10.26 Daybook

For Today {Wednesday, October 26, 2016}

Linked up today with The Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window its a little gloomy today.

I am thinking-- starting to think about the Holidays. Yup, believe it or not. I hate that Christmas is in the stores before Halloween.  I tend to shun all things Christmas before Thanksgiving.  This year I want to be intentional about my Holidays. To not get caught up in the hassle and hustle but to truly ENJOY the season, as it was intended.  Next payday, I am ordering the She Read Truth Advent family bundle.  I am really excited about this. I love their advent series and am excited this year to have an avenue to share it with the kids.

I am thankful Yesterday I received my Gratitude devotional kit .  I am looking forward to making November a month of intentional gratitude.

I am wearing I got my LulaRoe order on Thursday, I wore it to girl scouts. I'm still not sure how I feel about the whole legging thing.  They are super soft! I'm just not sure I can pull off the legging look...

I am creating hoping to do some more sewing this evening. Itching to get a quilt to the quilting phase. We are headed into some lovely quilting weather. Also have some shows I need to binge watch. :P

I am reading Pride and Prejudice I have been wanting to read this forever, have started it multiple times. Mikayla started reading it yesterday in English class, so I am attempting to read it with her.  Although I have already fallen behind on the first day :-/

I am watching the last season of Once Upon a Time

I am learning to be proud of who I am.

In my kitchen I made White Chicken Chili for Ryan's party in the microwave, in my Deep Covered Baker.  So good!

Board room * I am seeking to get to this point. I feel this way in my heart, sometimes I'm not brave enough for it to make it to the outside.

Pinned: amen
Source: The Time Warp Wife

Shared Quote 
"Your spouse is a living breathing, endless book dreams and hopes have yet to be realized.  Talents and abilities may be discovered like hidden treasures." The Love Dare, pp33

 A moment from my day Saturday night we celebrated Ryan's birthday! The cake didn't come out exactly as I had hoped. But not a total disaster either.  One thing I will caution you- the glaze takes FOREVER to cool before you can pour it on the cake...something my directions neglected to tell me. So allow plenty of time.

Closing Notes: I'm currently running a Help Whip Cancer Fundraiser. $1 from each water bottle purchased and up to 25% of the proceeds of my party will go to the American Cancer Society.  You can order online here: https://pamperedchef.com/go/AmysHWC

Water Bottles are $19.50

Wow God! =)

Do you ever just get overwhelmed by God. Sometimes I can't help but stop and say Wow, God! My heart is full of thanks. Yesterday we had 1 service (& no Sunday school). While I missed teaching my littles, it was a nice break. It also allowed for me to sit next to my mister in Church. A very rare occurrence. I treasured every second. The service was wonderful. His presence washing over me. I left filled and refreshed.  Funny how it also meshed with Mom Connect discussion last night. God's good like that ;-)

Two things I took away-

1. Above all you must LOVE first
2. You can't limit the ability or sovereignty of God.  There is no problem too big. No person too lost for God to reach and transform.

Last night was Moms Connect. The book we are reading/studying together is powerful. Becoming a Vessel God Can Use. God is definitely moving in this group.

Just thinking about the prayers that have been answered. Two babies prayed for, one born a week ago, one due almost anyday. <3 A home, for my brother's family... Reminds me of 5 years of prayers for our home. There isn't a day that goes by I am not filled with gratitude for the place we dwell.

This morning was one of those mornings I didn't want to leave my sanctuary, the good news is I can take Him with me no matter where I go. Pouring out my heart in prayer. My gratitude.

Reminder: put on your armor today.

T.o.L. 10/20

This morning I am cold, tired and achy. But my heart is full and happy. My soul is peaceful.  October fills me with Joy, drinking in the beauty of the fall.  My sister once told me October is the best month {her birth month}. I think we might have been on a particularly awful, cold, wet March run at the time {my birth month}.  But she is right I think. The weather is generally speaking fantastic, and even on dreary days like today- the fall beauty can overtake you.

Makes me want to watch Anne of Green Gables <3

October is a month of birthdays for our family.  I think its the highest at 6 birthdays, my mom, brother-in-law, nephew, niece, my sister and of course Ryan's birthday was yesterday...plus our anniversary.  

Last night we celebrated this guy... 14 years old...

We had his usual birthday dinner- Lasagna. =) Added bonus Rhett even got to be home for dinner last night. It made me so happy.

