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.

Welcome Rachel!

My cousin Rachel moved in on August 30th! In order for her to rent a room from us, we converted our playroom (actually the formal living room) into a third bedroom.

BEFORE - the kid's playroom


During Construction - Our friend HK made it all possible by putting in a legitimate but removable wall... complete with insulation and a door!


HUGE thanks to HK and others who donated labor and some materials!


AFTER - this picture is taken from the front door of the house. the new door to Rachel's room is on the left.


We still have some toy storage in the entryway and Rachel still has a large 14' x 14' room!


Kaylin painted Rachel a welcome sign!

Welcome Rachel! We love you!

Disneyland with the Kurtz family!

While the Kurtz family was vacationing in SoCal, we are so glad they came to stay with us a couple of nights! We'd only gotten to see Christie and the kids when we were in Santa Cruz and that was only briefly... so it was good to get some fun time with their whole family!

Kurtz family waiting for the parade. Caden is asleep but I didn't have any other pics of the whole family. =)

I think Jeff and I were trying to act scared of the monsters from the Monsters Inc. ride... but the kids didn't really seem to follow along....


The Olsons getting to meet Woody!


What a joke! The Olsons don't have cable TV... we don't even really know who Handy Manny is! OK, well, I guess we did see him in the Disney Playhouse live show.


The obligatory "O" family picture!

Congrats Jason & Barbara!

Back on 8-8-08, we enjoyed yet another wedding! Jason and Barbara, two of the young adults that are active in the ministry Amy and I serve at our church, got married and Kaylin got to be the flower girl. I had the privilege of welcoming everyone and opening in prayer during the ceremony. CONGRATS Barbara & Jason... we wish you God's best throughout your marriage and we look forward to sharing in more fun times together!

Flower Girl Kaylin

The flutist married the bass player!

Congrats Holly & Andrew!

While we were in Santa Cruz, we had the privilege of witnessing Holly & Andrew's wedding! What a joy... we are so happy for them! Big congrats to you both... may God bless you richly as you begin the adventure of married life!

Throwback Fun!

Just for fun...


Carson & Kaylin (summer 2004)


Carson & Kaylin (summer 2005)

Fans in Enemy Territory!

Giants @ Dodgers, July 29, 2008

Our church got 50 group tickets for this Dodger game and we got to go to dinner and the game with our friends, Matt & Mishawn. Matt & I are both San Francisco Giants fans and I think every true fan has to have this experience at least once:

• Go to a game where your team is the road team.
• Not only that but THE hated rival team.
• Wear your team's colors/gear anyway
  

Matt & I

Then, after the game... walk out of the stadium while drunken Dodger fans try their best (weak efforts) to insult you. It was a very interesting experience to say the least! =) Even though I would have preferred the Giants win the game, maybe it was better that they lost. Who knows what the Dodger fans would have been like if the Dodger had lost.

Amy & Mishawn enjoying the ga... I mean the chatting.

Cousin Sleepover!

For a recent family birthday party, all the girl cousins came wearing their matching dresses that Amy made! Then, after the party, Amy realized it would be a fun opportunity for the older 3 to have a spur-of-the-moment slumber party... so they did!

Clara, Kaylin, Jenna & Laura

Kaylin, Clara & Jenna

3 cousins sleeping in the rec room together!

Lunch at Del Taco after church!

Walnut Creek & San Francisco

After our trip to Santa Cruz, we spent a couple nights with Jaron and Jenni in San Jose. Thanks J & J for hosting us once again!

One of those days, we drove up to Walnut Creek to visit Chris & Kirsten at their new apartment.

The kids loved visiting and playing with Chris, Kirsten & Johann

Kirsten, Amy and all 3 kids spent a couple hours hanging out over lunch time while Chris & I took BART into the City. When Chris & I were in college at UOP, Sean Curtis was the college pastor at the church we went to. He and his family are in the early stages of planting a church in San Francisco... it was great to meet him for lunch and catch up on life!

Chris, Sean & I

Santa Cruz!

We got to spend the first few days of August up in Santa Cruz! On Friday, we had a beach reunion day with many of our Santa Cruz (or former Santa Cruz) area friends... it was a blast to play in the ocean, play in the sand with the kids, and hang out with old friends! Special thanks to the Hughes' family for sharing their house with us for a few days! I didn't get pictures of everyone that we got to see... but here are some pics to give you the idea...



