Something to blog about...

Life --as we know it--couldn't be more exciting at the moment! Everyone in our family has attained a momentous milestone all within the past several weeks.

My milestone ~ After years and years of waiting and hoping, it looks like we are going to add to the family tree! When we started getting good reports from the doctor, we felt safe to share the news that we are going to have a baby! Due date - June 2. When you have experienced pregnancy loss, you kind of approach the whole idea with caution. You want to be hopeful, yet not presumptuous. We are fully aware that good health and good progress are all direct gifts from God's hand.

Steve's milestone ~ First time world traveler! Steve made a trip around the globe to our mission work in India. Wow! What an experience! We were so thankful he was able to make the trip with a veteran traveler - Bro. Steve Robinson. God certainly used them in amazing ways, and they received such amazing blessings from these precious people that we sponsor in Tenali, India. Tara's milestone ~ She shot her first deer! Hurray for Tara! This was her first time to hunt with a rifle! She was so calm and confident, and knocked that deer down!! It wasn't until she was climbing down out of the stand that she started getting "buck fever!" There was no need to track any blood! Her daddy was so proud ~ her cousin DJ was so proud ~ everyone was so proud of her! I know her Grandpa Snodgrass would have been bursting at the seams!

Katie's milestone ~ sweet 16! We had a grand time celebrating! Our friends the Truitts were able to come from Missouri, which made the weekend extra special. Celebrating entailed the Cheesecake Factory on Friday night, shopping all day Saturday, and finally a birthday party after church Sunday evening with around 40 friends and family ~ topped off with an "Oreo" cake from Edgars Bakery. What a sweet celebration for such a sweet girl! Our prayer is that she will grow in grace and the love of our Savior! Love you, Katie!

Happy Birthday, Dad

Just thinking about Dad today as we make it through all the "firsts" this year. My friend, Sharron, spoke about the misnomer that time heals all wounds, because as time goes on, the wound seems to gape a little more. So thankful for our heavenly Father who continues to wrap His loving arms around this family. God is good -- all the time.

Just what exactly does "CGP" mean??

In addition to our random week, and after 2 or 3 changes in our plans, the girls and I ended up in Nashville on Thursday, on our way home from Kentucky. You see, my dear Daddy was headed to Nashville that same day (or so we thought). I just couldn't abide the thought of breezing through without stopping to at least hug his neck! The plan evolved into staying the night in Nashville with the thoughts of attending an event with Dad and heading out to have a look at the campground where we will gather in a few weeks for the Pilgrim Nazarene Camp. Well, we ended up staying the night, but Dad's flight didn't arrive until 10:45 the next morning. All was well with that. We went to the campground. It is beautiful. We are so excited about camp!! Then we headed back into Nashville to find out all about CGP's!! You see, the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society was having their annual event, and Dad ranks right up there at the top of avid Chet fans! He showed us around, introduced us to many of our favorite "Certified Guitar Pickers" (get it?) In our world of homeschooling, I don't mind if music is played in the background while the girls study--it just has to be music without words that you can't sing along with; therefore, guitar music (Chet Atkins style) is one of our favorite genres. (And piano, and sax...) We got to meet Bobby Gibson who has this synthesizer that makes his guitar sound like a piano! Seriously! It is so cool!! We got to meet Nokie Edwards who was the lead guitarist of the band "The Ventures." Dad has been able to spend some very special time with him, and he has been able to witness to him about the Lord. Nokie really likes my dad. We got to hear Guy Van Dueser, Frank Vignola, and Tommy Emmanuel! We thought we were going to see Doyle Dykes, so Dad got Steve a ticket to fly in to Nashville that evening (some more random!!), and he got to be there for the evening concert. Sadly, Doyle had hurt his arm and wasn't able to make it, but it was a very enjoyable concert anyway! The next morning, we slipped in and heard took in a little more of the event. We got to hear Julian Smith play with a string quartet backing him up. Wow! What a great weekend! This is something Dad really loves, and I'm so glad my family got to get in and experience a little of it with him. Some great Quality Time!!

And sew on and sew forth....

