There Comes A Time

DOWN HOME with Granny B

One of the advantages of growing older is that sooner or later you learn.  You can learn the hard way or the easy way.  I usually learn the hard way.

I spent way too much of my life maintaining destructive relationships.

 That's why I so love this quote I found posted by a friend on face book today.  She didn't mention who wrote it . . . but who ever it was . . . thank you.

"There comes a time in your life when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it.  You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. 

Forget the bad, and focus on the good. 

Love people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. 

Life is too short to be anything but happy. 

Falling down is a part of life . . . getting back up is living."

Graduation Day

My son-in-law Klye Poffenberger graduated from his residency yesterday.  This is the last step in a thirteen year long goal to be an anesthesiologist.  He will now be taking a post in Pennsylvania.  Not only am I extremely proud of him for all his hard work but I find myself wanting to thank all the doctors and nurses out there who do their best to save lives.


Because I've had a daughter, son and grandson in the hospital in the past few weeks in emergency situations I realize that we all depend on these educated people to help us in our greatest hour of need.  Most of the time we are quick to judge if they make mistakes or don't do things the way we think they should.  But today I just feel deeply grateful that these dedicated men and women devote so much of their lives to saving ours.


So . . . congratulations Kyle.  And thank you for choosing to help the rest of us when we don't have the skills or knowledge to help ourselves.  Thank you for taking on enormous debt and working for 13 long years to put yourself in a position to save my children.  I have the deepest respect and appreciation for you.


I love you Kyle.  Thank you for being such a terrific husband, father and doctor.  You have devoted your life to all of us and we thank you.
Mom   

Life Is So Fragile and So Dear

My son Joseph's appendix ruptured today.  He is in intensive care.  My heart aches for him and for every other person in pain.  As I took his fevered hand in mine and stroked his feet to comfort him today, I thought of the day he was born - his tiny body so soon parted from my own.  How I longed to keep him always safe and warm.  Yet God's design is so much grandeur than my own.

My children are God's greatest gifts to me.  How I love being their mother.  How I long to take their pain away.  Yet I am aware that all of life's deepest and most meaningful gifts of knowledge, wisdom and experience have come only through pain. 

In the past few weeks my grandson Caleb has been in the hospital with a life threatening condition, my daughter Amy had emergency surgery to have her appendix removed and now my son Joseph also has suffered a ruptured appendix.  All three conditions have brought my dear ones near death. 

Facing the tenuous nature of life so many times in such a few days has left me deeply humbled.  Life is so fragile and so dear. 

Through these difficult weeks I've watched as my healthy children have come to the aid of their brothers and sisters in pain with babysitting, meals, prayers, gifts, cards, phone calls, flowers and visits.  There is a deep abiding strength that comes when close loving family members bear each other burdens. 

Where there is great love, there are always miracles. 

Where there is great love, even life's most bitter moments can be sweet. 
   

      

Old Age Forgetfulness

DOWN HOME with Granny B

Most of us know that sometimes as we age we tend to become a bit more forgetful.  That's probably true for me but frankly I think I've been a bit forgetful all my life.  Now that I'm getting older it is just handy to have something to blame my forgetfulness on.  So far I haven't lost me but you never know . . . That's why this ditty makes me laugh.

"I have gone out to find myself.  If I should get back before I return, please ask me to wait right here!" Unknown


 

Books Without Borders

Books Without Borders Literary Group

As an author I'm often asked to speak to large groups of people, but large groups of people can be so impersonal.  So my favorite requests come from small intimate women's book groups who ask me to visit after they've read one of my books.  I know our conversation will be warm and witty for women who love books always make such interesting companions. 


Tonight I met with the Books Without Borders literary group in Orem, Utah and enjoyed my visit immensely.  We talked about my new book, "For Every Mother" and pretty much everything else that popped into our heads.  Thank you, fellow book lovers, for a wonderful evening. 

Update on Caleb

A Full Heartby April Moody

Caleb has been home for over a week, and he has improved each day!  We came home needing about 4 liters of oxygen, and now he's down to 1.5  liters.  The light has come back into his little eye, and he sneaks us sweet smiles to help us know he's okay.

