Tessa is Baptized Today

This is my granddaughter Tessa with her parents Amy and Aden Andres on her baptism day.

Tessa Andrus with her grandparents Ross and Janene Baadsgaard on her baptism day.

All the wonderful people who came to support Tessa on her special day.

Congratulations Aaron and Maddy Gull

My amazing sister-in-love Karen Gull speaking at the wedding luncheon of her son Aaron Gull and his new wife Maddy.

A brand new family was created today.
Congratulations Aaron and Maddy!

Saint Patrick's Day Family Pictures

My daughter Aubrey plans so many fun Saint Patrick's Day traditions with her children.

They build a house for the leprechauns.

They eat corn beef and cabbage and green cake.

All kinds of tricks happen and magic when there is a leprechaun hiding in the house.

Celebrating our Irish heritage is a lot of fun at Aubrey and Kyle Poffenberger's house.

John Baadsgaard wins country dance competition.

John Baadsgaard wins country dance competition.

John Baadsgaard wins the Adobe Case Competition

John Baadsgaard and his team won the Adobe case competition and free I pads.

Happy Birthday Tessa

Dear Tessa,

     I was there when you were born. I saw you open your eyes to the light for the first time. I held you in my arms moments later when you were wrapped in flannel. I felt so happy I wanted to sing and dance but I gently rocked you in the rocking chair next to your mother’s bed in the hospital. I was so grateful that you were born safely and that you could breathe, see, hear, feel and snuggle.

You were an expert at snuggling right from the start. You liked it I snuggled you on my shoulder or placed you on your tummy across my knees while I rubbed your tiny back and sang lullabies to you. You like the song, “Sleep Tight”.

     You came into the world with a light in your eyes that radiated joy. Your parents lived in a small apartment and they didn’t have much money but they had the greatest treasure in the world – YOU! I watched you stretch and grow and saw your first smile, first word and first step.

Tessa you are a happy spirit who loves life. You make friends everywhere you go – on a foreign trip, a walk around the block, in your class at school or church, or in your extended family . . . you are always reaching out to others with warm friendship and acceptance.

     Tessa you are full of music. From the first moments when you calmed at the sound of my voice singing to you, you have found a way to make music a part of your life. You often dance to the music inside your soul and perform for all of us. You play the piano with so much feeling and rhythm. You like songs with a strong beat and happy words. You create your own fancy versions of the songs you learn at piano lessons.

     Tessa you are full of love. You give the best hugs ever and everyone who is so blessed to have you in their life is given the biggest hugs in the world. I love the pictures you draw for me with you and me together with hearts all around us. I feel a heart connection to you too.

Tessa you are curious and eager to learn. I have watched you quickly move from learning to read to reading piles of chapter books from the library. I’ve seen you quickly move through thick math books loving the magic of numbers.

     Tessa you are a fun friend. I love to be around you and spend time with you. I so enjoy your delightful personality and the way you express yourself in words. I always chuckle when I am with you because you are like a shiny yellow balloon – you lift everyone who holds onto you.

     Tessa you are my precious granddaughter. I will love you forever and always be your biggest fan. I look forward to watching you grow up and become a mature woman with a heart to love and hands to serve. You will be a light where ever you go.

I love you forever,

Grandma Baadsgaard  

Emma's Birthday

Dear Emma,

Happy birthday to my very special granddaughter. You are such a joy to me. I love to see your happy face and sparkly eyes. I love how you always give me a great big hug when you see me.

I have noticed so many good qualities in you:

You are kind. I notice how you notice other people and care about their feelings.

You have a great personality. I notice how you often have a happy smile on your face and something uplifting to say to those around you.

You are generous. I notice how you are quick to give to make those around you happy.

You are a loving sister. I notice how you know how to help Kate with a project or put Rachael to bed.

You are smart. I notice how you work hard to learn and find joy in school.

You are friendly. I notice how you easily find other people to be nice to and easily make friends.

You are beautiful. I notice how your loving spirit shines out through your eyes.

You are capable. I notice how you work hard to figure things out and apply yourself when something is difficult.

I hope you will always remember that you are deeply loved by your Grandma Baadsgaard and that you know what a precious daughter of God you are. As the oldest child in your family you will always be a leader showing your younger sisters the path to follow.

God loves you. Jesus Christ is your best friend. You are a treasure for everyone who knows you. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! WITH ALL MY HEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grandma Baadsgaard

Simon's Blessing Day

Simon with his brother Ryan

Simon on his blessing day.

Simon with his sister Alice.

Simon with his mother Aubrey.

Little Simon

Simon with his brother Griffin

Simon in white

My daughter Aubrey's beautiful family
from left to right: Griffin, Aubrey, Simon, Kyle, Alice and Rylan

Utah Valley Philharmonic Orchestra Concert

I loved listening to my grandson Matthew play with his orchestra. 

