Day 16 - ...

Okay, maybe I'm breaking blog etiquette here, but I'm not a huge fan of today's challenge: What's in my purse? 1. That's just a stupid question and 2. I don't even carry a purse these days, much to my chagrin because I love bags and have some pretty cute ones. My arm candy, besides my daughter, is my daughter's diaper bag. It's cute, but it's not a purse.

I digress. Back to breaking etiquette. I stole my Day 16 challenge from this blog. I feel like maybe I cheated on my original challenge list. It's become a bit of a strained relationship, really. You'll understand if you read my last couple of posts. Boorrring.

Okay, so Day 16 - A Song That Makes You Cry (or nearly)

If you know, and maybe if you don't, you'll know that I am very passionate about music. It totally moves me. A song can make or break my mood, seriously. I could go on.

So, here's that song that always brings a tear to my eye. One of my favorite worship songs... ever. Don't worry about the video, just listen to the lyrics and tell me the truth of them doesn't bring you to tears.

A Mighty Fortress (Christy Nockels)

Day 15 - Something I Crave a Lot

I crave an uncomplicated life. Is that cheesy? It's true. I wish things could be more cut and dry... then again, if that were the case for everything, life might be more complicated. Unfortunately, I don't know what the "uncomplicated life" would look like, but I want it. Somewhere out there.

(These topics are a little... not my thing... boring... hum.)

Day 14 - Something That Makes Me Happy

My family.

The look of pure elation on Waverly's face.

Chandler's joy. 

The lake.

Day 13 - Something I Don't Leave the House Without

... my phone.

Day 12 - A Show I'm Currently Obsessed With

Not really, but Chandler accused me of liking the show better than Waverly

THIS is my current show obsession. We, yes we, have watched all 9 seasons.

Days 10 (oops!) and Day 11

Day 10 - A peek into my make up bag... scary.

1. PAINT POT! It rocks. You put it on your eye lids before applying eye shadow and it holds the eye shadow in place all day without creasing!

2. Eye drops. Apparently, I have dry eyes. 

3. Broken mirror. Duh.

4. If you can't find it, it's between 3 and 5... no really. These are Malawi money: quacha. Obviously, I saved these from our Africa travels and just haven't taken them out. I love to collect coins/paper money from the different countries that I visit and have a tin for these types of things. I think I keep these coins in my make up bag (that I use every day) as a constant reminder of our call and goal for the next year.

5. My SIL, Caroline, is a MAC make up artist; hence the MAC products. She put these eye shadow colors together for me and showed me how to wear them. My favorite pallet! :)

I also have a lot of brushes, for powder, blush, 3 for shadow, eye liner smudger, 4 tubes of mascara, an old Clinique eye shadow pallet for the lazy days, eye liner, tweezers, scissors, and, of course, my eye lash curler. 

Day 10 - My Old Kentucky Home (a photo of my town)

I have to share two because Lexington is such a dichotomy...

We have beautiful rolling hills and horse farms; you feel like you're in the country when you're only half an hour from downtown. 

Then, you have downtown. Not "the big city" by any means, but I guess that is subjective. A lot of smaller, more rural surrounding counties consider Lexington "the big city", but Lexingtonians, like myself, think Lexington is significantly dwarfed by other cities such as Chicago.

Anyway, I love living here.

Lexington Legends and Day 9 - A Photo of the Last Item I Bought

Tonight, Chandler and I took Waverly to her first baseball game! Going to baseball games is one of our favorite things to do. For me, it's like sitting on the couch watching tv, except I'm in a hard, plastic chair, outside in the shade with a semi-cool breeze, people watching and socializing... oh and cheering on my team, of course. So, like any other major milestone; i.e., walking, first tooth, etc, I caught a few photos...

And a photo of the actual game...

Okay, so the following photo is not the last item I bought, but let's just say, it is a heck of a lot more exciting than the last thing I really bought: felt, thread, velcro, fusible webbing, and snaps. However, this was the last major purchase... (get ready for some eye candy!)

Yes, they are more beautiful in real life. I bought them for a wedding two and a half weeks ago. I had wanted nude heels all summer because what goes with everything? Nude. And the wedding was the perfect opportunity. AND they were on sale! Boom.

Day 8 - A Recipe.

A small twist on a very popular recipe... Also, a Snyder family fave...

