New Post, New Look, New Year!!

Isn't this the cutest little shepherd boy you've ever seen? Well, at least I think so, and probably because this young shepherd is my grandson, Magnus! We had the annual Goodman Christmas nativity play with most of the youngest grandchildren and great-grandchildren of my mother-in-law Ethel, participating. This year's performance was one of the best with music, lights, and action. We did miss those who couldn't come.

Here's the whole acting company, only one little shepherd, Jake (my #3 grandson) had a hard time staying up on the stage until all the songs were sung and the words were spoken which lasted about 20 minutes. Each child was so excited and content to play their part. Sam and Dailan were two of the three kings this year. We have been doing this since my children were tiny. It used to be in our homes, but now we have to have it at the church there are so many of us!

I must say Christmas was a little different for me this year. There were some really good parts, and some really not so good parts. But, now it's time to prepare for 2010, a new year! And I'm excited because beginning a new year is like waking up in the morning to a fresh start, a rebirth. It's not just another day, it's a new year!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Goodman Family 2009

What a joyous time of year when we can reflect on the past 12 months, and see where we've been, where we are, and where we need to be!

Nick and Linda are grateful to be in their desert home.
Linda is still running races!

Nick Jr, Rachel, Sam, and Jake thrive in Fountain Hills, AZ. The parents continue to do their X-Terra and triathlon races as part of their multi-sport training business.

Gens, Nicci, Dailan, and Magnus welcomed Soren Genson, a new son/brother, into their family in March right before moving to El Paso, TX where Gens is in his first year of Orthopaedic residency at the Army Hospital.

Xela is surviving grad school at ASU, but will be so glad when that comes to an end in May. She is more than ready for a new adventure on foreign soil.

Jorgen married Amy Lynn Holker in July. What a happy occasion it is when we welcome another new member into our family. Jorgen and Amy are students at BYU-Provo. They are expecting a girl in the spring!

Anders has yet to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. No doubt someday that will happen!

Our five grandsons and soon to be one granddaughter are reasons for rejoicing, to see life begin fresh and new and perfect!

We hope your Christmas will be filled with joy and love this 2009 holiday season! Thank you for your friendship and the love you send this way.

My Trip to El Paso

I spent a few days in El Paso last week to celebrate Nicci and Mag's birthday, and to take them their Christmas presents. Cheaper than mailing! The little boys are full of life and delightful. I must say having grandkids is the payoff for having kids, and that's not to say I didn't enjoy my kids, but being a grandma is special. By-the-way, we have number six on the way and she's not a boy! I cried when Xela was born, and I cried when I heard Jorgen and Amy are having a girl. Something about being a role model I guess! Although I do love my five little grandsons.

I brought a pinata for them to bust wide open and gobble the candy.

A tradition is to decorate a gingerbread house together. This candy was gobbled up, too!

Notice Mag's Superman suit, he was on the third day and night wearing it!

I've been working on feeling the Christmas spirit this year by listening to Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, getting the 100+ Christmas cards ready and sent, preparing packages for family and friends, shopping, baking, reading Christmas stories, and decorating the house. Unfortunately I have felt a lot of stress along with glimpses of the spirit. Why feeling stress? I have let the busyness over power what is most important--taking time to ponder and stay on tract. I know that when I feel good about myself, I feel good about everything else! The Savior said that the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Which must mean we are commanded to love ourselves first so we can love our neighbor. I will celebrate the Godliness within me this Christmas season.

Tis the Season

I did count my bounteous blessings at Thanksgiving--family, friends, health, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. But since life has a way of running interference with unencumbered joy, I rejoice in this season as I seek for comfort and peace from that divine personage who came to earth as a newborn babe. I know His love will be manifested in many ways--through other people, a particular scripture, a beautiful sunset, and the sweet whisperings of the spirit. I'm counting on it.

I will need to do my part. I will study the scriptures and talks by our modern day prophet and apostles. I will stay awake when I pray and make those prayers meaningful. I will submit my will and have faith that it is His will. I will serve Him and others.

The gift to me will be a peaceful heart, strength to carry on, and to be assured of His plan for me. All this because a God entered mortality the very same way each one of us did, pure and innocent.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Count your many blessings, name them one by one! It just might surprise you, what the Lord has done! He is the giver of all blessings.

