Special Olympics ALPs session 3-3-18 to 3-4-18

What a educational/ fun weekend I had at Special Olympics Missouri ALPs session at Universiy of Missouri college in Columbia! My mentor (my dad) and I arrive on Saturday at noon. Had lunch, saw some other athletes I knew. Went to my first class, the class I took was Lifetime Health & Fitness & Nutrition & You, I also took Capstone. I took Lifetime Health & Fitness class on Saturday, the instructor was very funny and had a lot of information to share. On Sunday I took capstone, in capstone I needed to find out a project to do with all of the information I've learned in the classes I have took at ALPs University took. After dinner I went to an activity with some of University of Missouri

students, and that was really fun. They taught us a new game, which is like volleyball and 4 square. On Sunday I woke up at 3am, I really don't know why, but I went straight back to bed. Had breakfast, it was really good. yogurt with some fruit and honey, that was really delicious. In capstone class, I knew some of the athletes in that class, so that was comforting. For my project I decided to do build a committee and try to get healthier meals at tournaments and at state competitions. After our last class on Sunday, we went to a room that all athlete leaders went too and the mentors went to another room, in the room we had input council. In the athlete leader room, they had a lot of input to share, which was great. At the closing time, they recognized the 5 athlete leaders who is going to graduate. They each gave us a black balloon. An athlete leader gave a speech for part of her practicum so that was exciting, we all went outside so the graduates can release their black balloons. After that we all ate ice cream ( University of Missouri graduates does that) (it's tradition for University of Missouri) that was very exciting!! On the home I work on some of my practicum. (That's no surprise, I always work on things right away once I get assignment) lol Thank you for University of Missouri students and the University of Missouri for letting us to use some of their facility this past weekend! There are some pics below!! Thanks for reading!!



Lynna M. Hodgson
Special Olympics Missouri Athlete Leader

Here we come...USA Games 2018!!

The day has finally came, on July 18, 2017 at 2:30pm. Jesse & I received some mail we been waiting for, for a few weeks. Jesse & myself got our letter from Special Olympics Missouri!! We are proudly announce we are on team Missouri for the USA Games in 2018! The games will be located in Seattle Washington on July 1-6, 2018. We will be competing in athletics (Track & Field)

We both were very excited when we heard the great news! We wanted to tell everyone, but we couldn't and let me tell you how hard that was! I wanted to share on Facebook, instragram and all of our family & friends. That was so difficult. With all of my will power, I did it!

My grandma gave me this great idea to put this awesome news in our local newspaper. I can't wait to tell all of our coaches, my friends, and my whole family.

At this moment I got my mind set in training mode. So the time to join a gym is NOW! Also eat & train like an athlete. Jesse has been in training mode ever since we got home from camp last month.

Please wish my brother, myself and the rest of team Missouri, good luck! Show me, Show me, Show me, MO! MO! MO! (Team Missouri Chant)

Training for Life Campus "Topping Out Ceremony" 1-31-18

So, this morning I woke up early than I usually do. I went to Jefferson City, and went to a ceremony where the NEW Training for Life Campus building is. The workers was putting the last steel beam on the building, and we (Special Olympics Missouri Staff) and some of the TLC (Training for Life Campus) athletes got to sign the BEAM! And let me tell you, that was SO excited. So our names will be on the beam forever, I was really excited about that. I signed my brother's name on there also. When I told him that, a BIG smile was on his face! They serve us lunch, it was fried chicken, (Man it was spicy) I loved it, mac & cheese , mash potatoes, and rolls. A very good lunch indeed! After lunch some of us got a tour of the building, and that was so exciting! I can't wait for the grand opening. Went back to the headquarters of Special Olympics Missouri. I'm always amazed when I visit there. I was gone for the most of the day, it was worth it, and I love being at the TLC! Here is some pics below, enjoy!

Polar Plunge 1-27-18

So today was the Kansas City Metro Polar Plunge!! What a great turn out we had!! So many people, so many awesome costumes, I also heard the water was warmer than last year! so that's good. There were some other athletes were there are on Team MO. Some of the athletes judged the costumes and that was fun! The person who dressed up as a unicorn got 1st place. So that was awesome! All of the athletes that came to help were the people who hold the towels while the people who did the plunge, went into the water and rushed back to get their towels. We had laundry baskets where we hold the towels. I was amazed how many people there were. It was a fun day!! Can't wait until next year, I'm planning to do it in 2019!! Woohoo! And maybe I can get some of my church family to do it as a group. Oh they had like a little plunge for the little ones, which is called pee-wee plunge. That was fun to watched, pics are below, please enjoy! 

~Lynna
Special Olympics Missouri Athlete

Kansas City Metro Area Basketball tournament 1-6-18

Today was Kansas City Metro Area Basketball tournament in Belton. I been looking forward to this tournament ever since I've started to play basketball this season. I really enjoy playing basketball, and i'm also excited to see some other of my friends who also is playing basketball today. My first game is at 9:30am, but I have to be there 15 mins early before that. Darion's team (Lee's Summit Warriors) is at 8:15am. My brother's (Jesse) first game is at 2pm. (lucky him) lol. My second game is at 1:15Pm, Darion's second game is at 1:15pm and Jesse's second game is at 3:30pm. It was a fun and long day! I really enjoyed having these tournaments. Every time there is a tournament...I always posted on Facebook and Instagram the Special Olympics Motto, It's a great motto and I like to remind my friends what Special Olympics is about. I tried to get some great photos of today, so here is some pics I took. I hope you enjoy! 

Happy New Years 2018

It's still unreal that it's the year of 2018, but it is! So, literally that means...there is only 6 months left until Special Olympics USA games in Seattle Washington!! WHAT...HOW...WHEN... could that be?!?! But in reality, it's true. And I'm very excited to experience this with my whole Missouri Team!! I've been counting the days...and I get more excited when the days past! I know my fellow teammates are very excited, we all being training daily so we can show what the whole state of Missouri can do! GO TEAM MO!! What is your favorite thing memory that happened to you in 2017?? Mine favorite memory is....be selected to be on TEAM MO...of course!!