Grandpa Goodman

Goodman Reunion - November 10, 2007 - the day before Grandpa's 92nd birthday

It is funny how we realize our blessings in our sadness or trials. Tonight as I stood in Grandma and Grandpa Goodman's room just after Grandpa passed away, my thoughts were full of happiness and gratitude for the amazing family I was born into. Not many people can say they got to grow up next to all their cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. I can. And they all are such neat people that I like. I realized that tonight with all the embraces, stories and gentle words of love shared with one another. And Grandpa Goodman was the head of this remarkable Goodman family.

Just look at all those Goodman Grandkids and that's not all of us...

I'm grateful for the life Grandpa Goodman has lived and the example he has been as the patriarch of the Goodman family. Though we're sad and mourning here, I know he's giving his Mom, Dad and all 11 of his siblings huge hugs. It's quite a reunion in heaven right now.

Grandpa has been a good friend and such a support for me in my life. I could always count on him being at every single one of my home volleyball games and even a bunch of distant ones - in high school, college and then as a coach. He traveled to Thatcher, Prescott, New Orleans and Florida to watch me play. He hobbled up those bleachers as I coached at MV. It usually took a few of us to get him to the top, but he was always there. I could always count on him and his support, and sometimes some advice.

We've been lemon buddies. Somehow I got designated the family lemon picker. I've been grateful for the chance to bring my kids to Grandpa and Grandma's to pick lemons, teach them how to work a little, and then in to visit and show off the huge lemons. That visit of course was always followed by one a few days later to bring fresh squeezed lemonade. He sucked the lemonade dry and always had a smile when he was done and asked for more.

I, along with most of my cousins, was lucky enough to be sealed to my honey by Grandpa Goodman in the Mesa Temple. What a blessing to have a grandpa worthy of doing that. (If I could figure out how to fix my scanner, I'd scan the picture of us outside the temple). Thanks for that example of temple service.

Grandpa Goodman was the best toe popper in Mesa. It hurt, but made me laugh all at the same time. Thinking about it, I don't think I'd want nasty toes in my face all the time waiting to be popped, but he was always willing to tug on our toes.

He was the best/worst Chinese Checkers player. He was always a willing competitor, but somehow every game he'd end up shaking or bumping the board and all the marbles would go everywhere. Maybe that was his strategy when he was losing...? Who knows

He loved for us to come visit. I'm grateful that I only lived a mile from him and I was able to take my kids over so often. He'd always smile and try so hard to be alert, even though I know it was torture to stay awake sometimes.

I'm gonna miss you Grandpa, but I know I will see you again. Thanks for the example and the legacy you've left behind.

B. Harry Goodman 11/11/1915-07/27/2011

Christopher Creek - 2011

We did it again. We headed to Christopher Creek for about the 20th time in my life and the 7th year in a row as an adult. Our group this year was small but mighty as half the family bailed on the trip. We had the Platt's, Ricedorff's, Chesley's, Mom, Dad, Matt and the Coleman Brothers who made a quick appearance.

Here are my favorites:

-Playing games around the fire - or around the circle we made next to the fire- "I have never" (AKA, the biggest-loser-if-you-win game), "The question game", and "telephone"

-Watching the kids pull in the biggest load of crawdads in Goodman history - at least 100

-Walking the loop

-Loren's delicious breakfasts

-Watching Taylor and Kyley be the best big cousins my girls could ask for. They played with them, told them stories, sat them on their laps, and just made them feel awesome - Thanks girls

-Hike to Box Canyon where the boys jumped off ridiculous cliffs

-Platt family hike to the water hole where the girls wimped out and wouldn't get in the water

-Perfect weather!

-Playing cards

Here are all the pictures...

My kiddos at the deep water hole - we went as a family after everyone left

Annie posing

Abby climbing the rocks

Jake drying off and warming up

Hannah debating if she should jump in - she didn't

Abby and Jeremy jumping at Box Canyon

Jake and Ty at Box Canyon - on the ridiculous cliff

Jeremy plunging off the 50 foot cliff

Most of the boys at Box Canyon

Austin, Karrie and Ryan with Julie, Taylor and Loren crashing the picture - classic

Before we went, I was dreading the trip. We have a lot going on in our life right now and it just seemed like one more thing to do. But we packed up and headed up the mountains anyway, and just like every year, I'm so glad we did. It is all about making memories for the family. The kids had such a great time and I love that they love the tradition that started when I was a young kid.

Why I love Jeremy

I love my husband for many, many reasons. This past weekend in St. Johns my eyes were opened to a new reason I love him to go along with so many other reasons. He is truly forgiving.

When Jeremy was a boy, he worked on the family ranch. He'd get up early and head out to the ranch with his dad. He worked ALL day long and made a whopping 10 bucks a day. Of that, he paid his tithing first, then half of what was left went to his mission fund. The rest was his to do with as he pleased. That equated to $4.50 a day, not much at all! Have I mentioned that I love his work ethic?

