For all of my fellow Military wives...

Lots of moving... Moving... Moving... Moving far from home... Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course. Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house; Moving curtains that won't fit; Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours. Moving away from friends; Moving toward new friends; Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.
Often waiting... Waiting... Waiting... Waiting for housing. Waiting for orders. Waiting for deployments. Waiting for phone calls. Waiting for reunions. Waiting for the new curtains to arrive. Waiting for him to come home, For dinner...AGAIN!
They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better: She is fiercely In-Dependent. She can balance a check book; Handle the yard work; Fix a noisy toilet; Bury the family pet... She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts. She can file the taxes; Sell a house; Buy a car; Or set up a move...all with ONE Power of Attorney.
She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her. She reinvents her career with every PCS; Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south. And learns to call them all 'home'. She MAKES them all home.
Military Wives are somewhat hasty... They leap into: Decorating, Leadership, Volunteering, Career alternatives, Churches, And friendships. They don't have 15 years to get to know people. Their roots are short but flexible. They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.
Military Wives quickly learn to value each other: They connect over coffee, Rely on the spouse network, Accept offers of friendship and favors. Record addresses in pencil...
Military Wives have a common bond: The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique. He doesn't have a 'JOB' He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit... He's on-call for his country 24/7. But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town! His language is foreign TDY PCS OPR SOS ACC BDU ACU BAR CIB TAD EPR And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his. She is the long- distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.
A Military Wife has her moments: She wants to wring his neck; Dye his uniform pink; Refuse to move to Siberia; But she pulls herself together. Give her a few days, A travel brochure, A long hot bath, A pledge to the flag, A wedding picture, And she goes. She packs. She moves. She follows.
Why? What for? How come? You may think it is because she has lost her mind. But actually it is because she has lost her heart. It was stolen from her by a man, Who puts duty first, Who longs to deploy, Who salutes the flag, And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband, She will remain his military wife. And would have it no other way.

Otto Family Update

Hello again everyone!  It's been quite a few years since I've blogged & I apologize!  LOTS has happened in our household & I guess I should post a quick update.  :)

Since I last blogged, we have had 2 MAJOR changes....in December 2011 we moved from Florida to Virginia....& in November 2015, Jay transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as a geobachelor (meaning the kids & I are staying in Virginia while he completes his tour).  I also was able to leave my FT 9-5 job at the local Realtor Association in March 2015 to focus my full attention to my Thirty-One business & team.  :)  

The kids are growing like weeds.  Kali will be 16 in just a few short months.....really not sure how THAT happened.  She is a Freshman in high school & in the band.  Her favorite subjects are band & math.  Abby is 15 & her favorite subject is French. She would love to visit Paris someday.  Kaleb is going to be 14 in just a couple months & has his whole life planned out.  HAHA!  I call him my personal Sheldon (from the Big Bang Theory).

Sam (our Yorkie) is 15 &, sadly, quite blind & deaf now. We are treasuring each day we have with him...because we know they are numbered.  Sadie is, well, Sadie.  HAHA!  She's 120 pounds of energy & love.

As I said before, Jay is in Hawaii now for his last tour in the Navy.  November 2017 can't get here fast enough!  I am keeping busy with 3 crazy teenagers, 2 dogs, a house to manage, & a Thirty-One team to celebrate, encourage, & reward!  :)

Our life is crazy & choatic....but it's OUR life!

Just gonna leave this right here.....

Otto Family Pics 2010

WOW! I've been MIA!

WOW! I can't believe I've been MIA from my blog for SO long! Lots has happened...so much that it's going to take awhile to get this updated! ;)

• Jay & I are officially on the 'hurry up & wait' list for the Navy to fix my tubes! YAY! They are saying it will be between early-late summer...

• We get to put in for orders next month!! YAY! We are looking at staying here, or moving to Dahlgren or Norfolk, Virginia...we will know what the plan is by early summer (hopefully) so that we can get the kids & I moved up wherever before school starts!

• Kids are GOOD! It's hard to believe how much they've grown & how old they are getting. :(

• Jay (obviously) got home safely from deployment...the ship returned September 19, 2010

• I'M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!! I've decided what I want to do...I've always helped others, so I'm going to stick with that. I'm going to go for a Bachelors of Science in Psychology.

• I decided in the fall to stay on at the Ombudsman for Jays ship (USS The Sullivans)...I will probably turn over in early/mid summer to a new Ombudsman (especially since we'll be moving). I thoroughly love the families/Sailors from our ship & just couldn't part with them...

That's about it...for now...I'm sure that I'll be posting pictures SOON...but for now, I'll let you get back to your regularly scheduled programming! :) Have a great week!

This & That...

Well, a week ago mom & dad got here & were here until Friday visiting. We had a GREAT time! :) We went to the beach, then went to Kennedy Space Center & Medieval Times...then spent the night at an awesome resort & then went to Downtown Disney on the way back here to my house. :)

They left Friday afternoon earlier than planned because dad received a call that my grandpa wasn't coherent & they thought he had a stroke. When he got tot he hospital they learned that he did in fact have a stroke. He is now unconscious (coma basically) & they are saying that if he doesn't pass in the next 24 hours that they will have to move him to a nursing home until he does. :( Please pray for our family during this time. He is my only living grandparent.

On another note, kids start school the 23rd & then it's back to the PTA grind for me...not to mention chaotic times for the Ombudsman in myself & my best friend as we await the return of our Sully Sailors.
Which means NOT MUCH LONGER & JAY WILL BE HOME!!!! (I bet you can all picture me yelling that too...haha)

I have added a few pictures from our mini-vacation...enjoy & hope all is well with everyone!!

Love, Sarah