Riley Updates

I know many of you are thinking of and praying for my niece Riley and her family. Here's the latest...

Riley is 17 months old and has been having reflux-type issues for many months. An MRI on Thursday revealed a mass on Riley's brainstem that has likely been causing that. She was then transferred to the children's hospital at Stanford where she will be under the care of one of country's best pediatric neurosurgeons.

This morning's spinal MRI didn't reveal anything new, the rest of the spine is clear. Amy and I (and my dad) were able to sit in with Jaron and Jenni as they met with the nuerosurgeon. Riley will have surgery on Monday to remove the 3cm tumor that is attached to her brainstem. The tumor is located in a critical area but the Doc has done thousands of similar surgeries and he said the goal will be to remove 90% of the tumor. It can't be fully removed because it is attached to the brain stem and the will avoid that. However, he said that most of the time, if that much of it can be removed then the tumor will hopefully go dormant. The surgery will take most of the day on Monday.

At this point, my family and I are planning to stay until at least Tuesday.

Check back here for updates or go over to Jaron & Jenni's blog... http://jjaolson.blogspot.com/

40 units down... 26 to go...

I continue to love my classes and continue to feel blessed that I'm able to take classes while working in a great ministry position! Here's the latest on my educational pursuits....

Last Thursday I finished my 3-week intensive January term class, Theology II. I have now completed 40 units toward my 66-unit Master's degree in Biblical & Theological Studies.

The spring semester started today and I am taking three classes totaling nine units, the most units I've ever taken at one time! I think it's going to be great though. I'm looking forward to the subject matter and one is an indepedent study so I think the workload should be manageable. Here are the classes I'm taking and the now traditional photo of my reading load for the semester:

Theology IV - Ecclesiology and Eschatology - Dr. Robert Saucy (Distinguished Professor of Theology, has taught at Talbot for 42 years)

Cults of America - Dr. Kevin Lewis

Church Growth & Church Planting (Independent Study) - Dr. Gary McIntosh

More Christmas!

Then, on Saturday the 27th, we drove up to Pittsburg to celebrate with my parents and Jaron, Jenni, Avery and Riley. It was a fun visit that included gifts, forgotten gifts, good food, and a family bowling outing!

Dad trying out TJ's new guitar


TJ trying out his new Spiderman pillow!

Christmas Day

Since we were actually near our own home for a change, we got to celebrate Christmas with just our family! Amy made them both new blankets...

Kaylin and what else? Disney princesses!


TJ and Buzz Lightyear!

Then, on Christmas night, we had the Way family over for dinner! It was a nice evening... the kids played and the adults played Scrabble.

Christmas Morning!

This was the first time since Amy and I have been together that we woke up on Christmas morning in our own house! Usually we are somewhere else staying with family. Anyway, it was nice to start out at home!

We left pretty early for Long Beach to join Amy's family (her parents, siblings and the kids) at DeeDee and Steve's house for opening presents and having breakfast.

All the kids put on a play about the Christmas story... here is TJ as a wise man and Kaylin as a shepherd. =)


Ready to open gifts!


Kaylin and her Ariel doll!


TJ and his bulldozer!

A Christmas Update from the Olson Family!

Merry Christmas to you all!

FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS
Here are some of the highlights for our family in 2008:

• We moved into a new house, an amazing blessing from the Lord! See here and here.
• My cousin Rachel, who graduated from Biola in May, moved in with us in August.
  
• Our Disneyland passes, a gift from donors, provided lots of family fun! We'll try to go a couple more time before they expire in late January. =) We all enjoy the parades!
• We enjoyed many visits with our awesome family and friends throughout the year!
• Our first family camping trip, to Mammoth in July... what an adventure!
• We love our church family and all four of us enjoy various church classes and events.

TREVOR
Trevor turned 2 in April! He has become a VERY talkative little dude and is quite the entertainer and comedian. When we go to Disneyland, he particularly enjoys Dumbo, the two different Toy Story rides, and the Monsters Inc. ride. When Kaylin started school, TJ was Mr. Bold/Fearless, looking for where his desk was and totally willing to start school. =) After getting to "play" Guitar Hero with Rachel and Joel, he has become obsessed with guitars... more on that in a future post.

KAYLIN
Kaylin turned 5 in October! She started school this year... she loves her pre-kindergarten class. This year she was a flower girl for the second time and she saw her first movie in a theater. When we go to Disneyland, she loves to meet the princesses and go on rollercoasters with her daddy. Kaylin is still a planner, she likes to know what to expect. She is quite the encourager, always quick to spur/cheer on her brother and others. Lately, she has started playing jokes on us, saying one thing and then "just kidding!"

AMY
Amy keeps busy as usual... besides being an amazing wife and mother, she serves alongside me in the young adults ministry, in the MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) ministry at our church, and in the Talbot Wive's Fellowship ministry at the seminary. This year she also became an Avon lady, harvested her tomato and squash crop, and went on a women's retreat in Laguna Beach. She has really appreciated living closer to our church and she enjoys connecting frequently with friends and her mentor. With Kaylin in school 3 hours a day, she has enjoyed that change of pace and some time with just Trevor.

