The Olson Family Times: It's Been a Great Summer

Summer came in like a world wind and fall has too. We had snow on the top of Pagosa Peak this morning and I realized I needed to share with you our eventful summer before it was too late.

It was a blast have Grant Jewell visit. Grant is a past student of Tom’s who just got out of the Marine Corps after 3 tours in Iraq. Tom and Grant fished and shot guns like any good American should. We also were visited by the Jacksons (Laura’s Sister) from Texas. We had a great time sitting under the stars and doing Pagosa. Tim, Trace and Tom fished, with little if any bites. It wasn’t until Bob (Tom’s brother in-law) visited that the fish were conquered. Bob brought in two 17 inch trout.

We missed our annual summer trip to Hume Lake but we found our new Colorado destination, Williams Lake. WOW! God did a great work there. The kids had fun tossing rocks, eating them (TJ) and playing in the lake.

We of course found some great hiking and have had a blast spending time in God’s playground. Elk, deer fox, wild turkey, marmots, porcupine, and bear we all seen around Pagosa by the Olson’s. Even Suki found herself a skunk. She thought she was tough as she chased it into a pipe thankfully the skunk showed us all mercy and didn’t spray.

But we had to get our city fix too, so off to Denver and Heritage Square a kid size amusement park. I think it was more for Laura than the kids, but Tom had some fun too.

Sydney turned three this year and now she is officially a young lady. Big girl swings, cups, and hair, wow she is growing up. She also started preschool and is so excited. Sydeny is at the top of her class. We thought about skipping her but like any good Olson we will let her run the class. Isn’t she adorable!

TJ is a wild man. Laura couldn’t understand why he climbs on everything, eats everything, talks about everything without saying a human word, and jumps off everything, and doesn’t sit still. A woman from church responded, “Oh he’s a boy.” A chip off the old block says Tom.

We closed out the summer with the Pagosa Springs Balloon Festival. The kids loved it and so did we. How fun it was for all to see the sight of so many balloons taking off and flying overhead.

God has blessed us with so much. The church is growing and we are looking forward to moving into the new church building this November. We plan on having the dedication service on Thanksgiving Sunday and you are all invited.

We just called a new Worship Director to the church and he is fantastic. We received the lead from Tom’s cousin Shelly. He was the worship leader at her church in Huntington Beach for 20 years. What a huge gift from God. He was what was missing.

Our small group studies are going well and people are growing in the Lord. Our friends in one group are gifted at making real Mexican food, because that is what they are. So we now make our own tortillas. Tom likes to brag about his gifting in making them so please pray for humility.

We had a fun game night the other week. We played an Olson classic, Funny Bones. It makes you wish for those days when you couldn't post a picture that the world could see.