Taco Ring

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef

1 pkg taco seasoning

1 c shredded cheddar cheese

2 tbsp water

2 (8 oz) pkg refrigerated crescent rolls

1 med green bell pepper

1 c salsa

3 c shredded lettuce

1 med tomato, chopped

1/4 c onion, chopped

sour cream

pizza stone

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a skillet, cook and stir beef over medium heat until brown. Drain the beef (we use lean beef, so I don't have to drain it). Stir in taco seasoning, cheese, and water; set aside. On 14-in pizza stone, arrange crescent rolls in a circle so the wide ends overlap in the center and the points point out, leaving a 5 in diameter opening in the middle (it will look like a sun burst). Scoop beef and cheese mixture onto wide ends of crescent rolls. Bring outside points over the filling and tuck (it will look like a wreath). The filling will not be completely covered. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cut top off of bell pepper and scoop out the insides. When the taco ring has baked, put bell pepper in the center and fill with salsa. Mound lettuce, tomato, onion, and other taco toppings of choice on top of taco ring. Serve!

I like to serve with tortilla chips and queso (16 oz Velveeta and 15 oz can of Rotel). YUM!

God Provides.

I am currently balancing the checkbook and came across the SBTS withdrawal aka Chandler's tuition. It is a lot of money, but then it hit me: God provides.

If there is one thing I stress about, it is money. Chandler would hands down, no objections, agree. But today I realized that for four years, Chandler has attended seminary and for each of those semesters, we have been able pay his tuition without taking a loan or going into debt.

Then, I was reminded of this in Matthew 6...
  ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (italics added)

Oh, how often I have had "little faith" in His provision, but I look back over the past four years and He has been faithful to provide everything we have needed and some of what we have wanted. I am go grateful and thankful. God is good.

Day 7 - A Photo of Someone Who Inspires Me

How about a video?

Worst.night.ever. and Day 6 - A Photo of Me as a Kid

Last night, I believed in demon possession. In 17 and a half months, we have not had a night as bad as last night; not even when she wasn't sleeping through the night or when she had a double ear infection over the holidays.

It was 4 am and I'm totally REM-ing. Over the monitor, I hear Waverly whining/crying, but, in typical fashion, I don't run into her room; instead, I give her time to work it out. Much to our dismay, that whining turned into full out screaming, like top-of-her-lungs, I-might-be-dying screaming. I was legitimately mad because I knew she was totally fine. It's called "mommy radar"... you just know. Chandler asked what I thought he should do. I told him "nothing", then proceeded to throw the covers off and, while blindly searching for my glasses, managed to throw them halfway across the room. Seriously. I don't function, mentally or physically, at 4 am. So, blind and PO'd, I follow Chandler into Waverly's room. For at least fifteen minutes, we tried everything: find paci, give her her Bible, I even rocked her and we gave her medicine, just in case. I laid in her in her bed and she laid down quietly as I rubbed her back, thinking she was settled, but as I left the room, she lost her mind.

Call us bad parents, but we just had to turn the monitor off and try to sleep. Thankfully, she settled down. Then. It happened. Again. At 6 am.

Let's just say: It was a terrible night and somehow Chandler, Waverly, and I still love each other very much. Here's to hoping tonight isn't a repeat.

Okay, so Day 6...

Me and my BFF, Ashley

To be honest, all of my baby/kid photos are at my parents' homes and this is one of the few I have here at my house; however, it is interesting that this is the only photo I can find because I've been thinking about Ashley a lot lately. I had a dream about her getting married (no, she's not engaged) and she asked my brother, Jacob, and I to sing at her wedding. HA! Anyway, she was my very first best friend and we spent A LOT of time together back in the day. Her parents were divorced also and I remember spending the night at her mom's house A LOT. She also spent A LOT of time at my house. Unfortunately, her mom and stepdad, who she called Mr. Thompson even after they were married (haha), moved the family to Cincinnati and our play dates were less frequent; although, I recall spending a week (or two?) with her one summer. The last time I saw her in person, she came down to attend my high school graduation, then her mom and stepdad and siblings came to our wedding in 2007. 

I miss her A LOT. I think we would have been lifelong best friends... maybe we are. Maybe if we got together today it would be like we were never apart. I don't know. 

Day 5 - A Photo of Myself Two Years Ago

July 2009 - My lovely SIL and I on vacation

Aug 2009 - Mom, Kristen, Aunt Mary Lynn and I on the houseboat trip

This time two years ago, I was very early on in my pregnancy with Waverly. Wasn't I just glowing? :)

Day 4 - 20 of My Favorite Things

*Deep breath* Here we go... In no particular order.