We will be celebrating with the extended family on Saturday night. Planning to make some chili. Ryan requested a "mirror galaxy cake" I had no idea what that was, but a short youtube tutorial later-- I am excited to give it a try.

I got an email yesterday about the November Illustrated Faith kit. I ordered it on the spot. Part of me is regretting it. (I probably shouldn't have spent the money on me.) The other half can't  wait to get my hands on it. It just called to me, if October is my favorite month. Thanksgiving is my favorite season. I love everything about this kit, the fall washi, that the devo cover is like a coloring page. The grey ink pad! The theme "Cultivating a Thankful Heart", something I am working on. Just this week (again) I read in my devo time how important it is to have a thankful heart. (I need constant reminding!)

I use the stamps from the Blessings or Lessons kit all the time. I haven't finished up the devo that comes with the kit yet. But this morning I read the section on husbands & wives, I am profoundly thankful for my husband. For fresh starts. <3 For him taking the extra time this week to remind me I am indeed his one and only.

I still have more journaling to do, but just looking at this page so far makes my heart so happy.

I tend to not do a lot of journaling. I look at other people's devotionals and journals and Bibles on Instagram and feel jealous and inadequate. But I think the key is just to jump in and start. It kinda takes on a life of its own once you begin.The most important thing is to just use that time to reflect and pray, connecting with the Lord.

I might have also ordered this one- Through Christ

How could I not???  Rainbows, emjoi's, a turquoise stamp pad... It just makes me so happy. I can't wait to use the emoji stamps to make cards for my SS Class. :D Plus if I got two my order qualified for free shipping ;-) So really I saved money...

This bunch of random thoughts brought to you by- Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

10.17

For Today {October 17}

Looking out my window its rainy...but the weekend was glorious! Can't complain here!

I am thinking

I am thankful  for time this weekend, with my husband and my children. With two of my best friends. For Moms Connect.

I am reading going back to some old favorites and the 3 most powerful books I own.

I am hoping for renewal. Hope. Healing. There are some heavy things on my heart right now. Things I'm not quite sure what to do with and don't particularly want to share. But if you could pray...

I am learning God is able. He loves me. He made me the way I am. He can use me right where I am, broken as I am.

 Shared Quote

 A moment from my day We went apple picking  on Saturday. A rare day spent together as a family.

This guy. I can't even. He means the world to me. <3

I just love how much they love each other... sisters <3

My goofy family~

 

Fall Love

A little Friday randomness =)

The fall this morning was so delicious.  My heart full and overflowing as I drove to work.  Drinking in God's beauty.

The golden trees against the bright blue sky! There were other places that were much more breath taking but since I was driving I refrained from taking any pictures,  this was outside of work this morning...

My girls have been reveling in the fall beauty as well. As we drove on Wednesday Mikayla exclaimed- "Just look at all the fall!" Hannah audibly gasped at a brilliant red tree in front of her school the other night.  Its how I feel too. 

I can hardly wait to get out of work and go run.  I have been such a ridiculous slacker lately. Its not even funny.  I feel so sad I have been squandering this beautiful fall weather.

Two spring Half Marathons are calling my name.  I'm giving myself until the end of November to prove to myself I can start exercising/training/running regularly again before I will even consider letting myself sign up.  Unless of course I get chosen to be a Pittsburgh Blogger (fat chance)- in which case I will be signing up immediately!

I'm really looking forward to going on a nice run this weekend.  Then apple picking! One of my favorite fall activities.

This I am working on- There are some troubling things on my heart.  But I know God sees it. He is here. Prayers are powerful.  I got War Room out of the library again. I'm going to watch it again. I feel like I need that reminder or how powerful Prayer is.

This from Moms Connect and Becoming A Vessel God Can Use... working on accepting myself just the God made me and seeing myself as...

I'm buying my first pair of Lula Roe leggings from my cousin Erin, for her sister's fundraiser... I feel like its a win win.  Supporting two of my cousins with a single purchase.  I'm a little nervous as I hear these leggings have a cult like following... this could be the beginning of the end :P

Planned to get a pair of solid leggings to go with my Julia dress that I recently discovered I love! But I couldn't resist the pair above...

Official Blogger?!?

I was perusing Facebook while I sat at Hannah's piano lesson. This popped up in my news feed. My heart stopped for a second.

