Now that the calendar has turned to 2016, it's time to do the year-end review on the past year and set some goals for the new year. We spent the year 2015 fully embracing our Oregon life and WE LOVED IT. We traveled and saw as much as possible, checking off nearly everything on our to-do list. Not only did we sight-see, but we have our very own little
Oregon souvenir Hattie born right here in Roseburg - a sweet blessing who brings us so much joy and love. Our family has greatly benefited from Matt's detail here in many ways, tangible and otherwise. Matt's district position has been mediocre at best, though he has learned some valuable things and gained perspective even in a difficult work environment. He has had one of the best, if not
the best, supervisors here that he has ever had. He has done his job well. That being said, his position here is a detail. Temporary. Meaning he is on loan from RGFO (Royal Gorge Field Office). Starting at the end of February, Matt will transition back to his position as wildlife biologist at RGFO in Canon City, CO. He will work remotely until spring break at which point we will pack up our things, say a tearful goodbye to our Oregon life, and move back to Canon City.
I'm sure you have questions. I can't say I have answers, but I'm going to touch on a few common questions I know we will hear. If not for your benefit, for mine so I don't have to answer the same thing over and over again. :)
Q: Why can't Matt stay at his job in Roseburg?
A: Easy version: His Roseburg job is a detail, which we knew from the very beginning. The Roseburg detail was advertised as a 1-4 year position. He applied for the job knowing that it was a temporary gig. After some serious thought and consideration, we pursued the detail because it was a great opportunity for our family for a variety of reasons. But he can't just stay here. There's not a job for him here. The person who he has been filling in for - though the guy is physically two cubes down - completed the project that he has been working on, so he will shift back to his old position which is Matt's current Roseburg position. Matt then shifts back to his position at RGFO. It's a domino effect.
More in-depth version: The info above isn't entirely true. Barb, Matt's supervisor has indeed asked Matt to stay on for another 12 months extending his detail until September. Rex, the guy who Matt's filling in for, will be back so some of the job duties would be shifted back to Rex. Since Roseburg has the money to keep Matt on, they would have filled Matt's workload with other special projects and the like, something that is fairly enticing to Matt. However, the woman who RGFO hired as a term position to fill in for Matt (another domino in this chain), took a job in WY and is quitting at RGFO. Due to the fact that RGFO is at the beginning stages of a very in-depth, multi-year task writing the Resource Management Plan, Matt has been beckoned back to Canon City. If Matt were to say no thanks to RGFO and yes to Barb, meaning that we would be in Roseburg for another 12 months, RGFO would fill Matt's position with a new permanent biologist. Once Matt's time is inevitably up in Roseburg and we moved back to Colorado, Matt would be placed by the CO state BLM office at any one of the BLM field offices scattered throughout Colorado. The game we're playing here is a game of risk. What is worth the risk and what isn't? Ultimately, we decided that it is not worth the risk to stay here. Knowing that, we have still pushed RGFO to extend our time as long as possible, but the longest they were willing to wait was spring break.
If the in-depth version has your head spinning, just forget that you read it and stick to the easy answer. :)
Q: Can't you stay in Roseburg until Charlie is done with kindergarten?
A: I suppose in theory it would be possible for us to live apart for a few months while Charlie finishes up his first year of school, but we have done that before and it is not fun. The 33-day separation while we moved from Canon to Roseburg was as long of a separation as we could ever do. It was tough - and that was with only three children! Long-distance parenting? No thanks. Double rent? No thanks. We will pull him out of school and either enroll him in public school in Canon City or declare him home schooled (and actually home school him) for the rest of his kindergarten year. Academic wise, we have absolutely no concerns. The kid is a wiz. A sponge. A walking encyclopedia. We will need to weigh out the options as it gets closer. Professionally, RGFO is already being "generous" in allowing Matt to work remotely from Roseburg for a month, but they need him to be physically present starting after spring break (very end of March or beginning of April).
Q: When will you move?
A: We will move during spring break, the week after Charlie's birthday.
Q: How will you move?
A: With a UHaul. And some boxes. We'll get it done.
Q: No, really. How are you going to move with four children?
A: If you ask me that enough times, I might start to stress out about it, so don't ask. Thousands of people have done what we're doing. We aren't the first and we won't be the last to move cross-country with four small children, a huge UHaul truck, two vehicles, a camper, a canoe, and a partridge in a pear tree. I'm not denying the fact that we are looking at an exhausting situation, but it can and will be done. Matt and I make a pretty fabulous team in case you haven't noticed. We got this.
Q: How do you feel about leaving Oregon?
A: We love Colorado. We love Oregon, me especially. The kids love both places and have seen and done a lot in their young lives. We have fully embraced the Pacific Northwest life and have loved every minute. We love the rocky, snow-capped mountains. That's the best answer I can give.
Q: What did the kids say when you told them you're moving back to Colorado?
A: The kids haven't said anything yet because WE haven't said anything to them. We haven't told them outright that we're moving back to Canon City. Matt and I have spoken in code for the past few months while we worked through our options, and as perceptive as they can be, I think they are still fairly in the dark about it. We will likely tell them at the beginning of February. Kids concept of time is a hard thing, but we'll tell them that we will be moving after Charlie's birthday to help them know when it's coming. I'm not sure how the kids will react. I'm near certain Charlie will be devastated to leave his kindergarten class. I'm sure both Charlie and Alanna will be upset at leaving their friends here. As they should be. It will be very hard to leave.
That being said, we actually haven't told our friends here in Roseburg yet. They are the people we physically see much more often than our out-of-town family and friends, and therefore, they are the people who would more likely be the ones to say something in front of my kids without knowing that my kids don't know we're moving yet. I would be absolutely heart broken if Charlie and Alanna hear that we're moving from someone other than Matt or me. None of our Roseburg friends have access to this blog, but they could still see something on social media. Please, please, please, DO NOT write anything on Facebook about us moving back to Colorado. If you have a question or want to chat more about it, give me a call or send me a text. I'd love to talk in the evening after my kids are in bed.
Q: How can I help you?
A: We would love for you to be praying for us in the next few months. Pray that the transition goes smoothly. Pray that the children embrace the move and are excited about it. Pray for strength and endurance for Matt and I as we're likely going into some long and tiring days ahead of us. Pray for good attitudes. Pray for unity for our family. Pray for the right rental house to come available in the next few weeks and months. Just pray!
We will keep the blog updated with any additional news or changes to our plans. In the meantime, your regular programming (i.e. pictures of our kids!) will now resume. :)
