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True to form, the CrowFamily is allowed only 2+ years in their present area, Next month, CrowMan starts a new assignment in Colorado. No, he won't be teaching at the Academy!
CrowSon is furious; he's 14, and doesn't want to leave his friends. I'm not sure how I feel about it either, but I just look at it as part of the adventure. We've purchased a house--for 1/3 of what you could get for something comparable in my present neighborhood.
Have you ever lived in Colorado? There sure is a lot to like about it. Will you be at Buckley, Carson, or elsewhere?
Tell your 14 year old that chances are there will be a pretty large amount of church youth, if that helps. Also, depending on when your new stake last went, he should be able to go on a Pioneer Trek to Martin's Cove. The stakes around most areas here in CO go every 4 years.
No matter where you are, there are TONS of things to do, especially outdoors. Hiking, boating, biking. There are great family day adventures like Cave of the Winds and the North Pole.
If you want to, you can email me and I could give you more ideas and answer any questions about military life in CO. (we are a former active duty family, Trooper is a current Reservist)
We miss the adventure of changing duty stations! We still get the "itch" to move every once and a while.
Posts: 4280 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Good luck. As a kid who was moved when he was fourteen/fifteen (going into 9th grade Highschool in the fall, and we moved beginning of summer), I can assure you, it is probably the WORST time to move... turned out to be the very best thing that could've happened to me... but boy... did I hate it at the time.
What sucks is moving into highschool during the summer... everyone assumes you're just some kid from one of the area schools that is combined when you get there... so you seldom have ANY friends, unless you're really outgoing (I was an introvert).
It might be a good idea to keep your son out of school for a few weeks and have him join late, at least then everyone knows he's a new move in to the area.
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Good luck w/ your move. I heard a neat story by a military person (either Army or Marines, I can't remember. )But he said how he tries to have a positive attitude w/the moves and tries to look on the bright side of the things he will learn from the new people he will meet,etc in his new home.
Posts: 8577 | Registered: Feb 2005
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I heard Colorado is beautiful in the summer, but cold cold cold in the winter. Make sure you stock pile on jackets:) Keep up the positive attitude and spirit.
Posts: 666 | Registered: Nov 2005
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Actually, usually it hasn't been all that cold here the past few winters. Mostly. We did have a few days this winter where the temperatures got down to 0 or single digits during the day. But by and large it doesn't get all that cold here anymore.
Posts: 1677 | Registered: Nov 2002
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I live north of Colorado Springs. The area is very military-friendly.
As for the winters, I've been here since 1999, and in my experience, the average winters are very mild, with an occasional cold snap that lasts a couple of days. The cold snap is indeed cold (close to or below 0), but it only lasts a few days. We get 2-4 of these each winter.
I live on top of a mountain, and the cold snaps often snow me into my neighborhood for a day or two. But if you don't live out in the middle of nowhere like me, your mileage will vary.
I'm sort of a newcomer (having been here only 7 years), but welcome to the state!
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Thanks everyone for your support. We will be in the Colorado Springs area. I haven't been there in 15 years, and I keep hearing it's changed a lot. I'm glad to hear the winters are milder than I anticipated. I like skiing, but I don't like shovelling snow and all that goes with it.
My hesitation doesn't comes from a reluctance for Colorado, per se . I love mountains and beautiful scenery. It mostly comes from personal issues that I don't want to get into, how my son's going to take it and adjust, and just the shell-shock of being abruptly told you're moving very quickly when just a few months earlier we were told we had another year here.
With the exception of an overseas tour, I have never looked forward to any of our moves for one reason or another. However, when we've arrived, I've loved being there and are sorry to leave. I expect this one to be the same.
With so many military opportunities in the Springs area, I am hoping my son can finish high school there (That was a nice idea, keeping him out a little bit--have to consider it). I told my husband, "We can do two years there, we can do four years. We will NOT do three." The last thing I want to do is make him start his Senior year somewhere new. What could suck more than that? He's planning some things to do once we get there, so I have to commend him for tying to have a good attitude.
