Lord, I Would Follow Thee

Noah Dayne Groendyke made the choice to follow in the Lord's footsteps as he enter into the waters of Baptism. What a happy occasion for the Groendyke/Hart Family.  Rick performed the baptism and confirmation. Grandpa Hart presented Noah with a nice blanket after his talk on the Holy Ghost. Bishop Jensen presided over the event and the Primary Presidency was there to support us.  Aunt Shawna also came and played the piano for the music. I was most proud of Noah and his father, both. I love them so much.

Following the baptism, confirmation, and congratulations, the quests enjoyed a wonderful buffet at Chuck-a-rama. The guests included:

Grandma Garff

Grandma and Grandpa Hart

Craig and Sara Fillerup

Jordan Hart with his girlfriend Liz

Mallory Hart and her two roommates

This is my Baptism Certificate.  Interesting to note, Noah and I were confirmed on the exact same day...39 years apart.

Congratulations Son

Hebgen 101

After church on Sunday (and a lengthy search for my camera,) Noah, Jenn and myself would make way to Idaho Falls...the first step in Hebgen 101. The Bodine and Hart Families have this vacation down to a science. Each and everyone knows their place, their assignment, and the events that will take place. The first night is in Idaho Falls where a storage unit holds wave runners, a boat, four wheelers and so forth. Each of the so called toys were hitched to the appropriate vehicle and ready for the journey ahead.

(Commercial Break--while passing through McCammon to Idaho Falls, we witnessed another magnificent storm and sky. It was probably to everyone's advantage that I misplaced my camera as I would have had to stop every five seconds to photograph the amazing beauty we now, could only absorb with our eyes. Jenn did get a video shot of the torrential rain fall that enhanced the thrill of the storm. If only we could have been outside to experience the petrichor...)

Everyone traveling to Hebgen was waiting for us at the Howard Hart Home. We had a quick reunion, laughs, and review of the morning after. The word: "be here, ready to leave at 9:00 am."Noah and I had sleeping arrangements at Grandma and Grandpa Harts. It was late getting to bed, but well worth the extra moments visiting with them. The home of my childhood looked beautiful. It is always a ritual for me to check each room in the house, look at the collages, go through the mail as if I still lived there, and see the photos posted on the fridge. Noah and I slept well in preparation for the big Grand Opening Day of the Cabin on Hebgen Lake.

I had the good fortune of having Jenn and Mallory join me for the ride up to the Lake. They gave me the play by play--groceries, check. equipment, check. gas, check. It was crazy to be in such a convoy of large vehicles all "psyched" about the adventure that awaited. At one time, I had the number two spot. Somehow, Lisa swiveled here, Pete passed there, Howard u-turned here and by golly, if I wasn't last vehicle.That was okay. They would break the wind for my even easier load. Then there was the traditional rest stop just short of West for bathroom, treats, and gas for the containers. It really is quite a production.

Jenn and Malls and their country tunes made the trip for me "bcote."(a word they made up...blow cool over the edge??) Truly, my hip nieces keep me young and laughing. I knew this was serious business when we arrived to the major dirt road just after the sign of Madison Arm Resort. Mallory, stated that at that moment she felt the rush of adrenaline pump throughout her being of the whole cabin experience as we arrived on that dirt road. This was a first time for Noah and me. We had not been there on day one of the cabin experience.

As we pulled into the lake front property, the work began--unloading. I have to say, no one slacked. Everyone knew that when the work was done, play could begin. Today the wave runners would be put into the water along with the boat. I sensed the excitement in each person as they hustled about. I too was thrilled to be a part of this adventure.

There were moments to catch a brief nap and some quiet fishing on the dock. Maddie, one of Playmill Theatre's Cast Members, came in for a welcome, a hug and an extra hand. True to form, the Opening Day of a 6 week hiatus on Hebgen Lake was awesome.

What I learned from Noah: He is very comfortable around adults and had no quams inviting himself to be Uncle Pete and Uncle Howard's wing man.

What I learned from the Bodine/Hart clan:  A cabin of order is a happy one and that repeating a task over and over again makes for all things to become second NATURE.

The Country Fest Blues

Summer is here and the activites of summer have commenced. One would think that I would have mounds of time to record the events. Not. Noah saved his money, and could hardly wait for the South Jordan Country Festival. Last year was so much fun.The first three weeks of June was all about rain, not just pitter, patter rain, but pouring rain.The day had arrived and we were not about to let a few dark clouds keep us from a couple of rides. The crowds at the fair were no where to be found. That meant for short lines...more like, no lines. It really wouldn't be that bad if we had had our jackets. I told Rick to take Noah on a few rides and I would run home and get the jackets and the rain gear. There was the kiddies train, the merry go round, the boats, and the fun house with bouncy toys. As I turned to leave, I couldn't help but wonder if we should have come yesterday. It was the only beautiful day we had had since school let out and our cute little busterooni was wearing yesterdays sunshine on his cheeks. (Because it was the only sun we'd seen in a while, I was not prepped with sunscreen.)  Today we would not have to worry about sunscreen.

