Five Months

In five months we are planning to PCS. I am excited for a new home, getting Jackson started in school, looking into and possibly starting the adoption process, meeting new friends, and finding new and exciting things to do in the area. 

I am also very, very sad. I have felt comfortable here at Fort Campbell for about two years, but now I feel like I belong and that this is home. I have a great community and have multiple things I'm involved in that help shape me outside of motherhood. I have birthed two children here and there is always something special about important milestones like that. It is nice not needing to use GPS. I have made one of the best friends I have ever had and several other friends as well. I have grown so much while being here and am a much better person because of it.

But now we are nearing the end of our time here and it will be time to start all over. I know I can make lifelong friends quickly because it happened here. I know I can find things to be involved in with the Army and church because I have found so many ways to help here. I know that my kids will make friends because they are young and I teach them that all little kids can be their friends and they believe that. I am sure my husband will enjoy work more because I really don't think we will find a less organized unit anywhere! Thankfully, he has worked with some great people and he has learned a lot and has continued to shine in his career despite the frustrations. So I have high hopes for Fort Bragg. 

But it is still scary and new and unknown.

We could be there for 18 months. We could be there for 4 years. Either way, it will be home for awhile and I want to fully invest myself in that home while we are there. 

I had looked at rent prices when we learned we'd be going to Fort Bragg and it was discouraging because for the kind of house we would like the rent was way higher than BAH. We can afford to pay over BAH, but we also have to keep in mind Jackson's school tuition since we plan to send him to private school. I just checked again and all the options in the area we like are well within our budget! That is one big sigh of relief for me! We were willing to compromise on some things because Jackson's schooling is more important than having an extra bedroom for an office, but it will be so nice to have a little more wiggle room and have all the perks we want in our next house. 

I have worked a lot on worry while I have been here at Fort Campbell. I have truly learned to worry less and only over the big things, which I am working on giving over to God in faith and trust. But I still have worries over this move, over fishing friends, over Jackson succeeding at real school. But I have seen how much God has provided for us here at Fort Campbell and I know He is going ahead of us to Fort Bragg. 

I am already feeling super sad when I think about leaving, but I am hopeful for what is to come.

See Ya Later, Not Goodbye

These are some of my Army sisters. We see each other at Bible study every week and usually have one or more play dates during the week. We eachhave two kids who play together about as well as preschoolers are capable of playing together. I have been so incredibly blessed both here and at Fort Sill with wonderful friends. It makes the lonely moments when our husbands have staff duty, are in the field training, are away at schools, or are deployed much more bearable. It gives me adult interaction when my mornings are often filled with Daniel Tiger and Pocoyo. It gives me encouragement on days when I feel like a mommy failure. We are meant to live in community and it takes a village to raise our children. These ladies are part of my village and I couldn't ask for any better, 

The Army brought us together here at Fort Campbell, but the Army is the Army is the Army. Spring means pcs season is upon us. We are losing one of our number and it doesn't even seem real yet. I keep mentioning future play dates without remembering she will be leaving this weekend. She will take her two wonderful littles and Jackson will be losing one of his few male friends (we just have so many little girl friends!). She has been such an encouragement to me just by being real and being open and honest and showing me how to be fearless in this motherhood and Army journey. We have laughed often and sent ridiculous "guess what the kids just did" texts. She has helped make me feel welcome at PWOC, which had been instrumental to making Fort Campbell feel like home. I am so thankful to know her and cannot wait to see where we both are stationed in the future, hopefully close. 

This is a "See Ya Later" because I hope we will see each other again someday. The world is a small place even if the Army seems so big sometimes. By the time we'll be going to our next duty station she may be moving again as well. We can only hope to be at the same post again. 

While it is so hard to say Goodbye, I am so thankful for the time we have had. Life could have been much more miserable here at Fort Campbell if I stayed holed up at home. But I chose to try to make friends. I made some pretty great ones who I know will be lifelong friends. I thank the Lord for bringing us together. 

Silver and Gold

"Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold." 

This took on new meaning for me when I moved away from home (Michigan) to college (Virginia). Then again before marriage and after marriage. Even more so after entering the Army community and moving across the country. I am so blessed to have at least one lifelong, true friend from each stage of my life. These friendships are all so special to me and so unique and they encourage me even when we are thousands of miles apart. 

One of these friends is Rachel (her husband, Chris, and my husband, Matt, also get along so it works out doubly!). We met at Fort Sill and saw each other at least once a week. We found out we had similar value sets, religious views, and general interests. We talked, went for walks, and she helped me occupy Jackson- who was just starting to toddle around. They got stationed in Hawaii and we in Tennessee.

They visited family in Kentucky for Christmas so today we made the 2.5 hour drive to spend the afternoon with them. We both had new babies to introduce to each other, Daniel af 8 months and Shane at 4 months.

We grabbed lunch at Chick Fil A and Jackson ran around the play area by himself (what a big boy! He used to be afraid), the boys shot their firearms on Chris' parents' property, and the girls just caught up and snuggled our babies. It was so nice to see them and made us remember just how much we like and miss them. If we ever get stationed somewhere truly undesirable, I pray Chris and Rachel are there with us to make it bearable (yes, I pray for misery on them too!). 

True friends are rare and not to be taken for granted. I am so thankful for having met this little family and for the continuing friendship we have. We may have moved to different parts of the country, but our friendship is still very much alive and o am so thankful for these pieces of gold in my collection.

10 Reasons Deployments Don't Suck

As I wrote "10 Reasons Deployments Suck", I kept thinking about all blessings we had during the deployment. I am all about the optimism (except when I'm not, but I used to be a total Debbie Downer so I'm making progress!) so it's only fair to have a "Don't Suck" post.

1. Career development. In the current economy no one can take their job for granted. This past summer thousands of Captains and Majors were released from the Army as part of a downsize. Just as with any civilian job, the Army is a competitive field. Deployments allow soldiers to use their skills and demonstrate their ability to lead. While deployed, Matt received his combat patch for deploying to a hostile environment and his combat action badge for being engaged by the enemy. He also showed willingness to do whatever job was needed whether at home on rear detachment or overseas in theater. 

2. Practical experience for Matt. While overseas Matt gained a lot of practical experience for his MOS. Matt moved into a new unit, with new leadership, and took on a new job position. He had to learn where everything was on BAF, meet his new chain of command and soldiers, and quickly understand his new responsibilities and requirements. Matt also was able to go on patrols with the platoons even though that was not part of his job. He was able to put his training to use and tried to make the most of each opportunity he had while overseas. 

