Short Weekend

Who invented the idea that we work 5 days and only get 2 off? I think it should be the other way around. I am sure that most of you would agree. :)

Friday night we went to dinner with Jennifer's parents and her brother's wife and son. We ate at Dale's Southern Grill, a place that is very good and the prices are great. I haven't eaten there in a long time so I am glad we went.

I meet a lady before dinner where I purchased a keyboard from her. She was selling it on Craigslist. I use to have a piano and we moved it to my parents house a couple years back so I have missed playing on it. The keyboard is much smaller and lighter, which is good. I want to get back to playing and learning the transition of the cords so I can play at church, etc.

Saturday morning I got up had my coffee, a banana, and then hit the road on my bike for a 30 mile ride. I left at 6:37am and got back about 9am. Pretty good if I might say so myself and exactly 30.02 miles. It was a great ride. Jennifer and Corban left shortly after that to go spend some time with with one of her girl-friends. That gave me time to clean the house and do some yard work for the open house that took place on Sunday.

NO ONE came to the open house and I feel pretty bumbed because of it. It was a beautiful day so maybe everyone was just taking advantage of it by going to the parks, etc, just to enjoy the weather. It did allow me to get a couple of hours to myself and read. I sat outside and soaked up the sun and Gods word.

Jennifer called me shortly after they left on Sunday and told me, "Everyone is fine but we have been in an accident!" I am glad everyone is okay but I do not like a statement starting out like that. Jennifer was at a complete stop and a lady re-ended her and Corban and the "baby-to-be." Everyone is okay including the baby. Which brings me to my next thing...

Because of the accident Jennifer went to the doctor yesterday to be sure everything was okay with the baby and they were able to tell her the sex of the child.(we originally were going to find out on the 28th of this month.)

I am PROUD to announce that I will be the Dad, again, to another baby BOY!!! So exciting! Now we have to pick a name. Jennifer is still not sold on Elliot. She likes many names and wants to, if possible, incorporate a family name of Jackson into it. Well, this is what I came up with: Elliot Jackson Snyder. I personally think it's great; she still does not like it because of Elliot. We could call him Eli for short.

Who knows what the little guys name will be. No matter what, I can't help but think just how blessed we really are!

Bike ride, grass cutting, school, praying...

I forgot to tell you that I was able to get a bike ride in on Saturday. I decided to only ride 15 miles since it had been a while since I was "in the saddle!" Surprisingly it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. It took me a about 1hr. to go 15 miles. It felt great! I need to get a ride in every weekend so I can get back in shape. The next rides will be between 30-50 miles each and hopefully improving on my time.

I got one side of the yard cut yesterday. Corban is such a great little man. I put him in his swing and he watched me mow. I need to get to the front, back, and other side done. I wonder if he will let me put him in his swing again today? I have a meeting tonight so I am not sure if I will be able to get it done or not?

Jennifer is wanting to take online classes to get her Masters in teaching. I know she misses teaching and misses being a volleyball coach. Having her Masters will allow her to teach in the public schools and not just private. Be praying that she is able to get some Grants and other funding so we do not have to take out student loans. We are already paying some and I would like NOT to add to them.

There are many things that I am praying about. I really feel right now that I am standing in place watching the world go about its day to day and all I can do is watch it happen. I want to participate but I can't seem to move my feet and join in. Don't get me wrong, I am doing stuff but I just feel that none of it is productive or making a difference.

Remembering "Simple Joy"

The below is some of a post from a blog that I read. It is something that I needed to read this morning and be reminded of. I love when God works like that; which happens more than we probably see. It talks about "Simple Joy!" We truly are blessed and have SO MUCH to have JOY about.

Please read:

Simple joy is excitement upon seeing the first hummingbird at the feeder in the spring, making popcorn for family TV night, getting or giving a hug from or to someone, singing 70's tunes with your children, digging the weeds out of the garden, people watching while eating an ice cream cone on Main Street, listening to the purrs of your kitten. These are some of the simple joys in life.

I am blessed with experiencing the hand of God upon myself and my family. I am honored and privileged that my Saviour has heaped so many blessings upon me and my family. I want to see God's majesty around me and not be too busy and let it pass by me. And I thank my Lord and Father that each and every day he has opened my heart to simple joys!

"I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well feed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Phillipians 4:11-13"

Random Information

-Corban is almost 14 months old. He is such a ham and keeps us laughing. I love that little guy!
-The house is still on the market. Since I paid the $274.00 to list with an MLS I have had not bites on it. What gives?!
-Some friends who listed their house about a month ago has a contract on theirs. I am happy for them but I can't help but think, "when will ours sell?"
-I worry about things that never happen. I can play out the whole scenario in my head all for nothing. Don't get me wrong, I am glad they never happen.
-Jennifer's grandmother's funeral is tomorrow. I will be singing "What a Friend We Have In Jesus." One of Grandmother's favorite songs.
-I have enjoyed having BOTH vehicles paid for; though I did look at a vehicle online today that I could have bought. Priorities though...right?! ;)
-I am hoping to get a bike ride in on Saturday morning. I NEED it!
-There is a cloud outside my office window that looks like a dog.
-The grass needs it's first cutting for the year. If it wasn't for the weeds it wouldn't need it. Stupid weeds!
-I think I am going to shave my beard off this weekend. (shedding the winter coat!:)
-Needs to give the house a good Spring cleaning. I have allowed it to go these past couple of weeks which is hard for me because I am OCD.
-Did you know that if you drink pepto-bismal and don't eat or drink or brush your teeth for a while it will form a brownish/black color on your tongue.
-The thunderstorm today has washed away the pollen...for now anyway.
-Not sure where to go from here? (not refering to the blog)
-Told you it was Random Information.

