Write it all down



When I was important alongside twins, stuck at habitation in addition to trying to detect things I was allowed to do, I ended upwards working on our "Navy Notebook," an stance I had afterward a completely hectic motility where paperwork was everywhere in addition to information scarce when I needed it. Moving from Hawaii, nosotros had a moment-- hours-- of panic when nosotros realized my husband's medical records were missing. Since he is inward the STA-21 plan in addition to was on his agency to NSI inward Rhode Island, nosotros were exceptionally concerned that if nosotros didn't detect the records, he would live thrown out of the program. While he was on the telephone alongside the moving fellowship negotiating prices to unpack in addition to then repack boxes already nailed into crates, I tore through our 6 overweight duffel bags until I eventually did detect the medical records.

The stance of the Navy Notebook, or Move Notebook, is that all our information is organized inward 1 place. I won't live arriving at the housing portion missing Power of Attorneys or social safety numbers. There volition live no moments of panic when I realize passports are packed alongside our household goods, nor volition I live kicking myself when I'm paying for overweight bags at the terminal because our orders are MIA. I won't live Google searching past times pediatricians to supply addresses or names for novel pediatricians or scouring onetime emails for passwords to websites when my hubby is unreachable. I volition have got the answers at my fingertips.

Here is how it is organized. I bought a large, sturdy 3-inch notebook, no nada fronts or soft tops. Inside I have got colored tabs labeled: Family, Local, Passwords, in addition to Move. These tabs are on sturdy paper dividers that I tin write notes on. Behind those tabs, I have got roughly other laid of tabs labeled: Orders, Vehicle 1, Vehicle 2, in addition to Documents. The 2nd laid of tabs are on plastic dividers that have got pockets on the front end in addition to back. Let's start alongside the tabs.

