Dear Bella,

If ever there was a perfect name for a girl, yours is it! Bella means beautiful and you certainly are! To me you look so much like your Grandma Hamelin. I'm guessing you and she will have a special connection as you grow older.

Because you are still so young and because you live far away from us, we haven't gotten to know each other very well yet. I hope there will still be plenty of time for that, but I do know that in your short life you have exuded sweetness to all around you. During the first couple of visits you made here with your parents it was hard to get you to smile, but during the last one you certainly had overcome that problem! I know you are a joy to your parents and I imagine you melt hearts of all who come to know you.

I like to thing that you and Elizabeth were great friends before you came here. Papa has lost two sisters, and he looks forward to being with them someday, just as you and your family look forward to being with Elizabeth. The important thing is that we never do anything that would prevent that reunion and that we do everything we need to do in this life to prepare to be with Heavenly Father and our eternal family. Obey and trust your parents and church leaders and you will be ready for that wonderful day. Remember that Heavenly Father loves you, even when hard things happen. Sometimes hard things happen so that we can become all that Heavenly Father needs us to be. I do know that if we trust him, have a positive attitude and talk to Him each day He will bless you in many ways despite whatever hardship you are suffering. Remember that when Heavenly /father talks to you He usually does it through the scriptures and that once you are old enough to read them, try to read even a little bit each day. Ask your parents to tell you about the stories in the scriptures and then when you start to read them they will already be familiar to you.

Every grandchild that has come into our family is precious to us. You are no exception. Riches have nothing to do with money or possessions but with the number of people in our lives who love us and who we love in return.

I love you, Bella.

Mama

Dear Addison,

If someone asked me to describe you I think I might say that you are a little mysterious; not too outwardly affectionate, but kind; not easily talked into anything you don't want to do; not likely to conform just for the sake of conforming; and intelligent with a quick sense of humor. That is the Addison I have come to know in the four years since we first met. What a joy it was for us to welcome more children into our family, especially boys who were willing to do "boy things" with Severin! We are grateful that you were willing to accept some interloping grandparents!

The Addison in the Hassell Family was Grampa Hassell’s great great grandfather. He was born in 1821 as a Kendrick since Judith and G. Edward (his father) were never married. Judith gave Addison to his father and he petitioned the Legislature of the State of Georgia to change his last name. The Legislature acted on 27 Nov 1826 and the name was changed. I think G. Edward must have been a special man to take a baby and raise him.

I hope that sometime in the future we can come to Meridian on a weekend that you and your siblings are at your dad's house and that we can attend church and observe you exercising your priesthood. Because I am the first generation church member in my family, I never had the advantage of the priesthood in my life until I married Grampa Hassell. So watching my sons and grandsons exercise their priesthood always make me feel so grateful and safe. Please never do anything that would jeopardize your ability to use your priesthood. Your future wife and children are counting on you!

Some of my favorite memories of grandchildren have been watching you and your brothers and Severin play around the property and work on the tree fort.. That's what boys your age should be doing! Thanks for sometimes including a girl or two! Thank you for being such a good friend to Severin and for the kindness of have seen you extend to Jane, Catherine and Ezra. Most older siblings have no idea how much their younger siblings look up to them and want to be with them.

Grampa Hassell and I are so glad you, Gillian, Brighton and Seeran are a part of our family. Sometimes hard things happen in families, but we can still be happy about some good things that happen as a result. Your dad is a good man to be willing to be a father to Jane and Catherine, and now also Ezra. That is a lot of responsibility for a father, but your dad works very hard to make it all happen. He is a good role model for you.

Thank you for being you!

Love you, Addie!

Gramma Hassell

Dear Abi,

Every time I think of you it makes me smile! You are so much your own person, with the curly hair, blue eyes and impish personality that makes you, well, you! For a long time you mom called you the grandparent child because you had my curly hair and Grampa's blue eyes, unlike your siblings. It's too soon to see if Ava will be like you, but her early pictures sure show her blue eyes.

