Caleb is in the hospital

My grandson Caleb is in the PICU at the Primary's Children's Hospital in SLC. 

Please send along your prayers.  He is a very sick little boy.

The Joys of Marriage and Family

My husband spoke at a Seminary Graduation this past Sunday.  He talked about the stress that comes with graduation and the sudden realization that you have to start making adult decisions for yourself. He told the students that there were many people who loved them and were praying for them. He told them that there were others praying for them that they couldn't see right now. Then he related an experience in his own life when he was their age.

My husband Ross was the janitor at the stake center when he graduated from high school. One of his assignments was to dust the pipes to the large organ. Most of the pipes were behind the ones you see in the chapel in a small private room. He told them that up to this point his decisions about what college to attend, an upcoming mission and what career to choose were foremost on his mind. But when he was alone in the pipe room, the words to his Patriarchal blessing came to his mind . . . they were, "Your greatest assignment in life will be that of raising a family. Through the teachings that you give to your children and seeing them grow into man and womanhood, believing in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, patterning their life in a way that they can do much good here, you will receive your greatest joy."

Right at that moment he fell to his knees and plead with his Father in Heaven to help him be a good father and husband.

Then he said, "Now a good wife and ten wonderful children later, I realize that there were ten people in heaven praying for me to make good decisions. Their pleading and my pleading with God opened the window to the greatest blessings in my life."

Both my husband and I know that our children prayed for us before they were born. Those prayers sustained us through those difficult adolescent years.  Now as we see our growing posterity we are filled with so much joy. We receive our greatest happiness by being sweethearts and our opportunity to be parents to our wonderful children and grandchildren.

Sharing A Tender Post By My Daughter April

My daughter April with her son Caleb

Tonight my nine-year-old son Matthew curled up on my lap and asked, "Mom, do you ever wish Caleb had a regular body?"

I answered, "Well, I think Caleb and his little body just go together- his body is a special part of his mission."

Matthew replied, "I know, but don't you ever wish he could be normal?"

I could see that he was tearing up and responded, "I bet you'd love to run around and play with Caleb like your other brothers."

"No, it's not really that." Matthew explained.


Then I knew.


"Matthew," I said, "Do you want to know what is the hardest part about Caleb's special body is for me? I worry that someday I'll have to say goodbye. I worry he might die."

Matthew broke down.

"Me too." He continued, "I just don't understand why Heavenly Father would give you some years of such great happiness, but then you might have even more years of sadness.... I just can't ever picture how it would be without Caleb...."


We both cried. I explained how thankful we are that we've had Caleb longer than any doctors ever thought. We talked about how it is a miracle we've been granted the blessing to care for Caleb and feel his pure spirit every day. We understand no matter what the future holds, our family can be together forever. I am eternally thankful for that knowledge and testimony -


but it's still hard.


It's hard to have the quiet worry of goodbye in the corners of our hearts. It's hard to know our time together on Earth might not be as long as we wish...

My grandson Mathew with his brother Caleb

Matthew prays every night that Caleb will live a long time. I do too. That's what we plan for! That's what we keep foremost in our minds. But tonight I was reminded that my carefree little Matthew- quietly worries. And my heart was a little broken.


If you want to read more about Caleb - you can find his story at http://winkfromheaven.blogspot.com/

Girl's Retreat at the Cabin

GIRL'S NIGHT OUT PHOTO SHOOT

I spent a wonderful evening with some of my daughters last weekend.  We hired an expensive photographer to come take our pictures . . . yeah right . . . April just held her camera with her outstretched arm and told us all to look our most beautiful selves.

How did our evening together go?  This is how my daughter April described it. . .  

"Last weekend my mom and some of my sisters had a little retreat at the cabin. It was a very solemn occasion. We wore our fancy clothes, lots of make up and worried about being perfect...

Um, RIGHT!


We piled on the jackets and blankets


enjoyed yummy food


and drank lots of hot chocolate.


We laughed and cried together until our eyes couldn't stay open any more.


We made flower hair clips with fabric scraps all morning long, then finally decided we should go see if our homes were smoking craters.


I'm so blessed that my mom and my sisters are my best friends.


I will cherish you forever!


(we missed the sisters who couldn't come-- don't worry, we'll do it again soon!) "

Don't Let Life Get You Down

DOWN HOME with Granny B

*  Don't complain about getting older.  The only alternative is dying young.

*  Most folks take life way too seriously.  Remember nobody gets out of here alive.

 *  Add years to your life and life to your years by preventing a hardening of your bad attitudes.

*  It is not easy to find happiness in yourself but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.

 *  When life gets hard - throw your fist into the air and yell, "I refuse to be intimidated by reality!"

Happy Birthday Libby Lou!!!

This is a special poem written for my granddaughter Libby on her fourth birthday. 

Happy Birthday Libby.  Your Grandma Baadsgaard loves you very much!

LIBBY LIKES

Libby likes to sing

A happy birthday song

Then play in her swimsuit

All day long

Libby likes to smile

And gives the biggest hugs

But she doesn’t like to touch

All those awful bugs

Libby likes her blanket
And her fairy tale book

She makes her own bed now

Before Mommy takes a look

Libby likes to dance

And be the wedding girl

With her best friend Cienna

She takes a stately twirl

Libby likes her new friends

So she waves good-bye

She’s off to Joy School

Princess backpack at her side

But when the day is over

And Libby rubs her eyes

She kisses her Daddy on the cheek

And breaths a gentle sigh.

Building Nests

In an old cherry tree just outside my kitchen window, I watch robins build a nest for their young every spring.  

Nest building is a careful and deliberate job.  For days the robin hops around my garden carefully collecting bits of mud and tiny pieces of grass and twigs.  

