This Fall

        Summer seems to be wrapping up here in North Vancouver as I hear rain falling outside while I'm writing this.  Rain that we've been having off and on the whole week.  We've had a full summer, with a great family vacation with my (Megan) family on the Oregon coast, a beautiful wedding we got to be a part of right in Andrew's mom's backyard garden, and lots of outings with the kids while the weather was amazing!
        Next week we will be changing gears heading into fall. Kaden starts both Kindergarten and an intensive intervention program next week, and Brenna starts preschool.  We will be enjoying a less busy house, and begin seeing what the Lord has for us during our home assignment time in the next few months as time allows us to be involved.
        A Psalm that we have looked at this summer is Psalm 31, which spoke to us as we feel in some ways a bit beat down from our first term overseas.  With the diagnosis of Kaden's autism in the midst of so many other challenges that go along with living overseas and having small kids, it was a tough go.  But even though there are uncertainties of how things will look for us as we continue to adjust as a family to meet Kaden's needs, we know from Psalms, "Since you [Lord] are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me... But I trust in you, O Lord; I say 'You are my God.' My times are in your hands." (31:3,15)  The Lord will continue to lead us just as He has, and already knows what is ahead of us, and that it will work to bring glory to Him.  
        Right now we are spending this home assignment partly to just take a break and refresh, but also to look more closely at Kaden's needs, and what meeting those needs can look like in the environment we were in overseas.  We are praying about many options of how to do things, and ask you join in prayer with us for wisdom!

Thank you for your committed support in prayer for our family.

Megan and Andrew

Prayer Requests:

1.  Adjustment- please pray for the kids as they adjust to the school routine.  Kaden will have full days of school, and we are praying that his class aid will really be able to work well with him.

2.  Kaden's therapy- Kaden will start two hours of therapy every day after school.  We are praying that this will really help him with some of his challenges, and that it won't be too much for him on top of school.  Please pray for us to be sensitive to him and have wisdom if he has too full a day.

3.  Guidance- please pray for us as we seek what the Lord has for us over the next few months.  For how we can be involved in ministry at our church, and how we can continue to nurture our kids and meet their needs as their schedules change.

Praise:

1.  We are so happy that we got to witness such a beautiful wedding between Andrew's sister, Aileen, and her husband, Pete!  The kids even got to be a part of the small ceremony which was so neat for our family as we are not around much for these sorts of occasions!  And it was lots of fun the week leading up for our kids to get to know "Auntie Aileen and Uncle Pete" :)

2.  We are thankful as well for how Kaden's therapy has come together, as we've found a great fit for him for now as we were rushed into figuring out the system and setting things up with not a lot of time, and found a place that is a great help in setting us up and providing therapy for Kaden.

3. We also are just thankful for how God has provided for our basic needs during our home assignment.  We were provided a van and insurance for it by a family in our church, and we have been SO blessed by Andrew's mom, who has given us her house to live in and moved into her basement suite during our stay.  It is so nice to have space for the kids and be able to cook meals together and have people over to visit.