Memorial Day

Hola, Elder Smith!  Happy Memorial Day!  Today we are planting our garden, doing some yard work, and going to a movie with Rachel and George.  But the best thing about Memorial Day is it means there are only four days left of school.  Hooray!  Lehi Graduation is on Thursday, it brings back happy memories of your graduation one year ago. Driving down to the Marriott Center, seeing you in a cap and gown, dinner at Carrabas, home for cake and ice-cream, and then you were off to your all night party.  What a wonderful day, I felt so proud of you!  And now it is one year later. So excited that school is nearly over and summer is here.

Thursday was the High School 5A soccer state championship game at Rio Tinto. Riverton vs. Freemont.  We wouldn't have missed it!  Riverton is the new State Champions, winning 1-0.  Jerry wrote on Facebook, "Good job Riverton, see you next season. Way to keep the state title in Region IV."  But the best part about being at the game?  We were flipping through the program during halftime and there in the program was a picture of YOU!!!  Shirtless, arms in the air, cheering with your teammates after the game. Awesome!

In other news, you are a cousin again!  Tami had her baby yesterday!  A 9-pound baby girl, her name is Paige Hofmann. That makes two new baby girls born since you left, one on each side of the family.  

We were happy to hear that Ana Rosa was baptized, that is great news. And now we are hoping to hear that Glenda was married and baptized this week.  Send us an update on her.  Also, I am happy you are doing "Hour of Power" again.  I will definitely join you in that!   

Well, I have had a heavy heart since I heard the news about the missionary who was killed in a car accident in Yuscaran. My prayers are with his family, his companion and everyone who loved him.  I hope they will find some comfort knowing he passed in the service of his Heavenly Father. Had you met him?  How has President Hernandez handled this with the other missionaries?  I am constantly praying for your safety, and for the safety of all our missionaries around the world.

Love you!  ~Mom

Currant Bush

                                            Currant Bush

cut down again, 

the hundredth time, 

to clumps of stumps that stretch, 

limbs upward 

wondering why 

and what they 

did wrong this time 

not ready for fruit, I guess 

not strong enough, I guess 

not wanted? a nagging pain 

the smallest in the garden, 

midst an orchard filled 

with giants -- tall, abundant, productive  

overpowering, overshadowing, 

dwarfing 

clump of stumps that tries to be 

the right thing, tries to grow 

the right way, 

sees the spilling berries 

that it wants to hold and carry 

in the clouds someday

but cut, 

knocked down again 

and again 

and again

a barely-more-than-seedling 

in the eyes of the orchard 

who prays the Gardener sees her 

as a tree

We're Here For RSL!

Rachel got us tickets to the Real game last Saturday!  What a fun night!   

From Stefanie

hey loser.(:

hey its Stefanie. whats up? Moms making me write you a letter. haha So it was cool to get to talk to you on mothers day!! You seem the same except you have an accent haha . this week was boring except, these things, 1. Lehi boys soccer lost in the first round of playoffs hahah to Layton. Sucks to suck, the finale four teams are; Riverton, Viewmont, Layton, Freemont, and we're gonna go to the final game at rio tinto on thursday probably i think. 2nd kinda cool thing that happened this week was, my cousin Trevor, got engaged on Friday, to a girl named megan. she is pretty cool, and they're getting married in August. # 3 Rachel got us tickets to go to the Real game last night, so that was pretty cool, haha we went and they were playing the Colorado Rapids, and we were sitting right above the goal so the one that looks like inigo montoya shot a pk right in front of us and we saw it and it was really cool. haha Real won 2 to 1. Another thing is theres only 2 weeks left of school ha but really only one because no one goes to the last week so one week YAYAY! 5. the state track meet was on Saturday and i went with dad and they did really good, so did lehi, i saw kaylee B. high jump and she cleared 4'11 so thats really good considering she is so small, haha, anyways have a great week! bye bye! 

XOXOX//

Stefanie….

Mother's Day

The best Mother's Day present I have ever received was a phone call from my missionary.  He looked and sounded so good.  We got to speak for about an hour and a half.  Love him!!

Happy Birthday Stefanie

My baby is 15 years old!!

I think she had a fun day, the girls and I went shopping in the morning, then we met Kent and George for dinner.  One of Kent's basketball players had given him a gift certificate for $50.00 at Texas Roadhouse, awesome!  We told the waitresses that it was Stefanie's birthday so she got a loud clap-out serenade and had to sit on the "birthday saddle".  She was embarrassed so that made it funny.  Then we went home for cake, ice cream and presents, and played Apples to Apples all evening. 

