Spring Break at Bryce Canyon 2018

Birthday Story For Rachel

Rachel – Ray of Sunshine

by

Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy Birthday 4^th birthday Ray-Ray. I sure do love you!

            Once upon a time in the deep dark woods where no sun could shine, there lived a tiny seedling covered with rich brown earth.

            “Oh how I want to grow,” said the seedling to the root growing next to her.

            “Then you need two things,” the root said. “Rain and sunshine.”

            “How do I make the rain come and the sun shine?” the seedling asked.

            “You can’t make them come,” the root answered. “You can only wait and never stop hoping.”

            So the seedling waited and waited. But the earth remained dry and hard and all the tall trees in the woods blocked the sunlight. Every day the seedling hoped the rain would come and the light from the sun would penetrate the dark forest. Every day, for a long time, nothing happened.

            Just when the seedling had almost given up hope, a low rumbling sound rolled through the forest and grew louder and closer. Soon thunder clouds crashed with explosive light and sound illuminating the forest. Then a sudden downpour of rain penetrated the dry earth reaching the tiny seedling. All the heavy rain bent the limbs of the trees low and after the rain storm passed, a huge ray of sunshine penetrated the forest reaching the damp earth where the seedling was patiently waiting.

            The warmth of the earth around the seedling embraced her and the smell of the damp earth enfolded her. Then slowly, day by day, the seedling felt something stirring within her as if she might burst with joy. Then the hard outside layer of the seedling became soft and a tiny new stem grew up toward the sun from the heart of the seed. Soon the earth swelled and the seedling burst through her prison as a small leaf curling upward toward the ray of light.

            In time the tiny seedling grew into a mighty tree, tall enough to catch all the rays of the sun from her lofty perch in the top of the forest canopy. But the seedling inside the mighty tree never forgot her beginning when it was the waiting time – the time when the seedling never stopped hoping.

            And that my little Ray Ray is how your light will help others grow to become the full measure of their creation. Never quit shining and never quit warming the lives of all those you love. I will always be your grandma and I will always love you.

Congratulations Alisa!

My daughter Alisa will be playing a Rachmaninoff concerto solo with orchestra accompaniment at a free concert at Maple Mountain High School tomorrow May 8th at 7:00. Alisa will also be playing the cello in the chamber orchestra as well. She started her own piano studio five years ago and currently has 26 piano students. She will be graduating from high school with high honors in a few days and was recently awarded a Presidential full tuition scholarship to college. Congratulations Alisa!

Women's Conference 2018

Loved going to BYU Women's Conference with my amazing daughter April.

Poem for a Seven-Year-Old

Tessa at Night

by

 Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy birthday Tessa. I love you so.

You are a dream come true.

When the blue moon rises over the mountain

And all the wee people have gone to bed

It is time for the sprites to come alive

Where elves and fairies are led

To a place in the night where the cherubim roam

And the flying buttresses lie

Where all the children’s dreams are sent

To the place where they light by and by

Then all the blackness is swirled away

And the bright stars begin to shine

As all the world basks in slumber

Multitudes of bright jewels are thine

For children are the magic of the night

And their wishes are my command

And their hopes are the makings of castles

And their visions appear in the sand

For when the wee one’s eyes are closed

And the nippers nod in repose

The forests and mountains sway in twilight

And the mystics will never close

The guardians of the progenies stand tall

For active duty at your bed

And keep you safe in slumber

Until morning comes again as said

Then when the sun rises over the mountain

And all the wee people flee

You’ll know it is time to awaken

To the promise you are meant to be

Poem for a Two-Year-Old

Alice is Two

By

Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy two-year-old birthday Alice. 

I love you SO much. 

Thinking about you makes me smile.

If you feel a wiggle

And really have to giggle

It’s time to shimmy and to shine

To be a princess divine

If you feel a gust

Of energy that must

It’s time to leap from the chair

For anyone who dares

If you feel a bumble

Rumbling in your tumble

It time to grab the treats

And find a comfy seat

If you feel a smile

Filling your face in style

It’s time for a great big hug

With mommy beetle bug

If you feel a wink

Right before you blink

It’s time for a Daddy ride

Swinging side to side

If you feel a grump

From a Griffy lump

It’s time to scream and roar

And say you want no more

If you feel a snuggle

It’s time for a huggle

And a book to read

With Rylan in the lead

And when nighttime comes

And all the day is done

It’s time for a ride to bed

For this little sleepy head

New Horizons Orchestra Spring Concert

Playing in this orchestra brings me great joy!

I love playing in the New Horizons Orchestra!

Easter Egg Hunt 2018

Elizabeth's Blessing Day

Eliazbeth Baadsgaard  -  our little angel on her blessing day.

Two great families celebrating Elizabeth together!

Joseph and Martha with baby Elizabeth and Daniel and Christian.

Baadsgaard Family Fun Times

When I married into this wonderful Baadsgaard family
I had no idea what a treasure
my husband's seven sisters would be in my life.
Thank you Leanna, Evelyn , Margaret,
Irene, Sue, Karen and Melanie
for being the most loving and supportive sisters
I could ever dream of.
I love you all with all my heart!

Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello and Jamestown with Aubrey's Family

My daughter Aubrey and I at Monticello with grandchildren Alice and Griffin in the foreground.

Wig maker in Colonial Williamsburg.

Wig Shop.

Silversmith Shop.

My grandson Rylan in the stocks.

Williamsburg Parade.

Pocahontas Statue.

John Smith Statue.

Jamestown Sign.

Horse and buggy.

Glass Blowers.

Wooden Wares at Shop.

Thomas Jefferson's bed.

Alisa Receives State Congressional 2018 Art Award

Alisa Baadsgaard with Representative Gibson and her parents in the Gold Room at the State Capital.

My daughter Alisa Baadsgaard received the Congressional Award for her art work today
 in the Gold Room of the State Capital.

This is Alisa Baadsgaard with Rep Gibson
on the floor of the Utah State House of Representatives
where he is introducing her and telling the lawmakers
about the award she received for her art work.

Janene Wolsey Baadsgaard - Growing Up Pictures

Happy Birthday Lily!

Lily

By Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy Birthday Lily. Hope you day is filled with love.

If you eat a pickle

It will make you wiggle

And if you swallow a fly

It will make you sigh

If you do a flip

It might make you hip

If you give me a smile

I’ll walk with you a mile

If you tell me, “I love you.”

I’ll be a cow and moo.

If you do a swirl

Then your hair will curl.

If you dance a jig

You would be so big

If you count to ten

You’ll wonder where you’ve been

If you sleep so tight

Your Grandma then just might

Love you forever and a day

So Lily, what to you say?  

Happy Birthday EMMA!!!

Dear Emma,

Happy Birthday to my precious granddaughter. I’m giving you one of my favorite books. It is a children’s book so the language is simple but this story has a profound message.

This book talks about some of the ways we can like ourselves.

Sometimes we forget that we can be our own best friend.

Sometimes we forget that we are our own best company.

Sometimes we forget to take good care of ourselves.

Sometimes we forget to look in the mirror and say, “Hi, good-looking!”

Sometimes we forget to like our body just the way it is.

Sometimes we forget that when we are sad, we can cheer our self up.

Sometimes we forget that when we fall down, we can pick ourselves up.

Sometimes we forget that when we make mistakes, we can try and try again.

Sometimes we forget that no matter where we go or what we do, we will always be us.

Emma, I love having you for my granddaughter. My heart sings when you walk in my door and come to my home.

It is a joy to live close to you and watch you grow up.

I hope you always remember to like yourself.

I will always love you with all my heart and soul.

Love,

Grandma Baadsgaard