Seeing Sunshine

Even in the darkest of days

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Stroud Vacation 2014

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A week filled with some of my favorite things: Sand. Sea. Sun. And another of my favorite things: Family. After our anniversary, Travis and I headed to Panama City Beach to spend the week with his family enjoying all things summer. Here's a photo recap of our vacation. On our first night in PCB, we all went out to Boondocks. Here are all the ladies! Pretty gorgeous family, huh? Travis and I loved getting to spend some quality time with our niece and nephew. One day, some of us worked on building a huge sandcastle. It was fun! And afterward, we decided to bury Continue Reading

Our First Anniversary

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Happy one year anniversary to us! Travis and I celebrated our first anniversary this past weekend. But about two weeks ago, I gave Travis his anniversary gift from me. I was too excited to wait and so was he! I got him a large framed map of the world. On the bottom it says, "The World Travels of the Stroud Family" with a key explaining what the different colored pins mean. It came with pins you can put on the map to show where you've been, where your dream spots are, what your favorite spot has been, and even what your next planned trip is. Travis loves maps, and we both love traveling and Continue Reading

A Little Getaway

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A couple weeks ago, Travis' aunt and uncle called to tell us they were in Daytona, Florida for vacation. They asked if we'd like to go down to stay with them for the weekend. Of course we wanted to! It was just over a 3-hour drive, so we decided to make the trip! We left Friday night when Travis got off work and stayed with them until Sunday evening. It was a short getaway, but we both thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so nice getting to spend some quality time with his aunt and uncle. I loved getting to know them both better. Uncle Pat was cracking me up both days! I had no idea he was so Continue Reading

French Dips

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When Travis came home from the field, I wanted to make him one of his favorite meals. I welcomed him home with French Dips, Hash Brown Casserole and Cookie Dough Pizza for dessert. It's safe to say he was very pleased. Since I've already shared the other recipes, it's time to share how to make French Dips -- courtesy of my mother-in-law. Here's what you'll need: Roast Water Soy Sauce Rosemary Thyme Garlic Powder Bay Leaf Peppercorns Sub Buns This recipe is so easy to make. Put your slow cooker liner in the crock pot so you'll have less of a mess to clean up Continue Reading

First Anniversary Gift Ideas

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It's coming! Our first wedding anniversary is June 8. I can't believe it's been a whole year, but then it also feels like it's been even longer. Has anyone ever felt like that? The first anniversary gift can be fun, silly, romantic, or sentimental. It can be an item or an experience. But coming up with a gift can be difficult! Perhaps you need some ideas? I knew exactly what I wanted to get Travis for our first anniversary. I can't wait to give it to him! Traditionally the first anniversary gift should be made of paper. So here are some paper ideas that range in price to fit all kinds Continue Reading

9 Tools Needed to be a Freelance Writer

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When I'm not blogging or baking brownies or doing laundry or fixing supper for my man, I'm writing. Freelance writing to be exact. I've been a freelance writer for a couple years now. I've worked with magazines, colleges, newspapers, and the like. Currently, I am freelance writing for a newspaper -- in charge of their features section every week -- and a quarterly magazine. When I tell people I'm a freelance writer, usually everyone thinks it's so cool. And that's because it is. I get to work from home, make my own schedule, use my degree, and do the thing I love doing -- write -- all the Continue Reading

Will We Know Each Other in Heaven?

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I've had a ton of questions about death and Heaven lately. I go through phases where I start to really question and wonder about all these things my little human brain doesn't know or can't understand. One of my biggest questions is -- Will we know each other in Heaven? As in, will I recognize my family and friends who are there? Will We Know Each Other in Heaven? I have a feeling this is something everyone wants to know. And I suspect everyone hopes the answer is yes. I know that's what I'm hoping. We get so close to those in this world with us. Heaven doesn't sound so great if I don't Continue Reading

Thankful Thursday 0522

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Here are the top five things I'm thankful for this Thursday. 1. That my Travis is home from the field. I know it's only been a week, but I missed that guy. He's my best friend and I'm so happy to get to tell him all the little things again. 2. For Skype. I was able to chat with my cousin Bree for a few hours while I was home alone. It was such a nice break from talking to myself all day! I don't know that I could live so far from my family without all the technology we have today. 3. That God wants to hear our questions and concerns. I feel like I have been questioning a lot lately, Continue Reading

My First Army Wife Experience

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I walked out of the gym, feeling great after my workout. And then I saw them. The tires on my car were low.  Great -- of course this would happen once Travis is gone. My husband had left early that morning for two weeks in the field. Military spouses always joke that everything breaks or goes wrong when the service member leaves, but I had yet to experience it for myself being a fairly new Army wife. I got out my tire gauge and checked the air pressure. I couldn't even remember what the air pressure was supposed to be! I texted my dad who lives 800 miles away and asked what the tire Continue Reading

Reasons I Could Never be in the Military

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He wakes up at 5:30 am. He works out for an hour. He can run eight miles. He can do 80 push ups. He can sleep anywhere, even on the hood of a HMMWV. He can eat anything including the egg omelet MRE. And he wears that uniform like it's his job. Because well, it is part of his job. He's in the military. I have so much respect for my husband. Not only because he is a kind, devoted, well-mannered man, but also because he is a hard-working patriotic soldier who makes sacrifices for his job and country. I have respect for all soldiers in the military. Most of all because I know I could never do Continue Reading

Overcoming Fears & Living

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There are two things I've always wanted to do, but at the age of 25 I still hadn't done them yet. I had even gotten the opportunity to do one of them a few months back, but because of fear I chickened out. I wanted to shoot a gun. Travis took me to a shooting range and I was excited to try it for the first time. But as soon as we got in the room, fear overtook me. I'm embarrassed to say so, but I didn't even touch the gun that day. I waited in the car. At the end of April, I went home to Indiana to spend a few weeks with my family while Travis was out in the field for training. During a Continue Reading

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