Framework

I think recently more than any other time in my life, I've found myself saying in confusion, "I don't have a framework for that."

I mean the Lord is stretching my theology box big, and wide, and maybe tearing some things in the process.

I guess they would call it life experiences. It's like I'm constantly being reminded that I'm young. Really young. 23 years young and even though I've got a lot of experiences behind me,

I haven't seen anything yet.

Customers of the Week!

Dear Post-it Note Guy:

Could you please, please explain to me why you took a pad of Post-its out of your pocket and stuck them all over your menu, except for on the dessert section, which understandably you were still reviewing? Oh, it's cattle prices? Quadruple digits? Wow.

PS: If you don't want your waitress knowing how wealthy you are don't stick it to the menu and then leave a sad, pitiful tip. Thank you.

Dear People Who Own Half the Town:

$1.96? Really? You're too rich to take your sunglasses off inside and you leave $1.96?

Dear Any Family With Kids:

Babysitter.

Dear Guy Who Wanted An Ice Cream Cone:

I'm sorry I got you strawberry instead of chocolate. Really, that was my bad. Did having pink ice cream poke a hole in your masculinity? Either way, thank you for being such a good sport about it, even though your joke about not tipping me wasn't funny.

Dear Guy Who Thought He was Funny:

When a waitress asks you "How many?" she wants the real answer. Don't say "8" when there's really only "6" and then laugh when she ends up with too many menus and after she's already re-worked the tables on the smoking side to accommodate a table of 8. I'm being honest with you when I say it's not as funny as you think. Not at all.

From My Camera To Yours

I use my phone's camera to take pictures of funny, odd, or interesting things while I'm on the go. I have to say, I love doing it! I've accidentally and without meaning to let these pictures pile up over the last several months so I'm melding them all into one big post. Enjoy, and I'll try to do better next time.

This is a picture of Rudy's carrying case the day we introduced him to the second Snyder household where he would become a resident. I wish the pitiful yowling could translate on a still shot. Poor little guy.


This is the worst possible display I could have come up against in my ongoing book-buying hiatus:


This is what a broken hymnal rack looks like:


This was a recent perfect meal:


This is irony:


Welcome back to Kentucky, Emily! I snapped a pic of this fella yesterday on the way back from the airport. And yeah, he's sporting camouflage suspenders and a pink cut off T-shirt.


Here's a little social experiment I did yesterday with my newest (most favorite) accessory. Consensus: the youth loved it; several adults asked me if I was becoming a hippie. I think they were genuinely concerned.

P.S: I am not mad in this picture. :)

Headed Back

After spending four wonderful days at home, it's yet again time to say goodbye.

Usually I'm ready to hop on the plane and head back to Kentucky. Tonight, I have other feelings.

Would it disturb you if I said I spent a portion of my time here seriously trying to figure out how Dusty could get the house packed up, rent a van, and move out here all while I try to nail down a job and a place for us to live?

Would you think I was crazy if I tell you I was tempted to apply at Sephora today because I saw they were hiring?

It's okay. You can think I'm crazy, because frankly I think I'm crazy.

Am I unhappy in Kentucky? No. But where we are isn't home. Perhaps it's because we've only been there a few months. Or maybe it's my fickle nature trying to take control.

C.ville is home. Kearney is home. And even though I have a "home" in Meade County... well, you get the gist.

Here's hoping I actually make it on the plane tomorrow.

Another Reason to L-U-V Dyson

I experienced something today at the Louisville airport.

It happened in the bathroom.

It was speedy.

It was amazing.

It has revolutionized the way I wash my hands in public.

I will never be the same.

I present to you the Dyson Airblade:

Has anyone else used one of these? If so, why haven't you told me about it?!

I digress. Sitting alone in an airport full of people can make you blog about silly things.

Except this. This isn't silly.

How Was Your Night?

Dear Girl With Neon Orange Eye Shadow:

I'm sorry I took your salad without your consent. Your parents said you were finished. I should have waited until you came back from the bathroom. Nonetheless, you could have been nicer about the whole situation. And yes, I heard you as you walked out. You weren't the most pleasant customer in the world either. In fact, you are categorically the rudest person I've ever had to deal with, so let's call it even shall we?

