Christmas 2009

Here is the quick summary of what happened in 2009 for the Smith family: Brent finished the Ironman triathlon, Anna gained 6 inches in height, Alycia once again had straight A’s, and Joseph has learned to speak Latin without an accent. What a year! If you are not confused right now you must be thinking of some other Smiths, because this year was fairly ordinary for us.

In March we went to LA and saw Universal Studios, the tar pits, and the beach. A surprise gem for the family was the Getty museum, which had many amazing works of art and was completely free. July was spent first in Utah at Brent’s family reunion, then up in Yellowstone. Anna was a good sport and put up with two night of camping, complete with bears, buffalos, and a thunderstorm that seemed determined to destroy our tent. We are ending the year here at home, but have Brent’s parents coming to escape the snow.

Joseph, 10, began this year cutting the cheese. His pine wood derby race car was shaped as a triangle block of cheese, complete with holes and mice. Both he and Brent were surprised to see it take 4^th place out of 30 or more boys. He earned his Bear in Cub Scouts and is now working on his Weblos. Besides Scouts, Joseph continues to keep busy with piano, and various therapies. He is in 4^th grade now and misses his big sister who has moved on to Junior High.

This was a big year for Alycia. She left Elementary School and Primary and has moved on to 7^th grade and the Young Women organization at church. This is her third year in the CATS (smartypants) program, but the first year that she has really been challenged. It has been a painful adjustment for everyone. She was able to get her ears pierced when she turned 12 in August, but it took a couple months for her to build up her courage and get poked. She has gained several inches in height and has now passed Anna as the tallest girl in the house.

Anna began the year with two of her favorites: Chemistry and Algebra classes. There is nothing better that she likes than having those beasts out of the way. She did well, but put her schooling on hold in the fall to focus on helping the kids with their schooling. Some need more help focusing, doing work, and meeting deadlines than their brother does. (I’m not going to say who.) Anna also started the year as a Cub Scout Den Leader, where she spends an hour each week teaching up to 10 boys various skills. She really enjoys doing this, although there are usually one or two boys that challenge her.

Brent received a similar challenge in August when he was asked to be the Scoutmaster for the local troop of a dozen 12-13 year old boys. He worked with the youth once a decade ago and has dreaded having to do it again ever since. It was a struggle to get organized at first, but it has become enjoyable for Brent to go on campouts and hikes again. Before scouting, Brent had been teaching Sunday School for a couple years. Anna misses hearing his lessons, but has been very supportive of his new responsibility. He is still working at Global Crossing, where he designs the backbone of the Internet.

We miss all of our family and old friends and are glad we can keep in touch (or at least keep tabs) with many of you via Facebook and blogs. We are constantly surprised to see you and your kids getting older. That might happen to us one of these days if we aren’t careful, but not yet. We hope that you are all doing well and enjoying the Light of Christ this Christmas season.

Love,

Brent, Anna, Alycia, and Joseph Smith

Gifts.....

It's 1:25 in the morning and I awoke to a pillow soaked with tears...my tears....

Several weeks ago a sister from my ward called and asked if I could do her a huge favor. My response..."well...it depends on the favor"....I would do it no matter what but I was dreading it...especially since she's in the Relief Society presidency...

Her favor you might ask..."could you tell a few experiences on gifts that the Lord has blessed you with or when someone has blessed your life with a gift?" I responded with a "sure, I could totally do that...I was afraid you'd ask if I could teach a lesson." Dodged that bullet....

Throughout the past few weeks I've been thinking about this topic and nothing came to mind. I said a quick prayer tonight before I went to bed asking for help....and my prayer was answered...

