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Show 6 May 20, 1999 y by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff Group provides care for military families long-distan- e-m- The opportunity to communicate frequently has kept Thomas up on the family but probably hasn't prepared him for everything. Debbie said the twins are much bigger and more independent now and thinks this might be something he'll have to adjust to. She's looking forward to the adjustment and catching up on some lost sleep. She recommends everyone with a deployed or TDY spouse participate in the Hearts Apart group. "It helps a lot. Even if you can't do the teleconference here. It just seems like you're closer you can do when using ," she said. "You can get a letter in a few minutes instead of waiting a week. And everybody has been so willing to help." Young enjoys meetings so much she drives in from Salt Lake City. Young decided to locate in Utah while Thomas is in Korea because she has family here. She said the group provides an opportunity for her to discuss issues with other spouses going through the same situation. And for those without family nearby, the group can provide a much needed support network. "It's just really nice to get around people who are going through the same things you are and understand because some people just don't realize how hard it can be." Young said she and her husband only had one "blow up" on the phone while he's been deployed and the rest of the conversations have been great. "I would suggest that when you get your morale calls you don't e-m- ail e-m- ail k conversations are other the Youngs use to Center services Family Support keep in touch and relay good news and some of the more difficult news service members may have to hear when separated from their families. "While he's been over there his dad had what they think was a mini heart attack and that was hard for him. We didn't want to tell him.. .and waited until we could let him know how bad things were going to be," she said. .A . -m M - ail . tt l-s- ? a w .. Ti .. self-defens- e. "We get the telephone calls which is really good for my kids. My kids are really young and they get to talk to their dad, which I think is wonderful. I think couples should find out everything that they do offer. There's so much there." Barbara Ferguson, the Family Support Center facilitator for the group, said Hearts Apart especially reaches out to the population of military spouses who may be isolated because they're unfamiliar with the area. "It's a good opportunity to have support for those whose spouses are not here and it's good networking for them," said Ferguson. This summer the Hearts Apart spouses group will meet once a month for dinner and a movie. Other family activities are also planned. For details on Hearts Apart and other services the Family Support Center provides for spouses, contact Ferguson at Ext. waste your time talking about bills and stuff that's going to make you angry. You don't get that many." Other members of the group echoed Young's com r S . I Mil ftll?TiTPAT i ivinmi itui ii irr i Mil rim irt iUiODTAT MATTO I v absence. Calcagno said meetings at the Family Support Center allow her to take a break from her kids and be around other adults who understand how tough being a temporary single parent is. "I think it's really great that they allot you money for day care in case you're on a tight budget," she said. "It makes it affordable for a lot of people." The Air Force Association helps pick up the tab for childcare (one child is $5, two or more children $10) so parents can have an adults-onl- y break. The couple took care of the power of attorney before Robert left and has also arranged separate accounts to help balance finances. She recommends others work out things well in advance so there's less confusion and stress. The Calcagnos came up with a workable budget before he left but she said his meals required more money than they planned on. She suggests researching aTDY location ahead of time. They explored some things on the Internet but she recommends speaking to someone who's been stationed there. Calcagno said her husband learned about the Family Support Center at a briefing and passed the information on. She's enjoyed the variety of activities available everything from Valentine's Day cards to u ce WX- have helped ease some of the stress associated with TDYs and deployments. Vonnie Calcagno's husband, SSgt. Robert Calcagno, was TDY in Italy and returned May 13 after a "u For military spouses and families, separation due to deployment comes with the uniform. The fact it's r outine and an essential part of maintaining a strong United States presence and peace, doesn't always make it easier for families. But members of the Family Support Center at Hill AFB are easing the isolation and anxiety some spouses experience during separation in the Hearts Apart spouses group. Services like teleconferencing, phone calls, group support and child care are available as well as socializing with other spouses who've been temporarily separated from the military member of their family. One spouse taking advantage of these services is Debb.'e Young. Young's husband is stationed on a remote in Kunsan, Korea, leaving her charged with the household and their small twins. Young said separation has been difficult but steps the couple took before deployment and help from the Family Support Center have kept things running smoothly. "We spent time trying to get everything in order knowing everything that I needed to have done and where the pay was going," she said. "We opened a separate account for him because that worked out easier. I kept the primary account and he has an account he uses over there that I put money in for him. It keeps it so he's not trying to take money out when I'm trying to budget. That has helped a lot." Being separated has been difficult and Thomas has missed seeing the twins develop in person over the past few months. The teleconferencing provided at the center allows her husband to see the twins on a television monitor in Korea so when he comes home this summer for a four-weevisit he won't have as do. much catching up to Telephone and ments and said Family Support Center services I LWTl?D i ivi ni ...,?TF1, , 8:00 am 9:00 am Registration Continental Breakfast presents he Qfbeasons of &ife Displays Seventh Annual Woman's Conference Saturday, June 12, 1999 Northridge High School, Layton 9:00 am 8 a.m. V Co-Sponsor- ed fit- A 6. 10. pm 1:00 pm 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Session B -- 0yll lunch and door prizes Chancellor Gardens fyemWm 'M oicyM "FwoThanbtUp" SessbnAcriy RaenBjdbyDcnBata; OgdenStandatd Bomber 7. SesaanBoriy IGtYouBde TrmpstjAnmGcrtkM Itesariby Iooti & Jd 11. 14. 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Please make checks payable to ).vi$ Hospital Forward check and registration form to: Garden ItecrrKcradGtoote Dcingwih Depression NteangMiiirjfcPtiDCies ScssbnAocly Early Registration Until June 4, 15. 00 Registration Fee Late Registration After June 4 and day of event, '25.00 Registration includes conference, continental breakfast, lunch, and door prizes. arriArarnathaapy taandWbnimandMariiRdbaoriships ScsaonBcriy WhattoLookferVMien Chooang Movies : & Resented by Ddb Armstrong Break SesaanBccfy Eraatedfcy Debi JbhrernGratiicNfenxws SesacnAorJy Dc Karen Bcheen, OBGYN . ScsaonsAandB Presetted by Doma Kame Dona Kearney Hair & Image Studio AJAboutQjfeand -- 13. 'TcmttfNaSwr Dcngwih die Changes thatAoaonfanyNkncpsuse "TouLxliMaaahdae" DtraangTips and Mateoes Session A Owen Healthcare, Inc. SssaansAacdB ftoaaaal by Jonir Butte; SessiaaAorfy PtoatcdbyJbAiTiNkhKFoss, USUExtmacn Service IJreak -- GREAT BASIN ANESTHESIA 5. 'timdEayMenut' 10:)5 am it Conference Workshops NaAmUiiCcnncdion -- 10:4$ 4m 11:45 am 11:45 am 12 noon 12:C0 "Chicken Soup For The Woman's Soul3 And "Chicken Soup For The Mother's Soul' of by: Keynote Address "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul!" Presented by Marci Shimoff 20:30 am "Chicken Soup For The Woman's SouF Presented By Speaker Marci Shimoff 1 10:30 am -- to 2 p.m. Keynote Presentation Co-Auth- or .. . I ; 1 Workshops Session A:, Session B: 1 . 7tp . .State. wish to attend tf.ist workshop numbers) Alternate- - Alternate DAVIS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER 1600 W. Antelope Drive Layton, Utah 84041 (801)774-708- 2 Attn: Women's Conference 2 |
