"In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."

Family members with whom we are associated, not unlike the unfortunate mothers at the time of King Herod's child massacre, have suffered great loss and have endured a myriad of trials this year. Some have had miscarriages, some have had cancer treatments, and some struggle with addiction. Jobs are demanding and not always what we think they should be, and the troubles we have had with cars is astounding. Just this past week, one was stolen! Through it all, the Savior has been our balm of Gilead. His Atoning Sacrifice was wrought for more than just the redemption of sin. It also provides restoration of hope and reclamation of joy in times of stress and pain. He comforts, sustains, strengthens, and heals. Truly, great joy shall be to all who receive Christ, and peace and good will shall be to all who give God the glory and praise. In spite of the tribulation, some are now expecting, some are pronounced cancer-less, and some are working and recovering. Praise the Lord for family members who love and assist, for patience to wait for answered prayers, for modern medicine and skilled practitioners, and for Good Samaritans everywhere! May He grant all of us greater faith and gratitude as we continually and patiently submit to His will!

White Elephant
To summarize, grateful reflections of the past on the perimeter of hopeful expectations of the future provide proper perspective for the present. This is our present to all of you, friends and family!

Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year

to You and Yours!

They Saw the Star and Rejoiced

With gratitude, we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World and resolve to share that light by following His example. Here are just a few of our shining moments.

Goose Commander volunteers his service as the Bishop of our local congregation of 550 members. Primary children and teenagers alike swarm to his warmth! He loves and serves with his whole heart and soul.

Golden Goose celebrated 12 months of eliminating food and drink with added sugar from her diet. Her reward was a Hawaiian high adventure with GC.



Gosling Goose had his wisdom teeth removed (you've no idea how hilarious this was and how often the family quotes his recorded words to this day!), earned his BSA Eagle Award, graduated from high school, and was accepted to BYU-Provo. He will defer his college entrance until he returns from his full-time missionary service.
























Caboose Goose started early-morning seminary and his freshman year of high school this year. He currently serves as the Teachers' Quorum President.

Wise Men Traveled From the East

Gaga Goose

The Gaggle

The gaggle of geese (our children and ourselves) traveled much and far this year. Perhaps our collective best gathering was in August when the flock flew in for a great family reunion at the Guadalupe. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about the fun all 18 (19 if you include 

Gargantuan Goose and Nanny Goose's Decoy Dog) of us had for an entire week! If you are wondering about all of the references to geese, it is due to the fact that the theme for our reunion was "We are G*O*O*S*E" .......  which stands for "We are Grateful, 'OO'nited, Safe, Excited!" We all had our own goose names for playing "Duck, Duck, Goose" and for other activities.

The newlyweds, Gorgeous Goose and Maverick Goose, traded places with Gander Goose, Wild Goose, and Goose Bump, during family migration moves in January of last year. 

During spring break, the main train traveled from the east when Caboose Goose went on his first scouting high adventure and kayaked on the Rio Grande (picture above is more recent than the high adventure) while Commander Goose and Golden Goose visited both parental homesteads. These three wise "guys" went westward again when they revisited the grandparents during Christmas break.

Throughout the year, many beach trips and fun fishing/floating adventures were enjoyed!

Gosling Goose left in September for a six-week intensive training at the Mexico City Missionary Training Center. He is currently serving a two-year, Spanish-speaking mission on the American West Coast. The family joined in a video chat to speak to him on Christmas Day!
 


For the first time in thirty years, Golden Goose worked outside the home at a part-time job this year whilst teaching her 24 piano students in the home studio. That, and many friends who shared lodging, childcare and packing needs, made it possible for her and Commander Goose to fly the coop and have some R&R on the island of Kauai. They may not be all that wise, but they sure were LUCKY! The most amazing adventure was hiking the rugged Kalalau Trail, camping on the Kalalau Valley beach for two nights, and hiking back in time to make it for a kayaking trip on the South Shore. After flying full circle in a helicopter above the garden island, hiking about 35 miles on remote trails and kayaking 8 miles in ocean waters within the course of 7 days, CG turned to GG and asked, "You have gotten me up between 5 and 6 every morning since we arrived to beat myself up. When does our vacation begin?" After that, it was gentleman's choice, and they took to sleeping in, sunbathing, snorkeling, and shopping.

Piece of cake this...

...and this.

But then we go along this...

...to get to this. Freaky! It gets better even more interesting, though. Two days later, ...

........We hike 11 miles along this (looking left)....

...and along this (looking right), towards Kalalau Valley.

It may not look that extreme until you get right in the thick of things. See that shady spot on the cliff right above the "11" in "We hike 11 miles along this"? Well, ...

this is what it is like before / rounding the bend ...

... and just / after.

The / marks above point to what is called "Crawler's Ledge". You literally hug the black rock and you shimmy around the edge on maybe a foot-wide path. The finger is pointing to a switchback on the path about 600 feet from the black rock face at the right in the photo above. The photo below shows the switchback and the black rock but doesn't do justice to just how steep it is.

/ Switchback,  / black rock up above the "/" marks!

Once the rain stopped, it wasn't too, too scary.

 The rewards at the end of the trail made it all worth it!