Christmas 2018

Mitchell is ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood today

My grandson Mitchell was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood today.
Left to right: Matthew Moody, April Moody, Mitchell Moody,
Grandpa Baadsgaard, Grandma Baadsgaard, John Baadsgaard and Dalla Moody.

Happy First Birthday Ellie

Elizabeth

by 

Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy first birthday my precious little Ellie.

You begin here

Breathe in, breathe out

New dwelling place

Gentle surprise

From darkness, into light

I end here

With me in you

Earthly vestige

Transformed

For where you are

There I am

I will go on

In you

Rebirth

Renewal

All is well

With me and Thee

Breathe In, breathe out

Awake, asleep

Goodnight

Happy Birthday Mitchell

Dear Mitchell,

Happy 12^th Birthday! This is a special birthday because you will receive the Aaronic priesthood. The priesthood is the power of God given to man to act in His name. Remember your authority comes through your ordination but your power comes through personal obedience and worthiness. The priesthood is a gift from God that blesses all His children. Your Heavenly Father now trusts you enough to give you the responsibility to help others.

Up until now your parents, extended family and church leaders have been taking care of you and helping you grow and learn. Now it is your turn. For example, this Sunday you will pass the sacrament for the first time. Isn’t it wonderful that God allows you to be part of this most sacred event? You will represent the Savior as you offer the emblems of the bread and water as a symbol of His great Atonement. The sacrament is the most important reason we go to church.

What a great blessing it is to hold the priesthood. I hope you take the time to go to a quiet private place and pray to your Heavenly Father and ask him how you can magnify your priesthood. Praying and asking questions has been a great way for God to send messages to you. In fact, did you know when the Prophet Joseph Smith was translating The Book of Mormon he found a part that mentioned baptism? On May 15, 1829, he and his scribe Oliver Cowdery went into the woods to ask God about baptism. As they prayed, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light. This messenger was John the Baptist, the prophet who baptized Jesus Christ. John the Baptist, now a resurrected being, laid his hands on Joseph and Oliver and conferred upon each of them the Aaronic Priesthood, which had been taken from the earth during the Apostasy. With this authority, Joseph and Oliver were able to baptize one another. John the Baptist was chosen by Heavenly Father to prepare the way for the Savior and be the one to baptize him. John did this through the authority of the Priesthood of Aaron.

After baptism, a sacred opportunity comes to members of the Church each week as we partake of the sacrament, renew our covenants with our Father in Heaven, take upon us the name of his Son and promise to keep his commandments. Those holding the Aaronic Priesthood have the sacred privilege and honor of preparing, blessing, and passing these holy emblems of Jesus Christ’s body and blood. God wants us to repent, come to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In this way we are made clean and can have His Spirit to be with us. That is why it is so important to take the sacrament each week.

 As you know, the offices of the Aaronic Priesthood are bishop, priest, teacher, and deacon. With the authorization of the presiding priesthood leader, deacons pass the sacrament. They also help the bishop watch over Church members by giving service and assisting with temporal matters such as gathering fast offerings for the poor. Teachers perform all the duties of deacons and also receive other opportunities to serve. They prepare the sacramental bread and water and serve as home teachers. Priests may perform all the duties of deacons and teachers. With the authorization of the presiding priesthood leader, they may also bless the sacrament, baptize, and ordain others to the offices of priest, teacher, and deacon.

As you serve in your priesthood responsibilities, always remember that serving your own family is the most important because the most important exercise of the priesthood takes place in the home. Your parents and brothers need you to love them and serve them as only you can. Remember the best friend you will ever have is Jesus Christ. He will save you whenever you are in trouble or hurt.

You now stand at the beginning a life-time of service. As you serve in the Aaronic Priesthood, it will prepare you to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, receive the blessings of the temple, serve a full-time mission, be a loving husband and father, and continue in lifelong service to the Lord. I love you so much Mitchell. I have so enjoyed watching you grow up and become such a wonderful young man. I will always be your biggest fan.  I am so lucky to have you for my grandson. I will love you forever.

Love,

Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy Birthday Matthew

Happy birthday Matthew,

It has been such a joy to watch you grow up. 

You have become such a fine and handsome young men. 

I notice how you excel at so many things. 

You are a fine student, musician and teacher. 

I hope you know that your grandmother loves you so much 

and that I will always be your biggest fan. 

You have so much to look forward to 

as you grow into manhood and learn to love and serve. 

You have such an amazing family to grow up in

 where you have been taught so well how to live after the manner of happiness. 

God bless you my precious grandson. I will love you forever.

Grandma Baadsgaard

Lights at Temple Square

Some of my beautiful family members at temple square enjoying the lights.
April, Matthew, Dallan, Myana, John and Mitchell