11/30/2012

A Rich Life Includes the Magic of Words

I like teaching students about the writing process
by explaining the role of the creator, writer and the editor.
I enjoyed visiting at Reese Elementary recently.
These sixth grade students
asked me some of the most mature and thoughtful
questions I've ever been asked.
They truly inspired me!
Thank you for inviting me.
I love to read and write! If I'm not reading a book, I'm writing one. As an author I'm often asked to give workshops on writing. One of my favorite groups to speak with is elementary age students. They remind me of myself a few short years ago, struggling to find out who I was and what I should do with my life. 
                                                        I know that reading and writing will aid students in their quest for purpose and meaning. I know their lives will always be richer if they embrace the magic of words.Pin It

11/26/2012

John's Eagle Court of Honor Photos

John standing at a table displaying his many accomplishments
Good fun to add to the fun
Program table
John at the table displaying his eagle award
John receiving the award from his scout leader
John's Eagle nest with all his brothers and brothers-in-laws there to support him
John thanking family and scout leaders and choosing his father Ross as his mentor
Scouting takes a young boy and helps him grow into a man. As I've watched all my sons receive their Eagle award I am so grateful to  the people who care enough to help young men along the road to manhood.
Congratulations John and a big thank you to everyone involved in scouting.
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11/16/2012

Alisa Receives $1,000 scholarship and wins PTA Reflections Contest


This is a picture of my twelve-year-old daughter Alisa receiving a $1,000 scholarship from the president of Zion's Bank. She won a book mark design contest. She also just won 1st place in the PTA reflections contest for her photograph and a musical composition. Congratulations Alisa!

11/11/2012

Sophia and the Gold Stone


Happy Birthday Sophia
Here is a story I wrote just for you.
Sophia and the Gold Stone

By

Grandma Baadsgaard

            One day Sophia was digging in her back yard with a hand shovel when she uncovered a gold stone. She picked it up and rubbed her fingers over the smooth surface. Then she ran into the house and yelled for her mom.

            “I found gold!” Sophia said holding up the gone stone for her mother to see. We’re rich. Now you don’t have to worry about money anymore.”

            Sophia’s mother took the stone and turned it over in her hand several times.

            “I think this is just a rock that got painted with gold spray paint honey,” her mother said. “It’s pretty but definitely not our ticket to riches.”

            Sophia’s smile turned into a frown.

            “How do you know for sure Mom?” Sophia said. “Maybe you don’t know everything.”

            Sophia’s mother thought about what her daughter said as she watched her walk away looking deflated. Then she suddenly remembered the iron pyrite she found when she was just a little girl. All the adults in her life told her it wasn’t worth anything. Back then Sophia’s mother didn’t think adults knew everything so she’d saved that shiny piece of metal in her jewelry box just in case they were wrong.

            Sophia’s mother walked into her bedroom and opened her chest-of-drawers. There in the back corner was her old jewelry box. She lifted the lid and looked inside. The iron pyrite was still shiny after all these years. Sophia mother took a deep breath and sighed. Then she went looking for her daughter. She found Sophia sprawled on her bed with the gold stone clutched tightly in her fingers.

            “I might be wrong,” Sophia’s mother said. “Adults don’t know everything you know. Sometimes we need children to teach us.”

            “No, you’re right,” Sophia said. “It is just a spray painted rock.”

            “You never know,” her mother answered. “Maybe we both forgot about magic and miracles.”

            Sophia smiled and took another look at her gold stone.

            The next day was Sophia’s Irish dancing class. Sophia was always too nervous to dance by herself in front of the other children in her class. Then she had an idea. She grabbed her gold stone and tucked it in her dance bag.

            When she pulled up in front of the dance studio, Sophia was nervous and her hands were sweaty. She knew her teacher was going to ask her to perform her solo and she was scared. Sophia took her mother’s hand and they walked into the studio together. Sophia changed into her dance shoes. Then she reached down into her bag and rubbed her fingers on her gold stone, closed her eyes and thought these words in her mind.

