5 Things I've learned during my 1st PCS move

So we did it!

We finally got our first orders to PCS (permanent change of station). These were very expected PCS orders, ones we'd been anticipating for four years (that, by the grace of God, turned into 5 years). However, I don't think anything can quite prepare you for the move across country, especially with a toddler. But here are 5 things I've learned as first time PCS-er. 

1. Don't worry about preparing for the movers. 

About two months before our move I started freaking out, "What should I pack?", "I need to clean this out.", "I need to organize this".... You're probably going to do it too, but rest assure that the movers will come in and pack everything. Your organized bathroom with be repacked, tipped over and moved multiple times before you see it again. So don't  

Tip: I did find an idea on Pinterest where someone suggested having different colored tape for each room of the house (example: Kids room is blue, your room is yellow, etc.) when you get to your new house you put the same color tap above that door then the movers know where to put things without you having to stand there and telling them. I thought that was nonsense, but it would have been so helpful for everyone and I'm definitely going to try it on my next PCS. 

2. Be prepared for your new location

The best advice I got was to pack towels and a few pots an pans in your car. 

WHAT?! I would never have thought of that on my own, when you get to your new house you're most likely going to want to take a shower, but if you have to dig through multiple boxes to get those towels out, no one is going to be happy. You're also probably going to be so sick of eating out, if you have a few pots and pans you can make a nice home cooked dinner with some face dollar tree plates and utensils. 

4. Take advantage of a free vacation! 

We have been planing this PCS before we were married. Brian had been stationed in Virginia while we were dating and we knew in 4-5 years we'd be going back there for this schooling. We'd planned the trip about 5 different ways, we were excited for the opportunity to explore the country and things we've never seen before. We are the definition of "History Nerd' and we knew we'd have to see as much as we could so we strategically planned a trip to see things we've only before read about, our favorite being San Antonio where we saw the riverwalk and the Alamo.
The military usually (used loosely, because after all it IS the military) gives you ample time to move, look for some historic sights on your way and enjoy your transition with your family. 

5. Pick a hotel chain and stick with them.

We chose La Quinta Inns Suites as our hotel of choice. Why? 

Well, most of them except dogs at no extra charge and, although we usually woke up earlier than the breakfast, the provide a pretty decent breakfast. The Perk was that we earned ourself a free night (which we enjoyed during our 4 day memorial weekend exploring the east coast),  they do a military discount, and you automatically move up to the second level of their rewards program.

As you can tell I highly recommend La Quinta, but which ever hotel you choose, stick with it and earn a free night to explore the new area around you.

Tip: We learned quickly to choose La Quinta Inn Suites instead of just La Quinta Inn. We found most time the Suites were in a better area and a better experience all around. 

Have fun!

 Don't stress too much, many have come before you and have survived, chances are you're just as smart, if not smarter than them!
What is your biggest PCS piece of advice or what you would do differently? Share in the comments below! 

a ring :)

A year ago on the 27th, it was a Thursday... I was getting dressed for a date with my boyfriend. He had been at what I thought was training all day because he was getting ready to leave for a month long Army training to learn what he was going to do in Afghanistan. I was a little annoyed because I didnt know why to wear, my best friend was telling me he was getting me towels and I got fake flowers, but the night ended with being proposed to TWICE and saying "YES!!" twice... then Brian placing this on my finger....

It was the busiest, quickest and slowest 91 days from October 27th until January 28th when I got marry the man of my dreams.

Yesterday I received a present, it was something I had asked for and had been ordered months ago, but never got delivered. The timing was perfect, it wasn't an anniversary gift, it was just a gift, but it couldn't have made more sense.

