Happy Summer Dayz!!

Anders, Mom, and Shaila lookin' cool in the sun.

(Actually that black shirt doesn't look so cool!)

Shaila and Anders peaking through the mesquite tree.

Last week Nick and I were "empty nesters." This week we have 5 people living with us. Shaila, Anders, Nicci, Dailan, and Magnus fill our home with laughter and entertainment. As they say, never a dull moment. Today we swam, played with toys, visited with Grandma Goodman and Aunt Dolores, watched cartoons, built sand castles, swang (is there such a word?) on the swings, rode bikes, caught bugs, chased spiders, and lots of other cool stuff to do on a perfect summer day. Being a grandma is the absolute best--I wonder why it is so easy to unconditionally love these little ones? Maybe that's it, they're little! And they unconditionally love right back!

A perfect summer day for the swing set!

Great Grandma Ethel Goodman, Magnus and Dailan Magnus setting the table for our Bar-B-Que dinner!

"Great" Grandma Goodman playing with her grandsons!

Today was one of those days that helps me forget my worries, at least for a little while. It's good to be distracted with joyful stuff.

English Trifle

I've had some requests for the English Trifle recipe I made for last night's book club meeting which went ok. I am not a very eloquent speaker so sometimes I feel a bit intimidated by those who do speak well and can recall stuff that I have trouble recalling. Oh well ... It's over an on to something else. Although we did talk about sharing our views about movies and books on our blogs and today I talked with a friend about sharing upcoming running races in AZ. I think these are good ideas. Ok, for the recipe:

Trifle is just the layering of yummy food. You can use whatever you would like but for sure use 1. angel food cake, 2. pudding or firm jello, 3. fresh fruit (I used sweetened cut up strawberries and blueberries), 4. cool whip, and 5. nuts (sliced roasted almonds are the best). Layer these ingredients starting with the cake cut into chunks, pudding, fruit, cool whip, nuts, cake, pudding, fruit, etc. (you get the idea). And end with the cool whip and a few nuts on the top. It's actually a fairly health friendly dessert especially if you use the non-fat or lite pudding and cool whip. Angel food cake is a healthier choice for cake.

I saw Batman--liked it a lot. I thought it was well done. Lots of action but the camera didn't stay on one thing too long, so I didn't focus on the fighting/shooting/killing/etc. It's true The Joker was a psycho but I just regarded the whole show as a fantasy so it didn't bother me that much. Anyway in my I opinion I thought it was a good movie.

London, England (Big Ben)

I know this picture is old news, but I wanted a photo go with my blog about Charles Dickens, author of Nicholas Nickleby and other wonderful books. Mr. Dickens was a favorite son of England, and in particular London, where this famous clock, Big Ben, majestically stands. Tonight I am leading a discussion in the book club I belong to about Nicholas Nickleby, by Charles Dickens. I enjoyed this book very much. It's funny, tragic, and virtuous. And the best part is that goodness conquers evil. I like that kind of a story, don't you? Charles Dickens tells the tale in many of his books of caring for the poor, "lifting the hands that hang down and to strenghthen the feeble knees." Even though he wrote his books well over 100 years ago I can try to live my life as the heroes and heroines did in his stories. Wish me well in my discussion tonight. By-the-way any and all are welcome to join this book club. I'm not terribly active, but I do read what seems interesting to me. Next month's book is The Kite Runner, an intriguing story that takes place in Afghanistan. Loved it--5 stars. Oh, and tonight I'm serving English Trifle with fresh blueberries and strawberries!

Arizona Sunset

The sky was on fire tonight--so breathtakingly beautiful. I'm glad I'm alive!

My Weekend

Nick and I were innocently minding our own business and this van plows into my 4-Runner in Showlow! No, we weren't hurt, a little sore but that's all. The rest of the weekend was way fun. We went to Hawley Lake for Nick's mother's 90th birthday celebration. Ethel is an identical twin and her sister's family and her family got together to celebrate 90 years of posterity. There were 94 in the Busby family present and 85 of the Goodman family in attendance. I'm sure Nick's sister Miriam will be putting some pictures of the reunion on her blog. (I didn't take any) I have the best in-laws in the whole world--I love them so much and feel very grateful to belong to two great families--the Gent family and the Goodman family.

I do feel a little sad about having to leave my car in Showlow, but after all it is just a car.

Running

Ran 9 miles today.
Really tired the last mile.
Feet didn't hurt as bad.
Drank water from my new camel pak.
Re-learning how to have faith and trust "that it will all work out for the best."
Thankful for running, a relief from fear and worry.
Love my family.