Eight years ago, around this time I was packing my house in Tulsa to move to the grand state of Arizona. My husband Brent was already out here working while I stayed behind with my young children and packed. This move was so difficult for me. I was leaving my house...the house that held so many happy memories...where my children took their first steps...I was going to leave my friends and ward family...these were the people that helped me with my little ones and helped me to become a better person....
This Christmas would be different from those past. Brent flew back to Tulsa to help with the move and my wonderful mother-in-law also flew out to help us out. All my Christmas decorations were packed up, so the house seemed empty. I mentioned to Brent how strange it felt to not have anything up. I was very sad...Then the doorbell rang. Who could that be we wondered? They were the young women from my ward. These were my girls. I was their leader the year prior...They came in and put up handmade decorations on my walls..they were made with love and alot of thought went into each of them. Oh how that little gesture brightened my evening. There were many tears of joy and sorrow shed that evening. I will forever remember that experience and that gift that was given to me and my family...

My other gift...
Growing up in my household was very difficult. There was a lot of contention in my home and I felt as though something better out there was awaiting. As a child I lived in Washington D.C. and my family would drive to Maryland every weekend to visit my grandparents and family members. On those drives we would drive past the most beautiful castle I had ever seen. I told myself that I would someday enter the castle...That "castle" turned out to be the LDS Washington D.C. temple. When I turned 12 we moved to San Jose, California. I was leaving behind my extended family and my heart ached that I wouldn't be seeing them for a very long time ...looking back...that was the best decision my parents made. Several years after we moved, my parents divorced. It was one of the most trying times of my life. I had to make a choice between my parents and I chose my dad. Several years later as a senior in high school I met my future husband Brent at work. As we dated, I thought to myself...I think I'm going to marry him...I thought that was a silly thought since we were still in high school. Several years later we were married in the Oakland LDS Temple. That was the happiest day of my life..the day I was sealed to my eternal companion forever...death could never separate us..and our children would forever be with us... As the years went by, we were blessed with two wonderful children.

This other gift was the Lord's love for me. These experiences I have shared are the snapshots I have been reminded of this evening. He was there with me throughout the difficult times of my life and the happy ones as well. I will be forever grateful for the gifts he has given me...My eternal marriage...my children...Temples here upon this earth...and of course the gospel that makes this all possible.

When I awoke this morning I had the overpowering feeling that the Lord truly does know and love each and everyone of us. I have known this all my life, but tonight/this morning I have been reminded of it. For some reason I have been prompted to share these experiences and hope this has helped in some way.

Well I should be getting to bed..it's almost 3 in the morning and Joseph's excited to see Santa tomorrow morning...I wonder if he still believes in Santa..

Good night dearest family and friends....

BTW- Several years ago I had the opportunity to enter the D.C. Temple and it was a dream come true...

Bad memories....bad eggs...

As many of you know, I am Chilean...born and raised here in Los Estados Unidos...to be politically correct...The United States. So of course that would mean that my parents are foreigners to this wonderful country of ours. Well holidays can be a bit tricky in the Puentes household. Easter was filled with going to Mass, myself wearing a fancy frilly dress (which I absolutely hated), dyeing eggs and spending a whole weekend with family.

This can be tricky...The whole concept of dyeing eggs was very foreign to my Mother. She read the directions (or at least I'd like to think that) and attempted to dye them. It was a fruitless effort...you see....She bought natural brown eggs...No matter how many dye tablets she put into those cups...they stayed BROWN...Oh how I cried that morning...My 4 year old self couldn't comprehend the situation. Why can't I have eggs that look like the ones on TV. What happened to the pink and green eggs I envisioned? BROWN? (more weeping)....I had such great plans...I was going to make my eggs look like the ones in the commercials with the PAAS bunny...That was one of the most traumatizing Easter's I've ever had.

Why might you ask is Anna writing about this....I went to Sprouts the other day and opened a carton of eggs...and to my horror....they were BROWN eggs! That memory came to me...and the feelings I had as a young 4 year old came...Oh how I dislike brown eggs...
I didn't end up buying them of course...

BTW.....To this day, I have Brent take care of the dyeing of the eggs with the kids...LOL

Oh so busy....

This is week 3 of my kiddos going back to school. They're doing well. There hasn't been one complaint about it starting so early...I wonder if they were tired of the many chores I had for them to keep them busy.

