I had a little surgery the day after Christmas - at least that what I thought.  Okay, carpal tunnel release surgery. No biggie.  Lots of people have this.  I’ll be fine in a couple of days.  Right? WRONG!  I should have paid attention when the lady at the doctor’s office gave me an “after surgery “sheet that has all this information to remember.   But my favorites:

 Number One: You cannot use your hand for ten days.  What?  That’s silly, I’ll be using my hand much sooner than that.

 Number Two:  You need to dress the wound four times a day. What?  Seriously?  What is this, like a major operation?  Now, I need to let you know that I’ve never had stitches - ever.  Nope, not even when I had babies.  So, I have no stitches frame of reference.  And let’s hang on that archaic form of wound closure - let’s grab a needle and some thread and let’s whip this baby closed.  And my stitches do not look very pretty - this isn’t a quilter’s handiwork, looks more like something the guy who made Frankenstein would have whipped up.

 Number Three:  Take pain medications A LOT - okay, it didn’t say that, but it should.  And I did.  I don’t like pain. Not any. At all.  I figure if you give me medicine that stops the pain, then I need to take it.

 After surgery, I felt fine.  I later realized that I was still reeling from the effects of the stuff they dripped into that IV.  My hand left fine and it just had this bandage on it.  No big deal, right? WRONG.

 My hand felt fine because I couldn’t feel it.  It was numb, for about 12 hours.  When the feeling starting coming back, I didn’t feel so good.  I swallowed the pain pills and fell asleep.  And that was pretty much the next five days.  Wake, take a pain pill, sleep, repeat.

After five days, I got tired of not knowing what was happening in the world and I woke up.  My hand still hurt but not as bad, but I still couldn’t use it.  So, I quickly learned what you really need your right hand for. 

 Hairspray.  Have you ever sprayed your hair with your left hand.  I sprayed, but very little hit my hair, not that it mattered, I couldn’t fix it anyway.  Which brings me to:

 Fixing your hair.  Now, I’m not vain, but I do like my hair to NOT look like I’ve just stepped out of a hurricane force wind tunnel on a bad hair day. You can’t fix your hair with one bad hand.  I gave up and just slapped a cap on my head.

 Clicking the remote: I don’t have the clicking dexterity in my left that I do in my right.  I almost missed recording the opening of  The Bachelor. Thankfully, I was able to manage even with my disability.

 Scooping Ice Cream: I know what you’re thinking, scoop left.  Not that easy. I pinned the ice cream under my arm and tried with all that I have to scoop out just two descent scoops of Mint chocolate Chip ice cream (it has magical healing powers).  I just squished the container - which brings me to this: what happened to the sturdy ice cream containers? Why is everything so flimsy these days?  Is that a green thing? Please.  Don’t get me started. 

 There’s so much more I couldn’t do without that right hand, but it’s slowly coming back - I’m even typing and I’ve given up the pain meds.  After I just didn’t have a clue who I’d talked to all day and I wasn’t even sure where I’d been, I thought it best to bite the bullet and suffer through.  I’m making it. 

 Have a great Today!!

Oh wow!  It’s four days past my official ONE YEAR Blogging Anniversary - I meant to throw this big ol’ bloggin’ party and all y’all were invited!! 

I planned to bring in some big name speakers, authors and a  couple of really cool live bands.  Okay, I didn’t plan to do any of that, but I did at least want to mention that I’d made it a whole year! 

Me.  The one who is still working on the kitchen remodel I started in 2006 - I don’t want to rush into anything. 

 So, it’s been a year and four days since I began the blogging thing and I have to tell you.  This is a blast.  It’s been a blessing and a bit of a challenge - like when the book was cancelled and I thought …. geez, now I have to slink over to that dang blog and tell all my Internet chickies that this book is just not happening.  Humbling.  And maybe that’s the point for me.  I need that humbling from time to time - okay, sometimes if more often than that. 

 I must say that the sweet support I’ve gotten from y’all has been great!  The words of encouragement are wonderful and were much needed in the days just after I learned about the cancelation.  I’m much better these days and excited about where the Lord is taking me.  I can’t wait to see where this road leads. 

 And I’m so blessed to be traveling it with all of you!  Y’all are just the best Internet chicks around (and guys, for those who pop in from time to time).

Have a great Today! 

