The Cycle of Life

*"To love another person is to see the face of God." Although I didn't see the face of God this week, I did feel His sweet love. About mid-week I learned of the passing of a humble sister in our Ward. It was my privilege and opportunity to help clean and straighten her home in preparation for her non-member family to come and claim her belongings. Today I witnessed two newborn babes being blessed by their worthy fathers who have the authority to act in God's name. This is the cycle of life, as we in mortality know it, where one bids good-bye to their earthly home and others eagerly say hello to life on earth. I sat with one of my dear young friends, Angie, and her little one in Sacrament meeting. One of the babies being blessed is the son of another young friend, Mariah. My blessings are so great to have had association with these young women for many years. Now they are mothers, another cycle of life. This morning my son, Anders, asked me to help him prepare the Sunday School lesson he was teaching in the University Ward Gospel Essentials class. Two years ago I could not have imagined this happening. Is this yet another cycle of life, where once we were lost, and then found?

It is a true principle that adversity brings the blessings of heaven, and sometimes we just have to press forward regardless of what is going on around us. Our broken heart can be mended, we can be whole once again. Not only is this a cycle of life, but a recycling of each soul who is great in the sight of God.

(*This is a quote from Victor Hugo's epic novel, Les Miserables.)

Old, but New News!

Jorgen is engaged to Amy Holker! They have been engaged since Valentine's Day, and I do apologize for not announcing it sooner. Amy is from Orem, Utah, a part-time student at BYU, and full-time BYU employee. The wedding is July 10 in the Mt. Timpanogas Temple. This picture was taken last summer in Park City when I first met Amy. She won this mother's affection when she showed more concern for others' needs than for her own! She didn't hesitate to pitch in and help, and was so good to my mother-in-law. I love you Amy! Welcome to the Goodman family. I love you, too, Jorgen!

This is a picture of baby Soren Genson Goodman who was born on March 2. He joins his family, Daddy Gens, Mommy Nicci, and brothers Dailan and Magnus who have been living with us since last November. How fun for me to have those grandchildren in our home, and so special to have a newborn fresh from heaven spend a little time here! They have since moved to their new home in El Paso for orthopedic residency. I love you Soren, and welcome to the Goodman family!

Kitchen Update

Here are the latest pictures of our kitchen remodel:

Where does all this stuff go? Gross!

Dining Room

New window seat in the bay window

New cast iron undermount sink and granite counter tops

Stainless steel appliances, love the gas stove

Cabinets with glass front, appliance garage being put in this week.

We still have to finish the lighting, the stove hood, backsplash, garden window, and wood flooring, but it is at least a working kitchen now, and I will admit I LOVE it. The whole process did take a toll on everyone's sanity though. If you were to ask me if you should remodel any room in your home I would say only if you move somewhere else until it's done!

Calling All Moms; Is This You?

Grandma and Her Five Grandsons!

Jake, Grandma, Soren, Magnus, Dailan, and Sam

This has been a week full of blessings and tender mercies. Let me share: 1. All weekend during the Ragnar Race I worried that my daughter-in-law would go into labor and I wouldn't be home to help with the two boys. Little Soren waited until Monday morning to make his appearance here in mortality. I was home and I was rested enough to do my grandma duties.

2. On Sunday morning at the beginning of choir practice the director, Emma Coltrin, had us sing "You'll Never Walk Alone." Since I was still thinking about the race and running at night, that day I was particularly struck by the words, "and don't be afraid of the dark." As usual I have a bunch of stuff going on in my life where I have felt a great need to call upon the Lord for help. The song goes on to say, "walk on with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone." Singing that song, that morning was truly a gift from my Father in heaven. Thank you.

3. I received a most thoughtful note from a friend this week that sent my spirits soaring. Thank you Patty.

4. Jorgen called to share some thoughts he had learned at his Stake Conference. He said he cannot understand how people can function without having the knowledge and truths of the gospel in their lives. He is building a firm foundation of truth.