The firstly department of tabs, Family, Local, Passwords, in addition to Move, are where I collect information. I tin write on each of the dividers in addition to only continue apartment sheets of newspaper inward these sections.
  • Family: on the front end of this divider, I wrote downwardly each of our moves alongside the Navy in addition to for how long nosotros lived there. On the bottom of the divider, I jotted downwardly notes every bit to what is inward this tab, "Emergency contacts, personal information, shot records."
    • Inside I have got a clear sail protector alongside a checklist of documents I demand inward the notebook for each move: "Important Document Checklist: social safety cards, matrimony in addition to nascency certificates, Husband's medical records, children's shot records, vet in addition to shot records, passports." These are documents that I do non desire packed inward the household goods, that are hard to replace, in addition to that I may demand during the move.
    • Following the sail protector, I printed off sheets of newspaper that have got bold titles across the front. These are my resources during our  moves, where I compile the information I may demand when my estimator is inaccessible or my hubby is underways, such every bit "Emergency Contacts" or "Insurance Information," where I listing the insurance agents in addition to telephone numbers nosotros have got used inward each state. You may desire to have got a listing of all the banks you lot continue coin at or your spouse's driver's license number. These aren't things that you lot must continue inward the notebook at all times. These are reminders of the information you lot volition desire to compile before an underway or move.
  • Local: on the front end of this divider, I have got written down, "local contacts."
    • The firstly thing is, again, the clear sail protector, this fourth dimension alongside a tabular array of contents inside. It lists "Local Information": doctor, pediatrician, dentist, veterinarian, church, in addition to other services. This lets me know what local information I tin await to detect within this section.
    • I printed off sheets of newspaper alongside large, bold titles across the front. Underneath, using my Word Processor, I included a tabular array that takes upwards the residual of the page. For each of my identify unit of measurement members, I have got a "Medical Information" page. On these pages is where I write downwardly each of the doctors in addition to specialists that nosotros used inward the area. So, I have got the hospital on base of operations listed in addition to the OB out inward town for our fourth dimension inward New Hampshire. For my oldest, I have got every pediatrician he has seen in addition to the pediatric surgeon he goes to for his umbilical hernia that never went away. My husband, since his medical records are all inward a folder, I have got a sail of newspaper reminding me, "Do non forget to deport his medical record!" I have got roughly other sail of newspaper listing the dentists the identify unit of measurement has used, the veterinarians nosotros have got gone to, the churches nosotros went to, in addition to a page for local services. This is where I write downwardly pilus salons I liked or cracking tailors. When a married adult woman asks me, "Where did you lot instruct your pilus done when you lot lived inward North Carolina?" I tin give her the mention of the salon in addition to stylist.
  • Passwords: on the front end of this divider, I have got written down, "Addresses to modify for motility in addition to password information." This department is used to compile websites, magazines, stores, in addition to registries that nosotros demand to modify our address alongside when nosotros move. Instead of frantically trying to squall upwards every motility ("Why am I non getting Buy Buy Baby coupons? Did I non modify our address? And my Amazon orders... are they going to the onetime place?"), I tin flip opened upwards my notebook in addition to human face at the listing of ofttimes services in addition to know who I demand to modify my address with. As far every bit writing downwardly passwords, having that information on mitt volition live most useful when your hubby is underway or deployed, times when you lot can't instruct ahold of him to enquire what the password to Netflix is or the password to your cable site. You may simply desire to continue a listing of sites you lot have got passwords to in addition to consider writing them downwardly when an underway is approaching. That agency you lot are non racking your encephalon finally infinitesimal for information you lot may perchance need. Note: Change your address every bit presently every bit you lot tin alongside magazines you lot subscribe to. It tin have got upwards to 6-months, one-half a years worth of subscriptions, to procedure your address modify because they impress their mailing labels inward advance.
    • The clear sail protector for this department simply says, "Passwords in addition to Websites."
    • I, again, printed off sheets of newspaper alongside large, bold titles alongside tables underneath. The "Change our address with..." is a sail where I tape places nosotros regularly instruct transportation service from, magazines or stores I have coupons from, or large places, such every bit the bank, jail cellular telephone phone company, in addition to insurance company. The "Customer loyalty" page records all the companies I have got a client loyalty plan through in addition to my client loyalty number, printed on the dorsum of the primal chain tag, along alongside the telephone number to the corporate office. I similar to know who I have got a loyalty bill of fare alongside because roughly of these places I may demand to modify my address with, such every bit Best Buy that mails out coupons, or I only used inward certainly regions. The residual of the department are reminders, such every bit the "Frequently used websites" sail where I listing sites nosotros use, similar Netflix, that I powerfulness desire the passwords to when my hubby is away.
  • Move: The "Passwords" department is the smallest section. This is the largest. The banking enterprise annotation on this department says, "Move checklist, household goods move, walk-throughs, incoming motility paperwork, in addition to Navy information." This is where I volition file all those pieces of newspaper that come upwards my agency during the move. I wrote an encouraging poetry within the divider to continue spirits high fifty-fifty when I experience overwhelmed or frustrated. "Rejoice inward the Lord always. I volition say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness live evident to all. The Lord is near. Do non live anxious almost anything, but inward everything, past times prayer in addition to petition, alongside thanksgiving, acquaint your requests to God. And the peace of the God, which transcends all understanding, volition guard your hearts in addition to your minds inward Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7
    • This department consists mainly of clear sail dividers, places that I tin slide documents inward that come upwards my way. I have got a brace sheets of newspaper alongside large, bold titles in addition to tables underneath them. One is a "Move Checklist" that I am perfecting, listing what I demand to do each motility (get vet in addition to shot records, put all of import documents inward the notebook, update ability of attorneys, etc). Another sail lists "Military contact numbers." These are numbers that I may demand during a move, before, after, or during, such every bit DEERS, Express Scripts, TRICare, or the local housing office. I have got several copies of the sail "Outgoing Move Checklist," which volition serve every bit a checklist for that particular move, for instance, our next move to South Carolina. The finally sail is "Incoming Move Checklist," which volition live things I demand to do inward our novel area. I haven't made upwards my heed whether or non I desire to divide the move, leaving an surface area in addition to arriving into an area, but I similar the stance of having organized lists.
    • For the clear dividers, I have got a title sail inside, stating what needs to croak within each of these dividers. In the motility department I have: Application for Shipment and/or Storage of Personal Property, Household Goods Inventory, Final Walk-Through, Flight Information, Vet Records for Cat in addition to Dog (must have got to wing alongside animals), Lease, Initial Walk-Through, Move-in Paperwork (Receiving HHG's, etc). Now, afterward a certainly amount of fourth dimension passes, you lot no longer demand the finally walk-through from your onetime identify and, of course, you lot wouldn't shop your novel lease forever inward this notebook. However, during the move, it is overnice to have got a identify to shop the lease, know where it is, in addition to live able to access it.
  • Power of Attorney: a military machine wife's best friend, the practiced ol' POA. Inside this department I have got Philippians 2:14-15, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, thence that you lot may croak blameless in addition to pure, children of God without error inward a crooked and depraved generation, inward which you lot smooth similar stars inward the universe..." I highly recommend always, ever having a durable unlimited power of attorney on hand. During our motility to Hawaii, the VIN was written incorrectly on the POA for our Jeep. They refused to give me the Jeep (my hubby underway, me alongside an infant, no vehicle). Thankfully I had my durable unlimited POA in addition to was able to instruct out alongside my Jeep that day. I used it when we moved to North Carolina to sign our lease. That existence said, you lot should yet brand certainly to instruct specific ability of attorneys during each of your moves every bit well. You tin never live also prepared.
    • This department consists only of clear sail protectors alongside championship pages, serving every bit a reminder of which ability of attorneys I yet demand or which ability of attorneys I have. It also makes it extremely slow to detect a specific ability of attorney. I have got a slot for: Power of Attorney (Durable Unlimited), POA for HHG's, POA for Vehicle 1, POA for Vehicle 2, POA to Ship Vehicles, in addition to POA to register vehicles.
Photo courtesy of Combat Index
This moves us on to our 2nd laid of tabs. These tabs consist of colored, plastic dividers that have got pockets on the front end in addition to back. They came inward a pack of eight, though I only have got iv labeled. I have got the entire pack inward the binder because you lot never know if you lot volition demand them!
  • Orders: I purpose a clear sail protector alongside a sail of newspaper slipped within alongside the give-and-take "Orders." The pockets on the divider may come upwards inward handy alongside information handed out at Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany meetings or to continue notes from Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany meetings on travelling alongside orders (do non pay for overweight bags when travelling on orders!).
  • Shipping Vehicle 1: I have got clear sail protectors alongside a sail of newspaper inside, giving me places to file the of import documents when transportation a vehicle: Vehicle Shipping Order, Vehicle Inspection (Drop off in addition to Pick up), Picking upwards the Vehicle, Title in addition to Registration. The POA for transportation the vehicle is kept inward the POA department of the notebook.
  • Shipping Vehicle 2: This department is identical to the 1 before, simply for our 2nd vehicle.
  • Documents: I have got a lot of clear sail protectors inward this section, none alongside a sail of newspaper within labelling. Some of these documents, similar a passport, would non sit down good inward a sail protector. Instead, I have got a checklist within a sail protector titled "Important Document Checklist:" nascency certificates, matrimony license, social safety cards, passports, wellness attention ability of attorney, finally volition in addition to testament. I have got roughly other checklist before inward the notebook, but this is where I file roughly of these documents. It is extremely important, every bit a spouse of a military machine member, to brand certainly your wellness attention ability of attorney in addition to wills are up-to-date before locomote or deployments. Always deport of import documents alongside you lot during a move, never pack them inward your household goods where they could live lost or stolen.
To shop of import documents that I demand to locomote with, I set a large plastic pouch at the starting fourth dimension of the notebook that seals closed. I tin slide awkward documents inward there, such every bit passports, or small-scale of import documents, similar social safety cards in addition to folded nascency certificates. Following the plastic pouch, I have got a three-hole punched folder alongside pockets within to set papers I may acquire. After this folder is my firstly laid of tabs, followed past times the 2nd laid of tabs. At the dorsum of the notebook I have got a clear sail protector alongside a sail of newspaper slid within titled "Move Receipts." There are several extra sail protectors afterward the "Move Receipt" paper. If I demand extra sail protectors for roughly other section, I have got them already inward my notebook or I tin shop my to a greater extent than receipts inward them. It is ever practiced to agree on to motility receipts because, inward many cases, you lot are compensated for your travelling expenses. The notebook ends alongside 2 three-hole punched colored folders.

