Celebrating Life with my daughter Alisa

Thirteen years ago today my daughter Alisa was born.
 I was 46 years old and knew to the core of my soul that her conception and birth was a gift from God.
It was not an easy pregnancy. We had one scare after another with bleeding so bed rest was ordered.
Medical professionals labeled me "high risk" because of my age and ordered several tests.
One doctor reported the results of one test to me over the phone. He said that it was almost certain that my baby had severe genetic abnormalities and told me to consider an abortion. He said I should consider the life altering consequences of a deformed child not just for me but for my entire family if the pregnancy wasn't terminated.
To me, this doctor's words felt dark, hollow and devoid of hope. How could he declare my child as deserving or undeserving of life? I knew this new  life inside me was sacred and precious.
When I told my husband the doctor's warning he simply replied, "It doesn't matter to me what shape our daughter is in. I'll always love her and take good care of her."
The medical professionals shook their heads and made notations on my chart.
The nurse who assisted with the emergency c-section read my chart and whispered in my ear, "It says here that your baby probably has Downs. I have a little Downs boy at home and I'll tell you as soon as I see her."
As they raised my daughter Alisa in the air, the doctor said, "The placenta isn't even attached. I don't know how she could be alive."
But I knew. Alisa was and is a miracle. Each child who is born is a miracle.
"She's fine," the nurse said as she whispered in my ear. "She's beautiful."
I fully expected to receive a child into my heart and into my home that would need special care. That she was declared fine wasn't a relief, but a surprise.
Years later my daughter April called me after an ultrasound and said, "Mom, I'm going to have little boy but they can't find his brain."
My daughter received the same advice as I did years earlier. She also decided to listen to her heart. When Caleb was born on my birthday, he was welcomed with love. His birth, life, and mission proved to be life altering for our entire extended family in a deeply spiritual way. I can't fully describe the profound effect Caleb had on so many people. From Caleb we learned that the sacred gift of life should never be taken for granted. We learned that we are valuable and loved not just for what we do but for who we are. We know that the spirit inside our bodies is eternal - has existed before we were born and will exist again after we die.
One day I was visiting with a friend who is a nurse in labor and delivery and telling her about the profound positive impact Caleb had on our family. She went white.
"I follow doctor's orders to end pregnancies with children like Caleb all the time," she said. "Oh I wish those scared women could talk to you or your daughter before they make their decision."

So today as I celebrate Alisa's 13th birthday and think about my precious grandson Caleb who lived seven miraculous years - I am filled with deep gratitude and joy. If we had listened to the wisdom of the world, my daughter and I would not have been the recipients of a sacred gift that has filled our lives with deep meaning and lasting joy. All life is reason for great celebration.
This post has been reprinted in several places. Check here and here.
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Celebrating Life - with my grandson Caleb

My daughter April was asked to share her story of celebrating life here.

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WINTER'S WISDOM teaches us that sometimes the answer is . . . to wait

"But they that wait upon the lord 

shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings as eagles; 

they shall run, and not be weary; 

and they shall walk, and not faint." Isa. 40:31   

Waiting on the Lord . . . 

deepening discipleship

broken heart
contrite spirit

yielded will

consecration of self
peace

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The Big Magic of True Love Lasts Forever

Isabella and the Magic Scarf

by

Grandma Baadsgaard

Izzy, this is a special story I wrote just for you on your sixth birthday.

I love you very much.

I hope you keep the magic going forever.

            On the day Isabella turned six years old, her Granny gave her a soft pick and blue scarf, mittens and hat.

            “Thank you Grandma,” Isabella said as she took her gifts from the gift bag. “I like blue and pink.”

Then Isabella threw her arms around her grandma and hugged her so tight her head almost popped off.

“Now remember,” her grandma whispered in her ear, “This is a magic scarf, hat and gloves.”

            Isabella was puzzled and asked, “How are they magic Grandma?”

