#51 - Coming in for a Landing in Utah

Well, after 50 blog posts transmitted over 15 months, from 6 continents and over 36 countries, we’re finally coming in for a landing. We've had an incredible year of full-time international family travel, we've met some life-long travelling friends, seen some of the most remote and beautiful places on earth, and grown as individuals and as a family. But change is what we do best, and we look forward to this family change back to a more traditional (and temporary) lifestyle in the USA.

(Click below right to read more . . . . )

​Following our trip to Machu Picchu, we returned to Texas for a week, and then we continued on to Orem, Utah where we went downstairs to live for a few days in Erik’s moms unfinished basement. It was mostly complete, save for toilets (which went in 2 days after we arrived) and sinks and countertops (which are due in this week). We’ve been doing our dishes in the bathtub, and most of our cooking upstairs. Erik has begun to work at the company LifetimeVibe, manufacturing and selling whole body vibration machines.
 
As luck would have it, we noticed that there was a house for rent in the same neighborhood, and after walking through the house, and discussing options and thoughts and feelings and goals, we decided to rent it. We travelled down to Dallas, Texas in order to rent two U-haul trucks, transfer all our boxed earthly possessions from my brother-in-law’s garage (where it’s been safely stored for 17 months) and drive to Utah to unload at our next "home".
 
Our plan is to stay in Utah to work and play and learn and grow until summer 2020, at which time we’ll evaluate options and decide on a way forward.
 
As for this year, we have a number of transitions coming. . . . . Erik has started working again, Tera has begun lifecoach training and is preparing to teach piano again, Emily will graduate from BYU then get married in May and head off for a 3-month honeymoon trip to Central and South America with her husband Jonathan Lifferth.  Afterwards she and Jonathan will head off to graduate school.  Nathan will finish his sophomore year at BYU then go out on a mission somewhere in the world for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Anna will begin her freshman year in college at Southern Virginia University (SVU) in the fall.  Tyler, Megan and Jacob will all attend school in Orem in the fall.  (Megan has even already enthusiastically jumped in for the spring term of 2019).
 
We’re excited for all the opportunities that come with living in a community.  Erik has already been cast for a part in a local production of “Newsies.”  The kids have all begun violin and cello lessons again. We’re looking at other theatre opportunities, tumbling lessons, piano lessons, youth orchestras, choirs, church callings, and travelling opportunities in the United States.