Hey everyone…I’m back!  I have been consumed with this very unexpected and very intense and short new career search.  I landed a few weeks ago and have been in preparation mode since then for what will truly be a new chapter in my family’s life.

27 years ago my father - who was nearing the end of his military career – received a new assignment in Germany.  I was in the second half of my junior year in high school and was knee deep in the application process for the Military Academy.  My parents’ options were to either move our entire family to Germany – this would have been a 3 year assignment – or for my father to go there alone – this would be a 2 year assignment.  My parents thought about it prayed about it and ultimately my father made the decision that it would be best for ME if he went to Germany alone.  This would allow me to stay in the US and continue the process for West Point and my future!  It would have been nearly impossible for me to successfully complete that process and get in while living over seas.  It would mean periods of loneliness for my parents as my father would only be able to make it home a couple of times per year due to the expense and distance.  It would be difficult for us not having my father around because the four of us were a very tight knit family.  So my parents – really our entire family (I have a younger sister as well) made a huge sacrifice for my future and in doing so would plant seeds that are still being harvested today!

Well 27 years later my wife and I found ourselves in the exact same situation.  My new career in out of state and our oldest son is in the second half of his junior year in high school.  He is a God-gifted musician and his plans for college and the career that will follow are very specific.  All the folks that have been working with him for the past 5+ years are the same folks that will be assisting him with getting into the college of his choice.  Those folks are all here and this is the critical time of the process – as it was for me.  So I will be working and living out of state very soon and my family will stay here so that our son can have the future he has worked so hard for over the years.  YES it will be difficult, yes there will be times of loneliness but we know this is God’s plan and therefore will be blessed and will bear fruit.  Another thing that is cool is that I am NOT going to be in Germany J  and will be home very frequently.  (Certainly frequently relative to my dad’s situation)  In the big picture of things, it is only 15 months before he graduates and will be off to college.  We will reunite the family at that time.

We are at peace with our decision even though we know there will be challenges.  But our God is big God and He will supply!  I mentioned “seeds” earlier.  Well if my parents had not made that sacrifice so many years ago:  I would not have gone to West Point, I would not have met my wife and best friend, and we would not have 3 gifted and beautiful children.  My life would be completely different!

Please keep us in your prayers for continued wisdom, patience, peace, the ability to continue to hear the Voice of God, and the faith to continue to stand on His Word.