Still in Seattle

I’m sitting in a Tully’s coffee shop in the Freemont area of Seattle. Outside it’s a beautiful day with blue sky and only a little breeze. It’s one of those rare October days in Seattle where the elements all seem to come together to create an amazing secret that we don’t want to tell the world about. It’s cold, but I have on flip-flops and a t-shirt. This coffee shop is huge and there are many small children here. Free internet and a relaxed atmosphere make for a great community location.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my future. Most people tend to think in 5 year increments but I’ve been fixated on the 16 year plan. Why 16? Good question. Danielle and I have decided that we are done having any more kids. My daughter is working towards her second birthday. 16 years from now she’ll be a beautiful (if she’s anything like her monther) 17 year old thinking about her next steps. 16 years would allow that to happen for her with stability. Now I realize that there is a good chance that God will move me around some in the next 16 years but I can at least hope and pray that where he leads me is where I’m supposed to be. I’m 36 now and really feel like I’ve had some amazing opportunities to work at some great churches and now I want to find one place where I can be for a long time.

Community is very important to Danielle and I. Where we currently live in Southern California we have that. I’m close to several friends that I’ve known for 14 years. Our “community” is fairly spread out across several different cities and churches. As much as I love it there though I have to admit it has never felt like home. The 16 year plan includes my kids going to the same schools, having the same teachers and growing up in a place where they feel very comfortable. It means having family around and being close with relatives.

I’m pretty convinced that God is leading us to a new adventure. I’m eagerly anticipating what that will be. I pretty convinced that the experiences I’ve been through and what I’ve learned are going to be directly used in the new place we land.

12 years ago I had an experience during an interview where everything I had done previously came together to make me incredibly qualified for a position I was applying for. God combined the experiences of rock climbing, a youth detention center, photography, cheerleading and an English minor into the perfect job. That experience made me realize that I could never doubt the places he was leading me and what he was preparing me for.