MOBILIZE

Last night was Elevate Church's very first MOBILIZE meeting. 

A lot of church planters will equate church planting to giving birth. And just like God is the giver of the miracle of new life, he is also the sole reason that Elevate will open it's door when we launch this baby in February.

But for right now... we're pregnant! We continue to pray and trust God for the supernatural while doing everything we can in the natural to plan and prepare for the launch of Elevate. And there is so much to be done!

I shared this birthing analogy last night at our meeting and told everyone that I felt like we were kind of like at our first ultrasound appointment... getting our first glimpse at this beautiful group of people that God is calling together
to help elevate his name in the city of Erie. 

Thank you for praying for us!! And thank you so much for giving your resources to help us deliver one awesome, life-giving, life changing baby!!

Who doesn't love Chick-fil-A?

Chick-fil-A has also been a favorite in the Atkins house.

When we moved to Erie we were so excited that there was a stand alone restaurant in town because is in Toledo the only one was in the mall. Where else can you get sweet tea with a smile and a "my pleasure!"

Near the end of October the following was posted on our local Chick-fil-A Facebook page.

Do you know someone who deserves a surprise party with 30-50 of their closest friends at Chick-fil-A? Chick-fil-A Erie is interested in honoring several special individuals by scheduling a FREE NIGHT of CHICK-FIL-A for up to 50 people in honor of them and to celebrate them! If you know someone who deserves to be crowned the Guest of Honor, please send their story and why they deserve to be crowned a Guest of Honor to 01879@chick-fil-a.com.

I nominated Colby and he was chosen to receive a wonderful night of encouragement surrounded by our closest friends! He was been working so hard lately and I just wanted to hit pause for a couple hours and just let him know how much we all love him and support him. And I wanted it to be a surprise.

Guess what? I TOTALLY pulled it off!!

He had NO idea :)

 The telltale sign of surprise... the scratching of his head

Our orders were taken at our tables.... tablecloths, printed menus, waitresses, and even desserts!!

Friends!

 Some of the kids!

More friends!!

 How AMAZING is Chick-fil-A!!!! 

 Thank you everyone who made this night so special!!!  We love you all and couldn't do any of this without you!

Halloween Pictures

Wade (the black & red ninja) with his Kindergarten class

(They all wore their costumes to school and had a parade in the Gym that the parents were invited to.)

The boys with their friends

Park the dragon, Jake AKA Pablo

Park had to walk around and do everything himself...  it was definitely slow going!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Jake & his girlfriends

Jake has a girlfriend at church.

He also has a girlfriend in our neighborhood.

He has another one at his daycare Spark's.

And he has two at preschool.

I finally asked him, "What makes these girls your girlfriends?"

His answer?

..............

"Well, mom, they all have great hair."

Guess he's gonna be a hair man.

November - 30K in 30DAYS

Hello November