12/31/2010

An Angel Among Us

Something happened that truly took my breath away this Christmas season.  Ever since my children were little we have acted out the Nativity story on Christmas Eve.  As our children have grown older, married and had children of their own we've always had a new baby to play the part of baby Jesus and our cast of characters is now filled with our children and grandchildren.  This year I pulled out two halos and sets of wings from our dress-up box and handed them to my son-in-law Dallan and my grandson Caleb.  Next I helped Mary, Joseph and all the shepards and wisemen to put on their robes.  Then I began reading the story from the Bible.  Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus entered on cue and soon the shephards made their appearance.  When it came time for the angels to say their part my son in law Dallan held Caleb high up in the air and spoke these words in a full deep rich male voice . . . "Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." 
The voice appeared to be coming from my grandson's mouth and we all caught our breath and looked up at him.  You see Caleb was born without a brain and has not been able to speak a word to us in the six years we have been blessed to have him with us.  Even though Caleb is not able to use his body like we can, we KNOW that the spirit inside his body is well and whole.  We KNOW that he is a beloved son of God . . . a true angel among us. 

"And suddenly there was with the angel a  multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." 

12/30/2010

My Forest

When my husband and I moved into our present home twenty years ago, I told him I'd always dreamed of living by a forest.  We bought two acres along with this home but most of it was in pasture. 

We live in Utah where pine trees only grow in the mountains.  So if you want pine trees you have to plant them and carefully tend and water them because we don't get much rainfall.

My husband listened to my dream and found a way to make it come true.  One day he brought home a small box filled with what looked like small sticks.  He told me he was going to plant me a forest.  I didn't really believe those sticks were trees.  I thought he was teasing me.  But he carefully planted them and enlisted our children to help him keep them watered with buckets of water hand carried to each tree for a very long time. 

Now when I look out my kitchen window each day  - I see my forest . . . and I think about my husband taking care of those trees for twenty years just for me.  Every day I walk outside to my forest and breathe in the fresh pine scented air and think about how much my husband loves me.

12/29/2010

Merry Christmas from the Baadsgaards

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE BAADSGAARD FAMILY

 

Baadsgaard Christmas Nativity Program cast members



our angels . . . Caleb and April

12/21/2010

Amy Graduates from BYU!!!!!

My daughter Amy just graduated from BYU with a degree in Special Education.  Though she will wait until April to walk at a graduation ceremony I want to congratulate her now.  Way to go Amy!!!

Amy is expecting her first child, a little girl, in March.  She is a fine harpist and a gentle, kind loving soul.  I am so blessed to have her for my daughter.

I love you Amy.

SNOW


My husband Ross trying to dig out so he can go to work.

Our back yard

Our patio table.
Our front yard pine tree
Alisa playing.
My daughter Alisa has been hoping and praying for snow on Christmas.  She got her wish.  School was cancelled today because we got SO MUCH SNOW! This is Utah where we know what to do with snow, where we never cancel school because of snow.  Alisa says grownups just don't know how to appreciate snow.  She's right.  Today I'm going to go outside without a shovel or broom and PLAY!

12/20/2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MITCHELL!!!!!

Mitchell’s Magnificent Mitten Rescue Mission

by

Granny B

(This is a special story written for my grandson Mitchell on his fourth birthday)


“Why is my laundry basket always missing?” Mitchell’s mother wondered as she walked from the laundry room into the kitchen. Then she picked up the mop and started cleaning the floor.

Mitchell was sitting at the kitchen table smooshing his red play dough into cannon balls with his cousin Emma.

“Mitchell do you know where my laundry basket is?” his mother asked.

Mitchell rolled his eyes.

“Yes Mom,” he answered. “But I need it. I’ll give it back after we save Mittens from the swamp dragon.”

Then Mitchell ran to the dress-up chest, pulled out his two plastic swords and gave one to Emma his cousin.

“The dragon took Mittens and we have to get him back,” Mitchell said as he dashed from the room and down the hall.

Mitchell’s mother knew Mittens was his favorite stuffed animal.

