Hola! Como esta usted?  

It's me, your friend, Sonrisa Maria Elissa Gomez!  I hope this finds you all doing good!

I am doing good; am now in the fifth grade and am loving it!  My teacher is Mr. Quick, and he is as nice as my teacher back in fourth grade was.  

I had a good school year: managed to score mostly A's with a few B's thrown in.  Mama and Daddy were so proud of me, as were Abuela and Abuelo!  And this summer has been good, too: hot, but good.  We kids went swimming just about every day when the weather was good and we went camping the week before July 4th; we also saw the fireworks and went to the Oklahoma State Fair (last Saturday).  We saw fireworks again on Saturday night at the fair.

Now we have Hallowe'en and Christmas (as well as Thanksgiving) to look forward to.  Hard to believe that it is already fall ... where did the time go by so fast?? That's what I would like to know ...

Sometimes people feel sorry because they see me using crutches and braces (or a wheelchair), but as I always like to say, I may have spina bifida, but spina bifida does NOT have me.  I can do just about anything anybody else does; I just happen to do things a little different than most, but the point is this: I can STILL do things.

If they can't accept me 'cause I'm in a chair or use crutches, then I don't need them in my life.  I'm a person too, just like they are!!

Well, sorry I am gonna cut this short now, but I have to get back to my homework, then have supper.  We're having chili tonight!  YUMMY!!  Chili is my favorite; Mama makes the best chili!  Take care; may God bless you always!

~Love, your friend, Sonrisa.  :)