Family Fall Update From Emily

Friends and Fam,

Well, I put up all of my pumpkins and my mulled cider candle yesterday. Summer has officially flown by and it’s time for another family update!

We enjoyed the rest of our summer, although it did feel hectic just getting settled into new environments for both Nick and I.

Jackson and Cooper had a great time playing summer basketball, we just finished up with games about a week ago. Jackson ended his last game with a three pointer to tie up the score in the last 10 seconds. His face of surprise and delight when that ball swished through the net was priceless! One of those kid moments you remember forever. : )

We had a great family vacation up in Lake Tahoe with my (Em’s) extended family in July. 10 cousins, 8 aunts and uncles and 2 grandparents - so restful might not be the most accurate description, but there was plenty of laughter, games, hiking, swimming, tennis, ice cream, movies, and great conversations!

All 3 boys started school in late August This week will finish their fourth week. They have been doing great! The first few days were a little overwhelming and required some extra bravery, thanks to all who prayed for them! They are still settling in with new surroundings and making new friends, but they are doing well! Sutter has especially surprised me with how much he is liking school. Every day is a great day for him! He tells us that he is “friends with everyone in his class!”

The boys are attending a charter school that allows for 2 homestudy days each week, so I’ve been getting used to/experimenting with best practices with our 2 homeschool days, Mondays and Fridays. I actually really enjoy having a little more involvement and time with them on those days!

Worship leading has continued to grow me in my leadership and I’m still grateful to be leading and learning in this role! I had the privilege and pleasure of leading worship at a Women’s Retreat just this past weekend, and got to share Maisy’s story of adoption with the ladies as well. It’s always a blessing to hear the things God is doing in peoples lives and see Him use our adoption story to encourage others.

Nick finally launched the first official Activate(d) Cohort just last Tuesday, September 10th! It was so exciting to start this process as he’s been prayerfully developing this experience for quite some time. The first cohort session together could not have gone better and he is really encouraged to see God’s hand already moving in the hearts of the cohort. And we are so thrilled to be able to share that one of the cohort members has already had the privilege of leading someone to the Lord this week!

We are also happy to have reFocusing’s new Director of Operations, Jillyan, officially moved out and settled here in southern California (from Illinois). She has taken over much of the operational work on Nick’s plate which has allowed him to move into more relational ministry with Activate(d) alongside his mobilization role recruiting and coaching new missionaries. We’re so thankful to have Jillyan on the team!

For more specific ministry updates from Nick, please visit: http://refocusing.org/blog

Some prayers for us moving forward:

• That God would continue to work in Activate(d)’s first cohort as they meet from now to January, stirring hearts and growing His people and His kingdom through it.

• That the boys and I would continue adjusting well to new school and new homeschool days.

• And as always, that we would keep Jesus as the Lord of our hearts and our efforts and have eyes to see what HE is doing…in, through and around us!

Love,

Emily and fam

P.S. For more specific ministry updates from Nick, please visit: http://refocusing.org/blog