Puppy Love

All I have to say is be careful when you look at the photos of your friends new puppy. HA :o) I was enjoying some conversations about the Springer's new puppy when she invited me to look at the other puppies in the litter. Oooh, they were cute. Dan was gone for the weekend and my resolve to no more dogs was simply weakened by the 'cuteness' factor. I did call and ask Dan, and he just chuckled...but when he got home, the chuckle got more serious. BUT he said O.K. So here is a photo of the newest member of the Snyder family.

Summer 2010

Vacation to Hilton Head Island, SC

Working on Home Study (IL adoption paperwork)

Collecting documents for dossier (international adoption paperwork)

Playing

Gardening - lots of cucumbers

Garage Sale

Rearranging kids rooms

Getting ready for Classical Conversations

The photos below are a few pictures for our dossier.





Check up

March 2010

What did we just do?

Have you ever agreed to something big, purchased something big, made a big decision and then realized BIG was not even close enough to describe the feeling? Kinda takes your breath away. :o)

BUT let me tell you what a sweet, faithful God we have! Just after sending in our application and getting started on the adoption process, Dan had a dental appointment. He rushed home from work, a quick change and back out the door. When he came home again, after the appointment, he shared. Dental check up was good, but God checked in even better. As Dan sat in the dental chair, the hygienist had a popular TV talk show on in the background. (not a show Dan would have volunteered to watch) Bet you can guess what the topic was about. That's right. ADOPTION....about how many children need families and someone to love and take care of them.

Dan sat as a captive in the dental chair and captivated by a reassuring God. It was a more than nice check up.

Connecting Hearts

February 2010
The last day of our designated prayer time to seek God's specific will for the Snyder family in the area of adoption was the same day as the Connecting Hearts with the Forgotten Conference. Dan and I attended this conference, which was about adopting or supporting programs that helped the orphans and the widows. As I sat there, my heart move not only to “yes” for one child but for 2 or 3. I thought, “how will I tell Dan? How will he react to more than one?” On the way home from the conference, as casually as I can, I asked …. “so what did you think?” Dan said something along this line. “I could love any of those kids. I'm ready to take 5.”

My heart leaped. God does immeasurably more that we could ever think, hope or imagine. God had prepared both our hearts and brought us into unity with a yes... and for more than one. That was #1 on our prayer list. The # 2 came shortly after when I could barely get through Walmart or a store without noticing a cute little child and having the desire to kiss a cheek or see little feet or pick up a little body. No, I did not go after small children in stores. Ha Ha... but I did recognize that my Lord was awakening a desire to enjoy those early years of childhood as a parent again. Thank you, Lord.

Starting with Prayer

 Back Blogging

A year ago January the kids and I had a discussion at breakfast about adoption. They have long since forgotten the conversation and I the details, but I remember telling Dan on the phone that morning about the discussion taking place. From words over breakfast to prayers at family devotions, the subject of adoption was place before the Lord in regards to our family. We just asked the Lord what HE wanted.

We knew His heart was/is tender towards the orphan and the widow. It is one thing to know the nature of our God and another to join Him in what moves His heart.

A week later the earthquake in Haiti hit. More prayer. The devastation of lives and families was tremendous. More prayer.

We asked the Lord for some specifics if He was asking us to adopt.

1. He would bring Dan and I into unity, agreeing together in what we were hearing Him say.
2. I asked that He would grow a tenderness or affection for me towards little ones. (Not that little children aren't just so sweet. ;o) But I am not that gushy over other people's kids...no offense.) Dan is always the fun one with the kids.