Kaylin working on her ball-handling skills...

Here's a video of Kaylin working on her dribbling skills. My favorite part is how, in typical easily-distracted toddler fashion, she stops to throw a leaf over the fence, then goes back to what she was doing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

We are thankful for God's faithful provision for our needs, His guidance during this time of transitions, and for our families!

We spent Thursday through Saturday up in Pittsburg with my dad, Earlene, Jaron, Jenni and Avery. We had lots of fun seeing everyone! On Thursday, we went to a park, took some family pictures (the new one of our family is on the right) and then went back to the house for a a great meal! Friday, in an effort to buy a $99 laptop, Jaron and I left the house at 3:45 a.m. headed for Circuit City. However, we quickly discovered that we'd gotten up far too late to be successful "Black Friday" shoppers... the line already stretched around a parking lot FULL of cars! So we were back in bed by 4:15. =) Dad, Jaron and I went over to Pleasant Hill on Friday night to catch the Cabrillo College Seahawks play in the first round of a basketball tournament. Saturday was a mellow day of haircuts, shopping (the ladies) and football watching (the guys).

The News Is Out!

Most of you loyal OlsonWeb readers already know about our big news. However, since that news has now gone public, I wanted to blog about it!

Here's some of the email announcement we sent out recently:

Amy and I are excited to announce that after much prayerful deliberation, we are following the Lord's leading to... drum roll please... Southern California! I let my boss know late this afternoon that I will be leaving Mission Springs in mid-January in order to begin taking seminary classes at Talbot School of Theology (part of Biola University) in La Mirada, CA. The coming weeks will be spent finishing up my time at Mission Springs while looking for a ministry opportunity or other job in Southern Cal, figuring out where to live, preparing to move, etc.

Thanks so much to all of you for your prayers and support over these past months as we have sought God's direction for us. We'd appreciate your continued prayers for our transition planning. Also, if you have any leads for either housing or a ministry position, please let me know!

Here are some excerpts from an email I sent to former Frontier Ranch summer staffers today:

I am writing to let you all know about some exciting developments in my life. After much prayerful deliberation, Amy and I became convinced of God's call for me to begin seminary training. So, in order to prepare for whatever ministry He calls me to in the future, my family and I will soon be moving to Southern California where I will be enrolling at Talbot School of Theology (part of Biola University) in La Mirada, CA. My last day here at Mission Springs will be sometime in mid-January and school starts on January 29th.

We are stepping out in faith to follow His call, not yet knowing where I will work or where we will live. That's the adventure of being obedient! My hope and prayer is that God will lead me to a ministry position that will allow me to provide for my family but have enough flexibility to attend classes as a full-time student. My family and I are excited to see what God has in store!

Of course, it is not without sadness that we leave Mission Springs. As you all know, Mission Springs holds a very special place in my heart… I received my call to ministry and met Amy while on summer staff here and have had innumerable amazing "God moments" while serving with all of you at Frontier Ranch. I have truly enjoyed every aspect of my job here and God really stretched and grew me while I was here. We will miss this place and, more importantly, the people here.

However, all that said, I am very excited to see what the Lord has in store for the future here at Mission Springs. Next summer, Mission Springs will celebrate 40 years of youth camp ministry at Frontier Ranch and I am so glad that you all have been, and will continue to be, part of God's work there. Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel!

I would appreciate your prayers for the transition time that lies ahead for both my family and for Mission Springs. PLEASE feel free to call or email me with any questions you might have. I’ll be in contact with all of you at least a couple more times via these lovely mass emails before I leave and I look forward to seeing many of you at the reunion!

Sew On and Sew Forth - Now Online!

Amy has been working really hard (and having fun too =) being a crazy seamstress, sewing all kinds of purses, totes, etc. Her business, Sew On and Sew Forth, just launched a website to showcase all her merchandise and allow people to order online. She's already had to raise her prices based on increased demand!

You can check it out by clicking here or the link on the right. Still looking for Christmas gifts? Know anybody else who would be interested? Word of mouth advertising is much appreciated... send all your female friends (or the men in their lives for that matter) to sewonandsoforth.blogspot.com Thanks!

Craft Fair Entrepreneurs

Amy and two friends, Robyn and Hannah, spent this weekend selling their wares at a local craft fair. They were pleasantly surprised by their sales success! Amy sold 15 of her purses, which was more than double her goal for the weekend. For those of you who haven't heard yet... Amy is sewing up a storm these days, creating various purses and tote bags. Besides selling at this craft fair, she'll be selling at 8 more days of a craft fair in December and she's taken many holiday orders from friends and family. A new blog site for her new business, "Sew On And Sew Forth," will be coming soon to feature her merchandise!

Kaylin is browsing while Robyn and Amy await more customers.

Halloween Fun!

We had 6 families come to our house for pizza and then trick-or-treating with 9 kids!

Kaylin, who loved the princesses at Disneylan, as "Sleeping Beauty"

Kaylin holding TJ... notice the pumpkin hat that Mommy made him.

Daddy and Trevor dressed up as Coach & Player... actually I was just wearing that stuff and he had his "Slam Dunk" outfit on