Dear Lady Whose Husband Was Nice But You Were Not:

What's your deal? I mean really, your husband was incredibly nice. You, on the other hand, were ice cold. I was friendly and polite, and I'm sorry I couldn't hear you. Ever heard of enunciation? It's this thing we do when we want people to understand us. Maybe next time you should heed the words of my father: Scratch your butt and get glad! That's what he used to tell me when I was a little girl. You're about 40, so I shouldn't have to be telling you this.

Dear People Who Sat In Smoking Section:

Thank you for being so nice. You were the bright spot in my whole night. You left a great tip and were very courteous. I would wait on you every day if I could. Gold star!

Sam Blogs!

So I have this friend named Sam. I blogged about him earlier, because he's getting married in August to one Jennifer Den Dekker.

Sam was a large influence in mine and Dusty's first getting together-ness. He's a rad guitar player, a great friend, and one of the most unique people I've ever met.

Back when he was living with Garrett//Dusty//Brian he made these little video blogs and they are hysterical. Especially if you know him. And even if you don't.

Enjoy and look up the rest on Youtube by clicking here. Forward them to everyone! I would like nothing better to make Sam a Youtube Sensation!

Dabble In Politics

I don't get political on this blog. It's not that I don't have thoughts or opinions, but I never feel like I'm informed enough and therefore don't feel like I can participate in intelligent, open debate. I really try to be informed, there are just so many sides to everything. At any rate, I digress.

I did, however, go to the Tea Party in Elizabethtown today. Now, I can't say that I have a problem with taxes. I understand having to pay for things like police, fire department, military, etc. But what has been happening in Washington lately is completely irresponsible. So I went to my first political protest.

Again, this is not up for debate. If you comment something political I will delete it. Unless you want to comment about how cute my niece is. I'll welcome any comment about that! This is just an experience that I had today that I wanted to share on my blog. End of story and enjoy. :)

Who?

I've recently started sending postcards through a website called Postcrossing. It's great fun and a cool way to interact with people from around the globe.

Today I got an address for a girl in Taiwan. Take a look at her chosen English name:

I didn't realize what it was until I started writing it out and I immediately lost it!

So far I have received 1 post card, from Slovenia. I'll have more coming to me as the ones that I've sent get registered. Can't wait!

My friend Andrea is also a Postcrosser and has an entire blog dedicated to her transactions. You can view it here.

One More Down

I just finished this book:

and highly recommend it. It's quick, easy, and entertaining which sometimes is exactly what I need.

On the non-fiction side of things I will now be starting this book:

This is a memoir spotlighting the women in one Iranian family. It sounds completely interesting and I have high hopes!

To read more about it, click here.

And, to keep myself accountable, I have still not bought a single book since I started this thing. Way back in February...

View Of My Back Yard

My backyard wears many faces.
This is what it has looked like for the past few days, stormy, stormy days.

Also, check out our newest piece of decor: the giant key. I bought the frame at Peddler's Mall for $10 and the key at TJ Maxx for $20.

Best $30 I've ever spent. That picture above makes me so happy, by the way. Dusty and Rudy are BFF's.

O, Death Where Is Your Sting?

I'm about to head over for the Easter service at church. I feel like my approach to this holiday has within the last year or so changed. In a good way.

"Death swallowed up by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who's afraid of you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!" ~1 Corinthians 15:54b-58

I have gone from celebrating this passage once a year to meditating on it everyday. Because it's not just candy and bunnies for me anymore. It's a matter of life and death.

Seashells//Why I Am What I Am

A few years ago I had two revelations from the Lord that at the time didn't seem connected, but in my current situation I realize go hand-in-hand.

The first happened on Broadway in Campbellsville. I was driving down the road and passed McDonald's. And the question came to mind, "What if the Lord called you to work at McDonald's for the rest of your life?"

And I thought that was the most scary, repulsive thought I'd ever had. Send me to Africa, I don't care just don't let me end up working fast food for a living!

Around the same time I was also reading John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life. Please, if you've never read it do yourself a favor and pick it up! I can truthfully say this is one of the few books that has "changed my life."

In it Piper writes:

I will tell you what a tragedy is... Consider a story from the February 1998 edition of Reader's Digest, which tells about a couple who "took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect seashells...." Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: "Look, Lord. See my shells." That is a tragedy.

