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.
Oh! Cool! Huge congrats to Bart! I'm so excited for you guys! You know I grew up in Durham, right, and my parents still live there so I go there at least once a year? So a) let's get together next time I'm there! (Probably not til next spring due to impending baby, etc.) And b) if you have questions/need info/want restaurant recommendations and so forth, shoot me an email!
Good luck with the move! Durham is awesome and has become a really cool little funky urban center in the past few years. You'll love it!
Janssen… I am too excited that we will be in the same state! What an exciting time for your family (um, go Bart! Talk about tough competition.) and yes, there are all kinds of things to do and see here. You guys will love it! Praying for a smooth time of packing and general upheaval in the weeks ahead…
I'm so excited for you! And me! But mostly you 🙂
How very exciting! My husband went to Duke as an undergrad and keeps saying that he would LOVE to move back to Durham one day. I also know a few women whose husbands completed the Duke MBA and they have such great things to say about the program and about the support/fellowship shared among the MBA students' spouses. I have a hunch that you're in for a great two years!
I'm so excited for you guys! Bring on the sponsored posts–no complaints from this reader! Sending good thoughts for the packing (and subsequent unpacking) parts of your adventure!
Oh wow!! Congratulations!!! I have a solid double handful of friends who are in Durham/at Duke (and a cousin is starting a nursing program there this fall). Yay for you ad your famil!
Also, scary-exciting about the new change in earning dynamics! Would you be willing to post (or email) the things that we bloggers who love you can do to help generate more pennies, dimes, or dollars for you?
xox
Wow, thats huge! We (When I say "we," I mean WE, b/c it was a joint process) applied to a school in North Carolina and it was my #1 choice for location. But when he got into Columbia it was kind of like "Let's just take on heaps of loans and go Ivy League!" and my dream of living in North Carolina fell flat. I suppose Manhattan will do. It is a LOT nicer knowing exactly how long we'll be there. Here's to moving to the east coast!
Congratulations on making it official! Can't wait to see the adventures you guys get up to!
Yay! My cousin went to Duke and he and his family loved living in Durham. And I'm always a huge fan of the south! Good luck with all the moving craziness!
Congratulations! Fuqua is an amazing school!!! And it's really competitive! You must be really proud of your smarty pants husband! Two of my friends went there and loved it (and, I have to say, are doing quite well for themselves post-MBA 😉
I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time in NC and the girls are going to have lovely adventures. I hope the move isn't too stressful and goes smoothly (I HATE packing and unpacking for moves…)
I can't wait to read about all your new adventures 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend!
Woohoo! And then? PHOENIX! By the way, Aaron and I were laying in bed last night and I was telling him about a conversation you and I had and he was like, "It's kind of sad that Janssen doesn't live closer so you guys could hang out." I was like, "…we say that every day."
How exciting! Congratulations to Bart! My best friend fro high school went to Duke and became an archaeologist. I have heard really good things about the Research Triangle. I think the weather is pretty moderate there in the winter too. It will be nice to live in a house where the girls will have a yard. Too bad you will be moving away from Adam and Landen. Good luck being the sole breadwinner. Maybe he could start blogging too.
HOW EXCITING! I love North Carolina and (not-so) secretly want to move there. Congrats all around!
You don't know me, but I have enjoyed reading your blog since I found you through Preethi at Lace, Etc. How exciting you are moving. What an adventure. I can't wait to read more about it. I just have to tell you as well, you have pretty great taste in books, my iBooks shelf is full of samples that I want to buy and read all the way through! Thank you for such great suggestions!
Congrats!! I've lived in Cary (outside of Raleigh) all my life. You will love it here! Best place to live! Welcome!
Yay!!! Congratulations!!! Basically the only place Spencer and I will entertain moving to post-NYC (that's not abroad) is NC.
One step closer to me and Diana 🙂
Oh congratulations! I'm so excited for you guys, although I'm sad you'll be leaving Austin because really, Austin is amazing. But my sister (native Austinite), lives in North Carolina, and she absolutely loves it, which means I'm sure you guys will too! Can't wait to read all about your adventure 🙂
That's awesome! Congratulations! Moving = new adventures = fun! Enjoy!
Bart spilled the beans to Jeremy a few weeks back, so I am feeling pretty cool that I was "in the know" even though I did not know it was a secret 🙂
The MBA was a great move for our family and even with the mountains debt, I am thinking you will agree. BYU is very tempting but I always worried (and heard) the BYU brand is not as transferrable around the country (ie BYU has more street cred in the west – not helpful for our North East family). I think Bart love it. So much good stuff to learn – you will enjoy learning along with him!
I look forward to hearing about your adventures!
YES!!! This is wonderful news! I was born in NC and my family roots run deep in the mountains near Asheville. Hope you make it out that way while you are there. All the best!