BIG NEWS

we are not having a baby. let's just get that out of the way.

i haven't posted anything about this yet because i needed to chill for a few days and wrap my mind around this. Also, it's not OFFICIAL so Landon's been a little apprehensive about my "shouting it from the roof-tops".

The University of Utah in Salt Lake City

Last week Landon received an acceptance letter from the Philosophy department at the University of Utah! (!!!!!!!)

Moab

What that means: we are PROBABLY moving there this summer! woohoo!!!! We are so excited to return to the mountains! landon and i have really realized that there are certain things in our lives that are necessary for us to live in the fullest of happiness. one of those things that we have learned is necessary is outdoor recreation. And i'm not talking about taking walks or driving through the country. We need exciting recreation: backpacking, camping, rock climbing, canoeing, skiing, hiking, etc... and so Utah, here we come!! we are so excited.

Arches

Monumnet Valley

the reason i said that we will "PROBABLY" be going to the U is because our going there is contingent on a few things: the hope that landon receives a fellowship, and actually receiving an acceptance letter from the graduate school itself. Hopefully those 2 things are in the mail, but we can never be sure. If landon does not receive a fellowship, i will be working 2 jobs again for the next 5 years and we will be taking out student loans to pay for his PhD program. That's a little bit suffocating to think about right now, but it isn't totally a crummy option, either. But in the past, the U has given all of their PhD students fellowships (i think), so they are paid to teach undergrad courses and do not have to shell out money for their own schooling outside of their books. that would be awesome.

Bryce Canyon

home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Utah has some of the best skiing in the world - with 500ft of dry snow each year and monsty mountains, Landon's already looking into prices of ski passes. this picture is of Snowbasin. And yes, you all are invited to stay with us any time, even if it is only to have a warm meal and soft bed at the end of a day on the slopes.

SOOOO, i can hardly contain my excitement! can you sense it!? I am so glad that the next 4-5 years will be spent at the base of some BIG mountains. We can begin our family (God willing) in a place where our kiddies can experience the big outdoors and see Christmas in snow and God in the beauty of nature. We will be relatively close to my family (8 hours), yet we will be the farthest from the McBrayers that we have ever been (well, besides when we lived in Africa).

The Wasatch Mountain Range hugs Salt Lake City

So, more to come as we pack up our lives here - moving at the end of May, buy a house in Utah, and enjoy summer in Georgia and Colorado before we get established in our new home. Lots of exciting things going on!