Posts: 3862 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Remind your husband that at the start of your son's junior year, to file Senior Stabilization paperwork. The Army should let you and your family stay put in order for HS Graduation, although it's possible that Dad gets an 1 year tour someplace that families can't go. But the key is to get the paperwork filed at the start of the Junior year.
Posts: 686 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Remind your husband that at the start of your son's junior year, to file Senior Stabilization paperwork. The Army should let you and your family stay put in order for HS Graduation, although it's possible that Dad gets an 1 year tour someplace that families can't go.
Rob- is there really such a thing as Senior Stabilization paperwork or are you joking? If they do have such that is great.
Posts: 8577 | Registered: Feb 2005
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It's a valid program. In 2000, VCSA agreed to reduce turbulance on the family, especially HS Seniors, so they implemented this program. Last stats I saw on it were impressive, almost 97% of requests were granted.
CrowGirl. You might not have to wait till the junior year for submission. Current guidance says for a 2008 graduate, submission should be between Mar 06 and Sep 06.
Have your husband see your S1 to fill out a 4187. Have the S1 personnel see MILPER messages 01-135 and 03-158 if they have questions.
Posts: 686 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Thank you so much for that information! We will look into it.
Well, we are here, and after a week, we finally have the computer out of the box. Speaking of boxes, we are now about knee-deep in them as opposed to elbow-deep. Nice neighborhood, little park down the street. The house has no A/C, and we intend to change THAT in a hurry. Ward is nearby, and lots of youth. CrowSon is at Music Camp back in Maryland this week, so he hasn't met any of them yet, but that will change this Sunday.
We took two weeks to get here, and made a vacation out of it. We were at Opening Night of the Hill Cumorah Pageant, and went from there. We hit the sites in Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. Great times!
CrowSon really enjoyed it, which I have to admit I wondered about, just because he's a teenager. In Richmond, MO, we drove by the site where Joseph Smith rebuked the guards with his "SILENCE ye fiends of the infernal pit..." speech. It's now a residential area--a barbeque grill sat where it was. There was nothing to indicate what used to be there. CrowSon was indignant; "There should be a sign there!" I'm grateful that things like this matter to him.
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I'm bumping this because I really need to be careful what I say, and do I really mean it:
quote:I told my husband, "We can do two years there, we can do four years. We will NOT do three."
Well, Colorado won't be a three-year tour. It will barely be a two-year tour. CrowMan's department of the Air Force is being completely restructured in this area. Which means he is out of a job come 1 June.
However, a job that will keep him in the running for another promotion was offered to him. We will be moving mid/late June to the Tampa area.
We did not want to leave the area. In fact, CrowMan interviewed to teach at the Academy, and they wanted him. We bought our house thinking we would be here long enough for CrowSon to graduate high school. Now we are in the unenviable position of trying to get all the home improvements we were planning to do over the next several years finished in the next month or two. (Oh, believe me, in THIS market, people want the fixer-uppers already fixed up, with no unfinished projects.)
CrowSon isn't happy. He has been involved in so many things here--orchestra at school and community, Order of the Arrow Ceremonies team, among other things. Many of these leaders told me they had great plans for him in the future. However, he has decided to look at this as a way to do the things he wanted to do here, but just couldn't fit in. CrowMan and I are grateful for this attitude.
If anyone has any information about the Tampa area, specifically St. Petersburg or Clearwater, please let me know.
And if you, or anyone you know are looking to move to this area, I would be more than happy to show you my two-story, three-upstairs-bedrooms, four-bathrooms-of-varying-sizes, finished-basement, new-painting-and-lighting-and-windows-and-moulding-and-(almost) hardwood-floor, in-an-excellent-school-district, less-than-two-minutes-walking-to-a-park, nice-backyard home. Posts: 3862 | Registered: Jul 2001
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CrowGirl, one benefit of being part of O.A. is that it is a national organization. Anywhere there is a council, usually there is a Lodge (Tampa is no exception). So tell CrowSon to keep his projects in play, as they will still be relevant in his new home (though he may want to research Five Nations Standards for decor as opposed to Ute ). If you need help getting in touch with people or need some skids greased, let me know and I'll be happy to help where I can .
