Because moving shouldn't be all work and no play

Military Moving 101

A friend commented that she had no idea so much was involved in each of our moves so I thought I'd post just a few things we address with each move by the non-military move initiated amongst our friends and loved ones.

They do all the packing for you don't they?
What this does NOT mean.  We can sit back sipping a diet Coke or lemonade whilst professional packers come in and pack up all our things.

What this does mean:  We have to sort, declutter and decide what is going. (and in an overseas move, this means THREE shipments).  We have weight limits based on rank so care has to be taken to make sure we do not own too many things, lest we pay a fine for the excess weight. . Anything NOT to be packed, needs to be removed from sight and even the premises lest an enthusiastic packer, packs it before you realize it. (and that would be why I will have 2 coffee tables in England and not one, and why some families have unpacked filled trash cans at their new home)  Also, packers must be watched to be sure things are cared for properly and inventories are recorded accurately. (no, that 100 year old desk isn't broken nor is it splinters and glue as recorded on your inventory, it is an ANTIQUE!)

Military pays for it.
What this does not mean:  A move costs us nothing.

What this does mean:  The government pays for a certain number of days of lodging on either end of the move, an allowance for meals for each family member, plane tickets for overseas moves (and mileage expenses if we are driving, which may or may not actually cover the current gas prices).  Deposits, cleaning costs, moving incidentals such as meals during the packing process, curtains and rugs for new home, etc, come out of our pocket.

You've done this so many times, you must be an expert at it.
What this does not mean: It is possible to be such a moving expert that a move becomes stress free.

What this does mean:   Experience is quite valuable but doesn't take into account the increasingly complex logistics of moving a growing family, nor the military's propensity to change their system and way of doing things every year or so whether its broken or not, nor the fact that every state/country has different requirements and ways of doing things that must be navigated while setting up a new home. Bottom line is a move is stressful no matter how many times we've done it. We still get weary and stressed, and do really dumb things, make mistakes and do not always act like ourselves.

Farewell Sweet Ella

Ella has begun her journey to her new family. It was with a heavy heart that we made the decision to let her go.  An overseas move is grueling at best and for a sweet girl like our Ella who is more advanced in years, we thought it would be best for her.

We are excited she will have a new family and a new child to love but we will miss her.

You know you're a military couple when

you head off to celebrate your anniversary covered with grime, in dirty clothes, and totally worn out from a day of supervising packers and cleaning the house, because its the only day you could squeeze in a little getaway to celebrate because you are in the midst of yet another move.

And here I was all excited b/c this move was not going to happen on my birthday as so many others have....

Starbucks should consider delivering

Nothing like a move to teach you lessons about yourself.  This morning I have learned, I am a coffee addict.  Notice I said, coffee, not caffeine.  In fact, I rarely do caffeine as it makes me jittery and anxious.   However, I do have coffee every morning as I have my quiet time.

Yesterday, Kyle, our very nice packer, offered to leave out the coffee so we could make our morning coffee.  Since we are not taking the coffee maker (wrong voltage for the UK) it would have been an easy thing to do.  However all the mugs are packed and MWC pointed out there's nothing to drink it in but red SOLO cups (and now I've got THAT song stuck in my head!) so we let him pack up the coffee and filters. Seemed a reasonable decision...at the time.

So now, I'm sitting here wishing Starbucks delivered and trying to decide if the quick trip to 7-11 is worth it or if I should take the extra 5 minutes to get to Starbucks or if I should just man up and drink some apple juice in my red SOLO cup.

Just one more decision in the plethora of decisions that must be made during the moving process.

I don't know how you do it

If I had a dime for every time I heard that statement, I'd be a very rich woman. 

I hear it in regards to homeschooling. I hear it in regards to having 5 children.  And more often than not, I hear it in regards to being a military wife.

The answer is actually very simple.  I do it by the grace of God.  He has planned this course for me and called me to it, and He gives me the strength, the means, and the ability to do it.

A huge part of the means God gives me to live this military life lies in the answers to the Why I do it.

I do it because....

1. My husband loves his job.  He feels a strong calling to serve the Lord by serving his country.  He is very good at what he does and is confident that he is doing exactly what God wants him to be doing.

2. I love my husband.  I plant no roots in any one place, but I am bound to him by a deep love and commitment and will go wherever he goes to be with him.  He is an awesome husband and father and I am honored to be serving by his side.

And so it begins

Rumbling motor of moving van as it approaches the house.

Packing tape KSSSZZZZTing as it gets pulled off the rolls.

Smell of cardboard freshly unpacked awaiting the tape to bring it to form.

Empty boxes awaiting content.

Paper scrunching around fragile items.

Smell of diesel fuel as the first of your belongings are carted off hoping to meet you at your new destination.

So begins move #12......