| Our End-of-Year Newsletter |
| Merry Christmas from the Fernando's December, 2008 Hi Everyone, I hope you all have enjoyed a very happy & productive 2008 .. and 2007 .. I'm sorry we didn't get our Christmas cards out last year :( Gene's parents went through a pretty horrendous car accident in the Spring of 2007 which they were very lucky to have survived, but their prognosis was very bleak. This was just after Mr. Fernando had suffered a series of heart attacks. Their road to recovery was arduous .. but fortunately ... in many ways successful. Thank God! That year was very demanding on the family as well, physically and emotionally, and severely impacted everyone's “free time,” so, priorities as they are, some things just didn't happen. This year we took a family trip to the Grand Canyon and to Sedona to see the Church of the Holy Cross. Before that, though, we got to spend the 4th of July in ... Hawaii(!!) As it turned out, Gene had a job in Hawaii during that timeframe so between various frequent flier miles et al .. we were able to work out the time off and finances. This was a great opportunity for the kids, each experienced it in a different way. Gene Michael was so fortunate in that we found a hotel that has their own little “pod” of dolphins that they employ in “swimming with the dolphins” experiences for vacationers. I just wanted to take the kids to see them up close since these programs are very expensive, but I was told that they have a special program for special needs kids, so Gene had an experience of a lifetime .. and the folks there captured it all on film for free for him :) Rebecca learned to play the ukulele, played soccer tennis on the beach and got to do a lot of shopping :) Christopher enjoyed the surfing and body surfing the best! We all had a chance to do some excellent snorkeling of course. Gene's passport got some more action this year. In addition to “just” going to Hawaii on business, he spent quite a lot of time in Arizona and .. Japan(!) Now all of this sound pretty glamorous, but it really was hard work while he was in all of his locations (or so he says .. wink, wink .. but I believe him!) Getting around in Japan was pretty difficult in that not just the language being different but the whole alphabet being different made reading a map and driving quite a challenge! Rebecca enjoyed receiving an authentic kimono from Japan .. so that is how she dressed up for Halloween .. and got rave reviews on her “costume.” Crystal has been busy “holding down the fort” at home – organizing and keeping up with what everyone is doing! Just being the photographer for all the kids events and helping to manage Rebecca's soccer team is plenty, thank you! Last year she received quite an honor: Rebecca's soccer club (one of the biggest in San Diego) presented her with “Manager of the Year.” This year she has resurrected the clubs monthly newsletter which has been dormant for years. Starting from scratch with a new design and format, she published the first issue in February. She has also been asked to begin teaching Latin dance / aerobics classes again; her previous club closed and is now at LA Fitness. That is something that she may pursue in 2009 .. we'll see. Gene is in his 2nd year of High School now! He has done well in school, excelling in several areas and has continued his religious education. He has learned to navigate the city bus system (actually fended for himself, getting all the back to the school and halfway home, when the school accidentally left him at one of the biggest malls in San Diego during a field trip – a long story for another time!). He is quite accomplished in the arts: sews beautifully, loves to draw and write and is an excellent reader (the primary reader in his religious education class). Gene still enjoys to surf with Surfer's Healing Camps, “rock” climb, play soccer, basketball & this year he signed up for a local baseball league. He really enjoys basketball more than anything, I think. He proved to be the top shooter of his league and really amazed people with his accuracy from wherever he would shoot. He participates in several social groups as well. Rebecca is currently an 8th grader. While she continues to play soccer year-round, she ran on her Middle School's Cross Country team all 3 years and received special honors for that when the season ended. This will also be her 3rd year for playing on her Middle School's soccer team. She was one of only two 7th graders last year allowed to play on Varsity, quite an honor. She continues to get very good grades, being on the Honor Roll & CJSF every semester and only receiving a couple of B+'s during her tenure there. This is her 3rd year on the Carlsbad Lightning Soccer Club Premier Team, one of the top soccer teams in San Diego county. They have won a number of tournament championships, but this year they were proud to have won the League Cup Championship. She plays outside mid-field and outside defender and has sustained her share of injuries, but fortunately no broken bones yet – phew! She's kept up with her piano studies as well as religious education. Last year, she combined the two by playing piano at the church's Epiphany Pageant. Christopher is in 5th grade and still lives up to his “Duracell Battery” moniker – go-go-go all the time! If it's a sport, he'll try it ... if there's an activity happening, he'll try to join it! Last year, he joined Show Choir and was quite the performer. When Rebecca said that a girl was going to have to be Joseph in the Epiphany Pageant because there weren't many boys in the production, Christopher joined the cast late but learned his lines, blocking & made for a great Joseph. This year he will be the angel Gabriel, chosen for his “warm speaking voice” and his ability to quickly learn his lines quickly. Christopher is still very active with Dad in Cub Scouts and will become a Boy Scout next year. From his aptitude at “Guitar Hero,” Christopher decided to take up the guitar last. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to add guitar lessons into the schedule, but I believe that will be coming in 2009. After a great season of soccer last year – his team won Regionals, Areas & went all the way to Sectionals – he joined Lightning's Rec. Program was nominated for All Stars as a top goalie. He was the top-ranked goalie in the Under 12 age group (as a 10 yr old) and played with the team in the Mesa All Stars Tournament a couple of weeks ago. So that's kindof what we've been doing this year .. looking forward to a great 2009, and we wish you every blessing during the remainder of this year and many years to come! Gene, Crystal, Gene, Rebecca & Christopher Fernando www.oocities.org/crystal_fernando/ |
 |