TTwelve years ago our family set out on one of the biggest adventures we’ve experienced. I’ll share a shortened version of that journey here so you can catch up and better understand our excitement about this next chapter.
In 2009 we left our hometown of Portland, Oregon and moved to a small coastal community on the Puget Sound. Why? After a year of unemployment, my husband was offered the chance to pursue a long-held dream: to start a church.
We had never planned to move away from friends, family, and the roots we’d planted. Still, we felt called to try something different. We packed up our life, said goodbye to what we thought might be our forever home, and drove away in an unexpected winter blizzard with our son—then in second grade—to begin this new chapter three hours away in Washington.
That season was difficult in many ways, but it also stretched and strengthened our family. Living in that community gave us a new compassion for military families we met—families who frequently uproot and replant, and who often go long stretches separated from a spouse. Seeing their lives put our own challenges into perspective.
Thankfully, our daughters joined us not long after. Courtney moved to Washington about five months later after graduating high school and started college in Seattle that fall. Kylee and her husband Lance moved to Seattle that summer to be closer to Luke and to support the church. They made big sacrifices—switching colleges and changing majors—to begin a new life in a new place.
They spent many weekends driving hours each way to help get the church started. Their commitment meant the world to us and pushed all of us out of our comfort zones. Those challenges helped us grow in unexpected ways.
Supporting the family and sustaining the church became increasingly difficult. Within two years we realized we needed a more stable income or the church might have to close. The community was wonderful and growing, but frequent moves by military families made steady growth a challenge.
Out of that season The Inspired Room emerged as a business that could support our family and help the church. I’ve poured my heart into this blog for fourteen years, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who supported me, the business, and our family along the way. I never expected the blog would lead to published books and even a spot on the New York Times Bestseller list—still a delightful surprise. Thank you to everyone who joined this journey from the beginning or at any point along the way.
Six years ago we began another new chapter when we moved to our current home in Seattle.
We moved to be closer to our daughters and so Luke could start high school nearby. Wanting those remaining years of family life together, we commuted back to the church building on weekends for the last year of its lease. With many families facing deployments, we chose not to renew the building and shifted the ministry to an online community and private groups instead.
We planned to stay in Seattle for four years for Luke’s high school experience, then decide what came next. When Luke chose a nearby private college two years ago, we stayed to support him during his freshman year.
After more than three decades of raising children at home, we officially became empty nesters in September 2019. That season was brief—2020 changed plans for everyone. Luke returned home from the dorms and completed his sophomore year online, which wasn’t ideal but brought us unexpected family time together.
Courtney moved back during quarantine to save money and plan her upcoming move to Bellingham. Kylee and Lance sold their townhouse earlier this year and moved in with us briefly while house hunting. It’s been a revolving door, and we’ve loved every bit of it.
Now, with 2020 behind us, our family is stepping into another new season. Here’s our big news:
Lance and Kylee recently bought a house and will begin their next chapter in about six weeks. Because Lance can work remotely, they’re moving back to Portland—our hometown and the place where much of our family story began.
They are going home.
We made many memories in Washington over the past twelve years, and while we’ll miss being close, we’re thrilled for our kids as they start their own chapters. Everything about this time feels full of promise.
What will 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 stays the same after the move. Lance, Kylee, and their doodles Bella and Leo will be near family and friends in Portland. They’ve even left a spare room for us to visit with our dogs, making trips home much easier than before.
In a way, their move feels like a return home for us too.
Luke is moving out this summer with friends to an apartment about 15 minutes away and will resume in-person college this fall. We’re so excited for him.
Courtney is settled and happy in Bellingham, and we anticipate many day trips, family gatherings, holidays, and visits back to Portland to see relatives and old friends.
The two of us plan to stay put. We’ll keep making this house our sanctuary and a welcoming home for family. We have lots of plans and feel like we’re just getting started here.
Life will change as our children spread their wings, but we remain grateful to have family throughout the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Growing up in Portland with grandparents in the Seattle area made both places feel like home to me, and now our family is fortunate to have ties across the region.
We’re proud of our kids and excited to watch them begin new chapters. My husband and I are ready to embrace empty-nester life again—this time with fresh energy and new plans.
More updates will come as this new adventure unfolds. The Inspired Room continues and will keep evolving—Kylee’s new home is absolutely charming and she’ll be sharing it here as she personalizes it.
We’re opening comments today and would love to hear from you: how long have you followed the blog or our family? Have you had moving adventures to share? Tell us your stories.
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Follow along with our family’s Instagrams below:
The Inspired Room (Melissa) // Kylee // Courtney // Dwell Well Collective // Jack the Goldendoodle // Doodles at Home