3/31/2016
3/28/2016
Birthday Story for a Six-Year-Old
ANDREW
AND HIS DINOSAUR
by
Grandma
Baadsgaard
Happy birthday
Andrew. I love you so.
Andrew had a plastic dinosaur named
Spike. He liked to play with Spike when he took his bath each night.
One day while he was splashing in
the tub his mother said, “If you leave your dinosaur in the bathwater, you
never know what will happen.”
Andrew looked at the small plastic
dinosaur in his hand. He was curious. He crawled out the bathtub and threw his
dinosaur back in the water. When he woke up the next day and went into the
bathroom, he saw that his small plastic dinosaur was now big enough to fill the
bathtub.
“Now where are we going to put
that?” his mother said when he looked into the bathroom.
“I wanted to see what would happen,”
Andrew answered.
That day at school, Andrew told his
friend Kyle about the giant dinosaur in his bathtub.
“Hey, does that mean you don’t have
to take a bath anymore?” his friend asked.
“I hope so,” Andrew said.
“Hey I have a swimming pool at my
house. Why don’t we put your dinosaur in there and see what happens,” Andrew’s
friend said.
That evening Andrew, his mother,
father and all his sisters hoisted the plastic dinosaur from the bathtub and
walked it over to Kyle’s house.
They gave a big heave-ho and threw
in in the pool. Ker plunk.
“I’ll come back after school and see
what happens,” Andrew said to his friend.
When Andrew went to Kyle’s house
after school, the back yard had become a jungle filled with prehistoric
animals. His dinosaur had grown too big for the swimming pool and was walking
around in the jungle looking for Andrew.
“I’m right here,” Andrew said
walking toward Spike. “I like you better alive.”
Spike roared but Andrew wasn’t
scared because he knew they were friends. He walked right up to Spike and
patted him on the nose.
“I always knew you were such an
awesome creature,” Andrew said. “Now you can walk and eat and roar and
everything. Just remember not to eat people. They don’t like that.”
Spike nodded and nuzzled his head
next to Andrew.
Pretty soon everyone knew about
Andrew and his dinosaur Spike. The T.V. people came to the jungle and
interviewed Andrew.
“We hear you are the only one in the
whole world who can tame dinosaurs,” the reporter said. “How do you do that
young man?”
Every day after school, Andrew went
to Kyle’s house and played with Spike. Soon the whole world knew about the
amazing boy Andrew and his best friend Spike.
One day when Andrew went to Kyle’s
house to play with Spike, the jungle had disappeared and Spike had shrunk back
down to a small plastic dinosaur that could fit in the palm of his hand. Andrew
was sad . . . but he had an idea. He walked home and placed Spike on top of his
chest of drawers. He has always wanted to travel to the moon. He glanced around
his room and spied a space station he built from inter-connecting plastic
building blocks. Now Andrew knew what he wanted to play with in the bathtub
that night.
“Don’t forget to take your space
station out of the tub when you’re done,” his father said while Andrew was
taking a bath. “You never know what might happen.”
3/20/2016
Letter for my Grandson Samuel on his Twelfth Birthday
Happy Birthday Sam. You’re turning twelve today. This is an important birthday because you will receive the Aaronic priesthood. The priesthood is the power of God, which is given to man to act in His name. Always remember that your authority comes through your ordination but your power comes through personal obedience and worthiness. The priesthood is a gift from God that blesses all His children. Your Heavenly Father now trusts you enough to give you the responsibility to help others. Up until now your parents, extended family and church leaders have been taking care of you and helping you grow and learn. Now it is your turn. For example, you will be able to pass the sacrament for the first time. Isn’t it wonderful that God allows you to be part of this most sacred event?