One sunny morning it happens - tiny eggs appear inside the feathered cocoon.  If I foolishly suppose the mother is away and climb a ladder to get a closer look at the delicate blue orbs -  the mother, who is always near, suddenly swoops and dives around my head to protect her young. 

Then comes warming and waiting.  One bright morning, quite unexpectedly, I see tiny heads and beaks bob up and down above the matted mud and straw.  These are busy days - searching for worms - constant feedings.  

Soon the young birds with new feathers take their first awkward free fall from the nest.  For several days the mother stays near by keeping guard - watching, teaching, and protecting her young from preditors as they gradually learn the secrets of flight.

Mothers . . . nest builders, guardians, nourishers and teachers of the next generation.  Mothers . . . inspiring, uplifting with gentle watchcare as their young find their wings . . .  and learn to fly.   

Did I Lose A Day Or Am I Losing My Mind?




DOWN HOME with Granny B

I'm starting to wonder if I'm losing it.  Maybe it's not full blown Alzheimer's but I think it's halfzheimers.  Thought I was doing so great today . . . got the hubby and children off to work and school, did my workout video and cleaned the house - then off to orchestra.  But when I get there. . .  no one else is there.  I'm thinking . . . didn't I read the e-mail carefully.  Is this where we are suppose to rehearse today?  Where is everybody?  How strange.  Everybody forgot but me?  Oh, well . . . I'll just go shopping instead. 

It took me the rest of the day to realize that it was Tuesday and not Wednesday.  Nobody was at orchestra practice because we practice on Wednesday.  Why did I think it was Wednesday when it was Tuesday?  I don't know.  But I did ask my husband to tell me what day of the week it is before he leaves for work from now on. 

Happy Mother's Day to Women Everywhere

You might think these words would make me the happiest . . .

"You just won the lottery!"

"Your book just made the New York Times Best Seller List!"

But these are the words I treasure most . . .

"I love you Mom."

"I love you Grandma."

"I love you Sweetheart"

There is no treasure so rare and precious as the love of a child.

Happy Mother's Day

to all women everywhere
who choose to
nurture,

encourage,

uplift,

teach

and love. 

What is the true measure of a year - or a life? 

 As we willingly care for the needs of those around us,

 we are renewed and reborn,

for real mother love transforms both the lover and the beloved.  The true value of a year or a life

is not measured by the number of our children

or by our seasons

but by our personal capacity 

to love. 

Each woman's contribution is meaningful;

each choice to love is significant and profound.

Grow Old With Me . . . The Best is Yet to Be




DOWN HOME with Granny B

OK so this is what I'd like to know. Why does it seem that every woman my age is so depressed about growing older?  What is wrong with wrinkles, grey hair and a soft tummy?  Frankly I think all this nonsense about dying your hair, getting a face lift and a tummy tuck is totally missing the point.  Growing old is wonderful.  Why not embrace grandma hood?  Wrinkles, grey hair and soft tummies are beautiful if seen through the eyes of love.

My grandson Liam thinks I'm wonderful just the way I am.



My sweetheart thinks I'm still attractive. . .

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."


Audrey Hepburn

Happy Birthday Logan

This is a special poem written for my grandson Logan on his third birthday. 
Happy Birthday Logan! Your grandma loves you very much!

WHEN LOGAN

by

Janene Baadsgaard

Alias Granny B

When Logan wakes up with the sun
He climbs off the top bunk bed
Finds his dinosaur T-shirt
And pulls it over his head

When Logan finds a shiny rock

And holds it in his hand

He has to throw it very hard

To see where it will land

When Logan finds his airplane

He holds it in his hand

Then off it flies through the air

To see wherever it might land

When Logan goes to the park

He finds the scariest slide

Then climbs so high he touches the sky

And watches a bird fly by

When Logan finds a long stick

He holds it in his hand

Then fights a duel to the death

With his big brother, mighty Sam

When Logan’s feeling tired

He finds his favorite book

And snuggles close to momma

She turns pages so he can look

When Logan goes to bed at night

His mouth opens in a yawn

Then he says his prayers

And Mommy sings a song

“Logan is my treasure

So dear and strong and brave

For him I’ll fight any dragon

My precious boy to save.”

Then Logan closes his eyes and sighs

And soon he’s fast asleep

Robot in one hand, a flashlight in the other

His dreams are rich and deep

Easter Celebrations in my own Backyard

Amy Graduates From BYU

My daughter Amy is graduating from BYU today.  Amy's experiences with her nephew Caleb who was born without a brain and the time she spent volunteering with special needs children in high school awakened a place in her heart and gave her the desire to go into special education.  Amy has a kind and loving nature and a calm and reassuring presence.  Just as she was finishing up her student teaching, a doctor ordered bed rest because of preterm labor.  Several months later, Tessa was born full-term and healthy.  Her husband Aden will be finishing his pharmacy degree in a few weeks also.  This couple has been working SO hard for many years.  I'm so proud of you both Amy and Aden and love you very much.  Congratulations!

The Guernsay Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a great read

I just finished reading a book that was an absolute delight and richly satisfying.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is told entirely through letters.  The plot centers around the German occupation of the Guernsey island during World War II.  I have to say this book has made it to my favorite list.  I highly recommend it. 

The Miracle of Spring

It has been a tenuous spring this year . . . courageous spring flowers suddenly blanketed in snow.  Yet always the storm clouds part and the sun shines through once again.  Winter's grasp never stays.  Glorious spring has come. As I contemplate Easter I hear these words . . .
"Each of us will have our own Fridays - those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces.  We will all experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put back together again.  We will all have our Fridays.  But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death - Sunday will come.  In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come.  In this life or the next, Sunday will come."  - Joseph B. Wirthlin