Posts: 1885 | Registered: Aug 2005
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Bumping up, because once again, we must get ready to leave an area.
The Air Force gave us a lot of notice on this one, maybe because we are going overseas. Inçirlik AB, Turkey. The closest big area that shows up on a map is Adana. For Biblical enthusiasts, Tarsus isn't too far away, either. Go ahead, look them up, and tell me if you understand wonder why I was reluctant to tell my parents.
We do not leave until summer, hopefully about the same time CrowSon will be reporting to the MTC. We should also finish about the same time, too.
We know there is a serviceman's branch there, but not much else. The closest temple to us is in Kiev. Turkey isn't even assigned a temple district. So I do not want to hear anyone complaining about how going to the temple just takes up your whole day. For me, it will require crossing the Black Sea, and going from one country where I can't read the signs to another.
CrowMan speaks Turkish, and spent a year at a different locale several years ago. He's familiar with the culture, although he warns me that the further east you go, the more ... less-cosmopolitan things are. So it will be different for all of us.
The CrowDaughters are as excited as they can be for their ages. CrowBaby will start school there. As for me, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to feel. It is the best assignment CrowMan can have right now, so I am happy for that. He should have qualified for something bigger, but a year and a half ago, military politics reared its ugly head (way too long to explain). So part of me wonders if, maybe the Lord wants us there, like he obviously did for our assignment here. So, I'm feeling that it could be a good adventure, inşallah.
I will also hereby announce that, starting in October, I would love to go shopping for any Nauvoodles who are interested in carpets, perfume bottles, copper items, leather, or any of the other great wares you can find in this country. Helping other people spend their money, THAT'S fun. I will have an APO box, so postal rates will be as though I am mailing from the United States.
Posts: 3862 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Oh my dh was baptized while stationed at Incirlik (though it was in the Mediterranean). He has many fun tales to tell of the branch, the base, and the area.
Posts: 2177 | Registered: Feb 2005
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The best thing I can think of this minute to say is purely selfish. You will be closer to me! With the super cheapie airlines fares to Turkey I will bet we can manage at least one visit while you are here.
Uprooting every time you turn around is one reason why I am really happy Hubby did not go to work for Philips or GE--or that he is an itinerant scientist. Their marriages always hit the dust:(
Good luck to you and I hope Turkey is more wonderful than you think it might be.
Posts: 5469 | Registered: Jun 2002
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I want to live in Turkey. I do. I've read so many good things from other expats who live/lived there, how the locals are so warm and friendly and have a real feeling of community there. Added to that the culture, the history... I'm not saying I'd want to live there my whole life - I might not - but I wouldn't mind being there for a few years to experience it for myself.
I might have to find a way to visit you there, Crowgirl. Posts: 4284 | Registered: Apr 2003
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good luck w/your move. Isn't your husband Bishop? (If I am remembering correctly)- if so that must make it extra hard.
Interesting they have a form about Sr. Stabilization! At one point, the Dad of a family in our ward was serving in Afghanastan, he was there for about 6 months but ended up missing his son's hs graduation, as he was not scheduled to finish his tour until a couple weeks or so after the graduation. My wish for them, as I told the Mom, would have been that one of those TV shows that secretly fly military members home to surprise their loved ones could have done this for them. Or that the military would have granted him a quick weekend pass to attend the graduation. They are a strong family and seemed fine w/things. But it did make me better appreciate and understand the sacrifices of all the military families.
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We know you'll keep in touch with us. Even so, that seems like a long, long way for you to be from us. But what an interesting time and a fabulous experience it will be for the kids, & the adult Crows too. Having only read about Turkey, it seems like a fascinating place.