My Saturday

Last Saturday, November 14, I drove to Snowflake, Arizona with my mother-in-law to attend the funeral of a man I had only met once, maybe twice. By the end of the services I was really sorry I hadn't known him or been friends with him. The life story, the talks, the sharing from relatives was glowing and uplifting. He was a genuine family man, who loved everyone and everyone loved him. His funeral was the kind I would like for myself, or a close loved one. I'm sure this man wasn't perfect (there were some great stories told!) but he lived his life serving others and serving his God.

Harry and Ruth were married for 18 years. She brought three daughters to the marriage and he one. Her three are the daughters of my brother-in-law. They are beautiful women, inside and out, with children of their own. What makes this a unique situation is the Christ-like love all family members feel for each other. The love is palatable. I can feel it and touch it. What could be uncomfortable or even unbearable, isn't.

Funerals are so much more than sorrow felt, or grief, but a manifestation of God's love for each of us.

Some More Pictures from Hawaii

Turtles feeding on Algae at Turtle Bay, Oahu

A fun swimming hole at Iao, Maui

The Needle at Iao, Maui

My friend the Hawaiian Chameleon

Hundreds of swimmers in the water competing for the Xterra Championships, Nick Jr is one of them.

Sammy and Jake had a great time playing in the sand while their dad swims.

When my camera broke, I bought a disposable camera to use which really didn't take that bad of pictures, but I was afraid it would so I didn't get very many shots. So this is it! Oh, well, the memories are there.

I do want to mention with gratitude the sweet family we stayed with when we spent a couple of days on Oahu. Heather and Daniel Orr have four lively and beautiful young children. She was a classmate of my kids at Mt. View High School in the late 90's. We found each other through blogging! Daniel is in the Army and had just returned from Kuwait after having been gone for a year, but even though he was only home a week, they welcomed the five of us into their home, and took us to as many places as possible the short time we were there. Thank you Orr Family! One of the highlights was the Polynesian Cultural Center. The students of BYU-Hawaii earn their tuition by sharing with the tourists the various Polynesian cultures throughout the Pacific Islands. These kids are gorgeous and talented with their music, dancing, and craftmanship. This was my fourth time touring the center, and it was even better this time!

Riding bikes down Haleakala

During my trip to Hawaii I got up at 2:30 on Monday morning for a sunrise view of the only active volcano on the island of Maui. It stands over 10,000 feet with a moonscape crater large enough to fit all of Manhattan. Fortunately for the islanders and tourists it hasn't blown it's top since 1792! But what beauty when the sun began it's ascent to light the world. While waiting for that to happen the wind nearly blew us off the top. And it was soooo cold. I dressed in layers (had to buy a long sleeved Maui t-shirt, my souvenir) and was loaned a "cute" yellow windbreaker outfit by the bicycle tour company. It saved me from freezing!

The sun is up and we are getting ready to ride our one speed bikes for 30+ miles down the highway that leads up to the volcano. We began the ride at 7,000 feet. The road was very steep and curvy; I will admit I was more than a little nervous when we began. This was out of my comfort zone, especially since there were 6 young couples (3 were honeymooners) and the old lady. But I came to Maui to conquer some fears. So I got on the bike hoping I wouldn't kill myself or anyone else. Happy to say that didn't happen and once I got used to the bike it was FUN! But for anyone following me, if there were brake lights, they would have been on non-stop.

CUTE YELLOW OUTFIT

Eli (hippie guide) posing with me!

This was a big deal for me to do something so different, and to do it without friends or family. I needed to jump this hurdle.

Yay, the Race Is Over!!

This is me at the starting line. There actually were more people who ran, 282 men and women! It's a hard course plus the heat and humidity didn't help. The course is on asphalt, dirt road, trail, desert, spooky forest (lots of low hanging branches and logs to jump over), beach (both white and black sand), volcanic rock, and grass on a golf course for a total of 7 miles.

By the time I got to the beach which is a beautiful part of the race, I was spent. I had little left to give except to walk, and walk I did! At that point there were about two miles left. I did run parts of it, especially as I came in sight of the finish line. I knew my son would be cheering for me and I wanted him to be proud of me. Guess what? I came in first in my age group! I got a medal and I stood on the winner's box (you know where the winner stands in the middle). The crowd cheered for me! How fun is that!! Overall I placed 260 out of 282 which doesn't sound so good, but who cares. I finished a hard race and I can do hard things!!

