The Snyder Family Journey

Tis' the Season

2011-12-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while since my last post again, but I do what I can. I always tell the kids..."do your best" My best may not be the best...but it's all I got! I joke about what my tombstone will say/read..."She did what she could" comes up a lot , sometimes I think maybe "She like to laugh" but one that comes back to me often is "Soli Deo Gloria" To God be the Glory! Bach the composer would always write this on the bottom of his music pieces. I have been writing this in hidden places on my canvases for the last few years. As an artist, I see life as a painter. I always say that without the darkest colors the highlights do not stand out and the painting doesn't have the depth it could. Such is life, without our really dark days and the contrast of good and bad our life would lack the depth that makes a life a masterpiece. I've said this before, but sometimes things are worth sharing more than once. Perspective is also important in life and in painting. We all have a perspective based on our life thus far, our values our beliefs and these are the things that gives us our perspective. I remind myself...that others are looking at things from where they are and sometimes it's hard to understand, but I believe it's important to respect another person's point of view, so I try.

My life I imagine so far is like a painting that started out pretty good but some where along the middle the light began to changed and from where I was standing in my NEW perspective everything in the painting was off. I feel like God gave me a bucket of primer and even though you are not able to erase what's underneath, the new painting now has an added texture that would not be there except for the painting underneath. I don't regret anything, because I know that I learned a lot from my past and with each brush stroke a lesson is learned. Every lesson helps me be a better painter....a better person.

So tis the season to reflect..the season of Christmas. It's when we celebrate our Lord's birth, it's also a time for giving and being with the one's we love. Why is it just a season ? I only wish we could celebrate the season of love and giving and our Savior's birth all year long. Being the end of a year and the beginning of a new YEAR just one page away, we tend to look back on our year in retrospect, the good and the bad. How we grew and dealt with things and how the Lord was able to use us. I pray that the Lord continues to grow me as a parent and wife and open new doors for me to serve HIM more. Thankfully He isn't looking for perfect, just willingness to serve.

So back to the beginning of my post...I guess it's not "she did what she could" It should be..."She allowed the Lord to do through her" or not "she like to laugh" but maybe " she found the joy of the Lord"... As I reflect on this past year my cup truly runs over!

Update on the family:

Lydia loves to read, enjoys her ballet classes and has started to show an interest in drama and singing.Creighton loves his friends and is so athletic ,he amazes us with his eye and hand coordination. Marilyn loves ballet ,she is learning to read and write and loves kindergarten and singing in the church choir, art is still her favorite. Eleanor is RUNNING every where she goes and with such purpose as she swings her arms. She has added a lot of words to her vocabulary and wakes up with a smile almost every morning. Michael loves his PMS (professor of military science) assignment as I know he enjoys working with the cadets and is reminded daily of why he truly loves being in the army and what brought him to serve in the first place. I'm so thankful for each one of my family and that God has entrusted me with such treasures. A wonderful man to share my life and each new adventure with. These four precious children that truly light up my life...these are the highlights of my life that help to give my life, my masterpiece the glimmer and depth it was meant to have. Thank you God! Tis the season to be THANKFUL!

My New Art Gallery

2011-08-08T20:13:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends

I wanted to invite you all to share and join my Gallery group Blog. I will be posting my paintings available and sharing my inspiration to create them.

http://artbymarianthe.blogspot.com/2011/08/greek-island-view.html?spref=fb

Home again, home again!

2011-04-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

We have lived here in Florence for almost 11 months now. We should be here for at least another 2 to 3 years or how ever long the Army sees fit. With moving means re-establishing ourselves in a new community again, new home,new church, new school,new friends and all the challenges that come with NEW everything. We are blessed, it has taken almost the entire past 11 months, but I truly am.... starting to feel at home here in "the Shoals" as it's called. Florence has embraced us as a family and I am so thankful. I am re- establishing myself as an artist and adjusting to all the "new". Michael absolutely loves his job as PMS-professor of military science at UNA and truly enjoys working with the staff and cadets. With every challenge comes growth, personal and professional. Our family journey takes us all over the world as a military family and we are blessed by having the opportunities to see more, meet more people and learn more about our great nation as well as a few foreign cultures.

My cup truly run-neth over!

We are prayerful, but believe we have found our church home. I had a peace the moment we walked in and with each person I talk to I feel I've known them before. I feel I have a place to serve the Lord by serving our community through the church, through my art and with all the opportunities God may bring.

In our kitchen we have a sign that says "Friends are the family One Finds along the way". It is so true. Not only are we blessed with our birth family, our army family but also our community of friends.

The kids are winding down the school year and enjoying the Spring season. Spent a few scary moments "camped out" in the hall way with tornado warnings and with all the rain we are beginning to enjoy the flowers. Soccer season keeps us busy with three playing and I'm painting every chance I get! so inspired by the beauty of Spring!!!

One woman's perspective...of "Church"

2011-02-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

So from where each of us stand there is a different perspective. Where we live is a result of our life journey, our beliefs, understanding and personalities have developed from our life experiences.

That being said, I'm sharing my perspective and am not trying to convince anyone that I'm the only one right or that they should believe as I do, but rather by sharing my perspective it may help you see yours a little differently or more clearly or even help broaden your tolerance for others.

The thought that is on my mind this morning is Church. We have been in Alabama since May and we still have not found a home church. I remember looking up "churches" and found over 470 in our area....so many choices but only ONE God! Being from the Greek Orthodox/ Baptist background that I am from, my understanding of church has evolved. I cherish my memories of the church and my youth was spent in Churches, building a foundation for my current faith in God, my relationship with Christ. I believe church is vital in a person's life and helps to nourish the Christian walk as our relationship with Christ grows . It provides a place to serve God and community. At the same time I see the church building and denominations as man made. Christ "Church" is really his people not a building or an organization. That being said...as humans we do thrive when we have something to help guide us , we function better as a body when we have structure of some sort and not so flopsy/wopsy...( it's a word! LOL). I love the Lord with all my heart and I appreciate many different denominations as many strive to reach one goal...to bring glory to God, help the community, the ones less fortunate. I have been exposed to many different "church cultures" from fundamentalist, to free spirited charismatics.

