The Road Less Traveled

Jesus Carries Erik Through Surgery

We had just come back from vacation. While we weren't dreading returning to Lansing or returning to work, we were dreading the impending surgery on our "little man," Erik, who is 18 months. He needed to have a procedure on a hernia and possibly two the day after we returned from vacation. So Thursday we took him into Sparrow Hospital for his surgery at 12:30 pm, only after he couldn't eat since the night before. Ever try to keep an 18 month old from eating or drinking anything after he wakes up? (He did pretty well though.)

The worst for us was yet to come. They got him his little gown, quite cute honestly with little spaceships on it. Mom already needed a few tissues, so daddy went in to change into the scrubs because one parent had to go into the operating room with the child to help him go under the anesthetic. The doctor came and talked to us about the procedure and was wonderful with us explaining everything including the way Erik was going to be after he was put under. "It is not like he is sleeping. It is quite different, so don't be alarmed." I appreciated greatly the "heads up," but I have to be honest, it was still frightening to see him look so lifeless.

After a time waiting, around 12:30 pm I carried him into a very brightly lit room with 6 other people in scrubs waiting to attend my son. Then another two came in. It They had me sit with him in a chair and hold him while they prepared the anesthetic. The doctors, nurses, and addendants were wonderful. One kept him distracted while they began. The doctor drew a dog on a bag attached to the machine. When it was blow up with air, Erik would be out.

Well, as you can guess, he did not like the mask being placed over his face. He had been great up until this point. I recall the doctor saying, "Man this kid is strong." After about four breaths or so, he was out. He was limp in my arms. The doctor told me to place him on the surgical bed. And when I did he just laid there, not like a sleep, but different. The only thing  I ever saw like it was when I sat next to a small child lying dead in the middle of a highway, but that is a story for another time. 

The doctor took off the mask and there he lay. He told me I could give him a kiss before I left. As I leaned over I kissed his little forehead and whispered in his ear, "The Lord bless you and keep you." I wanted my little man to know that Jesus was watching over him. Then my head pulled away and small tear dropped to his little forehead. As I walked away it occurred to me that I l was leaving my little boy to a bunch of strangers.

For those who do not believe in God, or that Jesus holds the little ones close to him, I feel very sorry for you, for that waiting room would seem awfully lonely.

Now, I know there are many parents there who have had there children undergo more series surgeries and procedures. But it is still difficult. We had been at the hospital before with Erik for heart issues and even life threatening RSV at 7 weeks old. This was different.

I recall the doctor telling us that he will not remember this experience in the hospital. I wish he would have told me that I would forget the experience.

About an hour or so later, the doctor came out and said that everything went fine. Erik did not wake up very happy though, but by the next morning he was his normal, run around, get into things he is not suposed to, self.

I found that I needed to write this, not only to share an experience with you, but to help me express the emotions of going through this. I thank the Lord for a wonderful wife, a bright daughter, a strong little boy, and a faith in Christ that holds us all together.

 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; (Psa 55:22 NIV)

Future American Idol Winner

Our "Little Man" Erik, now 15 months, loves to sing. It all starting with daddy walking with Erik and singing. I would sing a note and he would open his mouth and say "ahhhh." Not a real note, but for him it was singing. We have done this for a long time, months actually. Now when we do this and I vary the pitch, his voice goes up and down to try to match my voice.

Then something strange happened just yesterday. I noticed as we walked out into the garage, I hit the button to raise the garage door. Well, he started to make his "aaahhhhh" sound. I didn't think much about until this morning when he did the same thing. I realized that he heard the sound of the garage door going up and it's pitch. He was trying to match the pitch of the garage door with his voice!

As I stopped to listen, it occured to me that the garage door does have a pitch, a constant note that sounds as it goes up and down. Little did I realize that in trying to get him to sing and teach him to love singing, I was also helping to develop his ear. He is starting to recognize not only sounds, but that sounds have pitches. He is beginning to find music in the world around him. What a joy! Maybe he can teach me to stop and hear things that I had never heard before.

Now I have a child who sings along with garage door. What's next? The garbage disposal? Truly the music of God is all around us. We just need to listen with the ears of a child.

 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
 burst into jubilant song with music;
Psalm 98:4 

(By the way, I don't watch American Idol. Just thought it was a catchy title.)

Fridays With Little Man

There was a time when I did not always take my day off on Friday like I should. Since Erik was born (02/01/08), my Friday's are filled with a better time to enjoy my day than myself, my little man. I love these days. I know they will rush by all to quickly, but for now I savor the moments.

He has new tricks, or a new sound, or a new discovery and all over again I begin to see the world on a different level, his level.  Just the beginning of this time together, but I pray the Lord will see us both through the years growing stronger together and in Christ.






"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."   Luke 18:17

Dad has Disturbing Nightmare about Infant

I woke up very early this morning from a terrible nightmare, like one many parents I am sure have had. Here was my dream. . .

Joann and I were giving Erik a bath in the tub. Then we got to talking and turned our backs for just a moment, all of the sudden I looked back and there was Erik all in the tub, but somehow it was filled all the way to the top with water and he was at the bottom all scrunched up in a ball not moving. I immediately picked him up out of the water to discover he wasn't breathing. I yelled to Joann, "Oh no!" and then I woke up. . .

Yes it was very disturbing and you can probably tell it still haunts me. I am no Joseph who interprets dreams, but I can guess where this was coming from. After our recent scare in the hospital with RSV over Easter and then with some heart problems he has been having, and now a cold again where he is so congested he has trouble breathing, we have been rather concerned.

