Freedom's Call

Harvey's Place

2009-09-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

This was our 3rd year playing out at Harvey's place for their Sunday service and potluck in his barn. It was a blast and there was tons of good food! ;)

Our fan club---siblings! :)

Ladies Tea in Fosston

2009-09-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

If you look closely, you'll see that some men snuck in! :)

Concerts

2009-09-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

(Roses from our last concert in Gosen...the pastor and his family made it a very special evening for us---more pictures to come)

We will hopefully be posting pictures from our last few concerts in the next few weeks (OK, so maybe months ;)!

All Good Things...

2009-08-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have not yet heard, the musical adventures of Freedom's Call will be coming to an end early this fall. The four of us thank God for four beautiful years of fellowship, fun, and learning experiences. We have been so blessed by all who have attended our concerts and encouraged us with their kind words, financial gifts, and hospitality. We want you to know how much we appreciate each and every one of you! The Lord has provided new opportunities for each of us, and we know that it is time to move on from our musical ministry. We will miss it immensely, but we are excited to see what God has in store for our futures.

That being said, if you would like to catch us one last time, we will be playing tomorrow morning, August 23rd, at 11:00 at Harvey's Place in Leonard, MN, and tomorrow evening at 7:00 at Gosen Lutheran Church in Winger, MN. If you can't make it to either of these hour-long concerts, catch us at the Evangelical Free Church of Bemidji, MN on the morning of September 6th, or at the Evangelical Covenant Church of Bemidji on September 20th for some special music during either morning service. We would love to see you there!

Music Festival!

2009-08-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for some good bluegrass and gospel music, head over to the Lake Itasca Family Music Festival. There will be many different bands playing all weekend (August 7-9) as well as a new Storybook Musical Theatre for kids, workshops, and lots of good food! Look here for more information.

Gospel Tent Meeting

2009-08-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, we worshiped the Lord together with a tent-full of people at one of the Gospel Tent Meetings between Fosston and Bagley. We really enjoyed the evening there!

This picture is of us talking with Gary Johnson from the Gloryland Gospel Team

Bemidji State Park

2009-07-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

We were blessed with a beautiful afternoon for our performance at the State Park this past Sunday! It was so much fun to worship our Creator together out in the woods! David and Melanie have arrived from Ireland for their visit and they were able to stop by, and Mindy was there so we had both of our teachers there watching us...talk about nerve-racking!!! Just kidding ;) We love them so much and it was great to have them there! This performance probably had the most people we know in the audience out of all our performances (we had a lot of relatives there too!). Here are a few pictures from our day...

Sing, sing, sing!!!

Mexico Recaps

2009-07-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Wow--I haven't blogged in a long time! Thanks to Eliza for all her work in keeping this blog updated! I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be posting Mexico recaps on the blog my sisters and I share. You can find them at http://guntzelgirls.blogspot.com.

Happy 4th of July!!!

2009-07-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe it's already here! Summer is flying by!!!

As an update:

Amy is back from her trip to Mexico and has many stories to share (I'll try to convince her to blog some ;)!

The rest of us have been busy with work and school and fitting in whatever else we can, while still trying to find time to rest and relax! I think that sums it up pretty well!

Here are some fun summer pictures we've snapped lately.

Polk County Fair

2009-07-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

On Friday night we played at the Polk County Fair! We had a lot of fun and it was a beautiful night. Sorry we only got one picture, and it isn't even of us playing...more importantly, it's us in line for the ferris wheel!!! ;) Hannah and her family had to head home after our performance in the music tent, but Amy, Katelyn, and I (Eliza) were stuck on getting our rides and fair food! :)

Adios!

2009-06-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, I (Amy) will be heading down to the Twin Cities. From there, I will fly out Monday morning and eventually end up in Ensenada, Mexico. I am going with a group of seventeen others from my church to serve in the Ensenada community through Youth With A Mission. For more information or specific prayer requests, visit my blog at www.guntzelgirls.blogspot.com. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated! Dios les bendiga! (God bless you all!)

Be Still

2009-06-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.

Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to your God, to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake

To guide the future, as he has the past.

Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

"Be still and know that I am God..."

Psalm 46:10

Wedding!

2009-05-24T11:11:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we had the privilege of playing for Aaron and Sina Adams' wedding in Wannaska, Minnesota. Even though we were all very nervous (and probably shaking!), we had a great day. Here are some pictures from the day.

This is the program and some cute favors that were given out. There also were popcorn bags that said "He popped the question, and she said yes!" (By the way, the little bag with the tag about nuts and mints obviously had those in it, but they were too good, so we ate them before we took the picture!)

During the unity candle we played a song chosen by the bride and groom called "When You Say Nothing at All".

Thank you Aaron and Sina for letting us be part of your special day!

Pine River Weekend

2009-05-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we were blessed with the opportunity to worship with the people of Pine River at First Lutheran Church. After arriving on Saturday afternoon, we set up and played for their youth fundraiser. We really enjoyed the concert and following fellowship!

One of the families from this church graciously gave up their beds for us to spend the night in their beautiful home. We had so much fun chatting into the night with them and very much enjoyed the delicious breakfast that they provided for us the next morning! Oh, and did I mention...the beds were really comfortable!!!

We played at the Sunday morning services and wished all our mothers a "Happy Mother's Day!"

It was such an enjoyable weekend!

Katelyn's Graduation

2009-05-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

My big sister is graduating!

Katelyn Tingelstad

Class of '09

Thanks for being such an amazing sister to me! You've always been there for me...

...and understood me when others didn't. You even used to translate my baby talk into what I needed and would tell Mom, "She wants this..."! :)

You're my best friend and I wouldn't know what to do without you!

I LOVE YOU KATELYN!!!

Graduation Ceremony

2009-05-11T10:19:00.001-07:00

Since the four of us have all attended Northwest Technical College now, we were able to perform at their graduation ceremony this spring. They like to have students share special music each year. We sang the Star Spangled Banner and Train Song Medley and really enjoyed a fun time there! Here are a few pictures from our evening.

A Peek into Practices

2009-05-02T17:34:00.000-07:00

Well, it always starts with the spreading out of instruments, cases, music, and some sound equipment...

Then we begin polishing old pieces or starting new ones. While we were practicing the other day, Amy noticed that the bass was too short for her, so Hannah tried to help her adjust it to the right height while we were still singing and playing our song! :)

We work on our songs until we're usually called to a "meeting" by my mom, who tends to take up this position on the staircase with her handy-dandy calendar every time! Thanks to Mom/Mrs. T/Annette, our schedule is in order and we get to where we need to go at the right time...

When all is said and done and we've hopefully accomplished what we needed to without going on too many bunny trails ;) it's time to pack it all up again!

High 48's Concert

2009-04-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

A couple weekends ago we were blessed to play as an opening band for the High 48s. We had done this about two years ago and we were very excited to do it again! Here are some pictures from the night.

Decisions of where to put everything.

We only had one person attend! (Amy's sister Julie)

After a while, her mom joined her.

Just kidding, it was a great turnout even though the Newsboys concert was in town that night. I don't think we were competing for the same audience though!

The High 48's performing. We didn't get any picture of us actually playing because my (Katelyn) mom said she was too nervous to take pictures!