I gathered enough rain gear to outlast any storm. I was huffing and puffing across the field with my arms full to the brim. I couldn't see Rick or Noah by the rides. I walked on over to the car/motorcycle display. I thought Rick would be ineterested in looking at the Anitque Cars. Noah turned around and my first thought was, "What happened to Noah's sunburned cheeks?"He was sporting a not so nice shade of BLUE.  Rick had used the first couple of tickets on the spinning rides and now all Noah wanted to do was go home. He was not feeling well at all. I wouldn't even say he was pale--this was a color I was not familiar with. I had him lie down on the blanket. I wasn't ready to leave. We still had tickets and booths to see. I wanted this to be a great day for Noah.

It wasn't long before Noah's breakfast resurfaced on the lawn. Funny how all one has to do is throw up and the color in your face returns. He wasn't feeling up for rides, but the booths where you pay for darts to pop a balloon and get a prize looked good to Noah. I was game, but Rick saw it as a further waste of money. Noah had a few rounds and his smile was back on his face.

The clouds grew dark and the wind began to blow. It would not be long before we would be in a downpour. We gave the rest of our tickets to one of the other families that decided to brave the weather. They were huddeled under one umbrella by a tree with hopes that the storm would blow over. No chance.

Though the Country Fest was not how we remembered it, we made new memories. I am sure we will be back next year, but maybe we will be a little more wise as to the rides we start with.


What I learned from Noah: If you don't want to stay long at the fair--go on the spinning rides first.

Old Age

Noah is always so concerned about whether or not I am getting old. He is always inquiring, "Mom, are you and my dad old?? Are you getting old?? Does that make you old??? Is this going to make you old?? Who is going to take care of me when you are old?"and always in such a somber tone of voice. I respond, "I am older than I was yesterday, I am older than you, and when I am old, you will be a man and able to take care of yourself. "The truth is, I am not thrilled about it either, so quickly I try to change the subject, but my mind stays fixated on the topic...why is he so worried about that now??? Do I look old to him???  Do I act old to him??? and so the questioning continues.

Then I remember a family night out to the movies and the attendant taking tickets, pats Noah on the head and says, "You are so lucky to have Grandparent's that will bring you to the movies."
Grandparents???  Really??? I'm thinking either my hearing has gone bad and I am old, or my hearing is good and I really am old.

Then I remember the time Rick picked up Noah from school. Noah came bounding down the line of cars with his friend Parker. Noah said, "See you tomorrow Parker!" Parker responds, "Hey is that your Grandpa in there?" Fortunately Noah was able to see the humor and laughed it off.

Noah was in the car with me and I could see from my rear view mirror, that he was deep in thought. A few minutes later and again in a somber voice, he says, "Mom, do you know what I really wish?" I think, "Here it goes--a game boy, a horse, a trip to Disneyland..."I say,"What do you wish, son?"and he said, "I just wish...well I wish dad could bend over."It was all I could do to contain my surprise and my laughter.   Rick is a wonderful father. He will throw baseball after baseball to Noah and he will take him golfing.  Rick has two hip replacements, sore knees, sore shoulders, sore everything--I'm sure Noah has seen how hard it is for Rick to bend over and collect the balls.

I am a Choirister in the Primary.We are talking about building Eternal Families. Sister Harris brings a picture of a "Grandma" to discuss how she is part of the family and can contribute in many ways. "What things does your Grandma do?"and there cute Camden says it direct and plain, "Grandma's have to color their hair." Well, I have been coloring my hair for a lottta years now--so does that put me in the "Old Category?"

So just when does one make that transition into "Old Agedom" (is it when you start making up your own words:) ) Is it when you iron shirts with windex instead of the spray starch? Is it when you cook the rolls with the saran wrap still covering them? Is it when the streaks in your hair are more silver than gold? Is it when you water your plants with a glass of milk instead of water? Is it when Noah's friend's parents, have parents younger than you? Is it when you qualify for the Senior Discount (or when someone asks you, will that be 2 seniors and 1 child?)  Is it when you lose more things than you find and some of those things are the rest of your sentences? Is it when the remote in your hand does not seem to "select" the item you are pushing on until it starts ringing and you realize, you are trying to use the phone to do the remote's job? Is it when you prefer Raisin Bran to Fruit Loops? Is it when  CNN becomes the new Prime Time TV show? Is it when you are tempted to cleanse your face with Downy Wrinkle Releaser instead of Sea Breeze? Is it when you do not recognize a single Name Brand of clothing, or any of the Popular Singing Groups? Is it when the students you taught, are now teachers?  Is it when you eat more Rolaids than M&M's? Is it when you start asking too many questions? If any of the previous are qualification for "Old Age," then I am definitely old.

