BIG NEWS!

After a couple years of networking, months of anxiety, and many negotiations, we have made the decision to move our family to Milwaukee, WI. Tom has taken a new position as Product Manager within Eaton putting us in the land of Packers & cheese. This decision hasn't been an easy one for us, but we both felt a strong desire to raise our family some place closer to both of our families. We want Jackson & Morgan to spend more time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family. And Milwaukee is a great middle point between our families - Pittsburgh is about a 9 hour drive and Nebraska is about 8 and a half hours (or both are short, direct, cheaper flights). We hate the thought of moving away from a place we love so much - great friends, a beautiful neighborhood, wonderful co-workers, and amazing natural beauty. We started our life together here in Washington, so leaving will be so hard. I'm fighting back tears right now just thinking of it and writing this. We are excited for this new adventure though!

The new job for Tom is going to be a challenge, but one he is very excited and ready for. He will have opportunities to go to Germany, Finland, and China with this new role. And it will give him more experience, hopefully leading to an opportunity to get into management. I don't know all the specifics his new job will entail, so he may have to give an update posting some time. At this point, there are no openings in Milwaukee for me to stay with Eaton, so my career future is a little unclear. It is a little ironic to me - I started my career with Eaton eight years ago in Milwaukee, and it is now looking like a return to Milwaukee will be the end of my career with Eaton. I admit, I would like to be able to stay home with the kids, but it is hard to say if we can move from a two income family to a one income family. After the move, I will likely take some time to get us settled into our new home and community, and then re-evaluate what my move will be. Maybe by then there will be an opportunity with Eaton; possibly I'll choose a new career path; or maybe the title of full-time mother and wife will suit us. Time and prayer is all I can give - trust that His plans will lead me to what I need to do for our family.

As far as a time line for when this will all happen - we really don't know. We are figuring we'll be settling into Wisconsin sometime in August - three months or so. There will be a couple trips there for house searching, and we will have to start the process of selling our home here. None of these are quick tasks, so we have some time as far as the move goes. Tom will be starting his job soon though (figure a few weeks), which means lots of traveling for him back and forth from Seattle to Milwaukee. It won't be easy, but at least he'll be wracking up the frequent flyer miles.

So wish us luck! We'll be keeping you posted as things progress. And if you are in Seattle in the next few months, be sure to look us up. And if you are wanting to do a little vacation later in the summer, Milwaukee is a great place to visit.

Watch out Packers - a Steeler family is moving to town!