School is in Session

School is going for everyone.  The weather is changiing.  We have our first snow ow Mount Timpanogos.
It's applesauce making weather!!

• Cynthia has a new job at DreamWorks! 
• Jane hopes to finish her master's degree in Computer Science by December.  Baby William is a lot more fun than school.
• Julia's favorite class is: Residential Landscape Design
• Ruth is hoping to finish up high school by the end of the year and is thinking about going to China.
• Anna Belle is 13 this week and James A. is 18
• Mary's boyfriend is an artist. He is fun to talk to.
• Noah is a Zone Leader in Bossier, Louisiana
• Lily no longer has braces!
• Clara and Lou each went to Homecoming at their respective schools
• Seth is doing great in Junior High
• Peter is sending out lots of college applications
• Golden is into butchery!  He is taking a butchering class.
• Sarah, Julia, Anna, Jane, Cathy did a 100-mile bike ride in Las Vegas and had a great time.
• We visited Uncle John in Steamboat Springs and spent a gloriously beautiful day together on the mountain. We took the gondola, hiked, got into a bit of snow, played miniature golf and ate yummy food. At work right now he is working on a lovely custom home near the ski resort. 

Fun fact:  Aunt Sara is the new Relief Society President in her ward.


A Nana-found Quote:
British writer D. H. Lawrence  observed that Americans can be quite wrong in their notion of freedom.  Freedom, he argues, does not come from "straying or breaking away" from places of heritage or commitment.  He says, "Men are free when they are obeying some deep, inward voice of religious belief.  Obeying from within.  Men are free when they belong to a living, organic, believing community, active in fulfilling some unfulfilled, perhaps unrealized purpose.  Men are not free when they are doing just what they like.  The moment you can do just what you like, there is nothing you care about doing."

You have been eclipsed!

Bright and Golden saw the eclipse in totality as did Peter, Lucy and Andrew in North Carolina. Others might have seen it as well.  We watched it on our glider on the front lawn with the new baby William.  His parents were there too and his Uncle Adam.

William in his Beaver shirt being blessed by the sun....

My cousin, Lorna Kyle Boot, has a neighbor who is a professional photographer and did a time-lapse photo.  Which I have attached.

It made me think of how Jesus Christ is the light of the moon, and sun and stars. The universe is amazing, big and small.

Here's a note from Noah: "A big shout out to my Beaver fan club! I honestly felt like I was a celebrity with a fan club this week! I probably got more mail than my entire mission combined, it was awesome and I loved the art work! I am glad the reunion was a party, I will be there for the next celebratory beaver chant!!! Beavers one, beavers all!"  Maybe his new mascot for now is in the following photo.  His companion is the son of a family in our current ward.

Noah and pals in Louisiana 

Grandpa and Aunt Gwen and myself spent some time helping Martha clean up her apartment after the fire and explosion in the store room under her apartment.  It has been cleared by those in the know for her to move back in.  There was no residual smell, which is a great and good thing.  We went out to lunch and got a few new things to freshen up her place.  It was a small beaver party after all.  I made her a quick Pennsylvania Dutch barn hex.  They decorate the barns in Pennsylvania and other places where the Dutch have settled and have become an art form.  I designated my hex for Martha against moths and fires!  This is the freeform draft!

Barn Hex for Martha

Everyone is back in school more or less.  Erica and Julia arrive in Provo on September 2nd to return to BYU. James A. and Rae are set up at their respective schools.  Peter will be doing an internship at Duke this year in their electrical engineering lab.  He helps the grad students with their research, etc.

Special Edition for Family Reunion

Ostergar Family Reunion 2017 

Cedar City, Utah

I can't figure out how to put the the printed copy of Teen Talk that I had at the family reunion into the blog.  I will get someone smarter than me to help me.  I can always send it via email.

The postcards we made for Noah are going out every day in the mail.  I think he will love them.

Here is a happy list from the family reunion:

• Talking about the importance of the Dakin name in our line
• The announcement of William Dakin Linn on July 27th as our first great grandbaby

• Hearing the baby's first cries
• Hike to Cascade Falls

• Art Beavers (what can I say?)
• stick drawing and watercolor and framing our art
• Palette ice cream run/walk and sitting on the lawn with cousins
• Anna Belle wins a Farkel game
• Martha wins a Phases game
• No cooking utensils
• Eloise's braided hair by Lily 
• The Sausage Sizzle
• Uncle Mark looked like the SUU HVAC man with similar clothes and beard! Did anyone get a photo of that?
• Playing volleyball...and for some winning!
• Cousin games in the hall

• Small bars of soap and short sheets
• Ice Cave
• Treasure Island
• Costume Seminar with Shelby Luke
• Australian candy - lollies
• Australian people
• Gathering all together
• Teen Talk live on the importance of being able to write
• Cousin name game
• Melon in a bucket
• Watching Allen 4 do some drawing

• Wiffle Ball
• Missing: Kelly, Adam & Sarah, Golden, Sunny, John & Chrissy, Noah, Jane & John

If you have more to add, please send it along.  What was your happy moment?  I will post more photos - send photos to me too.