The girls and I had a fun week last week. Full of "random" moments! (My girls are all about "random" these days.) We were invited by our friends, Carmelita and Marie Turner to join them in Kentucky. They were on a marathon of sewing bridesmaids' dresses for Marie's wedding. Well, since I love to sew, and I love Carmelita and Marie, and I love Grandma Jolly, (at whose house we were meeting) we headed out. We had a great time cutting, sewing, laughing and enjoying each other's company. Some of the sewing team headed out to go shoe shopping--such an integral part of being a seamstress!! I was happy to provide the entertainment for the week, but since I'm modest and don't like to call attention to myself, I'll let Carmelita or Marie tell you what was so hilariously funny. :) Let's just say that sewing late at night tends to bring out the worst rather than the best in a person!! Thanks, Grandma Jolly for being such a great hostess! BTW, the dress is deep purple (eggplant) and the jacket is silver. Very pretty. (Oh yes, and the shoes are silver satin.)

God's favorite colors

What a beautiful day God has blessed us with today!! I love to stop and think about all of the many ways God has enriched my life until I am just overwhelmed by His goodness!

Our house in Muncie was situated beside a very nice big yard. It was so peaceful to be able to sit on the porch on a clear day and drink your coffee or iced tea--especially with a loved one. My grandmother commented, one day, that God's favorite colors must be green and blue. That day I had to agree with her as I looked out over the vast green yard as it connected with the clear blue sky. I mentioned this to someone, and they so glibly remarked that God loves all the colors just the same. (Just what do you DO with people who have no scope for the imagination?!)

We received some very disturbing news this week from different places about some very difficult things that a few of our dear friends and family are having to face right now. It seems that everywhere you turn, there are hurting people. It is so hard to try to come up with the right words to say--especially when you think that is all you have to offer. Virtual hugs over the phone are nice in their own right, but not near as comforting. It is so easy to be overcome with grief, and grieving is necessary. But I am so glad to report that when you are able to finally pick your head back up from your tears, you can realize that you have not been alone. The Holy Spirit has been right there beside you with His arms wrapped around you, weeping with you. He knows our frame. He knows our suffering, and the answer to ALL of our prayers is His presence. I have found that resting in that fact is like being wrapped up in a soft blanket in the arms of your closest loved one. There is no where else I'd rather be!

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?

Tell it to Jesus, Tell it to Jesus.

Are you grieving over joys departed?

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

He is a friend that's well known.

You've no other such a friend or brother.

Tell it to Jesus alone!

Now it's time to go out and drink in some of God's favorite colors!! red, brown, yellow, black and white... green and blue, too?

A first time for everything!

Here is Steve preaching in our Dallas Spanish PNC. This was his first time to preach with an interpreter! God really helped him. Everyone was so gracious! Sis. Anaya fixed us an outstanding meal. What a neat experience!
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Happy Mother's Day

Every year, my husband buys me a corsage to wear on Mother's Day. It is always very beautiful and has such a special meaning. The two red roses are for my lovely daughters - Katelyn and Tara, and the white rose buds are for our babies in heaven.

My girls showered me with cards they made and bought - making this a very meaningful day. I am so blessed!
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New wheels!

Steve has been shopping, shopping, shopping for the right car. Since our car is now our "home away from home," we needed something designed for travel. Our little Malibu is great for gas mileage, but our mechanic thought it was great for a lot of other things, too! So we found this nice 2007 Buick Lucerne, and it is nice!

We bought the car and hit the road the next day--headed for Texas and Oklahoma. Steve preached a revival in Durant, and we so enjoyed getting to know our friends - Mike and Regina Yancey better. Our kids had fun together, too. I tried to act brave when Michael and David gave the girls a ride on their dirt bikes, though! (Sorry I don't have a picture of that.) Joshua and Brooklynn are sure cuties. We had a lot of fun that week.

God helped us in the revival. There is a lot of talent in the church. Everyone took part singing a special, but we only got a picture of the Dunegan's and Sis. Whatley's trio. We were certainly enriched by our time in Durant and also with the Taylors and the Meeks. God has given us such good friends!

Life is never boring!

It has been a while since I have posted. My resolve hasn't weakened, but my schedule has gone into overdrive!! God has been good to us, and we have been able to make some very sweet memories.

We have done a lot of travelling, been to lots of revivals, stayed with several of our dear friends, and have just been enjoying the blessings of God. Thank you Katelyn for having your ever present camera ready to shoot. (She really needs to create a blog for showing off her photos--she has incredible imagination!)