My favorite church I've ever attended was the Main post chapel at Fort Leavenworth Kansas. All denominations welcomed, so many ministries to minister to every age group, NO building fund and it was Christ focused. I'm not saying it was perfect, but close ! LOL

So thankful for our time there and I know our family is better for the spiritual growth we had there.

Here I am wondering where we will find a church home. We could just continue bible study in our home, but we long for Christian fellowship and for our children to have a place to build their foundations with other little ones.

Trying to avoid churches that are country clubs and find a place to serve the Lord and share our gifts to glorify him. I don't attend church to be seen by others, but to see more of Christ in me!

I believe,Church should be like a mirror, somewhere you go to see Christ in you more clearly! A place to help find Christ in you more and more. Whether it's in serving the community through a church, singing praises to the Lord, teaching a children's Sunday school class or serving and sharing your gifts to glorify God by showing LOVE to your fellow man. WE are vessels to be used, may HE fill us so that we can pour out more of Him not us. ( climbing down off my soap box now)

To all the people in my past who judged and scared people away from church....and God... I'm still praying for you!!! I feel you are missing what God intended for HIS church. To the people who were HIS hands and feet and touched my life and help build a better foundation.... I thank you from the debts of my heart. To the free spirited new age liberal, if you claim to be tolerant...be tolerant, not just of those who agree with you, but of those who choose Christ and church as their spiritual path. You aren't truly tolerant if you judge , condemn, or even just make fun of.

So another Sunday will come, we will get dressed, climb in to the car and search for our next church home....until we find that church, a place to serve...please say a prayer for us.

CHOICES...

2011-02-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

"Deep thoughts" ( not by Jack Handy!!LOL)Where we are...who we are...is based on choices we have made, our parents have made and our ancestors before us. It's mind blowing to me to think about the odds of my parents meeting, falling in love ( even though my mother could barely understand my father) and marrying. A Greek man born in Mitilini Greece in 1923 with so much turmoil in the region at the time....surviving WWII, TB, overcoming amazing obstacles,finding his way to the US in 1955, knowing virtually no one here, not able to speak the language and yet he made the choice to come here...a life choice, a journey that gave me life. I can still hear my sweet Daddy's thick Greek accent and the words " sometimes in this life Marianthe....we have to take a chance!" Boy did he ever and I'm sure glad he did. To take these types of chances , takes faith and fearlessness. It's these types of choices in life I believe change the world and history. Our history books and even the Bible is full of people willing to take a chance, to make a choice. We all make choices everyday, little choices that shape the world around us, but how often to we snuff out those scary choices. Being that I'm going to be 40 this year, it has made me quiet reflective on my life and where I came from. I have made a few choices in my life that have dramatically changed my history...it may be a small part of history and only effect a few, but I pray I will be able to continue listening to the still small voice in my heart and make choices that matter. Many times I feel led to do something small that may seem silly. Maybe it's an act of kindness or writing a letter to someone. Now those things may not make a big difference, but I believe they help me stay in tune with the voice of my heart ( not the voices in my head LOL ). If I act on the small thoughts, ideas and feeling, I will be more proactive and ready to act on the big choices and things that take Faith. Who knows...maybe one small choice may turn into a ripple effect and make a wave or two!!! Who would have imagined that a boy born in Mitilini, Greece and a girl from Atlanta,Georgia would marry and bring me here.

Now the story is even more complex when you think about Michael ( my husband) and how he came to Georgia, how the choices made by those around him changed his life and eventually brought us together.

So the thought that is on my mind as I type out this post is....what choices will I make to change the world, to change history? I pray I will look back on my life 40 years from now and be glad I made the choices I did and listen to my heart....and seek God's guidance.

So....I will make choices and pray they are the kind that make the right kind of difference!! Big and small! I'm so thankful for my parents, their choices and their faith to make choices that were not always easy, but eventually brought me here!!!!

Sharing my heart with my blog friends.

'tis the season

2010-12-06T20:48:00.000-08:00

Making cookies with the kids...going to school holiday programs and savoring their childhood. I know in a blink of an eye they will be grown and so I savor.......

Eleanor is bubbling in personality these days, she is 6 months old in a few days and thinks Creighton is hilarious! Every time she sees him...she laughs out loud. He is such a sweet big brother. He is growing up so very fast and even though he is only almost four he is wearing 5 ts and solid as a house. I know he will love playing ball, but he has already informed Michael that he doesn't want to block, but be the quarterback! He always ask daddy to watch football..especially if it's bed time! Marilyn is our little sunshine and always smiling. She just had her 5th birthday and loves going to school. She is a daisy/girl scout and takes it very seriously,but still with a huge smile on her face. Lydia is our little drama queen and hilarious. She is also a girl scout and enjoying her 2nd grade class, but still really misses her friends back at Fort Leavenworth.

I am so excited about Christmas morning...it's one of my favorite Mommy moments of the year. My favorite moment everyday, is when I wake them up to go to school and make them smile...I've always loved going to get them...even when they were in their cribs. Everymorning now...Eleanor is in her crib and when she sees me walk in the room...her legs start kicking and she rolls over and raises her arms for me to pick her up. I love her little smile as I sing some silly made up song. She is such a precious little person!

God is so good.

I was praying a few weeks back , asking God to help me be a better mommy to my children and I heard in my heart the Lord say loud and clear...they are NOT yours , they are mine. I was in awe at the thought and then I found peace in that. Knowing they are HIS first and HE has entrusted me with them placed such an amazement in my mind and thankfulness in my heart. He chose US! I feel so privileged and blessed.

Michael and I renewed our wedding vows this past week. It's almost been ten years since our happily ever after began. I am so thankful . Looking into his eyes and saying our vows again was like a dream. It was chaos before and after...when the violins began to play and we walked the isle again together...I felt like it was a dream. Hearing the words all over again and seeing the sincerity in his eyes made me weak in the knees and my cup runneth over!

God is Faithful!

2010-10-28T07:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a little something with you this morning… I shared it with a friend and decided to also share it on my blog. Praying God can use it to touch others.

I was missing Mama extra much this morning, remembering some funny moments we shared and some Mama/ daughter private jokes that we shared. I was trying to start my quiet time with the Lord and was overwhelmed by the sadness I was feeling and the aching I had in my heart as I missed my Mama. I was searching for what the Lord wanted to tell me today. I kept saying “Lord just show me your word, show me what you want me to know today” . So I sat here and listened. I felt led to get up, get out a Bible that belonged to my Grandmother, one that my mother had given her the year I was born.

