FAQ

For inquiring minds, here's a few answers to some of our recent "Frequently Asked Questions:" 

Where is Steve working and what kind of law is he practicing?
In March, Steve started a new job as an attorney at Baker and McKenzie, a law firm in San Francisco.  Baker and McKenzie is a very large law firm with offices all over the world.  His particular group does transactional law (as opposed to litigation), helping companies with international offices to figure out their employee benefits and stock options (or something like that). 

We prayed for a job for Steve for a long time.  And God provided one - a really terrific one doing work that he truly enjoys with people that he genuinely likes.  I need to remember to thank God for this.  I also need to remember to tell Steve how proud I am all of his hard work.  Our friend who is a law professor recently sent me this email, "By the way, congratulations to you and Steve about the Baker and McKenzie job. That is really an amazing firm.  You should be incredibly proud of Steve.  What he has done is an amazing accomplishment.  And praise God, of course."  It was a great reminder to me that Steve has accomplished a lot these last few years and I need to tell him more often how proud I am of him (which is hard to do while also acknowledging my sadness and grief over the location of his new job).

Is Steve able to work from home at all?
No.  The first firm he was working for in SF (from December to March) let him work from Sac on Fridays.  This one does not.  He stays over in the city on Thursday nights, but the rest of the days, he commutes back and forth.  He mostly takes the Amtrak to Emeryville and then a bus into SF (about 2.5 hours each way).  Some days, he drives to Pleasant Hill BART and then BARTs the rest of the way in.  He leaves the house around 6am and gets home around 7:45pm.  He is one tired puppy.  All the time.  Everyday.    

When are you moving?
We aren't sure.  Hopefully sometime this summer, before the boys start school in August.

Why haven't you started looking for houses yet?
We are re-financing our current house.  We plan to rent it out when we move and refinancing will help us lower our monthly payments.  The refinance process is taking much longer than anticipated.  Once we close on the refinance, we will start the process of looking for a new home in the Bay Area.  We're hoping this starts in the next few weeks.   

Where are you planning to move to?
We aren't sure but at this point, we plan to focus our search on Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro.  After taking a few trips down the Bay Area, we concluded that we wanted to be as close to San Francisco as possible so that Steve could be home the maximum number of minutes each day.

What will happen to The GreenHouse? (I get this question a lot, worded in this exact way, which I think is interesting) 
The GreenHouse will continue on and hopefully thrive and grow!  The GreenHouse is God's and it always was.  He will continue to provide for The GreenHouse, just as He always has, regardless of my role or where I am living.  The Board of Directors of The GreenHouse will start a search for a new Executive Director sometime this summer.  If all goes well, we will start a new ED in October.  This means that I will work remotely for a few months (assuming we move in August).  

How are you doing with all of this?
I'm doing much better now, since I've had two months to pray through and process this major life change.  A few key factors have gotten me through the first leg of this journey.  First, I had an amazing team of people from The GreenHouse that met with me to pray and discern what my role there should be moving forward.  That team was a huge blessing to me, making me feel very supported and well cared-for.  Second, I had caring and wise friends who helped me talk through all the different situations and scenarios I could come up with.  The best thing they did for me was listen.  I am so thankful for them.  Finally, my God has been very near to me throughout this process.  I've felt Him leading, guiding, nudging and speaking to me in all those ways that only He can.  He's slowly peeling off my fingers that want to control.  He's opening my palms. He's opening my heart.  I'm recommitting my desire to live for Him - whatever and wherever that may be.

Thank you to all of you for being on this journey with us.  We'll keep you posted on our progress.     

Us on Easter Sunday.  Team Stratton.  All in.