We're moving again...but for the LAST TIME

Hello blog readers.

It's been awhile. Like over a year. I was worried I wouldn't know how to do this anymore. I'm not very tech-y. But I figured it out and didn't even have to ask Brad for help! I miss blogging. It's the best journal I've ever kept. I just lack the motivation to do it anymore. Anyway...

We're moving again. Let me explain. You may or may not remember this post, in which I outlined Brad's PhD program and announced that we were moving to Lawrence, KS. We came to Lawrence with open hearts and minds, willing to make it our permanent location if it felt right. And while we have loved the people here and the friends we have made, it just never felt right. It could have something to do with the fact that from January-July of this year we didn't go more than 2 weeks without going to visit family or having family come and visit us. It became abundantly clear at that point that the quality of our lives would improve if we could just get closer to one of them. All of our spare time and money was spent going to see them or hosting them (which we loved and we so appreciate that our families love us and want to come see us...I was just exhausted by the end of July!). Brad loves his job at KU. Loves his department, loves what he does. But we decided to just apply to 3 schools and see what happened. And if nothing happened, we were happy to stay here for awhile. But something happened. A great job offer happened. And so we're moving to

O H I O.

Brad is going to teach finance in the business school at Miami University. Not in Florida (although given today's balmy temperature of 12, that doesn't sound so bad). Ohio. The school was named for the Miami river that is nearby. And the Miami Indians. According to Brad, the keeper of all useless knowledge (and some very useful knowledge, too), there was a Miami Valley, OH before there was ever a Miami, Florida. Take that, Florida.

Here are some fuzzy pictures of campus. It's old - like charming old. Founded in 1809:

And here's a little blurb about the school from the most accurate website ever, Wikipedia:

"Miami University (informally known as Miami, Miami U, Miami of Ohio, and MU) is a public research university located inOxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809.^] In its 2014 edition, U.S. News & World Report ranked the university 75th among national universities, and third for best undergraduate teaching at national universities, behind only Dartmouth and Princeton and tied with the College of William and Mary. Forbes also ranked Miami University as 31st among U.S. public universities and first among public universities within Ohio.^[5][6][7][8] Miami has been labeled one of the "Public Ivies," a publicly funded university considered as providing a quality of education comparable to those of the Ivy League.<sup>"

Oxford is about 30 minutes away from the suburbs of Cincinnati, which is where we'll live. This will put us about 40 minutes away from Brad's family, which is excellent! They're great and we love them. The other great thing is that Brad's childhood best friend (and pretty much his only close friend as an adult...you know how boys are) lives in the very suburbs we're moving to. He and his wife are awesome and we're excited to have some built in friends. Brad is seriously like a giddy school boy about all of this. He hasn't lived in OH since he was 17 but he loves it. He calls it The Motherland and thinks it's the greatest state in the nation (as do all Ohio-ans that I've met). I'm excited, too. I cried for a few days, but I know it's the right thing for us. I just really love my family and would love to live near them. So it's a good thing I love Brad's family, too. I'm focusing on the positive. Like how for the first time in 7 years I'll live in the same town as an Old Navy. And Ikea. And Costco. And like the fact that it cost us almost $500 to register our car in KS but will cost us $30 in OH. And we won't have to pay a 9.5% tax on food anymore. Or social security tax. And there are hardly any chiggers (the bugs here in KS also played a big role in our decision to move. You think I'm joking but I'm not). And the schools are awesome in the suburbs we're moving to. More than awesome. Incredible. And we'll finally get to buy a house and feel settled. After 10 years of marriage and living in 5 states, I can't tell you what a comforting thought that is to me. So here we come, Ohio! We're moving the first week of June.

If you're ever in the area and want to stop by, feel free! Cincinnati is a lovely city with lots to do. Here are some pictures:</sup>

Thanks for reading my long post. I'm too wordy for facebook. ;)