            “That is a secret only you can discover,” her Grandma answered.

            After everyone sang, “Happy Birthday,” Isabella blew out the candles on the cake, and made a wish. While everyone was eating cake, Isabella tried on every single princess dress in her closet and she had a lot of them.

            Each time Isabella emerged from her bedroom and twirled in front of her family, they oooed and awed and clapped. Then everybody went home and Isabella’s Mommy told her it was time for bed.

            The next day Isabella ate breakfast, brushed her teeth, got dressed and put on her warm coat. Then she saw the birthday scarf, gloves and hat sitting on the floor next to her bed and she remembered what her grandma whispered in her ear. So she put them on. Then she ran outside into the cold winter morning. The scarf felt like a warm hug around her neck, the gloves took the bite off the cold air on her fingers and the hat kept her warm inside from escaping through the top of her head.

            Isabella waited and waited for fairy dust to shoot out her fingers or toes, not nothing else happened.

            “Hurry up or you’ll be late for school,” Isabella’s mother said.

            Day after day, Isabella put on the warm hat, gloves and hat and waited for the magic but it didn’t come.

            The next time her grandma came to visit, Isabella pulled her aside and whispered in her ear.

            “Grandma the scarf, gloves and hat don’t work.”

            “How do you feel when you put them on?” her grandma asked.

            “I feel warm and I think about you,” Isabella answered.

            “Oh, so you did find the magic,” her grandma answered.

            “What do you mean Grandma?”

            “Because I love you so much I found a magic way to wrap my arms around you, keep you warm and help you think about me. It’s works. It’s magic.

            “But I can’t fly and fairy dust never shoots my fingers or toes,” Isabella said.

            “Oh that is just small magic,” her grandma answered. “The biggest magic of all of the warm feeling of loving someone and having them love you right back.”

            Isabella wrapped her arms around her grandma neck, lovingly placed her tiny fingers around her grandma’s wrinkled hands then patted the top of her head to keep the warm from escaping from the top of her head.

            “I just gave you the magic right back,” Isabella said.

            “That is how we keep the magic going forever,” her grandma answered.

            So Isabella and Grandma just kept hugging and hugging each other whenever they saw each other. And the hugging didn't stop there. Isabella kept hugging everybody that she loved so the big magic lasted forever.Pin It

Biting Off More Than You Can Chew

Sometimes life requires us to bite off more than we can chew.

When you feel overwhelmed with the task at hand . . . 

A big smile and a good attitude makes all the difference.

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January 6th - Day for Celebrating





Daniel with his mother Karen

Daniel is two months old

Daniel with Jordan after his blessing

Jordan and Karen with their beautiful family

Three generations

Grandma and Grandpa Baadsgaard with baby Daniel

This past Sunday was a remarkable day - a day for celebrating the gift of life. The older I get the more I am deeply touched by the birth of each new child. On this January 6th I turned one year older, my grandson Caleb would have turned eight-years-old if he was still alive, and Daniel was given a name and a blessing by his father Jordan.











As I watched all the men in our family gently encircle this tiny child I thought about the eternal circle of life. Part of that circle is death.

The combination of our family celebrations all in one day created a generational pureness of heart . . . white balloons released at Caleb's grave to celebrate his brief life . . . white suit for the newest member of our family . . .  and white snow signifying the season we give honor to the one who gave us the hope of Eternal Life.   

Winter's Promise

In the Rocky Mountains winters can be dark and deep. The days are short and nights are long. All once living appears stark and dead. Yet there are moments when my soul opens to the solitary majesty of a single snow flake. Then I know that God is here - even in my dark days when all I can do is wait. Someone greater than I holds the seasons in His design and will keep me warm until frost turns to living waters once again.   Pin It

Share Your Love with a Wink This Christmas

I have been so touched by the goodness of people who remember my grandson who passed away about ten months ago. This kind gesture to remember Caleb this Christmas meant so much to our whole family. THANK YOU.



