The official announcement finally hit the airwaves today.  I am finally free to speak openly about the amazing spiritual and professional journey of the past 9 months.

On August 1st the Pearl family will join the administrative team and community at the Red Lion Christian Academy.  It has taken a while to get here and it has been a wild and wonderful trip!  In the coming days I'll share more about how we got here, what we will be doing, and how God has graced our entire family with love and support along the way.  I'll also share a little about  why I am so passionate about what we are about to do together on that campus and beyond.

For now, though, I want to put something out there for the benefit of my current colleagues and friends whom I will probably see much less of after our move to Delaware.

Dear Kate,

You don’t know me.  You have no reason to trust my advice.  I am, after all, just a Christian guy who, along with his wife, has managed to stay happily married for nearly 21 years.  With just three kids (16, 14, and 11) living under the roof of our townhouse I know my experiences pale in comparison to the complexity of managing your brood.  Somehow, though, I hope you will hear what I have to say and take my advice to heart.

As I took my turn on the treadmill last night I tuned into the “season finale” of your show, “Jon and Kate Plus 8.”  Throughout the second half of the hour last night the producers repeatedly teased the “cliff hanger.”  They interspersed the cuts of the kids getting royal treatment court-side with the Harlem Globetrotters with cuts of Jon uttering phrases like, “…if we are back for a fifth season…” and “I can’t be just ‘Jon,’ I’m ‘Jon and Kate Plus 8′…”.

I knew where the trip was heading long before the train hit the station.  I have seen the rumors on the Internet.  I have seen the photos of Jon looking toasted as he visited a local bar near his parents house.  I knew there was trouble in Paradise (or whatever Lancaster area town in which you now live) months ago.  Over the past week the network made sure they milked your dilemma for all it was worth.

I am sure the ratings for last night’s show were through the roof.

There was, however, something vaguely creepy and distinctly ominous about the ending.  At the risk of speaking out of turn, I feel compelled to offer you some urgent advice.