Garrett and the Impact Team in Southeast Asia

One of the highlights of the ICC internship experience is getting to go overseas to put on conferences for some of the chapters in Singapore and Malaysia.  The team is gone about a month.  Garrett was joined by other guys for this time as the team is expanded from just the five interns and two liaisons.  What a challenge to share cross-culturally and communicate effectively.

Sam, Josiah, Garrett, and Jonah--the boys on the team.

Garrett and Josiah check out the cuisine.

Presenting Every Moment Holy to the audience.

Garrett is in the middle back with the whole conference.

Enjoying a meal with their host family and Dr. McLean.

The whole IMPACT team.

Garrett and Julia continued as hosts.

Jonah and Garrett were roommates and fellow presenters on the trip.

Getting ready for the big audience.

The team huddles up before the conference.

Talking about how it went and revising things as a group.

 

First Party Using the Pellet Grill

Even though the front yard was still under construction, the back yard was ready for use.  We hosted the Barlows and Heatwoles for an evening of food and fellowship.  Brett misread the shopping instructions and bought double the meat, but better to have too much than too little.  Controlling the grill via wifi while at Griffin's soccer game was quite the tech experience for a usually challenged tech guy, but it worked out well.  

Brett cooks the meat.

Brett uses the blower to help clean up the leaves in the yard.

Joy H. and the Barlow girls work on dessert.

Post-party, we relaxed by the fire and reflected. 

The line for food!

Jake, Griffin, Jude, and Bryce watch closely as the cornhole game goes on.

Ready for dessert?

 

A Visit from the Louis Family

For the first time since they left for Idaho, we were visited by the Louis family who were in town for a wedding.  They stopped by our home group and joined us.  They almost didn't recognize the house with all the construction going on...

Old home group homies:  Daren, Brett, and Tim.

Joy with the ladies:  Kaylee and Christie.

Caden joined the boys seamlessly with Ira, Bryce, and Griffin.

Remembering building games together in Idaho with Caden.

 

September Happenings

The house project went on hiatus for a week and then started back up.  We enjoyed some peace and quiet and undisturbed time with all three cars in the driveway.  We also began using the backyard more, for things like home group and actually cooking pizza in our pizza oven.  Joy watched a bunch of videos which led to a successful first time.  The cats seemed to get more fleas likely a consequence of our usual pest service not being able to spray with all the construction and a few more stray cats showing up...

Qi'ra asks whether she is still loved with a few fleas?

Bryce and Griffin helped make dinner.

Joy produces a first pizza!

It takes a while to heat up, but once it does, they are ready in about a minute.

Wrecker asks when he gets some Armada squadrons to paint...

Chemistry class with energy levels of electrons and emission of light.

Bryce and Jonathan work together.

Griffin and Chloe partner up.

The class hard at work.

Bryce finds New Zealand!

 

Matt Maher and Jon Reddick Concert

We got VIP Parking and ushered entrance to the concert along with reserved seating with our friends.  What is there not to like about going to a concert at Redwood Chapel.  Plus, my friend, Eric is the one opening the concert with prayer and announcements.  Check the boxes!

The boys got to hang out and enjoy the concert while singing along to the songs they knew.

Matt Maher leads worship with "Father Let Your Kingdom Come."

Jon Reddick gets the crowd pumped with "I Believe It."

Brett singing with Eric and Sharon.

Jon and Matt playing dueling pianos.

Joy and Sharon making up for lost time with more photos together--jean jackets!

Before the concert began.

 

Home Group in the Backyard...the Front Yard Begins

Our first home group of the fall season, we started off outside, decided it was still a little warm, so we moved indoors for a time and then came back out to enjoy the firepit.

The driveway is gone...when will it be functional again?

 

Griffin's Soccer Season Begins

The soccer season got off to a later start this year than in past years.  Griffin joined the Turbulence which has a number of the kids that he played against in practice last year and his assistant coach is his head coach from last year.  Plus he practices at the same park, which allows the rest of us to play tennis while he practices.

Griffin hustles up the field.

His team arrives and gets together for pre-game activities.

Sprinting after the ball.

Grammy and Poppy came to opening weekend.

Griffin throws the ball in, dragging his back toe.

Griffin steals the ball from the offensive player and turns it up field.

 

Joy and Bryce support Griffin as he works hard for his team.

Griffin has the ball and looks to pass.

Griffin waits for a throw in.

Lining up the ball.

Stealing the ball and turning it up field.

Anticipating the trajectory and chasing it down.

Supporting his teammate.