My name is Piedra Magdalina Esmerelda Ochoa Hernandez.  (My name is much larger than I am! LOL)  I am 10 years old and live with mi familia in Mesa, Arizona.

I am in the fifth grade.  I love school, but right now, school is closed: Thanksgiving break.  We got out on Wednesday (early) and we don't go back until Monday.  I have been having the best time with my family and my cousins, who all came for Thanksgiving, but today I'm sad 'cause my cousins go back home.  I hate to see them leave.

I have two sisters (Maria Graciela and Angelica Marita); they are nine and six.  I have a brother, but he's in Heaven: he died last year.  He was only two months old.  He died in his sleep.  I miss him so much, especially around this time of year.  He died in April last year, so this is my second Christmas without little Jorge' Faustino.  He was so cute: he had the fattest cheeks and the sweetest personality: he hardly ever cried; he was a very happy baby!

Mami and Papi are still sad, but they have been going to "Compassionate Friends" meetings, where they meet up with other grieving parents, so it's helped them a lot.  I am glad to see them laughing and smiling again, but you can still see the sadness in their eyes.  Guess that will be there for a long time to come (or at least until the holidays are overwith).

Mami and Papi both work: Papi is a pipe fitter and Mami, she is a teacher, but right now she's off work: when the schools are closed, then she's home with me and my sisters.  Papi works six days a week, sometimes seven; he works anywhere from ten to 15 hours a day and is often very tired when he gets home.  He spends a lot of time sleeping or just vegging out when he is home.  I don't blame Papi one bit.

I love to do many things: write stories and poems (mostly about my life and school), draw/paint, make crafts, crochet and knit, collect bottle caps, marbles, spoons from around the world, and butterflies, read (I'm a regular bookworm!), play games on the computer, hang out with my friends, go to the mall, listen to music (country, conjunto, mariachi, pop, etc.), and go to concerts.  I am a very busy young lady.

I go to church every Sunday and Wednesday.  We go to Mesa Baptist.  I sing in the choir every Sunday.  That's another thing I love to do: singing.  For Christmas, I will be singing "O, Holy Night" as a solo; this is my first time doing a solo.  I am very nervous; I pray I do well and don't mess up!

Well, I have to go: my cousins are getting ready to leave.  I will write in here again soon; until then, I hope you liked what I have written.  Take care and may God bless you!

~Love, your new friend, Piedra Hernandez.