We have been waiting to start this letter to let you know about the birth of our third grandchild. This will be Steve and Darlene's second child. We are on call and packed to go help in San Antonio as the due date was December 5th.

Our January was relatively quite although we did drive to Padre Island and along the coastal areas to try to see whooping cranes-we did see two at some distance away in the Aransas wild life area. In February we headed west seeing friends in Arizona and California ending up in the Marriott Desert Inn in Palm Desert.

We flew to Paris France for a ten-day trip in March. This was a postponed trip from October 2001. We stayed in a small hotel on the Left Bank and did the usual tours plus attended the Easter Services at the American Church on embassy row in Paris.

During the year we have been back and forth to Nebraska many times-Fred for business and Gretchen to help her daughter Anna work on her home in Omaha and to see friends in Lincoln. We decided that our home was not large enough so we contracted in May to add a sun room and closed in the back porch area which makes our guest bedroom, dinette and great room substantially larger. The project was finished for the fourth of July when all of our family was here at Elkins Lake. Our grandchildren even won a red ribbon for a decorated borrowed golf cart, which was used in the parade.

On Gretchen's birthday in October, Pat and Bob Sim drove down here and we attended the football game between Nebraska and Texas A&M. We enjoyed looking over the campus and, of course, the last minute Nebraska win. This year Norma Winston, Bob and Norma Brungard, and Paul and Annie Forch at various times drove down here for a visit. All of you are most welcome to visit us in the piney woods.

We cruised to Hawaii in November. This was a trip that Gretchen wanted to do for many years. We toured four islands and the eleven-day trip ended Thanksgiving Day when we flew back to Houston. We are planning to celebrate Christmas in San Antonio with the new grandchild, Joshua, Steve and Darlene. On December 26th we plan to drive up to Omaha to have a second Christmas with Anna K, Anna and Dan. Also, we are going to help celebrate Bob and Pat Sim's 50th wedding anniversary.

Gretchen is involved in PEO, Newcomers and Quilting Guild. Also volunteering at the Church, local hospital. Fred is playing tennis, volunteering at the Church, outpatient surgery area at the hospital, Rotary, elected to the State Republican Convention as a delegate from Walker County and was just elected President of the Sam Houston Shrine Club.

FRED AND GRETCHEN GOTTSCHALK

Christmas 2003

Well, guess it past time to connect with friends and let you all know what has been going on in our lives. This has been a year of the children and grandchildren.

We started the New Year with friends in Lincoln. Of course, we hit a freak snowstorm driving up to Nebraska. Fred wonders why we need to go to Nebraska during the winter. In February, it was back to Nebraska. Fred taught a Securities course. Gretchen shopped and saw friends in Lincoln, along with being with Anna, Dan, and Anna Kay. Also, went to San Antonio to see the Steve, Darlene, Josh, and Nathan. Also in February Fred qualified to be an NASD arbitrator.

In March we explored the Louisiana Cajun country, New Orleans, and up to Natchez, MS. We really enjoyed the smaller towns around New Orleans. The middle of March, Steve was informed that his next assignment would be StratCom in Bellevue, Nebraska. Both Steve and Anna were happy to be so close to each other. They are about 15 minutes from each others home.

In April, Anna told us that she was going to have another child. May was rather quiet. June was packing month for Steve and family. We were quite a caravan driving to Nebraska. All three cars were loaded to the top. We got home just in time to wash and repack for a trip to the California wine country for a wedding.

Then up to Seattle and the San Juan Islands. In Seattle we saw Gretchen's sister and husband Bill. Also stayed with Fred's Cousin Jane, and husband Paul. We thought the San Juan Islands were lovely and would like to go back.

October found us is "Husker Land" for the Nebraska- Texas A&M football game. Also saw many friends. In November were we back to Omaha for the birth of Lauren Marie Sitzman, born November 17th. She is our fourth grandchild. We stayed for Thanksgiving with our whole family.

We have just come back from a five day cruise in Mexico with a group of friends from Huntsville.

In between traveling, we have been busy in Huntsville. Gretchen is treasurer for two organizations, and Fred has been president of the Huntsville Shrine Club. He also volunteers at the hospital in outpatient surgery one day a week, and is active in Republican politics.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Gretchen and Fred Gottschalk

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