Here are two of my sweet nephews, Trent and Jeremy. They are SO much fun! (Trent belongs to my nephew Terry and Rachel in Dallas, and Jeremy belongs to David and Kimmy)Tara and Jillayne (bff daisy) :o) (I'm trying to learn the girly lingo!) got to spend some extra time together. It was so fun to have the Jones family here for a week. The revival was wonderful. We enjoy their friendship so much! Mom Snodgrass and Penny have the same birthday, so of course we had to celebrate in style with a strawberry cake from Edgar's Bakery! Here is Branden and Jake goofing off. It was the day for piggy back rides! Tara and Alissa had to join in the fun...

God has been so good to us! He has blessed us with good health, good friends, wonderful family ties and a loving church family. I don't ever want to take these things for granted! More to come...

Heavy Hearts

We are just having the hardest time acclimating ourselves to living life without Dad Snodgrass. But then, we didn't expect it would be easy. I always wanted Steve to know that I never wanted to stand in the way of any time he was able to spend with his dad, whether on the phone or in person--knowing that this time was going to come all too soon. As the days go by, we all find so many ways that we miss him--in just ordinary, every-day things. It has been heart-breaking watching my girls grieve for their Grandpa. Steve's grief is quite heavy. He consulted his dad frequently, and his advice was held in high regard. God's grace will see us through. This is just another milestone on our path to heaven. More than ever we are determined to make it there at any cost.

Bus Convention

Steve and I were so privileged to be able to attend Bus Convention this year. It was our first time, and, WOW! We feel so much richer! Steve was able to take in some of the pastoral leadership sessions. He really enjoyed the classes led by Bro. Jack Hooker, and Bro. Darrell Stetler II. I was able to go to a Bus Ministry class led by Bro. Leonard Raub--that guy has boundless energy, it seems. He really inspired me. Then I got to go here my hero, Bro. Barry Mason. He is chuck full of incredible resources!! Children's ministry is dear to my heart. My friends will tell you that if you just mention the topic, it turns on my switch and I could talk about it for the rest of the day!! The rest of the time, I attended the sessions dealing with teens and young people. What a needy world we live in. Our kids are constantly searching for something real, and we have the answer--why do we keep it a secret? God help me!!!

One other highlight I will mention is that I got to meet Sis. Judy Fay. My grandmother says she was inspired to do children's work by this dear lady. Grandma had a very successful children's ministry down through the years, and I have inherited many, many tools and resources from her. It was so gratifying for me to be able to meet Sis. Fay and thank her for the influence she had on Grandma. I have a rich heritage. I am very blessed.

Ha ha ha who said anything about spring???

My poor little porch robin!! Can you believe this?? I jinxed us all! Here we are in Alabama, the 1st day of March, and it's snowing like crazy! You know how it is down here--there are probably more salt trucks in your county than there are in the entire state! Well, I must say it is better than March 1st 2 years ago--we had tornadoes blowing through here. My girls gathered all their precious belongings and headed for the storm shelter. They hollered out, "Sorry, Mom, there's no room for you in here!" I assured them that I have always loved them and would see them in heaven!!

..I prefer the snow!
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Spring is coming!!

Who all has cabin fever around here? Around here, we know spring is coming because the thunderstorms and tornado threats become more frequent! It is absolutely dreary outside, and Steve said we can expect about 4 inches of rain! We also have an unofficial contest to see who sees the first robin of spring. Tara was so excited as she counted 7 then 14 robins in our yard! Katelyn had to go grab her camera! We have had a special attraction to robins ever since our own special little Robyn went to be with Jesus. Katelyn put one of these pictures on the home screen of my computer. She said, "I'm so glad we named her Robyn,"--she will always be close to our hearts, especially in the spring!

Words for Difficult Times

This morning, I ran across a little pamphlet Sis. Pettit sent to me a couple of months ago. We had been talking about my miscarriage, and she took the initiative to send me this little booklet that so gently spoke to my loss. I'm so grateful to have friends that care deeply. I want to be that kind of friend. I did a little search on google and found a really nice blog that is designed to give guidance in words of comfort. If you are a pastor's wife, or anyone who needs to show support to a friend in need, I have listed the link on my sidebar. Just click on the smaller version of this picture of Jesus, it should take you directly to that blog. May God bless you richly as you strive to show His love. This picture was sent to me from a dear friend who did not necessarily know just how much it would mean to me. I have 2 little ones in heaven, and this is exactly how I picture them to be right now! I intend to keep my focus on Jesus and someday, soon, we will all be together again!