O Come all Ye Faithful. Joyful!  and triumphant!  O Come ye, O Come ye to Bethelem .  I just love that song!  I love the words, the tune, but mostly I love the message.  My favorite verse is the last one:

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord. 

My favorite part is the line — Word of the father, now in flesh appearing. 

I love this passage of scripture — Jesus is the LIGHT of men! All things were made through him and without Him nothing has been made.  He is Emmanuel — God with us.

That’s a lot to digest — a lot to comprehend, but the botom line is He is the light of men.  He came that we might have eternal life.  He came to make us free and to make us righteous.

Christmas, with all it’s wrapping paper, pretty bows, great buys and wonderful Christmas carols is just another day of the year — although everyone is closed on Christmas day, it’s just another day if you take the baby Jesus out of it, as so many are trying to do.  It’s not a celebration of Holiday, or a celebration of anything other than the birth of Christ.  It’s Christmas.  A celebration of the day when God came to dwell among men.

This what Christmas is to me.  You’ll probably hear great pastors and teachers speal on this very subject this week, and I’m not a theologian, but I have a good heart. I love the Lord, and I want to serve Him.

I’ll try to be one of the faithful mentioned in the song — I just want to adore my savior.  I want to adore Him, know Him and walk with Him during Christmas and throughout the year. 

Have a great one!

What’s up with all the talk of a slow economy?  Apparently the people who are shopping at my local Wa-Mart haven’t gotten that word. 

Wal-Mart is always filled with … shall we say, colorful characters.  But this Christmas season it seems especially interesting.  I’ve tried to do the bulk of my shopping elsewhere, but there are some things I can only find at Wal-Mart.

I stopped by the other day with the thoughts “mid week, and middle of the day, less shoppers.”  Oh, I was so sadly mistaken.  My first clue should have been the overly full parking lot, but I’m the eternal optimist and thought “oh, it won’t be THAT busy.”  Busy was the least of my problems.  Here are a few of things I ran into:

Electric shopping cart riders — they were everywhere.  I had no clue the store had that many electric carts.  Let me tell you, those little carts can move.  I had to jump out of the way more than once. 

And then there the  teams.  I think there may have been some sort of contest or club initiation going on (although most of the riders were well beyond college age). The teams shopped  shopped side by side and blocked the ENTIRE aisle.  I got caught behind one of these tag team electric cart duos.  I didn’t want to appear rude to those who have a physical disability, so I just crawled along behind them thanking the Lord that I could get around so well.    Husband and wife (at least I think they were married, they certainly bickered like it) discussed every minutae detail of each purchase.  And then I watched something wondrous occur. 

And what to her wondering eyes should appear, but the bargain of the day, sadly a crowd blocked her way.  

With a twinkle in her eye, and dollar signs in her head, She leapt from her cart , raced down the aisle, vaulted over a display, and snagged her great bargain. 

A miracle? I just can’t say, but a amazing sight to behold nonetheless. A healing from the heavens or the powers of a bargain made this feeble woman walk, and even run.

Certainly, this fleet-footed shopper never intended to fake her infirmaries  and surely she was caught up in the Christmas joy that she became a miracle at the Wal-Mart.

Or she was just faking it! You choose.

Wild at Wal-Mall and that was just one couple, you should have seen the lady with the bad Lily Munster hair (and for those who don’t remember Lily Munster here’s a photo)

Now picture short, but standing straight out (not up, think out) on either side.  It looked like some strange reciever of some sort.  I did a double take, then realized and try to be all cool, like I wasn’t looking.  Come on, this lady has hand that stands 6 inches out on either side and is striped like a skunk.  I love me some big ol’ County Music star hair, but this was in a different place all together. 

There were many more like the lady who drove off in her electric cart while it was still plugged in and charging — she never noticed until the greeter chased her down.  And there was the….. oh, I could go on and on. 

I’d hoped to leave you with some great words of wisdom, but I have none today.  Just watch out for those electric cart drivers, they’re a tough bunch this time of year.

Just the other day   I met  Jenny Hope and her sweet little girl for a late lunch and lots of chatting.  It was a blast — we laughed and talked for ….. I don’t know, it was a while.  Jenny and I live in the same town and got to know each other in New Orleans at the Breaking Free taping.   We had such a great time - well, I did.  She may think I’m a bubble off level… but then, I probably am.

