Reusing Books as Gifts

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My daughter is an avid reader and just recently read 30 books in 30 days!  Kaitlyn has always been a reader and when it came time for us to PCS (move) from Maryland to Alaska I knew she would want books to read along the way.  During yard sale season I was able to purchase around 50 books at very cheap prices (yes she read about 30 on the trip and the rest within the month of being in Alaska).  My daughter is like me when it comes to reading; we read the book once and then the book is never opened again.  As I look at her pile of books I wonder should I sell them, or donate them.  Then I came to this conclusion, re-gift them!  There are many books that look brand new that I can go through the piles of books and decide on keeping it for gifts or donate.   

Books are always a great gift to give and because of the large volume of books we have I can save money on a gift or two!

For more Frugal Friday tips jump on over to Life As Mom.

Pictures of Our Journey....

A couple of days ago we celebrated our one year mark of being in Alaska and I also mentioned how much I loved our drive from Maryland to Alaska.  Today I thought I would share a few pictures of our trip; there was so many to choose from but these memories really stick out:

One year ago....

One year ago today is when we first arrived in Alaska.  After a three week travel starting in Maryland then to Indiana to Minnesota to Mount Rushmore to Canada and many more stops along the way we finally reached our destination.  When we first left Maryland I had no idea what God had planned for us but I was praying for traveling mercies and His hand of protection upon us.  That three week trip was the most memorable trip I had ever experienced. 

At the beginning of our trip we stopped along the way to spend some much needed time with our families.  While in Indiana my husband was able to spend the last birthday his brother would ever celebrate on this Earth.  While it was a sad day leaving Indiana it was a day not forgotten.   

Our next stop was Minnesota to spend time with my family.  My children had a great time with their cousins and a lot of "catching up" was done between them and the rest of the family.  After spending a week and a half there it was time to pack up the truck and head out to our new life that God had planned for us.  It was really hard on my two blessings to leave family, as I am sure it was for the family, but they understood why.

After 24 hours leaving Minnesota and a week and a half after leaving Indiana my husband received a call that his brother went to be home with the Lord.  That was a sad day.  My husband did say that he was very thankful for the time he did spend with his brother while we were in Indiana.

When we left Minnesota we considered ourselves on a family vacation.  We were not in a hurry to get to Alaska so the hubby and I decided that we would soak up every minute together that we could.  We stopped at Mount Rushmore for a day and a half and allowed my daughter to see something that she has long to see. 

I think my favorite part of the entire trip was driving through Canada.  We had no cell phone coverage, no computers, and no distractions.  It was just the four of us and the dog and cat.  We had so many laughs together, and created many memories. 

I cannot believe it was one year ago today that we arrived in our new home state.  The time truly has gone fast, we have met many new friends, attend a wonderful church and more memories were created. I look back and think that I had no worries; I knew God wanted us here and He was going to bring us.  Because I know He has a plan for me (Jer 29:11). 

Tomorrow I will share some pictures of us along the way! 

"Trip Across the Nation" Part 2

If you have missed the introduction and part one please click here and here.

My son, of course, had no idea where Alaska was but my daughter did, and I could see her starting to put some pieces together.  I was wondering how long it was going to be before she really started asking questions.  My son asked "mom where is Alaska?"  I tried explaining to him where it was and how far away it was from Maryland.  My son being four at the time obivsouly could not fathom the huge change that was about to take place in his life six months later.  My daughter did.  Kaitlyn was quiet the entire 35 minute drive home.  She asked no questions, commented on nothing, and would only give me one word answer if I asked her a question.  I decided that right now I would let her take in what she just heard, and try to sort it all out, and that the hubby and I would sit down with the blessings that evening.

"Trip Across The Nation" Part 1

We were reaching our three year mark of being stationed in Maryland, and we had a decision to make.  We were debating on not trying to get an assignment and see if we could just stay in Maryland.  We had some awesome friends, we loved our house, and we were about a day drive from grandparents.  After much debate we decided just to see what kind of assignments were available.  We did not want to take a chance of staying there in Maryland over our time and then the hubby receive orders for some place like Korea (where family does not go, and it is a year assignment).  We were trying to go back overseas to Europe.  There was one assignment available and when the hubby requested the post, we were denied due to my hubby not being in a deployable unit.  In other words, our next assignment was going to be one where my hubby would be deploying.  Something our two blessings have not dealt with, in regards to dad.

I was out with my forever neighbor doing some thrift store shopping when my hubby called and told me that we did not get our overseas assignment but he did get us a different assignment.  This is how our conversation looked like:

Hubby: "I called the branch manager and she told me that we did not get our overseas assignment that we were looking out." "But I did get us another assignment."