1. Chandler's days off. We protect those precious days like a chastity belt. 

2. Waverly. Absolutely everything about her.

3. Harry Potter. 

4. 70 degree weather and sunshine.

5. Skinny jeans. Leggings. A good, versatile dress.

6. Sweet tea.

7. Chick fil a.

8. Good/sweet memories.

9. Jonathan Papelbon.

10. Short trips to the big city with my love - Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and one day, Boston.

11. Baseball games ONLY with Chandler. I don't care otherwise.

12. Music.

13. Adele. Josh Groban.

14. New shoes.

15. A new outfit.

16. FEATHERS!

17. A really good, hard-to-breathe, belly laugh.

18. The lake.

19. Spending time with friends. These times are incredibly rare.

20. Accomplishing something.

Day 3 - A Photo and Summary

I. Love. This. Photo. Because I totally ruined it. Really, I should be embarrassed that I look so goofy, but I'm not. Plus, Chandler is smokin' hot and the camera is really focused on him. Anyway, it may be obvious to tell you that we're in Africa on a safari. What? The very dark black man and open jeep didn't give it away? 

Unfortunately, my day wasn't as entertaining as this photo. Waverly and I had music class this morning which was fun, as always. We have been involved at Gymboree for almost a year now and it has been great for Waverly. I have really enjoyed watching her develop through music and more recently, art. She is becoming more of a participator and less of a watch-everyone-do-their-thing-and-imitate-5-minutes-later. 

We love her little buddies and I love that she gets to be social. Today was a little more stressful than normal because we had four new child/parent combos, a regular brought her 2 nephews, a niece, her sister, and her husband, and three of the four new "couples" brought an extra person along. I counted and there were about 26 people in the music room, including Ms. Sarah. It was extra loud and extra chaotic.

After music, we came home for lunch and Waverly went down for a nap at about 12:30. Momma also laid down for a nap. It rocked. By the time she woke up, Chandler was home from school (seminary in Louisville) and we went to pick up my new glasses (yay!) and stopped by JoAnn fabric for some crafting supplies. 

Before dinner with Chandler's fam, we finished watching "There Will Be Blood". It took us two days to watch it and to this minute, I don't understand it. 

Then dinner and now, PROJECT RUNWAY. I love this show.  

Don't be jealous of my day. 

I Made It!

It was painful, but I cut up my beloved Papelbon t-shirt to make a dress for Waverly. If that's not love, then I really just don't know what is.

Idea and template here.

Day 2 - 15 Facts About Me

1. I am a Christian. I asked Christ into my heart when I was 9 years old at a Vacation Bible School and was baptized shortly thereafter. I was raised in a good home and was a good kid, but I always kind of struggled with my salvation decision because I never remembered specific details of my salvation experience. Junior year of high school, I got a little off track; stopped listening to the Lord and started doing my own thing. I got to the point where I felt far away from Him and "rededicated" my life to following Him more closely. My relationship with Christ is always growing and I am always confident in my salvation.

2. My husband and daughter are the loves of my life. I love what we are together.

3. I love being creative, but have a tendency to leave things 90% done. Exhibit A: When Chandler and I got married in 2007, his uncle painted our entire house, including our room. Chandler and I painted the office and guest room. But to this day, 4 years later, the master bath and guest bath are the same, standard flat paint. Exhibit B: For Waverly's birthday, all of her guests signed a photo mat that frames... well, what should be a photo of her on her birthday; unfortunately, the manufacturer's photo is still in the frame, but last week, we hung the frame on the wall. Progress! 

4. My parents divorced when I was pretty young and both remarried a few years after. I do not take for granted how incredibly blessed I am to have two amazing families. I am close with both of my parents and step-parents. I also have three half-siblings, who I consider my full siblings, that I love so so much. 

5. I am kind of obsessed with nail polish, scarves, and shoes. I have solid collections of each.

6. The number of days I have not had a shower since Waverly was born, I can count on one hand. The day after she was born, via c-section, mind you, I took a shower, I did my make up, and my hair.

Hair and make up = check.

7. I played the trumpet 5th grade through 8th grade. I played the violin in 4th grade. I took a year of piano lessons. I sang in the school choir 4th, 5th, and 9th-12th grades, the church youth choir 6th-12th grades, and took private voice lessons for four years.

8. I played one season of Parks & Rec. soccer, my junior year of high school, having never played before in my life. 

9. Chandler and I will be raising our family in Africa. God has called us to career missions in sub-saharan Africa. We are currently in the process of applying with the IMB (International Mission Board). Follow that story here.

