Top 5 Reasons We’re Excited About Moving To Atlanta

We’ve had mostly posts on weighty topics in the last few months since we’ve dealt with some weighty situations and questions.  But we wanted to write about something lighter, something we’re looking forward to…moving to Atlanta next month!

You may be asking why anyone would choose to move a week before Christmas…or maybe you  just wonder why anyone would move north from Florida at this time of the year (ok, we’ll give you that…evidence we’re probably crazy).  Let’s just say it made the most sense with our jobs.

Timing aside, we’re both tremendously excited about our move.  We’ll miss our friends and favorite haunts here, of course (can a restaurant move with you? — we’ll bring The Ravenous Pig.  But that is not the focus here.  Why we’re looking forward to moving is.  So, here they are:

1. Family
   Part of our decision to move from Orlando was the desire to be closer to family as we seek to have children.  With all of Jenny’s immediate family in the area surrounding Atlanta we can’t wait to get more time with them.  We have each been slightly jealous of our siblings close to home as they get together for birthdays, holidays, Tuesdays…now we’ll be able to join in more easily on the Rennie side of things.  And it certainly won’t hurt to have help with kids when that day comes.   
2. Our New Roles
   This was the biggest driver in pursuing a change.  We’ve benefitted greatly from our time at CCC (now Cru Global) headquarters and will definitely miss many things about life here, but it is time to move on.  We each feel too far removed from the ministry field and in jobs that aren’t quite the right fit. 
   Jenny will continue to do similar things in her new role, but gets to work more directly with teams and students to help graduates transition well…not just surviving in their faith, but making an impact for Jesus in their post college environments.
   Ken will continue in an HR role as the Chief of Staff for that team in the Regional Office and will also get to spend half his time helping send and serve our staff serving internationally.  Since his passion is for all tongues, tribes and nations to encounter Jesus, this will be a very motivating part of his new position.
3. Living Missionally in a New Community
   We are choosing to move into an apartment downtown for a number of reasons, but underlying most of them is the desire to get more deeply involved in the community and lives of others.  We want to walk through life with those around us and this apartment provides fantastic opportunities for that.
   Relationships are already thriving in the complex thanks to a CARES team working to build community among the residents through various fun events and intentional connection times.  We can’t wait to jump into that!
   The location also enables a variety of friendships to be formed as there are young professionals, families, and students there (Georgia Tech and Georgia State are nearby).  And we will have abundant avenues to serve the poor, which is a growing desire, but an area we certainly need to develop.   
4. Cultural Opportunities
   Orlando is a city, yes.  And there are plenty of entertainment options, yes.  It even has culture…that culture just wears mouse ears and whale tail necklaces.  It is just a tourist town and there seems to be a dearth of cultural options at times.  We are looking forward to Atlanta’s diversity, many great restaurants, sporting events and performing arts venues.  Ken can hardly wait to live in a city with a Major League Baseball team…and go to his first Georgia football game…go Dawgs!
5. Real Grass
   Our yard here is what one might refer to as “crabgrass” up north…only tougher and heartier.  It needs to be in order to survive the sandy soil and high temperatures.  However, it is not a turf enjoyable to walk through barefoot.  It won’t be like in Illinois, where the dirt looks like coffee grounds instead of crushed bricks, but it will be a step in the right direction.
   Ok, that’s probably not reason #5, but Ken had to throw it in there…seriously, have you seen the grass down here in Florida?
   The real #5 is the friends we already have in Atlanta.  While there are many sad goodbyes in the coming weeks we’ll also be moving closer to a number of people we care about.  Doesn’t it stink that you can’t have everyone you care about in close proximity all the time?  Perhaps that is just an extrovert talking, but it would be a dream to me!

If you haven’t visited us in Orlando, sorry, the window is shrinking.  But come visit us in Atlanta!