By the way, she did it!!!

It seems like a dream, a really, really great dream. She did it. My cheerleader went to Worlds!!! Not only that but she came home 5th in the world in Pom and 2nd in the world in Jazz.

It was everything I dreamed it would be seeing her on that stage. I thought my heart would burst with all the pride and love, all the nerves and excitement I was experiencing all at once.

The whole thing lived up to the hype. The stalls, the atmosphere, the hundreds of teams from all over the world. I got pinned by TOP GUN!!!!!(iykyk)

We spent way too much at the merch stall, buying whatever we wanted like it was a 99% off sale at Sephora. Everything about the 2 competition days was insane and I will never forget it.

I LOVED the team days out and meals together. Applebees steak is like nothing I could ever describe. The water park with all the athletes and the mums was one of my favourite days, watching these girls that have grown up dancing together, setting the world on fire on the stage and then kicking back relaxing, laughing and having the most fun just being in each others company is a memory I will treasure forever.

I even got to go to Gatorland and hold an actual baby alligator! My very mean daughter would not let me bring him home with me, something about airport security, how crazy my husband would go at yet another animal landing in his house, and having to build a pond...I don't know, I stopped listening when she said no.....

Anyway, other than the failed attempt at bringing home Ali and settling for a teddy bear version, I honestly felt like I was living in a dream for the whole 10 days.

Nineteen, she is 19, and we have dreamt and hoped and planned for this moment since she was 4. It was a culmination of all her hard work, her grit, her determination and unwavering love for this sport that got her to where she is now, and wow does she deserve it.

There were times that I did think that her dream was over and it just wouldn't happen, but fate intervened (aka her coach) and put her back where she belongs.

There are so many things I will remember from her childhood, so many times I have thought I couldn't even imagine more success than she has already achieved, and then, there is this.

I know what this meant to her, and I love that she has achieved and made it to where she fought to be. This sport takes so much mental strength and perseverance, it is hours and hours upon days, weeks months and years poured into practice, training, gym sessions, choreo, learning, tumbling, trying, failing and sometimes succeeding to get to that spot.

That moment where you are stood at the side of the stage at the World Championships with your friends, waiting to here your team name called, that second when you finish your routine and realise it all went how you wanted it to. That time. That exact moment.

That is what it's all been about. Being there to witness that smile was enough for me. There will be many more beautiful cheer memories to add to my collection I am sure, this one though, this one will be hard to beat.