Our Vacation and Other Things

The first leg of the trip was flying to Memphis, TN for business.  While there, Nick and I saw where Martin Luther King was assassinated, an underground home that took in runaway slaves, and the King of Rock and Roll's mansion.

Graceland, Memphis, TN

The second leg and most important was visiting Xela in the Adirondacks.  She lives in Saranac Lake, New York. We spent an afternoon picking pumpkins and apples. We canned the apples after making applesauce and apple butter. Plus we made apple pies, apple muffins and apple crisp. Oh, and we ate plenty.  

 

The leaves had just turned to their bright autumn colors a couple of weeks before we got there, and within a week began to change to a winter brown color, falling to the ground.

Xela

We hiked to waterfalls, mountains, and the bogs.  We saw wild turkeys, a road kill porcupine (wonder what the tires looked like), deer, beaver trails, and more!

Moose!

We spent a couple of hours in a corn maze trying to find the clues.  Nick is perplexed with what direction we need to go! 

Xela was a great hostess!  We loved spending time on her turf; it helps me to have a visual when she's sharing her surroundings with us.

Our last stop was Montreal, Quebeck, Canada.  What a beautiful, totally French city.  We walked, we rode busses, we ate, we went to museums, and we had a wonderful, enlightening couple of days in a very large metropolitan city.

I realized some stuff while on this trip.  Passing the baton is some of it.  I'll save the rest for another day, another post.  But I've been happy with my thoughts and decision since we've been home.  I love how prayer works.  We study, we make a decision, we go to our Father in heaven and share that decision, asking if it is right, then we wait for the good feeling or the "stuper of thought."  I'm content.

Passing the Baton

 Xela Rue Goodman - 14 months old - 1983

             Xela, Mom and Dad, Montreal, Quebec 2012           

We have been visiting Xela for a week on her turf in the Adirondacks, upper state New York.  It is fall of the year so really beautiful back here.  The trees are a blaze with the colors of autumn.  I have loved seeing her as a grown-up woman, not in school, but making a productive life for herself.  It is gratifying for a parent when their child makes those choices that take them to places where they spend their talents and time helping others.

When a relay team runs a race, one runner will pass off a baton to the next runner and so on until the finish.  Today Nick, Xela, and I spent the day touring the metropolis of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  We wanted to do a walking tour of  "old Montreal," which is a large area by the harbor.  For some reason Nick and I kept heading in the wrong direction even after reading the guidebook map whether right side up or upside down!   Xela would let us know we needed to go the other way to get to our destination.  The thought occurred to me that we had just passed the baton to our daughter.  There have been many years and many miles that she  traveled with us. We were her guides.  We held the baton.  Today she became the next runner, the  new guide while traveling in new places.

TO LIFE!!!

In

1977

 I thought life could not get any better.

2012

It has.  And I'm glad I know what I know now, and look forward to learning a lot more.  Bring it on! 

( But maybe slowly and itty bitty stuff at a time!) 

Summertime Fun!

SUMMERTIME FUN!

Teresa, Karen, and Linda, BYU Education Week

Jess, Magnus, Kylamarie, Soren, Keira, and Dailan at Grandma's

Linda after 8 mile Labor Day Run, Saguaro National Park

New Hobby, painting pots

Summertime, and the living is easy!  It has been an easy summer.  We became "empty nesters" which means a quiet, but boring house!  July was spent cleaning and organizing rooms.  This is the first time we have not had anyone living with us in the 34 years we've had children.  I had not even totally unpacked since we moved back to Tucson 5 years ago (Nick still has stuff in boxes!).  In August I made my yearly trek to BYU for Education Week.  This year Teresa went with me, her first time.  I took many classes on addiction and many on The Book of Mormon.  If you've never been, think about coming with me next year!!

I turned 65 years old in August.  Wow, this is a hard one!  On my birthday I had to renew my driver's license, the first sign that someone considers me old!  I am aware, though, as I visit patients in the hospital how blessed I am to have great health.  I give thanks every day.  Six of my cute little grandchildren came to visit on my birthday weekend.  The house was hoppin'!

My first race of the fall season was on Labor Day, an 8 miler.  I hadn't run this race since 2009, but I remembered how tough it is and I was considering not doing it until the gun went off and my legs started to move.  I have not been training well, I've gained about 10 pounds, and my nutrition is in the toilet (figuratively speaking).  The course is challenging because of the long hills.  I was slow and I did walk (fast) up the hills, but I finished and not in too bad of shape.  I just kept telling myself that one mile is not very long, and to just do that eight times!  I did come in third in my age group (went up an age group this year) and again I count my blessings.

