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 

Planning For Retirement

DOWN HOME with Granny B

You've probably read all those magazine or newspaper articles about planning for retirement.  The advice they offer is almost always about money . . . but money is only one thing to consider for a happy old age.  When was the last time you read an article that told you to go for a walk with your sweetheart or play ball in the backyard with your son if your want to live well in your golden years? 

No amount of money can compensate for loving relationships. 

I spent this weekend up at our cabin listening to the exuberant screams of my children and grandchildren careening down the mountain side on sleighs and watching them dig snow caves and build snow slides by moonlight.

You can't buy that. 

     

Orchestra Concert Tonight

If you're looking for something fun to do tonight, check out my orchestra concert at 7:00 at the LDS Lindon Stake Center 1050 East 100 North in Lindon.  It's free and open to the public!

THE REAL REASON I WRITE IS . . . YOU

I've had a number of people approach me lately and ask if I would sign a copy of my new book for them.  Often they seem embarrassed, like they might be bothering me or something.  In my heart I wish each one of those kind people knew that their request gives me great joy.

Making a one-to-one personal connection with a reader is why I write.  Writing is a solitary and lonely occupation . . . just me and my computer in my office.  An author's life also comes with a lot of rejection.  Yes I have a pile of rejection letters and unpublished manuscripts.  In addition to that, many publishers these days are having a hard time making a profit so the small piece of the pie they offer to the author keeps going down and down.  So, in reality, I could work a minimum wage job and earn more.

Every time I'm tempted to give up on writing, a thoughtful individual will contact me and tell me how much a few words I've written have meant to them. Though they are unaware, their personal contact and kind words are my real pay.  So I want to thank you, my readers, for your words of encouragement or for asking me to sign a book for you.  You simply can not know how much you mean to me.  You are the reason I write . . . not for the masses . . . for you.

For example, the other day I heard from Krista.          

Dear Janene-

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you thank you for your priceless new book, For Every Mother. Over the weekend, I purchased 4 copies- one for my mom, mother in law, my sister, and one for myself. I have just finished the first section about the Spring (which happens to be the season I am in now, with 3 small children at home.) I have been sneaking away every possible free moment I have had to get some reading in. This book has really moved me so far, and brought me a renewed sense of purpose and hope and remembrance of the importance of the work I am now doing. It means so much coming from someone who has been there, and done that. Many of your touching anecdotes have brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. I just wanted to say thank you, and I can't wait to finish the book. I also can't wait until Mother's Day, when I will present these priceless gifts to the most special women in my life. You have a true talent-this book is a treasure.

Thanks again,

Krista Chamberlain

Dear Krista,
Thank you so much for writing to me.  You are the reason I write.  When an author and a reader make a personal connection we become deeply satisfying and endearing friends.
With great love and appreciation,

Janene

Sometimes laughter is better than tears.

DOWN HOME with Granny B

When you're my age, you know life can be tough . . . but if you're still alive you have a good reason to keep dancing.  When you're a grandma you know that most of the things you worried about when you were younger didn't actually happen.  So you look for people who help you see life upside down and inside out.  You value the contributions of zany people.  If you're not familiar with the work of Steven Wright you might want to be.  He's the famous erudite scientist who once said: "I woke up one morning, and all of my stuff had been stolen and replaced by exact duplicates."

Here are a few more of his gems:

I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Borrow money from pessimists - they don't expect it back.

Half the people you know are below average.

82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now.

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.

If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

Marjorie Hinckley once said, "I'd rather laugh than cry because crying gives me a headache."  So if you're having a hard day, choose laughter.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

this is a special poem

written for my grandson Andrew

on his FIRST birthday

Happy Birthday!

Grandma loves you SO much

ANDREW IS READY

by

Grandma Baadsgaard

alias Granny B

Andrew is ready with a great big moo

to be a brown cow at the farmer’s pet zoo

Andrew is ready with a great big sigh

to flap his wings like a bird up high

Andrew is ready with a great big neigh

to be a brown horse going my way

Andrew is ready with a great big baah

to be the sweetest lamb you ever saw

Andrew is ready with a great big laugh

To stretch his neck like a spotted giraffe

Now Andrew is ready with a great big smile

To snuggle with mommy and hold still a while

Andrew is ready with a great big yawn

To go to bed and dream all night long.