"...I read the story about your son Caleb in one of your mom's books and then read more about him on your blogs. Thank you for sharing his story. Reading about Caleb and your family has been inspiring to me. I love the message of sharing love with a "Wink". I live in Delta now and each year our community has a Christmas Tree Festival where people in the community decorate Christmas trees and then donate them to the festival. The trees are auctioned to businesses or community members and all of the proceeds go to Sub for Santa and the Food Bank. I am in the young women's presidency in my ward and this year the young women and young men in our ward will be joining with people in our community who have special needs to decorate a tree for the festival. We were hoping to share Caleb's story with our Young Men and Young Women and then have the theme of our Christmas tree be "Wink"...We would like to encourage our youth to share love this holiday with a "Wink" in honor of Caleb..."

I'll never forget the year Caleb played the angel in our annual family Nativity Play complete with costumes. Caleb's father Dallan spoke the words for Caleb when it was his turn but we all felt that it was Caleb's booming voice that said, "Fear Not! For behold I bring you tidings of great joy!"
We miss you Caleb. You are a real angel now.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

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Super Hero Creed

Happy Birthday Mitchell

I know you are a real super hero.

Here is a super hero creed

I wrote just for you

on your sixth birthday.

Never forget how much

your Grandma Baadsgaard loves you.

 

Mitchel Ross Moody’s Super Hero Creed

 

 I am Mitchel Ross Moody the super hero.

In all the eons of time, there will never be another super hero just like me.

I do not compare myself to other super heroes because we all have unique one-of-a kind powers. All super heroes are amazing.

My powers are deep inside me and they come out when I am kind, when I forgive and when I make friends with people who need a friend.

I am always looking for someone who needs my laser eyes that see deep into their soul. I am not fooled by outward appearances.

I treat everybody like they are a superhero too because they are. Everyone has hidden magic inside them.

The mean words other people say to me bounce off my bullet proof soul and never get inside to hurt me because I know I am the one who decides how I feel about me.

I choose not to feel bad about myself because I have the power to love people even when they choose not to love me back.

I treat each person with kindness and respect.

I have a good attitude when I make a mistake because I am learning and growing. When I do something wrong, I say I’m sorry and try again. I am still a good super hero.

I help people wherever I go.

I believe in the power of each person to change their life and change the world through love. 

I know I am amazing  . . . and I know everyone is amazing.

I know who I am. My value is constant and never gets smaller.

I see everyone as my equal. I believe each person deserves my respect.

Mitchell Ross Moody is the finest super hero I know.

I use my powers for good.

I am Mitchell Ross Moody and I have an important destiny to fulfill.

 

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When Someone You Love is in Heaven

 

When Someone You Love is in Heaven

by

Grandma Baadsgaard

 Happy Birthday Mathew

                                                          Here is a story I wrote just for you.

Never forget how much I love you

            It was an awful day. In fact it was one of those days that made Mathew wish he didn’t get out of bed. First he couldn’t find any clean socks except the pair that had a giant hole in the left toe. If there was one thing that irritated Mathew the most, it was a bare toe protruding out of his sock inside his athletic shoe all day.

Then Mathew forgot how to spell knowledge on his fifth grade spelling test. He left out the d. He always got 100 per cent in spelling and when the kids in his class found out he missed one, they all teased him for the rest of the day. Next, his power shot totally failed him as recess. He missed every single one of his layups when everyone was watching. School lunch was a complete disaster because it consisted almost entirely of a pile of fresh broccoli and carrots with no pizza. Then his teacher told him that his best friend was home sick with the barfing bug. That is when Mathew remembered sharing a spoon at lunch the day before because he forgot to get one when he was in line.

Oh great, now I’m going to get the barf bug and so will everybody else in my family just in time for Christmas and they’ll all blame me, Mathew thought. I’d rather get twenty zillion warts than get the barf bug.