Photo courtesy of Undersea Warfare
Another cracking stance for the travelling military machine wife, is a recipe notebook. I of late purchased a medium-sized notebook from Target. Inside I wrote downwardly all of our favorite identify unit of measurement recipes. The notebook is cracking for several reasons. The firstly is that I no longer demand to flip through onetime Real Simple magazines to detect 1 of my favorite recipes or bound on the Internet to detect that feta tzatziki sauce recipe that we've croak hooked on. All my favorite recipes are at 1 time inward 1 place, which translates to less things to pack (no bulky cookbooks inward your luggage). Another large motivator, for me, was to save the foods that my children have got been enjoying. This agency they volition live able to portion their favorite recipes alongside their families, simply the agency I made them. My grandmother passed downwardly recipes to me. Most of them consist of "a pinch of this" or "enough flour thence its, you lot know, gravy." As hard every bit I try, I cannot duplicate her recipes in addition to thence I ever human face forwards to trips habitation where I tin have got my favorite meals. Which brings me to my finally point, no affair where you lot are, you lot volition able to brand foods that gustatory modality of home. If you lot are living out of the Navy Lodge for a month, you lot tin brand your favorite comfort foods. I actually similar the stance of having our favorite meals motility alongside us. Throughout the notebook I made petty notes in addition to pasted pictures of our family. Since at that spot are many to a greater extent than pages inward the book, I human face forwards to filling it upwards alongside meals nosotros have got enjoyed together. Even now, when I gustatory modality my granny's pretzel salad, a recipe several of my friends have got integrated into their families traditions, I experience similar I'm 9-years onetime again, having a puddle political party inward my backyard. I tin take away heed the sounds of the pool, odour the chlorine, gustatory modality the sweetness cream cheese in addition to salty pretzels... I'm looking forwards to sharing these recipes alongside my children's families. One day. For now, I desire to cherish these precious years that nosotros all alive nether 1 roof.

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