Nurture Or Nature

I have been thinking about this allot lately. I have four kids and I feel like i have raised them all the same but they are all so different. For instance the other day i was trying to figure out a way to break some bad news to the kids. Harold was going to stay for 2 extra weeks in the Philippians. I took the opportunity when we were all in the car I tried to sound up beat as I spilled the news.

What I got in return were 4 very different reactions to the same news. Miranda just got quiet, dealing with the sad news by herself. Caleb was instantly mad."dad needs to quit this job. He needs to just come home." Logan says cheerfully "It's O.K., it just gives us longer to get his welcome home poster done. Emma sits back and cries. Softly at first and then louder if we don't seem to hear. She needs us to feel her pain.

I know they are all sad about this news and all show it in there own way. I just struck me how different they all are. Some personality traits we learn, but i know some we must just be born with.

Miranda

Hi!! I'm Miranda... the oldest Stanley child. I'm the rebelious teen:D...JK well partially... im not that rebelious, but I am a teen!!

To give a short intro on me... I'm a little.... well loud, but my family has learn to live with it!!

My mom really wanted me to post on here so I'm obeying her wishes!! This blog is kinda cool cause it documents were we've been and what we've done. I've been lucky enough to be part of this military family... I've seen things that some people haven't seen in their whole lives and I feel really lucky for it :D... although to my parents some times I may complain!!

I think that my favorite place to live so far would be Germany. We travled sooo much there it was amazing!

Blog u later!!

From the Phillipines

Well all I am currently in the Phillipines, trying to fly as much as i can and waiting to head back to the family in Korea. Its really nice here everyone speaks english and they are really friendly. The only down side is the poverty, i was talking to a Filipino gentlemen today and he said their country had the worst economy in Asia, and I believe it. I live in the posh hotel and drive through some of the worst slums i've ever seen. I'll include a couple pictures of everything at the end. I've gotten to visit the Temple and its beautiful surrounded by the city clutter its very serene, i know they all are but its still wonderfull. What else I'm flying a BE20 a twin engine turbo prop for the army we do deliveries of personnel and supplies and help with relief throughout the island. Its good but I sure do miss the Fam.

Here's missin everyone

Harold

A Warped perspective

A couple of days ago i was taking Emma and Logan to summer school. They were fighting in the back of the car.   So I said "look around and see Korea.  You have cousins and people who would be happy to be here and just be excited to see a far off country, and you guys just take it for granted."  They Quited down and I got to thinking.  To Emma and Logan America would look just as foreign as Korea does.  Emma is not quite six and she has only spent two years in the states.  What a different life they have from me.  I was 20 before I ever got on a plane, 22 when I saw the ocean for the first time.  I never would have expected to raise kids as traveled as mine.  Darsha  

We are the Stanley's  I was thinking this would be a good way to track our family and our many adventures.  I met my hubby in high school and feel madly in love.  We have been married now for almost 16 years.  

In those fifteen plus years we have had 4 great children.  Miranda who is now 14, Caleb 12, Logan 8, and Emma who is a month away from 6. 

 Most of our marriage has been spent in the military.  Harold did national guard for a little bit and switched quickly to active duty.  He started out as a field medic and we were on our way to Fort Hood Texas.  We spent 3 years there.  Those were tough times.  We were so poor.  Miranda and Caleb were born there.

When Caleb was 2 months old we moved to Fort Greely Alaska.  It was a great experience for us.  we were in the middle of no where.  It was very cold and the winters were long.  all of the hard was worth it for the beauty and  the Summers.  we had 22 hours of sun a day(of course the flip side was 3 hours of sun a day in the winter, Not fun) It was great.  I really think you need less sleep with this much sun.  we saw some great things and had a blast there.  We were there for two years.  

It was at this point in our lives that Harold decided he was in it for the long haul(retirement)  He also was worried that if he stayed enlisted we would not have enough money to live on when we retired so he applied for ROTC green to gold.  In a few short months we were on our way to the University of Utah.  Home!!!!!!!!  We were there for three years while he got his degree and then we were back in as commissioned officers.  The time we spent in Utah was so dear to me.  It was the only time since we were married that we were so close to family.  I feel like the kids got to know there cousins(the powell boys) It was so good for them.  I hope that they bonded well enough then that they can always be friends.  So far it is good.  It was great for me to live around most of my broths and sisters again.    I still miss it.  Family is great.  Also after a four year break between children and a heartbreaking miscarriage Logan was born there.  what a blessing.

So after three years in Utah Harold was branched Aviation and we were on our way to fort Rucker Alabama.  There he learned how to fly Black Hawks.  Pretty cool for him.  Alabama was good.  we learned allot there and welcomed our last child Emma.    We were only there for 18 months.

After Alabama  we were sent to Germany.  Harold was stationed at Giebelstadt air field.  He went over in February to get us a house.  He was there for six weeks when we were finally able to come over.  We had just two weeks together and on May third  he was sent to Iraq.  I don't even know what to say about that time in my life.  just the memory brings me to tears.  I was not ready to have him go.  Now I was in a new country with 3 kids and a baby.  It was so scary and depressing.  Thank goodness for the church and fast made friends. I wouldn't have made it.  Also Gwenna and Joydell saved me.  they came and got me through the Holidays.  Thanks giving with Joydell and Christmas with Gwenna.  Wow what a blessing.  Gwenna came in the summer also.  I know a far as a trip to Germany went it was probably not fun for them but for me it was a life saver.

He came home in February.  After 9 months straight in Iraq.  It was so good to see him.  In a year we had only those two stressful weeks in Germany together.  What a happy home coming that was.  It was seriously one of the best days in my life.  It ranks up there with the births of my kids.  It was great.

We were able to travel there a lot we saw some cool places.  we were there for three years.

From Germany we went to Fort Huachuca Arizona.  Harold did his captains course here.  We were only there for 18 months.  while we were there Harold got a fixed wing slot and went to Ft. Rucker to learn how to fly airplanes.  He learned how to fly the c-12.  It is used for reconnaissance mission and also VIP missions.  It is a dream he has always had so it was a great opportunity for him.  

Ft, Huachucha was a great place for us.  It felt like a long needed break from crazy army life.  we were close enough to home to go visit for Christmas.  It was our first Christmas home in years.  It was great.  He did have to go to Ft. Rucker for three months to learn how to fly while we were there.  But other then that is was a restful place for us.

Next we moved to Seoul Korea.  Which is where we are now.  Harold is in a VIP unit.  It was been a hard adjustment here but we are getting used to it.  we are trying to stay for 4 years.  We are trying to keep the family together.  they don't usually go to Iraq from here so it is good.  He is currently deployed to the Philippines right now.  It is not so bad though.  He only has to go for three weeks at a time so I can't complain.(still it feel like forever sometimes)  I am not quite sure what he does there.  Maybe I don't really want to know.  All I know is he doesn't take any military clothes with him and he comes home with lots of flight time.  As long as he keeps coming home.  I don't care what he does.   

I wanted to give a brief history of our Family.  I will write as regularly  as possible and get some pictures up too.  Darsha