Before we left, Morgan led us in a round of Ring Around the Roses in the middle of Chili’s Restaurant!  (We just ignored the stares of the people — they were just jealous they didn’t get invited to the dance).

Nothing wrong with that! She felt like dancing and as we held hands and went round and round, I laughed and thought — wow!  this is fun!  She wasn’t worried about the automobile industry bail out or the current recession crisis.  She wasn’t worried about what gifts to buy for Christmas or what she should take to the office Christmas party (particularly since she doesn’t have an office).  She was just a little girl who wanted to dance!  So she danced.  And her sweet Mom didn’t discourage her or shush her — she just danced with her.   I was thrilled to be in her circle for that moment in time.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we approached life with such enthusiasm?   I want this!  I want to grab onto the life God has given me and live it to the fullest for His glory.   He has called us to such a HOPE!   A HOPE that should make us dance and sing.  A hope that is filled with joy and peace.  A hope that isn’t impacted by a weak economy or a failing car industry.  He is our HOPE! 

This year, as we celebrate His birth, I want to remember the HOPE that is Christ.  This Christmas I want to remember the joy of dancing in Chilis with a little girl who gets it — we all should be so blessed.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.   Romans 15:13

Have a wonderful Christmas season — hold onto that HOPE!  And dance! 

I just love presents!  Anything wrapped in a box  makes me so happy — and my sweet siesta, Lori Anne at http://seekingmethroughhim.blogspot.com/ sent me two beautifully wrapped ornaments.  Sadly, I don’t have pictures of these gifts before I opened them because I tend to operate like a 6 yr old when I’m in the presence of gifts.  I just rip through them digging to find the prize inside! 

Oh, and I was so excited when I opened these boxes.

This is a beautiful Hallmark ornament!  It reads “Hope shines bright” and it does!  Romans 15:13 is the verse that I claim daily –
”  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

This ornament is such a beautiful picture of the Hope! 

And then I opened this one — and i laughed out loud.  A talking laptop computer!  It’s perfect — and Lori Anne was so sweet to go to such trouble to find these ornaments that just touch me with Hope and with Joy!  Amen!

Now, as for the ones I sent to this sweet Siesta, well, I didn’t wrap them.  Lori Anne forgive me!  I didn’t think about it and also, I wrap like a three year old.  I love the pretty paper but I can never make it look as pretty as I think it should.  I just love the Christmas bags!  But I know it’s not the same — there’s something so fun about ripping off that wrapping paper.

I hope each of you have a special time with friends, family this Christmas season!

Because I’m the eternal optimist I’m looking for the silver lining in this whole “the book is canceled” thing. 

Here is my silver lining list:

1. I can eat chocolate and call it therapy
2. don’t have to worry about where to have the major book release party (whew! like that was a problem)
3. I can eat more chocolate
4. don’t have to worry about which cities I should include in the multi-city book-signing tour
5. people give me chocolate since nothing says “I’m sorry you lost your book deal” better than a big ol’ bar of chocolate
6. don’t have to worry that I’ve forgotten to thank someone in the acknowledgements (but considering I had about three full pages thanking everyone from my high school English teacher to the maker of wonderful Scotsman ice (or, as it’s known to some, Sonic ice, I don’t think that’s a real concern)
7. chocolate makes me feel happier and I need to feel happier
8. don’t have to worry about hiring those big muscle guys to keep the paparrazzi at bay (wait, that was when I was dreaming of being a Super Star)
9. chocolate is my friend
10. I can start the process of researching a new publisher all over again….
11. I can eat all the chocolate I want, there’s no pictures needed for a press kit

There you have it — 11 reasons to be happy about the book deal taking a nosedive. 

I am off to start the process again.  The praying, the researching, the praying, the reading, the praying, the … oh, you get the idea. 

Prayers and chocolate.  That seems to be a winning combination for me.

Thanks for all who are praying for me.  Your support has been wonderful.  I’m excited about where God is taking me next.  Don’t worry I’ll keep you all posted.

My book, Girlfriends, God, and Grace: How to Have a Great Girlfriend Adventure is now homeless since the publisher canceled the book last week.  Strangely, the book is up on Amazon.  I’m sure that it will be gone soon enough. 