I opened it and prayed “ what Lord, where Lord, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to pray, or what I’m looking for or from you today. Please Lord lead me” In that moment I found a tiny scrap of notebook paper written in my Grandmother’s handwriting that marked a page in the Bible, it read “ Romans 8: 26, 27.” So I looked at it in the word and it says :

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.

27 .And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because, he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

NIV-translation (²⁶In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.²⁷And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.)

I had to share, for God is ever so faithful and when we are lost and don’t know the words to even pray…he makes intercession for us, when we cannot utter what should be said…HE does it for us as we search our hearts and asked to be filled with the Spirit. My prayer…LORD fill that void that I feel in my heart for Mama with more of your Spirit…fill me Lord today that I may poor out more of you!!!!!

Amen!

God is faithful!

2010-07-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

Since my last post our beautiful baby girl Eleanor Sylvia Snyder was born and my precious Mama, Sylvia has gone to be with the Lord.

The arrival of Eleanor went smoothly, only about four hours of hard labor and then I was holding her in my arms, God truly blessed us with such a precious baby.

About 3 weeks after her birth, my Mama's health declined rapidly.

We left on Thursday evening, spent most of Friday with Mama, she died about twenty minutes after we left her house. She was buried on a Tuesday.

Even as a grown woman, the void in which the loss of your mother brings in your life is vast. I keep wanting to call her, just to chit-chat. The only thing I know to do, is when I have a "wave" of the deepest sorrow and sense of loss, I try to pour the love that I once shared with my Mama into my four beautiful children that God has entrusted us with. I hope to share with them the values, life lessons, faith, love and hope that my precious Mama always shared with me.

God gives me strength through music and through memories of my sweet Mama.

Multi-tasking

2010-05-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

As Mommies many of us multi-task, but lately I feel my life has been on "multi-task overdrive". Moving to Alabama from Kansas at 35 weeks pregnant , facing the reality of my Mother's cancer as she is facing the end of her life and knowing another life is growing in my tummy and is about to begin and all happening while we maintain some sense of normal daily life.

We are settling in to our house here in Alabama, neighbors seem nice and friendly and it's nice to see people wave again. Dining room, living room and kitchen are pretty much set up and ready for Snyder family life, bedrooms hopefully will come together by the middle of next week. I'm hoping that I can get everything completed as much as possible before the baby gets here. We shall see if the "nesting" sets in and gets me through this move.

Lydia is enjoying her new school and has been able to make many new friends and hopefully to be playmates for the summer. My mother also gave us her piano, so I'm hoping to get Lydia signed up for summer piano lessons.

Marilyn has grown so much and is enjoying her new home and buddying around with her little brother Creighton. He is also growing up so very fast and showing his little personality more and more everyday.

We "paused" the moving process after our house hold goods were dropped off, to travel to Georgia and visit with Mom for Mother's day. It was a wonderful visit with her and family , but painful and sobering at the same time. To see my sweet mother in this state, was heart breaking and makes a person feel useless. I know that God is in control and I don't doubt that HE knows best, but as a person who likes to "do" to help...there isn't much I can do. I can only pray and encourage, comfort and love her. Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma is terminal and with chemotherapy a person's life can be extended, but for Mom, her body is just too week and her heart can't take the side effects and the strong chemotherapy. Hospice comes in to the house and my older sister Cindy is currently visiting and helping with home care. Our visit was short, but it was so nice to see the kids with her, I pray they remember and know what an amazing testimony she is and that her life has been. Even in the state she is in , she still managed to sing " No one ever cared for me , Like Jesus". It was beautiful.

We have truly been blessed to have a mother like Sylvia!

Please remember her in your prayers.

Catching UP!

2010-01-21T06:19:00.001-08:00

I am the one of the worst bloggers I know...now if someone said that to me 20 years ago it wouldn't make any sense, but now days most people get that, especially any one who might read my blog. My last post the weather was warm the days were long and there wasn't a jacket in sight. These days it's warmed up to the 30's, dirty snow still lines the streets and our coat racks are overflowing with warm jackets.

Since my last post a lot has happened. We found out we are moving to North Alabama ( Florence). Michael will be the Professor of Military Science at the University of North Alabama. We will be stationed there from two to three years. Another big NEWs life changing event is also on our horizon, I am currently 19 weeks pregnant and we just found out this week that we will be having another precious girl. We are very excited and appreciate God's plan and wonderful surprises in our life. WE may make our plans , but HE will direct our steps!(Proverbs 16:9).

Over the Christmas Holiday we were blessed to go to Disney World and take avantage of the great deal they were offering military families this past year. We had a blast! on the way back we rented a car , drove to Georgia, spent 3 days with family and flew back into Kansas City by the 28th. It was a world wind tour, but a wonderful time!

I am preparing to host the second Love's Reach Art auction to benefit orphans on March 6th. (www.lovesreach.org )Please be in prayer over this event, that the Lord will anoint it , that it will raise awareness for the orphans and much needed funds. I'm excited and looking forward to the evening. Last year was such a blessing to all who attended and the orphanage that received the funds from the event . I know God used it.

I will try to be better about posting, hopefully I will be able to share my heart more and all the blessings with my "bloggy buddies".

www.artbymarianthe.homestead.com

Summer Time, Summer Time Fun!!!!

2009-07-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

Summer time fun! We have been busy with our fun family time and I am amazed out how quickly the children are growing. Lydia and Marilyn got their ears pierced and Creighton continues to adjust amazingly well. We went to the beach in June for a family reunion on the beach...it was such a blessed time. We have been going to the Pool here at Fort Leavenworth all summer and enjoying our time at home. I have actuallybeen able to catch up on some house organizing and hopefully will continue a good thing through the fall and winter months. We have enjoyed our time together...and the fun summer months...God is good.

Spring...is here

2009-04-16T06:56:00.001-07:00

Well...I just have a minute, but wanted to share.
A couple of weeks ago I was blessed to sing at the DB (disciplinary barracks)here on Post. What a blessing. When I first arrived with the group of ladies from the Chapel, the somberness and the seriousness of my surroundings made for a heavy heart. What brought these men there?...how long would they be there? and many similar questions filled my mind. Then I remembered the simple, but true fact.....no matter what we do ,God still loves us, HE can still use us. Even when we are broken He can make us new again and fill us.
We sang for an hour and a half. When I sang my solo...I knew God was singing it through me. I had learned that song when I was only 17. I liked the song then, but not until ten years later did God use that song to minister to me in my life and now twenty years after I first learned the song....God was using it to minister to me again and to the in mates who were in the DB. I pray God can continue to use me...and fill me up so that I may pour out more of HIM!

