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abcmommy
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how many of you are in NoVA?
I grew up in Fauquier co and I miss it so much. Sadly its changed in a millions ways in the 30 yrs since I was born at Pr William Hospital in Manassas and went home as a newbie to Warrenton. My parents moved to Sugarland Run (?) in the 60s bc my Dad served at the Pentagon during Vietnam. My mom later worked there as well. Reston was a farm back in those days!
my ds1 was also born at Pr William Hospital. same dr's practice too. lol
It looks unlikely that we will ever move back, as strip malls have overtaken our rural landscape and home prices are too high to even consider it for our family right now.
Anyway its funny to read posts that referance familiar things when i dont know you all, but do know the area!
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Lisa R
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I don't currently live in NoVa but I was born there too. I was born in Warrenton and lived in Nokesville just outside of Manassas (if anyone has ever heard of that!). All my family still lives in Va and I, like you, will probably never move back. Nokesville was a small farm town and now is basically commuter haven to DC workers. I sometimes feel homesick reading all the posts on here from folks in VA. But we could never afford to move back there and so much has changed since we left many years ago.
We're a military family living in WA state now and God willing will retire here. I hated WA when we first moved here (okay for almost 2 years!) but now I really like it. We're also adopting next year and have many friends here in the same boat that will offer much support and help in the process. 
Anyway, I'm not living there right now either but just wanted to let you know I know how you feel!
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God Bless!
Lisa, married to my best friend, Ray and loving my blessings Joshua (17)and Jacob(15), Hannah(7) and Rachel (5)!Holy Family Academy
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teachingmyown
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I was born and raised in Alexandria. After a short time in VA Beach at the start of our marriage, dh and I have lived in or near NoVa. Actually, we just keep moving south, as the cost of living goes up.
I am in Stafford now, on the Fauquier County line, so I am about 20 minutes Southeast of Warrenton. My husband works in Reston and I think he cuts through Nokesville to get there.
If you haven't been here in years, you wouldn't even know the place. Kinda sad. When my parents moved to Fairfax County, it was also mostly farms and seemed like the boonies coming from Baltimore MD.
As far as housing prices, we could live in a townhouse in NoVa for as much as our 4000 sq ft. home on five acres in Stafford! Now if only my husband could find a job that didn't cost him at least three hours a day in the car commuting!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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tracym
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Hi. I live in southern Fauquier county now and go to St John's in Warrenton. We moved here about 7 years ago and it really has changed so much. We like the area and don't have plans to move(well we just can't it afford too at this time anyways.) Three of my kiddos were born at Prince William also.
Tracy M.
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Mary G
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When I fist graduated from undergrad I moved east with my parents 9that was a culture shock from San Francisco!). We lived in Alexandria for a while than moved to Aquia Harbor near Stafford -- there was a great barbque place in Stafford -- one of the few places you didn't have Quntico marines in 
I worked in DC and used to do that commute -- can't imagine what it's like now 
I went to W&M for MBA and never moved back to NoVA -- altho I do have brother and his family in Arlington...so maybe one of these days I'll be able to meet up with all y'all! 
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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abcmommy
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MaryG, I went to W&M for my first 3 semesters of college. I have been a couple other places since as I try to finish my degree... LOL
I took piano lessons in Nokesville, Lisa!
Tracy, you have a long ride to St John's. That was my parish growing up. Do you know the Catts family (Mike and June)? They were family friends and also from Southern Fauquier co and attended ST Johns- back in the olden days they were easy to spot bc they have 12 kids. St Johns is the only parish in the county still, isnt it?
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JennGM
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Lisa R wrote:
| I don't currently live in NoVa but I was born there too. I was born in Warrenton and lived in Nokesville just outside of Manassas (if anyone has ever heard of that!). All my family still lives in Va and I, like you, will probably never move back. Nokesville was a small farm town and now is basically commuter haven to DC workers. I sometimes feel homesick reading all the posts on here from folks in VA. But we could never afford to move back there and so much has changed since we left many years ago. |
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Lisa, we know Nokesville. Did you know the VanderWoudes when you were there? What years did you live there?
I live in Manassas...our family moved from Louisiana in 1986 to this area. Our parish is All Saints, and even that has changed. It was originally run by the Stigmatine order, now it's diocesan run, and the largest parish in the diocese...over 5,000 families. That's why there's a new parish in Gainesville being built.