Being in a quiet and boring house has led me to a new hobby.  I'm not even sure why I started, probably because of the 100 empty flower pots around the garden. Doing something creative is good for my soul! 

A friend text me this week and asked me how I was doing.  I text back, "I'm just not sure how life could be any better!"  Challenges and some chaos still surrounds me, but the promises in Mosiah 24:12-16 are true.   

Catching Up!!

The three newest grandchildren are growing up.  We now have three who have celebrated their first birthday--Kylamarie, Benjamin, and Jessalyn.  These little ones and the other six are my joy!        

GIRLS CAMP 2012

 12 FOURTH YEARS, 8 YCLS, 3 PRIESTHOOD, AND 3 LEADERS HIKING ON THE BUTTERFLY TRAIL, MT. LEMMON

 LINDA'S DIRTY FEET--NEVER WASHED THEM ONCE ALL THREE DAYS!!

 A FEW OF US GOT UP AT 4:45 AM TO SEE THE SUNRISE FROM MT BIGELOW

OUR LITTLE GROUP OF SATURDAY'S WARRIORS

My journal entry, Thursday, June 21, 2012:

"Well, the hike is over and all was well--even more than well!  I felt strong, healthy, energized!  The girls were wonderful--strong and courageous.  We did have just a few who struggled, but they would not give up.  I saw girls in their discomfort and pain turn around and help those who were in more pain.  They all learned to push beyond what they thought they could ever do.  We all conquered the Butterfly Trail!  If I do this again I'm getting a better tent, sleeping bag and a pad.  I did not sleep well because of my sleeping stuff, my body felt really good though.  I just don't want the weight of my pack to increase.  I must admit I never felt the "pea," pine cone, stick, rock or root under my sleeping body even though there could have been all of those woodsy things.  That was a blessing!  The wind blew like crazy both nights--my tent just shook as if a bear were shaking it! 

I am so grateful for the strength God gave me.  I know someday I will be too old for this-- funny thing, being in camp I actually felt older than out on the trail.  There are so many youthful leaders.  I do love the young women of the Church.  I love to teach them, help them perhaps benefit from some of my experiences."

I learned something about faith from the priesthood blessing I received before camp.  We need to choose to believe in order for faith to work.  Our belief increases the possibilities. 

Girls Camp 2012

I'm leaving for girls camp in less than 12 hours.  This will be my third year doing the 4th year hike, the last time was two years ago.  It's a hard, but beautiful 12 mile round trip hike in the Coronado Forest.  I hiked half of the trail a couple of weeks ago.  It's amazing how the forest has grown since the fire in 2003.  There are big green ferns covering the hillsides where there was very little greenery the first time I hiked it.  I'm excited to get out in nature, but I was also feeling some anxiety because I'm two years older, and I don't feel like I'm in the same shape I was when I did it before.  So much fear and anxiety that I asked my home teachers to give me a Priesthood blessing tonight.  I feel calmer, less fearful, more at peace.  Oh, I know it's going to hurt, but pain goes away, right?  I'm going to enjoy the girls, I'm going to listen to the spirit, I'm going to drink water, I'm going to remember the tender mercies of the Lord, I'm going to rest, I'm going to trust what I was promised in this blessing.   

Sunday Will Come

This picture of Xela and me was taken 30 years ago in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.    I love it!  A couple of weeks ago I was holding my sweet little granddaughter, Jessalyn; she has been living in our home for seven months now so I have closely watched her grow from a preemie newborn to a chubby, happy 8 month old.  As I was holding her I felt this overwhelming feeling of love in my heart for her and gratitude for my five babies.  I loved my babies.  Having these two little girls, Jessalyn and Keira, living with us seems like a second chance at loving unconditionally.  I feel that kind of love for all of my grandchildren; I'm hoping their parents will benefit.

There have been some eventful happenings lately:  two 5K races, one 5.25 mile trail race, attending my oldest son's 2nd business location grand opening, getting answers from General Conference, Easter, teaching two Gospel Doctrine Sunday School lessons (gulp), and receiving a tender mercy while in the temple (other blog). And of course confronting all my weaknesses. 

I've been reading a remarkable book called, "Rescuing Wayward Children" by Larry Barkdull.  The greatest truth I have learned is the importance of sanctifying ourselves so we can therefore redeem our children.  I learned that I need to let the Lord do His work, trust Him, have faith in Him, and know that He knows what is best whether change takes place tomorrow or 50 years from now.  And perhaps even after we've left this frail existence. 

Elder Wirthlin gave a General Conference talk in October 2006, titled, "Sunday Will Come."  He said, "Each of us will have our own Fridays--those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces and it seems we can never be put together again.  But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death--Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.  No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come.  In this life or in the next, Sunday will come."  