I got this.. a beautiful ring... its a heart with a yellow ribbon in it, I've wanted it for a long time and it got sent to my house. I felt that I could only receive it during deployment because of the yellow ribbon.
I started thinking today... I got a ring a year ago and within that year my life has flipped a million times. I am so grateful that I dont have to wait 91 days to see the love of my life, I should have a LOT less days, but it is a great reminder to pray for his safe return... and SOON return :)

"Soooo... how is married life?" ( a little ramble)

This is a question that I get often, its officially been 6 months and about 5 days since I married the most amazing man on the planet. I'm sure this is when the honey moon phase ends and the little tiffs and craziness begins, but for us it is a little tricky. I feel like we are stuck in month two. The other day I as talking about scrapbooks and what to do for our wedding scrapbook and I said "we'll have the wedding, the engagement and then next year I can make my one year album and by that I actually meant my two year album." I wonder  if it will ever feel like we are really married for a year and then two... will out ten year anniversary really feel like out nine year? I hope not...I hope they always feel like the first two months :)

we're goobers and we celebrate everything. I know that six months wouldn't have been different, but instead I spent the day filling picture frames and looking at the most amazing flowers I've received in a long time. I am blessed being stuck in honeymoon phase and totally okay with it :)

A little Boom Boom Pow

well, as some of you know Brian and I moved on to base two weeks before he left. I have to admit it was the best life choice we made since getting married :). However there are a lot of things that come along with living on base. The speed limit is 25 mph, if you lose your ID you have to register to get on and it takes you twice as long to get anywhere on base.
The biggest thing is the evenings though. At 6pm and 10pm they play a beautiful version of Taps over the loud speaker. I can't hear it from inside, but I try to plan our evening ousting with Jack for that time so I can hear it, its my favorite thing ever! However the other noise the evening brings drives me CRAZY!! There is a shooting range on base (who would have thought right?) and I can hear that in the house. It drives me nuts and I just want it to stop. I understand its important but come on, keep it down! ALSO the ridiculous helicopters are so loud.
I get it... its to protect us, but it also scares me and makes me wish my husband was here even more!

-The end

What a year can do to you....

The last year has been crazy! 

10 months ago I was on the other coast two months after graduating visiting my boyfriend who was in Officer training. 6 months ago I began planning my wedding to the man of my dreams and 3 months ago I got marry him :) Then a month ago I had to say good-bye for 9 months. (Eight in a few days :) ) 

This has been a scary, long and tiring 25 days. I am hoping to blog more, but I'm also hoping to finish my thank you notes, clean my house and figure out this whole bill paying stuff. We'll see what happens... the blog will probably get the first attention. 

On a more fun note... It was this little mans birthday this weekend. 

I got make his smash cake :) 

and he even shared :) 

it was a good, but long day... that is for sure! 

Also, on the 2nd my BFF had her birthday! We weren't able to make it since Uncle Brian left on the 1st, but he was sure to make sure she got the most perfect present any 3 year old  girl could need  :) 

The little booger wouldn't take off her pants for the picture and when they told her to smile they said "open your eyes and smile like auntie Sarah" Apparently I smile with my mouth wide open... 

She sure is over dramatic :) 

Calling my bluff

Since I can remember I have "wanted to get married and have babies", I have been challenged to not limit myself and be open to other things have God wants from me. I appreciate the challenge, but I am 100% confident that God has be exactly where he wants me. However, it is still a challenge.

Sunday morning I dropped off my "other half" to to travel 1/2 way around the world. Everyone who knows me knows the above fact about always wanting to be a wife and mom, but only a few of them know that I have always wanted to be a military wife. When I was little my dad had an army jacket that I loved to wear and sparked a fascination in the military. During different encounters I have leaned that the military is great, but there is a lack of Jesus. About 2 years ago my heart became heavy with the need of Christian influence in the military and not just Christians, but people who are willing to live within the military transparent lives.

This is a new exciting "venture" that I get to experience, man it has been a long year... going from dating a man, to being engaged to a man, to marrying a man and now living life with him on the different side of the world.

I will be tracking our journey on here!

a little blurb from Brians new blog

As hard as it was to continue walking away, I am constantly reminded of Matt's words at community group, "it sucks, but it's also a great opportunity for God to use you." These words have resounded in my head a multitude of times since he said them. I'm so excited to see not only what God does in my life through this time, but also what he does for Sarah. I know we will be stronger and develop some great relationship through this deployment.

(http://brianfrausto.blogspot.com/)

I got proposed to....TWICE!