Our home sounds so much better with hum of his machines, 

and we've all been catching up on snuggles and smooches!

When we were admitted to the PICU, I was sure we'd be there for weeks.  I don't think I've ever seen him so sick.  But I could also feel the power of prayer lifting our spirits.  I know Caleb was closely attended by heaven.  It is humbling to know that I am a part of a miracle that is so often the combined effort of so many heart felt prayers.  Thank you for exercising your faith in our families behalf.  Thank you for loving our little boy, and thank you for your prayers.  Our hearts are full.

An Autobiography in 5 Chapters

DOWN HOME with Granny B

When you get older, you're suppose to get wiser. 

That is not always the case with me.
But I'm slowly learning a few morsels of joyful living. 

Whenever I notice myself dealing with the same issue over and over again I like to reread this favorite story of mine. 

Problem is I can't remember who wrote this.  It wasn't me, but I sure like it.




AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN 5 CHAPTERS


Chapter 1
I walk down a street.  There's a huge hole in the sidewalk.  I fall in.  It's not my fault.  It takes forever to get out.
Chapter 2
I walk down the same street.  There is a huge hole in the sidewalk.  I pretend I don't see it.  I fall in, again.  I cannot believe that I'm in this same hole!  But it's still not my fault. It takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.  There is a huge hole in the sidewalk.  I see it.  I fall in - it's a habit! - but my eyes are open.  I know where I am.  I admit it's my fault.  I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.  I walk AROUND IT.
Chapter 5
I walk down a DIFFERENT STREET.

Inner Stillness

As a mother of a large family I often find myself wishing that I could be in more than one place at a time - for I so desire to meet the needs of my husband, children and grandchildren.  But because I am only one I must be still and ask, "Who needs me most now," then listen and respond. The greatest desire of my heart is to love each member of my family the way they need to be loved. 

Yet each day I must accept my limitations and trust God to fill in the places where I can not be.  When I am still, very still, I watch in awe as God's tender mercies play out on the stage of my family. Without a word from me, I quietly observe God's healing hands in action as my husband, children and grandchildren step forward to serve and love each other.   

"Let us, then, labor for an inward stillness--

an inward stillness and an upward healing;

that perfect silence where the lips and heart are still,

and we no longer entertain

our own imperfect thoughts and vain options,

but God alone speaks to us,

and we wait in singleness of heart,

that we may know His will,

and in the silence of our spirits,

that we may do His will and do that only."

                                                                                    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Tessa's Blessing Day

My dear little granddaughter Tessa was blessed on Sunday.  It was a wonderful peaceful day.

But sometimes life comes at you pretty fast. 

The next day her mother (my daughter Amy) had abdominal pain and within hours her appendix ruptured. 

 She is now in the hospital recovering after emergency surgery. 

Life is so precious, unpredictable and fragile.  Please send your prayers.

New Beginnings In My Own Backyard

My son John walked into my office the other day and asked if he could use my new camera to take pictures in our back yard.  I am still in awe at the beauty he found. 

Baby Apples

Baby Pine Growth

Snow Ball

Baby Hollyhocks

Baby Raspberries

Lilac

Baby Peas

Baby grapes

Baby Cherries

Irus

Spring kept us waiting this year.  Perhaps that is why we don't take the wonder of new life for granted this season.  Those things we have to wait for - those blessings that come only after months of dark and cold seem all the more glorious. 

Caleb is Home!

Caleb was so much courage and quiet strength.

My daughter April climbed right into the hospital bed with her son Caleb to comfort him.

Caleb was able to come home. 

He is not out of the woods yet

but is well enough to continue his recovery at home. 

Thank you so much for your prayers and concern.
Although Caleb was born without a brain,
he was not born without a soul.
When you are with Caleb,
he gently invites you to dismiss the cares of the world
and cherish the moment. 
He doesn't shed tears, but he does shed light. 
In a busy world,
Caleb invites us to slow down and listen. 
Caleb has a mission.  His life matters. 
Because of Caleb, we know we are more than our bodies,
more than our circumstances,
more than our abilities,
more than our capacity to work,
more than our intellect,
more than our possessions,
and more than our accomplishments. 
The sacred essence of our value
is and will always be
our unique, priceless and immortal soul.

