When she sets her mind to something...

We spent the day at the Regional Science Fair.  The Lady placed in the District Fair a couple of weeks ago.  She has been looking forward to today ever since.  If you remember, her brother did quite well in the regional fair when he was in sixth grade.  She had very high expectations!  It was so strange.  It was like someone had taped the fair four years ago and replayed it today.  But instead of the Man, the leading role was played by the Lady.  Unbelievable.  There were over 900 participants this year from all over the neighboring school districts.  There were some really amazing projects.  I think kids are getting smarter every year.  We waited patiently while they announced all of the winners.  Fourth place winners (three to four winners for each category).  There was earth science, engineering and computer science, life science, physical science, consumer science, etc.  Third place.  Same drill.  At this point, you don't really want them to call your name.  You are holding onto the hope of something better.  Second place.  She received a second place trophy last year.  She wanted more.  Finally the first place winners are announced.  Now you start to get a little nervous.  You kind of hope they will call your name at this point.  Because your odds of winning something are really starting to take a turn for the worst.  Three winners for each category.  The Lady was entered in the engineering division.  They announced those second.  One name is called.  Not her.  Another name is called.  Not her.  The third name is called...once again not her. They move on to the life science winners.   A real sense of disappointment sets in.  You start to think that maybe your project wasn't as good as you thought it was.  At this point, I had to remind her that there was still a flicker of hope.  I remind her how defeated her big brother felt at this point four years ago.  And look what happened to him--he ended up winning the whole shebang.  The grand prize.  One winner in each category.  A big trophy for each.  A fifty dollar check.  It seems to take forever for the announcer to read off the rest of the first place winners.  The kids are running, skipping, jumping up to the front--grinning ear to ear.  The wait is killing us.

Finally, they prepare to award the grand prizes.  They have to call her name.  They just have to.  Right?  Her project was really really great.  How could she not win anything?  If she doesn't win, she will be so disappointed.

First up...earth science.  Yea yea yea.  Get on with it already.  Next and finally...Engineering and Computer Science.  And the grand prize winner is...THE LADY!

Oh my gosh she did it!!  Oh. My. Gosh.   She did it!!!   It was unbelievable.  We are so proud of her.  Turns out we have another great scientist in the family.

What a wonderful day.

Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.