My first thought was YESSSSSS! Oh. My. Gosh. I would so love to be an official Blogger of the Pittsburgh Marathon.  Reading through the short application my gusto felt laughable.  Sure, they'd choose me.  A nobody blogger, a mediocre-at-best runner, from Upstate New York.  Uh-huh.  Sure.

But then I figured, what the heck.  I can try.  I definitely won't get chosen by sitting back and wishing... so here goes nothing.  I filled out the brief application and am ridiculously optimistic (fingers crossed, hoping and praying) that by some far out chance I might get noticed in the sea of obviously far more qualified runners and bloggers.

I have this insanely high love for the city of Pittsburgh and its marathon.  Someday, (hopefully in 3 years when I turn forty), my first FULL Marathon will be PITTSBURGH.  I'm on the brink of biting the bullet and signing up for the 2017 Half. I missed running in Pittsburgh this past May.  I don't intend to miss it again.  Calling all my SnyderRunners! Let's Do This! #GameOnPGH

don't give up

Everything I have written the past week. The good, encouraging words. They all make me feel like a fraud. A fake. A failure. I feel like this fragile shell, that's already cracked and chipped...at any moment could shatter.

That girl who was sitting on the bathroom floor, sobbing into the dirty mop bucket. That feels like real Amy. Broken, battered, bruised. Trying to figure out how to pull it all back together again.

But that is not who I was made to be!! I will NOT be DEFEATED. I will NOT be DISCOURAGED. Today I will BE STRONG and COURAGEOUS and VICTORIOUS in the LORD!

Even this morning its a battle...and yet the battle is already won.

This is the focus this week for our Moms Connect study. Accepting me. The way I am. The way He created me to be. Always striving to become all He has for me to be.

It's so easy to get completely overwhelmed and discouraged. But God is there. He won't force us to lean on Him, focus on Him. But if we will lift our weary eyes off our troubles long enough, we will see He is right there all along.

Always a Battle

Surrounding myself physically as well as spiritually with his Word today! 

The anxiety is HIGH. But God is with me. Reminding me He's got this. I am in His hands. No matter what ultimately... its going to be OK. Trust. Believe. Walk in the Path He has for me today...

I read the section in our Mom's Connect book for Today (Becoming a Vessel God Can Use.) It was all about scripture being our tool. How important it is to memorize it. To find verses about our struggles and make them part of who we are, ingrained in our hearts and minds- our very soul.  God's Word is so, so vital. Its easy to get busy and let it slide by the wayside.  Let me tell you I notice when I have been neglecting the WORD.  I missed Church two Sunday's in a row... that almost never happens. I feel it. I can hardly wait for Sunday. To be back in my class. To sit in service. To soak it in. To be with my church family. <3

After reading the chapter in the book I flipped open my Jesus Calling, I felt like today's went right along with what I had read in the other book... and was just what I needed to hear.

BUT then... I got up from the table.  With every intention of returning after I got the towels out of the dryer...I didn't. I got busy, taking a shower, washing the dishes, trying to get myself out the door for work. Its so easy to get side tracked, distracted. Next thing I know I am so nervous and anxious I can hardly breathe.

I got to work and decided it needed to stop. I found my stack of index cards tucked in my little Bible in my bag. Wrote out a few more verses and resolved to keep my thoughts on those, whenever I started to get anxious I read them over again.  Inviting God to sit with me today. Conscious of His presence and His care.

Focusing on, meditating on these words today- Letting His peace, wash over me.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:4-9

Because the pup always makes me feel better. Oh, I love him! Even though he is on a destructive chewing spree lately.

Be blessed today =)

Anniversary Edition

For Today {October 6, 2016} 18 years ago I married the love of my life.  What a ride its been.

Linked up with the Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window it looks like an inviting Fall day

I am thinking about these two crazy kids, they didn't have a clue what they were getting into.

My Junior Prom

I am thankful for 18 years with my husband. We have definitely had our hard times. A few times I didn't know if we'd make it. The hardest time in our marriage came just after one of our anniversaries. Sometimes I still struggle with those wounds and memories.  But God reminds me He can make all things new. I try to keep my focus on the now. And to remember the good, there was a lot of good too.  

One of my favorite things time with my husband. I am looking forward to spending the day with him on Saturday. We don't get nearly enough time together.

I am hoping that despite all odds, we'll have good weather on Saturday.

