Military Resources
Until we recently moved on base, I never shopped at the Commissary or Exchange. Living off base meant it was quicker just to go to the local grocery store to get what I needed. But then we got orders overseas... Moving overseas came with a world of new experiences for my family, including learning how to frugally navigate the [...]
living overseas
9 Reasons Military Spouses Don’t Want to Move OCONUS
I've never minded when my husband got orders, and we had to move. It meant we could start all over again. I mean, yes, having to pack everything is a pain and saying goodbye to friends is never easy. But the flip side meant we could explore a new place. Having said that, I always worry my husband will get orders overseas, and I don't [...]
MilSpouse Life5 Things MilSpouses Want Their Far Away Friends to Know
My throat felt tight. I hugged my soon-to-be long distance friend one last time in the parking lot of a local breakfast joint. I chocked back the tears as best I could, but it was a losing battle. They started to stream down my face, mingling with the sweat from my morning run. My friend and I half-smiled as we watched our kids play [...]
21 Long Distance Friendship Truths Only a Military Spouse Will Understand
I stood in my living room looking out the window when I saw her. She was walking her golden retriever around the neighborhood, and I vividly remember—as if it happened this morning—seeing her bubbly brown-haired self and the dog walk past the front of my house in slow motion. I was dealing with some major PCS anxiety because all I kept [...]
DeploymentThe Magic Way Military Families Stay Connected Across the Miles
I heard the phone ringing and the feeling of pins and needles immediately rippled from my shoulders down to my fingertips. I was right in the middle of giving my son a bath. With urgency in my voice, I told my son, “Hurry daddy’s on the phone. It’s time to get out.” I scurried to pull my son out of the bath, grab a towel, and run to the [...]
5 Things You Miss Most Living Far From Family
When we first moved to Japan, I knew it would change us forever. So much of the change I anticipated was good. Honestly. We wanted to come here. We volunteered. And we are really pretty happy here. People often ask us if we will extend our tour in Japan when our time is up. Countless military families do this, and funny enough, some stay [...]
10 Things You Forgot to Put on Your PCS Checklist
If you are getting ready to PCS for the first time or the tenth time, it's easy to forget about packing a few things that come in very handy during your PCS move. This is all about things you forgot to pack in your suitcase before the big move. So whether you are moving stateside or overseas, go ahead and grab your moving overseas [...]
Best Moving Overseas Checklist for Military Families
If you are preparing for a military overseas PCS move then you definitely want a moving overseas checklist! Moving overseas can be a very stressful time for military families. It certainly was for us! I will spare you the long version of the story, but my husband was away at school in another state as we were preparing to move overseas to [...]
What It’s Really Like to Live as a Military Family Stationed Overseas
When the opportunity for Japan came up, my husband and I volunteered to move there. Really we did. People are always surprised to hear that. “Oh, Japan. Really?” “Yes, really!” We saw Japan as an amazing opportunity to gain life experience, learn another culture, and do something we never did before. Of course, we would miss our [...]