One the way home the biggest, meanest sixth grader teased him about walking his five-year-old brother Mitchell home, and taunted him with, “Kindergarten baby, born in the gravy.” So Mathew kicked him but the mean kid kicked him back way harder and right in the shin.

Mathew ran the rest of the way home, kicked open his front door and dashed straight to the bathroom where he could lock the door. Mathew used to run into Caleb’s room when he got home after a hard day at school. Caleb had a way of making him feel better about everything. Caleb’s oxygen and feeding tube machines kept a steady rhythm and his brother’s stillness had a way of making Mathew relax inside. Caleb was his best friend; but Caleb wasn’t there anymore.

Mathew could hear Mitchell telling his mother about the mean sixth grader in the kitchen when he quietly unlocked the bathroom door and walked down the hall into Caleb’s room. Mathew’s parents had given Caleb’s hospital bed and medical supplies to other special needs children. There was a new bed in his room that another special needs child had given them. Mathew climbed into that bed, sprawled out and placed his right arm behind his neck. Then he remembered lying close to Caleb and helping him place his limp arms around his neck. He glanced over to the corner of the room where there was a soft brown leather chair. He remembered rocking Caleb and singing “I am a Child of God” to him when his heart rate slowed. He looked at the hutch against the wall that housed a collection of all Caleb’s favorite blankets and toys. He remembered placing Caleb’s stuffed animals around his brother in his bed and making sure his blanket was carefully pulled up around his neck.

At first, Mathew didn’t like coming into Caleb’s room after he died. But now it felt better in there. It had been almost a year since that day in the hospital when Mathew had to say goodbye. Now, when he spent time in Caleb’s room, he felt something warm pass through him. Now he wanted to stay and even sleep there sometimes.

Mathew rolled over then sat up. That is when he saw his brother’s stuffed brown bear with one eye missing - just like Caleb - sitting on the shelf. Then Mathew talked to his brother in his mind. He told Caleb about the spelling test, the lousy layups and the mean sixth grader because he knew his brother could hear him. Mathew couldn’t see Caleb any more but he knew that his brother was still alive and could be close to him when he talked to him in his mind. Mathew imagined Caleb sitting beside him with the sun warming their backs. In his mind he saw Caleb wrap his arm around him and tell him that everything would be alright.

Right then Mathew saw his mother standing in the doorway. He didn’t have to say anything because Mathew knew she understood . . . when you lose a son or a brother  . . . God always gives you an angel. Even though you can’t see him, you can feel him . . . and he never leaves you. For when someone you love is in heaven, you have a piece of heaven deep inside you forever.    

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Two Budding Artists Display Their Work at the Springville Art Museum

Alisa receiving her award

Art museums are usually reserved for the talented elite. When we browse the galleries we have come to expect the best and most brilliant work of renowned artists. Yet all great artists were once a child – a child who was encouraged and mentored to develop their talent.

Alisa next to her art work

The people who mentor and encourage children are often unknown and unseen - and that is the way they like to weave their magic. The Springville Art Museum and a generous donor sponsor a “Christmas Lamb Show” each holiday season where they ask children to submit their personal art work. From the hundreds submitted, they choose a few to display at the museum and also give the winners a certificate and a small cash award.

Sophia receiving her award

Sophia next to her art

If you’re looking for something touching to do this Christmas season, stop by the Springville Art Museum. In a special gallery surrounded by sculptures and paintings by famous artists, you will find a gallery that displays the work of budding artists. One of those pieces of art on display was created by my twelve-year-old daughter Alisa and another one was created by my seven-year-old granddaughter Sophia. Helping children develop talents in the arts will help these future adults to see more, feel more and relish the wonders of life more. When we stop worrying about being "good" at something and simply enjoy the magic of creating music, art or literature we open our hearts to the deepest pleasures and richest rewards of life.  

   

One of the pieces that was not chosen for display
 but was equally deserving was my nine-year-old grandson Samuel's painting.

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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

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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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!

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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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