Last thursday I said YES to the biggest venture of my life.. Becoming Mrs. Brian Frausto! We'd been praying and making pro/con list for a few months. Was it too soon? We've only been together for a few months, is this for real or just mushy love? It was only a few weeks until I knew I was in love with this man and there has never really been a "what if" but more so a "when. So that being said I left WA on Wednesday October 19 to go to CA hoping we were getting married in Feb, but knowing he was unsure still, knowing he was leaving the following weekend for a month of training and knowing he still hadn't talked to my Dad. all that being said here is how the story goes...

While in CA I got a text from Brian asking me if I wanted to go out to celebrate our 8 months before he left, of course it came to my mind that he might propose but I still couldn't figure out how he talked to my dad and bought a ring within a week. So... Thursday,date night, came along and I was pretty sure it was happening until I went to Brian's apartment to drop something off and there was a box for Bed Bath and Beyond on his doorstep. I asked him was it was and be said not to worry about it.

That threw me off... He bought me a present not a ring, whatever!

So after spending a good two hours getting ready, picking an outfit and making a last min change my prince charming arrived with a beautiful bouquet of Purple flowers. We got in the car and headed off. He wouldn't answer my questions, but he was so calm I knew he wasn't asking me to be his wife. He drove me to a place That overlooked the water in Tacoma, we got out of the car and all I saw where logs... So I asked if we could play on them. Real mature huh? Being ever who calm he held my hand as I enjoyed it. Then he said "hey look over there" I looked over and saw this

(pictures I took before the toast!)

A Romantic picnic for two under a canopy over looking a beautiful peninsula. As we walked up I saw a pink basket sitting on my chair, wine glasses and beautiful red flowers. We sat down (in our new chairs) and started pulling out our picnic dinner (from our new picnic basket, which was in the bed, bath and beyond box that threw me off). He pulled out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, champagne, cheese and crackers and chocolates from Godiva. He opened the cheese and crackers for me to start nibbling on while he opened the champagne (which I made him shake up to see how loud we could make it pop, how far the cork would go and how much fuzz we can make fuzz over). He poured our champagne and said he wanted to make a toast to us.
This was the first time he got nervous and that was when I knew what was going on...for real! I started tearing up and trying to take in everything that he was saying! After trying to remember what he wanted to say he pulled out his toast that he wrote and read it to me. He said some amazing things and then explained our dinner and our relationship...
"You and I have a cheesy (cheese and crackers) yet quirky and fun relationship. We go together like PB&J (sandwiches) . Our strength make up for eachothers weaknesses. An like the finest most expensive chocolate our love is a sweet indulgence (Godivia) . So take up your glass and celebrate with me because 7 is the number of completion and 8 (the number of flowers on the table) is the number of new beginnings."
he then walked over, stood in front of me and said, as he got down on one knee,
"Sarah Bethany Trout, will you do me the honor of taking my hand in marriage and living out this crazy life together?"
I said YES! I kissed him and he reached in to get the ring and as he opened the box, his face dropped and he looked panic as he said "Babe, the ring isn't here"... now having the cheesy relationship that we do I thought he was joking, but not he was not. He started frantaically looking on the ground to see if it fell out and in his pocket then he said "Oh no I grabbed the wrong box" and without saying a word he RAN to the car... as I yelled "Run BABY RUN!!!!". He ran back, got down on his knee again and said "Sarah, will you spend the rest of THIS crazy life with me"
With laughter and great joy I said "Yes!" again.
So, January 28,2012 I am marrying the man of my dreams and living out the rest of this crazy life with him!

Our friend Chuck was in the bushes trying to take pictures of the proposal, unfortunately it was too dark, but we were able to get post engagement pictures. So much fun!

My eight flowers that symbolize the 8 months that we were starting

The pink box on the right is a box full of engagement things that Brian put together for me.. it had two bridal magazines, a picture frame, a new wine glass painted in a wedding theme, tick tacs, lip gloss and the movie 27 dresses. I love that he put that together for me.

After going to dinner, where we didn't take a picture, we wen to see Brian's friend Felicia and tell her the fun story and thank her for all her help coming up with ideas we spent some time there and then went back to Brian's apartment to finish our champagne, change our facebook status' and relish in the fact that we were going to spend forever together...

annnnd there might have been a little wedding planning done as well! :)
(he's just so handsome!)

I am one positively absolutely lucky and blessed girl! :)