“Good luck Sir Mitchell the Brave and Emma the Lion Heart,” his mother said as they both rounded the corner and dashed into his bedroom. She followed close behind and peeked around the corner.

“Watch out for the swamp,” Mitchell whispered to Emma. “Climb in this magic ship.”

Mitchell and Emma climbed into the laundry basket and rowed across the swamp with their swords. Then suddenly Mitchell screamed and Emma covered her eyes. There on the evil mountain was the dastardly dragon ready to eat them.

“Emma!” Mitchell yelled as he fought the dragon with his sword, “open your eyes and row this way. Mittens is trapped behind the doors of doom. We have to save him.”

Emma opened her eyes, bared her teeth and growled.

“Yeah! The dragon is dead!” Mitchell yelled. “Now we just have to get through the doors of doom.”

Mitchell and Emma jumped from their ship and stood before the closet doors.

“The doors won’t open!” Mitchell yelled.

“They’re stuck,” Emma answered. “What should we do?”

“I remember now,” Mitchell said, “the doors only open if you know the magic words.”

Just then Mitchell’s Mom leaped into the room.

“I know the magic words,” she yelled. “Follow me!”

Mitchell’s mother stood before the doors of doom holding her mop handle like a chalice.

“We are the fellowship of love,” she yelled. “Doors of doom, awaken to the light!”

Then Queen mother reached forth her hand and the doors of doom opened wide. Mitchell dashed inside, grabbed Mittens from the cliff of no return then jumped back into the ship. He waved for Queen Mother and Cousin Emma the Lion Heart to join him. When they safely reached the Bed of Benevolence, Mitchell carefully tucked Mittens under the covers. Then he placed his gleaming sword and red cannon balls under his bed.

“You never know when you might have to slay another dragon,” Mitchell said as his mother reached for her laundry basket.

“Yes,” his mother answered. “Even now I leave to slay the molten mountain of mounting mess beyond these doors. Farewell good prince and princess. We shall meet again.”

12/07/2010

Life is so Fragile

Daniel Cope
My daughter and son-in-law's nephew died this week.  SIDS

Baby Daniel was only a few months old.  My heart breaks for his parents and older sisters.  There are no words that adequately express my heartfelt sorrow for their loss.

Contemplating their tragedy has given me the opportunity to gaze a little longer into the faces of my loved ones, to hug a little tighter, express my affection more often and to renew my appreciation for the precious gift of life.

We never know how much time we have with those we love.  Life is fleeting . . . fragile.

Yet all nature reassures me of life after death.  Even though we are in the midst of winter right now, I know spring will come again.  The Ressurrection is real.  Because of Jesus Chirst we will all live again.  I know that even though Daniel died this week, he is yet alive in another place where we can not go  . . . just yet. 

But for now . . . it is right to grieve.  Even Jesus Christ wept when he heard the news that his friend Lazarus had died.

Tyler and Jackie I am so sorry.   

12/05/2010

Happy Birthday Matthew

Matthew Didn’t Doubt It

by

Granny B (alias Grandma Baadsgaard)

(this a special story written for my grandson Matthew on his ninth birthday)


After Matthew moved into his new home, he walked outside and went exploring. His new home was in a subdivision with several empty lots. The lot two doors down had a large pile of sand that was Matthew’s favorite place to dig for treasure.

One day Matthew dug up a rotting piece of wood. He could tell that the wood was once painted gold. He ran inside and showed this find to his mother.

“I think this came from a pirate ship filled with treasure,” Matthew said.

“We don’t live by an ocean,” his mother replied. “So I doubt that.”

But Matthew didn’t doubt it. He went back the next day and found several rusty nails and a broken piece of green glass. Soon he had a large collection of pirate ship relics. He hid them in a shoe box under his bed.

One day Matthew went to the sand pile and found enormous trucks and back hoes digging a large hole. One of the construction workers told him to get out of the way. Matthew walked back to his house and watched from a distance as the construction crew created a huge hole, filled it with cement and began framing a new house.