Happy Birthday Emily!

Emily and Rudy

By

Grandma Baadsgaard

(This is a special story for my granddaughter Emily on her ninth birthday.)

Emily has a cat named Rudy. Or perhaps one ought to say . . . the mighty Rudy has a girl named Emily.


“Mom,” Emily sighed one night as her mother tucked her in bed, “Rudy thinks he is a wild tiger. When I try to pet him, he scratches me. I wish Rudy was a nice kitty.”


“Pets are like people,” her mom answered. They come in all varieties. But every single one has something loveable about them. You just have to keep paying attention and pretty soon you’ll know what that is.


So Emily carefully watched Rudy every day after that.


The next day when Emily said, “Come here!” Rudy pounced out of sight. He was more interested in a cricket in their back yard.


When Emily rode her bike with her friend Maysie, Rudy darted under her bare feet and made her fall off her bike.


When Emily played on the trampoline with Taylor and Dillon, Rudy meowed and meowed until she picked him up. But when Emily tried to jump, Rudy panicked, scratched her cheek and flew off the trampoline.


When she practiced her piano, Rudy rubbed his body fur back and forth on the sliding glass door and looked so lonely Emily just had to let him inside. Then Rudy scratched the couch with his long claws so Emily tried to catch him and put him out again. But Rudy ran into the laundry room, jumped in a basket of nicely folded clean clothes and left a pile of matted cat hair and muddy paw prints all over everything.


Emily started wondering if she would ever find something loveable about Rudy. Then one day, quite unexpectedly, it happened. Emily was outside on her swing set crying. Her grandma had given her a sparkly lady bug pin for her birthday but her younger sisters found it when she was at school and lost it.


Emily was dangling her feet on the swing and rubbing her red eyes when she spied Rudy in the tall grass. He pounced on a grasshopper. Then all of a sudden he leaped straight in the air, did a back flip and plopped up-side-down on the ground.


Emily laughed so hard she forgot why she was sad.


“Oh Rudy,” Emily said with a smile.


“I think I know one thing that is loveable about Rudy,” Emily said as her mother tucked her in bed that night. “He makes me laugh.”

Caleb is improving

Caleb is making steady improvements at the hospital.

 Thank you so much for all your prayers in his behalf.

Caleb's Get Well Poster at the hospital.

My daugher April kissing her son Caleb

Caleb working very hard to get better.

Caleb is in the hospital

My grandson Caleb is in the PICU at the Primary's Children's Hospital in SLC. 

Please send along your prayers.  He is a very sick little boy.

The Joys of Marriage and Family

My husband spoke at a Seminary Graduation this past Sunday.  He talked about the stress that comes with graduation and the sudden realization that you have to start making adult decisions for yourself. He told the students that there were many people who loved them and were praying for them. He told them that there were others praying for them that they couldn't see right now. Then he related an experience in his own life when he was their age.

My husband Ross was the janitor at the stake center when he graduated from high school. One of his assignments was to dust the pipes to the large organ. Most of the pipes were behind the ones you see in the chapel in a small private room. He told them that up to this point his decisions about what college to attend, an upcoming mission and what career to choose were foremost on his mind. But when he was alone in the pipe room, the words to his Patriarchal blessing came to his mind . . . they were, "Your greatest assignment in life will be that of raising a family. Through the teachings that you give to your children and seeing them grow into man and womanhood, believing in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, patterning their life in a way that they can do much good here, you will receive your greatest joy."

Right at that moment he fell to his knees and plead with his Father in Heaven to help him be a good father and husband.

Then he said, "Now a good wife and ten wonderful children later, I realize that there were ten people in heaven praying for me to make good decisions. Their pleading and my pleading with God opened the window to the greatest blessings in my life."

Both my husband and I know that our children prayed for us before they were born. Those prayers sustained us through those difficult adolescent years.  Now as we see our growing posterity we are filled with so much joy. We receive our greatest happiness by being sweethearts and our opportunity to be parents to our wonderful children and grandchildren.