Our Family Christmas Letter

Dear Loved Ones,

Our lives are changing fast as our family grows older. We are grateful for our faithful God who doesn’t change. He still doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve and His loving-kindness endures forever. Join us in giving Him the glory for this past year.

We’re very thankful to God for a year of overall good health (a quick ER visit confirming Lori has acid reflux was a good reminder of how blessed we are). We are grateful for the Church Family we are in. It’s great having extended family living relatively nearby (though Lori’s parents moved to Waterloo, it’s about the same distance away as before).

We had some wonderful times together as a family: Detroit for Corey Wright’s wedding – and enjoyed the Detroit Zoo (very good); a quick vacation to Omaha (zoo was good; children’s museum was fun); our first garage sale; a wonderful week in Wisconsin with the extended Olson side; we built a swing set which our kids love; Lori and Tim went to the EFCA Youth Pastor Refresher – “Rebound” in Daytona Beach Florida – a much needed retreat. We removed some carpet and now have more hardwood floor (thanks, Eric, for your help).

Jonathan, at 18 months, is our social child - the family PR guy. He’s a happy, smiley boy and has a tender heart (he cries when someone gets hurt). He’s a “daddy’s boy” and has to have his “bupp bupp” to sleep (he sucks on his burp rag).

Elise is passionate about life – everything is “all-out”. She’s a typical girl that loves dolls, purses, helping mom, and doing her aunts’ hair. A year ago we were worried about her speech, but she’s made up for any lack of speech and isn’t slowing down. She thinks it’s funny to get the “hippupps”. Now that she’s 3, she has stopped sucking her thumb (Great Grandpa is thrilled). She had the privilege of being a flower girl in Steve and Amber Rick’s wedding (she cried all the way down the aisle). She says adorable things all the time. (ask us for stories – we love to quote her). She loves to sing – and requests “Holy, Holy, Holy” every day. She has a tender heart and loves to be a mother hen to her ailing great grandmother.

Benjamin is 6 and in Kindergarten (all day, 5 days a week). He does well in anything he works at. He loves sports and has had fun playing community organized sports – soccer, t-ball, wrestling practice (ask him about his incredible soccer coach). He is a great reader, loves math, and is a quiet leader. He loves the Minnesota Vikings (got 2 autographed balls during training camp and just went to the Metrodome to watch them play the Bears). He loves to play piano (he plays chords – and sings his heart out on worship songs – with a Mac Powell sort of voice). He enjoyed being the ring bearer in Corey Wright’s wedding.

Lori says her life doesn’t change much – so getting a new vacuum was one of the highlights of her year (so far, it actually works well – a new concept in vacuums for our family). She enjoyed another year at “Hearts At Home” with her sister and some friends. She had taken a year off from youth group and is now back helping again (Tim is thrilled). She still loves popcorn (gotta use the “stir-crazy”). She enjoys singing in a ladies’ quartet (Tim thinks they are pretty amazing).

Tim loves being a dad and husband. He’s now getting the incredible privilege to do some weddings of former youth students. He makes Danish (Swedish) pancakes as well as pizza each week with his kids. He’s started working on his paper for being licensed with the EFCA and is also a part of the EFCA Central District Student Ministry Team. He still enjoys his job (has a great pastor, some wonderful youth leaders, and is seeing students grow in their faith as well as students coming to faith). We saw God bless our annual trip to the Rosebud Reservation more than ever this year.

You are always in our hearts and we’d love to hear from you – electronically, snail mail, or in person.

Grace & Peace,

The Olson Family