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!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No Christmas letter going out this year for me, and that’s mainly because I still haven’t finished making all of my Christmas cards! Oy!
As a single woman (in her 30s), I’d soooo love to read the Praying for Your Future Husband book! Thanks for the great giveaway, and it sounds like you had an amazing year!
We’ll send a Christmas letter if I get around to writing it…otherwise I’ll just send out our photo cards. Every year is different. 🙂
your prize will be a great gift for a friend.
would love to win.
We might send out Christmas cards, I am very bad about sending anything through snail mail.
We never send one out. Maybe that is something I should add to my to list. Thank you for the giveaway!
We send out a New Years letter instead. After the busyness of Christmas passes, and the parties and events are through, and I can finally focus on getting something out. I use that downtime in between Christmas and the New Year to write our family letter.
Yes, another Christmas letter sent this year. I’ve done it for the 12 years we have been married.
Not this year….we made up cards which we will personalize but no formal letter.
I love reading Christmas letters but never send one, would love to win this giveaway
Shirley B jcisforme@aol.com
I definately send out a Christmas letter….and I love to receive them!!
No Christmas letter. Would love to win so I can save for my first grandchild who comes in Jan.
Not sure if cards will get sent this year…too busy reading!
Tricia I learned so much about you from this Christmas letter, you have an amazing and blessed family. I’m so thankful everything worked out with the children. Congratulations!
Cards are sent, but in Christmas letter for our family. Just a picture. 🙂
That should be “no” not “in”.
Wonderful story of the true meaning of Love!
No I am doing picture post cards this year! 🙂 Merry Christmas to your family!
I always have good intentions of getting a letter out, but it probably won’t happen again this year. Oh well, it is what it is. Thank you for the giveaway.
No letter yet:) but hopefully in the new year:)
No, I am not sending out a Christmas letter. I sent out Christmas cards with a school pic of my son inside. 🙂
I enclose personal letter in each card not a standard letter. thank you Merry Christmas!
Yes! Thank you for your heartwarming and spirit filled stories!
I’ve never sent out a Christmas letter. I’ve always wanted to, but never started early enough to get it done!
I always send Christmas cards every year, but no letters.
Nope, no letters but sent out about 100 cards some w/short messages in them.
I have never thought to send out a Christmas Letter. Maybe I’ll pray about it and see of the Lord puts anything on my heart that He wants so speak through me. Yes, that is what I will do! Blessings to you and your family this Christmas season!
No not this year. Thank you for the giveaway.
I used to send out a Christmas letter when we lived in France but have stopped doing that since returning to live in the U.S. I find it much more personal to write a note in each card. I think that shows how much we care for family and friends.
No Christmas letter. Thanks for the giveaway!
My Mom used to send them out, but not of late. I make personalized cards and send them out to everyone though..:) Thank you for the giveaway and sharing us, Tricia.
No Christmas news letter but we all keep up on family stuff on facenook now.
I do not do letters–we always send out a picture card…but this year it might be more of a Happy New Year card!
No letter, just a picture card of our wedding in Nov.
How exciting! We also have adopted!
At this point, Christmas cards and a family letter are looking less and less likely, but there’s always next week before the kids get out of school, so who knows?
No letter or even Christmas cards this year. Just can’t afford it.
Hi, Tricia!
No, I’m not sending a Christmas letter – I am retired, live alone, & not many changes/events in my life, during the year. I DO enjoy reading the Christmas letters I receive, & LOVED reading yours!
You are such a busy lady, Tricia – THANKS for all your wonderful ministries, & THANKS for this magnificent giveaway opportunity! I APPRECIATE all of it!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
I always want to do a letter but it never happens it ends up a card with news of the year in it. High points. You shall be greatly rewarded for what you do for children. Love your books.
Blessings
joeym11@frontier.com
No I will not be sending out a Christmas letter
No, I don’t send any letter at Christmas but do try to send cards to some of my friends and family. I enjoyed reading yours though. Those kids don’t know how blessed they are to be brought into a good family and shown love!