3. Unexpected embrace of independence. I am a very dependent person naturally. This was a concern of ours when we decided to pursue the military. We weren't sure how well I would do on my own when Matt was gone for training or deployment. The times he has been gone for training so far have helped stretch me already. This deployment stretched me even further as I had to manage the house, do all the chores (like taking out the trash which is traditionally Matt's job), and care for our two boys. Things had to be done and it wasn't as tedious to do them as I expected. I embraced the independence. It empowered me. It encouraged me for the future (as deployments will be a part of our lives for Matt's entire career). I was proactive in my new responsibilities and made sure everything was done and made preparations for the next days. It was a growing experience for me and I am a much more confident person now.

4. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. No one knows how to push my buttons like Matt. He knows every noise and mannerism that drives me crazy. Marriage isn't always happy conversations and lovey dovey moments. Marriage is often full of annoyances and disagreements. Then your spouse goes away and you suddenly miss even the most annoying noise he makes. You miss him sitting at his computer playing video games. You miss him not rinsing out his bowl. Being apart reminds one of all the wonderful that the every day drowns out. Overall, I think we honestly appreciate each other more than most families. But being apart makes us appreciate being together so much more.

5. Let's be honest, hazard pay. Any extra income is welcome. We have bills to pay and two growing boys to clothe and feed! We live a very comfortable life and try to manage our finances wisely. Especially with the holidays coming up, extra income is gladly accepted. 

6. Reliance on God. Even though this was a quiet deployment, I still worried about Matt. To calm my heart I read through the Psalms and Proverbs and gained peace from their promises. The Lord knows our story and our path. The Lord was with Matt in Afghanistan and with me at home managing alone. There was nothing (besides prayer) that I could do to keep Matt safe and so I relied on God to protect him. I had faith and trust that God knew what was best for our family. 

7. Building a local support system. The hardest part of military life for me so far has been leaving friends and making new ones. With Matt gone I needed friends to talk to. I needed friends to go out with. I needed friends to encourage me. I had many play dates and some friendships were stronger than others. Then I found a few woman who just "got me". Life seemed so much lighter when I found good friends. 

8. Family visits. My parents came to visit for a few days. It is always so nice when we're able to see family since they're in MI, CA, and SC. It was nice having help with the boys. It was nice getting things done since I had extra hands. It was just nice being with loved ones. The boys loved playing with Papa and Grammy too.

9. Real life wakeup call.  We've talked about what we would do if Matt were injured and couldn't work at all or had to be medically discharged from the Army or was even killed. I have great references from my past employers and a Master's degree so I know I could probably find a job to support my family if need be. Matt's benefits would help through the Army. But having to keep track of everything and care for the boys on my own was a real wakeup call. Life would be so stressful and busy and lonely without the help and support of my best friend, let alone partner. If I just returned to work there would still be so much I would feel was my responsibility at home as a wife and mother- I hold pretty traditional role responsibilities. We would do what we needed to do but it was a real eye opener to what life could be if. It also helped me know that I could do it. It is possible. I am stronger than I think. That is encouraging. 

10. Homecoming. When all is said and done, he comes home! How wonderful! It is such an exciting time! You wait anxiously for the 5 day phone call to prepare for his homecoming. Then you sit around waiting for the 12 hour phone call. Then you try to sleep so you can feel refreshed the next day when you get to see him. It is emotional and exhilarating. It almost makes the time apart worth it when you get to see your soldier and hug him. When you get to see your two year old's face light up in recognition and run into his Daddy's arms. It is so wonderful. 

Deployments are hard. Deployments are stretching. Deployments are fear-filled. But deployments are also rewarding in their own little way. It really proves the strength of a family as individuals and as a whole. I am thankful for how this first deployment has grown my family. It has been such an unexpected blessing in our lives. Matt has been home a little over a month and we have had such a wonderful, full month together. So if you're preparing for a deployment, know that not everything about deployments suck and some of it is pretty great.

Army Sisters

One of the most difficult parts of Army life is finding kindred spirits. With moving every few years you make friends and then move away and start over. Since everyone is on a different schedule, you may meet a friend where everything just clicks... But she's moving in a few months. With facebook and text messaging, you can easily keep connected to these friends, but you still need a physical support system. 

I have had to majorly go out of my comfort zone to meet and make friends since entering the military. But I am so so thankful that I have! I am a more reserved person naturally and making friends wasn't always easy for me. I used to have to give myself pep talks just to leave my dorm room and meet my hall mates in college. After graduation I tentatively branched out to meet coworkers but rarely extended those relationships outside of work. 

Matt was accepted into the Army and I was so nervous! I was leaving my wonderful group of friends and going into the unknown. What were the chances that I would end up at a post where my few friends in the Army were stationed? I thought back over my college and post college life. The friends I had from those years are some of the best I have. It took some time to find them and truly connect with them, but it was so worth it once I did. I needed to take this mindset into our Army life. 

At Fort Sill, Matt was in class so I met weekly with the other wives from the class. Easy peasy friends! All our husbands were stressed and had late nights with their assignments, so we could all relate on the random hours and missed dinners. Our time there was short, less than a year, but these friendships will always have a special place in my heart because they were my first connections in the Army. 

Here at Fort Campbell I met a few friends fairly quickly. We had play dates as our kids were around the same age and we got along just fine. But after living here for a year I finally met a group of friends who had similar values, beliefs, and lifestyles as myself. I could relate to these women so much easier and the relationships just flowed from the very first conversation. Thankfully, a couple of them moved here recently so we all should stick around another couple years together. These friends have already made such a difference in my Fort Campbell experience. It is the difference between having interaction with others and having true friendships. It makes me enjoy life here at Campbell instead of just wishing away the years until we get our next assignment. Now I dread Matt or my friends' husbands getting orders calling us across the country. 

A solid support system is so very necessary to Army wife life. Friends help to fill our days and listen to our woes. Friends help us think through the Army what ifs and whys and excitedly count down the days until we see our soldiers again. Friends bring good conversation, laughter, and fellowship. Put yourself out there. Make connections. Not all of them will stick and not everyone you meet will end up being a kindred spirit. But once you find those like-minded individuals, your life will feel so much fuller and sweeter. Life will seem more bearable and brighter. 

This is just as true in life and it is in Army life. We all need people. Community is how we grow and learn and thrive. It doesn't have to be a large community, but it is necessary. It may take stretching of yourself. It may take many failed relationships. It may take a week, or month, or year to find those true friendships where you are, but when it happens your life will be fuller and much more fulfilling. Life is too short to live it in seclusion. 

I am so very thankful for my Army sisters. It gives me hope for our future assignments. I can and will find friends, I just have to be open. 

10 Reasons Why Deployments Suck

I do not have 10 reasons in mind as I begin to write, but I'm pretty sure I'll find 10 reasons (and maybe more). But I'm feeling lonely so here's my thoughts. 

