So Proud

Last week my daughter went to the GA State Hosa Conference. The conference was from Thursday through Saturday and was a series of classes and competitions for students planning to enter the health care feild. My daughter and her partner were competing the the first aid/cpr competition.
Prior to dropping her off at school on Thursday her father and I both told her to go and have fun and not worry about the competition portion, we would be proud of her if she placed or if she didn't. We wanted her to enjoy herself and the opportunity of being around other like minded students with similar goals as she had. The conference would allow her to meet other students in the state that were pushing forward with those goals.
The two students had to take a written test on Thursday to find out if they would qualify to do practical competition on Friday. My daughter called me on Thursday night and told me that the written test grade was high enough to allow them to do practicals. Again, I reminded her to have fun and relax. I knew she would do well. I passed on the best wishes from the rest of the family and friends who had asked me to do so.
Friday evening she called and told me that she was done with practicals and didn't think they had done really well as their scenario was different than what they had been practicing but that their coach was proud of them anyway. I told her that her father and I were proud as well and that she should enjoy the rest of the conference and I would speak to her the next day.
Saturday morning I was on pins and needles through the morning as I waited for her phone call telling me how they had done on the practicals. She called to tell me that they were on their way home and that she and her partner had placed 3rd in the state for their competition. Their placement meant they were eligible to go to national level competition in California in June. I was over the moon with excitement for her. Not only had she done better than she thought they had done but they had placed high enough over other students in the state to be able to go forward.
She kept telling me that she didn't see how they could actually go to practicals though because it was so much money to send them and there is less than 3 months to come up with the money. I keep telling her to not worry about it. That if God wants her there the money will be there. We will find a way for her to go.
Tomorrow we will go out and try to gain sponsers for her and her partner to be able to go to California in June. It is not that far away and it will be a good opportunity for her to compete on a national level even if she doesn't place there. I am proud of my baby who is growing into the wonderful giving and caring and smart woman God would have her be. I know it is going to be a challenge to her to overcome some of the shyness she has and go compete. I know it will be a challenge for me to let her go and trust that she will be safe but this is part of letting my baby fly into adulthood.
My heart is still swelling with pride and I am going to do everything I can to help her go and to achieve her dreams.