Several months later Matthew found out a boy named John was living in the new house built over his favorite digging place. He walked to John’s house, knocked on the door and asked if he could play. Then Matthew took John to his house and showed him his collection of pirate ship relics. He told his new friend that he everything in the box used to be in a sand pile right under his friend’s new house. John was impressed. That afternoon Matthew and John decided to wear a neckerchief over their head, a patch over one eye and duel with plastic swords until they were exhausted. Then they drew pictures of pirate ships.

“Maybe someday we’ll dig a tunnel under your house and find buried treasure,” Matthew said.

“How about right now,” John answered.

But when Matthew and his friend started digging a hole in his friend’s back yard his mother ran out of the house and told them to stop.

“We think that there is an old pirate ship buried under your house,” Matthew said.

“We don’t live by an ocean,” John’s mother replied. “So I doubt that. No more digging in my new landscaping.”

Before long winter arrived and covered both of their yards with several feet of snow. But that didn’t stop Matthew and John. They formed a secret pirate club and asked their friend Caleb to join them. They had black pirate hats, eye patches and red scarves. They practiced sword dueling techniques and continued drawing pictures of pirate ships. They checked out books from the library on ship building. But what they really wanted most of all was a treasure map.

Whenever their mothers asked them to clean their rooms they answered, “Aye Mates!”

Late one night while Matthew, John and Caleb were sleeping many dark figures dressed in black met in the lot between the John and Mathew’s home. Soon snow and ice was flying.

The next day Matthew walked out his front door and ran to the sidewalk in front of his home. Something sparkly caught his eye. He turned to the right. There it was - larger than life, grander than any dream - the most magnificent pirate ship he had ever seen. The sails were made of sheets of ice and the ship’s mast gleamed like diamonds.

Matthew saw John running toward him flinging his arms wildly.

“Look Matthew!” John said. “It’s a pirate ship!”

They both ran back into their homes and dragged their families out to see the pirate ship made of ice. Before long every neighbor was standing on the sidewalk saying, “Ohhh . . . Ahhh.”

Next a reporter arrived from the town newspaper. Then a large camera crew from the big city television station pulled up and took out their large microphones.

Matthew heard his mother being interviewed for the six o’clock news.

“Well my boy Matthew always told me that he thought a pirate ship was buried here but I told him we don’t live by an ocean so I doubt it. But Matthew, he never doubted. I guess you never know what will happen if you can imagine, dream and never give up hope.”

Then she winked at her son as he quickly grabbed his sword and ran toward the ship. Matthew and John made the six o’clock news. Television viewers spied them sliding down the gang plank on the ice and snow pirate ship made yelling “Shiver me timbers!”


12/04/2010

Bradley Joel Baadsgaard is Sealed to our family today!

My wonderful new grandson


  

A brand new forever family: Joseph, Martha and Bradley Joel

My son Joseph and his wife Martha had their newly adopted son Bradley Joel sealed to them for eternity in the Provo Utah Temple today.  What a true joy it is to have this precious child united with our family forever.

11/30/2010

Weddings


Ashley dancing with her father

The moments at a wedding are both exciting and tender . . . a mixture of sadness for endings and joy for new beginnings.  Ashley and Hyrum may God bless your new union with great love as you take the first steps on your eternal journey together.  I love you.  Mom

joy at the temple

Ashley and Hyrum surrounded by nieces and nephews

with parents

mother and daughter


Ashley's white roses at the piano



 


Ashley with her mother and sisters

a temple marriage is forever

My Beautiful Family

Ross and Janene Baadsgaard Family 2010

11/28/2010

Truly a Week to be Thankful




At the temple

Ashley and Hyrum

A tender moment
My beautiful daughter Ashley on her wedding day

Matthew, Josh and Alisa with their Reflection entries

On this Thanksgiving week I truly had so many reasons to be thankful.  My daughter Alisa won the reflections contest for her musical composition and art work on Tuesday. My grandson Rylan was blessed on Wednesday. Thanksgiving on Thursday hosted by my daughter April. My daughter Ashley was married in the Salt Lake Temple on Friday and my grandson Bradley Joel was baptised on Saturday.  What a wonderful week!!!



Rylan on his blessing day