10 Reasons Why Deployments Suck 

1. When the kids are in bed and you aren't quite ready to go to bed yourself (despite being very tired since you are parenting solo), you are faced with an empty house. I curled up in bed to do some reading and wanted a snack. So I went to the kitchen and realized just how empty the house felt. The boys are tucked away in their beds, sleeping soundly, and I look around and it's just a big empty space. It was one of those moments where in a movie I would suddenly shrink in size and the space would appear much larger as I look around. And then the loneliness hits. An empty house. 

2. I found out today that I am not alone in  fearing a break in while my husband is away. Apparently this is a common fear among military spouses. I have the responsibility of securing our house and protecting our boys. Material belongings can be replaced, but our lives may need defending. I have the gun and a loaded magazine close by during the night and I'm fairly positive I could take down an intruder (unless he had night vision, also a concern), but the fear still preys on my heart and mind. 

3. Kiddie meals. I am not going to cook a full fledged meal and then have leftovers for days. We've been eating a lot of Pb&j, deli meat sandwiches, Mac n cheese, hot dogs, and (honestly) pop tarts (Jackson requests them multiple times throughout the day). I'm frugal enough not to go out to restaurants so I can have a single serving real meal, but the ever popular order-to-go option is so very tempting. 

4. I am not a fan of household chores, but I'm really not a fan of doing the manly household chores. Like taking the garbage to the trash can and then taking the trash can to the street. I tried to mow our yard... I've never mowed before and had absolutely no idea what I was doing- couldn't get the thing started so I paid someone to do it. If a light bulb burns out it's just going to be dark until I absolutely need that specific light, I will move other lamps to accommodate rather than change the bulb. 

5. Paying a babysitter just for errands. Ok, I honestly have only done this once when I needed to have some work done on my car. Regular errands I take the boys with me. I have been meaning to schedule a massage (I have 2-3 banked from my membership) and it just hasn't worked out in my schedule and trying to work it out with our babysitter, plus it would be for longer than I've left Daniel with a sitter before. So much easier when I can just leave the boys with Daddy. Thankfully, at least my headaches have been minimal so the lack of massage isn't physically hurting me too much. 

6. Less adult interaction. I have kept myself fairly busy and have only had a couple days where we haven't had play dates or activities. I also call my mom when I need some adult conversation because Jake and the NeverLand Pirates just isn't all that interesting to me. But over dinner and during the evenings I just miss chit chatting about our days, our triumphs, and our struggles. My husband is my best friend so naturally it is hard for me not to talk to him everyday. We have been able to send Facebook messages, but I don't write everything I would normally say I him. He's busy so I just write the highlights. That's a lot of daily word usage that isn't being spent on my end. 

7. At the end of the day when the kids are in bed you're too tired to enjoy Mommy time. When the kids are both in bed I want to catch up on my tv shows, or read a book, or organize my pictures for the photo albums that still haven't been made. But I'm always too tired to do much except wash my face, brush my teeth, and crawl in bed. You wouldn't think a few extra hours of single parenting would wear you out so much, but I am finding out what a relief my husband is when he walks through the door at the end of the work day. 

8. Everything will go wrong. Car problems. Incorrect billing. Family issues. Tornado season. Etc etc. I am a fairly dependent person and I hate conflict. So having to manage our lives when things go wrong is stressful to me. On the one hand, I'm a highly efficient person so I do research and weigh my options. On the other, I have to pick up the phone and make the calls to get things done. Realistically, I would do most of this myself even if Matt were home, but it feels compounded with his absence.

9. Co sleeping. I am an advocate of Cosleeping in general. Jackson has only spent maybe five entire nights in his own bed in his little 2.5 years of life. The rest of the time he has spent the whole night or part of the night snuggled next to me. I had planned on working on getting him to sleep the entire night in his own bed while Matt was gone. First, I'm lonely and snuggles from my boys make my heart swell. Second, I'm too tired to take Jackson back to his own bed all night long. It's easier to just let him sleep with me. I just put him to bed in my bed after a week or so. Instead of making strides forward, I took three steps back.

10. Fear for your spouse. This is a given and was expected. While Matt's deployment isn't as dangerous as it could be, he is still in a hostile country. More than that, he volunteers for patrols he isn't assigned to. Extra fear for the wifey back home. Surprisingly, I haven't been nearly as anxious as I expected to be and that has been a blessing. But my days are filled with prayers for his safety and well being.

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I wrote most of these during the deployment while I was feeling exceptionally lonely. I just finished the list and am posting now that Matt is safe and returned to me. It was a long two months with him away and I don't look forward to our next deployment which will most likely be a full deployment of 6-9 months. 

Deployments suck. Truly. But, there is also some good. Another post on tha I the way. For now, persevere, stay positive, drink coffee, and await your soldier's return. 

Saying Goodbye: Promotion and Our First Deployment

I'm going to merge two posts into one. Because life with two young children doesn't always allow for multiples blog posts! I am knocking out three today and that is... amazing! The boys are behaving well so I'm playing catch up.

On August 21, 2014 Matt was promoted to 1LT. It has been a very busy 18 months of 2LT. He has worked hard to excel at everything he does and learn as much as he can about his job in Field Artillery. He has come to the conclusion that he will most likely be sticking with this MOS for his career entirety, as opposed to requesting to switch to the few other options he was interested in. When he first commissioned Field Artillery was his top choice and as he learns more about his job he enjoys it more and more. He has had to pick up a lot of extra responsibilities and has worked hard at exceeding expectations with every assignment given to him. He has stepped into leadership with ease and has proven himself trustworthy to his CO's and subordinates.

As he moves into his new position of Fire Support Officer (FSO) he deployed to begin working with the unit he'll work with. He looks forward to this new position and learning even more about his MOS. He is very thankful for the opportunity to deploy.

New rank.

Traditional punch.

Handshake.

My new favorite family picture.

Preparing for Deployment

We found out in July that Matt would be deploying in late August. We had to hurry to make sure everything was in order. He received all his deployment gear and we had to prepare it and pack it up. We inventoried all the gear given to him and washed all his new multi cam uniforms. He had to have some name tapes made up. Unfortunately, his helmet was stolen out of his office after we got the cover and name tape for it. So we had to get a new one and have all the sewing done over. We had to make sure all our legal paperwork was up to date. We made sure I had all the powers of attorney I needed to be able to talk to anyone on behalf of Matt. The Army discourages soldiers to give power of bank accounts and finances to spouses, but as all our bank accounts are joint that isn't an issue either way. We also updated Matt's will to include the boys and set up care for them if both of us should die. The Army has pretty straight forward forms for all of this so it wasn't too difficult to fill out and make sure all our bases were covered. We updated my ID card since Matt had been promoted. This is required each time he's promoted, but my old ID card was for an enlisted rank as I got it when he left for Basic Training. I haven't needed his Officer's rank on my ID yet, but just in case I did need it for something we wanted it up to date. We had to discuss how we wanted our family to handle this deployment.