And now for the annual birthday interview: 

Best thing that happened to you this year:  My sister's wedding and cruise to Alaska.
Biggest accomplishment:  First place wins at cheer competitions.
Hardest thing: Saying goodbye to my brother.
Favorite class in school: Don't like any of them.
Biggest changes:  Becoming an only child and getting braces!
Looking forward to:  Summertime!
Best Friend:  Makayla.
Most prized possessions:  Hair extensions.
Favorite Color:  Light Blue
Favorite Candy:  Sour Patch Kids
Favorite Board Game:  Ticket To Ride
One Word to Describe You:  Anti-social
Biggest Goal:  Get Tan
Most excited for: High school and driving!

Cinco De Mayo

Hola, Elder Smith!  Happy Cinco De Mayo!  Not sure if they celebrate this day in Honduras, but just in case… 

How was your week?  Can't believe your last letter and the crazy story about the gunshots, that is disturbing and shocking!  I've been praying extra hard for your safety this week.

We had a fun Sunday, Billy and Josette invited us over to their house for Layton's third birthday party.  He is a cute little guy with his long blonde curls.  Rachel and George came with us, Sarah and her family were there, and Trevor brought a pretty, blonde girlfriend named Megan, a soccer player from Alpine.  We spent a lot of time talking to Josette's brother, Jack.  He loves reading your letters and had lots of stories and questions for us. I loved holding little Lydia, sweet baby.  

I can't believe it is May already, only three more weeks of school! Lots of good things coming up this month, including Stefanie's 15th birthday on Saturday.  We are planning to do some birthday shopping with her, take her out for dinner with Rachel and George, and home for presents and birthday cake.  Should be a fun day!  And the next day is Mother's Day and we will get to talk to you!!!!  So excited!

Dad has been super busy lately with track and basketball, he was at the BYU track meet all day Friday and Saturday.  Stefanie took the day off from school on Friday to go with him, they both came home sunburned.  They were pretty excited about all the amazing times and broken records in various events.  Stefanie says she now wants to run cross country and track, I hope she will!  

Saturday I went to a baptism of one of my primary boys (Derek Blackwell) and then to the temple.  I always love putting your name on the prayer roll and hearing the officiator pray for the missionaries in the prayer circle.

That's all my news for this week.  Excited to hear from you today!  Love you!  ~Mom

Spring Is In The Air!

Hola my missionary son, I have been thinking about you all week wondering how your interview went on Tuesday with President Hernandez. I hope it was good, that the spirit was there and that you were able to clear up some misunderstandings.  If not, I pray you were able to move past it, rise above, and focus on the real purpose of your mission.  I'm anxious to hear an update.

We had a good week, spring is in the air!  Everything in sight is blooming and we are starting to get the yard in shape.  Dad mowed the grass for the first time this year, and later this week we will have a big bonfire in the back yard to burn all the weeds and branches.  We might even roast a few marshmallows at the end. I love this time of year!

Dad was gone all day Saturday at a spring basketball tournament in Payson, they came in 3rd out of 15 teams. Great showing for Lehi!  When he got home we all wanted to go out for a treat, we decided on One Man Band on Main Street.  Stefanie had never been inside and thought it was awesome, especially because we let her place our phone order. It brought back a happy memory of being there the night you got your patriarchal blessing.  What a great night that was!  You received such an amazing blessing with incredible promises and counsel.  I will always remember it.

Sports update from Dad:  Lehi soccer will end up in 2nd place in region this year, they lost twice to Riverton.  We are one week away from playoffs so not sure yet who they will play.  I've run into Jerry a couple of times this season, he said the team has done better than he thought they would.  He misses his seniors from last year.

Sacrament meeting was really good, Elder Dallin Raff spoke, along with Brother Peck (Ryan's dad) from the High Council.  Elder Raff returned last month from his mission to Mexico and did a great job on his talk.  He spoke on missionary work and shared a few experiences from his mission.  Dad walked up to the stand before the meeting began and shook his hand, he asked about you, wanted to know how long you'd been out and how things were going.  Fun to see missionaries return, to hear them speak and share their testimonies. 

That's all this week!  Excited to hear your news, we sure hope it has been a good week for you.  We are looking forward to our phone call in two weeks!  Do you know what time we will get to talk to you?  Dad and I are both ready to get subs in our primary callings if it happens to be during church time. Love you!  ~Mom

P.S.  It has been a few weeks since you sent pictures!  I want some!  I'm sending you a camera!