I don’t send Christmas letters… I never know what to write. We do send cards though. Usually picture cards (5 kids, mom & dad).
I tend to call people on the phone more during this season because they come to mind more readily. So, no letter sent.
haven’t learned to tweet. I reallly like to read the Christian books you offer.
Yes, I am sending out letters all about the fun things I have shared with my children and grandchildren this year.
No Christmas letter but possibly cards.
Thanks to FB, I keep current with my family and it comes with pics
No, Christmas letters being sent out from me. Our family stays connected with social media and phone calls which means we pretty much know what is happening with our family members.
christmas cards for everyone
Wonderful stories, Christmas cards to all…
Working on a letter. Don’t know i will finish it before cards should be in mall.
No I don’t send out letters. I think it is a great idea though.
Tammy Hudson
hubtivoli1@yahoo.com
Merry Christmas. God bless and keep you.
I am not sending out a Christmas letter, but that is a great idea. I will be sending a few cards, but nowhere near as many as I usually send.
mjw4christ@yahoo.com
I should send out letters periodically. I usually do send out New Year letters.
I’ve never done a christmas letter…I’ve tried, but I’ve never gotten it done! LOL
Cards will be it this year. Photo cards but no letter.
No, I’m not sending out a Christmas letter but I am sending Christmas cards! Love your blog post today!
We are sending out Christmas cards with notes and pictures in it this year
Not sending out a letter, but hopefully cards.
I actually thought about doing a Christmas letter for just my friends but never got around to it, and still haven’t, so I probably won’t next year. I try to update my blog about what has happened over the year, and my close friends already know what’s going on 🙂
We send cards with pictures from each year, no letter.
Just a personal letter in each card this year
I do not do Christmas letters. I do a personal letter to each person and it is not that many.
Not sending out a letter, but I did enjoy reading yours.
I’d like very much to win these books, I already have some people in mine that would enjoy these, besides me.
Merry Christmas,
Carolyn J.
no we are not. we don’t have the time this year. i probably won’t even get the christmas cards out this year either
Not this year
🙁 Sorry not this year no free time. God Bless
I’ve never done a letter. Id have nothing to write. I barely do cards.
I have never written a Christmas letter-I am doing great if I can finish my cards!! However,I do like sending cards and try to add a personal note when I can
Sadly, my children and I are separated this year for the holidays so we are not sending out a Christmas Newsletter. Starting next year, when we are in a place of our own together, we will be sending our very FIRST one out! We will have a lot to celebrate!
LOVE your books!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
No, I don’t send out a Christmas letter or cards. Since the medical error, I can barely write my bills, then I can’t sit at a computer for very long. I use a Kindle Fire and a Tablet.
no, I have never sent out a Christmas letter
What a year! Glory to God!
LOVE it. Isn’t it fun to see how God works in our lives over a year. I wish you the best holidays and a happy new year…
Oh. About Christmas letters. I used to, and I enjoyed it, but it was one of the things I gave up because Christmas became all work and not as much fun.
We never send out Christmas cards. We’re kinda lame that way. 🙂
I am sending a few handwritten letters— not everyone gets one though. Don’t have the time!
No christmas letter for me because its just me and not much to tell!
Sometimes we send a letter, but this year we are waiting till later!!
Maybe a Christmas in July update, once the grandbaby is here!!
No Christmas letter which will likely disappoint people as my letters have become a tradition for people to read at dinner — I have heard they are that entertaining. Too many bad things happened this year and I like them to be fun and upbeat.
No, no Christmas letter – just Christmas cards.
We are not sending out a Christmas letter, but we are sending handmade Christmas cards. We have been having so much fun making them.
Love your books.
I am so sending out a christmas letter I have got such a story to tell about this last year. So many things have happened I cant keep it all to myself
No Christmas letter, just family photo cards.
I love to read and want to win.