I can't believe it's been 20 years. It has changed so much...especially losing its rural flavor. People in DC still think of it as the "boonies" but we're becoming just another bedroom community of the DC Metro area.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Family in Feast and Feria
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saintanneshs
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Here too, Jenn! I've been here outside of Frederickburg all my life, and used to sit in mass at St. Mary's and "admire" the handsome marines in their fatigues...(were they from Quantico, Mary??)
Alas, we're just another bedroom community now too. I never would have said I lived in "NOVA" 10 years ago...in fact, I laughed when someone from my college in southwestern VA told me I was from there . I thought of Dumfries (in Prince William), where my grandmother lived at the time and Manassas (where my aunt's family is...Jenn, the're at All Saints too) were "northern VA" folks.
Now, I think we're starting to get lumped in there too. Everyone is right, for those of you who grew up here (myself included), it looks nothing like the way it looked when I was a child. Dh's family has been on our farm for 3 generations now and his dad remembers when F'burg had no traffic lights. I can't even imagine. And so many people from around here don't even know there are still farms in this area... 
We are still here though and our memories bring us great joy! 
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Kristine
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Lisa R
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Hi Jenn,
I lived in Nokesville when I was growing up in the 70's. We had a farm in Nokesville and after my dad died when I was 8 we moved to Florida.  My oldest brother still lives in the house we grew up in.
One of my aunts lives in Manassas still. We were just back there last June for my youngest brother's wedding. We try to go back every year. I have a pretty big family all over Northern VA from Stafford, to Nokesville, to Manassas and Bealeton. And other places I can't think of right now!  I'm the only Catholic in my family (convert in 1988) and we usually go to St. John's in Warrenton when we're home. I really miss VA!
Maybe on our next trip home we could meet?
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God Bless!
Lisa, married to my best friend, Ray and loving my blessings Joshua (17)and Jacob(15), Hannah(7) and Rachel (5)!Holy Family Academy
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teachingmom
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I've lived here most of my life. I grew up (since 2nd grade) in Vienna. I went to college at W&M, Mary and abcmommy! After that I spent a year in St. Paul, MN with Net Ministries, and later spent a year at Steubenville for graduate school. Other than that, I've been here!
In the almost thirteen years that we've been married, dh and I lived first in Centreville and currently in South Riding. Growing up in Vienna, I would have never imagined I'd end up in Loudoun County--it was the boondocks! Now the eastern part of the county looks just like all the rest of Northern Virginia.
And dh makes the opposite commute that Molly's husband makes. He works in Stafford, and it's a really long haul.
It's getting more and more expensive to live here. We recently got the news that taxes alone are raising our mortgage payments by over a hundred dollars a month! I talked to a friend today who is moving to a completely different area of the country where they can afford some acreage. They are considering a place on 25 acres with a beautiful house, and it looks like they will be able to pay cash from the equity in their current home here. It's enough to make you consider leaving--but my roots are here, my family is here, dear friends are here, and a wonderful parish is here. (Not to mention that dh's work is here--no small thing! )
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Jen L.
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I was born at Alexandria Hospital and lived in the same Annandale home until after college (went to George Mason - Go Patriots!). Now I live 5 minutes away in Burke. (My parents are living out in Gainesville, near Nokesville/Manassas/Warrenton).
Speaking of farms -- there were farms in Annandale and Fairfax Station when I was a kid. And get this -- my older sister rode her bike on the Beltway before it was opened!
I'm often tempted, like you Irene, to consider living somewhere where we can afford more than a townhouse (or have an insane commute) but both my husband's and my families are here. Sometimes I think that the never-ending TRAFFIC is even worse than the insane real estate prices and property taxes.
saintanneshs wrote:
Now, I think we're starting to get lumped in there too. Everyone is right, for those of you who grew up here (myself included), it looks nothing like the way it looked when I was a child. |
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As for this, look at this article on the Washington Post website: On Edge of Va. Sprawl, Labels Crumble, New Lives Thrive. People are commuting to D.C. area from Caroline County (almost to Richmond!)
On a more positive note, it is fun to "see" all you No Va neighbors here. 
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Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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MaryM
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I'm not a No VA native and don't live there now, but did spend a few years there in jr. high/high school. My dad was transferred to DC for three years '77-'80. We had a Herndon address though we lived about halfway between Herndon and Chantilly. I was back for a visit ten years ago and it has indeed changed a lot. The growth is incredible.
Jen L. wrote:
| I was born at Alexandria Hospital and lived in the same Annandale home until after college (went to George Mason - Go Patriots!). |
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I'm rooting for George Mason now to go all the way, since my Zags and Adam Morrison are out .