On the family front...things are going great! Lydia began soccer, Chapel is awesome...every time we walk through it's doors...we are blessed. We are so thankful! Marilyn is stll dancing away in ballet and Creighton's vocabulary is really taking off. He even sings the alphabet song...sort of :-) He knows the sounds...I don't think he knows what he is singing yet, but it's a good start! Michael is working hard in the IO /concepts of the Army and I am so thankful to be blessed to be mommy, wife and home maker! the Art auction is coming together wonderfully ..Praise God! Please continue to keep it in your prayers ( May 9th) so that all who are involved will be blessed , especially the orphans who are in such great need (wwwlovesreach.org ).
http://www.artbymarianthe.homestead.com/

full plate....

2009-03-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have not been very good about blogging lately, but life is a "full plate" right now. As I said last time...my cup runneth over and now...I'm saying that my plate is also FULL . Every weekend we seem to have a party of some sort, wonderful family time after chapel on Sunday and our week days are busy with work, school, chapel,ballet, laundry and housework. Soccer season is coming up and Lydia is so excited!

We are also hosting a charity art auction for Love's Reach International (http://www.lovesreach.org/) . I am so excited, but my mind is constantly going over details and I look forward to see how God can use me and the art that will be donated. I am donating as many pieces of mine as I can and we also have several local and other national artist contributing their work. I have been praying for years that God show me a way I could use my art to help people. Prayerfully God will be able to use me through Love's Reach to help orphans who desperately need help. Please remember the auction in your prayers. It will be on May 9th .

Michael is working extra hard lately , closing out projects from one job as he begins another. It's actually the same job, but in a different building with a new boss. He is so diligent and determine to get the job done right. One of the many qualities I love about him!

Lydia is doing great at school and getting excited about her upcoming 6th birthday. She is recognizing words and is on her way to the wonderful world of reading. Favorite food -feta cheese

Marilyn's verbal skills have really developed lately and her vocabulary is getting very full. She hardly ever stops talking except for a quick breath. favorite food-garlic stuffed green olives

Creighton is also truly bonding with his sisters and Michael and I. He says " I love you" ,"dog", "uh-Oh" and a few other words. He loves to laugh and doesn't mind cleaning up his messes(...hopefully that one will stay with him!!!) favorite food-whatevers for dinner :-)

I've been busy with the planning of the art auction, painting some commission pieces and keep house and home as a Mommy of three.

I am so thankful.....God is so good!

let us...be glad!

2009-02-26T06:04:00.000-08:00

I feel so very thankful ...and "my cup runneth over" . Even when I'm so very tired....I know I am blessed. We are blessed as a nation. Even in times of financial difficulties we are still blessed. My mind stores memories of Agra ,India outside of the huge walls of the Taj Mahal and the shacks built from cardboard boxes and sticks. I remember being in Kenya and visiting a Masai village where the village consisted of a circle of mud huts that surrounded the cattle at night and the calves would sleep inside the mud huts with the family because a families animals were considered their "wealth". My mind is filled with many memories of places that may not have had material wealth, but still were able to find joy. In all the places I have visited I could still find smiles and joy. God was there. Our modern day conveniences are such blessings, but we all can see if we look at our nation that they don't bring joy or happiness. What brings us happiness and contentment? Perspective. I have always felt this way, but yesterday I saw a video of a young man that is living proof of what being thankful truly is. He is such an inspiration. His name is Nick Vujicic from Australia, here are a couple of his videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O6OluBxGtM and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DxlJWJ_WfA

they both truly touching and moves a persons soul. It truly puts things in perspective to see how God can still bless a persons life, even in the most difficult circumstances.

How blessed we are and my prayer is that every day when I wake up I will remember and say:

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

All about Love...

2009-02-18T05:47:00.000-08:00

Creighton is adjusting amazingly well....and I thank God everyday as things seem to be as if he has always been here with us. I am so thankful that Creighton is such a good sleeper and eater, it is a true blessing. He doesn't have tantrums as often we have not allowed them to continue. Every time he would start one, we would lift him up off the floor and direct him to another activity, toy or any distraction from whatever was upsetting him. I wasn't sure if the temper was from him being two or from a result of him being adopted, regardless they are not acceptable and had to go away(praise God). Marilyn is growing so much and is finally talking more and more. She remains our little "sunshine" and loves to laugh. Lydia is also growing so fast. I can truly see her personality developing a long with her imagination. They grow up so quickly.

Michael has changed buildings with his job again. They are restructuring information operations and he is chief of a "new acronym"( CIDDID , I think). I have just finished a commissioned piece and I am working on several more. God has laid it on my heart to host an charity art auction in May(http://www.lovesreach.org/). I would truly be grateful for your prayers for the auction, as all the details continue to unfold. I'm really excited to see what God has in store!

Our Valentine's day was a blessed one. Thankfully the kids chocolate is almost gone, so I don't have to be the "chocolate warden" much longer. I don't like them to have too much chocolate at once, so I give it out little by little until it's all gone. Michael was especially thoughtful and truly touched my heart with his acts of love,kindness and thoughtfulness,but honestly...he does that all year long.

Valentines day is a day that our society sets aside to think about love, but honestly , most of us know.....everyday is about love in someway. The love of family and friends and special people in our lives. We were reading together in our devotion this morning :

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8

My first observation is that LOVE is used as a verb first. Then my thought was, I wonder what the interpretation of the word "know" is directly from the Greek? I think ( and this is entirely my thought, not for certain until I investigate further) that it means " to understand love " or "to have experienced it". A person can use the word love and not know what it really means. A person can say I know God but not have a relationship with Him, or understand who HE really is or know the relationship that they can have with Him. What I guess I'm trying to say is, I believe what the passage is saying is,if we have experienced true love we then understand what a sacrifice it was for God to send HIS son to earth for us. If we have experienced true love we know what a true gift it is. The warmth it brings our life, the fulfillment in our hearts, the way God intended it to be.