So here I sit with a book without a publisher when darling baby girl asked if she can take in a friend’s unwanted pet.  I’m thinking “no more dogs and no cats.”  Oh no, this is a eight-legged furry thing — a tarantula!

In some moment of weakness or possibly it’s the medication I’m on for my separated shoulder (FYI: you really shouldn’t toss a case of Wal-Mart water up on your shoulder).  Whatever the reason, we’re now home to some big ol’ furry spider… YUCK!  But I felt sorry for the spider — I’m just super sensitive to rejection today and I thought I’d let him come and live here.  (Note to self: don’t make major pet decisions while taking any medication or after a rejection). 

We’re working on a tagline for our home.  Here are a few I’m considering:

The Snyder home — a place for unloved pets and orphaned books

The Snyder home — a place for animals that you keep in cages but aren’t really pets, and unloved books

The Snyder home — the adventure continues…..

I think I’m voting for number three! 

Off to learn more about the habitat of a wayward spider…. where’s the Raid?

Something super cool – Girlfriends, God, and Grace: How to Have a Great Girlfriend Adventure is on Amazon. How incredible.  It was such a shock to see my book cover up at Amazon.   It was mostly a shock since I just got word that Girlfriends, God, and Graceis the latest casualty in the economic downturn  — in other words, Thomas Nelson canceled the book. 

Yep, you read that right.  The book is canceled.  After all the writing, the editing, the book covers, after all the hard work by so many the book is canceled. 

Was I shocked?  Extremely.  I figured once a book got this far, it was in.  I learned different.

When I got the news, I cried – ugly crying, not just a few cute crocodile tears.  I’m talking that big, ugly snotty crying.  And then I realized that God is in control of this, as much as I don’t like it and don’t want it to be this way.  It’s His will — for His reasons. I just don’t like it and it hurts, really bad. 

But I’ll hold on to the hope that has carried me this far.  Romans 15:13 — May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

That’s what I’m praying for — hope from the Holy Spirit.  The hope that brings joy and peace.  That’s the hope that I’m hanging onto. 

I know this is just another twist in this book adventure and when I think about all the people who lost their jobs with Thomas Nelson, I realized how blessed I am.  I  lost a book deal, not a career.  Puts it in perspective for me. 

 This whole book adventure has been such a wild ride, a roller coaster ride.  It’s been up, up, up, and then whoosh!  Down we go.  There are hairpin curves and loop backs.   I’m on the backside of one of those loops and we stopped moving. I’ll know we’ll get moving again, but until then I’m stuck.  

So now the process begins again.  I’m looking for another publisher who wants a funny, quirky, relational book about real friends, godly friends and real getaway ideas and so much more.  I hope you’ll hang around while I start looking for a new publisher.  I don’t know if you’ll learn anything, but I hope you enjoy watching the process — I’m sure it will be filled with adventure and a few missteps along the way.

So, I’m concluding my personal pity party and I’m getting to work finding that new publisher.

 Here’s the screenshot of the book! 

It’s official!  Girlfriends, God, and Grace: How to Have a Great Girlfriend Adventure is accepted.  

Good is great!  I’ve been writing for 10 years and this book was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever written. It was hard, but I loved it. I loved the parts This book is my pinkie promise.  Over five years ago  the Lord put me on this journey — and it’s been one wild girlfriend adventure. I’ve linked pinkie fingers with these women and promised to friends.  I’d like to tell you that I’ve kept my pinkie promise, but that wouldn’t be true.  I just wish I’d kept it.  But God is good and he allows us do-overs. 

I’ve learned so much along the way. I’ve learned to love with open hands and I’ve learned that the Lord is ALL that I need.  He is my all.  It’s in Him that I find hope.  A hope that fills me a joy that is impossible to contain.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

That’s what I so desire — to overflow with Hope!  I only need Him — He is my everything.  That is the desire of my heart. 

As I enter this next phase with the book, this incredible girlfriend adventure, and my wild life, I’m holding on to the pinkie promises.  I hold on to those promises  as I stretch out my hand to link pinkies with the new women God is putting in my life — amazing women.  God’s chosen ones.  Precious every single one.

I’m looking forward to the adventures to come and the girlfriends I’ve yet to meet.  I pray that the Lord gives me the wisdom needed to share His love and joy with all.

Pinky Promise!