Me: "okaaaaaay" "where are we going?"

My forever neighbor: (in the background saying) "noooo you can't leave"

Hubby: "Alaska"

Me: "ALASKA!!!!!!!!!!!" (that was a good thing) "Which post are we going to?

Hubby: "I am not sure, she told me that there are two available slots, Richardson and Wainwright.  I told her to put us in either one."

Me: "Okay, which one did she put us in?"

Hubby: "I am going to call her back and let you know." "But it is hard to get a hold of them, so we may not find out today, and we may have to wait until it post to EDAS (just a website where they post your assignment.)

Me: "Okay just let me know when you hear?"

I then get off the phone and I cannot believe that we are finally going to Alaska.  We had tried going there in 2003 but there were no available assignments, so we went to England instead.  My forever neighbor kept saying, "no, you can't leave". 

Now when I had gotten off the phone with my hubby, my neighbor and I were just getting out of the car and walking into the Salvation Army, and that is when the hubby called.

Hubby: "Babe, I got a hold of her, which I was shocked because it is so hard" "Anyways, she said that she put us at Fort Wainwright." "Also, I looked in EDAS and it is already in the system." (It usually takes a couple of weeks to show up in the system.)

Me: "Okay, I guess we are going to Alaska" "Where is Wainwright?" "Anchorage or Fairbanks?"

Hubby: "I am not sure, hang on, let me check...."

My forever neighbor: "no you can't leave"

Hubby: "Fairbanks" "Oh, and my report date is October 10th."

Me:  "Okay, I will check housing and everything when I get home." "October?" "That means we have six months before we move." "Okay, we will be fine."

My forever neighbor: "we can go to my house and check.....you can't leave"

So, my forever neighbor and I then went to her house, and jumped on the website for housing and to check out the post.  That is what us military wives do.  It is very important to us to know how big the Commissary is, the PX, the schools, and of course what housing looks like. 

After about an hour of looking I had to go get the blessings from school.  I decided that I would pick them up a little early so I could tell them the news.  I would so excited, and I couldn't wait to see what God had in store for us.

I picked up the blessings, and immediately told them that dad was able to get a new assignment today.  Little man asked "what is a new assignment?" My daughter then went on to answer him and told him that we are moving.  They both asked "where are we going?"

I said "Alaska"

They both said at the same time....

"ALASKA??????"

To be continued.......

"Trip Across the Nation and Then Some"

As many of you know, my dear hubby of mine is Active Duty Army (a true hero in my eyes), and he has been for about 16 years.  During this series "Trip Across the Nation and Then Some" I wanted to share with you every thing God had done for us during our LOOOOONG move this past fall.  So here is the introduction:

Many people may not know how the military works so I would like to take a moment to try and explain it from the Army standpoint (because I know more about it ;).  Like all branches of the military it is made up of enlisted or officer personnel.  Each person has a thing called a MOS (military occopational specialties), for example an 11Bravo is an infantryman or a 77Foxtrot is a fuel handler specialist.  This is their job that they work for in the Army.  Each job can take you to so many places across the nation or the world, and each job is important. 

After you join the military and complete all required schooling you will then be given a duty assignment.  You are able to request certain stations but of course it depends on where the Army needs you.  Most duty stations you are required to stay for three years, and then you are to PCS (permanent change of station or otherwise known as move), but I have heard of stateside soldiers staying longer than three years.  Also, did you know that Hawaii and Alaska are considered oversea assignments??? 
Sometimes you are able to call your branch manager, or the person in charge of assignments in your MOS, to see if there are any assignments available for you.  There are requirements, and it is not guaranteed that you will receive the assignment you requested.  This is my favorite part, but yet nerve racking part.  Favorite because not knowing what the assignment choices are, and nerve racking because of not knowing what the assignment choices are!

If you are accepted for the assignment you chose, then you will wait on your PCS orders (these state that you are moving to a new duty station, and these are very important!).  Once you receive your orders, you are able to start clearing your old duty station and start preparing for your new station. 

Sometimes it can be very stressful and sometimes everything falls into place.  When we left England it started to become stressful but when we moved from Maryland it all fell into place (trust me when I say though that Maryland was stressful but we did not allow the stress to affect us).  Thanks be to God!

So that is the Army in a nutshell in regards to our duty assignments....I hope I explained well, if not please feel free to email if you have questions.

Please look for the next part to "Trip Across the Nation and Then Some"