A somebody your thankful for - THANKSGIVING!!

                          Gratitude is the Memory of the Heart

French Proverb

Sunny - I am thankful for Julia because when we first got to Hawaii, she's the only person I knew, so she was always there for me and is still always here for me. Just down the hall.

Ruth - My Dad, because he knows how to talk to me and is always there.

Mary - Aunt Sara, she was my Mom for Thanksgiving weekend and with facials too.

Peter - I am grateful for my Mom. She always provides for us, always does her best, even when she's tired.

Two Turkeys or maybe Five!

James D. - Martha makes me happy because of her Christmas CD mixes.

James A. - My Dad - I believe he is an excellent role model.

Lily - My friend, Ellie, whose birthday was on Thanksgiving this year.  She just turned 14. She is friendly to everyone.

Daisy - My Dad, who is willing to talk and help me feel better.

Lou - My Dad, who is a good provider.

Erica - Martin Short - He makes me laugh.  His book is: I must say - My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend.

At the Thanksgiving craft table

Clara - My Mom - She helps me out.

Noah - Amy Poehler - she brightens my life in Parks and Recreation.

Rae - I am thankful for my parents because they're supportive and make me laugh!

Lucy - My Dad - He's always willing to hang out with me and do things with me.

Golden - I am thankful for my parents who provide food and roof over my head!

Julia - still thinking, I hope.  I can't seem to get through on her phone.

Jane - I m thankful for Joseph Smith because of his great courage amidst all of the opposition he faced. He was a great man who was so near to God, and so familiar with His mysteries. He is a great example to me of humility, righteousness, and optimism. Because of the sacrifices he made, we have the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, the priesthood, temples, and so many other blessings! I'm also grateful for my parents and their example to me, and the sacrifices they've made for me. And for my whole family! It's full of amazing people.

Bright - From her letters, Bright is thankful to be in Louisiana and and enjoying the people she has met.  Here's her email.  julia.ostergar@myldsmail.net

All/most food at the Falck's was in vintage pyrex dishes delicious!

BTW - Joseph Smith's birthday is December 5th.  My great uncle, Simeon Oquist, painted a portrait of Joseph Smith.  He painted it so that his son Selfrid (who still lives in St. George) could sell it and help with his tuition at BYU.  One man didn't like it because he painted Joseph with white pants. What do you think?  I believe he used the death mask as a starting place.  The picture was lost for a while and rediscovered recently in the home of a family in Springville.  The portraits of my grandparents in the dining room were also painted by Simeon as my grandparents wedding gift.  He painted the King of Sweden at least twice.  https://www.facebook.com/Cluboquist/?fref=ts

Joseph, the Prophet

Cousin's Rock!

We had a trip to North Carolina to see Sara, Jaron and the kids.  They were busy working on their Hallowe'en costumes.  The kids are lucky enough that their Mom is pretty handy with Goodwill items and her sewing machine for some amazing costumes.

Art Beavers in North Carolina

Peter is working on his driver's license preparation and so is Ruth. Peter was a hit at a stake dance with his Dr. Who costume.  He got a prize!  I think it was something about Best Nerd costume!

Obi Wan at work!

Peter Who?

Lucy's soccer team placed 2nd in their tournament.  We saw four soccer games on the Saturday we were there.

Lou has earned another significant honor as a Freshman.  He earned the highest score of all Freshman and Sophomores in physics and math.  This includes a permanent framed certificate on the wall of the school.

Noah did a wonderful job as Mr. Banks in his school's production of Mary Poppins!
Did you know that he is also on the seminary council?  He keeps veeerrry busy.

Mr. Banks surrounded by his fans...name two

Golden is doing deconstruction at his house.  He is taking out the wall between the kitchen and the family room.  And then what...?

Bright goest to the MTC in one week!  She has given her talk and bought all her missionary clothes and is ready to go.

Mary was very happy with a visit from her parents in New York City.  Her siblings were all seen sporting NYU paraphernalia lately.

Gwen and Mary in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art 

Julia also had a visit from her parents and Ruth during her school break.  Which would you like to visit?  NYC or Hawaii or North Carolina?  I think we need to do them all.

Clara, Lou, Anna Belle, Henry, Seth and Jane all put on their Hallowe'en costumes at our house this year. Jane went to a party and everyone else went out trick or treating.  The best fun was organizing and trading candy at the end of the evening.

