Spanish Fork Pioneer Cemetery

I love spending time at the Spanish Fork Pioneer Cemetery when we are celebrating Pioneer Days in July.
This is the monument that we erected with the names we had painstakingly researched and found to be buried here.

Because many of my ancestors settled this area I honor all their hard work and sacrifice that made Spanish Fork what it is today.

Replica headstones mark the places where
pioneers to this area were buried.
Every year for the 24th celebration
each grave is decorated with flowers.

This beautiful statue represents the pioneer families who lived and died here. Many of the burials in the cemetery are babies and young children. When I was discussing with the creator of this statue what I had in vision for this statue, I told him about the babies and young children who were buried here and asked him to include them in his work.  

Notice the young girl looking up at her parents holding her doll while her mother holds her baby and her father holds her mother. It was love of family and the Savior that gave these pioneers the courage to go on amid hardship, deprivations and untimely death.

These are the words I wrote for a talk
I gave at the dedication of this holy place. My husband Ross gave the dedicatory prayer.

My family loves to tell ancestor stories while we are sitting on the bench with this scene in front of us.

Nathaniel Jordan is my ancestor 
who died was buried here. 
His wife Lois Coon 
had recently lost her first husband 
because he was killed
while serving in the Mormon Battalion. 
Nathaniel's first wife died at Winter Quarters
so Nathaniel and Lois married 
then crossed the plains together 
and settled in Spanish Fork.
Nathaniel died two years later.

FIRST THE FIRE . . . NOW THE FLOOD

Last summer fires raged all around Loafer Canyon where we have our cabin. With the help of firefighters from all over the country all the cabins were miraculously spared. However on August 8, 2019 heavy rains swept through the Wasatch Front dumping huge amounts of of water on the burn scar causing flash flooding and massive mud slides in Loafer Canyon. These pictures will give you a glimpse of the devastation that followed.

Introducing Simon Kent Poffenberger

My newest grandson Simon was born on November 3rd.
I held him in my arms moments after his birth.

This is my daughter Aubrey holding her new baby in her arms.

I think he likes it here.

Simon has a peaceful calm personality.

Baadsgaard Reunion 2018

Baadsgaard reunions rock!  My wonderful husband and seven awesome sisters!

Janene Wolsey Baadsgaard - Growing Up Pictures

Fourth of July Celebrations

My daughter Arianne Baadsgaard Cope
is an amazing fiber arts specialist
who volunteers at the  Colonial Days Celebration.
Here she is demonstrating spinning.
She uses various fibers such as the wool from sheep or the fluff from her bunny to spin.
She also takes the skeins she completes on a the spinning wheel and weaves on her loom to fashion a variety of wares.
She lovingly keeps alive the skills of her ancestors.
Below are her beautiful children enjoying the whole experience.

Logan and Liam listening to the story of how our country was created.

Samuel and Logan with the re-en-actors firing wooden guns. 

Sophia with her knitting

Girls can fire guns too.

Logan and Samuel with their wooden guns.

Gideon writing on his slate tablet.