What do these things have to do with each other? My fear of being stuck working fast food and my determination to have more than a seashell collection to show the Lord at judgment day? Simply everything.

Because for at least this stage of my life the Lord is calling me to work in a secular environment, and I didn't care what secular environment it was to be. When the opportunity came up to work at the Restaurant, I saw this as confirmation. I've got the head knowledge but the Lord has been challenging me to redefine the way I love people.

The head knowledge comes naturally now. And it did for Jesus, too. He could sit in the synagogues and pontificate various aspects of the law with rulers all day. And he did.

But when it came to loving people, to loving on people he took a very radical, revolutionary approach.

I want to pursue that approach, more than anything in the world. And if it means working as a waitress at a home town restaurant in the middle of nowhere Kentucky, so be it. Or if it means setting up camp in a mud hut in Africa, so be it.

Only, Lord, just let it be.

Giving Up//Best Decision Ever

I gave up on this book:
I felt like I was in a pit with that book on a snowy day and I'm admitting defeat.

I did, however, start a new one and it's fantastic:

Yes, this is about a 4th-6th grade reading level. Yes it's about the gods of Mount Olympus. But it's so good! I can't wait to read all the other books I own so I can finish out the series! (And I'm not even halfway through.)

They're also making this book into a movie, due out sometime in 2010.

So there you have it: I gave up an adult book for a children's book.

And I'm infinitely happier.

And ALSO: please click here.

This is part of the BB, KY website and the name of my new place of employment is listed. There's nothing special about it, but you've got to see the dance that the French fries and salt shaker are doing. Uuuugly!

Holy Week

Happy Holy Week everybody!

For the entirety of this week, Dusty will be doing a daily Holy Week meditation over at his blog. Click here to read and I highly encourage it. He's a pretty smart guy, if I do say so myself.

First Shirt//I'm A Waitress

Well, I finished off my first homemade shirt last night! Ed, Laura, Aubri, Dusty, and Gabby were there to watch! I'm too lazy to get up and take a picture of the final, final product, plus my camera is dead but here is what I do have:

Now imagine that on the raw edge at the bottom there is a "flounce" the same color as the contrast on the top. Are you getting it now? Too cute!

This is a close-up of the main fabric, because I think it's super cute. I do, however, find myself in need of shoes to match this. *sigh*... guess I'll need to buy a new pair of flip-flops!

In other news, I am officially a waitress! I expect to gain insurmountable amounts of wisdom from this gig, and hopefully make some pretty good tips.

My mother has informed me that I need to buy comfortable shoes.

Dusty has told me that he thinks I will hate it at first, but has urged me to stick with it because after a while I'll really like it.

My dad has warned me about customers much like him, who order a water like this: "I want water, low ice, with lemon." (In other words high maintenance!)

So we shall see. Anyone else have any tips on what makes a good waitress?

This Is What Happens

This is what happened Dusty edited some footage of Rudy pouncing around the living room this evening.

I. Need. This.

Please do yourself a favor and click here.

This will be in my home someday.

It's got to be.

Dry Town

I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like my passion for the Lord goes through cycles of waxing and waning. I can categorically say that I feel like I'm in a waning stage right now. And that's ok. I've been a believer for 14 years. It's bound to happen now and then.

One of the things that seems to drag me through a waning period is music. I specifically have a list of about 5 songs right now that remind me of my path with the Lord and speak truth into my life, even when I'm doing mindless things like checking my emails or getting ready to go somewhere.

Would you like to know what my list is?

1. Dry Town by Andy Gullahorn
2. Never Let Me Down by Andy Gullahorn
3. You Won't Relent by Misty Edwards
4. I Will Waste My Life by Misty Edwards
5. I Am Yours by Misty Edwards

If I could just meld some of those song lyrics together it would be a concoction of endless encouragement:

Though I sleep, my heart is awake. Though it's night, on you I wait. I still believe this drought will end even if there are no clouds in sight. Because you never let me down. I'll set you as a seal upon my heart. For there is love that is as strong as death, jealously demanding as the grave. And many waters cannot quench this love! Like a hard rain in this dry town you bring life to this dead ground. Let me find I'm at your feet. For I'm in love with you and there is no cost. I'm in love with you and there is no loss. Just let me cling to you, Jesus. You might let me cry. You might let me sing. You might let me feel a fraction of your suffering. But you'll never let me down. So come be the fire inside of me! Come be the flame upon my heart! Come be the fire inside of me, until you and I are one! Though you're far away, still I'm here to say, "I am yours! I am yours!" For when I heard your voice, and you said my name, when I heard your voice my heart it yearned for You.