I remember when I was growing up, my sweet Daddy would tell us stories of my grandfather who died in Greece during the War in the early 40's. Now when my father would speak... you could hear the love in his voice, you could see it in his eyes as the tears streamed down his face. I remember thinking , he sure does talk about him a lot even after he has been gone for so long(as I was a goofy teenager at some point). Now that I'm older and a little wiser, I find myself remembering my father, sharing my memories of him with my children and still getting choked up at times , 14 years after his death, the love has not faded. I still love him and still miss him everyday. Even with Michael, I am more in love with him than I was on the day we married, but at the time I didn't believe a human could be more in love. I believe that only that kind of love must be from God. It doesn't die when we do or fade with time. I am thankful to God, because I KNOW that these relationships were gifts from HIM.

"God is Love" Love is not god.....God is love. So in my mind, my interpretation of this is, there are many types of love in the world, there is the love of flesh, the love of wealth and many kinds of superficial loves, but without God in the midst of the relationship, the hearts the true love, the "fullness" of love can't be accomplished. What I'm saying is......God created Love, He is love then wouldn't it make more sense to say HE should have a part in our hearts so that we can love to the fullest.

I'm not trying to preach or rant on and on. I'm not saying I have it all figured out. I am just sharing as I seek God in my everyday. I am not able to blog everyday with my busy and blessed Mommy schedule, so it has turned in to more of a way for me to share my heart with tid-bits of our everyday with our friends. It's like a random glimpse into my journal....my heart and my thoughts. The glimpse may not be riveting, but it is open and honest.

Twenty Years From Now....

2009-01-29T12:02:00.000-08:00

I've started visiting my face book page more lately. Michael and I both have added many new "old" friends to our pages. I also joined my high school reunion group on face book since my twenty year reunion is this year....even still as I type it, I can't believe it's been twenty years. I'm amazed at the journey called my life and what the last twenty years has brought. For Michael and I both.Good and bad it's been amazing. The very fact that we arrived where we are, together with three amazing children still takes my breath away. Even though I do feel older and wiser at the same time I still feel a lilttle like the young girl who graduated with so much possiblity and hope for the future. I still have hope for my future, but since my priorities have changed I see myself evolved from someone who as a young 18 year old often does, thought I was the focus of my life. As I'm older..and wiser....a little grey and more weather worn I know the focus of my life is not me. What I mean by this, is not that I should ignore me and my needs, I just should not be so focused on them that I don't see the big picture, what's important. Just as soldiers don't focus on just themselves, they focus on the mission and what is best for the mission. So I guess you could say I have discovered my mission, my focus. Christ is my focus. I see HIM in Michael and the kids. I see Christ in my friends and my family. Christ wants us to have a relationship with Him first so that we can have better relationships with others. He will love us through eachother. Hopefully this is coming clear , as I'm sharing my heart. I feel I've seen a glimpse of the larger picture of life. My perspective is limited therefore I must rely on my faith to see me through and guide me.Today in our morning devotion Rick Warren (purpose driven life author and pastor) wrote....The fact is, God is not limited by time. He’s able to be in the past, the present, and the future all at the same time. Think of it like this: if you were in the Goodyear Blimp looking down on the Rose Parade, you could see the beginning of the parade and the end of the parade all at the same time.

So here I am thinking through my day, my mission, my focus. I'll do the dishes and the laundry because it is needed to help run our house, but that will not be my focus. I will not stress if I don't finish the laundry or my todo list. I know that in twenty years I won't ask myself "Why didn't I wash and fold more clothes?" So thinking on these terms, I decide to read to the kids sometimes when I should be washing...because in 20 years they will no longer be little and I don't want that part of the "parade" to pass without me truly noticing every detail that I can, every wave and smile and laugh out loud.

So twenty years from now where will I be? Prayerfully growing old with my sweet husband and family in the center of God's will!

The photos above are of our fun lately in this "parade" we call life! Just like any parade do your best not to step in the horse poop if you can help it!

This is the day....to dance

2009-01-21T05:46:00.001-08:00

This is the day....God has made. Everyday begins with this! The possibilities are limitless. So many days in the past, I know I have woken up and not realized what that day would bring. Sometimes good and sometimes bad. What I have to keep reminding myself is that...God made that day, what ever happens, HE has allowed. How exciting to know our days are overseen by the designer of the universe. The really cool thing about it is that eventhough HE is almighty, He allows us a choice to choose how we spend our time, our day. He didn't want robots He desired relationships with us. I'm not trying to be "preachy". I've just been praying for the Saunders family a lot and of course when something so devastating, such as a house fire, happens to such precious people everyone always has that thought " Why did God allow this to happen?????". I truly believe there is a purpose for everything and God allows these things to happen for reasons we can not see today, but in the days, months and years ahead it will be evident what good came from something seemingly so bad.

Romans 8:28 says: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The Saunders family...are without a doubt a family of God, they demonstrate God's love everyday in their lives. God has a plan, He has a purpose.

So today....the Snyders purpose?????...we should all know....we have one. Today I see my purpose, three sweet little one's are depending on me. One handsome soldier looks forward to coming home to dinner and his three "high volume" children :-). My most important purpose I know...is to allow the Lord God to LOVE through me. ....and right this minute it's time to get Creighton and Marilyn fed and dressed and to Marilyn's ballet class.... I guess this is the day to dance!!!!!

The Saunders Family....

2009-01-15T07:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my friend Linn lost her home to a fire. Her family is an amazing family who demostrates God's heart each and everyday in their daily life. My heart is so heavy for their loss. Thankfully no one was hurt in the fire physically, but I cannot imagine what it must be like to no longer have a home...in the course of a few hours watch your house and all it's contents go up in smoke. All the kids and Linn had to leave in such a hurry in their pajamas....I am applying their family for X-treme Make Over Home addition and if you are led I ask that you do the same....I made a video to introduce them to you.

Please mute/pause my music player before you watch the video so you can hear the music on the video.
If you would like to read Linn's family blog go to:
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/
if you want to enter them for extreme make over go to:
http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=apply

Prayers NEEDED

2009-01-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

A special " prayer sister "needs our prayers. She and her family were such prayer warriors for us, while we were asking God for a miracle to bring Creighton home.
Our friend Linn and her family had a house fire this morning. Please keep their family in your prayers. They are an amazing family with such a heart for God and hope for the orphans. God truly works miracles in their lives and ministers to so many of us through their example and their lives.
Here is their blog:
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/

My heart is heavy for this that they are going through today. Please pray with us for them!

