Nicole was born and raised in Eagle River, Alaska. She moved to California to attend college at The Masters University in Santa Clarita. After graduating, Nicole moved to San Diego to pursue a career in Construction Management and met her husband, Michael. They have been married for 15 years and have three children, Micaiah (9), Naomi (5) and Max (2).

Nicole and Mike made the decision to homeschool when Micaiah was entering kindergarten. Micaiah suffered a stroke in utero and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. They knew that traditional school would not suit Micaiah’s needs, so homeschool has been the best option for their family. Micaiah has attended HCS since kindergarten and absolutely loves attending Co-Op on Thursdays.

The Empizo family attends Shadow Mountain Community Church and are active with a small group, AWANA, and volunteering with the Childrens Ministry. They also love trying new restaurants, traveling, and playing at the beach.