Big Things
One of my biggest blogging pet peeves is when someone says something like, “Something big is happening! But I can’t tell you what it is yet.”
THEN WHY DID YOU EVEN MENTION IT????
Ahem. I’m okay.
Anyway, something big is happening over here. And it’s been in the works for quite a while, but until everything was settled, I didn’t want to talk about it much (by which I mean at all).
We are moving to North Carolina.
Bart’s been accepted to Duke’s MBA program (a top ten program! What’s a blog for if not to brag about your smarty-pants spouse? No point at all), and so in a few weeks, we’ll pack up all our belongings and drive ourselves out to Durham, where we’ll spend the next (almost) two years.
Bart has wanted to do an MBA for nearly our entire marriage. Last year, he applied to BYU’s MBA program and was accepted and we came very close to going, but at the last minute, we decided we’d rather defer and have Bart try to get into a higher-ranked school if he could.
In the weeks before Ani was born, we spent a lot of nights working on his applications together. The day after we brought Ani home from the hospital, he flew to North Carolina to interview (I am so so grateful my mom was here). In April, Landen and Adam kept Ella for the weekend, and Bart, Ani, and I visited Durham for Blue Devil Weekend.
Until that weekend, I’d continued to have reservations about the MBA, but when we were there, I was completely sold. I’m thrilled about this new adventure for our family and for all the opportunities ahead for Bart.
He’ll be quitting his job and attending full-time, which means I’ll be the sole breadwinner over here. If you’ve noticed an uptick in sponsored posts over the last few months, that’s why. So we can buy groceries and possibly turn on the lights in our house until May of 2015.
We’re renting a little house (a house! You guys, I’m so so excited – I haven’t lived in a house since we sold ours back in 2009. The idea of having a garage is making me a little sick with excitement. Also a hall closet. I might possibly not have to store my vacuum in the pantry), and we haven’t seen it yet, so cross your fingers it turns out to be decent.
I’m ignoring the horrifying “boxing up our entire lives” and the heartbreaking “leaving all my friends in Austin” bits of the equation and just getting excited about a new chapter in our lives.
It’s pretty fun to move somewhere knowing exactly how long you’ll be there, since it really is encouraging to make the most of that time. I already have a very long spreadsheet of things I want to do while we live in North Carolina.
And of course, there is lots to look forward to after the MBA as well, including paying off mountains of debt (wait. . . I’m not really looking forward to that part), moving somewhere new (again!), buying a minivan (oh yes, I have no doubt I’ll be a minivan mom once we have three kids), and settling into a house (assuming we move somewhere that a normal person can purchase a house).
Also, I’m feeling happy that Duke’s color is blue, rather than the deeply unflattering burnt orange of UT-Austin.
Congratulations to you and yours! I have no doubt that Duke and North Carolina will be wonderful for you guys. I too am also a big fan of blue. 🙂 Good luck!
Very exciting news! Way to go, Bart (and Janssen)!
Congratulations! What an exciting time in you lives. I sincerely admire kids like your husband who are driven and motivated to aspire for higher degrees.
I've never commented on your blog before, but I've long been a regular reader (drawn by your book posts, in particular, though all your posts are excellent).
Our good friend JUST graduated from the Duke MBA program in May. He loved it and he and his wife enjoyed their time in Raleigh/Durham very much.
Congratulations! I hear wonderful things about Duke and the area. I can't wait to read all about your adventures there.
Yay! Congratulations to your husband and you'll love NC! I live in NC now. We moved here about three years ago from VA and I LOVE it!
Welcome to the East Coast! I hear so many good things about North Carolina. My husband has some cousins there who love it. The "big things are happening" tease is pretty annoying. 🙂 You did a good job keeping things under wraps.
Congratulations on your new adventure! I have a friend who lives on the East coast and absolutely loves it — and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time there! 🙂
Long-time reader, first-time commenter, 3/4 thru library school…welcome to NC! I live in Cary, just a few exits down I-40 from Durham. It's a lovely area with a lot of kid-friendly and inexpensive things to do. I hope you guys enjoy your stay! 🙂
Congratulations! And way to go Bart! Living in a home will be such a great change and NC should be tons of fun.
Congrats! That is really exciting!
That's awesome! Way to go!
Catching up on my blog reading and wanted to let you know that I live in Durham…actually at Duke. I work full-time as a Residence Coordinator and oversee the management of one of the quads. Anyway, you are moving to a GREAT area! Durham has GREAT restaurants that use a lot of local ingredients and lots of vegetarian options. Lots to do with young kids too. Congrats on the move 🙂
I'm from NC and my husband and I are now moving to Austin for UT.
I feel the same way about that orange! Congratulations, I hope you love Durham!
Any Austin advice for us?
shaeboss.wordpress.com
lyndsishae.writing@gmail.com
Congratulations! That's awesome news, and I am looking forward to more of your posts, you are a fantastic writer!
You're going to love the area! Mmm BBQ! Outer Banks! Lots to love on the East Coast.
I knew about the move via IG, but didn't know the details. Sounds very exciting. Congrats to Bart for getting into such a prestigious program and hooray for new and exciting things for your little family.
(Did I tell you my younger brother served his mission in NC? He absolutely loved it out there.)