Only the Lord knows!

2009-01-08T07:31:00.001-08:00

Don't know for sure, but Sonoma might be a great place to retire...right? Can't hurt to enter! we Love our quarters that the army provides us, but who knows where we will be blessed to grow old...if the Lord allows.....only God knows! The sky is the limit! It's all a great adventure!

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

What a Happy New Year it is! Michael and I had a wonderful anniversary and we are all settling in as a family of five. Creighton continues to transition to our family wonderfully (praise God!) He is still sleeping great and eating well. He says Mama, Daddy , eye, nose and eat. He also says agua, no and goal!

Lydia and Marilyn are also adjusting well to the transition and are loving another playmate in the family.

Tomorrow we will get back to the regular scheduled ativities. School, Chapel, ballet and all the fun that day to day brings.

Did I mention we love the chapel here at Fort Leavenworth. God has truly blessed us with a body of believers and wonderful Christian fellowship. I absolutely LOVE singing in the praise group and it truly blesses my life. Thankfully the kids love the child care at the chapel so that makes participating much easier. I start a new year with a heart full of Thanksgiving , for all God has blessed our family with!!! God is good!

Celebrating 8 wonderful years of Marriage

2008-12-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

Like a good wine...it just gets better with each year. I knew I married my best friend and it was great in the begining... but even with each day we become a little closer and God touches us through each other and our children. I am honored and blessed to share my life with such an amazing man.

I made the video below while living in Germany and Michael was deployed to Iraq. Lydia was a baby and I had time in the evenings to scan all our wedding photos into the computer.
I made a video out of some of them....it was 2004 and 4 years later...we are even more in love than ever.
If you don't know us this video will be totally boring. If you know us...it might be a little slow, but if you love us you might like to re-live the happy day with us!
It is 16 minutes long and it would be best viewed if you scroll to the bottom of our blog and pause/mute the music player , so you can hear the music on the video.
( I didn't get to include the color photos or the evening wedding party photos we had in Augusta, it would make it even longer.....but they were great photos too)

It is a little mushy...but from the heart from a military spouse to her soldier while deployed.
Enjoy!

Christmas Photos

2008-12-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful Christmas celebration all home together! Praise God!

Please notice...I didn't set the correct date on the camera....obviously.

a few photo memories of Guatemala

2008-12-29T07:28:00.000-08:00

here are a few photos of Guatemala that we took. I will post some of our Happy Christmas in the next day or so. I am trying to get my "groove" as a new mommy of 3 and it is a Joy and a privelage as well as a challenge. All is well here and Creighton continues to adjust well. The girls are loving having a little brother and Lydia actully asked me today , when we were going to have more brothers and sisters....funny!

We are HOME!

2008-12-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

Our trip to Guatemala was amazing. God truly had His hand on us and protected us the entire time. It was beautiful there and our meeting with Creighton went wonderfully. He is adjusting well. He is eating and sleeping great. He was great the time we were in Guatemala, but I can honestly say he didn't seem at home until he met his sisters. They all get along and Creighton has two "mother hens" to help take care of him. He likes to tackle a lot and even though this will come in handy when he is older and playing American football, it's not exactly what his sisters are use too, but they still laugh.

He is all boy and loves BALLs of all sports . He kicks and throws like a 5 year old. He kisses on the cheek, hugs and smiles us like he has always known us. He is struggling with the word "No" I think in spanish it must translate as lie on the floor and cry, but it's getting better. He is learning and adjusting and so are we. It may be a while before I have my rhythm as a Mommy of three, but it's such a blessing and I am so thankful.

Sorry it has taken me a few days to post some photos. We traveled through Atlanta to Guatemala. The drive to and from Atlanta took two days each way. We arrived safe and sound (thank God) late Tuesday evening. The roads were icy and slick and cars were on each side lined all the way from Kentucky....I prayed the entire time . Much like this entire Journey to bring Creighton home.....it was a long road and steeped in prayer the entire time!
Here are a few photos...we took 412....so atleast 400 are great photos! I may not be able to share them all , but I will try to share my favorite over the next few days. You can also check out our adoption journey below:

Our JOURNEY

WE are HERE!

2008-12-08T18:14:00.000-08:00

We are here in Guatemala. We are to meet Creighton tomorrow morning. We are so excited. God is so good!

Our girl are safe in Georgia and we were able to see them online today. Flight was great, food here is wonderful and hotel is very nice.

We will try to post photos tomorrow, but if the internet connection is this slow again tomorrow, we may just post on our "journey to me "site Our Adoption Journey -click here

He will be HOME for Christmas!

2008-12-04T21:19:00.001-08:00

Praise Jesus ! Our embassy appointment is NEXT week! We will get to meet Creighton on Tuesday . So....we are busy making traveling plans....as I've said before... "We make our plans, but God directs our steps"! Amen!

We are so excited and will try and post photos from Guatemala. God is so good!

Being Thankful as we wait...

2008-11-29T14:51:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving was such a blessing here at the Snyder house. We had a nice quiet dinner with friends and filled our belly with all "the fixins"....Turkey, Dressing, sweet potato soufle', mac-n-cheese, green beans and pumpkin pie. Great conversation, warm loving family and so much more to be thankful for!

Today was a fun lazy day. We woke up to snowing, it didn't stick , but it was sure pretty falling from the sky. We put up our Christmas decorations and ate fun food and wore our "house clothes" all day long. Fun , family day with no place we had to be. I was also thankful to get some painting done. I have several commissions to do, but just trying to stay focused long enough to get some of them done.

We are still waiting to hear from the embassy. We didn't hear anything from Lab-corp. Seems one tech is out on sick leave due to surgery and the other decided she needed to burn some vacation days before the end of the year. So we wait. I didn't receive a tracking number so I don't know if the embassy has received the results yet or not. We were expecting to hear something by this coming Monday or Tuesday, but if they haven't fed-exed the results yet, it may be later in the week when we hear some good news. I know it's all in God's hand...I don't doubt that, but I have to say it's hard to know when we will be leaving. We can't book flights or hotel rooms until we hear. Trusting , waiting and thankful that God has brought us this far! He is faithful!