Ragnar Del Sol Relay 2012

Team "Ed's Crazy Ideas"

Last Friday and Saturday I had the awesome experience of running in a 12 person (we had 11 runners because one gal ran double legs) relay race from Wickenburg to Tempe, 200.2 miles of winding country roads, trails, small community, and large city streets.  We loaded up in two huge rental vans and began our epic journey in Wickenburg at 12 noon when the Van 1 runners started.  Runner number 7 in our van, Van 2, began his distance near Tonopah.  Then it was my turn, runner #8.  It was about 5:30 in the evening; we were 20 minutes ahead of schedule.  Van 1 runners were fast and dedicated; like those in Van 2.  I felt some pressure, but just kept telling myself, "all you can do Linda, is to do your best."  No doubt about it I was the weakest link on the team, but although slow, I was steady and didn't quit.  The run of 3.3 miles felt really good for an afternoon run, much better than last year.  We kept passing off the slap bracelet for the next 22+ hours.

After our van runners finished we had about 4 hours to rest, then at 2:45 AM it was time for us to go again.  My run of 4 miles began at 3:30 in the morning!  The air was clean, cool and crisp.  The sky was full of stars and planets; the tiny slice of moon had already set.  I'm not terribly fond of running in the dark, but being a part of the team I committed to, I knew I didn't have a choice.  I set out with my reflector vest, head lamp, and red blinking butt light.  Again I felt some pressure because all of our team runners had now put us 30 minutes ahead of schedule.  This was going to be my longest run, and up hill for much of it.  "Just do your best Linda,"  I repeated over and over.  It was an amazing run!  My body felt as if I had lost 20 years back at the start.  When I saw the lights at the exchange where I would pass the bracelet on to Xela, runner #9, I thought for sure I should have at least another mile to run.  It was awesome to be given the additional strength and stamina I needed.  

At 6:30 in the morning our van was ready for another rest, this time for 2 1/2 hours at the home of our fastest runner who was running an ultra (twice as many legs as us).  Her home was just 10 minutes from the last stop. We actually did sleep, take showers and eat breakfast before we met Van 1 and their finish.  Only one more leg to run for the rest of us.  I was looking forward to this run because most of the 3.8 miles was downhill!  We were still ahead of our projected schedule, this time by 45 minutes.  I just didn't want a runner from "The Runaway Brides" to pass me.  They seemed to be our closest competition.  This run was at 11:00 and it had begun to heat up in the Phoenix valley.  I was tired and I was hot, but made it to the pass off point without stopping for a rest.  Yes, I was finished, done; it was over for me!  Our van had 4 more legs to go so we followed our teammates, cheering them on whenever we saw them running along the busy streets of Scottsdale and Tempe.  

Twenty-six hours and 31 minutes after we began we finished, 45 minutes faster than we thought we would according to each runners' average pace.  Each member of the team tried their best and didn't give up ever, and that includes this 64 year old woman.  

 The prize at the end was and continues to be an indescribable feeling of real accomplishment, being part of a winning team of young athletic people.  Our team, "Ed's Crazy Ideas," came in 2nd in our Mixed Division out of 203 mixed teams and 77th out of 414 teams total.        

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 was more than I expected!  My husband and Jorgen built a new pantry for me.  I love it!  Xela took us to Gaslight Theater for a night of fun.  I spent more money than I should have giving "just the right gift," but it was so much fun shopping Cyber Monday and saving money!  Decorating our home and the tree this year to make it little grandgirl proof was awesome. Having an unexpected guest drop by on our Christmas dinner day was a nice surprise.  And there's more! 

The New Pantry

We had celebrated Thanksgiving the day after because of schedules, and Christmas was celebrated the same way.  Sometimes you just have to go with the flow!  We had Christmas dinner on Monday, December 19 since Xela's friend Chris was flying to New Hampshire on Tuesday.  Christmas Eve was Friday the 23rd, and Christmas, at least gift opening, was the morning of the 24th because Xela flew home to New York early on Christmas day.  Some really neat things happened, though, throughout the season.  On the day we were just getting ready to sit down for Christmas dinner a good friend of Anders' from his school days was in town and just came by to say hi.  We hadn't seen him in many years.  His easy smile and constant chatter helped me remember my son who is spending his days in California (http://childreninprison.blogspot.com/) Having Todd sit at our table felt almost as if Anders were with us.  This was a gift to our family.  