What a mean looking bunch - except for maybe the deer!

Blank Eyes in this ghoul!

Grandpa and I got to see the inside of the Provo City Center Temple (PCCT) last week.  There is no furniture yet, but everything is really beautiful with dark woods and hand designed carpeting and marble in many places. The baptismal font is oval shaped and there are 2 sets of stairs into the font, one on either end of the oval. We loved the stained glass windows and other art glass throughout. Our favorite was the murals that have all been hand painted.  We can't wait for you to see them.

We were invited to hang some crystals on the central chandelier in the Celestial room.  We used white gloves.  I wanted to hang a crystal for each of my children and grandchildren.  But I thought of each of your while we were doing it!

Recent news articles about the PCCT

Maybe Once in a Lifetime

Robert Louis Falck had a hole-in-one playing golf on October 3, 2015.
He played a wedge on the lst hole at the Cottonwood Country Club.
He didn't see it go into the hole, but there it was when he started looking around the green.
Neither he nor his dad had their phones with them....

What a thrill!

Congratulations, Lou!  We hope you get many more in the future.
Lou was ordained a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood on 27 September 2015...better than a hole-in-one in the long run!

Looking looking #1 with his hole-in-one!!

In other news:

Daisy has finished her Senior tennis season at Provo High. She played doubles this year and had fun in regionals.  They beat a team that had previously outscored them and generally had a good time.

Clara is making a ton of arm scarfs for the Beehive Bazaar which is early in December.  They are so cozy and colorful.

You know you want one!

Grandpa was released as stake president of the Oak Hills Stake in Provo, Utah on 20 September 2015.   Many of the local grandkids were able to be there.  It was really fun to walk in and find family.  Grandpa and I were also set apart by Pres. Henry B. Eyring on Friday, September 18th.
We enjoyed that very much and Elder Eyring talked to us for a while about his topic for general conference.  Then it was fun to hear his talk at General Conference.  We need to claim our gift of the Holy Ghost in all that we do!

Grandpa will be able to seal/marry Adam and Sarah went they get married on October 10th.  It will be his first sealing.

Congratulations to James Atticus on turning 16!  Have you seen the computer he has been building?

James with his hand decorated computer case/cover

The inside awesomeness of his computer.  Great work!

Bright received her endowments in the Logan Temple.  We had the opportunity of going with her on her second visit in the Provo Temple.

Grandpa, Bright & Nana at the Provo Temple

Rae looked beautiful in her $2 homecoming dress!

Homecoming 2015 

We can tell that Sunny has been missing her family with all her Instagram posts.

Julia,  is loving BYU Hawaii.  She is having fun enjoying all Hawaii has to offer.  Loves the beach, hiking, hammocking, and long boarding.  Although she was really sad that her long board (skateboard)  got stolen recently.  She is also doing well in her classes, and is taking a hula class and a drawing class.

Ruth has been busy making "crusty bread"  The recipe came from Rob Falck--- Thanks uncle Rob!  She started a crusty bread making business, and thanks to social media, she had orders to make 30 loaves of bread the first week!  She plans to make bread for the rest of the school year, or until she reaches her goal of $1000.00.  She is saving money for a service trip she wants to take to Africa this summer.  She is determined to go!

I haven't forgotten the other cousins, so there will be more to come as I collect more info.

The big wedding is this weekend in Las Vegas.  I am excited to see Grandpa in his white suit.  xoxo to all

Back to School

Everyone is back in school!

Mary is attending New York University, NYU.  Her Mom flew to NYC with her and helped her get the things she needed for her housing.  She is very excited about her French class and just being in New York with all the opportunities for learning and growing.

Mary's wall of some favorite things.

Sunny and Julia, as we know, are at BYU Hawaii!  We've heard that Sunny has signed up for a lot of clubs!  Julia scraped her arm cliff jumping...don't forget to go to class!

Erica, Adam and Jane (graduate) are making things happen at BYU. They often eat with us on Sundays.

James D. is working as a teller at a credit union and is taking classes at LDS Business College.

Daisy and Noah are Seniors this year
James A. and Rae (an appointed student officer) are Juniors.
Clara, Ruth and Peter are Sophomores and Golden and Lou are Freshmen.

Lou started at a new year in a new school, Bonneville Jr. High, since their move to SLC.  That's a hard thing to do.  We are cheering you on, Lou!

Lily 7th grade, Lucy 8th grade.

Did I get everyone right?

Text me photos and news.

I know that Daisy is on the Varsity Tennis Team and they are in the midst of their meets.  I hope to get a photo tomorrow.

Rae found a homecoming dress for $2.