Father's Day Tribute

There is a children's song in my church that goes,

My Daddy is my favorite Pal and he helps me everyday.
It's plain to see I want to be like him in everyway!
He teaches me that honesty is best in all I do,
I'm very glad that he's my Dad,
And I know he loves me, too!

It is such a great song and very true for me. I do love my Daddy. He's really so much fun to be around. He's a great teacher and friend. He's always supported every decision I've made. He's always called me "Princess" and treated me with much love and respect. I am thankful for the things he's taught me and all the sacrifices he made for me.

These pictures were on a CD I found in my attic. My paternal grandfather took them, when I was a new baby. I'm the oldest grandchild on my Dad's side and I was pretty spoiled. Although the cloth diaper thing, I'm not too sure about.

In the second picture, you can see that my dad is trying to teach me, a newborn, to walk. That picture says a lot about Dad. He is a teacher by profession and made sure to teach my siblings and I important things, when we were young. For example, we learned to sing "Give, Said the Little Stream" in Scottish Brouge, from his mission days. We learned to dance from Dad, and let's just say he's always had interesting moves. He took us swimming almost every weekend. He'd throw us in the deep end and say, "SWIM!!" He taught us to love adventure and growing up in Alaska there were adventures around every corner. He'd start by tossing us up in the air, in our cathedral ceiling living room. That must be where I got my love of cliffs and roller coasters. Where is that picture of him doing that? Then came the hiking, 4-wheeling, camping, and flights in his little plane. Thank you Dad for those early lessons.

You can see in these pictures that my dad is really strong. Strong but gentle. I've loved seeing my dad become a grandfather. He is such a loving grandpa and so sweet with the little ones. Thanks again Dad, and I hope you have a nice Fathers Day, on the beach in Italy, this year. xoxox

Mother's Day Tribute

Happy Mother's Day to my sweet mom! She and I are 20 years apart, although people always mistake us for sisters (and I'm the older one, apparently!) I don't know how old I am in this picture, but my dark hair is starting to turn blonde. And it looks like a need a babybra. Plus, that clothe diaper is making me nervous . . . Did I ever leak all over you, mom?

OK, back to mom . . . The sacrifices you made for your children were great and I am so grateful for all you did. Because of your influence I love reading, scrapbooking, playing games, doing puzzles and music. I find myself using your discipline style, your words of praise, your parenting and teaching methods. I look toward the future and wonder if my grandchildren will be taught to read with "100 Easy Reading Lessons." I wonder if some of your weaknesses (that I've found in myself) will be continued too . . . the weakness we both have for not being able to put a book down, for shutting the world out and focusing on our book so much that nothing else matters. . . or how about our weakness for HATING COOKING? In a world of weaknesses, I have to be grateful that those two are the only ones you have. You're pretty amazing Mom and I'm so thankful you're mine.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Jonathan, Me, Paul, my mom and Briana. We were on a trip to the "Lower 48" and had stopped in a small Canadian Town, probably Dawson Creek. Dad splurged and got us all popsicles and mom sat to enjoy them with the kids. Isn't she adorable with her pigtails? Aren't I nerdy with my red plaid pants? Dressing me cute wasn't one of Mom's strengths. But having fun and laughing with us was. Thanks for the fun memories, Mom!

I love you so much and hope your day tomorrow is fabulous. Sorry I didn't sent anything. Not even cards this year. So stop checking the box for something. I'm a slacker. I did fix up my yard with the money I could have spent on you. So next time you visit . . . the drip system is for you, Mom!

Tribute to my Dad

This love letter has been long overdue. I love my Dad. He means the world to me.

Damian and I went on a trip a few weeks ago and my Dad came up and watched our kids for us.

For a week.

And the kids were all still alive when I got home.

And they asked me for soda and ice cream with every meal, "like Grandpa gave us!!"

My Dad is interesting, fun and loud. But he's also tender. This is my adorable nephew, Matthew (Paul's son) with his Grandpa Gary!

While Dad was babysitting at my house and I was on the beach in the Bahamas, his own Father passed away, in Utah. Dad flew back, just in time, to speak at his own Dad's funeral. I was fortunate enough to have a layover in SLC, on my way home from Florida. I didn't get back on the plane, but stayed for 3 days in Utah and was able to go to my Grandpa Goold's funeral.

It was the first funeral I'd attended for someone I knew. I'd only gone to funerals to play the piano, and always for people I didn't know. And I certainly didn't look in the caskets! I've always been a little freaked out by death.

