'Doing fabulous,' Smart family says

For nine months she was allegedly held captive by a self-proclaimed prophet.

During that time she was either tied to a tree in the mountains above her home or forced to wear a veil or some other disguise while in public.

But today, Elizabeth Smart, one year after she was found walking along State Street in Sandy along with her alleged kidnappers Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, is back to being a normal 16-year-old girl.

"We're doing fabulous. We couldn't be happier. We couldn't be better. Everything is just wonderful. Our family is back intact. We're doing things we've wanted to do but weren't able to do in the past year," Elizabeth's mother, Lois Smart, told the Deseret Morning News.

Today, the biggest problems on Elizabeth's mind are wondering what her friends are doing that night or if her dad will let her borrow the car.

Elizabeth's parents said the nine months their daughter was gone seemed like an eternity. But the year since her return has flown by at lightning speed.

"This year has gone by so fast. It's amazing to think it's been one year," Lois Smart said.

Upon visiting the Smarts' house recently on a sunny afternoon, it was hard to find anything out of the ordinary from any other typical Utah family. William Smart, Elizabeth's 5-year-old brother, answered the door for reporters coming to interview their parents for a one-year anniversary story. He then returned to playing with Siah, one of two dogs the Smarts acquired shortly after the kidnapping.

Inside the Federal Heights home, left of the entryway to the Smarts' home is the kitchen where a cut screen once hung that was a key focus of the investigation. Straight ahead is a stairway leading to the bedrooms. To the right is a living room where in a corner sits two harps and pictures of Elizabeth and Mary Katherine.

Ed and Lois Smart greet visitors today with broad smiles and energy. It's a sharp contrast to the couple who summoned all their strength to face the media week after week during the nine months their daughter was missing.

"There's a much bigger appreciation on our part for the little things in life," Ed Smart said.

Life today

Elizabeth is a sophomore at East High School. She was tutored during the summer after her return and was able to rejoin her friends in their grade despite missing a year of school. And Elizabeth excels in her classes, according to her parents.