I continue to be in awe of my talented swim baby, Lara Jackson.  She continues to astound me.  Just got back from Tucson where I had a good one-on-one visit with Lara.  We were able to connect on a couple of occasions on what’s going on in our lives as we gradually recover from our great loss.  We remembered Keith and shed a couple of tears, but it was very cleansing.
Lara is back in class at University of Arizona pounding the books and enjoying the farm where she’s taking a yearling class, learning to train baby horses.  She’s in her element there!  What impresses me is the focus and drive that she exhibits as she returns to academics and training in her swimming.  And with all of this, she loves to have fun.  You go girl!  We were pleased to learn that Lara was awarded a grant from USA Swimming for which she applied last November.  I had about given up hope on that grant and we were able to complete an application for another funding opportunity through USA Swimming.  Lara spent a couple of hours on the application Saturday evening and again on Sunday.  It needed to be faxed on Monday morning, February 1.  What a pleasant surprise to get a text from Lara today stating that she got the grant.  I was so thrilled I could not stand it.  Such a blessing to get this.
So Lara’s big goal for 2010 is to swim well at Pan Pac Trials in August in Irvine, California.  The Pan Pacs are hosted by USA about two weeks later in Irvine, California.  A nice experience to make an international team and not have to leave the country!  In the meantime, Lara will be traveling to Austin, Texas to compete in the Austin Grand Prix Meet March 4-6.  So I know that all of her fans will wish her well as she works towards her ultimate goal of the 2012 Olympics in London, England.  We believe in you Lara, we believe!

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