We were invited up to join them in the last song, so we sang "Are You Washed."

Much better than last time when we sang "Amazing Grace" in the key of B flat! (Don't try singing it in this key because it is too high)

Afterwards when we were cleaning up we could not get our table to close with all of us trying.

We ended up just carring it out. We need to learn someday!

Actually my dad closed it on the first try. I guess you need muscles!

We had a great time!

Spring's Just Around the Corner (we hope)!

2009-04-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

Well, ever since this last snowstorm, we've all been waiting for the new piles of snow to melt away! Hopefully, it'll happen soon! The weather hasn't effected me (Eliza) too much though, it actually helps me feel better about staying inside all day studying. That's the story of my life right now, and I know it is for the other girls too! Finals are coming up which means, soon our semester will be over! Yay!!!

Our band's schedule will be picking up again soon, and we will post more pictures of our travels and musical adventures! Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Congratulations!

2009-03-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Ben and Mindy on your new baby boy, Liam!!! He's so cute! We love you guys!

Thief River Falls Mini-Vacation

2009-03-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm incredibly behind in getting this post up, but this trip was just too fun not to share with y'all! In January, the four of us girls, plus two of our moms, took a mini-vacation and spent a night in a hotel in Thief River Falls. We made ourselves right at home in our hotel rooms, as you will soon see, and headed for the pool.

"Okay, guys, let's all jump in on the count of three..."

"One...two....three!"

Katelyn, ever the daredevil, was the first one in the pool...

...NOT!!! But, hey, what are friends for? With a little help, she finally made it into the water. (Okay, so this was slightly staged, but we did it all for you, our faithful followers:-).

As we were swimming, my (Amy's) studious mother was diligently working on her Beth Moore Bible study...

...while Katelyn and Eliza's mother snuck into our room to take pictures evidencing our fabulous organizational skills...

...Actually, we got a little grief about having a room that looked like a guy's college dorm. Just so you all know, all four of our bedrooms are actually quite neat and tidy, but sometimes being on the road has adverse effects ;-).

We did get some Brownie Points from Mrs. T. for hanging up our coats so nicely, though.

Meanwhile, back at the spa, we were explaining to Eliza why she would not be able to come in the hot tub with us....

Okay, maybe not, but for a long time people thought she was only eleven or twelve, when she was actually fourteen or fifteen. Thanks to her recent growth spurt, however, we think those days are long gone!

We settled into the hot tub, but couldn't figure out how to turn on the jets. Hannah thought she'd try the big red button. We're still trying to decide whether to blame this on her hair color or the fact that she wasn't wearing glasses. Any suggestions?

We kept waiting for an alarm to go off, or the management to rush in, but nothing happened, so we just enjoyed our time in the spa.

We felt slightly rebellish (like my new word?) because we were violating the spa occupancy code (three at a time). We tried to push Hannah out, but she was too strong, so we let her stay.

After a fabulous time in the spa, we went back to our room to shower. Eliza hopped in the tub first, while the rest of us lounged around. All of a sudden, we heard a scream coming from the bathroom! Being the amazingly supportive friends that we are, we rushed in with cameras in hand...only to find that Eliza (with her brute strength) had somehow managed to knock the faucet right out of the wall...

Something had to be done!

Luckily, Hannah, our resident maintenance woman, was right there and ready for her next assignment. She had that faucet fixed in no time flat!

Our hearts stopped pounding, and we went back to our relaxing, when we heard more screams (okay, so they were more like fits of laughter), and ran over to see Eliza holding a towel rack that had fallen off the wall when she tried to hang up a towel.

Another task for our resident Superwoman! Hannah saved the day again!

After that, things settled down a bit, and we went down to the lobby to make some popcorn.

We spent the rest of the evening just hanging out, talking, laughing, and eating. The next day we did a bit of shopping before heading back home. We had a great weekend!

Slideshow

2009-02-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the show!

Sam's Graduation

2009-02-03T17:23:00.000-08:00

I thought 2008 went by fast, that is, until 2009 rolled around. In January alone I have already visited Columbus, Georgia, attended two Army Ceremonies, had surgery, started studying for my LPN, and completed my snowmobile training. AAHHHHH!!! I hope the rest of the year slows down a bit! The absolute highlight of my January was going to my brother Sam's Basic and AIT (Advanced Infrantry Traing) Graduation. He is currently at Fort Benning in Columbus Georgia. He is waiting to get into airbourne school at the present, and plans to go into Ranger training after airboune school. You'll be able to tell how proud I am of him by all the pictures I made Amy post! My buttons are popping just writing about him!!

I am soooooooo proud of my brother. I can't even begin to list the things he has sacrificed to serve our country. Listening to the soldiers say the Soldier's Creed together was by far the most beautiful thing I have ever heard! Knowing my brother was one of the soldiers stating that he would defend our country and destroy the enemy put tears in my eyes. I am proud to say that my brother is a soldier in the United States Army.

These are the Drill Sargeants from all the platoons. This was the first graduation ceremony. It was held right under the bay (where the soldiers sleep). Sam's Drill Sargeant is the smallest one in the third row from the front.

We didn't get to see Sam before the ceremony. We were all waiting under the bay when all of a sudden, all the soldiers came from upstairs, yelling! Everyone stood and started clapping. Talk about a tear jerker!! The soldiers all got into formation really fast. Then the drill sergeants checked the lines.

This is Sam's platoon. He is about three rows back. You can't really see him.

Sam's platoon saying the Soldier's Creed.

They finally told us we could go find our soldier! Dad got to pin the Blue Cord on Sam. This signifies that he is a highly trained infantryman.

Grandma and Grandpa drove over from Arizona for the occasion.

The second ceremony was even bigger and better, if that was possible! There was more than one company graduating. Sam is part of the 254th ECHO Company.

The military band played at the beginning. Talk about being right on! They walked in perfect sequence with each other and the beat of the music.

All of a sudden we saw soldiers run out of the woods and set off some bombs. There was someone telling you everthing that was going on (like the History Channel!) My heart just swelled with pride! The following pictures are of the demos they performed.

The graduating soldiers came out of the woods after the demos. They marched in their companies.

As you can see there were alot of soldiers!

This is Sam's company. He is right behind his drill sergeant, but you can't see his face.

All the soldiers walked by the stands at the end of the ceremony.

Sam is the soldier on the far left. I just got him in the picture.

And then I got the back of his head!!!!!

I took a picture of the girl's bathroom after the ceremony. The line was really, really long!

The guy's line, not so much. The people you see in the line here are actually two ladies trying to sneak into the men's bathroom!! Hilarious!

Sam was able to get a weekend pass. We had a blast! We went to an indoor shooting range and shot some pistols. We also went out to eat a few times, played some cards with Grandma and Grandpa, and Sam went swimming with Carson.

I was reminded while I was looking around at the ceremonies that not all soldiers have families or people who support them. We can be the family they never had and the support they never felt. What they are doing is too great to go unnoticed.

2009-01-17T16:42:00.000-08:00

"Come, let us sing for joy to

the LORD;

let us shout aloud to the

Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with

thanksgiving

and extol him with music

and song.

For the LORD is the great

God,

the great King above all

gods."

~Psalm 95:1-3

Memories...

