long time coming!

Today was a blast of a much needed day, and I'm just so thankful.

A few years ago we told the staff that when the day came that Emmaus earned it's accreditation, we were ALL going to the beach.  When we finally got the good news in January, we started planning, with one of you even sending us money to foot the bill!  Today, a challenging and great school year behind us, Graduation over and accreditation accomplished, we DID it.

We each drove every car we have and picked up every person on staff and went to Cormier Beach for a fantastic day of fellowship and laughter and good food, speeches, prayer time, swimming, soccer and celebration.

A little bit of time at the beach always reminds me that God's got it covered, and I'm so thankful.

Lily and Sofie had a blast of a day with 30 aunts and uncles...finding treasurers and playing games and ignoring Matt and I completely :)  

Anne-Yolie is the newest member of our team, just finishing out her first year as secretary.  Absolutely, no doubt, God send.  We're all so thankful for her beautiful heart and humble presence and capable help!

We all had whole fish or creole chicken for lunch and then spent a few hours talking about the year, doing lots of thank yous, and that time was so powerful and meaningful....just encouraging, and beautiful to see our family know and love each other well. 

I am so grateful to have had today...to enjoy His creation and His faithfulness and His children and to look back a bit, look ahead a bit, too, and see Him at work.  We have such a quality staff of servant-hearted, competent, kingdom-focused people, from the gate to the kitchen to the classroom, and that is absolutely the work of the Lord sending us the right people, pruning us, stretching us and helping us.  

I talk about our students a lot more than our staff, but Christ in these 30 men and women is behind every student, every beautiful church plant, every evangelism effort, every transformation.  They work hard and sacrifice hard and every bit of help and prayer and support is empowering these beautiful people to empower so many others.  

Praising the Lord for each of them, and for the chance to celebrate so much today!