Camden's Blog

Pacific City, OR - Five years ago we were just getting to know each other. Her family had invited me (or did I invite myself?) to spend some time with them at the beach. And so it was - the first time I'd really spent any time with my future wife and family.

I had the sense even then that we were making a bit of personal history, and now, 5 years later, we took our two kids (and some dear friends and family) to the same beach for a little weekend gateway.



Life is good.

Both Henry and Jack were too tired to crack a smile after church the other day, but we coerced them into an obligatory family photo nonetheless

One of my favorite quotes.

"The life of religion, and the welfare and glory of both the Church and the State, depend much on family government and duty. If we suffer the neglect of this, we shall undo all."
- Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor

A family-first at our New Year's family gathering this year; the cousins photo!

From left to right: The newest addition, Camille and Andrew's daughter Estelle (7 weeks), then me and Sarah's sons, Henry (2 and a half), and Jackson (7 months).



Happy New Year!

Can you believe the year is almost half over!?

I haven't blogged in a while so I wanted to share a few quick personal updates... Gosh were do I start? I guess I'll just briefly hit three highlights...

Relocation: After changing my employment arrangement to allow me to work exclusively from home, Sarah and I made our move from Greenville, South Carolina back in November. And after a few months of renovation projects (some of which are still ongoing), getting settled into our local church, getting to know the neighbors, and lots of Craigslist furniture shopping (Sarah has mad Craigslisting skills) we're finally feeling like we've completed the relocation. Portland/Vancouver here we are! 

Graduation: In February, I spent the month back in Boston/Cambridge finishing up the last session of my three year program at Harvard Business School. Even though I've been looking forward to that for a number of years, it was a bit surreal to walk that stage at the graduation ceremony. I know there are other Homeschool Alumni that are also HBS Alumni, but as far as I know I was the only one in my class this year. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to go. 

And saving the best news for last: "Procreation" That's right, we're expecting a baby toward the end of June! Henry is doing great and we couldn't be more pleased to be welcoming a little brother or sister into the family. We're planning a home-birth this time and Sarah absolutely loves her midwife team here.

It's been a good 2012 and we're not even halfway done!

More to come...

Lot's of developments around the Spiller house these last couple months...

A few Saturdays ago we said goodbye to the vast majority of our earthly belongings. We hammered our "Moving Sale" sign in the yard at 7:58am, opened our doors at 8am sharp, and for the next four hours carted sofas, bookcases, nightstands, bed frames, chairs, and tables out of our house and into the waiting vehicles outside.



That evening we went to bed with a very slightly thicker wallet and a much emptier house... From Craigslist it came, and from Craigslist it doth return. And Henry loved all the extra space to toddle around.



We've always known that we would ultimately want to settle and raise our family near grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins... and in an area with a local church/community of other families that share our faith, lifestyle, and values as well. We always thought that would be a few years down the line, and kind of prayed about it as one of those distant "someday," kind of things.

But then some things changed at work, and I found myself with the opportunity to work from home again. And not being tied any particular office any longer, it also gives me the freedom to relocate anywhere in the States. It came with a bit of a pay cut and a career redirection, but as we stepped back and evaluated the situation, and where we wanted to be, we once again realized how faithful God is to answer our prayers and direct our steps. And so we began preparing for those steps in earnest.

That was earlier this spring, and after about six months of planning and preparation, we settled on the Northwest as our location of choice and began the house search, ultimately purchasing one here in Vancouver last month (another story I'll have to tell sometime) and moving just a couple weeks ago.

Sarah's extended family is already up here, Mac is moving out here with us, and we're hopeful that my parents will be joining us out here before long as well - that's going to be so great for Henry to grow up with them near! I'm hoping, but don't know if any of my other siblings will join us all the way out here in Portland/Vancouver, but Andrew and Camille and Emily and Bradi are in Denver now, so that at least puts us a couple time-zones closer!

I'm sure some of you guys have experienced this as well, but I think the geographic distance between the siblings in my family has manifested itself in more relational distance than I'd like to admit... not that geography is everything, but it's hard enough to keep those adult sibling relationships strong and healthy when you're near, let alone thousands of miles apart when everyone has jobs and lives of their own going on. In the back of my mind I'm still hoping that it's in God's plan for us all to all end up living in relative geographic proximity again. Cell phones, email and holiday gatherings are great, but you really don't get to share life in the same way unless you're really there sharing life ya know?

Anyway... Greenville was very sweet chapter in our lives, and we look forward to getting back there to visit, but we're looking forward to what the Lord has for us as we make a life here in the Northwest.



If it comes to mind, keep us in prayer as we get settled in and begin to establish our life out here. We're very excited to be starting a new chapter...

Henry took his first steps on July 5th!

Part of me thinks he's been cable of walking for several months now, and that the debut was only delayed for want of an audience of sufficient size.

Sarah and I were just hanging out the living room (resting up from 4th of July festivities) with siblings Emily, Bradi, and Mac, and Joe, Caleb, and Heidi when little Henry pulled himself up, stood there for minute so as to call everyone's attention and then proceeded to wow us all with those first few paces. Needless to say he was well-congratulated by the aunts and uncles gathered 'round.

I captured a second attempt on video a couple days later with my iPhone on the kitchen floor:



He isn't a full-fledged biped just yet... but all those months of holding on to furniture and shuffling around the edges of walls are beginning to pay off!

And yes... that's me with the camera... (obnoxiously) cooing and baby talking like the over-adoring first-time father I am... haha.

Wow... this was probably my favorite Reunion yet! Seriously. It was great to see everyone again and meet so many new people as well!

More to come... after I finish catching up on sleep

Sarah, Mac, and I went out and did another walk-thru of the Reunion Facility this afternoon... this is gonna be awesome guys... seriously. It's definitely the nicest lodging and facility we've ever had!

Can't wait to see you guys there! Only 31 more days!

I just started my second year of the Owner/President Management Program here at Harvard Business School...



The program is geared to entrepreneurial leaders with our main classes this year focusing on:
Leadership
Finance
Innovation
Marketing
Motivating Professionals
Negotiation
Global Markets
and
Strategy

Needless to say, I'm thrilled to have this opportunity!

There are only 3 weeks on campus each year, so while it's good to be back... that's a long time to be away from Sarah and Henry! I already miss them!

Let me know if you guys know of any other homeschool grads here on campus -- it'd be fun to get a group of us together.

Wish me well... it's going to be an intense 3 weeks of reading, classes, discussions, and study groups!