To Preacher's Meeting and beyond!

Last week seems like it is such a blur, but in reality, it is a very special memory. We all gathered at the beautiful Shreveport PNC. The Holy Spirit sweetly ministered to us through Bro. Hedstrom. I was so glad Sis. Hedstrom was able to come, too. I love to glean from these ladies' experiences and wisdom. On Thursday, we had a very lovely celebration banquet at Camp Bethany commemorating our 5th anniversary. Several people testified and reminisced about the past 5 years and what God has done for us during that time. We received a lovely picture for our living room, and other gifts. We felt surrounded by a very gracious group of friends who showered their love on our family. Our hearts feel warm and uplifted.

Tampa!

Isn't it common knowledge that there is an eye in the storm that is peaceful and quiet? Well, saying that our life is a storm wouldn't be quite the right description, maybe a whirlwind. whew! But while we were in Tampa, we were able to take a few moments to stop and catch our breath real quick before we had to turn around and come back home!

The girls had an awesome time in Tampa. They got to fly for the first time, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Once they got away from their nerved out mom, they relaxed and enjoyed the flight! My mom was able to meet them at the gate and escort them to the baggage claim via the shuttle. They got to meet new friends - Autumn and Summer Smalley. Then they got to spend some time at the beach, and Grandpa took off work to take them to the zoo. My mom and dad did a fantastic job just spoiling them rotten!

What are grandparents for, anyway?!

After Steve and I got there, we got to go see Grandma D at her sweet little place in Zephyrhills. Grandma is so precious, and I really wish I could spend more time with her. I think an extended visit to Sylvan Springs is in order!

We were able to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday! It has been a long time since I have been able to be with my dad on his birthday, so we really celebrated in style!

We also went to Hobe Sound for an evening at Sea Breeze Camp. The girls got to dip their feet in the Atlantic ocean for the first time! We saw a few friends, and so enjoyed spending time with Joan and Brent Hoffpauir after church. We enjoyed meeting Brent and renewing our friendship with Joan.

Steve, along with other denominational leaders, met with the Bible College students for the purpose of recruiting them into the various vacant positions that are available for ministry. Then back to Tampa, and back home on Saturday.

It was so good to be with my parents. God has truly worked miracles for them and we are so grateful.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

It's not every day you get to greet the President, let alone wish him a happy birthday, let alone one who is 200 years old! Imagine our surprise when we walked into a Bob Evans restaurant last Thursday, and lo and behold, there stood Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln! He was so gracious to take time to talk to the girls, but he paid special attention to Tara. He told her that it was a girl about her age that convinced him to grow a beard. The girl's name was Grace Bidell, and she told Mr. Lincoln that he had a plain face. She said that if he would just grow a beard, she may be able to convince her brothers to vote for him. So he did! Another interesting fact is that he only wore his beard during his presidency. Then he invited Tara to join the group at his table while he gave a speech--the "Gettysburg Address." I'm sure Tara will long remember this fun diversion to the day.

Blessings along the way....

Happiness is also found in enjoying the blessings of friends as we go along the way. Our travels took us through Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas before we pointed Ms. Malibu toward home. Our hearts are full with good memories of time spent with good friends. I had fun getting acquainted with a certain sweet little Brooklyn Yancey, but her brothers might not be too happy that Joshua now knows how to make a rubber band gun around his hand. What can I say- I'm a teacher at heart! We'll be home this evening then off to Tampa tomorrow! The next post will have pictures, you can be sure.
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When the door opens to buy a new outfit, you should step right through.

I'm on my way to a meeting with my husband, but, oh, the shoes I was wearing were just wrong. (Did I really wear them on purpose?) Steve was so sweet to agree to stop and shop with me to get me lookin' good. Kohl's had nothing to sneeze at (if my nose was running money...), but then I went to Cato's. Don't you love that store? As I passed a mirror, I noticed my skirt didn't look all that great, either. You know how that goes! But, the Lord was shining down on me and would you believe, there was the cutest skirt and shoes to match my jacket! Happy day! The door to a new outfit opened up, and I walked right through!
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I'm NOT ready for an empty nest!

