Teaching Primary Children about the Payson Temple Corner Stone Box

I loved teaching the Primary children about the corner stone box at the Payson Temple this week.

What Remains After the Forest Fire Behind Our Cabin in Loafer Canyon

This is all that remains of "Big Tree"
the largest white pine west of the Mississippi.
We loved taking hikes to this tree with our family
through a shaded forest filled with lush vegetation.
Now the forest is gone.

I'm standing in the charred remains of the forest behind our cabin among the black ghosts of trees.

My husband Ross is standing on top of the mountain behind our cabin
looking out over the burned terrain
after the raging forest fire last summer.
These beautiful mountains were once thick with trees and foliage.
The forest floor is now covered with sterile ash
and the charred remains of old growth pines
that will never return.

All the beautiful trees are gone like a dream in the night.
Tall stately pines that took hundreds of years to mature
into our beloved forest are now gone.
There is no wildlife or sounds of birds.
Even the wind is still as if to mourn our loss.

Yet if I look at my feet, I see a single blade of grass
brave the desolation and destruction.
Life will go on.
Though life will never be the same on our mountain
there will be more beauty to come.

As recent fires in my life
have raged
threatening to destroy my peace and joy,
yet
I will go on.
For the refiners fire burns away all the dross
and only love and hope remain.

I'm hosting a FREE writing workshop at my cabin

I am hosting a free writing workshop at my cabin on June 13th. My cabin is just a 15-20 minute drive from my home located at 305 North 2550 East (Spanish Fork Parkway).If you are interested we are meeting at my home at 6:30 and driving up together. Please bring a notepad and pen to take notes.
 

I think reading/writing enriches our lives immensely and that everyone can be a writer. I've been writing newspaper/magazine articles, features, columns, and many books for the past 40 years along with teaching writing at UVU and want to pass along some great ideas to get you started. I am also going to give each person who attends a copy of my first book, Winter's Promise, as a gift.

Poem for a Five-Year-Old

Rachel

By Janene Baadsgaard

Happy Birthday my sweet granddaughter. 

I hope you have a happy day! 

I love you with all my heart.

When Rachel starts to dance

All the world is a stage

Those who form the audience

Are of every age

They clap and smile

And wave a kiss

For Rachel’s dances

You don’t want to miss

When a hard day comes along

Don’t despair

Watch Rachel dance

Then all the world is fair

For Rachel is a joyous soul

With so much love to share

                                                                      She smiles and hugs and giggles

                                                                   Only light is there

                                                                    Rachel is a diamond

                                                                       That sparkles from all sides

                                                                    She gives us light and sunshine

                                                                   So peace and joy abide

Ross and Janene Baadsgaard Visit Israel

Caesarea ruins on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

Roman Statues next to the ruins.

Ancient caves with large stones.

The Garden Tomb -site of the resurrection. Our group bore our testimonies of Jesus Christ to each other here.

Delightful dancers at our farewell dinner in Bethlehem. One of them jumped over Ross's head.

Russian Orthodox Church on the Mount of Olives.

We took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and sang and performed Jewish Dances on board.

Ancient Ruins at Capernaum.

Ross trying his hand at carpentry with a local man.

Janene with a local spinner and weaver.

Ross in an ancient syn-agog with a replica of the Jewish scrolls.

Ross and Janene with an over-look of Beit Shean ruin, one of the ten Greek Decapolis cities
called Scythopolis where Saul and sons died.

Janene at the Jordan River where Christ was baptized.

Looking over the cliff edge to the ruins of Masada.

Jewish men and women worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Ross and Janene at the ruins at Masada.

Ross and Janne at Tel Dan next to amazing clear, clean water gushing out from Mount Hermon.

BYU Jerusalem Center on the Mount of Olives. 

Inside the tomb at the Garden Tomb.

Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Painting of the woman with an issue of blood touching the Savior's robe.

Local Shepherd .

Ross at Bet Shean

Lush orchards in the Galilee area.

Cave where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

Panoramic view of the old city in Jerusalem.

Excavated ruins of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene next to the Sea of Galilee.

Ross on the temple mount near the Dome of the Rock.

Masada ruins.

Cliff and ruins at Masada.

Dome of the Rock.

Bethseda Pools

Ross at the BYU Jerusalem Center.

Ancient monastery.

Hezekiah's Tunnel

Gethsemane.

Janene at Bet Shean.

Hill side view of the BYU Jerusalem Center.

Ross and Janene wet after a long walk through Hezekiah's Tunnel.

Church next to Garden of Gethsemane.

Jewish family walking, smiling and singing while as they approach the Western Wall.

Head waters of the Jordan River.

Qumran where the ancient Essenes hid the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Beautiful synagogue underground next the remains of the Western Wall.

Janene with our awesome tour guide Sam.

Golgotha of place of the skull.

Western Wall on Independence Day.

Bethany for Lazarus Tomb.

Ross and Janene in Garden of Gethsemane.

The view out our hotel window near Joppa Port at the Netanya hotel.