Loved reading your Christmas letter and the journey God led you on all year! I hope to write a small letter to include with each Christmas card and maybe include a few pics! 🙂
We need to start doing a letter.
Linda Finn
faithfulacresbooks@gmail.com
Merry Christmas! Awesome letter!
We are planning to send out an email letter, with a link to a photo book we made on Picaboo, at least they can see what we look like now!
I don’t do a Christmas letter every year. I have a friend who does and it is always so much fun to read. I really wish I could get myself down and do it. Do you recommend a good way of keeping track of it all to make a letter?
yes, I send out Christmas letters to family and some friends as we both have health issues and are in the need of prayer so I try to let all my prayer warriors know all about our battles so they can pray for us. I love to receive Christmas letters from others as that is usually the only time of year that people seem to get in touch.
No we don’t do letters and cards are even hard for us to get out!! Lol.
Not this year
Love your letter…on the DO list for me! What FUN!
We’re sending a photo card and a short Christmas letter (half page, usually our “top memories” list). Since we are waiting to adopt, family are looking for an update 🙂
Christmas cards but I like the thought of a letter
You are very blessed! We adopted our daughter 23 years ago yesterday from Romania. I truly understand the comments you made about wondering if you took on too much. We adopted a child with Special Needs.
Merry Christmas!
Hi Tricia, How interesting both your little girls began with the same name~ and she is Bella ~ did she choose with her sister having the same name, or was she Bella from the beginning? When friends of my daughter’s adopted foster children and our granddaughter knew they could choose their names, she said, “Mom, I would like my name to be “Sparkle.” Love it. Blessings on all of your family. I would like to win these books. I liked your Christmas letter. We have retired and do not send out a Christmas letter, but will be going to be a living letter with our same little grand who did not become Sparkle, after all. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
I love getting Christmas letters (& even just notes in cards). I get to see a little bit of friends’ lives. BUT I do not send Christmas letters — sometimes would write a note in some Christmas cards. But I haven’t even sent Christmas Cards out for the last few years. And I’m not sending any out this year either.
We are sending out a Christmas letter to those that live far away. We have a 22 month old and an 8 year old.
No letters this year.
No, we don’t do those in our family. Most of them live really close to me.
The letter hasn’t been written yet. It is on the agenda for tomorrow. Never seems like enough time, especially when you work every day. Thankful for being able to work and being busy. Never a dull moment!
No Christmas letter. I’ve not even done cards in a long time.
Would love to win some of your books!
No
Already sent them out.Every year I do it. Thanks!!
“Happy Holidays!” I am not sending out a letter, but I do write in every card!
Thanks, Cindi
I don’t send out a Christmas Letter, maybe I should. I do send Christmas cards.
Since we had our youngest daughter’s wedding, two sons graduated with their master’s degree, and other notable happenings in our family this past year, the answer is YES. We did a letter with pictures and a Christmas greeting. Oh, yeah, we included the best news that our daughter and her family are coming home after over four years on the mission field with our adorable grandkids too…just a little excited to share THAT news!
No newsletter for me. Not a lot happened that is newsworthy, and anything that did happen was not meant for public knowledge!
Yes I will send a brief letter to include in cards to my family
I don’t send out a Christmas letter, I write a personal note to each person I send a card to.
What an exciting year you’ve had.
I have cards for people….whether i remember to send them is another story lol
the card are out and then were over 300 and then the letter are out
the letter gone out to over 200 poeple in december
I don’t do a Christmas letter but I love reading them. By the way, I love your adoption story. God has been laying adoption on my heart a lot, lately. We are not in a position to adopt right now but we shall see what the future holds.
I always thought the New Years letter would be more likely to get written in my house!
No. Every year I think I will do it, but the time seems to get away from me. 🙁 Hopefully next year!
I still haven’t sent out my cards – everything seemed so fast this year lol.
Nope, no Christmas letter–I never send one.
Not this year
Not this year, but we did send personalized christmas cards with family portraits and I created the cards