Some News

Today, my children should be starting school.

All summer, I’ve imagined walking Ella and Ani into school for that first big day, especially for Ani as she starts kindergarten.

But no one packed lunches last night and their backpacks are still hanging on the hooks by their door.

Because they’re not starting school in Arizona this year.

Last week, Bart got a dream job offer in Utah and after a late night discussing all the pros and cons, he accepted the next day and everything started moving in fast motion.

We told the girls on Wednesday night and our house goes on the market next week.

School starts there in mid-August and we want to make sure the girls are there to start on time (our girls will actually go to the same elementary school Bart attended).

Although we’re sad to leave behind the friends we’ve made here, our house that we’ve worked hard to improve over the last three years, and the wonderful school the girls were set to attend (it feels like it’s taken us forever to find a good school situation and I felt like this was the year everything was finally falling into place, so walking away now is breaking my heart), we’re excited for this new adventure.

Nearly all of Bart’s family is in Utah and my sister Landen lives there as well (plus my younger brother for one more year until he graduates from college).

I can’t wait to be near the mountains, to have real seasons (remind me of this when it’s freezing cold in February and I own nothing except sandals and t-shirts), and rekindle relationships with the many friends we have in Utah.

Mostly, I’m thrilled that my children will grow up near their family and that Bart will have the kind of job he’s been working toward for the last fifteen years.

If you need me for the next couple of weeks, I’ll just be over here boxing up everything I own in preparation for our eleventh move in thirteen years.

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62 Comments

  1. Oh my gosh! I feel like we all jinxed you with the instastory questions about if you planned to stay put for a while or move around more, but I’m so excited for your family’s new adventure!
    Also, you should definitely do a post with moving tips (you know, once the craziness of actually moving dies down!). After so many moves you must be a pro!

  2. Congratulations!!!!! That’s awesome news. Good luck with the moving and all that comes with it – but don’t stress out … easier said than done I’m sure though.

  3. I thought that you were going to say that you were going to homeschool. 🙂 Congratulations to you and Bart! Your move will make it even easier for us to stop by and say hello on our trips out west. Wish that I could be there to help you pack up. I hope that all goes smoothly and that this is the last move in a long time!

  4. Congratulations on the job offer and move! It will be so nice for you to be close to family. It sounds like you’ve moved a lot, but you must be a pro at it now! I know the hard work you’ve put in the house will pay off with a quick sale. It seems like the timing couldn’t be better with the school year.

  5. Oh my goodness, Janssen! This is not the kind of post I was expecting to find on your blog this morning, but I am absolutely thrilled for you! Where in Utah are you moving to? We will definitely have to get together once you’re settled!

  6. Wow, congrats!!! Every one of our moves has ended up being a fast one so I know how that goes. And our last move took us to a dream job and really close to cousins and aunts and uncles. It really is awesome. ☺️ Congrats to Bart and good luck to the whole family!!

  7. Holy cow! I wasn’t expecting to see this post this morning! Congrats on the job for Bart, and this new adventure for your family! Wishing you all the best in this big transition!

  8. Ohhh, so excited for you!!! And excited for me bc it means I have a better chance of seeing you!! That sounds like a fast decision!! Good luck with the move!!!

  9. Crazy! And exciting!! Fingers crossed we have a mild winter again this year and you can ease into it. Congratulations and good luck with the move!

  10. WOW! I’m so excited for you all and congratulations to Bart on the new job. Didn’t your insta stories just have a question about moving last week??? Funny! Happy packing and unpacking – you’re almost an expert at this with all of your past moves. I just moved for the first time in 20 years this past May and I’m never moving again!

  11. Oh my gosh, i am so excited!!!!!! Where? Does this mean we can be real life friends again? Yipee!!!

  12. Congrats and good luck with the busy transition. I hope you love Utah! My husband and I met at BYU, and told everyone after graduation we would take jobs “anywhere but Utah!” We were very much done with Provo. To everyone’s surprise (including our own) my husband took a job in Northern Utah. We told family we were staying here for 5 years at most, but now we’ve been here 8 years, in 2 homes, and had 3 babies….and are very happy in this little community. We’re within a day’s driving diatance to both sets of parents in Colorado and Idaho. Now that I’m 30, I see many, many friends my age who lived far away for their first chapters of school/work finally “coming home” and I’m so surprised how “at home” I feel already.

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