Everything got accomplished and was a fairly smooth process. Matt is finishing out the current deployment so he isn't going to be gone for long. That certainly helped keep our emotions in check. This is almost like a teaser deployment to help us prepare for when a full length deployment comes our way. Thankfully, the boys are still young enough that they aren't miserable without Matt every day. But Jackson is old enough that when we watch recorded videos of Matt reading stories (the ones we recorded before he left for Basic Training in 2012) he gets super excited and says "Da Ee! Yay!".

We made sure to spend a lot of time together as a family and made the most of all the opportunities we had.

Helping Daddy get all his gear ready.

Shooting practice for home defense. Hopefully it won't be necessary. Those five head shots (two are almost on top of each other) are me shooting back to back only five rounds. I'd say the boys and I are fairly safe if I should need to shoot an intruder.

It is always important to spend time together as a family, but an impending deployment will really make you appreciate all the time you have.

So far, this deployment has been different than I expected. We haven't been able to Skype but we have spent Facebook messages almost every day. I update Matt with what the boys and I did and cute things Jackson says. I post picture and videos to his Facebook wall. He tells me about his new position, his new leadership, and Afghanistan. So far he says all the Afghanis he's met are very nice and seem to enjoy jobs that Americans would find menial and degrading. They are very thankful for the opportunity to work. So much we could learn from other people groups. I haven't been as worried as I expected. I mainly am lonely at night when the boys go to bed. I call my mom almost every day for a daily dose of adult interaction. We try to have play dates and go to Bible study and church too. So that helps our weeks go by. The first week he was gone seemed to just drag on as we got used to a new schedule of me and the boys all day, every day. Now I think we have a pretty good rhythm. The boys occupy my time and mind so I'm not just mopey about Matt being gone. I imagine I would be much more lonely if it were just me and Matt were gone.

It is never fun to be away from loved ones.

Finding Friends

An honest post. 

When we were at Fort Sill I hit a point after about two weeks where I felt so lonely and sad. I just wanted one friend (more would be great, but at least just one!) who would be an actual friend, not just an acquaintance. A friend who had some similar interests with me. A friend with similar values. A good, real friend. 

I found that. It was such a blessing. 

And then we moved. I have been so busy here at Fort Campbell that it has been two months and I haven't felt lonely yet. I was in the first trimester of pregnancy (so exhausted and it was a good day if I got out of my jammies), I was busy unpacking and organizing our house, I was keeping up with Jackson, and we had a visitor and traveled home in that time. So I kept busy and didn't have time to feel lonely. 

Today I felt lonely. Today I wish for just one close friend. I have met a few other Army wives here and they are so nice and we may become best friends. Sometimes true, lasting friendships take time. But sometimes you just have a spark when you first meet someone. I wish I could have that and feel like my new friend was my best friend from the very beginning. 

Hopefully we will find a church and make some friends there. Our church search has been frustrating. While Matt and I want similar things in a church, so far we aren't in agreement when we visit churches in the area. Plus when we go and Jack is in the nursery, every single time he has gotten a cold that had lasted the full week so we stay home the following Sunday so he doesn't spread his sniffles. Frustrating and makes it hard to meet friends when we haven't found our new home church yet. 

Ok. I feel like I'm just complaining. So there are more feelings along these lines, but basically, I am feeling lonely. I hope to make a good friend soon. I think this is one of the hardest parts of Army life- starting your social life over.

Moving House

We made the trip to the Transportation office and got the first few steps to our move squared away. Very thankful for a helpful considerate worker who helped us. Scheduled the packers and movers and received a call for a walk through to evaluate the packing needs we will have. Now on to the not-so-fun part for me, pre packing. Yes, the army will box up our stuff and load it onto the truck and transport it. I am so very thankful not to have to hassle with that! But I need to go through and lighten our load as much as possible (get rid of unnecessary items that it's pointless moving), organize the stuff we will be taking in the cars with us, and overall organize the stuff for the packers so it's not random items all around the house- but office stuff together, clothes together, etc etc. I haven't been feeling well this past week so I haven't made any progress. Time to get to work! 

I am certainly ready to get to Fort Campbell and find a rental house. I have been looking at some properties and home some of them are still available when we arrive so we can visit them and make a decision. Hopefully the second week of October we will be in our new home and awaiting on our household goods. This is our first official duty station, but our second PCS and our third move within a year. So I'm not feeling too stressed all things considered. It will be nice to stay in one place for awhile and be able to fully unpack our belongings! 

I am going to miss friends here at Fort Sill so much! The first of us leaves next week. I am one of the last to leave. Unfortunately, we are all being scattered, I was hopeful that at least one of my close friends would be stationed with us, but knew it most likely wouldn't work out that way. Welcome to the Army, a whole different kind of friendship but a bond unlike any other. Sisters in service. 

I am so excited (and nervous) to make friends at Fort Campbell. I've already reached out to a few other mommies via Facebook, so that's a starting point! I plan to attend a Bible study like I did here and hopefully will meet like-minded women there. I am considering joining a MOPS group, but unsure if I really want to commit again. Early mornings are easiest when Jack and I can relax and get ready for the day slowly. So maybe I'll find another fun thing for us to do that meets in the afternoon! Either way, I'm excited to find things for Jack and I to get involved in. 

Honesty time: part of me just wishes we could move back home (to Michigan) and settled down there for good. We have friends there and family there and we just all around like Michigan. It would be so nice and having a constant would certainly be less of a headache in so many ways. I truly am thankful we are in the Army and I believe it will be wonderful for our family overall. But sometimes I do wish Matt had a nice 9-5 job and we owned a nice home and could have family get together a every Sunday with our siblings. Maybe someday... When we're all much older and our kids are going off to college and getting married! 

Almost time for our next adventure! I can hardly believe how fast the time here at Fort Sill has wrapped up. It was a busy 6 months, but I am glad for our time here. Matt had learned so much, we have had some good family time, and we have met some wonderful friends. 

Hooah. 

Waiting On Orders

"Hurry Up and Wait."

There's a reason everyone you encounter in the Army quotes that phrase. Too true.

We are currently waiting on orders. There is a smallest likelihood that we will PCS elsewhere, but the plan is still Fort Campbell, KY. Until we have orders, we can't plan when we will move, we can't look too in depth into houses, we can't figure out trips home. Hurry up and wait.

I have been perusing rental homes in the area. When it gets closer I'll limit my search to specific areas of town we'd be interested in. We want a family friendly neighborhood, low noise, and close to Post and other places we'll frequent. We don't mind rent being at the higher end of our BAH since we hope to grow out family in this home and if we stay there for a handful of years our BAH will increase with promotions. While I haven't been looking at too many houses yet (just in case I find THE house and it isn't available when we move in the fall), but I have discovered that looking at all your options is never a bad thing.

