The Goyer Family Christmas Letter 2013
Oh, happy year! Here’s a look at the Goyer’s 2013 in review:
January 7, a.m. Exciting day for Tricia. In Colorado Springs taping video and radio spots for her new book, Lead Your Family Like Jesus, at Focus on the Family.
January 7, p.m. Exciting day for the Goyer family! Social worker calls John to say that two children in the foster care system need a home: Allisa (age five) and Casey (age two). After home studies, training, and lots of prayer this is becoming a reality for the Goyers!
January 9, p.m. John and Tricia meet these two children. They are excited, loud, and distracted. Do these kids understand what this is about?
January 10, a.m. John and Tricia wonder if they are getting in over their head. They pray, they worry, and then they open their daily Bible reading and the tears come. “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you,” they read in James 1:27. Only God could orchestrate this verse at this time.
January 10, p.m. A social worker loads up a pile of stuff into the Goyer’s car and buckles in the kids. As the car pulls out John turns to Tricia, “Can you just believe the State of Arkansas gave us two kids?” When they get home Alyssa embraces her siblings and acts as if they’ve always been there. Sibling love!
January 11–March something, a.m. & p.m. John and Tricia wonder what in the world they’ve gotten into.
January 22. Tricia’s book Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska releases. Amazingly the main character is from the foster care system.
February. Tricia’s sister Lesley, nieces Sarah and Allison, and nephew Tyler visit!
March. Alissa (who chose the new name Bella) and Casey have settled in to good schools/therapy programs. John and Tricia are starting to hope of normal life returning.
March. Alyssa turns three!
April. John and Tricia celebrate twenty-three years of marriage!
May. Tricia’s book The Promise Box releases. Amazingly the main character is adopted. (Are you seeing a theme?)
May 18. Leslie graduates from UALR with her Bachelors degree. One week later she heads to the Czech Republic to be a missionary for a year!
June. Tricia’s book Lead Your Family Like Jesus releases. She travels to California to tape the video curriculum and gets to see her sister, nieces, and nephews!
July. The Goyers head to Montana for vacation and to celebrate John’s parents fiftieth wedding anniversary. Cory, Katie, and Clayton Goyer pack up and move to Arkansas. The drive from Montana to Arkansas takes forty-one hours!
July 16, a.m. Date at the courthouse. Bella and Casey are legally Goyers!
August. John starts a new job with Oracle. He works from home now, yeah!
August. Nathan starts his third semester at UALR.
September. The Goyers buy a house big enough for everyone! Teen MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) starts its third year!
September 26, p.m. Chloe Mae Goyer is born to Cory and Katie!
September. Tricia’s novella A Christmas Gift for Rose releases. The main character is adopted. (Can you REALLY see a theme here?)
October. John is traveling for his new job. Tricia is able to join him in London. They meet up with Leslie!
November. Tricia’s friend Anita (from Austria) comes for a surprise visit. Thanksgiving is spent with the Goyers organizing a kids’ carnival at our church’s Thanksgiving dinner.
December 10. As I write this the kids are doing GREAT! They are happy and settled, and most of their issues are GONE! God has brought happiness and healing! The kids LOVE each other. He is good!
12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 1
I’m celebrating Christmas with my favorite blog readers by giving away a different book pack each day! Today’s book pack is the Teen Girl Pack, which includes: My Life Unscripted, Life Interrupted, and Praying for Your Future Husband. Winners will be announced on my blog on Christmas day!