I just took my girls to the airport this morning, put them on a plane and sent them to my mom in Tampa. This is their first time to fly (Katelyn flew when she was 2--that doesn't count), and so there was quite a mixture of nerves and excitement! I cannot describe the feeling I had as I watched that plane back out, taxi down the runway and take off. I was NOT ok! It was a beautiful day, though, and we were able to watch the plane for a long time. The girls, on the other hand, relaxed, got acclimated to their surroundings and enjoyed their flight. To my great relief, Mom was able to get past security and meet them at the gate. Whew! It sure has been quiet around here. Since we homeschool, and are together 24/7, this abrupt separation has been a little disconcerting!

Our girls add so much life and laughter to our home, but their grandparents don't get to enjoy their vivaciousness near often enough. I try to share their chirpiness, but so much enjoyment comes from the "spur of the moment" humor. Mom and Dad are in for a real treat. They have a lot of fun things to do on the agenda. I think they are going to go hear the Perry's, meet new friends, go to the zoo, go swimming (hopefully!). Then when we finally arrive next Tuesday, we are going to end up at Sea Breeze Camp in Hobe Sound. And to all of this I will add--"the Lord willing!"

I believe when we fully enjoy life and the company of our loved ones, the Lord is pleased. He so graciously smiles upon us, and we know that the pleasantries of life come from His hand. We focus a lot on taking comfort that our trials are monitored by God, but I like to think that when we receive blessings like we have enjoyed lately, they are also a direct result of His watch care over us. We have enjoyed the company of our friends, good health, plenty of food, a warm, dry place to call home with many comforts, a lovely place to worship, a wealth of friends that surround us with their prayers, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. So, even though I am missing my girls, my heart is full because of the many tender mercies of my loving heavenly Father.

Double Date!

Another fun thing we were able to do this weekend was go on a double date with Troy and Jenn. After we had taken the girls shopping for a couple of days, they so sweetly consented to babysit all the kids so the 4 of us could go out. We went to our new favorite Italian restaurant - Leonardo's. They have a renowned concert pianist perform for the guests every Saturday night, and we enjoyed that so much! Good food, good atmosphere, good fellowship, but most of all, good friends. We have been blessed with many very good friends. The Truitts had to leave this morning, and throughout the day, I reflected on our time together. It's great to have the feeling that when you part company with friends, you come away wanting to be a better person. Troy and Jenn are friends just like that. Because of our time together, I feel refreshed in my spirit. I'm looking forward to being a better pastor's wife, a better parent, and a better Christian. Thanks, Truitts, for staying those few extra days. You were a tremendous blessing to us all!

Our Weekend with the Truitts

We have had such a wonderful weekend with our great friends, Troy and Jenn Truitt and their awesome family - Lauren, Luke, Tyler, Travis, Andrea and Alex. They got iced out of their house, and we were soo glad they decided to stay with us! They have so graciously entertained us a few times as we have traveled through their fair city over the past several months, so I was thrilled to be able to return the favor. The kids had a lot of fun playing together--in fact, I heard one of the boys say he would just like to stay and live here. We could use a son! The girls really need a brother! Here is Andrea in her "teenager" skirt!" I gathered some of the kids together in the basement of the church for a photo shoot. Back row - Tara, Jake, Tyler, Front row - Travis, Andrea and Reid:)

Katie and Lauren had a lot of fun, of course. We tried to get as much shopping in as possible - and last, but not least, we finally made it to WalMart--Katie's favorite store. We even have a picture of the girls with the greeter to prove it! LOL The Jasper young people came over while the Truitts were here. Elizabeth Shields, Katie and Lauren look a little like a tasty garden salad! =)

Does mobile posting work?

This is a test to see if I can blog from my phone...
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Get out the marinade, fire up the grill!!!

Katie had a fun invite from Bro. Larry Carver to go hunting all day! She hit the ground running at 3am (well, she hit the ground at that time, anyway) and when she got to the woods, she was ready, brotha! The morning hunt was very successful with a buck and a doe down! Wow, Katie! She says, "Yay! I'm loving life right now!" Well, she is now 1 up on her dad with only a week left of season.... Isn't that sad--I mean with a season that starts the middle of October and goes until the end of January, why does the last week have to get here so soon? Well, my hubby so sweetly invited me to go along with him for this morning's hunt at one of his favorite stands. There is nothing quite like being present while the forest comes to life. It was a beautiful morning with a tolerable level of chilliness. I tried to sit very still, be very quiet, look for deer and read my book. We did see 4 deer, but, sadly, he could not get a shot on any of them. Katie won the day!