Twelve years ago our family set off on one of our biggest adventures. I’ll share the highlights here so you can catch up and understand why this new chapter feels so meaningful to us.
In 2009 we left our hometown of Portland, Oregon, and moved to a small coastal town on Puget Sound. After a long period of unemployment, my husband received an opportunity to pursue a dream: starting a church. Though we never planned to leave our friends, family, and the home we thought might be our forever place, we packed up and drove three hours away through a rare winter blizzard with our then second-grade son to begin this new season in Washington.
That transition was difficult in many ways, but it was also a time of growth. Living near a sizable military community opened our eyes to the sacrifices military families make—frequent moves, long separations, and constant adjustments. Their resilience helped us put our own move into perspective and deepened our compassion.
About five months after we moved, Courtney relocated to Washington after graduating high school and started college in Seattle that fall. Kylee and her husband Lance moved to Seattle the following summer to be closer to Luke and to support the church. They made big sacrifices—switching colleges and majors—to help our family launch this new life.
Their weekend commutes—several hours round trip—to help with the church meant everything to us. Those sacrifices nudged all of us out of our comfort zones and became unexpected opportunities to grow.
Despite a thriving local congregation, supporting our family and sustaining the ministry long term became a real concern. The transient nature of military life made stable growth challenging. Within two years we realized we needed a more reliable source of income if the church was to continue.
Out of that season The Inspired Room blog evolved into a business that could support both our family and the ministry. I’ve poured my heart into The Inspired Room for fourteen years, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has supported the blog, the business, and our family along the way. The timing of starting the blog was pivotal, and I never imagined it would lead to published books and even a New York Times Bestseller. Thank you to everyone who has followed and cheered us on.
Six years ago we began another chapter when we moved to our current home in Seattle.
We decided to relocate to be closer to our daughters and so Luke could attend high school nearby. For the last year of our lease on the church building we commuted back on weekends by ferry so Luke could remain connected to the community while we prepared for the next steps. When many families faced deployments, we chose not to renew the building lease and transitioned the ministry to an online community with private groups.
Our plan was to stay in Seattle for about four years while Luke finished high school. When he graduated two years ago he opted for a private college just 15 minutes away, so we stayed nearby for his freshman year.
After raising children at home for over thirty years, we briefly became empty nesters in September 2019—until 2020 changed everything. Luke returned home from his dorm when campuses closed, and his sophomore year was fully online. While that wasn’t the college experience we’d hoped for, we cherished the unexpected extra time together as a family.
During quarantine Courtney moved back to save money and prepare for an eventual move to Bellingham. Kylee and Lance sold their townhouse this year and moved in with us temporarily while house hunting. It’s been a revolving door here, but we’ve loved having family close by.
Now, with a new year underway, our family is beginning another season—and we have big news.
Kylee and Lance recently bought a new house. In about six weeks they’ll start a new chapter in a charming home in a new neighborhood. Because Lance can work remotely, they’re moving back to our hometown of Portland—the place that holds so many memories for all of us.
They are going home.
We’ve shared many memories in Washington over the past twelve years, and while it’s bittersweet to see our kids move on, we’re thrilled for them. This is a memorable and exciting moment in their lives.
What does this new season look like for our family?
It’s been a year of many moves—every one of our kids has moved or will move this year. Kylee will continue working with The Inspired Room, so her role will remain the same despite the move. They’ll be close to family and friends in Portland, and they’ve kindly left us a place to stay when we visit with our dogs—something that makes trips home much easier.
In many ways, their move feels like a chance for us to go home again, too.
This summer Luke will move into an apartment with friends about 15 minutes away and will resume in-person college classes this fall. We couldn’t be happier for him.
Courtney is thriving in Bellingham. We expect many day trips, family gatherings, holidays together, and visits back to our hometown to see family and friends.
The two of us plan to remain in our Seattle home. We want this house to stay our sanctuary and a welcoming place for family visits. We have many plans for the home ahead and feel like we’re just getting started.
Life will change in small ways, but we remain grateful to have family spread across the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Growing up, I always felt at home in both Portland and Seattle—my grandparents lived in the Seattle area—so both places feel familiar and comforting.
We’re excited to watch our children begin their next chapters and proud of the paths they’re choosing. It’s time for them to spread their wings, and my husband and I are ready to embrace empty-nester life 2.0.
More to come about this new adventure. The Inspired Room is here to stay, and I think it’s only getting better. You’ll love Kylee’s new home—she’s transforming it beautifully and we’ll be sharing her updates here.
We’ve opened comments today and would love to hear from you: how long have you followed the blog or our family? Have you had any moving adventures? We’d love to read your stories.
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The Inspired Room (Melissa) // Kylee // Courtney // Dwell Well Collective // Jack the Goldendoodle // Doodles at Home