5. My oldest brother called Saturday morning and bore his testimony of the atonement and divinity of Jesus Christ. Again words of encouragement and love filled my soul with gladness.

6. Last, but not least, I was able to spend time with my five grandsons this weekend. How fun is that, five little boys?! Already they can make the coolest boy noises that I have always envied: cars, trucks, weapons, superhero sounds, you name it, they can imitate the noise.

I give thanks for these tender mercies.

"Running With the Big Dogs"

The Ragnar Relay Race is over and I feel good!

Jay, Nick Jr, Me, Zoe, Klas, and Shaila

Car #2

These runners were my teammates and carmates for 30+ hours, my friends for a lifetime! What a crazy race the Ragnar Relay is. There were runners dressed like bananas, pirates, winos, some in drag, runners in speedos, bikinis, you name it, the race had it. There was even one runner on the wino team who gave us a full moon, and that's not easy to do running down hill! I'm tellin' ya, it was crazy and fun.

We left for Prescott at 8 a.m. on Friday morning, and finished the last leg of the race in Mesa at 5:30 on Saturday afternoon. The first runner from car #1 began the race at 12 noon in Prescott. Five runners, 30 miles, and a few hours later, car #2 began. I kept looking at my watch and the sun to calculate when I would be running, and dreading the thought that it might be in the dark. I was runner #10 and sure enough it was timed just right so I had to run my first 7 miles after sunset. This was not going to be in my comfort zone. I mean what if there are bears out there? I put on a head lamp and headed down the dark and lonely dirt road. The moon was barely a sliver, but Venus was shining bright along side, as bright as a pinprick that is! Ok, it wasn't all that bad since Nick Jr rode by my side on his bike which had a light. But, whenever a car passed by clouds of dust would billow up and pierce my nose and my lungs. I finally took my glasses off because I could see better without them.

Let me pause here to share a "life lesson" I learned on that run. I was in the dark, and couldn't see the end because of the black sky, all I had was the little light which shone just a few feet in front of me. If I looked beyond the mark all I could see was darkness, but if I kept my eyes on the "light" I was able to press forward. You can probably figure out the lesson.

At about 10:00 p.m. car #1 began the second leg which meant we had a few hours for six stinky runners to rest and sleep inside of the suv. After two hours of interrupted sleep, the racers in our car were on board to begin our turn. We were still in the middle of the night! Again I began calculating when I would have to run my 6.2 mile portion. Sure enough I was going to begin while it was still dark, only this time we could see the lights of Phoenix, and I knew I would be running towards the rising sun. As I was running we moved into open territory with a grand view of the vast desert and big sky. I think my turn was the most beautiful time of the race, watching the sun rise on a brand new day, a time to begin again. As lovely as that sounds I will admit the run was hard and it seemed like those 6.2 miles were never going to end, but they did and I didn't die.

Time to rest again until I ran for the third and final time. On Nick Jr's first leg he was nearly crippled by a severe reaction to an antibiotic he had been taking. The drugs attacked his muscles and tendons in his lower legs and could have ruptured his tendon. He knew he didn't dare run his other two legs so two of our teammates not only ran their legs, but each ran one of his as well. They gave it for the team in a heroic fashion.

So now it's my turn to run again. It was 85 degrees, 4:00 in the afternoon, only 3.1 miles to go, and I was ready to hit the pavement with such energy and force that I was going to blow the competition away. Well, this time only two people passed me, and I was so close to the old guy that went around me last I could almost fling my elasticized arm and grab him. Ehh, who cares, I finished! I'm a Ragnar Relay finisher!

Truth be told, we really didn't do too badly. Out of 214 teams we came in 74th; we were 26th out of 94 teams in our division. The fastest time was 20 hours and 29 minutes; the slowest 36 hours and 27 minutes. Our time was 29 hours and 28 minutes. I am proud of our effort, and so proud to be included with all those young, fit athletes. What could they do? My son was the team leader!

P.S. Shaila did absolutely awesome, running a 7 minute mile, and playing a rugby game inbetween her 2nd and 3rd race!