Sometimes I just feel the need to shout it throughout the day: "You never let me down!" "I am yours!" "Come be the fire inside of me!"

If any of you reading this can relate, one thing I urge you to do is to speak truth over your life. Even if you don't "feel" it you know it's True. So say it. Say to your heart, "Heart, you will receive this truth: _______________!" And then name it.

He is Good!
He is kind!
He is merciful!
He is all-powerful!
He is beauty!
He is truth!
He is wise!
He knows best!
He loves me!
He is fair!
He is for me, not against me!
He is present!
He heals!
He ate with tax collectors and sinners!
He is not mad at me!

Heart, receive that truth. Receive it!

The Scientist

I have no clever blog title for this, so I posted the title of the song I'm currently listening to. Ah, Coldplay.

I had a spur of the moment job interview today at a restaurant. (No matter how many times I type "restaurant" I always spell it wrong!) I might become a waitress! Crazy huh?

I'm nervous because what if I can't rattle off the list of salad dressings?

Hope nothing like this happens: (close your ears, there are a few adult words in this, don't even act like you've never seen it before!)



So, we'll see what happens. More to come.

I'm Not Sure If I Can Finish This Book

I'm reading In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day. I had just written this tirade about the example he used on pages 42-43 about a girl who went to Ethiopia and had amazing experiences such as cruising around in a Land Rover and how that was the way she "chased her lion" and she came back with fun party stories to tell.

Forgive me, but I deleted it.

I guess I'm still a little touchy on the Ethiopia subject as my heart hasn't gotten over reading this book (go... read it now!) and I fully believe that one day we could be the proud parents of a precious Ethiopian baby.

So again, forgive me. The whole passage on those two pages made me a little ill.

In short this book is shaping up to be everything that I was afraid it would be: fluff, cliche, and blah. I hope to finish, even though I'm not looking forward to it.

But Percy Jackson is starting to look really good about now!

Happy 5 Monthiversary

Gabriella turns 5 months old today! Really, it doesn't get much cuter than this:

I think it's safe to say that this is one of her favorite past times of late:

So happy 5 monthiversary baby girl!

Congratulations!

Just wanted to announce that Caleb James Hrabar has entered the world! Yesterday, to be exact, which makes him the first April Fool's baby I know.

I can't wait to go meet him in April!

Two Duds in a Row

Not gonna lie, the last two books I've read have been less than life-changing. I'll still have you all know that I have not bought a book since I started this thing. It's getting harder!

The Opium Clerk was the first in my series of duds. It just didn't do much for me and the story was hard to follow.

Most recently, today I finished Dragonfly. That's what I get for picking up a book at TJ's Consignment for $0.25!

I had this English teacher in high school, Mr. Grigsby. Besides being a grammar freak he also had this pet peeve about books that were too descriptive. He was a bare bones kind of guy. Back then I thought that was berserk, but now I know better.

Take a gander at the opening sentences of Dragonfly:

"Bad thing were starting to happen again in Uncle Henry's basement. These were things that had happened before, when the wind swung round, when the trees all felt the blood rush to their leaves after the exertion of August and the idling of September; when the chuckle-dark harvest moon shaped pumpkins in its own image, brought its secret wine flush to the scarecrows' cheeks; when the rich bounties of the land lay plump for the taking and the light left them alone for longer and longer at a time."

Chuckle-dark harvest moon? Now keep in mind that the entire book is written in this fashion.

I now understand Mr. Grigsby's beef with descriptive reading material. Some description is good, but sometimes writers can cross the line. And it's a very thin line.

Plus side of the book: it talked a lot about kingdoms of Light and Dark. It made several Biblical references and eventually light overcame the darkness. Story of my life. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was such a strong theme throughout the entire story.

Next up I'm going to take a swing on the non-fiction side with:

Swiped this from my folks while I was home for Christmas. I'm a little skeptical. I hope it's not the same thing over and over again, coinciding with stuff I already know. I really hope not.

Here's to reading!