It is so fun to see what good friends you are with Sadie. That will get better and better as both of you get older and it will be fun to see all the two of you will have to teach a little sister. I love watching the sibling interaction between your dad and his siblings, and your mom has been an amazing example of reaching out to her siblings. You and Sadie are likely good friends partly due to her example! I know you will be good friends with Sadie too!

I remember the visit we made to your home when you finely decided it was OK to sit on my lap and talk to me. That is always a wonderful day for me because I don't get to be a regular grandma and hold my grandchildren a lot when they are babies. Because you are the third child, you often seemed quiet and in a world of your own, but once you started talking to me, you had a lot to say!

You are a beautiful girl and because I know your parents will teach you the things you need to know, you are and will be beautiful on the inside as well. Being beautiful on the inside is the most important thing we can be and that beauty is available to everyone if they are willing to work at it. You have lots of good examples of inside beauty all around you in your family, immediate and extended. When you are old enough, you will find that same beauty in your Young Women leaders. Trust your family and church leaders to teach you all you need to know about Heavenly Father and Jesus so that you can live with them again. Learn to love the Temple as a place to feel peace and to get personal revelation that can come in no other place or way. Temples are one sure sign that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to bless us as much as He can while we are on earth. Never do anything that would keep you from being able to be in the Temple.

You are a great girl Abi, and you bring lots of joy to your parents and grandparents. We are so happy you are part of this big, noisy family. Having you in our family is one sign among many to Grampa and I that Heavenly Father loves us!

Love you bunches!

Gramma

Dear Joshua,

You are one of the most passionate little boys I have ever known! For most of your life so far it has been about all things train, your Grandpa Hamelin and sometimes even the hats that you wear, but I have a hunch that you will be just as passionate about other things as you grow and mature. Many of the strong qualities we have as children are carried with us into adulthood, and usually if our parents can survive the qualities that seem challenging while there children are little find that those same qualities are what make them amazing and productive adults. So don;'t be afraid to be passionate Josh, even if sometimes people question why. Someday you will make a big contribution to the world based on your passion!

You were born at a time when your parent's hearts were still freshly breaking from the loss of your older sister. Though one child can never "replace" another, your birth helped to begin to ease the pain a little, I think. You got lots of love and attention which every child needs but doesn't always get when you're #3.

I hope you will always be passionate about the church and that you will read the scriptures and pray to know for yourself that the church is true. Trust your parents and church leaders to love you and want the best for you. People who lead you down forbidden paths do not have your best interests at heart. When you hold the priesthood, follow the example of your father and your grandfathers. When you are old enough to date, treat the young women you date as you would want another young man to treat your sisters on a date. That is a pretty compelling guideline.

Just as we have some "bonus" grandchildren, your mother was our bonus child because she came in an unexpected way. When she accepted the gospel, she opened the door for you and all your siblings, as well as generations to come to have the gospel as well. I like to think that in the premortal existence you and your children and grandchildren were watching your mom and rejoicing as you watched her make that decision because you knew what a difference that one choice would make in her life and yours. We can always trust that Heavenly Father loves us and orchestrates our lives before and after our time here on earth. Know that you can always trust Him.

We love you Josh, and are so happy that you are part of our family.

Love,

Mama

Dear Wyatt,

If there ever was a boy who could be called sweet, it is you! Your loving smiles and gentle ways give you away completely!

I think one of the reasons you came to your family is because Talmage prayed so hard for a baby brother! You are as many years younger than Talmage as your dad was from his older brother Brett. When they were young the difference in age kept them from bonding too much, but as adults they are great friends! I think you and Talmage will be great friends as well!

Your middle name comes from your grandfather. You, Glen and Ezra share that middle name. In the Book of Mormon Alma named two of his sons Lehi and Nephi. Then he said to them, "Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good." (Helaman 5:6) Your Grampa Hassell is a very good man and I hope you will have many opportunities in your life to observe and remember his "works" and that you will want to honor your priesthood as he has.

