Merry Christmas

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I'm copying and pasting the Christmas letter we sent out with Christmas cards... I'm just editing it for the internet. ;) Collin has me up at 5am wanting to see what's in his stocking and go visit his cousins so I'm cooking and trying to entertain him until the rest of the family wakes up. hehe


Dear Friends and Family,

It is that time of year again. I love Christmas! It’s Christ’s birthday and people always seem kinder now. I love Christmas music and the yummy treats that everyone always makes. It’s so much fun having the decorations up and wrapping presents.

We have had a few changes in our family this year. The biggest is we have a daughter now. Well, she was placed with us in July 2008 but her birthfather’s rights still aren’t terminated. If everything goes well then by February we will be able to start the finalization process. YAY!!

We’ll start talking about Ronni since she is our youngest. She just turned one in November. She is a total ‘daddy’s girl’ and she LOVES music. She likes to dance, sing, and play the piano. Anytime I’m playing the piano she has to be sitting next to me playing, too. She has beautiful long eyelashes that catch the attention of strangers in the grocery store. She has a very high pitched squeal and you’ll hear it if you have something she wants. She has an attitude that we are going to have to find a way to channel for good before she enters her teenage years. We love her and are so glad she is part of our family. We just can’t wait until it’s all legally on paper, too.

Now for Collin – total goofball! He turned three this December. I can’t believe the little man he’s becoming. He says he’s going to be an astronaut and fly to Jupiter. He wants all his friends to go with him too. He loves learning science right now. He asks questions and wants real answers. He can tell you about the molecules cooling off and making thunder or how radio waves go through your antennae and out your speakers. He sounds out words right now but he’s having trouble realizing that if he squishes the sounds together he gets a word. He’s a normal boy – loves trucks and blocks. He wants a race track for Christmas – I think he’s getting it from a grandma. ;) He is already picking up some of his parents’ sarcasm; he keeps us laughing. He even says his own jokes. When we laugh he tries to come up with more. It’s pretty funny.

Paul – he stays pretty busy. He is still in school full time, majoring in business management and working full time at the same place he's worked since high school -- just a different location ;). We’re getting close to the end though; only eleven classes left. In October our ward was split and Paul was called as executive secretary to the new bishopric. That, obviously, takes up more of his already limited time.

Me! I’m still working part-time as a vet tech. I get off at 10am so I’m still able to be with the kids most of the day. When the ward split I was called to the primary presidency. So far I have really enjoyed it but it has definitely challenged my fear of public speaking. I think it’s been good for me though.

This holiday season, as we go about our business fighting the traffic and the commercialization that Christmas has become let’s remember the words of a very wise man; Howard W Hunter.
"This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again."

Happy Holidays!
Love,
Paul, Linda, David, Collin, & Ronni Smith