For instance, at first I was just looking at the houses with the room quantity we want and the lower costs. I began looking at higher cost and then discovered that an additional bedroom was often less expensive for monthly rent than the smaller homes! Not only did these homes have an additional bedroom, but they had more square feet, larger living rooms, larger kitchens, and a two stall garage as opposed to one (which we want anyways). So... look at all options and sometimes bigger is better!

I also have been stressing slightly on making new friends. I have written about this before, but it is always intimidating being the new girl in town who doesn't know anyone. We plan to join a church, a gym, and hopefully a play group. I'm not sure how likely it is that we'll meet friends through Matt's work environment, possibly the FRG. It feels impossible right now because I have found such a great group of friends here that not only enjoy spending time with me, but also enjoy playing with Jackson. These ladies are not just surface level friends. We have so much in common and they truly are "my kind of people". I am worried that I'll make friends at Fort Campbell, but they will be the kind of friends you put up with but secretly wish would just find other friends. People who are nice and who you get along with, but no one you would call your new best friend.

Please, Lord, give me a best friend at this post! Preferably someone with a child around Jackson's age who he can play with. Preferably someone of similar rank as Matthew so as not to make things awkward. Thank you, Amen.

Legal Residence

One thing that is currently confusing me about Army moves is "legal residence". Once Matt finishes BOLC we plan on visiting a handful of Army offices to get a will drawn up, all the POAs I need to manage every aspect of our lives, schedule our move, and figure out "legal residence". 

From what I have learned from Army friends and the all-knowing Internet (man, there is a LOT of incorrect information floating out there online!), "home of record" is where you (the service member) were living when you joined the Army. So for us, that would be Virginia. This never changes. "Legal residence" is where you call home, where you pay taxes, where you plan to live when you retire. For us, that sounds like it should be Michigan. This allows service members and non-working dependents to maintain a driver's license and state license plates etc. in the state of "legal residence", even ( especially) when stationed in another state. 

Now, to me, this sounds like if we go to the office and explain that we were both raised in Michigan, have family in Michigan, and hope to move to Michigan when Matt retires, then they will put Michigan as our "legal residence". We can then go to Michigan (a good excuse for a trip) and transfer the deeds to our cars, get new driver's licenses, and get new license plates for our cars. This means that we will use my parents address as our address while we travel for the Army (have to make sure this won't affect them at all if our address is the same as theirs). This means we will not need to change all our info each time we move to a new state, which is annoying and expensive. 

Why can't we just keep the license plates etc. we have now? Matt's is VA and we just renewed it. I just hope it works because I'm sure someone else lives at our old address. I worked it out so the new stickers will arrive in the mail here... And I'm hoping the card will be forwarded to us with our other mail. My license plates are OK since we bought the car here. Same issue once we move. How could we renew if the address is no longer ours? We could possibly hold off on changing everything until next spring since our plates should be valid until July/ August respectfully. We'll see about that. 

Having Michigan as our "legal residence" also means we would vote absentee in MI elections and pay state taxes to MI and not the state we are currently residing in. This is especially beneficial if we move to different states in the same year. No one wants to pay double taxes. 

Added bonus, we get MI plates and licenses again! Matt and I are very proud of our MI roots. I'll be happy if I can get lovely MI plates as opposed to OK. 

So this looks like the best option. I am excited for the possibility and hope I'm not missing anything major on the websites I've been reviewing. I really wasn't looking forward to switching driver's licenses and license plates each move. We'll be coming back to OK at least once and it's expensive to switch things over here! 

So in the Army, check into what you want your "legal residence" to be. It could save you the headache of transferring legal documents and remembering everything you have to switch each PCS. 

Watch Your Words

Watch Your Words.

This thought, command, mantra has been kicking my rear lately.

I just finished reading through Psalms and Proverbs and I read that over and over. My words are one of my most prominent faults. I am quick to speak. Now, I usually speak my mind and I am painfully honest. Fortunately, I have been getting much better about my honesty when it can be hurtful to others. I am slowly learning to think before I speak and add a little tact with the truth. When I speak my thoughts so quickly I often step on the feelings, plans, ideas of others... completely unintentionally. At least I have that, I promise I am not a mean spirited person who spews out hurtful comments on every one around her. I also am becoming more and more aware of how my words affect others so I can be more cautious. So... it is a work in progress. Watch Your Words.

It is also applicable in this new Army lifestyle I've entered. Watch Your Words.

I have joined facebook groups for the post I am currently living at and the post we will be pcs-ing to later in the year. I have been shocked at some of the things the other wives post. Now, I can get over the questions I find immature or unnecessary (because in my mind they should know better). I have to remind myself that these wives come from varying backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, educational levels, and ranks. This does not make them better or worse than myself, so I can get over the questions I find annoying. What I cannot get over, is how the wives vent on an internet public forum about their soldiers, their soldiers' chain of command, the post, the assignment, etc. etc. etc. I know that this lifestyle can get to all of us, but vent and discuss amongst yourselves within your small group of friends. Not where anyone can pull the record of it to read for all to hear. You never know who is reading your words. You never know who this will affect- either with training schedules, deployment/redeployment dates, personal prejudices, promotion schedules, and personal grievances. You just never know. Perhaps your soldier's commander is married. Perhaps he mentions his soldier's to his wife. Perhaps she recognizes your name on the facebook page. Perhaps she reads what you wrote and knows you are referring to your husband. She may pass along your complaints, which may or may not be unfounded, to her husband who could then cause your husband some serious pains. Now, that's just one example that my mind conjured up. But you never know who is listening. You never know who is reading.

Watch Your Words.

I am slowly learning to be slow to speak. Think things through. Think things through again. Remember what your mother taught you, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Watch Your Words.

FDS: Fort Campbell!

Last night we had the Red Leg Social for the BOLC students. It was storming out! We'll discuss that first. So I thought MI weather was bad, but man! Oklahoma weather is bipolar! One minute it's sunny out and I get an alert on my phone that we're under a tornado watch and a thunderstorm warning. I get in the car and it's sprinkling out. Five minutes later it's raining so hard I can hardly see the car in front of me and the wind feels like it's going to blow my car away! By the end of the formal the sky was light again and no rain in sight. So strange!

We arrive at the social and crowd into the entryway of the building. We were not invited into the dining room yet. Three hundred students and some of their spouses all crowded in a small entryway... and most of us were wet from the rain! The attire for the formal was business casual so I wore a conservative dress with a short sleeve ruffle collar cardigan. I was shocked to see a few wives in jeans and T-shirts. I brought Jackson with me since "lap children" were invited as well. He was the only child and I dressed him in a white polo and khaki shorts. Word to the wise- pay attention to dress codes! You reflect on your soldier.

