Hi poporange630 and Welcome to the Forum.
First thing I would do is goto C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets and (if you have 64bit??) C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets and see if you physically have any gadgets in there**.
I'd then go Control Panel >> Programs and Features >> Turn Windows features on or off, and check if Windows Gadget Platform is "ticked". If it is ticked, untick it. Re-boot. Do the same again, this time re-tick it. Reboot. Now see if your gadgets are showing.
HTH.
** If they are there, something has become corrupted. The second paragraphs instructions should reset them. If there is corruption I'd suggest running sfc...