What a
great blessing it is to hold the priesthood. I hope you take the time to go to
a quiet private place and pray to your Heavenly Father and ask him how you can
magnify your priesthood. Praying and asking questions has been a great way for
God to send messages to us. In fact, did you know that when the Prophet Joseph Smith was translating The
Book of Mormon that he found a part
that mentioned baptism? On May 15, 1829, he and his scribe Oliver Cowdery went
into the woods to ask God about baptism. As they prayed, a messenger from
heaven descended in a cloud of light. This messenger was John the Baptist, the
prophet who baptized Jesus Christ. John the Baptist, now a resurrected being,
laid his hands on Joseph and Oliver and conferred upon each of them the Aaronic
Priesthood, which had been taken from the earth during the Apostasy. With this
authority, Joseph and Oliver were able to baptize one another. John the Baptist
was chosen by Heavenly Father to prepare the way for the Savior and to baptize him. John did this through the authority of the Priesthood of Aaron.
After
baptism, a sacred experience and opportunity comes to the members of the Church
each week as we partake of the sacrament. This is how we renew our covenants
with our Father in Heaven and take upon us the name of his Son and promise to
keep his commandments. Those holding the Aaronic Priesthood have the sacred
privilege and honor of preparing, blessing, and passing these holy emblems of Jesus
Christ’s body and blood. God wants us to repent, come to Him with a broken heart and a
contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament. When we renew our baptismal
covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In
this way we are made clean and can have His Spirit to be with us. That is why
it is so important to take the sacrament each week.
As you know, the offices of the Aaronic
Priesthood are bishop, priest, teacher, and deacon. With the authorization of
the presiding priesthood leader, deacons pass the sacrament. They also help the
bishop watch over Church members by giving service and assist with temporal
matters such as gathering fast offerings for the poor. Teachers perform all the
duties of deacons and also receive other opportunities to serve. They prepare
the sacramental bread and water and serve as home teachers. Priests may perform
all the duties of deacons and teachers. With the authorization of the presiding
priesthood leader, they may also bless the sacrament, baptize, and ordain
others to the offices of priest, teacher, and deacon.
I have
noticed that you have a big heart Sam and that you love deeply. You are a true
and loyal friend. Remember that the best friend you will ever have is Jesus
Christ. You have amazing talents and abilities and I know that you will use
them wisely. As you serve in your priesthood responsibilities I hope you
remember that serving your own family is also important. The most important
exercise of the priesthood takes place in the family. Your parents and brothers
and sister really need you to love them and serve them as only you can.
You
stand at the beginning a life-time of service. As you serve in the Aaronic
Priesthood, it will prepare you to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, receive
the blessings of the temple, serve a full-time mission, be a loving husband and
father, and continue in lifelong service to the Lord. I love you so much Sam. I
have so enjoyed watching you grow up and become such a wonderful young man. I
will love you forever and be your biggest fan.
love,
love,
Grandma
Baadsgaard
3/19/2016
3/09/2016
Tea Party With the Young Women
3/08/2016
Story for a Five-Year-Old
TESSA’S
BEST FRIENDS
by
Grandma
Baadsgaard
Happy
Birthday to a wonderful five-year-old I love with all my heart.
“I’m lonely and bored,” said Tessa to her mom and dad. “I
wish I had a friend to play with.”
“Look no longer,” said her mom. “I’ll be your friend.”
“You’re not my friend,” Tessa answered. “You’re just my
mom.”
“I’ll play with you,” said her dad.
“You’re not my friend. You’re just my dad,” Tessa answered.
So Tessa’s dad found a top hat and cane and her mom found a
tutu and they both tap danced while they sang this song arm in arm ….
A
friend is someone who will stay with you a while
A
friend is someone who will play with you and smile
A
friend is someone who sees your best side first
A
friend is someone who makes your smile burst
A friend is someone who
shares a bite with you
A
friend is someone who lets you wear their shoes
A
friend is someone who shares their treats and snacks
A
friend is someone who calls you just to chat
A
friend is someone who always has a hug and kiss
A
friend is someone who when they’re gone – you miss
A
friend is someone who walks right at your side
A
friend is someone who takes your mistakes in stride
A
friend is someone who never leaves your heart
A
friend is someone you love even when you’re apart.
Then Tessa
and her Mom and Dad joined hands and danced in a circle until they all fell
down. Next, Tessa picked up her dad’s top hat and slid into her mom’s tutu then
tap danced while she sang this song . . .
Friends
make you happy when you’re bored or sad
That
is why my best friends are my mom and dad.
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