We are welcomed into the dining room and there are two sheets at the front telling soldiers which table they are assigned to. We find our table and there's a frame in the center that says 101st Airborne. We look at each other and say, "Campbell!" There were other officers from those posts at the dinner so we could ask them questions about the post and our next steps. We talked over dinner- it was nice and informal.

Campbell was not really on our radar at all. While it wasn't at the top of our list, it certainly wasn't at the bottom either. Being part of the 101st Airborne certainly won't hurt Matt's career. He'll go to Air Assault school, possibly Airborne school, and will have opportunity to compete for a Ranger School slot. Matt wanted to go to these schools anyways so this will be a good opportunity for him to take advantage of getting in the training he needs/wants. Matt didn't necessarily want light infantry for his specialization, but if he is going to be light he wants 101st.

I have already begun looking into what is available at Campbell. Matt's sister and her husband (Infantry Captain) are currently stationed there so they will be a lot of help in this move, I'm sure. We have applied for on post housing, but we hear the wait is long so we may not be at the top of the list by the time we move. We don't mind living off post as we know there are a lot of nice rentals in the area. We are very ready to get out of our small townhouse and get into a single family home. As we will be stationed at Campbell for at least a couple years we hope to find a comfortable home with enough room to expand our family.

I honestly was a little disappointed we didn't get Fort Lewis or Fort Carson, which were our top choices, but I am getting more and more excited about Fort Campbell as I research it. I certainly won't mind living in TN and being close to Nashville.

Fort Campbell, here we come! We most likely won't move until September, but I am very excited for this next step in our journey.

Be Patient. Give Grace.

Today I reminded myself to practice patience and grace.

Sometimes Army life is unpredictable- ok, strike that. That sentence should read, "Army life is unpredictable." Most people hear about the sudden PCS-ing and "Hurry up and wait", but there is a whole aspect of military life (as a spouse specifically) that doesn't get as much attention.

So... learn to practice patience and grace when:

1. Your soldier is an hour late, doesn't call, and your tummy is telling you it's past dinnertime.

2. Your soldier didn't check his uniform to the last minute so you get to wake up early to take it to the alterations shop tomorrow morning and hope you can pick it up by close of business day so it's ready to wear by Friday.

3. Your soldier doesn't hug or kiss you when he arrives home.

4. Your soldier doesn't sit on the floor and play with your child after dinner.

5. Your soldier forgot to take the box to Goodwill that you asked him to donate.

Just some examples from today. Now, it is good for us to practice patience and grace for our betterment. I mean, who doesn't want to be a more patient and grace-giving person? I know I do. But, it's awfully difficult to be kind when your feelings are hurt and your tummy is grumbling.

But... keep in mind that your soldier probably had a very long day. Who knows how many hours he sat in a stiff chair listening to a monotonous instructor? Who knows how many punches he had to deflect while performing combatives? He probably wasn't told what time he would be released so he wasn't able to tell you he would be late getting home. A lot of times communication in the army isn't the greatest (for instance, we apparently have a reception to go to next week. Yup, next week. Thankfully, I have my dress already. Child care? Thankfully, I have an amazing friend at church who is willing and able to watch Jack). So before you get all huffy with your soldier, just remember that possibly there is a lot on his mind and he doesn't mean to slight you or your child. He doesn't mean to make dinner cold. He doesn't mean to speak gruffly and respond harshly when your son touches his uniform. He is just trying to make it through the week so he can relax (or at least semi-relax) on the weekend. He is just trying to remember everything he needs to get done so he can pass this training class and we can move forward. He is just trying to do his job and keep his sanity.

So show patience and grace. I mean, really, we have a microwave for dinner. Your child wakes you up in plenty of time to get ready to take in his uniform in the morning. You can wait and get a hug and kiss later before bedtime. Your soldier did play with your child during bath time to make up for not seeing him at all today. You are fully capable of taking the box to Goodwill on your next trip into town (all from the list above). So, life goes on (oh bla di oh bla da). Deep breathe. Exhale. Be supportive. Be respectful. Be patient. Give Grace.

Making Friends

When we first moved to Fort Sill, I was excited for a new adventure. After about two weeks of sitting at home (we only had one car then) I became lonely. Now, the month we lived here with only one vehicle was a bit of an exception, because I was really limited in meeting up with people. Our house was still being organized and unpacked so I didn't want to invite people over- plus it's a bit strange meeting new people in your house.

So, once we got our second car I was set on making some new friends and getting out of my rut. Yes, spending every day with Jackson was amazing and wonderful as always, but I wanted play dates for both his sake and mine.

This is our first Army installation so I wasn't sure how to go about making friends. Where did I go first? Facebook, of course! Search "Fort Sill Army Wives" "Fort Sill Play groups" "Fort Sill Bible Study" etc. etc. I am so thankful for social media! As a more naturally introverted, shy person I don't know how I would have done meeting people at the "Officer's Wives Club" or just going to the park/library and striking up conversation with random people around me.

I was able to find a Bible study that happened to be at the church we've been attending! It meets in the morning and has child care available. Perfect for our schedule! I wanted some accountability, fellowship with other women, and social interaction for Jack. I had looked on the church website initially but hadn't seen this study. Thank you, Facebook, for helping me find this group!

I also joined a Facebook groups for army wives and army play groups. I haven't yet met up with anyone through those pages because our kids keep getting sick, but it is nice to be able to write to others and get their recommendations on the area. I have friended some of the members of these groups and we have messaged back and forth. Even this interaction has helped me feel more connected.

What really helped me feel at home- the spouses brief for Matt's training class. This brief was to explain the class to spouses, what to expect, what resources are available to us, and to meet each other. The wives who attended exchanged phone numbers and we met up the next week (and plan to on a weekly basis as often as possible!). These girls are mostly new to Army life just like me. Their husbands are all the same rank and MOS as mine. This group will most likely become my main group of friends while we live here at Fort Sill.

So, there are many avenues for meeting people. It can be a little awkward, but just remember that everyone has been there before. Everyone has had a first installation and knows how difficult it can be to make friends. I hear that as you move from place to place you get more acquainted with meeting people and getting out there. You figure out what groups are available on post and which offices have information that would be useful to you. Just get out there!

You will be as lonely as you let yourself be.

Tragedy

When tragedy strikes, I now view the world differently. Partly because I am a mother, partly because I am an Army wife. Was I a heartless, uncaring individual prior to giving birth and watching my husband become a United States soldier? Not in the least. I have always been an emotionally sensitive person and used to think I empathized with victims of tragedy. I would get tears in my eyes as I sang "The Ones Left Standing" in choir. I would feel sadness for the lives lost, the grief of the survivors, and the souls of the terrorists- in whatever form they may have been. But I did not empathize with them truly. I merely thought it a great loss, but it did not truly seem to affect me or my daily life.