I didn't think I'd be emotional. Even though I loved my Grandpa Goold, he was old and he was sick. I was happy that he could be released from his mortal body and move onto a happy, healthy place. I was repeatedly overcome with emotion at seeing all my family and feeling of their love. It's a shame that people come together better for the dead, than they do for the living! I was touched by the military honors paid to Grandpa, for his service in WWII (My Dad and Matthew are in the right corner of this picture.)

Those that spoke about Grandpa moved me to tears at their love and respect for him, but my favorite speech was given by my Dad. He loved his own Father very much and he did a great job communicating that love.

You can't understand love fully until you are a parent, I think. You can't fully appreciate your own parents and your Heavenly Father, until you bring life into the world. THEN, you understand the sacrifices your own parents made for you. And the amount of love they have for you. Being a parent brings you closer to God than anything else, because you are more like Him in the moments you succeed, than any other.

I want to tell my Dad, on this day, that I think he's a wonderful Father. He has taught me about love, service and sacrifice, and in doing so, he's taught me about my Heavenly Father. Thank You, Dad!

Lastly, Thanks Dad, for teaching me the value of a good friend. You've been a true friend to me and my little family . . . and to Mom . . . thank you for that example. I've watched you and your High School buddies, Mike and Brent, my whole life. It was so fun to see them surprise you and show up at Grandpa's funeral. I love how loyal you are to each other and how you have supported each other through the years. And I loved having Brent for a Dentist. Some little girls have crushes on their teachers. I crushed on my Dentist.

OK, back to Dad . . . I love you! Thanks for everything! xoxoxo

Father's Day, 2008

Today, the kids woke up and worked on gifts for Daddy, while he was at a church meeting. He came home and cooked everyone French Toast (I know, I was supposed to do that!) while we made videos for Grandpa Goold. Please excuse the bedhead hair (Rachel has syrup in hers!) and the mismatched PJs! (Be sure to "Pause" my music, at the bottom of my blog, to enjoy these videos!)



The Idiart Combo: Josh on piano & Rachel singing!



Emma practicing German on G'pa . . .



Benjamin being obnoxious and disrespectful . . . Oh, I am so proud.



Rachel and Katrina being cute, like always!

Damian has been begging me to buy him a WEIRD GIFT for 12 years and today, his dreams finally came true!

Picture his dream . . . a pewter school bus, small enough to hang on his wall with 13 little windows. Through the windows, our kid's school pictures peek out.

His childhood neighbor, Diana DeRenzi, had those bus frames and he has talked about/coveted them since I told him we were pregnant with Emma! Diana has a son and daughter and I bet those two buses were very cute on her wall.

We have 5 kids and now, 5 buses!! Tonight we'll draw up some plans to expand Damian's office into a mini-bus barn. To each, his own.

Mother's Day Memories

Happy Mother's Day! My baby brother, Daniel, called from his mission in Panama. It was so fun to talk to him, it's been 5 months since we spoke and I've missed him! What a great present! This is a picture of him and his favorite companion, a guy from Honduras. He was just asked to be the Assistant to the Mission President, so I don't think this is his companion, anymore.

I just finished writing emails to some women that have influenced me. First, my mom. That email turned out to be more of a comparison, comparing the ways she's been a better mother to me, than I am to my kids. She really was/is a great mom. We are the same in that we both love to read and have taught our kids that love. The two biggest ways that I am NOT like her are that I can't cook worth beans and I haven't aged as well. This is my favorite picture of her. She looks so young. Once again, I'm the one dressed in a tacky clothes. My mom looks cute, and the other kids, so I'm assuming that I picked this hideous outfit out, myself??

I also wrote my two Goold Aunts that were the biggest influence in my life. My Aunt Linda & her family lived in my hometown of Valdez, AK. There never was a more loved little niece than me, by her. She was a wonderful second mom. I'm the oldest of 7, but when I'd stay with her, I was the ONLY one . . . she pampered me and doted on me and I loved being with her. Plus, she let me drink soda and watch "I Dream of Jeanne." At home, we basically didn't have sugar or cable, so this was REALLY exciting! At home, I had to take a bath using the same water as all the little kids, but at her house, I had it all to myself, WITH BUBBLES AND FUN BATH TOYS. Weird thing to remember, but maybe that's what started my love of long, bubble baths??

The other Aunt I wrote was my Aunt Cynthia. She invited me to stay with her young family in UT for a week the summer I was Emma's age. She treated me like a grown-up and we talked and talked. Her words would later come back to me, as I was dating and making decisions about my future. Her influence helped me become who I am today.

Have a wonderful day today, I'd better sign off, my breakfast in bed is coming up the stairs!!