Soon he wakes up grinning like the sun

A new day begins - Andrew’s on the run

Grandma Envy

DOWN HOME with Granny B

In my younger days I used to have what I now lovingly refer to as grandma envy.  I figured the life of a grandma was a piece of cake.  I mean as soon as the baby needs a diaper change or starts to cry, you hand them back to mom . . . right?  When your grown children ask you to do something you don't want to do all you have to do is tell them you are too busy darning your false teeth and flossing your socks . . . right? 



Well now that I am a grandma I realize that life on the other side of the hill is not quite the way I had it figured.  One day my precious little granddaughter approached me with the dearest little outstretched arms.  Then she looked up at me, smiled and sweetly said, "I like my other grandma better because she buys me more presents."

When I was younger I planned to spend my mature years eating icecream for breakfast, wearing sweat pants and taking a nap whether I felt like it or not.  You see life always looks greener on the other side of parenthood - but the fact is . . . problems don't go away . . . they simply change  . . . into new  problems.

I like what George Burns said, "With a positive attitude and a little bit of luck, there's no reason you can't live to be a hundred.  Once you've done that, you've really got it made, because very few people die over a hundred."

My friend told me about a recent day babysitting her grandson.  After the grandson ran into the street right in front of a moving car, she chased him down the road, grabbed him by the hair and frantically yelled, "Don't you ever, ever do that again!"

Bug-eyed, her shaking grandson looked up into her red panting face and replied, 'Oh Grandma!  I think you need to take a nap!"

So hang in there all your frazzled parents.  Some day you will have silver in your hair, gold in your teeth and lead in your pants . . . and that is what a rich life is all about.

Channel 2 Television Interview

Hosts for the Fresh Living Segments

I drove up to Salt Lake City to be interviewed on Channel 2 this past weekend.  All the people who worked at the station were so warm and welcoming it helped me feel a little less nervous.  I have new respect for all the pressure that television crews are under to bring us the news and feature stories like this one.  They are real professionals.  To see my channel 2 interview click here.

Down Home with Granny B . . . About to Begin

My daughter Arianne has a beautiful blog about mindful parenting called Still Parenting.

Arianne is an accomplished and award winning writer and photographer.  Her blog is filled with creative activities for children and lots of fun ideas for home schooling families. 

Arianne interviewed me recently and took a few photos for her creative mama series.

She also introduces a new series I'm starting on this blog called Down Home with Granny B.



If you'd like to take a look click here.

I'm Appearing on TV and Have Two Book Signings This Week!

I have a couple of fun things coming up this week.  On Friday March 25th I'll be driving up to SLC to tape a television interview on Channel 2.  We'll be talking about my new book For Every Mother . . . Celebrating all Stages and Ages of Mothering. 
The interview will air at 1:00.  Hope you can tune in.

Also I'll be signing my new book this Saturday March 26th in two different Seagull Book Stores.  The first signing will be from 10-12 at American Fork Seagull Book Store.  The second signing will be at the Spanish Fork Seagull Book Store from 12:20 -2:00.  I hope you will be able to come.  Seagull has the book on sale right now for $10.49.  It would make a great Mother's Day present for all the mothers in your life. 

Sammy's Inexplicable Day

Sammy’s Inexplicable Day

by

Janene Baadsgaard

(alias Granny B)

(This is a special story written for my grandson Sammy on his seventh birthday.)

When Sammy woke up on his seventh birthday he didn’t know that this was going to be an inexplicable day. Sammy crawled out of bed, rubbed his eyes, yawned and walked into the bathroom.

When Sammy looked in the mirror, he saw Karate Khan staring back at him. Karate Kahn was dressed in a loose fitting white shirt and pants and had a black belt tied around his waist. Sammy’s eyes popped open. Karate Kahn’s eyes popped open. Sammy yawned. Karate Kahn yawned. Sammy poked his finger up his nose. Karate Kahn pocked his finger up his nose.

“Ahhh!!!” Sammy yelled running down the stairs.

Sammy rushed around the corner and found his mother pouring milk into his bowl of corn flakes in the kitchen.

“Mom,” Sammy said. “I’m Karate Kahn!”

Sammy’s mom looked at him sympathetically and smiled.

“I know you want karate lessons but we can’t afford them right now,” his mother answered.

“No Mom. Look at me. I’m Karate Kahn. Can’t you see my black belt?”

Sammy’s mother turned and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“I just see your pajamas,” she answered.

“What?!” Sammy said looking down. All Sammy saw was his pajamas. “Oh, Mom. You made the magic go away because you don’t believe me.”

“Sammy. You’re too old for make believe.”

“It’s not make believe Mom,” Sammy said. “It’s real.”