You have also been blessed with wonderful parents who love you and will provide for you all that you will need to be successful and happy in this life. As you get older, much of your happiness will depend on the choices that you make. Trust your parents, teachers and church leaders. They love you so much and only want what is best for you. Talk to your Heavenly Father and your earthly parents whenever you are sad or confused. They love you more than anyone else and they only want what is best for you.

Even in your two short years of life, it has been easy to tell what a special young man you are. I hope I will have many more years to get to know you as you grow and to make and share some memories with you. Of course, if we do all that we have been taught to do, we will have eternity together!

I already love you so much!

Gramma

Dear Brighton,

You are the only person I have ever know with the name Brighton. I am pretty sure you do a great job of living up to the "Bright" part of your name. I looked up the meaning of your name, and it means "from the Bright town." All through my school childhood and school years I was the only one I knew with the name Michele. I liked having an unusual name, except when teachers would think it was Michael. Not fun to be called by a boy's name when you're a girl! Of course, now that name is used a lot.

You are one of our "bonus" grandchildren--one that came in an unexpected way! We are so happy about that, not only because the Hassell family needed more boys and Severin needed some boy cousins his age, but because you have become very special to us! It probably wasn't easy to have another set of grandparents show up, but you never made us feel like you didn't like it, and have always been the first to give us hugs when you arrive and leave, or when we come to your house. Thank you for that, it makes us feel so good.

One of my favorite memories of you will always be from last summer when you, Addie and Severin spent the better part of a week working on the tree fort and just doing things boys love to do in the summer time. That was a special time for Severin and for us to watch! With all of today's technology, sometimes kids forget how much fun it is to just play and enjoy the outdoors!

You are also our second grandson to hold the priesthood. Even though you are just getting started with the responsibilities that come with that, if you honor your priesthood, you will come to bless so many lives. The people you meet and teach on your mission will be blessed, your future family will be blessed, the people you serve through church callings will be blessed and you will be blessed as well. I always feel safe when priesthood members are around me! I didn't have that when I was growing up, and having it around me now makes such a big difference. You have some wonderful good examples of how to honor your priesthood from your dad, your Grandpa Thayn, Grampa Hassell and other men in your life who I don't know. Trust their examples and you will stay one the path back to our Heavenly Father.

Thank you for letting us be a part of your life Brighton. We can never have too many people in the world who love us. Please know that Grampa Hassell and I love you and are excited for memorable experiences with you in the future.

Love you tons,

Gramma Hassell

Dear Julianne,

What a big girl you are getting to be! Each time you come to visit I am amazed at how much you have grown and what a lovely young girl you are becoming. I am also so pleased to see what a loving big sister you are. Maybe that is partly because you have lost a sibling and maybe you know more than most children your age how fragile life can be. Elizabeth's illness was hard for everyone, but especially for you and your parents. But during the few times we were able to visit, you were always so loving to Elizabeth and never seemed to mind that much of your time was spent at the hospital and that your parents couldn't always give you as much time as they might have liked. For such a little girl, you were very grown up!

We were so honored that your family and you Hamelin grandparents came to Oregon so we could be at your baptism. Thank you for being willing to drive all that way so that we and your Grandma Lisa could be there. That was some good missionary work and a special day for us! I am also always impressed with how you never complain when you are here if you have to leave playing with your cousins to go see your other grandma.

I hope you will always know how much Heavenly Father loves you. He loved you so much that He put things in motion way before your birth so that you could be born into a family that would teach you the gospel and give you all the tools you need to return to Him. If you will trust your parents and your Heavenly Father, you will always know right from wrong through the Holy Ghost. Your baptism was just the beginning of many wonderful experiences you will have in the church. Life can be very confusing and sometimes hard things happen, but the prophet, your parents, your church leaders and your Heavenly Father will help you to know what to do during those times. The church is true. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Papa and I love you very much. We feel so blessed to have so many grandchildren and each one is unique and adds his or her special qualities to our family. We are so grateful that sweet, lovable Julianne is one of them!

Lots of love,

Mama