After opening the gifts on "Christmas morning" I drove to Chandler to witness the baptism of two friends (husband and wife) of my son Nick.  All he did was open his mouth!  Then early Christmas day I drove Xela to the airport in Phoenix then to Chandler for the confirmation of Joe and Kerri.  What a glorious weekend and way to spend the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Redeemer.  Two people were reborn because they want to do what is right. 

Yesterday I was reminded of our mortality when I said good-bye to the sweet grandfather of my daughter-in-law Rachel.  Ben died of lung cancer.  The funeral was emotional for me because Ben was so much like my kin, a little rough around the edges, but with a heart of gold.  I will miss him at family gatherings. 

We have no idea what may come our way in 2012.  Certainly 2011 had some days like heaven and some days from the other place!  The greatest lesson I've learned is that it's ok to lean on another when our faith becomes weakened by life.  That very act can strengthen us, and give us the courage to move forward.  I hope your 2012 will be a year of many blessings!       

How Blessed is this Grandma!

Nick and I spent a week in Salt Lake City over Thanksgiving with Gens and his family.  I've never spent time in SLC except for a day or two.  This time I explored the city on foot, at least the blocks from Trolley Square to Temple Square and Capital Hill.  I loved it!  We did a lot of driving into the different canyons for sightseeing and playing, too.  I decided that I have more fun playing as a grandma than I did as a kid.

We went to Pioneer Heritage Park ("This Is the Place" monument) for their annual Christmas village walk through with all the lights, carolers, train ride and even reindeer. We bundled up in our gloves, hat, and warm winter coats. It was freezing! My favorite exhibit was the live nativity with a sweet, living baby Jesus. When we were "following the star" to the manger I could sense we were going to witness something sacred.  As we walked into the little wooden structure where Mary and Joseph were with their newborn babe I almost felt like I was a shepherd kneeling in awe on that sacred night over 2000 years ago. What a wonderful start of the Christmas season!        

"And a Little Child Shall Lead Them"

I have been wearing my Grandma hat a lot since July.  First there was premature labor, then a premature birth, then stuff, a trip with two of the grandsons, more stuff, and another trip coming up with four of the grand kids for Thanksgiving.  Don't get me wrong I'm loving it, but life has changed for me.  I remember remarking to Nick a few months earlier how much I like my life--come and go as I please, volunteer a couple of days a week, shop whenever, stay up late, hike and run any day I choose, fix dinner when I feel like it, travel, so forth and so on.   Oh, and my house stays clean.  Forgive me if I sound a little selfish. I must admit I had looked forward to my empty nest days.  Just being alone.  I do enjoy being alone oftimes, but not lonely.       

Grandma with Jess (3 months) and Keira (18 months)

Keira and Jess, along with their mom and dad, have spent several weeks in our home the past few months.  I love what I'm learning from these little girls.  Maybe I needed to have my self-centered life interrupted? 

Keira and Jess in their ballerina costumes

Remember the story about Peter walking on water?  Jesus told Peter to "Come" when Peter asked if it was Him out on the water.  Peter thought, " if my master can walk on the water and He asks me to come to Him, then I can walk on the water, too."  We know what happened, Peter faltered, started to sink into the sea, then Jesus reached for Him and walked Peter, on the water, back to the ship.  There are times when we are faced with a "walking on water" kind of situation.  The Lord will bid us to come, but we might think to ourselves, "this is too hard, I can't walk on this water."  I'm not referring to my sweet little grandchildren at all.  I am talking about trials or any adversity we may face.  I kind of like thinking about these as  "walk on water" experiences.  Even though we may lose faith and begin to sink once we have made the decision to come to our Lord, He will lift us and walk with us back to the ship.

Spending Time in Paradise

I have had the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in Hawaii with my son Nick Jr and his family.  I will admit I love the Islands. I love just about everything!!  I've been hiking, snorkeling, running, helicopter riding, shopping, eating, sightseeing, and more.   

Nick is here because of his career and his hobby.  He is a coach of endurance athletes, and he competes himself.  The first week we were on the big island of Hawaii for the World Championship Ironman.  The third week on the island of Maui for the Xterra World Championship Triathlon.  We also spent a few days on Oahu in Laie going to the Polynesian Cultural Center and the temple.     

I have learned in my lifetime that the principle of agency is one of the greatest gifts God has given us even when it means others may be hurt by those who exercise their agency wrongfully.  I have been on the giving and receiving end of the wrong use of agency.  I hope my repentance has been complete for those times I have hurt another. 

We read about the "tender mercies" of the Lord in 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon.  Another way of saying that is "compensatory graces."  I have felt God's love and His compensatory graces 100 fold while visiting this part of His creation and vineyard.  I am so grateful.    