Thank you to all of you for your service to our country, to CrowMan for his direct service & the rest of you for supporting him.
Posts: 12825 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Wow! What an experience that will be. The timing is good for CrowSon so it seems it may be meant to be.
Posts: 5574 | Registered: Sep 2001
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I guess congrats is an unusual things to say under such circumstances, but wow, what an adventure?
As a Hellenophile and having interest in Anatolia and Asia Minor, gotta' say it would be cool to see that land up close, and you will get that opportunity. Here's hoping you will be able to stay in touch and let us know what is happening while you are there.
Posts: 1885 | Registered: Aug 2005
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Thanks everyone. I guess I should clarify: I have no trouble with going to Turkey; I have been there and I enjoyed my time there A LOT. I just, for some reason, feel a little lost this time around. Maybe it's because I'm not upset about leaving this assignment. Maybe I'm just worried about my husband's career. At any rate, I know this is going to be just fine.
Madd, I had no idea you were a Hellenophile (thought your interests were a little further East than that). I'm telling you, some of the best ancient Greek ruins are in Turkey! That was one of my favorite parts of my '03 visit--climbing on ruins that bumped against grain fields. I'm not sure just what is around us, but I certainly intend to find out.
Nita: When the stake president submitted CrowMan's name to SLC to be Bishop, they approved it, as long as he could be in place for two years. He was the fourth bishop in five years--this ward needed some stability!
Gracie, Jaimilyn, & Dianoia: Start making up your lists! I will get my digital camera fixed and ready to email you pics of stuff.
Jana & Quid: I would love to get together with you two. Jana, I had no idea air fares were that cheap. Woo-hoo!
Roper & pnr: I'm glad to hear of people with good memories of the place. My sister actually knows one of the teachers at the American school there, and I've asked her some questions. Apart from that, I don't know much about it.
Posts: 3862 | Registered: Jul 2001
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quote:Madd, I had no idea you were a Hellenophile (thought your interests were a little further East than that). I'm telling you, some of the best ancient Greek ruins are in Turkey! That was one of my favorite parts of my '03 visit--climbing on ruins that bumped against grain fields. I'm not sure just what is around us, but I certainly intend to find out.
Oh yeah, I have a huge interest and fascination with the Minoan, Mycaenean and post Mycaenean Greek world, which includes Troy, Miletus, Crete, Thera, the Cyclades and the rest of the pan-Hellenic world of the time. As a tester, I am also an "armchair epistomologist". Epistomology was effectively crafted in Miletus (thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, etc) and other places in Asia Minor so, yep .
Posts: 1885 | Registered: Aug 2005
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CrowGirl, you are moving to Colorado??? that is just a little bit north of God's country-better known as New Mexico! Remember, I25 runs real close to Colorado Springs, and according to the map you are only 6 inches from Alburquerque...we are almost neighbors!
Posts: 2056 | Registered: Oct 2005
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Redd, Crowgirl last talked about Colorado in 2008. The more recent posts - 2011 - are about moving to Turkey. Posts: 4284 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Crowgirl, congrats. Sounds very exciting. I'm sorry, but being half Bulgarian, I think I'm under some kind of edict to hate anything Turkish. Posts: 3145 | Registered: Sep 2006
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Oh, CrowGirl, I'm slow to the thread. But I just realized we've had you here in FL for nearly two years and I haven't yet had the opportunity to meet you! Hoping to see you, perhaps sometime when you get to Orlando, before you go. If not, I may have to tag along on Hubby's next work-trip to Tampa - but those are difficult, with four kids in school. Come on, there's got to be SOME reason to get us south to central Florida in the next few months! ~thinking, thinking~
Posts: 5841 | Registered: Sep 2005
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Okay, Just talked with JD. We are scheming together for possibly a Wednesday. Crowgirl, we'll be getting in touch! V.
Posts: 4114 | Registered: Sep 2005
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For me, it will require crossing the Black Sea, and going from one country where I can't read the signs to another. ![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