I'm not sure I'll have anymore pictures, my dumb camera stopped working!

The First Day in Maui!

I'm in Maui, Hawaii! Got here yesterday, Thursday. This is Sammy on top of all our luggage! I remember the days traveling with kids! The big box Sam is sitting on is Nick's trail bike.
This is the view from the front of our 4th floor resort room. If you look real close you can see the crescent shaped island of Molokini and an uninhabited island (once used for dropping artilliary).
This is the view from our balcony. We are a couple of blocks from the beach. I ran along the beach today, hot and humid!!! But the flowers are abundant and smell soooooo good! I've been gathering blossoms and now have a bouquet in our room.

Sam and Jake posing in a tropical jungle (hotel lobby!

I love taking close-up pictures of flowers.

The seven mile Makena Beach race is tomorrow. I'm excited to see what the course is like, but also a little nervous. Who am I? Why am I doing this? If I'm still alive tomorrow night, I'll let you know!

Running the Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb

Xela and I ran a unique race today (Saturday) in the little eclectic town of Bisbee, Arizona, an old frontier mining town about 2 hours south of Tucson. Bisbee had its beginnings in the 1870s because some adventurers thought there was valuable ore such as silver and gold in the hills only to find out years later the hills just south of the little town was full of copper. The town is built in a gully, canyon as the locals call it, between "them thar hills" with old Victorian/art deco/western style homes dotting the mountainsides. Many of the homes can only be reached by a set of stairs, and I'm talking between 100 and 200 steps! I wouldn't want to have to carry my groceries up those!

Xela and me at the beginning of the race.

Linda leading the pack (everyone in front of me already reached the top!)

Xela being silly on one of the many stairs we walked up; this set had 127 steps

There were over 1300 people from all parts of Arizona and other states, too, who ran the race. Xela made the ultimate sacrifice by hanging back with me so together we could enjoy the ambiance of the little town as we ran up, down, around, and through the hills. Competitively I didn't do too bad, 5th out of 34 in my age group. The #1 gal 60-64was 20 minutes faster. I'm not good on stairs! And there were 1034 of them!

After the race we walked through the downtown area, didn't take long, then took off for Tombstone, "the town too tough to die." There were hundreds of people, some dressed in cowboy era clothing, walking the boardwalk along the street where Wyatt Earp did his thing. We walked into "Helldorado Days." Great timing and a great way to end a very fun day!

Xela and the rather thin cowboy she met!

BYU/UNLV Game

I drove to Las Vegas this past weekend for a mini family reunion (my side) and the BYU/UNLV football game on Saturday. My nephew plays on the UNLV Rebel team, and three of his siblings live in the area, so his mom and dad (my brother) drove from Washington for the game and for work. My other brother who just lives in St. George came. Jorgen and Amy traveled from Provo to spend time with us and watch the game as well. We had so much fun the little time we spent together.

Louise, B.J. Shanna (Buck's friend), Buck
Joe, Kathryn, Nathan, Tim, Linda, Amy, Jorgen (Ruthie is taking the picture)

B.J., Linda, Buck

I love my brothers and feel so very blessed because of the care and concern they have shown me ever since I can remember. There was a long and volatile history in our family, but because two young men knocked on our door many, many years ago the lives of this little family of five were changed forever. I am passionate about the miraculous transformation that comes when children of a loving heavenly Father strive to live the truths they are taught. I have seen it and I have felt it.

What does this have to do with football? Probably nothing, but it brought some of us together this past weekend, and I'm glad it did!

Hoover Dam Bridge

I made the mistake of driving to Vegas via the Hoover dam, mistake because it took two hours to get over the dam. Lots of stop and go traffic. But I'm glad I did because I was able to see the progress of the bridge they are building over the Colorado River. It is phenomenal what man can do. And how good it will be when finished!

Only Five Miles??

A month ago I ran a grueling eight mile race. I had been running what seemed like hours; I was tired, thirsty, my legs hurt, and my lungs felt like they were going to burst. I had passed a few mile markers, but in my imagination knew that the next mile sign was going to say six or maybe even seven miles. Yay, I would almost be done! I rounded a corner, near the top of the hill, and could see the rest station with water waiting for me. There would be the blessed mile marker letting me know I could stop killing myself really soon. Ah, there is was, but it didn't say seven miles or even six miles. The sign said FIVE miles. What? I was sure I had been running at least six or seven miles already. This meant I had three more miles to run, not just one, not just two, but three! With disappointment in my heart and head what could I do but keep running, putting one foot in front of the other.