Easter Sunday and egg hunts with the Family...

Visit with Cousin Connor

Friday trip to the park and McD's w/Daddy!

Not feeling at home...

I don't know where we(my family) is suppose to be? I am talking about Church.

I believe that everyone should have a church that they call home and know that the people there are their family.

About 8 months ago we left our church that we were at for about 4 years. Many things led up to us deciding that we needed to leave but for the life of me I can't pin-point any exact thing.

We visited my wife's childhood church which is great but I just didn't feel that was the place.

We are now visiting another church with people that we know. Most of us use to go to church together and they started their own church. It is a great church but we have been going there since November and I still do not feel "at home." We did meet the lady that babysits our Son during the week while we go to work. We could not have found a better person.

I use to help the Pastor of the church we left lead praise and worship. Singing is my passion and I enjoy giving praises to my King through song. God really moved during praise and worship there and He started using me more and more.

I honestly feel lost right now and I hate the feeling. I am suppose to be the spiritual leader in my house and I feel that I am not fulfilling that role 100%.

I always saw myself one day being a praise and worship leader and/or a choir director some place. Not necessarily full time. Now I don't know what I feel? I don't know what to do either?

I have prayed about it...but I have not "prayed without ceasing." Like a child that is crying because it is hungry or cries until it gets what it wants/needs, I should cry/pray to God and stay crying/praying until I get my answer.

I just don't know?...

It's not the employee's fault!

Friday I took my 13 month old Son to his 1st McD's trip. When we walked in I looked around for a high-chair and could not find one. I asked the employee behind the counter if they had one. Here is how the conversation went.

Me: Do you have any high chairs.
Girl: No.
Me: Seriously.
Girl: I have never seen them.
Me: Seriously! A place that is considered a child friendly place, has a play ground for children, has no high chairs!(being said with a very sarcastic tone)

About that time a lady that looks to be a manager came around and said, "what is it?" So I said to her, "you don't have any high-chairs?" She said, "yes, they are on the play ground." I said, "Oh...she(pointing to the employee) said you didn't."

I don't blame the employee. I blame the manager lady. She is also the manager lady that when I went to get our sundae for dessert only put fudge on the top instead of the bottom and top. When the same employee said, "he wanted fudge on top and bottom the manager said, "well, you didn't charge him for extra fudge" as she proceeded to hand me the sundae. So now it's my fault that the employee screwed up.

All I can say is that the manager lady better be glad that I had my Son with me or that is was Good Friday...cause I was trying to be good...which I think I did pretty well at trying to be good. Truthfully, I didn't need the extra fudge anyway; but I still wanted it.

Oh, also, later that evening I had a guy cut me off in traffic. I normally would blow my horn but I thought I would be "Good" again. Well, everything was fine and dandy until he and a passenger in the back seat shot me a bird. Well, I laid on the horn as a way of saying THANKS A LOT!!!

It was then that I noticed the Christian Jesus fish, with the name JESUS written in the middle, on this truck that just cut me off and shot me a bird. Since the weather was nice, our windows were down and he was staring out his window at me so I stuck my head out and told him, "I notice you have a Jesus fish on your truck. I am sure that Jesus is VERY happy with you and how you shot me a bird." Well, he didn't have much to say after that. He sort of tried to say, "Yea, well...I bet He is happy that you...uhhh...blew your horn at me." I am sure the guy went home and removed the Jesus Fish from his vehicle.

From the abundance of the heart...

...the mouth speaks!

I don't know the verse in the bible where the above statement comes from but I DO NOT like it.

None of us are perfect and there are times where we allow people, things, and life to get to us. If something has "gotten to me" I normally will show it by opening my mouth. It is usually something in the negative sense. I hate it when this happens! When my mouth starts speaking and these negative things come out I always think back to this verse and wonder to myself if that is what my heart is filled with.

Here's a new take on Spiritual Fasting. There are many reasons why we Fast and many things we can Fast. But I am going to focus on the "Fasting of food."

The moment I decide to Fast, my flesh rises up against me. Our body needs food and when mine is not getting it it starts feeding off my emotions. Jennifer can always tell when I am hungry because I start getting snippy and she knows that I need food.
So, I am Fasting (sacrificing) food for a spiritual reason and at the same time I start getting into a war with myself and with those around me.

