made one of my triples (but that is another story). When I found out I made the National team It was the best moment so far of my life (other than my sister being born). That jacket means more to me than anything I own!

Photos © Barbara Lorenz