DEREK
I continue to enjoy being a seminary student! I have now completed 37 units out of the 66 required for my Master's degree and will graduate in May 2010. Serving as a young adults pastor is also a tremendous blessing. Two of the couples in our ministry got married this year and it was my privelege to participate in each ceremony. We also launched The Gathering, a Sunday evening time of worship for the 18-20somethings. That has been both challenging and rewarding! I am thankful for growing friendships with and opportunities to learn from my mentor, professors and those I serve with. Plus, I've been able to make some great friends both at church and at the seminary!

Our recent trip to Bethlehem... =)

We pray that your Christmas will be full of friends, family and fun as we rejoice in and celebrate the birth of Jesus!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,
The Olsons - Derek, Amy, Kaylin and Trevor

4th Annual Christmas Lights Drive

For the fourth consecutive year, we recently enjoyed another of our Christmas time traditions... getting a hot beverage treat from Starbucks and cruising around checking out the Christmas lights and decorations. See previous year's trips here and here.

This was the first year that TJ got to enjoy a beverage too... both kids got hot chocolate!




Ready to go see the beautiful Christmas lights!


A family from our church has a great Nativity display including...


live goats and shepherds... and...


a "camel" to sit on!

We also drove to Brea to drive through an amazing neighborhood where EVERYONE goes all out! Here's us with Santa. In the next post, I will include a video of one of the houses in that neighborhood.

A Toe Flower!

The other night we had a "picnic" dinner on the floor of our living room. For some reason Kaylin was being quite silly and giggly so we said something about that to her and she replied, "I'm just whacked out today. Don't worry about me." That's when I grabbed the camera and started rolling... eventually there's a story about toes... =)

Tree Decorating Traditions!

Last weekend we decorated our Christmas tree! This year was the fourth year of Kaylin being the one to put the angel on top of the tree...

2005 - 2 years old


2006 - 3 years old


2007 - 4 years old


2008 - 5 years old

And we started a new tradition... TJ's new official job is to perform the ceremonial first lighting of the tree...

2008 - 2.5 years old

Family Feast!

Kaylin's preschool class had a family potluck-style feast on Tuesday! As usual, TJ feels quite at home at school, taking his own seat next to Sissy for the feast. Kaylin has a great group of teachers and continues to enjoy school.

Snow Day in LA!

Our church held its annual Chili Snow Day family event this past Saturday! The various Sunday school classes each cook some chili for a taste-testing competition. 20 tons of snow are brought in and formed into two sled runs and snowball fight areas. Good stuff!

Our friends Scott and Amanda Ferreira and their kids were down in SoCal for the weekend so that came with us! Good to see you guys!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."

3 Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."

4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."

5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.

6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.

14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!

16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.

21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;

23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. ^[a]

27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up ^[b] to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

GHFC Student Ministries Team

The GHFC Student Ministries team... Zoro, Duane and Derek. A talent you didn't know they had...

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It's a Conspiracy! An Advent Conspiracy...

With "Black Friday" quickly approaching and the Christmas season coming soon too, let's pause and consider an Advent "Conspiracy." Check out the video below and then go to www.adventconspiracy.org

New Ministry Adventure!

This post is long overdue... but we just wanted to announce that our brother-in-law Jason Harney (Amy's sister Mindy's husband) is the new Director of Music at Red Hill Lutheran Church in Tustin. Congrats Jason! We pray that the Lord will bless you and your family richly as you begin this new ministry adventure.

Amy: Guitar Hero?

TJ the Spider

Here's a video of Trevor singing about his spider costume... sorry I forgot that I can't hold the camera sideways for video footage...

Costume fun!

Last night we all went to Biola to trick or treat in a dorm that they decorate like Candyland. They do a great job... students dressed up and handing out candy, games for the kids, snacks and treat for the adults too!

My princesses!


Wow! The most beautiful Snow White I've ever seen!


Cinderella! "...while she is here in my arms."


Spider and Cinderella


Costume parade on the way to Candyland!


Getting treats at Candyland!

Cautiously Optimistic

I am cautiously optimistic that I'm turning the corner on all these sinus surgery recovery issues. I've had about 4.5 good days! I've only had occasional and minor sinus pain and/or headaches... nothing like what I was experiencing a week ago. I'm hoping that I'll continue to improve. Thanks for your prayers!

Another update

I went to see my ENT doc today. Considering the pain I am having, he was concerned about the possibility of osteomyelitis (an infection in the facial bones). However, after reviewing my cat scan and examining me today, he thinks that is unlikely... it's very rare, did not appear on cat scan and I don't have tenderness to the touch. That said, he is having a hard time explaining why I am having so much pain. So for now, he put me back on antibiotics (a heavier dose of augmentin) and saline sinus rinses.... hopefully these things will help the sinuses drain and finish getting rid of the infection.

Please pray that the antibiotics and pain meds will alleviate my pain so that I can work and study (major exam tomorrow!) and that God will heal my sinus infection. THANKS MUCH!