On Sunday, we had the pleasure of attending Holly & Andrew's wedding! We've known Holly since our camp days and she was a bridesmaid in our wedding. The wedding was our first chance to meet Andrew but we know he's great because Holly loves him! =) What a great day... we're so happy for them... and we pray that the Lord will bless them richly as they begin married life together!

Gramma Darlene's Visit!

My mom came to visit for a few days in late July. As usual, we all enjoyed having Gramma Darlene stay with us! She was here for a swimming playgroup on Thursday and got to see Kaylin and TJ practicing all they have been learning in swim lessons. Mom and I enjoyed a catch-up chat over a snack at Panera on Friday. Then, that evening, we all went to our church's first annual art festival which was very cool! Thanks mom/gramma for coming to visit... we love you!

While mom was here, we had my great aunt Lois and her husband Sam over for lunch... it was great to see them!

2 Days, 3 Lakes!

As I mentioned in the previous post, Amy and I were able to get away for a couple nights for our anniversary! Thanks Mom SO much for taking good care of our kids and allowing us to celebrate and get some time together! Plus, we were blessed with financial gifts (thanks to all!) that allowed us to enjoy good meals and fun activities... for details, just keep reading! =)

Our friends Jim and Nancy live in Green Valley Lake, CA and had offered awhile back that we could come up and stay in their "guest suite" anytime. Jim is the pastor of the only church in Green Valley Lake and a long-time family friend. Green Valley Lake is the highest community in the San Bernardino mountains (over 7,000 feet elevation), it's where Amy's parents used to have a cabin, and where we've taken the young adults on a weekend retreat... so it's a place that has lots of fun memories! Anyway, for our 9th anniversary celebration, we finally decided to take Jim and Nancy up on their offer. They were AMAZING and GENEROUS hosts and we appreciate their hospitality so much! Jim and Nancy, thanks so much for sharing your place with us and we enjoyed spending time with you both and Justin!

Jim & Nancy

First, some pictures of our "Bed & Breakfast," Jim & Nancy's beautiful mountain "resort." =)

Jim & Nancy's home, the white door is a separate entrance into their guest room, where we stayed.

Jim & Nancy are great people, great decorators and great cooks! What a great combo for hosting our unofficial bed and breakfast! Below are some pics of the room. They had gone above in beyond in creating a welcoming place for us and made us feel very loved. Special touches included fresh flowers, a bottle of sparkling cider, a personal note, and candles. Plus, the room had everything a very nice hotel would!

Now, on to pics of our anniversary getaway adventures... 3 lakes in 2 days!

Our first afternoon, we took a nice walk down to Green Valley lake.


The second day, we enjoyed an excellent brunch at a waffle house Jim had recommended in Lake Arrowhead.


The cute couple in Lake Arrowhead village


Then, the highlight activity of the trip was kayaking on Big Bear Lake.


What a cutie! As you can see by looking at Amy's shorts, we got wet while on the lake but we never tipped over! Amy was glad for that... I wouldn't have minded a swim! =)


We also visited the Big Bear Lake Discovery Center where we met this guy.

It was a great trip! As we continue to trust and follow the Lord, keeping Him at the center of our relationship, I look forward to many more years loving my best friend Amy!

Rainbow Falls

This was the highlight activity of the trip to Mammoth...

Trevor loved riding the shuttle bus down to the trailhead



The trail was 1.3 miles each way. Here are the kids taking a break from the hike.
Zoe, Kaylin, TJ, and Isaiah (L-R)



Kaylin took this picture of the adults (plus TJ) on the same log.
Pat & Teri, Amy & I, Shayleen & Mike Sanborn (L-R)



Well, let's be honest... TJ didn't do much hiking! However, Kaylin was a trooper... she walked both legs of the hike, 2.6 miles total, all by herself!



Here we are upon reaching the overlook by Rainbow Falls



Then, we hiked down the canyon further, waded through a shallow part of the river and posed for this picture on a log in the middle of the river. It's wild how loud a 101-foot waterfall can be! We also enjoyed eating a picnic lunch while at the falls!



I love swimming in rivers... so I couldn't resist. Mike and I waded out into the snow-melt... then, just after this picture, we dove in and swam toward the falls. Pretty cold... but way fun!



This picture is currently my desktop picture on my computer!