James Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, made a life-changing choice to leave Los Angeles and relocate with their children to Austin, Texas. This decision came after a period marked by intense emotional strain and personal loss. The move represented more than a change of scenery; it was an attempt to redefine life priorities.
In September 2020, the couple decided that their family needed a calmer, more grounded environment. The Van Der Beeks were deeply grateful for their time in Los Angeles, yet they felt something had shifted.
Their departure came amid a global pandemic, a serious health scare, and several personal setbacks. The family’s life in Los Angeles had offered many opportunities and special memories, but it had also underscored stressors they hoped to leave behind.
A Year of Challenges
Earlier in 2020, James and Kimberly experienced multiple hardships that weighed heavily on their hearts. The couple faced two late-term pregnancy losses, each serious enough to require Kimberly’s hospitalization. These devastating experiences made the couple reassess what they wanted from life and what environment might best support healing.
Alongside these losses, Kimberly encountered a frightening health scare when a possible tumor was discovered, and although it eventually proved benign, it created a level of fear and uncertainty that lingered. James also faced disappointment on a public stage. He was eliminated prematurely from a reality dancing competition in front of a large audience.
While not as severe as the other events, this moment contributed to a sense of shifting identity and introspection about where his focus should lie. Perhaps most deeply felt was the death of James’ mother, which added personal grief to the already heavy year. These cumulative experiences influenced the couple’s decision to seek change.
Setting Out: The Move East
Once the decision was made, the Van Der Beek family sold their Los Angeles home and embarked on a weeks-long road trip with their six children and pets at their side. Along the way, they stopped at iconic natural sites such as the Grand Canyon and New Mexico landscapes.
These early moments of wide-open space contrasted sharply with life in a major city, inspiring reflection on freedom and connection to the natural world. James shared that these moments were deeply meaningful. Driving through open fields, watching paraglider silhouettes in the sky, and observing vast horizons helped clarify his thoughts about life’s direction.
For him, this road journey was not simply a relocation; it was a meditation on meaning. With the road trip complete, the family arrived in Texas and began settling into their new surroundings. James spoke about feeling a profound sense of belonging in Austin, likening the experience to landing where they truly belonged.
A New Way of Life
Life in Austin offered a different rhythm. The Van Der Beeks found themselves enveloped by nature and its cycles the phases of the moon, the feel of morning air, and the changes in the seasons became part of daily life. James explained that this slower pace allowed his children to connect to their environment in ways that a concrete-filled city never could.
Outdoor play and unstructured exploration became common features of their days. Watching the kids run, play, pick up sticks, and build shelters in fields brought a type of education the couple felt could not be replicated in a classroom. They found joy in simple moments such as fires in the morning and quiet reflection in nature.
James also reflected that his concept of freedom had evolved. The constant pursuit of achievements or possessions no longer defined it. He began to see freedom as the courage to love deeply and prioritize what matters most: family, presence, and connection to the rhythms of life.
Family Dynamics and Growth
The Van Der Beeks are parents to six children: Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah. Raising such a large family in a bustling city had posed challenges. In contrast, Austin’s wide spaces and slower pace encouraged curiosity and learning through experience.
For the couple, watching their children absorb this new lifestyle was rewarding. They noticed changes in the way the kids engaged with the world around them. Nature became a classroom, and outdoor exploration became a shared family adventure.
Though life in Texas brought some physical challenges, like extreme heat at times, the family adapted. They learned to sync activities with natural conditions, balancing outdoor play with rest and reflection. These adjustments mirrored the family’s broader emotional growth and resilience.
Gratitude and Forward Motion
Despite the series of heartbreaking experiences that led to their move, James often expressed profound gratitude for both the past and the present. He thanked Los Angeles for its memories and friendships but acknowledged that leaving allowed the family to enter a new chapter where their values could be realigned.
James’s reflections revealed a deepening understanding of what a fulfilling life means. Gratitude became a guiding theme, reminding him that even in hardship, there is space for appreciation. It was this mindset that helped the transition feel less like abandonment and more like evolution.
Through the move and the experience of raising children in a fresh environment, the Van Der Beeks found a path toward healing, stability, and connection. Their story highlights how families can transform pain into a new vision of life centered on presence and love.
Legacy of the Decision
The choice to leave Los Angeles shaped not only the Van Der Beek family’s immediate future but also how they engaged with each other and the world. The move to Austin became a milestone that helped bring clarity and unity. It gave James and Kimberly an opportunity to create a life that reflected deeper values, where love, nature, and family had room to grow.
What began as a response to heartbreak turned into a foundation for healing. Over time, this shift proved grounding. The children gained experiences tied to nature and community, while the parents embraced a life shaped by intention rather than expectation. The Van Der Beeks’ journey stands as a powerful example of how life’s challenges can lead to meaningful transformation.