2008-12-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

These past three years have flown by so quickly!

When we were first starting out, we needed a picture to send to Gosen Lutheran Church. So, we headed down to Katelyn and Eliza's basement and posed on some stools in front of a Murphy bed. And yes, those are fake hairpieces that Hannah and Amy are wearing! Total fashion faux pas!

For our first CD, Not Ashamed, we needed pictures for the inserts. Our talented teachers, Mindy and Melanie, spent an entire day arranging and photographing us. We had so much fun doing each other's hair and make-up. This picture was also in Katelyn and Eliza's basement, but with a slightly different background!

This past spring, we had another photo shoot for our second CD, Be Still My Soul. Melanie, once again, offered to take the pictures. The above and below pictures were taken at Hannah's farm.

Singing, Singing, Singing...

2008-12-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Well, we have been busy practicing for the National Anthem, which we sang this morning at a hockey game. Hours and hours were spent together and by ourselves exercising our voices for this song and also for the Canadian National Anthem. It was a great experience and we enjoyed it! We sang the Star Spangled Banner in the arrangement that the Cactus Cuties sing it. Since this was our first time singing in four part harmony, we've done a lot of singing these past few weeks!

Tagged!

2008-12-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

Our good friend Melanie (we miss you, Melanie!) tagged us a while ago and we are finally putting our post up. This photo tag tells you to post the sixth picture in your sixth folder on your computer. Our lucky picture is from one of our “rugged” camping nights in between performances in Gackle, ND.

Hannah and Amy(she must have been really cold huddled under the quilt!) getting a good night’s sleep, or should I say a good morning’s sleep!

Next, we are to pick five more people to tag, and we chose…Lyndi, The Guntzel Girls, Bethany, Ashley, and The Westlunds. Here are the rules:

*Go to your sixth picture folder then pick your sixth picture.
*Pray that you remember the details.
*Post it on your blog.
*Tag 5 others, leave a comment to let them know they've been tagged!

Lefse Day at Grandma’s

2008-12-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, Katelyn and I (Eliza) went to our Grandma’s house for our yearly tradition of making lefse. We had a wonderful time mixing, rolling, and frying, but we were worn out at the end of the day! Here are a few of the steps to make this tasty Scandinavian treat.

First, we mixed our ingredients together and rolled the dough into a log, which we cut into 10 sections.

Next, we rolled a dough section from the log into a large, thin circle.

Using a wooden lefse stick, we then carefully placed the lefse onto the lefse grill.

Watch the air bubbles rise, pop any big ones, and make sure the lefse doesn’t burn!

Put the lefse in between towels to keep it moist until it cools, and you’re finished…until you start many, many more!

In addition to the lefse, we made flatbread, another Scandinavian treat.

After all our hard work, we sat down to enjoy a game together.

What a delightful day!

Hannah's Hunting Trip!

2008-12-05T09:31:00.000-08:00

For the past ten years, my (Hannah's) family has taken a hunting trip to Gackle, North Dakota. The main critters that we hunt are coyotes, ducks, geese and pheasants. Sometimes we snipe a coot or two with the rifles!! We have met some wonderful people while we are out west. Usually, the boys come with, but Ross lives in Louisiana now and Sam enlisted in the army, so they didn't make it this year. Dad and I had a lot of fun just spending time with each other.

The first night we were there, we set up in some hills to call coyotes. We called one in just before dark. My Dad took a shot at him but missed. The coyote was about 200+ yards away when he shot.
My Dad with his pheasant and the dogs. Manny is the dog on the left and Thor is the dog on the right.

Me with my first pheasant!

My Dad took this picture of Manny. I think he was a little hot and thirsty.

Thor with my Dads pheasant. Thor did a real good job hunting again this year. He has come a long way. Manny still has a ways to go!

It wasn't the greatest year for ducks. The weather was too nice. We did manage to get a few to come in, though. We even got some lesser geese. I had my chance at a coyote, but hit just to the right of him. I was pretty disappointed. Hunting has always been something me, Dad and the boys do together. I am looking forward to making more great memories with the guys!

Bass Lessons

2008-11-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

We are finally learning to play the bass that we bought! Every Wednesday we take lessons from Cyrus at Headwaters' School of Music. It has been a lot of fun learning a new instrument and it is amazing how similar the bass is to the guitar and violin, so we all have a head start! My (Katelyn's) mom took these pictures at one of our last lessons. Hannah wasn’t able to make it to this lesson, so we will have to get a picture of her playing bass another time.

A lesson with the piano

Our teacher, Cyrus

Cyrus shows me correct hand placement. Very important!

Eliza and our bass

Amy with Cyrus' bass

Notice the new sweatshirt I'm wearing? Hannah's Aunt Mary gave one to each of us. Thanks, Aunt Mary!

Practicing with Amy on the guitar

Visit the Headwaters' School of Music website at www.hwschool.org.

Get Out and Vote!

2008-11-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Election Day!!! Don’t forget to vote for Tim Tingelstad for Minnesota Supreme Court Justice! Find out more on the web at www.highesthill.com. Get informed and get out and VOTE! Remember to pray for our leaders and for God’s will to prevail in this election.

25 Things About Eliza!

2008-10-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

1.) I accepted the Lord into my life when I was very young and have rededicated my life to Him and am so thankful for what He’s done!
2.) I love my family: Dad, Mom, and big sister Katelyn.
3.) I am 16 and will get my driver’s license soon!
4.) I play the violin, mandolin, piano, guitar, and am learning to play the bass (along with Amy, Hannah, Katelyn, and my mom).
5.) One of my favorite songs is "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman.
6.) I am going to school to be a nurse, and since…
7.) I love little children (especially babies); I want to work as a nurse in one of these areas.
8.) I just watched the new movie, Fireproof, and it was very good!!! Watch the trailer for it on this link: www.fireproofthemovie.com
9.) I have never broken any bones
10.) My life and my sister Katelyn’s are very similar since we are only 20 months apart; therefore a lot of this information is the same.
11.) I was on the dance team, too
12.) I also love to cook
13.) I was on our local golf team like Katelyn, but for one year less than her
14.) My hair is naturally curly, though not as curly as Katelyn’s
15.) I feel like I’m cheating by not thinking of my own points, but I also think this is hard (like Katelyn)! :) Besides, since I am the last one to do this, the other three have pretty much covered most points I can think of.
16.) My sister and I would play for hours and hours in our basement when we were young.
17.) I love to sew, embroider, and quilt
18.) Spending time with family is another thing I enjoy, and my family is quite small…
19.) I have only 4 cousins altogether!
20.) I don’t have any pets
21.) I like Italian food
22.) I like to read, and one of my favorite series is the Refiner’s Fire series.
23.) I enjoy making jewelry
24.) Vote for my Dad, Tim Tingelstad, who is running for MN Supreme Court Justice!!! Check out his website: www.highesthill.com. Nov. 4th, Election day, is coming up soon!
25.) One of my many favorite verses is Psalm 62:8, because it talks about pouring your heart out to God. This reminds me that He wants to hear what is on your mind.