Is there a spiritual application? The distance I run in any race is the goal. In life I set other goals, such as losing weight, cleaning the house, doing an act of service each day, and helping my family become a "Families can be together forever" family. Some goals are accomplished at the one mile marker. Some take much longer, with no shortcuts. And although there might be heart-rending disappointments when I have yet a long ways to go, it's realizing I can continue putting one foot in front of the other, ever pressing forward. Seeing that five mile marker also helped me not delude myself into thinking the end is in sight, I can rest, but that there will always be more I can do, and to do it cheerfully.

Prison - Temple

I read a talk this week by Elder Jeffery R. Holland, an apostle of the Lord. It's a fireside talk he gave to the students at BYU in September 2008. The title is "Lessons from Liberty Jail. " (http://speeches.byu.edu) You can also read portions of the talk in the September 2009 Ensign magazine.

I love this talk. I totally agree when he says, "every one of us, in one way or another, ... is going to spend a little time in Liberty Jail--spiritually speaking." The talk made me think about a friend from our ward in California. After hearing her story it seemed she was given a life sentence in prison, not just a little time.

Jennifer, a wife and mother of four young children was stricken with a fast, debilitating form of multiple sclerosis in her early forties. I looked at pictures of her before the disease, and was taken back at her beauty. Less than ten years later, the disease had taken its toll.

Many people told me how much she and her husband were in love, or so it seemed. Within a few years of getting the disease, her husband moved her to an apartment to live alone. He kept the children and the house that they had remodeled to accommodate her disability.

When I met Jennifer, she and her husband were still married, and the children would visit once a week. A couple of years after I met her he asked for a divorce, and married their daughter's former soccer coach within weeks. Soon Jennifer found out that their joint businesses and real estate holdings went into financial ruin.

Yet, my visits with her "strengthened my feeble knees and lifted my hands that hung down." With slurred words and a smile on her face she would tell me how blessed she was. Her Liberty Jail experience with all of its painful injustices was transformed into a sacred temple.

Elder Holland tells us that "man's extremity is God's opportunity." I will look at adversity in a more redemptive way.

Happy Birthday Sam!

My oldest grandson, Samuel Nicholas Goodman, turned five years old today. What an exciting time for him and his family, Nick, Rachel and Jake! There was a family party last night with roadkill, guts, brains, and all the disgusting trimmings (candy, of course). The theme of the party was "Sam vs. Wild." (If you've ever seen that reality show, you'll know what I'm talking about.)

Sam, 5, Nick Jr, and Jake Bear, 22 months

Two weeks in a row I've been able to spend time with my grandchildren even though they live 2-5 hours away. I am a blessed grandma. Family is truly what it's all about!!

El Paso, Texas

This isn't a picture of El Paso, but a "dear" family in Ruidoso, New Mexico, a side trip I took with Gens and his family while visiting with them in El Paso. We saw at least 50 deer along the side of the road, in the yards of mountain cabins, in the woods, all over. The kids loved it. We also saw four wild turkey.

I drove to El Paso (only about 5 hours from Tucson) to get a "grandma fix" with my three little grandsons. What a treat for me! I don't know that any mother ever feels like they would win the "mother of the year" award. I certainly don't, but being a grandma kind of reduces the pain of that thought. There aren't the expectations either way. Grandchildren just want the grandparents to love them, and grandparents freely give that love.

I Had A Baby or Something Like It!

Today I ran 8 miles over the toughest course I have ever run. I kept thinking this is like getting pregnant and giving birth again. Why do I say that? Because I did this same course last year in the Sahuaro National Park Labor (get it?) Day Race and wanted to die at the end! "I'm never doing this again!!" Isn't that like childbirth--you forget how much it hurt? I even had a transition area today, at the top of the two mile hill--it had to get better after that grueling, painful part. I'm not sure when I was able to push, maybe as I came around the corner and saw the finish line. Will I do it again? Hmm, give me another nine months, we'll see?