10. It was never a dream of mine to be a stay-at-home-mom, but when Waverly was born, I knew immediately that it was exactly what I wanted to do.

11. I love to travel. I travelled all over the western U.S. with a show choir in 2005 and graced the south and northeast for youth mission trips in middle and high school. I've been to France, Cancun, and Malawi, Africa. 

12. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a singer.

13. I will watch "reality" tv over sitcoms any day.

14. I have a B.A. of Elementary Education from THE University of Kentucky, but would love to go back to school one day for something else.

15. Chandler and I have aspirations of becoming U.S. ambassadors.

30 Day Challenge and Day 1.

Let's be honest, our life isn't that interesting and to be even more honest, blogging and I have fallen out of touch. Then, I got this idea from a friend, JoAnna, and will accept the challenge. (Speaking of, my spring cleaning challenge is out the door... I hate cleaning). Like her husband, mine likes to read the blog and constantly asks if I have posted. I don't want to let him down, nor do I want to regret not recording memories simply because I was lazy or "over it". 

My blog is often only half the story. I talk a lot and I am a social person, but very few people get the whole story about me and my family. It's not like there is anything to hide, I just hold to the conviction that there are some things that should remain in my family, others that stay just between me and my close friends, and stuff that can be public knowledge. For example, I will never talk specifically about our finances; that is a topic that remains between Chandler and I. I am also not very transparent about the way I feel towards certain subjects. Trust me, I have my opinions and very strong feelings (I'm a southern woman), but I don't often feel comfortable sharing them in public. And while this challenge probably won't change how much I share, it is an effort to maybe share a little more.

So, here's to being honest, open, and less opaque.

Day 1 - A photograph of myself today and 3 good things that have happened the past 30 days

See my feathers? I love them and I am addicted.

And my smile is crooked. I never noticed it, but Chandler did and says he loves it. And when I'm tired, like in this photo, it is more pronounced and one eye droops a little. My smile is also much bigger, believe it or not, when I feel up to par.

My necklace, although hard to see, is an Elsa Peretti letter "p"from Tiffany & Co. I have had it for 6 years and wear it pretty much every day. It was my high school graduation gift from Chandler and, unless you already know, I am not going to reveal what it stands for. 

The story behind the necklace is actually quite sweet. Chandler went with me to my senior prom. We didn't stay long because, unlike now, I was self-conscious about dancing in front of people and wanted to avoid any awkwardness. So, we left and he took me to Shillito Park. We had made plans to go bowling with my friends later that evening, so we were just wanting to waste some time. I remember, very vividly, walking across the tennis courts to some stairs where we sat and he gave me my gift. He gave it to me the night of my prom because he was going to be in Africa when I graduated; in fact, he was flying out the very next morning. Yes, the morning after prom. Thoughtful, yeah?

Okay, moving on... 3 good things that have happened in the last 30 days... (I have to look at my calender because that is the only way I remember 30 days ago)

1. This happened just outside of 30 days ago, but it's pretty stinking exciting and share-worthy. July 14-16, Chandler and I were in Memphis for the IMB expo (candidate conference). I blogged about it a little bit on our other blog, here. The weekend turned out to be just as packed as the itinerary promised, but we learned so much and met so many wonderful people following the same calling from the Lord; people who understand what we're going through. Anyway, we had an interview that Friday, over lunch, that would basically determine whether or not the IMB wants us to continue in the process as missionary candidates. Two weeks later we received the very anticipated phone call in which the affinity leader who conducted our interview gave us the green light to proceed! Now, we are in the process of filling out a lot of paperwork and preparing for our next interview.

2. The first week of August we spent on the lake. Now, if that isn't good, then I don't know what is! I think my mom was worried about me because I stayed pretty low key all week; I hadn't planned any competition events and didn't kneeboard, tube, ski, or anything. My goal was to be as relaxed as possible. It. Was. Awesome. 

3. Yesterday, I bought 2 new nail polishes and I love them! I'm kind of a freak for nail polish and told Chandler that when I went grocery shopping I was going to buy a new one as a treat to myself after a difficult weekend (Waverly was sick with a virus and Chandler worked 36 hours in 3 days). I ended up buying two... That's neither here nor there. 

Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet (I'm pumped)

... and OPI Sweet Heart, an almost nude pink. 

One thing to note about me: I LOVE NAILPOLISH.