25 Things About Amy!

2008-10-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

1.) I asked Jesus into my heart at the age of three and rededicated my life to the Lord when I was thirteen. He is my source of hope and strength.
2.) I live with my dad, mom, big sister Julie (18), little sister Katie (14), and a golden retriever/yellow lab mix named Charlie.
3.) I am 16 years old and I have lived in the same house all my life.
4.) I love hanging out with my nine cousins. Hannah is one of them!
5.) I started taking guitar lessons when I was nine years old.
6.) My room is light blue and white with lots of sunflowers for decoration.
7.) I love to go bike riding with my sisters on the trail near my house!
8.) I am currently reading the book of Psalms, which is one of my favorite books of the Bible.
9.) My other favorite is the book of Romans.
10.) Right now I'm enrolled in Early Childhood Education courses at the local technical college.
11.) In the summer, I love to play badminton with family and friends.
12.) I love Mexican food!
13.) One of my blondest moments ever took place during a family game of Trivial Pursuit. My dad read the question, "Which river flows between Minneapolis and Saint Paul?" and I blurted out, "Wow! That must be a really short river!" I'm never going to live that one down!
14.) I love classic country music, and Randy Travis and Johnny Cash are two of my favorite singers of all time!
15.) My favorite contemporary Christian music band is Casting Crowns. I got to see them perform live this summer! Very cool!
16.) I've never left the U.S. (even to go to Canada)!
17.) So far, I've been to nine states (if you count airport layovers and the state that I live in).
18.) My eyes are technically hazel in color, but they often look blue or green depending on the clothes I wear.
19.) I can't stand to drink coffee, but I love Frappucinos and Java Chip ice cream!
20.) I like to paint flowers and do embroidery.
21.) My dad and I hunt for grouse and deer in the fall.
22.) For the past three years I have spent one week in the summer counseling at Camp Dellwater. It is one of the highlights of my year!
23.) I love reading other people's blogs and emailing friends.
24.) I like to daydream (a lot!) and have a rather short attention span:-).
25.) My most recent memory verse (and life goal) is Psalm 34:1.

25 Things About Hannah!

2008-10-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

1.) I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was around 3 or 4 years old
2.) I am 16; soon to be 17!
3.) I have three brothers, Ross (20), Sam (19), Carson (9)
4.) I have a wonderful sister-in-law named Brittany
5.) One of my strong points is talking!
6.) I say "like" a lot (ask Aunt Joni)
7.) My brother Sam is in the military
8.) I love to ride horse
9.) I showed horses for many years
10.) Amy and I are only four months apart!
11.) I will always be my Dad's only girl
12.) I want to have at least six children
13.) My Mom and I love to sew together
14.) I lived in sponge curlers for most of my life (My mom thought I should have curly hair I guess)
15.) My mom wanted to name me Nelly Olson. How awful!
16.) I am a huge fan of any kind of hunting
17.) I love to watch Hogan's Heros and the Cosby Show
18.) I enjoy fishing in the summer
19.) One of my nicknames is Dingbat!
20.) Psalm 139: 13-16 are some of my favorite verses
21.) I am going to school to be a specialized nurse in bleeding disorders
22.) My favorite song is "Just a Dream" by Carrie Underwood
23.) I am on the local high school softball team
24.) Playing kickball with my whole family is awesome!
25.) I used to enjoy doing my Dad's hair and painting his toenails when I was little!

25 Things About Katelyn!

2008-10-04T19:09:00.000-07:00

Amy and I (Katelyn) were talking the other night about how we had seen that people were posting 100 things about themselves. We thought that it would be fun if we each shared 25 things about ourselves, then you will know 100 things about Freedom’s Call! Stay tuned, we will each be posting our 25 things on our blogging weeks.

Katelyn:

1. I love the Lord Jesus Christ!
2. I play the violin and guitar (I took piano for 2 years, but I would not say that I am very accomplished at it)
3. I started working as a Certified Nursing Assistant this summer
4. I am 17 (I will be 18 soon!)
5. I share a birthday with my friend Elena and our teacher Melanie (I miss you!)
6. My hair is naturally curly; I go through a ton of gel!
7. I have one sister (Eliza)
8. This is my senior year of high school
9. I am in the middle of my third semester of nursing school
10. I would like to be an OB nurse or a midwife
11. I love going for walks
12. I am in a Beth Moore Bible Study and I am learning a lot!
13. I am the tallest one in Freedom’s Call (5’ 10”)
14. When I was little I used to call pick-ups, B-buckles. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know!
15. I used to cry after bathtime because my fingers were “shrivelry” (wrinkled)
16. I love taking care of little kids
17. I broke my arm the day before Christmas a few years ago. I broke it “snowboarding” on a little kid’s snowboard with a handle, while I was babysitting with Eliza!
18. I fell in the mud when Hannah told us that we should play out in their horse pasture, and I ruined my new coat. Eliza almost fell in trying to rescue me! (Thanks for your help Hannah J)
19. Eliza, my cousin Aaron, and I made a fort out of rotten logs because we couldn’t find anything to cut the logs. We thought that the hobos could sleep there if they found it!
20. My Dad is running for MN Supreme Court. VOTE for Tim Tingelstad!
21. I was on a Dance Team for 2 years
22. I love to cook
23. I was on our local high school’s golf team
24. My grandma Ionne made me a beautiful quilt, and my grandpa Tingy made be a post bed
25. This was harder than I thought!

Praise the Lord!

2008-09-23T16:46:00.001-07:00

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.”

Psalm 92:1-2

Update!

2008-09-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

Well, summer flew by way too fast, and now we're back in school! All four of us are taking courses from the local technical college through a P.S.E.O. (Post-Secondary Enrollment Options) program. Katelyn is in her second year of nursing classes, while Eliza and Hannah are starting their first year in the program. I (Amy) am taking young child education courses. We're all enjoying our programs (except the homework parts!), and it is so nice to have some of our college completed and paid for by the state before we even graduate from high school! Plus, our schedules are a bit more flexible than they would be if we were still attending public school.
We're a little behind in the blogging world, but we hope to catch up now that our schedules are a little more predictable than they are during the summer. The first weeks of August were fun and busy for all of us! We played in the lineups at the Beltrami County Fair, the Clearwater County Fair, and the Itasca Family Music Festival. We really enjoyed meeting other bluegrass/gospel groups and hearing a lot of great music! Then we took a short break from performing to focus on our other various activities. We got to spend some time with our grandparents, which is always a blessing! I spent a week counseling at Camp Dellwater, where I saw God work in amazing ways! When I get some pictures from camp, I'll share more. After that, we performed for a home-style church service near Leonard, MN. Very fun! Then school started the next day! Where did the time go?
Last Sunday we had the privilege of performing at a church in International Falls. We met lots of great people, and were very blessed by their fellowship and generosity.
Well, I hope that gives you at least a glimpse of our lives for this past month and a half! The Lord has walked with us every step of the way, and we look forward to seeing what he has in store for us this fall!

Wedding Pictures!

2008-08-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

We (the Olson's) have a new addition to our family! Her name is Brittany Morgan Olson. My brother, Ross, and sister-in-law, Brittany, tied the knot on August 9, 2008. Brittany and her family live in Altus, Oklahoma, so naturally the wedding was held in Altus. Amy and I (Hannah) left right after we played at the Clearwater County Fair. It was a busy time! I was a bridesmaid in the wedding. It was my first time being a bridesmaid. Brittany and Ross asked me if I would sing at their wedding, and I decided on the song "The Best is Yet to Come" by Stephen Curtis Chapman. I sang while playing my guitar. It was a beautiful wedding. We had a lot of fun. Here are some pictures from the special day!