For the sake of Noah and my own fears, I am going to color my hair and have blonde streaks put in and attribute the above to "Blondeom."

What I learned from Noah:  He does not want his parents to grow old or at least act their age.

Please, Don't Hang Up

I had the grand opportunity of going to a wedding reception for one of my best friend's son. The whole Beck Family was in attendance and I took a trip with them back into the old neighborhood of "Aegean" and "Herring" Streets. I was taken back by the added years of reality, when in my mind I still saw "cowboys don't cry Lyle," "You Hugh," "my likie Kali" and "Nan's younger sister, Julie"...Julie has a daughter that is older than the age I see Julie in my mind. Oh, and we talked in our youth that there would be a Laurel Ellen and a Carole Jean and I finally met them. Crazy how they went from being spirit children to young mothers themselves. Then there was Brother and Sister Beck...my heart was overjoyed to be among such dear friends from such a pleasant period in my life. There are not words to express what I was witnessing, but it was beauiful just the same. I had an extremely difficult time making an exit. I was enraptured by all the tender feelings that had resurfaced.

There was the sweet smell of a spring rain in the air which only enhanced the sensations I was feeling.  I deisred to share this joy with someone who could relate and revel in the experience with me. Chelle was off to Youth Conference. So, the first thing I did when I hopped into my car, was call my father and mother. Sure enough, they were thrilled with the report. We laughed and dad encouraged and built me up. I didn't want to get off the phone and end those pleasant feelings, but Rick was calling on the other line. I wrapped things up with dad and thought to myself "do I build my son, Noah in the same manner that my parents build me? Does Noah enjoy being with me as much as I enjoy being with my parents?" All I could think about is how onry Rick and I have been with him, not because of him, but because of our current situation.

I stepped back into reality of being THE parent instead of being THE child. I phoned home. Rick was watching the game and so he handed the phone over to Noah. Noah had been kept home from school today because of a cough and cold. His little voice sounded so innocent and pure. Listening to him speak, absolutely made my heart melt. The fact that he wasn't feeling well, made me want to be with him all the more.  He talked to me about "Aliens," "Lights in the Sky," "Rain and wind," and so much more. I was enjoying being on the phone with him and didn't want him to hang up. We talked from the point of the mountain clear until Redwood Road where he said "good-bye."I wasn't ready for a "good-bye" yet...I was still in the moment. I jokingly said, "Oh, so you don't want to talk to me anymore!" The rest of the ride home was me alone with my thoughts. I wondered if that is how Heavenly Father felt. Does He love to hear my voice? Does He love to hear me talk about anything, just to hear me? Does His heart melt especially when I am needy or feeling ill? At the end of my prayers is He wishing I would not hang up just yet? Is a phonecall from my son to me, like prayer is to my Heavenly Father? I do need to talk to Him, really talk to Him, and talk to Him like I believe He is there listening and is going to respond back. I need to talk with Him the way I talked with my father only moments ago. I know He is there. I know He loves me. I know He wants to help me. I know He wants to discuss the recent issues with me. Why, knowing all I know, is it that when I kneel to pray the moment my eyes shut, my mind starts to wonder and I am filled with anxiety about not giving the respect my Heavenly Father deserves?

What I learned from Noah: Heavenly Father wants to hear my voice and I hang up way too soon.

What I learned from my father:  Talking to Heavenly Father would be a lift. He would encourage and build me in a way that only He knows how to do. Go talk to Him....and please, please don't hang up just yet.

"Easter Lilly.. Don't Eat Me!"

When one has a child in the home, every holiday is an event. Easter has come and gone. Ours was relatively simple, yet,  there were still some memories to note. We do not have many decorations for Easter--just enough to fit on the mantle. Last year, Da Vinci had a hey day attacking the "Harry and David" Bunny that contained a variety of Easter treats from mom and dad. My first task was to paint Mr. Bunny, replace his eyes and nose, and with clean, white, fluffy fur---give him a "new do." I have to say, he turned out better than before--Bunny Makeovers???  Don't even go there.

Immediately, Noah had to dye hard boiled eggs even though Easter was at least two weeks away. I was amazed at all the choices--glitter. flourescent, camouflage--I had to remind Noah, that I grew up in the day when there was only one choice--"PAAS" regular colors. (Kind of like our parents had to walk a mile in the snow, we had one choice to color eggs.)