His sophomore year, after working and saving for two years, he finally had enough money to buy a bike, a freestyle bike. It was blue and awesome and he rode that thing everywhere. One day while he was at mutual, his bike got stolen. How ironic is that - it got stolen from the church. He was devastated. He fasted every single Sunday for the return of his bike. He was tireless and full of faith that it would return.

His prayers were answered when one day, there it was sitting across the street from his house. It was under a tree, and only the stickers were peeled off. He was so happy and grateful.

Some of the neighbor kids had told Jeremy who it was, and that the kid who stole it was planning to paint it and keep it, but realizing it wouldn't ever work, and that Jeremy would recognize it, he finally returned it.

This weekend we were in St. Johns talking about how kids that are immature in high school grow up and it can surprise you when you learn what they are doing with their lives. How fantastic that we all grow up! Anyway, Cyndi mentioned Jeremy's bike and mentioned how ------- has changed since the day of stealing that bike. What? It was -------? This guy,------, is one of Jeremy's close friends. All these years of knowing who stole his bike and hearing the story from his mom 50 thousand times about how he fasted for its return, he never once mentioned the guy's name who did it. I asked him why he never told me who it was and he said that he didn't want me to think of him as that guy. We're friends with him, see him all the time, and he didn't want me to think of him negatively.

------- happened to be in St. Johns for the 4th of July like us, and we spent most of the day with him and his family. I watched Jeremy in new admiration all day at his ability to forgive someone who crushed him so long ago. He thinks of ------as a friend, not as the rotten, bike thief. And thinking back to the past 12 years of going to St. Johns and running in to him, Jeremy has never treated him like less than a friend.

When Jeremy brought his bike to our house from St. Johns a few years ago, there was no anger or resentment. Though I knew that this was his bike he fasted for, he never mentioned it, or the kid, even in general terms, just that he wanted to fix it up.

Here it is. Just imagine it with another tire, a seat and a functioning chain and it being 1992. It was pretty hot stuff.

Jeremy is an amazing man. He has a true heart and I love him for the lessons he teaches me everyday, simply in how he lives his life.

I love America

We had a fabulous weekend in St. Johns celebrating the 4th of July. There is no place I'd rather be than there, on what has become one of my favorite holidays. I'm so grateful to live in America where I enjoy so many freedoms and such a rich and abundant life. I am truly blessed to live in this great Nation.

-We enjoyed swimming at the town pool which is amazingly relaxed. Kids can actually have fun at the pool without the fear of being yelled at by the lifeguards (unlike the uptight City of Mesa pools).

-The kids played badminton with the McBride kids. Hannah was sooooo happy to have Brakelle to play with all weekend.

-The kids disappeared in the jungle for hours at a time and I was never worried even a bit.

-We ate at El Camino where Jeremy found his new favorite food (besides steak) - stuffed sopapillas - yum!

-We enjoyed church where we got to sing my favorite patriotic hymn, "America the Beautiful". The line that says, "Oh beautiful for patriot dream In liberating strife, who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life..." always gets me. Am I the only one that gets choked up during that hymn?

On to the big day....

-We didn't hear the cannons as they usually go off. We might have been sleeping quite soundly and didn't hear them, but I don't think they went off like usual. Kind of a bummer.

-Jeremy and I enjoyed a delicious pancake breakfast at the park.

-We brought the kids back down to the park for the patriotic program, BBQ, snowcones and races.

-We got to visit with a lot of Jeremy's old friends and people we seldom see.

-And then the races began. Let me just say, I'm proud of my family for competing and participating. I never, ever race.

Annie raced first, scored second place and a fifty cent piece.

Hannah raced next and didn't hear the "go" so had to play catch up. She ran hard and fast. If I had been there to nudge her on the word "go", she would have won for sure. I'm happy she was a good sport.

Abby raced and placed....Are you ready for it?.... First! Go peanut! She got a gold dollar.

Jake raced and placed second. It is debatable if he took first or not. we have it on video and it's now under review, but he got a half dollar too.

Jeremy competed in what I like to call his "annual hamstring pull" (I just made that up). He jumped in with the wrong crowd (the 20-30 year olds) but still placed third and got a quarter. Had he competed with the old men, he'd have won hands down.

Jake stretching pre-race. Maybe Jeremy could take a note from him. Jake played with Trevor and Easton Lambson the WHOLE day.

Hannah protecting Annie from all the scary people - I think she had nerves about racing.

The kids -so darling

The whole family

Have I said that I love America? I'm grateful for the freedoms that I enjoy and all those that have sacrificed so much for me to have the life and opportunities that I have. Thank you (That was 4 have's in just 2 sentences - wow)