Brittany's sisters were also bridesmaids. The girl with the dark hair is Britt's older sister, Nicole. Her other sister's name is Danae.

The wedding party

Me playing my guitar during the wedding

The happy couple, Ross and Brittany

This picture is of me and my brothers. I love them all so much. I wouldn't trade having a sister for any one of them! I confide in them all the time. They give me all the advice I need. I will miss Ross a lot.

We all put our two cents worth in when we were decorating the car. It turned out pretty good! After the bride and groom got in their car to leave, all the Minnesotans jumped in their cars and started to chase them. Apparently they don't have that tradition down in Altus!

I always prayed that God would send me a sister. Just when I started to believe I would never get one, He sent me/Ross, Brittany! We hit it off right away. We stayed up for hours talking the first night we met. I feel very close to her already! Ross and Britt live in St. Charles, Louisiana where they both go to college, Ross for baseball and Britt for teaching. Well, I hope you have enjoyed the pictures!

2008 CD Release Party

2008-08-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

Be Still My Soul

We happily announce that our new CD, Be Still My Soul, is now finished!!! To celebrate, we hosted a CD release party where we gave a concert, enjoyed fellowship, and ate homemade goodies. The party was combined with a campaign kickoff for Tim Tingelstad, our (Katelyn and Eliza’s) dad, who is running for Minnesota Supreme Court Justice. Visit his website, www.highesthill.com, and vote for him at the primary, September 9th!

At the concert in our dresses from the photo shoot!

Campaigning for Dad

2008 CD Release Party

2008-08-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

Gackle, ND!

2008-07-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer, we performed in Gackle, a small town in North Dakota. Hannah's parents and younger brother accompanied us in their family camper, and we all had a great time meeting the people, performing, playing board games in the camper, and staying up late!

The drive into Gackle features this great display of red, white, and blue tires spelling out the name of the town. If you look really closely, you can see us standing in the letters!

After performing at the Baptist church in Gackle on Sunday night, we were asked to play at the Gackle Care Center on Monday morning. We had a lot of fun playing for the residents there!

Babies on the Farm!

2008-07-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

This summer, I (Hannah) have been busy taking care of baby animals. It's kind of sad how it came about, but in the end God worked everything together for good! My cat had kittens and then disappeared or died. Our red cow died giving birth to her calf. So now my family and I are on baby duty! I took some pictures of our babies so you could enjoy them too!

When the kitties have a full tummy of milk, they like to settle into the dogs' bed for a nap!

Our dog, Thor, got tired of sleeping on the cement in the garage, so he decided to catch a few winks with the kitties.

I love having bottle calves. We hadn't had one for a couple of years. She is soooo cute! If she hears you outside, she imediatly starts mooing for some milk!

I love the size difference in not only our babies, but also their bottles. You wouldn't believe how fast the babies scarf down their supper.

Having all these babies reminds me of God's gift of life! It makes me want to make certain I am living my days out for Him!

CD Recording Trip to Wisconsin

2008-07-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Wisconsin late on Tuesday night, June 4th, eager to catch a good night’s sleep in this wonderful cabin, full of memories from last year.

Our lovely cabin

In the morning, we were all excited to begin recording in Jason Keillor’s amazing recording studio, known as ELM studio.

The studio

We are so very thankful for Mrs. Becky Berge for taking the time to practice, travel, and record with us. Thank You!

We got a little silly and had a bit of fun between recording sessions!

But, thanks to our moms, we got the job done.

The meals we shared together as one large group included: the Keillors, Mindy and her kids, Melanie, Mrs. Berge, us four girls, and our moms. It was so much fun!

Elianna had a grand old time playing on the tire swing outside the studio! She is so adorable!

All in all, our trip went well. We want to thank Mindy, Melanie, and Mrs. Berge for their help in preparing for the recording and at the studio. Also, thanks to Melanie for the wonderful photography for the new CD, and to Mindy for her late-night hours and wonderful creativity put into the CD design. The CD is going off to the duplicators and will soon be available. Above all else, we thank the Lord for his hand guiding us and loving us through it all.

A Bass for Freedom's Call!

2008-06-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

Exciting news! We have purchased a bass!!! For our recordings thus far, Becky and Melanie Berge have so graciously agreed to step in and play the bass, since none of us know how. However, we really wanted to learn to play it ourselves, and now we can! Our bass is electric, which makes it smaller and easier to transport than an acoustic, but it still features a classic exterior to fit in with our musical genres. We are so grateful for the opportunity to learn a new instrument, and look forward to our first lesson!

Eliza took these beautiful pictures in their yard! Aren't they great?!!

Praise the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

(Psalm 150, emphasis added)

Update!

2008-06-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Sorry for the long wait between posts! June has been a busy, exciting month for Freedom's Call. This week the four of us have been helping out at two Christian girls' conferences conducted by the Bright Lights ministry group.

Violins!

2008-06-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

My great aunt Ellie sent me two of these pictures a while ago and I thought that I could share them with you!

This is a picture of my great grandpa Anton Tingelstad at age 87 playing the violin. My grandpa also started to play the violin, and so did my Dad. They thought that Eliza and I (Katelyn) should start playing when we were young, so we started playing at ages 6 and 7. There have been 4 generations that have played the violin in our family.

It has been a great experiance that has lasted over 10 years! Although I didn't always want to practice, I am so glad that I stayed with it. I still can remember my first recital and how excited I was. I also remember when I dropped my first violin on the tile kitchen floor and the bridge shattered to pieces (thankfully it was only the bridge!) and I cried and cried! Soon we were playing our instruments with some friends.

This is Hannah, Eliza (on the cello, which she played for a year), and me. Who would have known that we would soon add Amy and start Freedom's Call?! I am so thankful for my family and their support as I learned to play the violin. I am also looking forward to teaching other young beginners at Headwaters School of Music in Bemidji this fall.

FYI: We just returned from our second CD recording in Wisconsin! We hope to post lots more pictures soon!

Julie's Graduation!

2008-05-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, my (Amy's) sister, Julie, graduated from high school! The ceremony was held Saturday morning, with her open house on Sunday afternoon.

Above, Julie receives her diploma.

We are so proud of her!

When Sunday morning rolled around, it was time to set up for the open house. Many family members and friends volunteered to help out, and we are very grateful for them!

Here, one of my cousins prepares a 'welcome' sign. Notice the spelling? Pretty cute, huh?

Above are just some of the cakes made by sweet friends and family for the occasion. We had 22 cakes in all! Julie loves cake, so she requested that we have several kinds to choose from. They were delicious!

This is my family, posing for a quick photo opp. during the open house.

Julie, I am so glad you are my big sister. Your love for the Lord and desire to share your faith with others have set such an example for me through the years. Thanks for setting high standards and inspiring me to achieve them. Thank you for being my friend, mentor, and confidante. I have to admit I am secretly proud when people get mixed up and call me 'Julie,' because it is truly an honor to think that they could confuse the two of us. I look forward to learning from you, serving with you, and seeing God's love radiating from you in the years to come, as I have in years past. I love you!

