The Ohrvalls | The Life and Times of

I've had a few questions about what is happening next now that Matthew's Graduation date is fast approaching.  For those of you that don't know, Matthew graduates from Master and Arms K9 school on Tuesday May 7th. So, as the Navy is known to do, they have not given us many details about what to expect next.  There are a few scenarios that could go down.  Let me break them down for you: The Inevitable:  Matthew will graduate and leave for Guam either on the 7th or the 8th.  Pretty fast I know. Scenario 1)  Matthew will get to Guam on the 8th or 9th and be able to communicate with his sponsor to get his orders changed as soon as possible and have me come out asap.  This could mean 1-6 months.  (Yeah wide time frame but overall the most desirable outcome.) Scenario 2)  Matthew will get to Guam on the 8th or 9th and his sponsor will tell him that he is not permitted to have his orders changed until he is...

I thought that since I had not given an update in a while that is was about time I did.  So I am going to tell you what has been going on this past month. Matthew First  (because his is shorter than mine): Matthew had his certification test this past month as well as his E4 qualification exam.  He took the E4 exam before he had certification tests.  The E4 exam has a lot to do with why he was assigned to unaccompanied travel to Guam.  He was supposed to be ranked up to an E4 before he could be sent overseas as a accompanied traveler.  (If that doesn't make sense to you...join the club)  But, luckily  Matthew feels like he did well on the exam so hopefully he will be ranked up to an E4 and there won't be any controversy over me joining him in Guam.  Then there's the certification tests; these are the tests that he takes at the school for learning how to be a Naval K9 handler.  Matthew feels that he did really well on these tests ...

Who knew that there would be SO MUCH involved in preparing for an overseas move!  I had a feeling that there would be a lot just because it was a long way to move but I grossly underestimated how much stuff there is to do!  Add in to the overseas part the fact that Matthew and i will be moving at separate times, that the Navy is SUPER particular about how you move your stuff, and all the pre-planning that goes into a move, then I have an overwhelming amount of moving information to take care of by myself. This week, on Tuesday, I went to an Overseas PCS (Permanent Change of Station) orientation meeting held by the Fleet and Family Support Services on base here in Virginia Beach.  It was VERY informative, perhaps overwhelmingly informative because I left there feeling like my head was going to explode with all that new information! The number one piece of information that I left with was that I absolutely, positively have to get the overseas me...

On Saturday the 23rd I took the rainy three hour drive up to VA Beach to move in with one of my long time high school girlfriends, Tianna Yentzer.  It was time for the change and moving up to VA Beach was the best sort of change that I needed at this time in my life.  I will now have a roommate who is also a Navy wife and whose husband is away on deployment.  Much more in common than any person down in good ole NC where there are no Navy people within a 100 mile radius.  (That may be a little bit of an exaggeration but that is how I feel.) So anyway, it is now Sunday and I am all moved into my new 'home' for the next few months.  Now it is time for my first test of how well I am able to organize and get situated in a new location.  I have to change banks, change addresses for mail and accounts, find a job and much more fun stuff that is involved in relocating your life.  I like to think of this as a sort of trial run for what will happen when I move ...

That is right, The Ohrvall's are Going to Guam!  I am reusing the old "Ohrvall Year One" blog as the new blog to keep family and friend updated on the life and happening of Matthew and I. So for those of you that do not know:  Matthew is now in the Navy.  He is currently in San Antonio, Texas for schooling in the Master at Arms program specializing in Military Working Dog section.  He has been away for Boot Camp and training and school since he started in the Navy in August.  We have been able to see each other on and off.  I saw him for boot camp graduation, then thanksgiving followed by Christmas.  Recently, he came back home for a few days when my mom was in the hospital   (She is doing better now, resting up and getting some of her energy back.) All that to say that Matthew has been away for a while and he will stay in San Antonio until this MWD (military working dog) school is over in May.  He graduates May 7th and then cou...

Change is a good thing in my book.  It allows for more exploration of the unknown.  Change is going to happen whether we like it or not so why not embrace it?  Our marriage is going through a lot of changes right now that will ultimately make us stronger and bring us closer together. It is that time in my college career that I am entering into full time student teaching.  This will be a major change on my part because I will no longer be going to classes at Meredith to listen to my professors lecture.  Instead I will be going to a high school to teach students myself!  Quite a reality check and change in roles.  I am excited and a little nervous but most of all I am ready to take on this challenge head on. Still to come:  What changes are happening with Matthew that will affect the marriage.