Birthday Celebration

2008-11-24T09:36:00.001-08:00

Marilyn Grace is almost 3 years old. We celebrated yesterday at the Carousel museum yesterday with our neighbors and friends. It was such a special day and I'm so glad we were able to do it a little early this year. With the holidays approaching and Creighton's homecoming, we wanted to make sure that Marilyn had her very own special day. We are so thankful that we were able to do that and we all had a blast! We are so blessed with great friends and neighbors and the carousel was a perfect place for a big birthday party on a cold winters day....LOVE IT!

Marilyn's favorite things to do these days is draw and dance. She often sleeps with her magnadoodle and her many baby dolls that she lovingly calls "Ji-Ji". She is a very loving little girl who we have nicked name sun-shine not only because her favorite song is "you are my sunshine" but also because her smile holds the warmth of the sun and always brightens up our days. We thank God for entrusting us with Marilyn Grace and blessing our lives with her smile.Our prayer is that she will learn to always seek God first for all of her days, whether she is 3 or 103 may she always know HIS love in her life.

Almost HOME!

2008-11-21T07:57:00.000-08:00

Won't be long now! We received an email from lab-corp in North Carolina and they said:
"We received specimens for Creighton just a few minutes ago. Testing will begin this weekend. "
Praise God!!! we are so excited...so when they finish the testing they will send the results to the embassy and the embassy will then contact us by email and tell us when our appointment is the following week!!!!!
we are so thankful. While we are so thankful for all God has given us we cannot forget those who are not so fortunate to know they have a Mommy and Daddy coming for them. We still remember all the orphans that are still in need for the very basics , formula, bed, heat and most importantly love. See our post (below)from yesterday to see how God can work through you to help these special children.

thankful Thursdays

2008-11-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

Today is Thankful Thursday....I am thankful for heat and a warm home, a clean bed to lay my head at night, the love and attention of my family, the closeness I feel with my children, food on our table and shoes on my feet.

As I think about how very blessed I am my heart is full with thanks and yet it still hurts for so many who are not blessed the way we are.
In this season of giving that is fast appoaching us let us not forget the less fortunate, let us not forget our brothers and sisters who do not have heat, or food, a bed or even someone to love them.
I am speaking of the orphans, specifically an orphanage in China in such need right now.
Read below the letter that was sent on their behalf....Please consider contibuting to providing them a better life, whether it's your prayers alone or other contributions...please don't forget them.
EMERGENCY ORPHAN BASIC NEEDS RELIEF ~2008

Love’s Reach International recently visited orphanages in northern, rural China.
In one particular institution there, the situation for the children is extremely bleak, as they are literally struggling to survive in their current conditions. Sadly, they are not receiving relief or aid from the government or any other source. They have many needs, however, the most urgent that they have are for the following:
* CAREGIVERS-This orphanage desperately needs more workers as there are presently only three caregivers to every 40 children. The approximate annual salary for one caregiver= $1,500.00 USD.
* BABY FORMULA- Recently, baby formula produced in China was found to be contaminated. Thousands of babies were sickened and some died. Consequently, good formula is now too expensive to afford. The babies are currently being fed rice water. Needless to say, it is extremely deficient in the nutrients that they babies need to thrive and grow properly.
* HEAT- As of right now, the orphanage is unable to afford heat for their building. When we visited them in early October, the temperature lows at night were already in the 30’s. So, you can understand that these precious children are in urgent need of warmth immediately, especially with even more frigid winter months approaching. The approximate cost for one year of heat= $11,500.00 USD
*BEDS- The beds that are currently being used for the orphans there, are very old, dilapidated and barely functional. They are literally falling apart. At the very least, every child deserves a good and decent place to sleep at night.
~These children clearly need your help to survive. Give them the gift of hope today. ~
Love’s Reach International http://www.lovesreach.org/
P.O. Box 413
Cumming, GA.30028

Loves Reach

2008-11-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

Today is National Adoption Day and November is National adoption month. Eventhough I know not everyone is called to adopt, we can all have a part in helping the hopeless and caring for the orphans.

God has put a special place in our hearts for the orphan. May your heart be touched as you see these precious faces with eyes filled with wonder and hopelessness.

James 1:27:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

When viewing this video please pause music at the bottom of our blog so that you can hear the beautiful song on this Video.

Favorite,Family Photos,Friday...

2008-11-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

I decided I would post some of my favorite photos from both the recent and not so recent past. Michael likes to tease me because I take so many photos, he always says "it didn't happen, if we didn't get a photo". Well, when I'm old and gray ,one of the things that will help me remember that it all truly did happen, will be these photos...here are a few and more will follow in weeks to come...and such is the beginning of " favorite, family photos friday".

Veterans Day

2008-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate, remember and show thanks to our Veterans may we honor their sacriface and their service to our great country. As we know Freedom is not Free and many have paid the price of sacrifice and dedication. Above are photos of a couple of my favorite Veterans and below is a video dedicated to our Veterans ( made in 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom II ). You may want to pause my playlist/music at the bottom so you can hear the music in the video. Either way..it is a moving video.

Passport

2008-11-10T17:10:00.000-08:00

God is so good!

We are so excited to share that we received a copy of Creighton's passport. God is so good and Creighton is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!
Can't wait to hold him forever!!!
We should be getting DNA authorization this week and hopefully submit the DNA to lab corp. Once they have the results ( most likely beginning of next week) they will send them to the embassy and then they will contact us with our appointment date to come to GUATEMALA!!!!!!!!!

follow our adoption journey: HERE

Thankful Thursdays...

2008-11-06T19:25:00.000-08:00

I have a wonderful friend that I have never really met. I discovered her families Journey on line as they were in China meeting their precious son Isaiah for the first time. This was the same time period that God gave us Creighton's referral. The first time we had ever seen his sweet face. Through this year plus, my sweet friend Lin and I have developed a relationship through email, phone calls and following eachother's journeys. God truly touches our lives through their family, their journey and their dedication to the Lord.

Linn started "thankful thursdays" on her blog and I am "adopting" her idea. I think it's an awesome thing to be thankful, but not just on the inside....to share your thankfulness with others. To be thankful for the big things and the small.

so here are a few things I am thankful for :

1- my wonderful husband and precious children

2-Creighton's NEW birth certificate that we received YESTERDAY!!! (Praise God!)

