The Winds of Change

There have been a few goodbyes this month. Some goodbyes are a welcome sigh of relief - like the goodbye to surveyors from the Department of Inspections and Appeals who have camped at our hospital for what seems like forever. Some goodbyes are nearly disabling - like the goodbyes David is saying to friends who are headed off to college while he remains unable to envision exactly what his future looks like. And some goodbyes are a bittersweet mixture of sadness and eager anticipation - like the Big Goodbye Al has said to Office Depot after over 15 years of working for the company.

This has been Al's workplace since we moved to Des Moines to open this store in June of 1998. Hannah was only 4 months old, and Darrin was entering high school. This store has served Al as much as he has served it by being less than 3 miles from our house, and by providing many dear friends over the years. Al led this store as a ministry - using it to provide employment to many friends and acquaintances who had unexpectedly found themselves without work. Because he insisted on the highest standards of customer service, he had a loyal following of customers. I recall being on an airplane flying back to Des Moines after a business trip when the man sitting next to me, with whom I had been making small talk, commented that he would drive across town to do business at that particular Office Depot.

Al has felt a restless dissatisfaction for several months now. It appears that Office Depot is in turmoil as a company, and the effects are being felt at the store level. So when an opportunity arose, Al decided it was time to move on. Last week, he started a new job for this company.

Party City  is a growing company with profits that are soaring despite the difficult economy. I guess people still want to host themed birthday parties and have color-coordinated paperware for graduation parties. Yes, it is still retail. But apparently Party City is not one of the places that people flock to on Black Friday or the day after Christmas, so that's a good thing. Their busy time is Halloween, but apparently there isn't a need to keep extended store hours even then. Job growth potential is good. Al will be the general manager of the store in Ankeny, Iowa. There are several additional stores scheduled to open in Iowa.

Change is always a curious combination of excitement and anxiety. It was so nice knowing that Al was close to home if one of the kids needed to be taken to a dentist appointment or to be available for the washing machine repair man. Quite selfishly, I'm going to miss some of the deep discounts on new computers and electronic gadgetry. I'm not quite as thrilled at the prospect of half-price paper plates (Halloween costumes, perhaps.) I worry that we may someday find ourselves faced with decisions about moving again. And I'm not looking forward to the next several weeks of training, when Al will need to be in Wisconsin for five days every week.

Looking backward, I know that God has directed our every step. He has brought incredible good out of every move - career and home - that we've made. I'm thrilled to see energy and excitement in Al's eyes again.