25 January 2009

A Place to Call Home

Libby and I have finally purchased a place that we can call home. The bank has finally accepted our offer and we will move into our first home next month. For a long time now, Libby and I have been searching for a home in the community known as Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah. This community has only existed for about 6 years now, but already has 7000 residents as the community appeals to families at every stage of life. The community was designed by renowned planner Peter Calthorpe to adhere to the principles of New Urbanism.


New Urbanism is not new as it essentially copies the planning methods used before World War II. Towns used to be constructed in a manner that did not lend itself to automobile use. Instead, people would walk to shops or to work. They did not have to take the interstate, but rather walked a short distance to the office or maybe even down stairs to thier occupation. This mixed-use idea was deserted after the war as most everything since was built to accomodate cars with new zoning laws that separated commercial and residential uses.

This resurgence of traditional planning is encapsulated in Daybreak's design. Grocery stores, schools, gyms, restraunts, parks, trails and even a 65 acre lake will be within a short walking distance of our home. Libby and I have dozens of parks to go to along 22 miles of trails. We also look forward to the new Oquirrh Temple that will be completed this year as we will only be 5 minutes away. TRAX will also be built in Daybreak so we will not have to drive a car to go downtown or to the U. All of the homes feature traditional architecture instead of the banal stucco boxes you find in most new neighborhoods. This architecture gives the neighborhood a more welcoming feel and distinquishes it from other neighborhoods in the valley.

Our home is a modest bungalow with a large porch and a nice backyard. It has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms which will provide room for our growing family. Things we are most excited for? A dishwasher, a garage and our own backyard. Oh yeah, and a closet that is larger than 12 square feet!! Having been a nomadic apartment dweller for the last decade it will be nice to finally call a place home.

03 January 2009

New Year, New Adventures

Dear family and friends,
It has surely been a year full of wonderful new experiences and adventures. One of our most notable adventures was our trip to D.C. We got to see Ellie, Jeff, and their kids as well as Anna, Luke, Jack, and Elsa. We love spending time with family. Going to the Baltimore Aquarium with Elizabeth, Sarah, Anna, Jack and Elsa was definitely a highlight of our trip. Trips to the cabin, fishing, house hunting, Christmas with Mom and Dad, and marriage round out some of our exciting experiences and adventures in 2008.

Dustin is still working for a defense contractor here in Salt Lake City. He enjoys his work, especially every other Friday off. He works in the Human Resources department doing something important. I know that the work he does enables the other 64.000 employees to have health benefits and security clearances to name a few. He is a wonderful husband, and I feel blessed to be married to such an outstanding man.

I am still working at North West Middle School in a classroom for students with emotional and behavior disorders. I enjoy my work, and love the students I work with. My health, I hope, has plateaued for now. I had a Solu-Medrol treatment on the 23rd and 24th of December, so right now I feel pretty good. Thank you to all the family and friends that continue to support us through this "bump in the road."

The most exciting news is that we are buying a house. It is not ours yet, but it looks like we will be closing around the 27th of January. I enjoy driving around neighborhoods and saying "Oh, I like that one!", or "Definetly not that one." Actually house hunting and making appointments to see a house is not my cup of tea. I will be glad when all the papers are signed and we can just go window shopping from the car again.

We hope the New Year finds you happy and healthy. We look forward to a year of new experinces and adventures. We hope some of our adventures will find us close to family and friends.

Love,
Libby and Dustin