Monday, February 7, 2011

Exciting News!

Chicago{we heart it}

Happy Monday, pretty friends! Today I am excited because I finally get to share Matt and I's exciting news with you. I've been holding onto this news since last Monday, in an attempt to talk to all our friends and family before I talked about it on the blog. I still have a few friends I haven't been able to get a hold of yet, but a week is entirely too long for me to keep quiet on good news :)

Over the past month or so, Matt has been interviewing for a full-time, long-term job in Chicago, and last Monday, my sweet husband got word that he got the job!  This means that we are staying in Chicago.  Eeeek!  Our excitement and happiness is literally overwhelming; its hard to put into words.  Chicago is going to be our permanent home.

When Matt and I started this whole Ph.D journey thing, I don't think either of us knew what we were getting ourselves into.  Though we met each other as well as some fabulous friends in graduate school, the five-going-on-six-year process has been filled with a lot of uncertainty and hoop jumping.  Its felt like an Olympic hurdle event, only forget the 100 meter hurdles, this has been the 100 mile hurdles!  In addition to small hurdles (prelims, dissertation proposals and defenses, final exams, yearly reviews...) there has been the looming hurdle of what will happen when we're "done."  What route will we go, will we get a postdoc, where will we end up, what will our focus be?  These questions exist for everyone in our program, and trying to do this process with two people, well, that's been a second Olympic event in itself.  We've wondered how we'll manage the search process with both of us looking, who will take the lead, who will have to sacrifice the most, how will be deal with compromising when we've both given so much of ourselves the past 5 years to get through this program?  We've tried our best to focus on the present and not get ahead of ourselves, but that's easier said than done (especially for the planner-crazed me.)

But with this news, so many of our questions and prayers our answered.  So many of our fears have subsided.  We have a place to call home, we have some stability in this process, we can finally think about timelines and plans.  We finally know where HOME is going to be!  I will still have to complete my internship next year, and we're certain we'll be apart for this, as I didn't apply anywhere in the Chicago area.  Several of my options are close enough for weekend drives or short flights home, so we'll get through that just fine.  And knowing after that one year, we know where we'll be and we'll be together, that is beyond exciting!

In June, we thought this move to Chicago was just for a year, and then we got here and fell completely in love with this city.  And now, we get to call it home for years and years to come.  How blessed are we?  I've had a hard time putting my excitement into words, but the quick email I sent to Matt last week says it best:

"It is starting to hit me today.  We are staying in Chicago.  We are starting a life here.  We get to go apple picking for five more years.  We get to host friends.  We get to enjoy picnics in the summer. We get to ride the train.  We get to have a baby or two here.  We get to start our careers here.  We get to grow our marriage here.  We get to do it all, together, in Chicago.  I am so happy."

I'm so proud of my incredibly smart and talented husband for snagging this job, and I'm so excited to see what the future holds for us in Chicago.  Thanks for stopping by today to share our news and happiness with us.  Chicago, we're here to stay!

23 comments:

Deviled Megs said...

Congratulations!

P*P*P said...

CONGRATS! That is SO exciting for you. What a great journey to be starting together in your beloved city! :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats!! That is very exciting news :)

Anonymous said...

Many, many congratulations, Allison! I am SO happy for you and your darling Matt!

As someone who turned her (and her husband's) life upside down for graduate school, I know from experience what a RELIEF it is to know that your life is going to have some permanence and stability to it. A lot of changes have come our way recently (I found out that I'm pregnant with our first baby AND landed a great job), and when we crunched the numbers, prayed, prayed some more, and realized that we would be able to settle down in Denver, the feeling was overwhelming! I still can't believe that we'll potentially be able to raise our little girl in the same home (something, as an Army brat, I never had), going to the same school, etc.

YAY for the two of you! Take some time to CELEBRATE!

Reese's Runner said...

Congratulations! That must be so exciting!!! I'm guessing someone is now officially tenure-track?

Unknown said...

Congratulations!! That is very exciting! :)

Glitterista said...

Wow--how exciting and thrilling that you will be able to begin to put down roots in such a fabulous city. Chicago is simply the best. Enjoy! :)

Anonymous said...

That is SO exciting!! BFF and I are about to be in the same situation...our life has been "up in the air" for the past five years and we have never felt settled...now, we are so close to finally finding "home" and feeling settled. I am so happy for you guys!! I can't wait to continue readnig about your life iN Chicago (and babies! YAY!).

Single in Shaw said...

Congrats! I am so happy for you two

Jen Rames said...

Congrats Allison! I hope you and your hubby both have continued success. Chicago is an awesome place!

Lindsay said...

Congratulations!! That's so awesome! :)

caknitter said...

Wow, that is so exciting! Congratulations to your hubby!

Diana Smith said...

Oooho wow to live in Chicago or any big city would be so fun!! I would love to be apart of great fashion and awesome attractions!! I hope you love your time there!

Melissa: Write it in Lipstick said...

Oh Chicago, how exciting. Congrats. I just became a follower :)

kristine [kristine. or polly.] said...

Congratulations!!! I feel so connected to you right now because my husband's name is Matt and we are going to make a big move as well! Chicago seems like such a great city, I bet you two will have so much fun!

MrsFlewlling said...

Congratulations!!! I am so excited and happy for you!! Brien and I are about to make the same transition to Albuquerque, New Mexico when he defends his dissertation in May!! BUT SO HAPPY FOR YOU! YAY! More amazing posts in Chicago!

McKenzie said...

Hooray, I'm SO excited for you! I love, love, love Chicago and am hoping to relocate there when I graduate next month. Hopefully the snow will be gone by then though ;) Congrats!

Anonymous said...

I read this whole entry and while it is wonderful the only word that really sticks in my mind from it is''''''''''''' BABIES:)

amy kelinda said...

CONGRATS! That is such awesome news!!!!! I am so happy for you both and can't wait to see what your new (or continuing?) life in Chicago brings you!

karly from [kar[+]wade] said...

awh, what a cute blog! i love this! and congrats! :] What a fun blog you have! I love it, and am excited to start catching up on all your posts!
–karly
www.karpluswade.blogspot.com

PursuitOfLLT said...

HOW EXCITING!!! oh my goodness! Now you know where you can plunk down some roots! And it's a great city/area to do it in.

I'm so happy for you and I hope everything goes your way with the internship location etc :)

Unknown said...

That's very exciting! Congrats to Matt!

Alison Kinsey said...

aww I think that email you sent to Matt says it all, girl! I am so happy for you both!!! Now you must feel like you can truly settle in and make Chicago your home for the long-term. Moving somewhere for a year can fly by so fast so I'm glad you get to stay for awhile :)