My hike today

I went on a hike today up the Linda Vista Trail. I needed to clear my head, sweat out the toxins in my body, and connect spiritually with my Father in Heaven. The desert was blossoming like a rose--so beautiful. Only in the desert are we thrilled over the tiniest budding flower or slightest indication that there is a green leaf in sight! For me this is a lesson in life. I grasp and cling to even the smallest whisper that "it's going to be ok; it will all work out for the best."

Thinking of our Pioneer Forefathers

I always think about our spiritual heritage this time of year because the saints entered the Salt Lake Valley over 160 years ago around July 24th. This is a picture of Nick and me at Devil's Gate in Wyoming. We did a handcart trek there three years ago, and I have since trekked two more times in California. Each time, I "walked" for Nick's great-great grandmother, Helena Pedersen Mortensen, a strong and courageous woman. They were in the Willy Handcart Company. Their family story is one of miracles and mighty works of good. Every time I hike or run I am reminded of the pioneers and their steadfastness, their immovable faith in God; it helps me put one foot in front of the other and just keep moving. Thank you pioneers, thank you Mortensen family. A little side note: two of our children are named after members of this courageous family, Jorgen and Anders.

BLOGGING

Blogging is fun, but it takes soooooooooo much time! I'm gonna have to learn how to discipline myself. Oh, yeah, I've been trying to do that my whole life. Here I am in Hawaii, 3 years and 45 pounds ago! Life is a process, right?

Success and Failure

In my 60th year I was challenged to train and run a half-marathon in March 2008. So I trained, I ran, and I finished. For me it was a major accomplishment. I decided to do it again. I'm now training for another half that I will run in August in Park City, Utah. The training is a little different simply because it's summer and a lot hotter! Last Saturday it was time for a long distance run, 12 miles, in my training. I felt prepared and actually was a little excited about the challenge. I started my run at 4:56 am on Rancho Vistoso Blvd. It is 6.2 miles from Oracle to Tangerine so going both ways would give me my 12.4 mile run. At mile 8 I choked. My toes hurt, I felt dehydrated, and I thought I was going to throw-up. I couldn't run (at that point I'm not even sure it could be called running) any farther, but my car was 5 miles away so I knew I at least had to walk the rest of the distance. And I did. I felt discouraged and frankly very disappointed in my performance. I almost wanted to give it up and forget about the upcoming race thinking to myself, "there's no way I could run 13.1 miles again." I've had a few days to mull over this "failure" of mine and realized I didn't fail, I just need to work on a few things such as making sure I'm hydrated, concentrate on how I place my feet as they hit the pavement, wear lighter socks, and other stuff. We all have what we might consider as failures in our life, be they small or huge, it's all in our perspective, how we view those "failures." Maybe a failure is really a success, if we have learned something from it. Guess what, I was back out on the road again this morning, 5 miles this time. Felt good. I won't give up, I will keep trying.

My Hike

I went on an awesome hike yesterday evening to Catalina State Park. My hiking has ceased to be because I have let the heat intimidate me, but not last night. I saw the black clouds rolling in over the Catalinas and I told myself that I just had to hit the trail and maybe as a bonus get rained on. It was lovely. I was the sole hiker on the trail to Romero Pools, just me and the birds, lizards, snakes (saw a beautiful black and yellow one), and other creatures. I felt renewed, rejuvenated, and ready to face life again. Adversity brought me back to this childhood love of mine, hiking and being one with Heavenly Father's creations. I thank my creator for trials. I am blessed!

My third blog

This is Shaila on Mars Hill overlooking Athens, Greece with the Parthenon in the background. Paul preached to the Athenians from this hill! As my profile says, traveling is one of my favorite things to do and even though I experience a lot of anxiety along the way visiting other cultures really blesses my life. I have been fortunate enough to see and learn about many different peoples from around the world. And that is something I would like to share from time to time, some of the pictures of our travels. This picture was taken in April of this year, 2008. Let me know if you think that would be interesting to you. I would also like to share my hiking and running goals and of course family stuff which is my most favorite thing! Then while I'm at it my other favorite thing that I would like to share occasionally are those spiritual awakenings I might have. Probably won't have too many pictures with those. Well, life is as good as you think it is. Be positive and smile through the tears. Linda

The Nick and Linda Goodman Family (12/07)

Nick Jr, Sam, Rachel, Jake, Anders, Linda, Shaila, Nick, Jorgen, Magnus, Nicci, Gens, Dailan

Blogging

I guess I have to jump on the wagon and start blogging--it seems to be the thing to do. Actually, over a year ago I did begin a blog on mysite.com, but family and friends are blogging with blogspot.com so I'll do two! I think I need to explain my title "Linda Goodman's Blog of Good Gripes & Other Stuff." Many years ago at the beginning of Family Home Evening, Nick would ask the five kids for "good gripes and bad gripes." And this is about all they remember of those Monday evenings spent together! Today's blog is going to be short so I can try to make the site almost as good as the others I've seen. Until next time ... Linda