"Lord, I am trying to Fast here!" Why is this frustration inside of me coming out during this time? Could it be that while you might be Fasting for something/someone, God is doing a work inside of you at the same time? Fasting is a cleansing too! God knows what we need even the things that need to be striped away. (i.e. our frustrations, our flying off the handle bars, popping off at the mouth, etc.)

So, back to the verse: "From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!" My question was: Is this what my heart is filled with? As hard as it is to accept the answer is a resounding YES! That stuff would not come out of us(me) if it wasn't in there to begin with.

The next question would be: What am we(I) going to do about it? We are going to have to "FAST" it out of us.(starve it out! Quit feeding it!) Not by our strength though, because we have no strength. It has to be with Gods strength. Luke 18:27 says, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

While you are Fasting it out of you don't be hard on yourself when you fall. Pick yourself back up, dust yourself off, give an apology when needed, ask for forgiveness, and continue on. The only one without sin was Jesus and the last I checked in the mirror I was FAR from perfect but I can follow in the footsteps of the one that was and is perfect!

Oh, and one more thing, if you are still reading this long post, remember too that the Bible says, "In your anger do not sin!" That proves that it is okay to get angry, just handle it correctly. Jesus tossed over the money tables in the synagogue(i think that was the place). He must have been angry! :)

Sense of Smell

The sense of smell is a powerful thing. At least for me. I have a very good sense of smell. The one thing about my sense of smell is that it causes me to "go back" to another place and time. I can be somewhere and smell something and I have a flash back of a memory or some kind. (good or bad).

Yes, the sense of smell is a powerful thing. The word "smell" is also a funny sounding word. Say it again...smell...now say it over and over...smell...smell...smell. Told you it was funny sounding!

Both ways CAN'T be YOUR way!

I love getting together with family for the holidays.

When you get married though, getting together for holidays brings on a whole new meaning. You have to play the 'ol Swith-A-Rue.

My wife and I switch Thanksgiving locations every year. One year with my family and the next with hers. If our families lived in the same direction we could probably see both but it is literally the opposite direction. (one east and the other west). On Christmas we see both sides because we are only going to my inlaws house about 10minutes away and then heading to my parents and then we get back to our house around 9 or 10pm that night.

Well here it is Easter! My Mother ALWAYS sacrafices and works around other peoples schedules but she wants to have Easter at her house on the actual day but once again it seems that it is going to have to happen on the Saturday before.

The schedule is worked out for Saturday because certain family members have to have it their way and CANNOT make it if it stays on Sunday.(as if you not being there should stop us from getting together at all).

So the schedule is reworked so they can come, which is okay but...the other family members also have plans on Saturday and wants to make it later than the 1:00pm that we have it scheduled for. WHAT! NO! The time is staying 1:00pm. We also have plans on Saturday and we are cutting them short so we can get travel the 1 1/2 hrs. to my parents, hide the eggs, eat, let the kids hunt the eggs, spend a little more time with the family, and then head back to our house.

Look, the schedule was already changed for you. You CAN'T have both ways YOUR way! Cut your plans short. Sacrafice something! Heck, we are celebrating Easter here. You know, where Jesus sacraficed His life for you.

Gold Par-tay!!!

Just a reminder that this Saturday, March 27th I will be hosting a Gold Party at my house from 11am – 1pm. Come and go as you please. I will be grilling hotdogs, buffalo chicken dip and serving drinks!

Bring your unused, damaged, unwanted, boyfriends, girlfriends, ex’s, current spouses, whosever jewelry and get PAID for coming to a party!

If you can’t make it to the party be sure to bring your jewelry to me in a bag with your name and number on it so I can tell the lady who to write the check out to.

Let me know if you are coming and I will give you the address to my house!!!

See you there!!!

Remember, I get paid for hosting the party and a portion of my earnings will go towards Relay For Life!(American Cancer Society)

Sunny Skies

It is so nice outside that I didn't want to come back from lunch. I see nothing but blue sunny skies as I look out my window...FINALLY! It is only going to last today and tomorrow but I will take what I can get.

I opened up a couple of windows at home and put the dog outside. Zoe, our dog, is so funny! When I chain her up outside she lays down on the ground and doesn't move. I guess she thinks she is in trouble because normally that is why she gets chained up but I told her that there is no reason to be inside on such a nice day. I wish someone would chain me up outside! :)

The truck in is need of a good bath so I guess I will be washing it this afternoon when I get home, which will give me a reason to be out in this beautiful weather.

If you remember from a previous post you will recall that the wife and I are sneaking away this weekend for a "rendezvous." She knows now that we will be heading to Atlanta to visit the Ikea store and visiting with my brother. I haven't told her anything else but she is a smart one so I am sure she knows what kind of place we will be spending the night at. I am just looking forward to a nice get-a-way with my Bride, which will be my bride for a total of 4 years so far this coming July 22nd.

Also, the St. Joseph statue that I ordered came in yesterday. If the wife gets home before dark we will follow the directions of burying it in the yard and pray!

Everyone have a great weekend! Put off all the inside chores and get your butt outside as much as you can and enjoy this weather!

Family and Friends

Pics from visiting with family and friends last weekend!