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Mary M. in Denver
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JennGM
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MaryM wrote:
| I'm not a No VA native and don't live there now, but did spend a few years there in jr. high/high school. My dad was transferred to DC for three years '77-'80. We had a Herndon address though we lived about halfway between Herndon and Chantilly. I was back for a visit ten years ago and it has indeed changed a lot. The growth is incredible. |
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What school did you attend, Mary?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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I'd like to say if anyone comes back to their old stomping grounds, if you have time, I'd love to meet you!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
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MaryM
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JennGM wrote:
| What school did you attend, Mary? |
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Herndon Middle School for one year. Herndon High School for 2 years. It was right when South Lakes HS opened - lots of my friends ended up going there.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Molly Smith
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Irene, our taxes are going up by $150 per month, and they were already outrageous. If ever leave this home, it will be because the taxes drove us out and we would have to relocate somewhere completely different.
I've been in Northern Virginia since 1977. Went to Robinson Secondary School, then what was Mary Washington College, then NOVA and finally graduated from GMU (go Pats!). We lived in Fairfax, then Centreville, then South Riding and now Purcellville. Oh my, for those of you familiar with GMU, when we moved here in '77, the intersection of Rt. 123 and Braddock was a 4-way stop!! Centreville was a horse farm, forget about S.Riding or P'Ville.
We love Virginia, especially now being in the mountains and having some land. I can't imagine a place we'd like better. All of our family is here with the exception of my sister, so it'd be hard to leave everyone. We're pretty firmly rooted!
My dh is in business with my brother who lives 10 minutes away. Their office is above my garage, so dh's commute is pretty short. They do a lot of local travel during the day, but they are able to avoid much of the horrible N.Va traffic. Even out here in Western Loudoun traffic is deadlocked in rush hour.
Gotta run...but I love hearing all the Virginia stories!
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Molly Smith in VA
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Elizabeth
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It's the "Go Patriots" that sucked me into this thread . I went to high school in Springfield (and met my dh there). I went to UVa and he went to Madison. He transferred to GMU and I commuted home every weekend of my senior year. We got married and bought a house in springfield, half way between my parents' house and his parents' house. Mike worked at GMU in the athletic department. When we outgrew our house, 9 years later, my best friend was living in PUrcelville. For years, I'd drive west on 50, past a deserted farm and a sign that said, "South Riding coming soon--Your New Hometown." I wanted to move to Purcelville. DH wanted Reston. South Riding was a compromise. We were one of the first 100 families here and they told us there was an 8 year, 5,000 unit buildout. It's ten years and 8,000 units later and they're still building. We now live in our second South Riding house. I still want to live in PUrcelville. My ds wants to go to Mason. DH's family still lives all around here and like so many of you, we have deep roots. The cost of living is outrageous though and one things we often consider is our kids, grown up. How will they ever be able to afford to live here? The whole reason we're staying is family and roots, but will they be able to stay or should we just make a move to somewhere affordable now? [Mary Beth is reading over my shoulder and she just said, "Like New York, where the Gunthers live." Not exactly more affordable . ]
Oh, and Go Patriots! Dh and Ds and Ds's Godfather will be in Indy for the Final Four. Our ties to Mason Athletics are part of why we stay...
Jim Larranaga is My Hero
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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teachingmyown
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Irene,
There is a house for sale on our street!! Come on down! Your husband would have about a 20 minute commute, all back country roads. It is a beautiful neighborhood, with at least 3 acres per lot.
I am serious, think about it.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Mary G
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Elizabeth wrote:
Oh, and Go Patriots! Dh and Ds and Ds's Godfather will be in Indy for the Final Four. Our ties to Mason Athletics are part of why we stay...
Jim Larranaga is My Hero |
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Having been the only person who lived in Virginia for a while -- while we watched the Elite Eight last weekend, I had to keep reminding my inlaws where exactly GMU is located! Sorry, we're rooting for LSU in our extended family -- dh, SIL, BIL, great uncle all went and now ds is chompin' at the bit to be a Bengal!
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MaryG
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Diane
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Elizabeth, I enjoyed your article about Jim Larranaga---what an impressive man! Now, I'm really rooting for the Patriots.
Europe is great and all, but I really do miss Virginia...
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Peace,
Diane
Mom to five fair lasses and one bonny prince
The Journey of a Mother's Heart
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Topic: NoVa?