Another Snowstorm!!!

2008-05-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

So, the snow was finally all the way melted, there were little sprouts of green grass and flowers in the garden. Then, out of the blue it came. The dreaded snowstorm…OK, so maybe I’m getting a little carried away, but still... Wow! There was so much snow in such a little bit of time! Last Friday, Katelyn and I (Eliza) had a golf tournament even though there was a winter storm coming. Luckily, it did not snow until we were done golfing, but when we got out there, the golf course already had a light covering of snow. Before I even hit my first ball, my toes were frozen and I couldn’t even feel them. Anyway, we made it through, soaking in hot baths afterward. Stay warm everybody and soon, soon spring will come and stay.

Voice Lesson!

2008-04-28T15:54:00.000-07:00

Last week the four of us were given the opportunity to learn some great vocal exercises from a college music major named Jenna, who was visiting the Tingelstads' home.

We laid on the floor to work on proper breathing techniques.

Jenna (far left), myself (Amy), Eliza, Hannah, and Katelyn posing for a Kodak moment ;-)

Here Hannah and Katelyn are working on projecting their voices by focusing on a spot far away, and pretending that spot is their audience.

We were so thankful for the chance to learn from such a sweet Christian young lady. We learned so much! Thank you, Jenna!

Two Harbors

2008-04-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

Snow, snow, beautiful snow! Who would have thought? Well....we didn't, because we headed off to Two Harbors, Minnesota last Saturday night. We had very pleasent weather all the way there, but once we got there, it started to snow and it kept on snowing practically the whole time. It snowed so much that we decided to stay an extra night. I (Hannah) was okay with that because it only meant another day to shop! We had a wonderful time at the Two Harbors Evangelical Free Church. The people there were very welcoming! We all agreed afterward that it was one of our most fun concerts ever!

This picture was actually taken by my driveway in Bemidji when we got back.

The first night we stayed, we watched Chonda Pierce in the lobby of the hotel!

This would be my mom using her magnifying glass for a mirror.

We look a little cold in this picture, don't we? There were people in wetsuits kayaking out on the lake! Now that's cold!

We got a really nice deal on the second hotel we stayed at. The lady at the counter told us we could have all the cookies we wanted and we didn't even have to sing! What a Deal!

All of our stuff!

So we get to the 3rd floor and Mrs. T. can't find the room keys. This went on throughout our stay. We had to keep our eyes on her at all times if we wanted to get back into our rooms!

Just our luck. They had a little water slide in the hotel we just happend to stop at! What fun! (We even got Mrs. T. to go down it a few times!)

This trip was full of so many things--growing closer together, laughing, swimming, staying up late, and most importantly: meeting other people who were on fire for God! This will be a trip we will not soon forget!

Update!

2008-04-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

Here is an update on what we, Freedom’s Call, have been up to lately. We are all busy with school, and of course all the homework that always seems to tag along with that. After school, Hannah heads to softball practice and Katelyn and I (Eliza) head to golf. Both softball and golf started a few weeks ago, a sure sign of spring, we hope! Along with all that, we keep busy with music lessons, music practice, and a Bible study for younger girls called Bright Lights, which we have been helping with. On weekends, we have the privilege of performing at different churches and other places. Last weekend, we played at New Salem Lutheran Church in Turtle River and at the Good Samaritan Center in Clearbrook. We have also been working on new songs for our second CD, which has been a lot of fun, and also hard work. Thanks so very much Mindy, Melanie, and Mrs. Berge for your patience and guidance, helping us in this process! We will be recording the CD this summer at ELM Studios in Wisconsin, which is where we recorded before. Keep watching for it to come out! Well, that pretty much sums it all up and hopefully brings you more up to date on the lives of those of us in Freedom’s Call.

Good Friday

2008-03-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

Today is Good Friday, a special day set aside to remember Jesus' death on the cross. Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Every one of us deserved the death penalty as punishment for our sins, but Jesus Christ received it for us, though he was perfect, without sin.

He committed the ultimate action of compassion, for "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) He has given us the opportunity to live for Him on the earth, so that we can live with Him for eternity. Our desire for each and every one of you today, and every day, comes from Ephesians 3:17b-19, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God."

New Phone Number!

2008-03-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

We have a very important announcement! Take note! Freedom's Call's new phone number is (218) 759-2249! Our 444-3881 number has been disconnected. We are sorry for the inconvenience, but we hope to hear from you soon! Feel free to contact us by phone or through email. Our address is info@freedomscallband.com.

Adventures in Arizona

2008-03-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

Amy, our cousin Thom, and I (Hannah) went to Arizona to spend Christmas with our grandparents! This was the third time Amy and I have gone together. We spent a few days with Amy's grandparents (Bop & Nanny) in Delano before we left. We always have a wonderful time. It's nice to get a break from all the snow once in a while! Although, when we got there, it was colder in Wickenburg, AZ than in Minneapolis, MN!! We were a little disappointed that it wasn't warm but we still had a great time!

[Hannah so graciously said that I (Amy) could add my comments to this blog since we had so much fun making these memories together. ]

We arrived in AZ on Christmas night

We visited Grandpa and Grandma's friends Howard and Dorothy.

We did some yoga. (not really!)

[Just so ya' know, we don't agree with the principles of yoga, but we couldn't resist the photo opportunities by Grandpa and Grandma's beautiful patio fountain :-).]

I cooked Amy!

[If you haven't guessed yet, we get a little silly when people give us cameras! Here, Hannah attempts to roast me on a spit. Thanks a lot, Hannah!]

We saved the world from this flying comet!

[All in a day's work!]

We had our hair highlighted by Howard and Dorothy's daughter Lori

[I was thinking about using this for my yearbook photo. Well, maybe not!]

We met a few friends along the way. (Amy was so fresh with this young man I hardly got a word in edge wise!)

[Ya' think you might have gotten that switched around a little?]

Yes, we do a lot of things in Arizona: exercise, save the world, get beautified, and everything else under the sun! I can't wait until next year!

Some Great Books

2008-03-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

These past two years God has been speaking to me (Katelyn) through many great books. Because of these books, I have seen the importance of being a woman for God. I always thought that I didn’t like to read nonfiction books until I read these, and now I can’t get enough! I would like to share with you some of these inspiring books.

The book “So Much More” has become one of my favorite books. It is written by the Botkin sisters who were only 19 and 17 at the time they wrote it! It talks about the unique father/daughter relationship that God has ordained. This book explains the true future of femininity. I have learned so much from these two sisters. This past summer they also produced a video titled “Return of the Daughters” that interviews young women from around the country and shows how they have taken the ideas of femininity to heart with their fathers. www.visionarydaughters.com

The book “His Chosen Bride” is currently unavailable because they are combining volumes one and two. I enjoyed how Jennifer Lamp took each part of the Proverbs 31 woman and explained how these parts can be applied to today. Keep looking for when it is available! www.hisgraceworks.com

“His Princess” is a book that my mom gave to me for my birthday a few years ago. It is a beautiful book written by Sheri Rose Shepherd, which is full of “Love Letters from Your King.” Each letter is based on a verse in the Bible that gives words of encouragement to us as believers. When I visited her website, I also found many other books that I want to read someday. www.hisprincess.com

A book that I am still reading is “The Hope Chest: A Legacy of Love.” This past October when I turned 17 my Grandparents gave me a hope chest, so last Christmas, I received this great book. Its pages are filled with information about the history of the hope chest, what should go in the hope chest, and many other important ideas for the hope chest. I would encourage you to visit www.hopechestlegacy.com to see many ideas to start a hope chest. There are also party ideas, tea time recipes, and many other great ideas.If you haven’t read these books, I would encourage you to read them! They are full of knowledge that will help you grow in your relationship with God, just as they have helped me.

