Sunday, January 15, 2012

Community and How It's Unexpected

I just have to get something off my chest and it's not even a bad something to speak about at all. It's just that right now in this very moment I am so overwhelmed by how the Lord has provided Dusty and me with community no matter what our position. In the loneliest two-and-a-half years of our life we found a niche and it was precious. In the current newest season of our life he's given us an old community to reconnect with. He's given a new community to bond with. We've never done without and we never will. I'm so so thankful.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

A New Year

I really would like to try to blog more. I'm not being all "New Year's Resolution-y" or anything. It's just that life is so interesting right now and I need as many outlets as I can get to process things.

Speaking of the New Year, I have to say it's my second favorite holiday behind Christmas. There's something so special about this time of year. You reflect on the old and look forward to the new. I'm somebody who is constantly evaluating myself; from job performance to how I have things organized at home. I'm constantly looking to improve and streamline.

Our tiny Snyder household is really looking forward to 2012!

Whereas 2011 was a year of change (moving, new jobs, newer job, moving again!) this year we're all about maintenance. That's the word I felt the Lord speak over us for 2012.

Maintenance has a two-fold meaning here: (a) remain steady in the new things we were given in 2011 and (b) do some maintenance on things in our life that took a backseat in the chaos of 2011.

Our church is big on new years and the chance to dream about the coming year. It's not too late for you, my dear procrastinators! What would you like to see happen in 2012?


Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer


"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is staying up all night to get your homework done so you can start making Christmas cookies the rest of the week!"

Seriously, so excited!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Thanksgiving

There's this running joke in my family about how sometimes holidays for us turn into Festivus.

What? You don't know what Festivus is?



So, back on track: this year around Thanksgiving I feel a little Festivus growing in my heart. Maybe it's the rainy weather or the fact that we're in the middle of yet another big transition but I feel like I want to Air Some Grievances and participate in the Feats of Strength.

Or look at this, because it just makes me laugh:


Another great way to get out of the Thanksgiving doldrums is to watch one of the only known movies specifically centered around Thanksgiving:

And of course, there will come that time around 11 pm on Thanksgiving night where I drag Dusty out into the cold and begin our Black Friday tradition: Dusty complaining in a half serious/ half joking way about how miserable he is and me silently cheering on the people in front of us who start to fight those jokers trying to cut in line at Old Navy.

Friday, November 18, 2011

New New Beginnings

Well hello to the small handful of folks who read my blog! It has been a whirlwind of a past few weeks. OK, months.

Here's some crazy awesome news: remember that new job I started in August? Well, I'm starting another new one! I've been given a "promotion" so to speak to a full time Resident Director of the freshman girl's dorm. This means a few things:

1.) We have to move. Again. Luckily, it's only across campus
2.) We have to put even more stuff in storage. I am a-ok with this, for the most part.
3.) Dusty will be living in a girl's dormitory. He's a-ok with this, for the most part.
4.) I'll get to start learning an entirely new job. So far, on day 2 in the office, Post-it notes are my best friend. I mean they're everywhere. To the point where it's sort of embarrassing.

Stay tuned for hopefully more regular posting. I mean, after I move, and finish out my first semester in grad school. Then I'll do it. Probably.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Bumble-Ardy

I was listening NPR's Fresh Air on the way home from class tonight and Terry Gross was interviewing author Maurice Sendak, best known for writing Where the Wild Things Are.

This interview was one of the most honest, raw, heartbreaking, and beautiful interviews I've ever heard.

You can look at some samples of his new book Bumble-ardy here.


Listen to the interview. I know it's 20 minutes long but it's so, so worth your time. Here's one of the more haunting quotes from the interview; he's looking back on his life and in his current position: he's just lost two of the people that he loved most in this world within the past few months:

"I have nothing now but praise for my life. I'm not unhappy. I cry a lot because I miss people. They die and I can't stop them. They leave me and I love them more. ... What I dread is the isolation. ... There are so many beautiful things in the world which I will have to leave when I die, but I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready."

10,000 Reasons

This song is rocking me right now.