Now, how much will the bombings in Boston affect my daily living now? Honestly, not all that much. I will pray for those involved. I will pray justice will be served. I will be saddened when I read the breaking news. But my day-to-day will continue.

But this is the difference: I do empathize with the mothers and fathers who lost their children, whether the child be young or old. Even the parents whose children were injured. The worst feeling is seeing your child hurting. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. What I do imagine is unthinkable- and the reality must be so much worse. Throughout my child's first year of life I would have moments of terror when I worried he may fall prey to SIDS. I would rush to his side to ensure he was still breathing. These moments of terror must be the most minuscule resemblance of the horror the parents of lost children feel. So I empathize as best I know how with those parents. My heart breaks for them and rejoices with the healing if the children who will recover.

The second difference: I have to wonder how this will affect my husband. He most likely will not be affected directly or immediately- but who was behind the attacks? What were their motives? Who are they in allegiance with? What other plans do they have? Will this turn into war? Will my husband be deployed as part of that war? Where will he be sent? How long will he be there? How hostile will the environment be? Now, I am not worrying about these things yet, but these questions have arisen in my mind throughout the course of the day. Yes, this may be selfish. Yes, I am very thankful that my family and to the best of my knowledge my friends are safe. But as the wife of a soldier, you look at national tragedies in a different light. Your thoughts turn a little selfish. You fear for your husband and his men. You fear that all too soon you will not be empathizing with the victims, you will be one of the victims.

This has been a tragic day. My heart hurts for all the witnesses who will never be able to forget the scene and all the frantic families waiting for news of their loved ones. My heart leaps when you hear stories of those who rushed to help others and risked their lives to save others. In the midst if tragedy, we are reminded that not all of humanity instills terror in the hearts if others. No, our every day neighbors will more than likely be a helping hand in times of trouble. That is where we find hope. That is the beauty of the day. Thank The Lord for His mercy and grace and for teaching us to love and care for our brothers.

How to Stay Healthy as a Veteran: Guest Post by Emily Walsh

Military members! Here is a great article on how to stay healthy! The points in this article are also great for civilian readers. Emily Walsh is the Community Outreach Blogger for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. You may read her blog here. She contacted me when she read my blog and wanted to be sure you all had this valuable information. This is such a great reminder to us all as we go about our busy and demanding military lives. My husband has told me, "I am so thankful to have a job that requires me to stay in good health!" While he does have PT to complete, he also needs to make sure he is making wise choices in other aspects of his life (like diet- he texted that his lunch today, from a fast food restaurant, made him feel like he needed to go into a coma!). Enjoy and please visit Emily's blog!

How to Stay Healthy as a Veteran

Staying healthy after serving in the military is not always an easy task. Veterans were exposed to many toxins and hazards while serving including asbestos, loud gun noises, and other chemical elements from warfare. To prevent conditions from worsening, when veterans are exposed to the elements of war, steps must be taken to avoid chronic conditions:

1. Keep Exercising
When you were in the military, you exercised and trained for war. Your body is accustomed to frequent exercise. Veterans need to continue a regimen of 30 minutes per day at least five days per week. This is necessary to manage cancer, obesity, diabetes, and other conditions that may develop or worsen because of a sedentary lifestyle. If you keep moving, you will help to build the body’s natural defenses.

2.  Eat Healthy
Some people view eating healthy as not enjoyable, but healthy eating can also be flavorful. Veterans should eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that will fight cancer in patients with mesothelioma. Leafy green vegetables, berries, legumes, and nuts are high in antioxidants.  Eating healthy can help improve mood and concentration. Overall well-being and health is improved with a healthy diet.

3. See a Doctor Regularly
Go to the doctor regularly for check-ups. If you have been exposed to asbestos, you should inform your physician and be checked regularly. When physicians can treat mesothelioma early, the chances of survival are greater. Seeing a doctor regularly can also help to plan for a healthy retirement.

4. Monitor Asbestos Exposure
If you were exposed to asbestos while serving in the military, you should monitor your health and also use the resources available to treat the condition. Think back to all the possible places asbestos exposure could have occurred. The most common places are at the shipyard, in insulation, on plumbing, and in tiles around places with significant exposure heat. Beware of these places because of asbestos hazards.

Help to Keep Veterans Healthy
Help to keep veterans healthy by following these simple rules. Veteran health is important because life can be stressful after serving the country. There are times when veterans are depressed and miss the camaraderie of others. Eating healthy and exercising regularly can help to prevent depression and help to maintain good health.

Getting Settled

We've been in Oklahoma for 1.5 weeks. So far, it has exceeded expectations! It helps that our expectations weren't super high to begin with, but it actually seems like a pleasant place to live.

I've begun unpacking my clothes that were in storage while we were in Michigan and I realized a few things. First, how disgusting the smell of cigarette smoke is. My husband and I have never smoked and never even been tempted. In Virginia our neighbors smoked (we lived in a townhouse) and it seemed like they would sit around all evening and smoke like there was no tomorrow. It seeped through the walls and seemed like they were sitting next to us smoking. After awhile we got used to it, but still didn't enjoy it (plus I didn't like that I was breathing it in and that my baby was breathing it in). I was sure people at work thought I smoked because all my clothes smelled of it, but I became pretty immune to it. When we moved to Michigan I had to wash all my clothes right away because the smell seemed so strong! Well, once again as I unpacked clothes that have not been washed the smell is overpowering! I'll be doing lots of laundry tomorrow! So thankful our washer/dryer was finally installed today! Second, I have way too many clothes. Duh. Third, I have Pinterest and fashion blogs to thank for making me a more stylish person (especially being. Mom!). When we moved from VA I went through my clothes and got rid of a lot. But now as I unpack I find so many things that are too young for my tastes now. So many thanks to those who have helped my style develop and mature.

Unpacking house goods had been difficult. We really don't need any lighting in the house except night stand lamps. So I have a lot of standing lamps and table lamps that will just sit around idly. Torn between donating them and saving them for future houses. One broke so at least that's one easy decision.

Now I see the value in the inventory list they (the Army) tells you to make. There are things I still looking for in boxes that I fear I may have just thrown away. I had a large pile of construction paper that is no where to be found- I need if for Jack's birthday invitations! I had been searching for our Tupperware for days only to remember that I had thrown it out since it was slightly distorted from the washing machine. Made sense at the time but now I have to spend more money on new ones (which is actually kinda nice so I can upgrade for better quality). If I had inventories our items I would know what I kept and threw out and I could have also listed what was in each box. Well, all our future moves will involved Army arranged packers so hopefully this will be a nonissue.

Oklahoma is hot. There is generally a nice (to killer) breeze, but it is warm... And it's only March! So... Bu-bye winter wardrobe. I'll keep a few sweaters and cardigans out for the occasional cool day/night... But space bags are on the way for all my heavier items! At least they got some good wear in Michigan.