Sammy sat down on the stool next to his sister Sophia and ate his soggy corn flakes. Then he grabbed his little sister by the hand and climbed the stairs back to the bathroom. When Sammy looked in the mirror he saw Karate Kahn again.

“Look Sophie!” Sammy said pointing in the mirror. Can you see I’m Karate Kahn?”

“Yes!” Sophia said. “I’m Princess Perplexity. Do you see?” Sammy looked in the mirror. He saw Sophia in her pajamas. “Princess Perplexity is wearing a gold crown and a sparkly dress.”

“I think I can see her,” Sammy said. “What color is the dress?”

“Purple,” Sophia said. “Purple with primrose rubies and voilet trim.”

“I can see it!” Sammy said.

Just then Sammy and Sophia’s mother walked into the bathroom.

“You two need to brush your teeth and get dressed,” she said.

“I’m Karate Kahn,” Sammy said.

“I’m Princess Perplexity,” Sophia added. “Look in the mirror and you shall see dear mother.”

Sammy’s mother looked in the mirror. All she saw was Sammy and Sophia in their pajamas. Then she scratched her head.

“Oh . . . now I know what the problem is,” Sammy’s mother said. “When I was a little girl I used to go in my closet then grab the clothes hanger pole with both hands. Next I’d climb up the back closet wall with my bare feet and flip over the top. When I came out of my closet, I could be anybody I wanted to be. I just need to go into the closet. I’ll be right back.”

Sammy and Sophie’s eyes popped open. They had never seen their mother behave like this before. They watched as she stepped into the closet and closed the door. They heard thumping and bumping. When their mother emerged from the closet, she was wearing a silky cloth draped over her head and she also had a jewel hanging from her forehead.

“I am the Queen of Sheba,” Sammy’s mother said, “and you cannot steal my kingdom mighty Kahn. Get ready for a duel to the death.”

Karate Kahn leaped into position. Then he bared his teeth and formed hands of steel ready to karate crunch.

“Hi-yah Ha!” Karate Kahn yelled.

After a mighty duel that included shower curtain rips and momentous leaps over the toilet, the Queen of Sheba fell dead on the floor. In a sudden display of great remorse for what he had done, Karate Kahn knelt down at the queen’s side and wept.

“What will we do without the Queen of Sheba to pour our corn flakes?” Karate Kahn sobbed.

“There is nothing to fear,” Princess Perplexity said grabbing the toilet plunger. “I will bring her back to life with my magic spell. Watch this! Alakazab and fiddle-de-beeba, come back to life, Queen of Sheba!”

Slowly and with excellent stage presence, the Queen of Sheba awakened from the dead and stood next to the sink with her newly donned towel cloak. Then she thrust her hand high in the air and made her first command.

“I decree that this is national eat cake and ice cream day,” she said.

Karate Kahn, Princess Perplexity and the Queen of Sheba marched down stairs to prepare for their feast. Before they could eat their first bite, Loofy Liam screamed from his swamp crib and Loony Logan howled like a wolf from his potty chair.

“We must rescue our loyal subjects in distress,” Princess Perplexity said.

“Have no fear. I will save Liam and Logan,” Karate Kahn said.

“Yes,” the Queen of Sheba said. “Go brave warrior. Let loose your mighty skills. Vanquish swamp cribs and pernicious potty chairs.”

Karate Kahn courageously marched into the fray. Suddenly the Queen of Sheba and Princess Perplexity heard loud shrieking, thumping and bumping. Then fell an eerie silence. Finally in walked Karate Kahn with Liam held high above his head and Logan trailing close behind.

“We are all safe and together at last,” Karate Kahn said as trumpets blared.

“Let us eat cake!” Queen of Sheba commanded. “For today is the birthday of the mighty Karate Kahn.”

So they all sat down and ate cake and ice cream until they could eat no more.

Happy Birthday Sammy.  Grandma Baadsgaard loves you very much!

A Teenager's Letter to MOM

Dear MOM,

I don't want to clean up my bedroom

I like to live in this mess

I don't want to pick up my clothes either

I just want to watch TV and rest

So get off my back would you mother

I don't need clean underwear

I don't need to find my homework

I don't need to sleep either, I swear

So just close my door and be grateful

That you don't have to live like that

I'll let you know when the health department

Comes and forces out all the bats

You say it looks like a bomb hit

Cause there's stuff all over the place

But I say it's just teenage artistic expression

And the pizza bones are not a disgrace

Someday when I'm grownup and famous

You'll say, "Why I used to her Mom.

I thought she'd grow up to be a big slob

But look she's actually got some charm."