In my garden  Anniversary flowers delivered to work. Caused quite a stir, we don't get a lot of excitement around here :P

Board room

Pinned: Love

Source: rebekamhallberg.com

Post Script a little video I made a few years back...

Shared Quote from our Vow Renewal 2009

Rhett's:
There's a saying among the Marines that says "Whatever doesn't kill us --makes us stronger."  We've been through some very tough times-- and yet here we are, standing in front of our friends and family dedicating ourselves again to one another and to the Lord after almost 11 years of marriage.  In the movie Fireproof it was said that "fireproof doesn't mean that the fire won't come-- but that will will be able to withstand it when the fire does come.' We've been through the fire.  But instead of succumbing to the heat and pressure-- we like gold when it is refined-- all of its impurities are burned away and the gold shines brighter and bonds stronger.  When we first started out I though that love was simply a feeling.  Over the last 11 years and especially the last 4 I've learned that love is an act.  Paul says in the book of Ephesians that Husbands ought to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.  From this day forward I vow to love you in exactly that way.  In a way that will make you proud to say I am your husband, in a way that our 3 children can use as an example for their future relationships.  And in a way that will put a smile upon our Lord and savior's face.  I pledge to you now that when the fire comes again-- that I will be standing beside you-- holding your hand like I did when we first met at Lake Champion.  I love you-- and will always love you for as long as my heart still beats.

Mine (much shorter but just as heartfelt):
Nearly eleven years ago I stood by your side promising to be your wife.  Though that promise wavered and was strained it was not broken.  Today I pledge anew my faithfulness, my love and my devotion to honor and cherish you all the days of my life.  To walk beside you no matter where the road leads us.

A moment from my day

Wedding Day

I just love him--- like a ridiculous crazy amount

My parents anniversary party -  2008

Closing Notes:

Marriage is hard. As I said previously, we've had our share of rocky roads. I'm thankful we have made it through 18 years thus far...hopefully with many, many more still on the horizon.  I'm thankful for the legacy before me.  My parents just celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary.  Both set of my grandparents remained married for a lifetime. 60 and 59 years respectively. Something to strive for...

A Run For Their Life

Sunday morning was A Run for Their Life. Four of us planned to run it together, my mom, my sister, my sister-in-law and me. By race day our number had dwindled to 2. Just me and my sister. But it felt super important to us, personal, wanting to run it for our aunt. Recently diagnosed with breast cancer and currently going through chemo. My mom was missing the run because she had the opportunity to go visit her. I would have taken it too. Mom did the run "virtually" on her own Sunday afternoon, as did my sister-in-law on Saturday morning.

The plan was for me to go to my sister's apartment Sunday morning and  drive together to the race.

I awoke a little before my alarm was set to go off. After having a dream that race was actually in PA and we were at Grammy's. I was sad to wake up and not be.

Chance was really excited to wake up and see me ready to run. But then was pretty bummed when he realized I was leaving him behind.

      

I got to my sister's a little ahead of schedule. I happily snuggled the nephew while she finished getting ready.

We had a little trouble getting to the race, nothing major just my inability to follow directions from google maps- coupled with the distraction of chatting with my sister.  But we made it! Here we are on the shuttle bus from the parking lot at the middle school to the park where the race was held.

Pre race selfie-

Mile One selfie :)

The race itself was great. I love when I have a chance to run with Laura. We ran together the whole time.  It was a little bit hilly. It felt hard but good. I mean for a little bit I kinda felt like I was dying...shameful but within a few minutes of the finish I was so happy.  The weather was perfect.

After we got our snacks we went and sat on a bench by the lake.

Given how much I have been running lately, I am happy with my results.  Pretty much standard these days...

It left me hungry for more.  Wanting to get stronger and better again.  This evening I saw a post that the Syracuse Half registration is opening next week.  This race as been  on my radar for the past few years, but I always chicken out.  This year it is back on my birthday weekend... No better way to celebrate turning 37 I'm thinkin' ;-) I have my sites set on Pittsburgh again as well. I haven't signed up yet but its calling me.  Maybe because it was my first half...it holds a special place in my heart.

PS---
Because there was no race T this year... I wore last year's shirt Sunday afternoon. I was so bummed. I almost always wear the race shirt the afternoon after a race.

Yeah-- we got pillows instead.... Interesting choice... ???? (What were they thinking?!?)