In This Life...

Parents and friends tell us when we're young, "Child, set goals for yourself and live your life right so those goals can be achieved!" When I was 5, I wanted to be a veterinarian. The closest I ever came to that was becoming a veteran. Sounds the same right? I'm currently going on 10 years in the US Air Force. It's been a roller coaster of a ride, but overall - I've enjoyed it. I can't imagine my life without the military. I love putting on this uniform. I loved my 4 months in combat. I loved my 4 months in Diego Garcia. I love military parades, marching in uniform, being thanked by citizens for serving my country. I love my flag, and my country. I'm glad I chose to be a veterinarian when I was 5 :)

Amn Stroud - June 2000

Every girl dreams of having a family someday. I mean, it's how most of us are brought up... First comes love, then comes marriage... then comes Jenny girl with a baby carriage right? Well... my goals happened, just a little out of order hehehe... When I was 22, I was blessed with the best gift EVER. I became a single mom. One of the toughest, but most rewarding titles a girl could ever be given. I gave birth to my best friend. Stevie Lynn!

Mommy & Stevie - October 17th, 2002

So the next couple of goals are all a bit jumbled... they kind of all happened at the same time. God threw a bunch of blessings in this heaping bowl of blessing soup and boy did it ever overflow!

You see, as a single mom to Stevie, I had made the promise to her that she would go to DisneyWorld when she turned 5 years old. Growing up in Texas my whole life, my parents didn't make a lot of money, so never in a million years would we afford a trip to Disney World. (Sea World was fine for me though.) But I wanted to give my daughter EVERYTHING, and little did I know, I would.

In 2006, we made the trek to Germany for the military. Do the math... born in 2002... moved to Europe in 2006... well, in April of 2008 (6 months after she turned 5) my promise came true. I got to take her to Disney World. The world part is right... Not just ANY Disney... but the one in Paris!

Mommy & Stevie (on the teacups at Euro Disney in Paris!)

Along with Disney at age 5, another goal of mine was to travel the world... Being stationed in Europe has allowed this dream to become a reality - We've driven so much European countryside in our three years and counting, and can't wait for more!

One of my first pictures of The Eifel Tower

Ok so I got ahead of myself... let's back up to that family goal... I had my first daughter... but family isn't complete without the first comes love, then comes marriage part. Ok, love did come first (just not husbandly love.) hehehe... It was mommy/daughter love.

I met Nicolas on the internet in 1998 while I was some backwoods redneck chick living in Texas. He was this hottie French guy living in Paris, and never in a million years did I think I'd ever meet him in real life, let alone marry him! But, that's what happened... we met in 2005, fell quickly in love, and married in 2006!

My engagement ring - accepted in September 2006

Our Wedding Day - December 29, 2006

While many more goals have been reached in my life... the biggest is family. It's odd how when we grow up, we have a tendency to get homesick for, well... home. Little did I know that I'd find home on the other side of the world, far away from the town that I never thought I'd leave. Since landing in Germany, my life has changed COMPLETELY, and for the better. I was a mommy, now I'm a wife, and I've got two daughters. I couldn't possibly ask for anything more. And to be honest, I've run out of goals!!!

The Durgeats - April, 2007

Ava, the final addition - October 17, 2007

My life is complete....