God

A special “Hello” to all our family and friends. We hope your Christmas and Holiday season was the best yet. We had a different kind of Christmas than we traditionally have. We decided to make a trip to Disneyland. We got to visit various areas of Orange County California (where Scott served his mission) and spend time on the beach (a first for the family, as usually we’re battling the Utah winter about this time of year). It was a terrific way to spend time with the family. And likely the last vacation we will take as a whole family for at least a couple of years, as Jason prepares to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the spring.

This year has been crazy and full of activity, it seems as each year passes that the time speeds up as well. We hope you were able to enjoy some down time to slow things a bit and enjoy each moment of the Christmas season together.

Well our family has been busy with many different kinds of events and activities, so where to start?

Madison – 11 years old

Madison has had quite a year as she quickly approaches young womanhood. She is a social butterfly as she seems to always be moving from one friend to another always in constant motion until we catch her with our butterfly net and tie her to her bed at the end of every day and make her sleep.  She is a 6th grader this year at Majestic Elementary and loves her teacher. She serves as a peer leader in school this year, enjoys having her mother at the school all the time and helping her out in the PTA.   Sometimes her mother can get her to play the piano, but this year a new interest in the flute has occupied her time.

Bradyn – 14 years old

Bradyn is quickly turning into a man. He towers over his mother and at over 6 ft. is at eye level with both Jason and his dad. He is often mistaken for being much older and his deep voice frequently fools those that call, into thinking that he is his Dad. He is a 9th grader at Orion Junior High and is the big man on campus this year. He serves as the Teacher,s quorum first counselor and does his best to serve and help others. He also participated in track and is active in the S.T.A.R. club at school (which focuses on science and technology).  Bradyn plays the piano and in spite of earning his eagle last year, continues to be engaged in scouting, earning both a bronze and gold palm, a remarkable feat for any scouter.

Jason – 18 years old

Jason graduated from Weber High School with honors, in the spring. He was also awarded  the prestigious Sterling Scholar award in the area of Technical Education and is using that scholarship and others in his first year of college at Weber State University. Together with his first semester, AP courses and concurrent enrollment courses taken  in High School, he has enough credits that he is the status of Sophomore. Jason works part-time with his dad at Grizzly Graphics. He is also becoming a very accomplished pianist. Jason also earned a bronze palm in scouting this year, just prior to his 18th birthday.  Jason was ordained to the office of an Elder in the fall,  but continues to serve as second assistant in the Priest’s quorum.  He is preparing for a mission in April of 2012, following his first year of college,  and looks forward to sending in his mission papers any day now.

Chelley

Chelley has served this year as the PTA President at Majestic Elementary, where the kids have all attended school. She is also finishing her second term on the Community Council and substitute teaches at the elementary school periodically. It’s a bitter-sweet year for her as, at the end of the year, for the first time since Jason started kindergarten, she will no longer have any kids attending elementary school. She has grown to love the school, students, administration and teachers. As always, she teaches piano in her continually growing piano studio, as well as doing the most important job of all and that is of “Mother”. She serves in our local Ward on the Scout Committee and also is Bear Den Leader in the Cub Scouts.

Scott

Scott started a new job in July at Grizzly Graphics. He really likes it there and the good people he gets to work with. In October he was called to serve on the Stake High Council and has had a chance to speak and attend various wards. He is in charge of Stake Athletics, Seminary and C.E.S. He enjoyed returning (20 years later) to his old mission area (Orange County, CA) to visit the sites with his family and reminisce of days of old. He also has been fortunate to recently make contact with some of those whom he baptized on his mission. It has been rewarding to learn of what they have done with their lives these past 20+ years. With facebook, he’s hoping to continue making such connections, even with some of those he knew who have returned to Cambodia.

As another year is in the books we are very grateful for good health and good friends and hope all is going well with your families. Make sure you keep in touch with us and let us know what is going on in your part of the world. You can reach Scott at scotthogge@gmail.com or write on his wall at Facebook. You can also reach Chelley at smhogge@yahoo.com or write on her wall at Facebook. Please post comments below, we would love to hear from you. If you would like to see photos from our vacation you can click here. We hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012.

The Hogge Family