Noah enjoys the Traditional Easter Egg Hunt that Aunt Linda and Uncle Mike host. There are eggs to color, eggs to find, money to count, and lots and lots of children. This year it was my hair that needed coloring and the money I counted was what it cost me to have those greys covered. I am grateful that the Rutters still wanted Noah to come. He had a fabulous time and loves the company as well as the activities.

Noah was anxiously awaiting a visit from the Easter Bunny, especially since the incident with Larry the Leprechaun. Noah is just plain thoughtful--cookies for Santa Claus, celery for Larry and carrots dipped in chocolate for the Easter Bunny.

The dinner table appeared to be empty without a center piece and so I splurged on a beautiful Easter Lilly in a pastel purple container. It seemed to liven up the Kitchen area too. Noah walked by the Lilly with a concerned look on his face. He inquired, "Mom, what is that?" and "Can you take it back?" I explained it was a beautiful Easter Lilly and no, I was not going to take it back. As the days progressed, so did the Lilly and so did Noah's concern. The plant began to bloom and what I viewed as being lovely, was creating stress for Noah. "Mom, I have been watching that plant and every day a new flower opens." I told him that was because it was a living thing. He no longer walked close by the plant. From a distance, he was waving odd toys and food by it. I asked him what he was doing. "Trying to feed the plant so it won't be hungry and eat me."Click--the light went on--I think he thought it was a Venus Flytrap like he saw in the play "Little Shop of Horrors" that Maddie was in last year.

What I learned from Noah: Children are VERY impressionable and they REMEMBER things that an adult, such as myself, would not even notice. I need to pay more attention to the details.

GI Joe and the Three Bears

GI Joe and the Three Bears was a take on the original, yet written for boys. My little boy doesn't want to have anything to do with Goldilocks. This was a blast to create because a bit of our (Rick, Noah, and myself)  personalities have been written into the Bear Family Characters. Check around the house if you want to read this one.

What I learned from Noah: Where he keeps G.I. Joe hidden.

Noah's Mom Is Also Someone's Aunt

I was an Aunt long before I was ever a mother. My siblings were so kind to share their children with me all those years of being single and childless. I wanted to be the very best Aunt and be THEIR very best Aunt. Things were going pretty good and then they grew up and got interested in ipods and texting. I also got married and had my own child to care for. I thought I had long lost the days of being an Aunt, but much to my surprise, there is still such a thing as serendipity!!!

My niece Madeline needed to get from Brigham Young University to the Airport. She wanted to stay the night with us. There was snow, laughing, and Cafe Rio. Mads will always be welcome here.

Then my nephew Jordan had a friend in Salt Lake City he planned to visit. He wanted to stay with us. There was bowling, baskteball, crepes, and laughing. I told him to come often, but often wasn't soon enough. He left his phone charger in the bedroom wall.  So, I drove to Logan with Noah and a phone charger...then, we laughed some more.

What I learned from Jordan and Madeline: All is good.  I have missed being THE Aunt. I can be an Aunt and Noah's Mom too.

What I learned from Noah: He loves his cousins, no matter the age.  The moment one leaves out the door he says, "I'm going to miss my cousin."

S.O.S.

My profile states that cooking and cleaning are not my favorite things to do, though I want my family to be well fed and I do crave a clean and orderly home. When Rick found this home, I thought, "This home is too big for just the three of us." That statement was the cover up for "Oh, my that is an awful lot of house to clean." I dread it. By the time I get around to each of the rooms, the first room has become cluttered again.

Help! Help is what I need. I ask Noah and his dad if they are up for assisting me in some housework today. Rick said, "Yes, if your willing to put the pedal to the medal." In other words, no distractions and lollygagging. Noah was not thrilled at all. He had an appointment with "Spongebob" that would have to be postponed.

I felt charged and ready to get my rear in gear. Rick stops me. "We can't do anything until WE find where I misplaced that ABBA CD." I am thinking, "this is a distraction." Finally after retracing his steps, the CD is found. He puts it into the CD player and blasts it for us to hear from any room. He starts dancing and singing while he's cleaning. Noah gets off the couch to join his father. My guys look like they are having a good time. I love ABBA. I begin to feel the music in me. Soon I am smiling, singing, and enjoying the scene of my family all working together."Darling can you hear me....S.O.S" and "Take a chance on me..."

What I learned from Noah and his dad: If you want to have fun cleaning (and even feel a little giddy while you clean) crank the tunes and get their help.Thanks for hearing my S.O.S.

*The CD starts to screech. Noah is plugging his ears. I come out of the bathroom that I am cleaning and I see smoke coming out from one of the speakers!!! It is a slight distraction. Rick comes to the rescue and tools around with his sound system. All cleaning comes to a halt as Rick mourns the loss of his "tweeters" in his speakers.