Smokey Hills Retreat

2008-02-29T18:40:00.000-08:00

Recently, we were given the opportunity to perform at a Valentine's Getaway at the Smokey Hills Christian Retreat Center. While there, we were treated to a delicious dinner, wonderful Christian fellowship, and the chance to share our music with everyone who came. It was a beautiful evening, and we felt truly blessed to be a part of it. Here's how the night played out:

As the dinner began, we were seated at this lovely table, where we were served salads, homemade rolls, prime rib, and tasty vegetables.

And then came dessert, complete with chocolate cheesecake, chocolate mousse, a chocolate fountain, and just about every other chocolate dessert imaginable. It was delicious, to say the least!

When the event was over, we returned to the adorable cabin that the retreat center's caretakers, Mr. and Mrs. Valentin, so graciously offered to provide us for the night. It was decorated country-style, with an equestrian theme. (Pictured above are some of the cozy bunkbeds in our cabin.)

We spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing, and watching a great movie on our cabin's plasma screen TV! (Yeah, it's a tough life, but somebody's gotta live it ;-) ) All joking aside, though, I (Amy) truly cherished our time at this delightfully rustic retreat, and encourage all of you to check it out sometime.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

2008-02-24T12:43:00.000-08:00

This year, I (Eliza) had a special suprise for Valentine's Day. The twin seven-year-old boys that I babysit came running to my door with a beautiful bouquet of flowers! So sweet!!! I was thrilled. Now I have a little reminder of the spring to come in my bedroom, thanks to the little "gentlemen".

Nursing!

2008-02-24T11:58:00.000-08:00

Certified Nursing Assistant

I am finally a CNA! Last semester I started my nursing career by taking a Certified Nursing Assistant course at Northwest Technical College. I had so much fun (most of the time!) working with the other classmates learning our skills. We learned how to transfer, wash, feed, dress, and take vital signs of our residents. At the end of the course we were able to have two 8-hour shifts at a nursing home in town. I was very nervous about working with real patients instead of plastic ones! The first day we were assigned partners and each group was given a resident for the day. The next time, we were on our own with our own residents. I found that it was so rewarding to work with these people and to be able to talk with them.By the end of each day, I was exhausted! In January, I took the state exam to become certified. Half of the exam was a written portion and the other half was 4 random skills that you would perform on a partner. I passed both parts! Thank you to those of you who prayed for me during my testing, I felt your prayers. God helped me remember the important parts that I needed to know.

My certificates

This semester I am continuing on at Northwest Technical College and I have started my Practical Nursing courses to become a LPN. These classes are very challenging but also very rewarding. Please pray for me as I continue these next few years in the nursing program.

Prepared for the Future

2008-01-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

This weekend, my family and I(Eliza), along with Amy and her family, went to a money management seminar together. It was really great to learn many of the parts to finances before you need to use them all. A few of the tips apply now and the rest we'll store up for future reference! The seminar was called "Money Map LIVE" and it had the theme of a road trip with eight financial destinations. We enjoyed the day with one of the main highlights being watching Mark Schultz lead in worship and sing some of the best songs that he has written: "Walking Her Home", "He's My Son", and "Running Just to Catch Myself". If you haven't heard those songs before, I highly suggest listening to them. Make sure you have a Kleenex box nearby, for two of them are tear-jearkers and one will make you laugh! Overall, we had a great day of fun learning together.

Thanks, Melanie and Mindy!

2008-01-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

I (Hannah) would like to thank Melanie and Mindy for all their hard work. I know it has to be hard balancing family, work, and Freedom's Call (not to mention your own band!!). I speak for all of us when I say that you both have been such a HUGE blessing. We owe so much to you two! Both of you are such good role models. You both are SO patient with us when we get off task and don't feel much like practicing. I couldn't ask for better role models, teachers, or friends. Your smiles brighten my day every time I see them! I love you both so much!!! Thanks again!

Fall Fun!

2007-12-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

This past fall, my family and I (Eliza) have enjoyed doing many fun projects together and with friends. Making apple pies, jack-o-lanterns, and lefse are just naming a few. Lefse-making is a Scandinavian tradition that my grandma, sister Katelyn, and I enjoy each year around this time. Top off the lefse with some butter and sugar, roll it up, and bon appetite! You have a tasty Scandinavian snack. Below are a few pictures of the making and products of our autumn projects.

Our friend and I with our soon-to-be-baked apple pies!

Gilles and I digging into the pumpkins

Our finished products

The Lefse Crew

Katelyn helping Gilles watch the lefse frying

Our Eventful Weekend

2007-11-26T18:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a story of thanksgiving for you all: This past weekend, we had two Thanksgiving performances, both in Bemidji. We were all recovering from, or just getting, colds the day before the concerts. By the time the concerts came up, only three of us were healthy enough to perform. It was time to bring in the recruits, and that was when we thought of Melanie! Since she is one of our teachers and taught Hannah (who couldn't make it) most of her parts, we decided she was the right person for the job. We called her up and she agreed to do it and asked what we were going to wear. When we told her, she amazingly had the same outfit in her closet! It turned out that the performances went well, thanks to Melanie and Hannah (who was able to make it to the second one). God is good!

performing with Melanie

A Time for Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Thinking back over the events of this past year, I realize how very much we have to be thankful for. God has blessed our musical ministry in so many ways. We have not only received a brand new sound system and produced our first CD, but we have had countless opportunities to travel to wonderful places, meet incredible people, and grow in our friendships with one another. I (Amy) have so enjoyed these opportunities and look forward to the ones ahead. Above all, though, I am thankful for the unending love and hope found in Jesus Christ. Even if all the material gifts he has given us were taken away, I know that His grace is sufficient for us. All four of us have been "washed in the blood of the Lamb," and that is truly something to be thankful for.

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is a great God, the great King above all gods." Psalm 95:1-3

Happy Birthday!

2007-11-17T11:53:00.000-08:00

I (Hannah) am finally sweet 16!!! Although this is very exciting to me, the rest of the world is shuddering because I will be let loose on the streets!!! I was hoping that my birthday would be a day filled with fun, and that is exactly what it turned out to be. We played at Eliza and Katelyn's grandparents' church in Detroit Lakes. The pastor told the whole congregation that it was my birthday, and they sang "Happy Birthday" to me!! This will be a birthday that I will NEVER, EVER forget!!!

playing for the congregation as they come in to church

playing for coffee hour

We went to a really fun restaurant for lunch!

Check out our waitress's fun outfit!

Grandpa Tingy and Grandma Shirley bought me this yummy ice cream cake!

