The Rest of the Story....

There is a reason for my silence during the past few months. So much has been happening in our lives, but it was only for private consumption… until now. Before sharing the unabridged version, I will cut to the chase, and blurt out, “The Trachts are moving west!”

I have accepted a faculty position at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho as the Director of Academic Advising & Testing. There… I said it; it is officially public knowledge. If you want to know more read on:

Three years ago I began a master’s degree program for several reasons. First, I loved my job; I had finally found an excellent career fit in the academic side of higher education. My current job description reads, “Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.” As I read similar job descriptions from like institutions, and various other interesting job descriptions, I determined that a master’s degree would make my work experience and my education “match.” Second, I had always intended to earn a master’s degree, but I wanted to wait until I really appreciated education, and until I had a strong direction in which to head (i.e., a degree that would lead to an actual job). Lastly, I wanted to give Steve what he gave me – the freedom and flexibility to pursue new opportunities. His work allowed me to fulfill my dream of staying home with our babies; and, his work allowed me to work part-time while also attending graduate school. Steve has interests that he’s been unable to pursue because of his income. A master’s degree would enable me to earn more income. As of June 2009, I earned a master’s degree in general psychology with an emphasis in educational psychology.

I had hoped to either advance within MVNU, or find a new opportunity nearby initially. In fact, last summer I had applied for a position at an institution 30 miles away from Mount Vernon. At that time, I simply could not imagine living in the community without working for MVNU. I loved our life in Mount Vernon, and I was afraid of shaking up our happiness. The position did not materialize, and I felt great relief. Over the course of this school year, however, a sense of disequilibrium developed within me. When such feelings emerged, it was difficult to avoid the blame game (i.e., look for reasons outside of oneself for the source of frustration). I could list all the reasons why I began to search for change, but the reasons are all meaningless now. The bottom line is this: Steve and I believe that God was preparing us for change. Had we been perfectly happy with our surroundings, we would have never considered other options. God clearly has been working in our lives – simultaneously – to bring about our current move.

Fast forward to January 2010. My dear Grandpa Keller passed away in mid-January. Throughout the holidays, we knew the end was nearing, and I desperately missed my family! Such a longing to be near them took me by surprise, as I have lived many miles from “home” for nearly 20 years. When Grandpa passed, and I spent the next week with my grandma, parents, brother, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephew; and, the longing to be in closer proximity to these relationships grew ten fold. Coupled with the disequilibrium I faced in Mount Vernon, I felt driven to consider new possibilities. In fact, during the weekend following Grandpa’s services, I participated in a special Beth Moore event in Houston, and I strongly sensed a word from God: Change is coming. Be patient and be at peace because I am at work. To symbolize my acceptance of this word, I began using a planner that Beth’s ministry gifted the event participants with that weekend.

Since the spring of 2009, I have been closely monitoring job opportunities at select universities in specific areas of the country – mostly near my extended family, but also in Ohio. There were regularly interesting job openings, but rarely great fits for my specific interests in higher education. I knew that I needed to be ready when the “right” job opening was announced. On the Monday following my return from the memorial services for Grandpa, I noticed the NNU employment opportunity. It seemed like a perfect fit, a great opportunity for advancement, and a “long shot” since I lived in Ohio. With Steve’s blessing, I completed the application packet, contacted some references that lived in Nampa, and began praying for God’s wisdom and His best for our family. Within a few weeks, the ball started rolling.

Before I continue with this part of the story, I must talk about the weekend prior to my interviews in Nampa. Way back in November, I sensed God leading me to initiate a Girls’ Weekend with some of my cousins and aunts in Seattle. We planned it around the Beth Moore simulcast that took place last Saturday. Ten of us met in Auburn and Seattle to eat, talk, and worship together. It was an amazing time to be together, to become reacquainted as a family, and to grow in Christ. The whole experience was clearly a God-thing, and we were all along for the ride. God is such a great tour guide for life! Once again, the Lord spoke to me about being His instrument among this very special group of my favorite people in the world! I can not believe that I allowed the craziness of life come between these relationships for so long! So, the timing of my Grandpa’s passing, this renewal of extended familial ties, and our move west is absolutely amazing!

Steve and I were in Nampa, Idaho for nearly a week of interviewing, exploring, and decision making. Moving on is a strange place to be again. We did it nearly 8 years ago from Kansas to Ohio, and here we are again. We are definitely excited, but also a bit anxious. This morning my Bible study spoke to me. In the book of Ruth, Naomi tells Ruth that it is time to move on from their season of mourning, and begin a new thing. Within the disequilibrium that I referenced earlier, I felt emotions strong enough to resemble mourning. Now, it is clear that we need to move on. Kelly Minter writes, “One of the most remarkable and mysterious parts of life is how our frail and human plans somehow fit into God’s master plan” (2009, p. 96). It takes a firm resolve to follow God’s master plan even when we are so uncomfortable with our present state of affairs. Minter writes, “When we are wrapped in garments of mourning, we’re unavailable for whatever else God has for us” (p. 99). God is leading us toward a new thing, and it is impossible for us to deny it. I can not even imagine denying it!

When we moved to Ohio eight years ago, I prayed this prayer, “Lord, either open the doors so wide that we can not help but walk through them, or close them so tight that we would not dream of attempting.” I found myself praying the same prayer during this season of transition, and God is clearly speaking – even though I feel anxious about the unknowns. My theme verse for this season is:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV).

Now that I can freely share how God is working, I hope to be more active on this blog again. The Bible study I referred to by Kelly Minter has been a tremendous source of inspiration and peace during this time.