3-Blogger buddies that share their hearts

4-The praise group at Chapel, God truly blesses my life with the joy of singing HIS praises.

5-The blessing of knowing God is in charge no matter who is in office.

Yes...you read #2 correctly!!!! we probably will be in Guatemala the 1st week in December....we shall see what God has in store for us! So much to be thankful for!

Leaves are still falling....

2008-11-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

The Leaves are still falling. Kansas sure has beautiful fall colors. They almost make you forget how hot the summer was or how harsh the winter will be. It's the perfect life lesson...enjoy today, this minute. God wants us to live in the now, not worrying about the future or even thinking about what happened yesterday...Today is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!!! Amen!

Always a Treat!

2008-11-01T05:25:00.000-07:00

Last night was the army post wide "trick or treating extravagaza". I am not a big halloween fan normally, but when you live on an army post, it's so fun and friendly and the kids always have a blast. It was a great time full of fun, candy, chili, candy, friends, candy and laughter..oh and did I mention the candy????

I have a booth at the Holiday Bazaar today so I have to get to it....just wanted to post some photos of our little "Dorothy" and "Marilyn the good witch". I of course was the "bad witch".

We are still expecting Creighton's new birth certificate anyday now....we are so excited we should be travel about a month out from receiving his birth certificate and then we can bring him home forever! Praise God!

October wind of change...

2008-10-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today the weather seems colder and the wind brought more than just a chill. Late this afternoon the rain began to pour and the thunder shook our house as the lightening field the sky. I'm wondering if autumn might be extra short this year and we might just skip to winter. We shall see!

We have had more progress in our adoption! Praise God! We hopefully should have Creighton's new birth certificate by the end of October and hopefully travel dates by the end of November, but it's all in God's timing! He knows what's best! Follow our adoption Journey here.

We have been busy still. We went to a Kansas City Chief's football game this past weekend....it sure was sad...don't know what is happening to the Chief's this year. They are killing their fans, I promise I thought I heard a man crying behind me during the game, they were playing so poorly!

Lydia is getting better with her soccer skills. You can hear me kicking and screaming (in a good way) on the sidelines. I love watching her play!

Marilyn also had some special ballet moments last week. I will share those photos later.

When I look at the girls.....My cup runneth over!!!!

Columbus Discovered America....

2008-10-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

Now...Columbus day may not be known for it's fun, but I have to say this year we have discovered more family fun and been blessed with wonderful weather. Friday was a family fun day at the park, Saturday was full of golf for Michael while I took the girls to the pond to feed the ducks and enormous cat fish. We ended the day with Michael's birthday present. We got a baby sitter and went to the Third day, Switchfoot, Jars of Clay and Robert Randolf family band concert...what a blessing. So much talent in one place. The concert was called "music builds" to help raise support for habitat for humanity. It was held at the Star Light Theatre in Kansas City, since it was an open air theatre the nice weather enhanced the incredible music, but I have to say two weeks ago in the pouring rain at the same theatre we sat and watched "LesMiserables" and loved it as well. The rain only added to the memory of the musical. Last night...to our delight ....the weather was perfect and Third day was amazing. They are the only band I have ever heard live that sound as good if not better than their cd. The message that they share through their music and concert truly touched us! It was awesome.

Today we went to church, then had a wonderful visit with friends here at the house for lunch. They are from New Zealand and are here for the CGSC course at Fort Leavenworth then ended our day going to the "Red Barn Farm" in Missouri and enjoyed a horse drawn hay ride and allowing the girls to pick out pumpkins. Well....we can add Columbus day on our top ten family fun weekends...and we still have tomorrow to go!

An October Morning...

2008-10-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

It's not just another October morning....it is the day in October that we celebrate the birth of the love of my life. My handsome husband Michael was born 41 years ago today. What a day to celebrate. We celebrated his birthday last week (early) and we will celebrate again when he returns from Germany, this week. He is there on Army business, but I'm hoping he will squeeze in a little sightseeing. I'm sure the German country side will bring back many fond happy memories from the time we lived in Germany . I miss the weekend adventures, the spontaneous trips to another country in a two hour drive. We truly cherish our European memories and feel blessed that we had the opportunity to live there. We do love being home and living in Kansas, but you can drive two hours and still be in the same state, I guess it's something to be thankful for to have such a huge blessed country with so much country side to see.

Our October days are full, of soccer games, foot ball games,weekend drives through the Kansas country side and savoring the mild pleasant weather that autumn breezes bring. Yes...fall is in the air.

Fall is here....

2008-10-02T06:40:00.001-07:00

It felt like fall this morning as I walked Lydia to the bus stop. A little chill in the air brought back many memories of big bowls of chili and high school football games. I look forward to the crunching of the scattered leaves on the sidewalk with each step. I love seeing the leaves bright colors of gold and red...it's beautiful when the leaves change here. It was so spectacular last year. God's artistry never seizes to amaze me!

Voting "season" is also upon us.....taking today especially to remember our country's leaders and praying that God will give them wisdom and discernment. Also praying for our next President. May God put the right people in office to lead our nation.

life keeps moving....

2008-10-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

Life keeps moving like a river, the girls are growing up so fast and with each day, I seem to have another "light bulb" or "aha" moment. The older I get the better my perspective seems. I truly begin to see some of the simple things as so much more and they have become the big things in my life. I feel so blessed and thankful...and with that there is always hope in each new day. What a mighty God we serve.

Learning to Blog...

2008-09-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

So...here I am trying to figure this out. I have had this blog since January, but just now.... finally I'm going to sit down and try to figure out how it all works. I have been following so many other's journeys and blogs, so I've decide to share our life journey a little more. I would like to add music..but haven't figured that one out yet.

A few things I thought I would share that I have learned along my life journey is...life is short, love is strong, God is big and children our precious.

I will share more as I get a little more "Blogger Savvy"

In the beginning....

2008-01-07T07:59:00.000-08:00

In the beginning there were two

A boy named Michael with eyes brown and true

He met a girl when he was just fifteen

They became friends and only had letters between.

Going through life as pen-pals and friends

Help them stay connected through life's crazy trends.

As they matured and realized life's meaning..

Through the trials they found loves beginning.

So Michael and Marianthe became the Snyder Family

and as the family grows..the number we shall see!