lesley's graduation weekend!

this weekend lesley, evan's youngest sister, graduated from tech.

we braved some early SNOW and headed to blacksburg for the weekend.  we stayed at a cute little b&b with the snyder's. 

les graduated early saturday morning

HUN-NEE was a little tired

 lesley wrote her folks a four page letter.

 susan and ed were very touched...

 YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY LESLEY!!!

we celebrated with a perfect dinner at the home place.... 
soooo yuuuummmmyyyy

 we had to wait a while until dinner so we took some pictures...

the snyder ladies

the snyders and an in-law

VT alumni

Les and her great friends

 and then dinner was served.... fried chicken, bbq, & roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits, and apple butter....mmmmmm

let's just say they had to bring out round two very quickly!

les we're so proud of you!!! 

"Christmas" at the barn

i hope we have started a new tradition!!

this year we are with evan's family for Christmas.  this weekend we did "Christmas" with my family at the barn in deleware. 

the barn

my parents got this place when i was in college.  i remember driving up for the first time and thinking... what did they buy!?!  :)  this year the house was on the christmas tour put on by the lewes historical society.  mom and dad think they had over 1000 people go through the house and everyone LOVED it!

my american girl doll from when i was little

loved this santa growing up

dining room ready for Christmas dinner!

presents dying to be opened!  :)

 we had our traditional Christmas dinner with some family friends over to join us.  they spent many years in paupa new guinea.  i loved hearing their stories... although they were not easy years for them.  
we could not end our night without a game of .....

fireball island!!

matthew reminding us of the rules!

i think evan just got fireballed!

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evan got the jewel

i got it!!!

evan won... :(

 sunday morning we had our typical Christmas breakfast... cheese and sausage balls and cinnamon buns (snyder tradition) ALL very yummy :D

then we opened presents!

we got matthew an "uncle" frame and a "grandparents" frame for my parents.  i thought for sure we would have a picture of our little hun-nee by now to put in it...oh well, soon enough :-/

ezekiel got some some presents too...

mufy got us a tom tom... which was something the eventually wish list... it was very handy on our way home!

 

 our next gift made me laugh the most!!  if you know my daddy you know he LOVES vacuums!  once he replaced the wheel of a 40 year old vacuum with the lid of a peanut butter jar b/c the vacuum still worked... i can't imagine it worked that well!  i think my dad has 15 vacuums so to get one from is really funny... at least to me. 

daddy showing us how to use the vacuum

showing evan how good the suction is with the "shark"

"look at all the attachments!"   love him...

 the biggest surprise was a new camera for evan and me... so we can take great pictures of our little hun-nee!!

 my family was very patient with me as i played with our new camera...

stockings for our family

playing games...

{ i think i had the lowest score of the game... but obviously i wasn't that concerned with the game  :)}

and a family portrait...

we had a super weekend!  it was a perfect start to the Christmas season!!

good news for the choi's!!!!

tonight grace called to tell us that they got their TRAVEL CALL!!!  we are sooooooo EXCITED for them!! 
grace and peter received their referral last march and hoped to have their son home by late summer... they have had their fair share of trials and set backs through this process.   

i have been so encouraged by their faith throughout this process.  i cannot wait to meet their son....

i wonder if all the months of waiting are just a flash now?  although i know we WILL get our referral at some point... sometimes if feels like IF... this was a wonderful reminder that it will come... just at the right time.  sooooo happy it is finally time for the choi's!!!

120 sandwiches

this past semester our small group has been going through the hole in our gospel.  i really think this book has changed my life...  if you have never read it, you need to... probably right away!  :)

anyway our small group is trying to find practical ways to "fill" this "hole", to tangibly show God's love toward others.   we have connected with reston interfaith for opportunities to do this in our community.  tonight our small group put together 60 hefty lunches for people that stay in the shelter in reston. 
as a small group we have also decided to support claudia through KIVA a non-profit organization that helps set up micro-loans. claudia lives in honduras and is working to run a store out of her home.  i am excited to see how and when her loan will be completed and who we can begin helping next!!
i don't share this to give us a pat on the back.  i really enjoyed going through the book with our group, it is special to come together with these friends and find ways to serve and live out our faith, instead of just talking about it... of course it is not perfect, and there is so much more to learn...but we are taking the first steps.  


tonight i was also hoping hear about a travel update from grace and peter ... and it made me chuckle when grace said she was hoping we would have some good news tonight as well.... nope. nothing from korea and nothing from ethiopia.  
we met the choi's the night we found out we were accepted into the ethiopia program.. they were such a blessing to us that evening.  we love them and hope they will be able to go get their son very soon!!

a full weekend

on saturday evan and i and some of our friends helped out the down syndrome association of northern virginia christmas party.  we helped kids make crafts with some friends, while our other friends took pictures, tried to make kids smile and not cry on santa's lap, and print pictures.  i wish i had pictures of all the fun the kiddos were having.  it put a smile on our face just to watch them!!

my favorite part of the whole event was when a little girl notice my hurt finger, it was in splint because i hurt it playing football.  she looked up at me and said, "i'm sorry it hurts." then she leaned over and kissed it... she was so sweet. that was one of those priceless little moments i hope i never forget!!

after the party was over we headed to shirlington to celebrate katie's birthday!!  it was a wonderful day of food, fellowship, and fun!  (bummed i don't have pictures!) 


sunday evan helped lead worship at church.  i love watching/listening to him when he leads.  i think he does a super job, maybe i'm biased.  one of the first times we hung out he lead worship for a young adult retreat.  that weekend i learned the song. your love is extravagant.  my favorite version is his. maybe one day he'll record it for me.  (HUN-NEE i can make you a list of songs if that will help  :) )

in the afternoon katie, anna, and i had a unique girl's time... in the hospital.  anna is 6 months preggers and has had a heck of a pregnancy.  it has been neat to watch her remain calm and reliant upon the God in really uncertain and even scary situations with her pregnancy.  we are praying this baby continues to cook for at least a few more weeks!

this weekend was full of lots of things to do, but it also left my heart very full.  i was reminded of lots of things to be thankful for...including waiting on God!

we got pictures!!  here are a few pictures from the holiday party...

evan and me helping at the craft table

karly must have put on 50 tattoos that afternoon!

the kiddos loved rudolf

and the penguin

and of course santa!!

BIRTHDAY GIRL!!

maybe??

on November 3rd an orphanage that our agency works with was closed due to some licensing issues.  we have been waiting and praying with many other families for the orphanage to have it's license reissued.  some families have had 2 and 3 court dates come and go waiting for the orphanage to get the license. :(  
today it happened!!!!  the orphanage got its license!!!!



it was so sweet to read everyone's post rejoicing to answered prayers!


right before we received our "on deck" e.mail things were moving like crazy!!  november has been pretty much the opposite...so quiet.  i do not keep real close tabs on what is going on because i find it is hard to balance all the emotions that comes with keeping up to date. :) but since december, all two days of it, i have checked things a lot.... now just waiting and praying for some referrals to go out along with the new court dates!!



 

lia sophia

several weeks ago a family friend did a jewelry show for me.  she is giving all of the proceeds, that she would get, to us!

i have know hilary since i was in elementary school.  we are so touched by her generosity and eagerness to help us.  thank you, thank you!

yesterday i unpacked the box with all the "jewels" and was blown away by the support from family, friends, and co-workers.

it was a of fun to see all the jewels people bought.  it took me WAY longer to sort everything than necessary :)

thank you again for such great support to help bring our little hun-nee home!!

if you are ever interested in hosting a lia sophia jewelry party, PLEASE let me know.  i would love to bless hilary by giving her come clients!