Again, so far Oklahoma isn't that bad. We've been pleasantly surprised. I found a new hat today at the mall since it's sunny and I hope Jack and I can spend some more time outside. I also found some undershirts that are a good length for under tees (usually too long on me) so I'm a happy camper.

So it goes to show, a new post is what you make of it!

Southward Bound!

So... We made it to Lawton/Fort Sill! My iPhone GPS said it would take 16 hours and 38 minutes from our home in Michigan. We decided that since it would take at least two days we wouldn't get up super early. Yeah, we left by 6:30 am! I guess that's better than our original departure time of 4:30 am!

We were on the road for about 15 hours on day one. We made longer stops for lunch and dinner so that Jack could have a break from his carseat. We only needed to make two additional stops for bathroom breaks/ diaper changes or gas. So not too bad all things considered. We made it to Tulsa and got a hotel.

We drove the length of Illinois, through Missouri, and on into Oklahoma. It was interesting when we would change highways and GPS would say 231 miles to next turn... That's a pretty long time! The drive was pretty easy since it major highways and we stayed on them for hours. Matt and I both drove the first day.

Jack did great in the car. He slept plenty, which was great since he had a icky cold the past week. The rest was probably just what he needed. I would hear his toys moving around and peek back and he would be playing by himself! I was so surprised he wouldn't wake up crying since he was strapped in. I kept a bucket of toys next to him so he could pull them out, but each stop I would put new toys in his lap within easy reach so he had a variety. He cried twice when he just needed a break. As soon as we got out for a bit he was all smiles and didn't fuss getting back in his seat. He was a good little traveler.

The second day we got on the road around 10:30 am and finished the drive to Lawton. We arrived around 1:30 pm. We stopped for some lunch and went to our hotel for the night. We thought we mighty explore, but it was so nice just relaxing at the hotel! We stayed in and Jack loved being able to roam free in the room.

We did some research on the town and post and there are good things and bad things. I'm going to wait a couple weeks for my thoughts in Lawton though. So far, Oklahoma had been a pretty pleasant place. Speed limit on the highways is 75, which is incredible and people seem to be more courteous on the roads. It really doesn't seem that different than Michigan so far, except we can wear short sleeves!

Some things I'm not excited about- no Target in the area, none of my favorites clothing stores in the mall, Comcast doesn't serve our area (which may turn out to be a blessing in disguise I suppose).

I think the most stressful thing about relocating is setting up new Internet, cable, things like that, finding a new gym and a new church, and just finding things period!

Here we go! Our first military installation!

Moving preparations

I have only moved once for the Army (not even from post to post, just from our pre-Army home to our temporary-while-husband-is-in-training home)... but man, there is so much involved! Lots of phone calls to make, things to pack up, travel plans to finalize, and more things to pack up. It truly seems like things appear out of thin air when you are attempting to pack up all your belongings!

So this move: not as stressful since most of our stuff is in storage... but somehow I've accumulated a LOT more "Michigan stuff" than what I originally unpacked when we first moved here in September. I have bought some house things as I found them... and some more clothes, of course... and I suppose we had Christmas and all three of us got some more stuff. Sigh. Also, not as stressful because the Army has arranged the movers and truck.

Still: packing was sure a pain! We are definitely letting the Army pack and move us from here on out. With little hands that want to unpack everything you pack or just want you to hold them, it takes twice as long to finish anything. I kept filling storage tubs and carting them over to the storage unit... and finding more stuff hiding around the house! Thankfully, I know we can use the storage tubs wen we move for our out of season wardrobes, decorations, and things we just won't need for a 6 month stay. So at least we won't have lots of empty containers lying around the house. Of course, at least one tub will remain in the play room for Jack's entertainment!

The Army transportation office has proven to be very helpful and efficient so far. We have not had any issues with scheduling the move so far and it has been pretty headache free as far as the Army side of things go. Fill out some forms, turn them in, make a few phone calls, wait for the movers to arrive and load up your stuff. The movers are currently loading our belongings into the moving truck. Pretty hassle free.

Some definite do's for moving:

*Make a list... maybe a couple lists! You think you will remember everything because it has to get done, but when you've taped up the 15th box that day and you're little one needs some love and attention, you may forget to schedule your car for a tune up (thankfully, I called today and they have a clear day so that won't be a problem. We're driving our car to OK so we want to make sure all is in order). Good lists to have: phone calls to make, things that need address changes, things to take with you during the move- not on the moving truck, if you're packing your own stuff- a schedule for packing to keep you on track. On my packing schedule list I made sure to add "Devos" and "Playtime" each day so I wouldn't get caught up and forget what was really important. I made sure to keep on my devotions schedule and take breaks to play with Jack throughout the day.

*Give yourself breaks. Take a half hour to just sit down. Watch a movie you've been wanting to see one evening. Make some coffee... and then again later in the day! Go for a walk. Go to the store- yes, you will need to pick up some moving supplies, but while you're there browse the office supplies (my happy place) and pick up some sweet indulgences (iced oatmeal cookies for me!).

*Don't let yourself get too stressed out. Accept help. Ask for help. Don't over commit yourself to social gatherings. Get a babysitter if you're trying to pack up on your own. Cry if you need to (been there...).

*Purge purge purge. If you're in the Army you'll most likely be moving several times. Think about what you really want to cart with you each time. Three copies of pictures from college that you printed to frame, scrapbook, and an extra just in case? Maybe only keep one. An old raggedly towel that you never use, even for mess cleanup? Toss. With me, the most difficult things to purge are clothes and books! I've gotten much better about clothes, but books are precious to me. Most of the weight of our belongings comes from books!

*Plan ahead with the items you're bringing with you during travel. I your mind you have more space than you actually do. Set out all the items you want to bring and then go from there. Have enough clothes etc. to last a week or two just in case the moving truck is delayed. Take necessary bedding with you, but don't go overboard. Our packing list: mostly toys to occupy the baby! Since we won't have baby gates or his larger toys, we're bringing most of his small toys with us so he has a wide selection. Also, don't forget snacks for the road and plenty of baby food if you have a little one.

*Keep valuables with you! We have a small safe that keeps our personal documents and valuables (jewelry, bonds, etc) in. It will be going in the car with us for safe keeping. Not that we don't trust the movers, but if something happened to the truck it may be difficult to get the safe right away. You never know when you'll need your birth certificate or SS card or something.

*On that note, keep a copy of your soldier's orders with you and any other moving documents you may need once we arrive at your new post. I bought a compact folder to keep those docs in and use one of the other parts of the folder for our traveling receipts for reimbursement.

Remember to breathe. It will happen. Everything will get done. Now that I don't have anything else to pack up I hardly know what to do with my newfound free time! It's a relief actually. A couple days of rest and relaxation and then we begin our drive! Sigh.