I Love Football!!

Sometimes I think I was born with a football in my mouth!  I love it so much, at least watching those teams I choose to watch.  I'm not a fan of professional football, unless there's a player I'm familiar with, but I do enjoy college football. The players seem a little less arrogant than players who are getting paid to perform.

I grew up in a football family. My dad was an all-star player in his high school and was even asked to stay another season so he could play football for his championship team.  (I guess they could do that in the thirties!)  After high school the Oregon State Beavers gave my dad a scholarship to play college ball which he did for only two years.  Marriage, home, and the war interfered with future football playing.    

My dad, Bill Gent on the left, Enterprise, Oregon High School, 1937

My older brothers, Buck and B.J. played football in high school as well.  The first year after moving to Cascade Locks, Oregon they played 6 Man Football instead of the regular 11 man.  Their games were all over the state in order to compete with other 6 man teams.  The next year the 6 man teams were changed to 8 Man.  It still meant traveling long distances for games, but we did it as a family.  B.J. went on to make a couple of cuts on the BYU freshman football team, but a concussion and broken tail bone ended that career.

During my brothers' high school years we lived about an hour away from Portland, a very large city that hosted many college and high school games.  My dad would load us in the car; stop at the 19 cent hamburger joint on the way for burgers and fries, and off we would go to some football game in the Portland State College stadium.  My memories are of trying to catch up with my dad who was usually 50 yards ahead of us wondering why we aren't at the ticket taker with him.  Another great memory is the smell of cigar smoke, natsy in any other place, but at a football game almost sweet.  Later in life my dad and mom would go to the state high school championship games, along with their bag of peanut M&M's.

My brothers, Buck and B.J., Cascade Locks, Oregon High School, 1961

I didn't want to be outdone by my brothers on the football field so as a junior and senior in high school I played powder puff football.  Just one flag football game a year, but enough to satisfy those longings.  Maybe enough because I would play backyard football with my brothers, although they always made me play center!

 Me, Powder Puff Football, Stevenson, Washington High School, 1964
Running for a 3 point conversion!

I'm happy football season has started.  If there's a BYU, U of A game or another PAC 12 team, you'll find me sitting in front of the television gritting my teeth, shaking my head, or gleefully whooping! 

Happy is a Woman Whose Quiver is Full!

What a summer!  I've been trying to organize my photos from the past three months, or I should say trying to find them on my computer.  I just finished that task so I can finally share all the good that's been happening:    

Benjamin KeKoa Goodman

Born July 21, 2011

Jessalyn Xela Goodman

Born July 28, 2011

Keira, Grandpa, and Jessalyn

Karalee, Linda, Karen

I spent seven wonderful days in Utah for BYU Education Week and one day in the mountains in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  I wouldn't mind having some of that cool weather in Arizona!

Soren is reading a book to little sister, Kylamarie

Sam and Jake Goodman

Dailan and Magnus (Superman) walking to school the first day!

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.  If not so, ... righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad."  2 Nephi 2:11  Being a grandmother is a joyful experience; little children are sweet, innocent, and pure. To me, they are what's good in life.  Chances are I wouldn't understand their goodness if I hadn't had some experience with opposition.  There are valleys and peaks in life; the ebb and flow of it.  The climb up those peaks can be difficult, but the vista makes the effort worth it.         

TWO NEW GRANDCHILDREN!!

I don't have pictures, but I have to share the news that Nick and Rachel gave birth to their third son on July 21st.  His name is Benjamin KeKoa, and he weighed in at 9 lbs 11 oz, 22 inches long.

And for more news, Jorgen and Amy gave birth to their second daughter via emergency c-section on July 28th.  Jessalyn weighs 5 lbs 8 oz, 19 1/2 inches long and is doing remarkably well for being born 5-6 weeks early.

That's three grandchildren born this year, but the birth rate will probably slow down for a while.  I have been playing grandma to Keira, the 15 month old big sister to Jessalyn Goodman.  Talk about life slowing down, I have cancelled everything to play with her and keep her happy.  I must admit, it has been an adjustment!

 Keira is learning how to feed herself.  Notice the piece of spaghetti hanging down from the back of the chair!

 Keira loves playing with the play food!  I knew those pre-school toys would come in handy with grandkids.

This is a diaper cake with a Hawaiian theme I made for Amy's baby shower that did not happen since she was in the hospital!

Attention young mothers or mothers of young children:  I admire you, I respect you, I think you're amazingly wonderful to do the things you do.  I had 5 children in 8 years, which is fairly close, and I do remember being busy, but taking care of one little 15 month old takes a lot more time than I remember.  How do you do it?!