There was a family reunion...

Aunt Sara, Uncle Mark, and the beaver shirt for 2015

Golden, Eden and the awesome sand castle

What was the best part for YOU?

• "Beaver Creek Lodge"
• Welcoming each other as families arrived.
• We had awesome Beaver t-shirts that came in fun goody bags.
• There was a full moon beaming down on us.
• First night camp fire with sweet thoughts from our children on things they learned from us in their growing up years. 
• A beautiful ring for Nana with 5 garnets...one for each decade and a frozen Snickers bar for Grandpa.
• Skits by the grandkids about our past : )
• A big cinnamon roll hug
• There was the Ostergar flag under Joe the deer, or was it an elk?
• Meeting Chrissy and Sarah.
• A Declaration of Independence puzzle to work on.
• Lots of cousins!
• Nana crafts?
• There was a family meeting and we told a little about our call to the Provo City Center Temple.
• There was the fun time at North Beach with kayaks and paddle boards...and a picnic.
• The beautiful views
• Lots of good food and snacks.
• Was it the rooms with the cozy beds and your own bathroom?
• Sand castles.
• Minnetonka Caves
• The Sunday morning hike on Limber Pine Trail was one of our favorites.
• Plenty 'o' hugs
• Missionary tag
• Teen Talk Very Live!
• Fifty cranes?
• The family "Spot It" game.
• Josh composing a song on his guitar to celebrate our 50th.
• Blankets on the ground for the  outdoor movie, "Candleshoe" with popcorn and grandpa's special recipe popcorn.
• Horseback riding
• Grandpa, the cowboy
• What was the name of your horse?

The Flag and Joe

Another Beaver rendering

Limber Pine Trail

Clara and Lou doing a marvelous work

Let's saddle up and ride!

Grandpa looking very natural on his horse and handsome to boot!

Link to the Church News article

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632255/New-temple-presidents-called-to-new-Provo-City-Center-Temple-and-renovated-Suva-Fiji-Temple.html?pg=all

Ima Beaver

James David has a new apartment.  He is sharing with 2 other young men.  He has full-time job as a teller at a credit union.

Lily spent a weekend with us.  We had so much fun together.  She was enjoyed by all who met her. We did a whole pile of things, including her making a mini Book of Mormon in pink gingham.

Lily & Yuki

Noah survived "TREK" and it was a difficult business.

The Harmon Family and the Ballentine Family are hanging out together in North Carolina, D.C., Virginia...which includes beach time and EFY for Clara and Peter.

The California Ostergar's are having an amazing tour of Italy and they even some time in Switzerland. Sarah Emily Ballard was able to spend a week with them too.  We are getting to know and love her more as she joins us for Sunday suppers.

Mary has a job with a group that owns retirement living places.  She helped them pick and buy 15 pianos...perfect!  She is still working on strengthening her shoulder.

James Atticus is in Australia with his family for several weeks.

On the 3rd and 4th of July, we celebrated with the  Logan Ostergar's.  We also drove to Garden City (by Bear Lake) to see Sunny at work at La Beau's.  A little raspberry milkshake, please!
Grandpa ordered our food under the name of Ima Beaver...but she saw him before she had to call it out!  We saw a laser show and a firework display and a very fun concert with Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band.  We really enjoyed the antique and vintage car show.

Nana and Sunny. She's so bright I had to wear my shades!

We are all looking forward to the family reunion in just a few weeks.

Grandpa and I have the big news about being called to be The President and Matron of the new Provo City Center Temple.  It has great historical significance for thousands of people.  We think it will be a busy place.  We have lots to learn but are very excited as well.

I was trying to think of a scripture that might be good for me to do in calligraphy.  I was thinking of this one from the dedication of the Kirtland Temple.

D&C 109:22 And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;

Do you have some favorite scriptures that would work to inspire us? 

I also like this one from John 14: 27

Before meeting with President Eyring, June 30th, 2015
Love those doors to the temple!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The Law of the Fast

Grandpas' Corner

The Law of the Fast

I encourage all of my grandchildren to faithfully live the Law of the Fast and receive the promised blessings. The Lord has commanded us to “look to the poor and the needy, and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer” (D&C 38:35). President Thomas S. Monson taught:

               

“Remember the principle of the true fast. Is it not to deal our bread to the hungry, to bring to our own house the poor who are outcast, to clothe the naked, to hide not ourselves from our own flesh? (See Isaiah 58:7). An honest fast offering, a generous fast offering, will certainly be an indication to our Heavenly Father that we know and abide this particular law.

Principles

•             A proper fast day includes abstaining from food and drink in a 24-hour period, attending fast and testimony meeting and giving a generous fast offering. (Handbook 2, 6.1.2) Those who have health conditions that prohibit skipping meals can observe the spirit of the fast by being prayerful and contributing what they can as fast offerings.  Fasting should always be accompanied by prayer.
•             The Law of the Fast is accessible to all saints, regardless of their economic condition; it is a matter of faith.
•            When members fast, they are asked to give to the Church a fast offering at least equal to the value of the food they would have eaten.  If possible, they should be generous and give more. (Handbook 2, 6.1.2)
•           You as teenagers might want to consider paying your own fast offering so you can learn the importance of the law of the fast.
•        Blessings associated with the Law of the Fast include closeness to the Lord, increased spiritual strength, temporal well being, greater compassion, and a stronger desire to serve.” (Handbook 2, 6.1.2)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Please read chapter 58 of Isaiah. It gives additional insights into this wonderful law and its amazing blessings.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                As a teenager, I remember it being difficult to fast.  The secret for me was to be involved in doing something like reading or visiting someone or doing family history or taking a nap so I didn't sit around thinking about food.

                Much love, Grandpa

I

Ruth & Julia Temple Video

In California, they are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Newport Beach Temple.  They have posted videos about this.  Allen, Cathy, Ruth and Julia are featured in a video.  Check it out!


www.newporttemple.org

Noah is the Man in the Chair

The Drowsy Chaperone s a parody of American musical comedy of the 1920s. The story concerns a middle-aged, asocial musical theatre fan (in this case Noah) ; as he plays the record of his favorite musical, the (fictional) 1928 hit The Drowsy Chaperone, the show comes to life onstage as he cleverly comments on the music, story, and actors and gets in a little action himself.

Noah was "The Star".  We could see how much he has developed his talent since he first started acting and singing in grade school.  We couldn't take our eyes off him.  He had such wonderful facial expressions and so much joy in his soul!

Noah, Nana & Grandpa at "The Drowsy Chaperone"

Trip to California

Grandpa and I went to California for Henry's baptism.  It was pretty amazing because Henry sang a beautiful solo at the service and there was lots of family participation.

We like to listen to books on tape as we travel.  We really enjoyed a book called Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer.  Another good one was The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis.  It's from The Chronicles of Narnia.

Henry's baptism day with Nana & Grandpa

Mary is just getting ready to graduate.  She received a scholarship to NYU and has just received another one that doubles her scholarship there.  There is still more money to find, hopefully through grants and scholarships. We want it to all work out for her so much.

Her shoulder is healing up, but there is still more to do and more physical therapy to come. Hopefully, you saw her prom photos on Instagram.

Mary on her way to school

With Uncle Robb doing more traveling to Utah with his job in Park City, Lou is the man of the house.  He cooks, he cleans, he fixes things, he knows how to run the computer, and he does a lot of his school work on line.  He still loves to golf and make jokes with Grandpa!  AND HE JUST TURNED 14! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOU!

Lou looking good!