 Gold stones are lucky if you rub them just so

Then the scareds fly away and you just start to glow

            “It’s your turn now,” Sophia dance teacher said.

            Sophia took a deep breath and stepped lightly into the middle of the dance floor. Then she gracefully raised her arms, pointed her toes and began. She had never danced with such confidence. All the children cheered.

            “Wow!” her teacher said when Sophia was finished. “What happened to you today?”

            “Just a little magic,” Sophia answered.

            After class Sophia walked out the door with a big smile on her face. She reached down into her bag and rubbed her fingers on the gold stone.

 Gold stones are lucky if you rub them just so

Then the scareds fly away and you just start to glow

             “Hey, I have to give a talk in church this Sunday,” Sophia mother said. “Think you could let me borrow that gold stone of yours?”

            “Sure,” Sophia answered. “You’ll be great Mom.”
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11/07/2012

When Someone Loves You They Always Come Back

Happy Birthday Bradley
Here is a story I wrote just for you.
WHEN SOMEONE LOVES YOU
THEY ALWAYS COME BACK
by
Grandma Baadsgaard
 
 
When Bradley was just about to leave for the first day of school, his little sister Isabella cried. Bradley understood.
“I know you’ll miss me Izzy,” he said. “But don’t worry. I always come back.”
Izzy wiped her eyes and wrapped her arms around Bradley’s neck. She waved from the front room window as she watched him walk to the bus stop with his friend.
Izzy played with her toys and ate lunch. She asked her mother when Bradley was coming home 367 times.
“Don’t worry,” Izzy’s mother said. “Brad will always come back.”
Izzy wasn’t sure. She watched the clock all day waiting. Then Izzy saw a big yellow bus. She asked her mother if she could go to the bus stop. Her mother took her by the hand and they walked to the bus stop together.
When Bradley stepped off the bus, Izzy ran over to him and hugged him so tight he almost fell over. Izzy always gave gigantic, enormous hugs. That was one thing Brad liked most about his new sister – her hugs and the way she smiled. Bradley liked having a mom, dad and a little sister. While Izzy was hugging him, he remembered the court hearing when the nice lady judge said that he was officially adopted by his mom and dad. Then he remembered the same lady judge a while later when his little sister was officially adopted too. The judge gave them a soft teddy bear and a candy bar. His parents told the judge they felt like they won the lottery. Everybody smiled and hugged and took pictures. Bradley told the judge he was happy to have a real family.
Then one day Bradley found out that his grandpa in Texas died. His mother and father would have to spend a week traveling there to arrange for the funeral. Bradley worried. He liked sleeping in his own bed. The next day, he was staying with his aunt and sleeping on an air mattress.
“Don’t worry,” Bradley said to Izzy when she had a hard time going to sleep. “Mommy and Daddy will come back.”
It was a long week, first he stayed at one aunt’s house, then another and for the last few days, he stayed with his Utah grandma and grandpa. Sometimes he worried that something bad would happen to his mommy and daddy and they would die like his Texas grandpa.
“When people die, do they ever come back?” Bradley asked his Utah grandma.
“When people die, their spirit leaves their body and their body gets buried in the ground. Their spirit is still alive. They can’t come back into their body for a while. But there will be a time when their spirit and body come back together and we can see them. When someone loves you, they always come back.”
On the day when his parents were expected home, his Utah grandpa and grandma drove Bradley and Izzy back over to their house. Bradley thought his daddy and mommy would be there to greet him but they weren’t. Bradley worried.
Grandma saw the worried look on Bradley face.
“Don’t worry Brad,” they will be here any minute.”
Bradley waited and waited. He looked down the street and waited some more. Then he saw his parent’s car come around the corner. When Bradley’s mom and dad climbed out of the car, Bradley ran over and gave them an enormous hug.
“What is the matter?” his mother asked when she saw a tear in Bradley’s eye.
“Nothing,” Bradley answered. “I’m just happy you’re home.”
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