Alycia's in 7th grade and is not thrilled about the many projects she has to do. The workload and expectations can be a bit overwhelming for her at times. She's doing 9th grade Algebra now and hasn't really struggled with it...yet. She came to me the other day and asked a question on her math homework...

"ahh...I just finished up my Intermediate Algebra just last semester..I should know how to do this"....were my thoughts.
...click....I was actually able to help her. After I answered her questions, I directed her to Brent...the math wiz...He enjoyed helping her, and they even had a few laughs. It's so nice when she comes home from school and tells me about her day. I don't remember having these conversations with my mom, she was always at work and I was a latch-key kid. I think I'm a hip mom, since she likes to wear my t-shirts and jeans. Yes...she can fit into my clothes. She's taller than my 5 foot self and my jeans are getting to be too short. Scary, huh? The one thing we're thrilled about is, we now have full access to her grades via the school's website. Missed or late assignments...hah! You can't hide that from us missy! She is not happy about this...and I personally wouldn't be either. I'm so glad they didn't have this fancy technology back in my day. Well, she missed the bus this week. You may ask yourselves why? Jamba Juice. Jamba Juice was at the Jr. high after school, so she decided to buy herself a smoothie. I have a very resourceful little gal...That morning she gathered up all her pennies, stuffed them into a ziplock bag and paid for her smoothie with her change. Yes...$2 whole dollars worth of pennies. She said the guy behind the counter's jaw dropped, gave her a look like "what am I supposed to do with this?" and proceeded to count the 200 pennies. Mind you, there were a ton of kids waiting anxiously to order their smoothie. Well, by the time she got her smoothie, ran to the bus area, her bus was leaving. She even ran alongside the bus...oh that mean bus driver! (were my thoughts).. I hope she learned that time doesn't stand still when you need it to, and neither does the bus....

As for my little guy Joseph, he's really enjoying school. No complaints so far. His teacher is a very kind and patient lady. Joseph's best friend is in his class and they're both happy about that. He'll be turning 10 tomorrow and just had a birthday party. It was a swim birthday party with 6 of his friends attending. I seriously thought I was going to cry this morning, not over the fact that he'd be turning 10, but the rain...There was a monsoon storm that hit last night (I spent all morning yesterday cleaning and spraying the deck in 108 degree heat)...Grrr...When I woke up this morning it was raining. What was I to do with all those boys if it continued to rain? It almost NEVER rains here! We live in the desert! (sniffle, sniffle) ...Well, great news! The rain stopped and the party went as planned... I wish I remembered to take pictures. Brent took a video of the birthday cake festivities...what a great hubby I married...

As for an update on Brent, he's enjoying being the Scoutmaster. He plans on taking the boys camping late September, once he's done with training. It's been weird not having him at home some weeknights and weekends due to training and 0ther youth activities...I guess I didn't realize how much I miss having him here at home 'til now...

As for myself...I'm finished with Joseph's birthday party and Alycia's is next! It's going to be a sleepover/swim/birthday party. The stress is on! We have a theme, but I just need to get the party supplies. I start school on Monday...Anatomy and English 101 are the courses I'm taking for the semester. I think Anatomy will be interesting as well as very difficult. As everyone knows, I'm all about getting great deals. Well I must boast a bit. At the campus bookstore they were selling my Anatomy textbook for $215, I found the international version online for $80...and that included shipping. Hah! Take that campus bookstore! As for my English class, I'm not happy I have to take it since it will require a lot of writing. I do enjoy writing, just as long as the subject interests me. A thought just occurred to me...English 101 is a freshman class. ugg...I'll be dealing with freshmen...they can be soo annoying! Okay okay, I will stop my grumblings. (deep breath...exhale) Much better.

I hope this next week goes well...It will be utterly stressful and busy... I have enjoyed the break from school to spend time with the family and getting to know them better. My family is what's the most important thing in my life...and I have treasured these brief 3 months I have had to spend one on one time with them... Now I need to get back into school mode...not fun...

Wish me luck! I will seriously need it!