Actually, as I was running and thought of this analogy, I also thought of how this can apply to life, to anyone's life, especially women. By nature we love, we care, and we can forgive very quickly. That's not to say men can't, but we have been blessed with an extra measure of these things. Life is labor. Some experiences can cause a lot of pain. Sure there are epidurals and other ways to lessen the pain (maybe that could be family, friends, scriptures, prayer, etc.) but our body has to do hard work to produce the ultimate, beautiful result, a new born baby---or faith, or hope, or courage to do what the Lord has commanded. I am as thrilled when I "give birth" to these divine qualities as I was when I gave birth to a sweet little spirit.

The Sky At Sunset

The sky was unusually beautiful tonight at sunset. This is the view looking west and

this is the view looking east during the same time frame. I saw the eastern clouds first and thought, "how beautiful." Then I looked west towards the setting sun. I look east again, and was amazed at the light within the clouds, as if there was a light source behind those clouds rather than a reflection from the sun on the western horizon.

The rain storm we had last night was refreshing and stimulating. The washes were running, the creosote was sharing its unusual fragrance, and my roof didn't leak!!

On Labor Day I'm running my first race since last April. It is a hard one. Eight miles of dirt and pavement, two of those miles are all uphill! Last year I tried running that hill, this year I'm going to walk it. I'm happy to be on the racing circuit again, especially since I've relaxed nutritionally.

Our House in California

This is the front entrance to our home in LaCrescenta, California which is where there are fierce fires raging in the mountains only a couple of miles above our street. Many of my friends who live less than half a mile from our house have been evacuated. I haven't been worried about our house, because there are hundreds of homes between us and the fire, but I have been very concerned for friends and neighbors as well as the community. I guess the air quality has been horrible as you can well imagine.

California is a beautiful place to live. I enjoyed my 5 1/2 years there, especially the little community where we lived. We were 20 minutes from downtown LA, 30 minutes from Six Flags, 30 minutes from Universal Studios (my fav), and 45 minutes, on a good day, from Disneyland, oh, and 45 minutes from the beach (only went there a handful of times). And there are three temples within an hour plus from our house!

But California wasn't home. Arizona is! I love the desert, with the peace and tranquility I feel here. I love the wildlife. I love being able to play outside nearly every day of the year! I love the Catalina Mountains in my "back yard." I even love the heat. I love the friends I've made over the years. And most of all I love that three of my children live close by, and the two who don't, aren't that far away.

I do pray the fires within yards of my California community will respond to the tireless efforts of the firefighters by turning northward and burning themselves out.

The World is Beautiful!

How can a person not love life when surrounded with such beauty as these flower gardens on the Provo Temple grounds! It was such a great way to end my week in Provo for Education Week.

But the blessings of this week haven't ended yet because on Sunday I get to go to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication with Jorgen and Amy.

I was filled to overflowing with spiritual stuff from my Education Week classes. The theme was "In thy light shall we see light." Learning about the atonement and the saving grace of Jesus Christ was the underlying theme. There is nothing His atonement will not cover! I felt hope.

I was taught the skills one needs to overcome addictions. An addiction to anything affects the mind, the body, and the spirit. A person cannot overcome this debilitating disease unless all three are worked on together.

If we sin, then repent, but still remember the sin, it does not mean we haven't been forgiven. The memories serve to remind us not to sin again. How often do we get hung up or Satan trips us up with past mistakes we can't seem to shake?

We are living in a seriously decaying world, but "be of good cheer" happiness is the design of our existence and we can be happy as well as feel joy amidst the pains of life!

Romero Pools

These pictures aren't in any particular order, but just the scenery one can see while hiking to Romero Pools and the pools themselves. I think this possibly could be my favorite hike because of the length and ascent. My heart definitely beats at a healthy intensity.

Last week I was a paper girl and this week who I was meant to be: a hiker! Being in the mountains and out in nature de-stresses me faster than anything else. I love it! And I love spending time with my creator while there.

I've seen more water in the pools, but there was enough for a little refreshing dip for those inclined to do so.

The trail past Romero Pools leads to Mt. Lemmon and someday I hope to do this as a backpacking hike, and spend the night on the mountain.

This picture was taken past the pools on the trail further on. The rock formations are solid and massive and beautiful. It was a good place to stop and pray. I enjoy praying. I feel comfortable enough to tell my God everything and anything. I wonder if He gets tired of the drama of my life?

Hiking to the pools was a great escape for me, the trouble is I have to come back down to reality.
I hope everyone has such a place in their life to de-stress and feel peace and joy even if for a short time.