I suppose it is also always a fear of a parent to turn your back for a moment and something has happened. Guess it doesn't matter if this is your first child or another, I guess we all have that fear. Maybe God puts that there in us so that we constantly stay vigilant over our new babies.

I am sure that many of you have been there with a story like this. This probably will not be the last either. Nothing new, but I thought I would share, maybe as a chance to dialog with others, and to work the vision out of my head. We continue to pray to God for strength and security, truly the only place that it can come from.

Trying to be a Godly Family

It has been three weeks since Erik was born. Looking back to just four weeks ago, it is amazing how life changes. Since we already have an older daughter, we know some of what was coming, but God always has more plans of His own, than He isn't so willing to share with us until He is ready to share them. We know there will be many more lessons to learn and wrongs to fix as a parent in the near and distant future. Praying daily as we do, we ask God to give us the strength (sleepless nights), the wisdom (what does this cry mean,) and the ability to laugh (when your baby lets out a BIG one during a service and you turn 20 shades of red) throughout any and all situations.

I am also continually discovering more about myself as a pastor. When Kirsten was born, I was a teacher and principal, which had it's challenges in and of itself. But I now look at my calling, in the Office of the Public Ministry, Pastoral Office,through the lens of Scripture  as it pertains directly to 1 Tim. 3:1-7. But what catches my eye especially are these words from verses four and five, "4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)"

I find it interesting that of all the necessities for being an overseer the one that is spoken of the most is that of family. Certainly it is important to be hospitable, and self-controlled and respectable etc., but why does St. Paul go at length about the family?

Before I answer this question from my perspective, I would love to hear from you as to why you think St. Paul draws family out more than the other areas.

It's a Boy. . . Erik Matthew Olsen

Joann was incredible. She went into labor and delivery after 7 pm, Friday night, Feb. 1st, and Erik was born at 7:50 pm. It went by so fast. Erik is 7.5 lbs and 20.5 inches. Kirsten is excited that she was .5 inches longer. It is starting already. Just came home for a few minutes and going back to the hospital. Looking forward to the Baptism next Sunday, Feb. 10th, at 8 am worship. Lot's of family and friends.

Thank you for you prayers and support. I am so thankful to God for a great wife and mother like Joann and a healthy baby. Miracles still happen. More pictures in the future.

Yes, Still No Baby Yet . . .

I think I know why the baby hasn't been born yet, the due date was Sunday, Jan 27th.  Kirsten was born over 2 weeks early, but it was Florida and 75 degrees outside, while it is quite a bit colder here. As Kirsten says, "It's 98.6 degrees in there mom. I wouldn't want to come out either." I tend to agree.

What is even more fun is to go into work, a church and school no less, only to hear people say, "Are you still here?" I supposed they are as surprised to see me at work as I am to go in. Keep praying for Joann and Pocket (baby's nickname given by Kirsten since we don't know boy or girl and it is in mommies "pocket") .

Budding Young Photographer, A Little Shutterbug

This weekend I bought our 9 year old daughter a digital camera, so that when the baby comes she can take pictures to her heart's content. I had no idea what door I opened!

I wanted something "inexpensive" and found the Samsung s730 in red on sale at Circuit City with 7.2 mega pixels, Anti-shake, and a bunch of other fun features. I would highly recommend this camera for your kids if they like to take pictures, be warned however, if you use regular batteries it eats them up like a a 4 year old boy who missed lunch and it is not as tiny as some other point and shoot cameras. But for well under $100, it is a good camera.

When I gave her the camera I showed her generally how to take pictures. The next day I came home from a meeting at church only to find that she had figured out all the different functions on the camera and was creating projects that stitched pictures together, used Black and White, and put frames around and added stickers etc.

I was humbled and delighted. I had under estimated my daughter and her ability to understand digital gadgets. She is now amazing me with her eye for photography,  her creativity with digital equipment and setting up "photo shoots."(I'm thinking about setting up a photo blog for her to upload her pictures on the web, with supervision of course.)

I hope that if you have kids, they constantly surprise and delight you as my oldest continues to do, my little shutterbug.

The Home Stretch - Baby born any day now

Joann, my wife, is due Jan. 27th, but the doctor has said any day now. Since our daughter was 2 weeks early some nine plus years ago, we are all ready to go. Please pray for a safe, and quick, delivery for mom and baby. Stay tuned whether boy or girl and names. Oh, we won't forget the pictures.

Daddy Almost Has Breakdown at Babys "R" Us

We walked into the Babys "R" 'Us on a Sunday afternoon to register for an upcoming baby shower. After talking to the registry coordinator, going through the forms and being given a book larger than many of the text books from seminary, I felt a migraine coming on. I thought I was done with this eight years ago. Oh, the choices, and the changes, and the equipment, and the "stuff." I don't know if I am ready for this . . . again. The cacophony of toys and cribs and strollers and bottles and bibs and on and on.

It is great to be in a country with so many choices. It is overwhelming to live in a country with so many choices. From the cheapest models of strollers to the Rolls Royce which I think included a built in TV, DVD player, and an GPS tracking device. You think I'm kidding, but have you been to the baby store lately?

We feel like we are starting all over again. Funny how nine years ago it all seemed so exciting, and now it seems a bit overwhelming. Probably because we know what to expect now. Stay tuned as we share the many adventures of being a new parent all over again. God has something big in store, or should I say small.