Dear Seeran,

I am so glad you are part of the Hassell family! We really needed more boys and we were sure lucky to get such great boys as you and your brothers. Do you know that when Catherine was born, Grampa Hassell gave her a name and a blessing while she was still in the hospital. Grampa Hassell promised her that she would grow up in a family with brothers and sisters. At the time her only sibling was Jane and I didn't see how she would ever have brothers and sisters--plural. But when Heavenly Father speaks through the priesthood we should never doubt Him. You are a boy who seems to want to make good choices and do the right thing. If you continue on that path, Heavenly Father will have some wonderful blessings in store for you and you will have a happy life. Even when sad things happen, you can still be happy because you can know through the Holy Ghost that Heavenly Father loves you and wants to teach you all you need to know to return to Him. Sometimes we are taught through hard experiences.

It isn't always easy to be in an extended family where divorce has happened. I know because my parents divorced when I was five. Divorce happens for lots of reasons and sometimes it has to happen even when it makes others in the family, especially children, sad. When I was with my mom, I missed my dad and when I was with my dad, I missed my mom. I think kids always wish they could put things back together the way they were, but sometimes it just isn't possible and we have to make the best of it.The one thing important to remember is that your mom and dad love you just as much as they ever did and nothing you did caused the divorce to happen. Then when you get older, sometimes you look back and realize that even though divorce is not Heavenly Father's plan, He still puts other people in your life to love you and help you and maybe there are some really good things that happened despite the sadness. I know that is true for me. I also know that Grampa Hassell and I can't take the place of your Davis and Thayn grandparents, but we want to be there for you as much as you need us and want us to be.

One of the many wonderful things Heavenly Father did for us was to give us hearts big enough to love lots of people. The more people that come into our family, the more love we feel for each member. So please know that Grampa Hassell and I love you just as much as we love each of our other grandchildren. Thank you for letting us be a part of your life.

Lots and lots of ,love,

Gramma Hassell

Dear Grace,

Happy 16th Birthday! This is a milestone for anyone and the beginning of being an adult with the privilege of driving and the huge responsibility that will be. In the next couple of years you will experience dating, maybe hold down a first job, decide what you will do with further education and begin the sometimes painful process of cutting the apron strings. I have no doubt that you will make good decisions and have an impact for good on the world around you. Your intelligence and wit can take you far and help you through challenges you may encounter along the way.

Though it would probably seem like forever to you, it doesn't seem that long ago that I was your age. I wasn't a member of the church yet, but I had been introduced to the church and had the beginnings of a testimony based on my reading of the Book of Mormon and a book entitled "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder". I was foolishly "going steady" with a boy and even thought I might marry him someday. (Boy, was that dumb!) I hadn't met your grandpa yet--and thank goodness I did! I already knew I wanted to pursue an education in nursing after high school and worked hard to get the grades that would help me get scholarships, since I knew my parents wouldn't be able to help me. I was the second oldest child in my family and the oldest girl, so I took on some responsibilities like doing the ironing for my dad and helping with dinner, even doing the cooking sometimes. I did that because I knew it would help my mom, but also because I loved to cook. I also taught myself to sew, since I had to buy my own clothes and it was cheaper to sew them than buy them off a store rack. I burned all the diaries I had kept up to that point because I thought the things I had written sounded so silly and childish. I loved to read, especially historical fiction. I knew that when I married I wanted a big family. In the summers and on the weekends I had jobs teaching swimming lessons and working in a nursing home. My earnings had to cover clothes, shoes, school supplies and any extras or entertainment. Everyone, including me, had transistor radios we held up to our ears to listen to our favorite love songs. If we were lucky we could get the batteries to last a week. So there you have it. I didn't get my driver's license until I was married because first of all there was no car for me to drive and even if there had been, neither my parents nor myself could have afforded the insurance! Living in the small town of Ashland, I pretty much walked everywhere I went. But that was OK, as very few friends my age had a car. Things have sure changed in 54 years!

You have been a delight to me (and I know others) all your life. Some of my favorite memories of you as a young girl are the efforts you put into trying to "fix" my hands with scotch tape and trying to teach me how to clap. You have beautiful dimples and hair and your inner beauty comes through on the outside as well. You are very good to your parents and siblings and that does not go unnoticed. You are an amazing and talented you woman and I love you as only a grandma can.

If I were to give you any advice it would be to stay close to your Heavenly Father through scripture study and prayer. Make the temple one of your most important goals. Then no matter what challenges come into your life, and we all have them, you will find strength and guidance. Remember too that your parents, siblings and extended family all love you and you can come to any of us if you need to. I feel so fortunate to be the grandma of so many wonderful grandchildren and that you are one of them!

Love you so much,

Mama

Dear Jaci,

You just turned twelve years old and today was your first day in Young Women's. In the church that is the transition between being a child and preparing to be an adult. You have so many exciting experiences ahead of you! Dances, dating, high school, driving, seminary, memories with friends and family and preparing to someday be married in the temple and be wife and a mother. You might even serve a mission! If you complete the Personal Progress program, you will be well prepared for whatever happens in your life.

When you were little, you weren't very trusting of strangers. That is a good thing, but because at that time you lived in Utah and we lived in Oregon, we seemed like strangers when we came to visit. Finally on one visit you must have decided I was OK because you climbed in my lap with your blanket and let me hold you for about an hour. That was very special for a grandma who doesn't get to hold her small grandchildren as much as she would like. As you are getting older, you are getting prettier and prettier. You have beautiful skin and shiny hair. What you might not know is that you are beautiful on the inside as well. You are so kind to others and work hard to please your parents and teachers. You are a great older sister to Livvy and Jessie. sometimes older siblings have no idea how much their younger siblings look up to them and want to be with them. They often want to be like you as well. As an older sibling, you are a very important influence in their lives. Even though you and LaRee may not always get along, I often observe that you are good friends. That will be more and more important to you as you get older. I wasn't always as nice as I should have been to my younger sister and now here she is, saving my life by giving me one of her kidneys! I surely wish I had seen her as the caring and compassionate friend she has become instead of thinking she was a pest!

Jaci, you have two wonderful parents and Heavenly Father let you come to a home where you would be taught the gospel and know how precious you are to Him. When there are hard times in your life, kneel down and talk to Him and He will help you to know what to do and give you comfort. Keep His commandments even when it is hard and you will always be happy that you did. He promises that if we keep His commandments He will bless us, and He never breaks His promises.

hank you for being such a wonderful and thoughtful granddaughter. One of the ways I know Heavenly father loves me is that He has blessed me with so many wonderful grandchildren. You are one of them and I am so happy about that. I love you tons and tons. Someday when you have grandchildren you will know how much I love you.

Forever,

Mama