Labor Day

Where did summer go! I am already harvesting my city garden crop. It was a good year for almost everything. I (have) had tomatoes, purple beans, purple carrots, ground cherries, grapes, raspberries, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, jalapeno and bell peppers, cukes, rhubarb and all kinds of herbs. But best of all, I have flowers and milkweed to attract the scores of bees and butterflies that visited me this year. I really enjoyed their visits and always walked away smiling at these little things in life that have so much positive mood-altering power! Hope your summer was great too. So, what's been going on in the family this summer...

Cousins Reunion

A bunch of us traveled up to Fergus Falls and Battle Lake for a get-together. Some of us spent several days at an AirB&B on a creek that was situated between two great fishing lakes and a lot of fish were caught. Others stayed as guests at my Mother's. Cousins spent time visiting, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming. Those who attended were Cheri (Erving) Moikubo, Bonnie (Schweigert) Schram, Bob Tillman and his family (Mark, Chris (on right), Julia and husband Nick and their daughter, Faye), Mary Ellen Olin, Jerry Olin, Jr. and his daughters Alexandra and Alisha (on left), me of course and my daughter Gretchen and grandson Odin, as well as my parents, Janet and Jerry Lindberg. I want to say special thanks to Alex and Alisha for helping me out with Odin—you guys rock!

Janet and Jerry Lindberg visit Oklahoma and Texas

We were very warmly greeted and given a guest room at the place Andrea and Mike live. It was right down the hall from them and Mike took care of all costs and we shared meals with them in the dining room. We enjoyed doing things with them in their building as well as seeing Texarkana. I walked with Mike every day to take his dog to the park. We were earlier at David and Amy's and enjoyed their home and all the gifted things they did to make it a special home. Also, just loved the family time. Earlier than that we were at Lake Buchanan near Burnett TX and enjoyed a pontoon ride on the lake and sight seeing in that area. All in all the best of the times was just being with family we loved on the entire trip.

When Jerry and I Texarkana, we headed to Grove, OK to see my sister Virginia and had a great visit. Everyone treated us like royalty—providing us with great food and comfortable sleeping arrangements. We had not seen them in years. We had a great time catching up on the years of being apart. So nice to see the lovely place they lived. There had been much rain, so missed seeing Deb and Martin's place but they graciously came to see us and greeted us warmly. We love and miss them. — Janet Lindberg

Anniversaries

Ben and Julie Hoglund Anniversary

Julie and I had a great time celebrating our 30^th Anniversary in Maui in June. It’s one of our favorite places, but the last time we were there was on our honeymoon. We ran into an “old couple” on our first trip. I can’t remember if it was their 10^th or 20^th anniversary, but they were definitely old, and returning to Maui for the 1^st time since their honeymoon. We couldn’t understand why they waited so long for a return trip, so decided right then and there that we would be back often—every 3 to 5 years minimum. Then life and kids happened, so it took a little longer than we expected. Well worth the wait, though, unbelievably beautiful. Julie is an amazing woman and a great blessing. So glad we made it together thus far. With God, all things are possible. — Ben Hoglund

Janet and Jerry Lindberg

Congratulations to Janet and Jerry who have been married for 30 years!

Wedding

Cathy Deckert's daughter, Andrea Deckert, was wed to Brian Berget on August 18th in Duluth, MN. They married in the old Fitger's brewery building which had been re-purposed years ago into meeting space, restaurants, and awesome shops. We all had a great time and the wedding was beautiful. I even showed Brian how to disco dance to "Play that funky music white boy". I'm sure he really appreciated it.

On our way home, me and my parents stopped at two cemeteries.

Janet visiting her mother, Vivian (Bailey) Eiden's grave in Aitkin, MN.	Janet at her grandmother, Ellen Jane (McGillivray) Olin and her g-grandparents, John and Mary Jane (Hudson) McGillivray's graves in Staples, MN.

Oklahoma Visit

In late August Andrea Hoglund and daughter and son-in-law David and Amy Jones drove from Texarkana TX to northern Oklahoma to visit Andrea's sister, Virgina Gleason. Her daughters Patty Cobb and Debbie Wagner live near her. After many years it was wonderful to connect with family and hear about their lives and interests and accomplishments. Great time together.

RIP cousin

Few of us cousins were lucky enough to meet Aunt Agnes's boys, Jim and Roy. I met Jim about 20-25 years ago. He was tall and looked so much like the Olins. Now sadly he has passed on. His obituary:

Shimek, James F. 63 of Joplin, MO. formerly of Fridley, passed away peacefully July 27, 2018. Preceded in death by parents, Frank and Agnes; and brother, Gary. Survived by daughter, Tracy Shimek; granddaughter, Adalyn Shimek; brother, Roy; and many friends. Jim loved camping by Lake Superior, the outdoors and music. His generosity will be greatly missed. Memorials preferred to Notes for Notes, Twin Cities notesfornotes.org. Published on August 8, 2018

Graduations

Congrats to Makaylah, granddaughter of Jane Leitheiser, who graduated from West Side High School in Houston and was accepted at a Corpus Christi, TX College.

I [Taylor]graduated from St. Catherine University in Spring 2018. I majored in Biology and had a minor in Chemistry. My degree was a Bachelor of Arts. I graduated magna cum laude. I want to go back to go to Medical School eventually, but am taking a small break. I obtained my Emergency Medical Technician also during my senior year. So, I am working at a local hospital as an Emergency Department Technician, while I get everything in order to apply to medical schools!  — Taylor Olin

Congratulations to Taylor, daughter of Steve and Lori Olin.

Distant Cousin Visit

I was able to enjoy a visit with our distant cousin, Saliah Kako, at the State Fair this year. Her daughter is very active in 4-H and did a great poster on agates. It's always fun to catch up. Saliah is the g-granddaughter of Sadie Olin Sandretzky. Sadie was Willard's sister.

DNA Testing

We continue to have cousins doing the DNA tests. It's looking like most of us are predominantly from Great Britain. Steve Olin recently did the Y-DNA test so that we can do an Olin Family Society project to find our original ancestor's homeland. I say original because we have only been able to get back to about 1664 as his proposed birth year since he arrived her in 1678 at age 14. There are several stories in the family revolving around him being Welsh, but I (and others) suspect he came from France and then England. That paternal haplogroup is: R-M269.

I'm Moving

After 9 years at the U of M Extension, I gave notice for September 7th. My plans are to move up to Fergus Falls where I will help my parents through their senior years. Of course, if anyone knows my mom, she'll be running circles around me. It will be wonderful to spend time with them and I hope we'll be able to do a little traveling here and there to visit some of you. I am delighted that my daughter and her spouse are moving back from San Francisco and will rent my house.

What is your family up to?

Please let me know about events in your family so I can add them to the blog. I don't about them if I don't hear about them. (hint).

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