It was just about two years ago that I wrote an editorial celebrating my half-decade point, describing how much the experiences of working at this paper for the past five years had changed my life for the better.
Unfortunately, a lot of people got the wrong message and thought it was my swan song. That was my own fault for not making the purpose of the editorial clear. But I said in a follow-up editorial that if and when I did leave, I would make it plain and obvious.
Well, this is it.
One month ago to the day, I handed in my resignation, to be effective Dec. 7.
For the past several years, before having even started at this paper, I have had some personal goals — to find a way to professionally work in ministry and to write and illustrate pieces of fiction for children and teens. But I have had to put those goals on the back burner to pay the bills and whatnot.
Now, it’s time to bring those things up to the front burner.
I found myself at this paper a little shy of seven years ago (it still seems like yesterday), and since then have contributed at least 3,000 pieces of content, either by way of writing, photography or video, and to this day can still honestly say that it has been a blessing in many ways, and was right where I was supposed to be for that time.
But as the years went on, the sense of pursuing the other matters in life never left. In fact, they only increased.
One year ago, my wife Diana started an in-home child daycare. It has grown to the point where she has recently had to turn a few full-time children away.
I have been taking a late lunch to come home and help watch the after-school kids to make sure Diana wasn’t working there alone, thereby violating her child limit per our license.
By resigning from the paper and helping out at the daycare full time, we can increase our child capacity without the added business expense of hiring on help.
With a crazy reporter work schedule that requires working days, nights and weekends, this new venture can help free up some courses through Elim Bible Institute, and hopefully find time to work on developing some of that fiction work. I'm looking forward to this next phase in life.
I still may submit a story now and then, and more importantly, I hope to find ways to stay connected to the many people I have met through working at this paper that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet and call my friends. Thank you for a wonderful seven years.
This paper, this office and these local communities have been so much a part of my life. Thank you. I hope I have been as much of a blessing to you as you have been to me.
It was just about two years ago that I wrote an editorial celebrating my half-decade point, describing how much the experiences of working at this paper for the past five years had changed my life for the better.
Unfortunately, a lot of people got the wrong message and thought it was my swan song. That was my own fault for not making the purpose of the editorial clear. But I said in a follow-up editorial that if and when I did leave, I would make it plain and obvious.
Well, this is it.
One month ago to the day, I handed in my resignation, to be effective Dec. 7.
For the past several years, before having even started at this paper, I have had some personal goals — to find a way to professionally work in ministry and to write and illustrate pieces of fiction for children and teens. But I have had to put those goals on the back burner to pay the bills and whatnot.
Now, it’s time to bring those things up to the front burner.
I found myself at this paper a little shy of seven years ago (it still seems like yesterday), and since then have contributed at least 3,000 pieces of content, either by way of writing, photography or video, and to this day can still honestly say that it has been a blessing in many ways, and was right where I was supposed to be for that time.
But as the years went on, the sense of pursuing the other matters in life never left. In fact, they only increased.
One year ago, my wife Diana started an in-home child daycare. It has grown to the point where she has recently had to turn a few full-time children away.
I have been taking a late lunch to come home and help watch the after-school kids to make sure Diana wasn’t working there alone, thereby violating her child limit per our license.
By resigning from the paper and helping out at the daycare full time, we can increase our child capacity without the added business expense of hiring on help.
With a crazy reporter work schedule that requires working days, nights and weekends, this new venture can help free up some courses through Elim Bible Institute, and hopefully find time to work on developing some of that fiction work. I'm looking forward to this next phase in life.
I still may submit a story now and then, and more importantly, I hope to find ways to stay connected to the many people I have met through working at this paper that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet and call my friends. Thank you for a wonderful seven years.
This paper, this office and these local communities have been so much a part of my life. Thank you. I hope I have been as much of a blessing to you as you have been to me.
