John Hale Gardner, our beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, surrounded by his loving family, passed away on September 26, 2008 after succumbing to complications due to advanced age.

John Hale was born August 24, 1922, in Logan, Utah, to Willard and Rebecca Viola Hale Gardner. He was the second youngest of seven children and their father was a professor of soil physics at Utah State Agricultural College near his home in Logan.

John Hale studied physics at Utah State University, graduating in three years as the valedictorian of his class. Then he attended MIT and helped develop radar during World War II. He also attended Harvard University where he got his PhD in Physics. His graduate work contributed to three different Nobel prizes in physics.

He married his high school sweetheart, Olga Hellen Dotson, in the Boston Mission Home on July 23, 1943, and they were sealed the next year in the Logan Temple. He was devoted to Olga his whole life and was her greatest fan, as she had a beautiful soprano voice and shared her talent in many ways. They had eight wonderful children, as he would always say, who brought him great joy.

In 1949 he came to Provo to teach physics, mathematics, and astronomy at a much smaller Brigham Young University. He loved his students and colleagues, and he was instrumental in the growth and development of BYU. He particularly enjoyed teaching the Honor's Colloquium, and he was beloved and influential in the lives of his students.

John Hale had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ, and he served in many capacities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including bishop, high councilman, and gospel doctrine teacher.

He is survived by his wife, Olga, of 65 years; 8 children: Helen Elizabeth (Tracy Hall), John Willard (Kathryn), Kristin (Ron Spears), Rebecca, Robert Dotson (Deborah), Eric William (Connie), Ann, Margaret Irene (John Naegle); 37 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Relda (Frank Bringhurst), and 1 brother Willard (DeAnn).

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 3, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Oak Hills 1st Ward, 1038 North 1200 East, Provo. Friends may call at the Ward Chapel on Thursday evening 6-8 p.m. or on Friday one hour prior to services. Interment Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to Info@BergMortuary.com.

"thumb knuckle" thoughtfully brought to you by a random guy by the hot tub

wow, it seems like so much has been going on. I really need to go to bed because I have work in the morning, but I need to be researching for a paper proposal that's due on Thursday, but the library website won't let me log in. Weird. So, here I am, writing this blog.

I got a calling today. I won't be sustained until Sunday, so I'm not telling you. ha.

For the first time in a long time I had absolutely no milk this morning for breakfast. So, I had a banana with peanut butter. It was good, but not satisfying.

Nikki got engaged! which I'm sure you all know. But HOLY COWABUNGA! that is super exciting and I'm so glad that she is happy. even though that brings me one step closer to being the last one to get married, but it's ok, I've almost accepted it.

I talked to my roommate Laura today about boys. We both told each other about our past relationships. It was the usual discussions, but I must say, it was a really good talk. She is just so sweet. I really needed to have such a talk. She is just amazing. I can only say good things about that dear girl. And it was really nice talking about stuff because it made me realize how much I have learned and grown from being in relationships. I think so much better of myself than I did two years ago, even a few months ago. And I know that I deserve the best and by golly I will get it.

My mom. she is just the best. We were so close before she got married, but since then it seems that we have really become the best of friends. I just love her so much! I can't even describe it. All I can say is that I can't wait to have that kind of love with my family in the future - forever.

um, I think that is a good coverage of things going on.

Al's Song of the Week: Imagine by John Lennon. Ok, so, I love love this song. And I'm almost king of learning it on the guitar, which is pretty awesome I think. Plus he's a Beatle, and that explains itself.

The Week of Births

My roommate, Laura, turned 19 today. Our dear friend Jake turned 22 today. I don't know how old Teri is going to be, but her birthday is on Thursday. And my amazing friend and roommate Larke turns the big two three on Thursday. I'm terrible with presents and sentimental things. I'm good at thinking of those things, but not at actually going through with them. But I'm trying to do better, so hopefully I will do something great and fun.

And speaking of birth, I had a dream yesterday night that I was pregnant (and by the way, I make a pretty cute pregnant lady). Anyway, my water broke. And I could actually feel it happening. Oh, and the baby wasn't mine, I was having it for someone else, a surrogate even. My mom wouldn't come with me to the hospital because she was taking a nap, but she said she would come later. I was real mad but I went to go tell my dad and step mom. They were excited and told me what I needed to do. So after realizing I was going to be totally alone in this and that I needed to get to a hospital asap, I woke up. But really, I was in the midst of gaining consciousness. As in, I actually thought I was pregnant and I knew that my water broke (I thought that I had dreamt it happening, but that it did actually happen) and I needed to get up and go. After a few minutes, and feeling my stomach, I finally realized that it was all really a dream and that I was not at all pregnant.

Song-O-the-Week: Time After Time by Quietdrive. I also like the Cindy Lauper version, of course, but this one is very good too. And I choose this one because, um, time makes us have birthdays.

I'm christening my new apartment with cookies tomorrow

Al-dogs Song of the Week: Do You Believe Me Now by Jimmy Wayne. I really like this song. I think it's his voice. Country really is raising status in my music library.

Sorry, this is all you get this week. I'll try harder next week...maybe.

Alright fine I'll give you picture. Izzy's birthday is tomorrow and she's turning one! I can't believe it.

Art History is super duper fun

Well, first of all, Larke's car had some major radiator problems today on our way to dinner, so after we bought some coolant at the gas station, I got to put it in her car because she had no idea what to do. The best part is that I was in heels. I don't know why but I've always wanted to be all dressed up and have to work on a car. And even though it wasn't anything big, it was still satisfying. Weird, I know. Unfortunately her it turns out her car has a major leak and we're going to take it in tomorrow to get fixed, but the evening still worked out fun.

I'm pretty dang excited for school to start tomorrow, but I have neglected to get notebooks or pencils or text books yet. So pretty much I have a laptop and a backpack. I really don't want to buy books, they are going to be so much this semester! And I've started planning my schedule for winter semester and it has been driving me crazy. I can't take all the classes I want to because there are time clashes. But I guess I can put that off for a few weeks and just focus on this semester. I just want everything to work out perfectly for me to graduate next December. Well, I have the faith.

My roommates seem really cool and I'm excited for some fun at the Glenwood, but only if I can actually be somewhat social. Which I have some major issues with, but I'm honestly going to try and put the whole shy, insecure, scared out of my mind bit behind me and put myself out there as best I can. If I am going to be comfortable at all these next two semesters I'm afraid I'm going to have to not be afraid of making new friends, especially after my dear Larke abandons me.

Remember how a couple posts ago I said that I wanted to stop stressing and just live my life? Well, I think I'm finally getting somewhere. I'm really trying to not let things stress me out as much and just let things happen. If I am doing what's right and I really want something to happen, then I have to have faith that it actually will happen and stop stressing so much about it. For example, I wanted to find a new job. I decided this time I wasn't going to go crazy over it. I would just relax and do what I could do and if I was meant to get a new job, then I would. So far it has been good.

Al-dog's Song of the Week: Should've Said No by Taylor Swift. I just really like this song. It's a fun one. And Taylor Swift for that matter. I didn't think it would happen, but it has and I even bought her cd.