I won't get cold this winter with my warm scarf that Grandma Shirley made for me!

Eliza made me these gorgeous earrings!

We went to an open house just for fun. We decided we would buy it :-)!!

Hey guys!! I'm pretty sure I already took a shower today!

Grandpa and Grandma Tingelstad made this day so special. Thank you both so much for all the fun!

Gilles' Cooking

2007-10-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

Gilles has been living at our (Eliza and Katelyn's) house since last spring. He is from Cameroon, Africa and he is now attending Bemidji State University. We have been blessed to have him at our house. Every Thursday night, Gilles, our Dad, and our friend Dan have dinner and a Bible study (It usually lasts way into the night!). Recently, Gilles has been cooking our dinner. We have been able to try many different foods, and I (Katelyn) have loved them all. Here are a few pictures:

Gilles cooking up a storm

A yummy dish with eggplant

A spicy dish served over rice

Mom, Gilles, and Dan enjoying a laugh

Gilles, please keep cooking. I love it!

St. Jude's Trail Ride

2007-10-03T13:41:00.002-07:00

On the weekend of September 21st through the 23rd, we played by Roseau at a "campground" on Bemis Hill. Every year a fundraiser for St. Jude's Research Hospital is held there. Everyone fundraises for about a month and then comes together at Bemis Hill. Everyone brings their own horse and goes on either a 10- or 23-mile ride around the hill. I (Hannah) have been going to this event for quite a number of years. My Uncle Clint and Aunt Mary were kind of in charge of the fundraiser this year, and we had a lot of fun with them. I usually play my violin just for fun in the lodge for anyone who wants to listen, but this year all of Freedom's Call played and we had a blast! At the end of the concert, they announced how much money everyone had raised and the total shocked us all! Everyone together had made a whopping $9,000!!!! I can't think of a better cause that this money could be used for!

We were so lucky to have Aunt Mary along. She is the best campfire cook you will ever meet!

I am also glad that our (Hannah and Amy's) grandparents came along. Thank you so much for hauling my horse!

Sisters enjoying the trail ride. So much fun!

Me (Hannah) and my horse, Pepper, out on the trail!

Taking a short break on a long trail ride

Riders were lined up almost as far as we could see.

Grandpa and Hannah caring for the horses

Do you think we have enough stuff?!

Performing in the great outdoors!

In front of the stage is Darlene Danielson (another fundraiser organizer) with the lady who fundraised the most money. She alone made $2,000!

Our late-night dinner (after the concert)

One of the main highlights of our trip was getting these new green sweatshirts. Thank you, Aunt Mary!!!

New Baby

2007-09-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our teacher, Mindy, and her husband, Ben, on the birth of their new baby, Elijah! What a precious gift from God! Elijah was born on Wednesday, September 26th, weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces, the exact weight of his sister Elianna when she was born last August. We look forward to holding this new bundle of joy!

Cruisin'!

2007-09-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

The night before school started, our dear friends Jerry and Dodie Solheim took us for a spin around town in their vintage cars. We were treated to Dairy Queen, a drive around the lake, and pizza back at the Solheim's house. Then we took out our instruments and jammed to a few songs. We all had so much fun! We are so blessed by wonderful friends like the Solheims.

Hannah, Mr. and Mrs. Solheim, Katelyn, Eliza, and me(Amy)
Ready for our ride!

bundled up in the back seat

Bemidji State Park

2007-09-15T15:43:00.001-07:00

This summer we had the chance to play for a summer concert series at Bemidji State Park. It was a hot, but beautiful, day. Last summer, we played for a wedding on this very stage, so it was fun for us to play there again and not be so nervous!

In the picture above, we are playing a fiddle trio for the song "Faded Love."

Here, Amy is singing her solo for the song "Don't Neglect the Rose."

Mrs. Tingelstad took the next two pictures of us in the very same spot, one at the wedding last summer and one at our more recent performance.

wedding photo

one year later

Boy, time sure flies when you're having fun!

Fun with Family

2007-09-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, our(Eliza and Katelyn's) family celebrated our grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary. It was a great time of golfing, playing special music in church Sunday morning, and spending some time at a resort! We all had so much fun together!

2 grandparents + 2 aunts + 3 uncles + 4 cousins = 11 family members on our mom's side (including us).

Still smiling after our annual family golf scramble!

The present from all of us to the couple was a handmade quilt with pictures of their graduation, wedding, kids, and grandkids.

Uncle John, Aunt Pam, and Grandma relaxing at the resort

Campfire Time!!!

Canoeing Cousins

Strawberry Lake Christian Retreat

2007-08-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

In July, we had the privilege of playing at the Christian Retreat Center near Strawberry Lake. We never actually got to see the lake, but we took this picture near what we dubbed "Strawberry Swamp." We really enjoyed spending the night at the camp, and were especially blessed by the wonderful people we met during our stay. We encourage you to learn more about Strawberry Lake Christian Retreat on their website: http://www.strawberrylake.org .

Summer Camp!

2007-08-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I(Amy) had the opportunity to work as a junior counselor at a Christian camp for children from the Red Lake Reservation. As a missions team, we played games, sang songs, and enjoyed God's great outdoors with the kids. We also shared the gospel with them and gave them New Testaments to take home. It was such a privilege to talk with the children about the new foundation we receive when Christ comes into our lives. I had an amazing week of spiritual growth and fun, and hope to return next summer!

The whole group on the last day of camp

Clearwater County Fair

2007-08-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

Amy, Katelyn, myself (Hannah), and Eliza

Mmmm! We all take a break for a piece of homemade pie after playing at the Clearwater County Fair on August 1st.

Above is the important 3/4 of Freedom's Call.

Just kidding, Amy!

State Golf Tournament

2007-08-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

On August 5th, Eliza and I (Katelyn) went down to Cottage Grove, Minnesota to play in the state MGA golf tournament. It was a great experience! Our team didn't play the best, but we had so much fun together. It was the toughest course Eliza and I have ever played, but we didn't give up. Of course, we won't share our scores! Take a look at some pictures of us golfing when we were little at my dad's website: www.thewayputters.com/everlasting.html .

Exciting Times

2007-08-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

God has blessed us in so many ways this summer! He has given us the opportunity to record our first CD, as well as use a new sound system. Here are a few pictures from these experiences:

Our CD opening party

By the end of June, our CD’s were finally here! To celebrate, we had a CD opening party with our families and our teacher Mindy. Keep an eye out for details on our upcoming CD release party at the Lake Bemidji waterfront!

1,000 CDs

Mindy's daughter Elianna enjoying a lemon at the party

A few weeks after we received our CDs, our sound system came in! We got to use it for the first time at a picnic at Hannah's house.

Opening boxes and setting up

Using the sound system for the first time

We are so grateful to Hannah and Amy’s Grandpa and Grandma Olson for purchasing this sound system. We can’t thank them enough!

Grandpa and Grandma Olson

Welcome Friends and Family!

2007-07-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

We are excited to have a new website for our band, Freedom's Call! Check it out at FreedomsCallBand.com. Also, this blog will serve as an online journal for our band as we travel and meet new people through music. Please check back for more updates and photos!

Singing our hearts out! :)