Seen & Learned Vol. 1 + Remission Anniversary

I told you I would share things I've seen and learned this past year. Ways that I have seen God move, things I have experienced to know Gods word to be true. Things that have challenged me to live more intentionally...

Keep giving me hope for a better day
Keep giving me love to find a way
Through this heaviness I feel
I just need someone to say, everything's okay

Woke my weary head
Crawled out of my bed
And I said, "Oh, how do I go on?"
Nothing's going right, shadow's took the light
And I said, "Oh, how do I go on?"

Sometimes I need a little sunshine
And sometimes I need you

Hope for a better day
A little love to find a way
Through this heaviness I feel
I just need someone to say, everything's okay
(Everything's Okay, Lenka)

I've learned that this is literally the voice of many wives, mothers, sisters and daughters out there that have to deal with the serious illness of their loved one each day. They are serving, loving and praying someone though the darkest part of their life. They are relying on everything they've got and the hope that when all they have runs out - they will be able to just stand and hold on. To stand tall enough and long enough for the storm to pass.

This realization came only through seeing it first hand. Being right there with these women and knowing their fear, pain and weariness. Yet also their strength, determination and humor. God made women STRONG and He is faithful to uphold us.

I am blessed by the women's stories I have read, and blessed by the woman I have met on this journey. I thank them for their words and pray that those who read our story and my honest thoughts will be blessed in return. There is a great deal of need for compassion in this world. Pray for those that are hurting, grieving, enduring and healing. Take time this week to think of others before yourself, be team-players, and DON'T complain! If you put it into perspective I bet you don't really have that much to complain about. Embrace an attitude of joy and thankfulness. Choose to share love each day. Be SO thankful for the blessings and health you have.

We are thankful in the Snyder house that as of last week we now have a husband and daddy 1 year in remission from Leukemia! It has been ONE WHOLE YEAR since they have found even a trace of Leukemia in his marrow. He is getting stronger everyday! He even started running on the treadmill in physical therapy - a huge accomplishment since he hasn't been able to do so for over a year! I am so proud of him and SO encouraged by his effort and strength!

Mark has embraced this current phase in life. He has become a stay-at-home-dad most weekdays and is making them most of them. It may not be what he would have chosen or seen himself doing but he is sure finding his groove. He has a summer full of FUN planned for his boys. He is working on physical strength as well as physical and mental stamina each week - with the hope of returning to, at least part-time, work this fall. Things are starting to balance out and for the first time in over a year I find myself day-dreaming again about our future as a family. There are less days when I am fearful of the "odds" and "likely possible outcomes" always looking for "marked improvement" and more days of hope-filled, God given optimism and dreams of our future together -- and boy, does it feel GOOD!

Life can get tough - really tough but you CAN endure. You CAN rise above. You CAN choose to trust God. You CAN find your boot straps and pull yourself up. You CAN keep going and not give-in to the doubt and fear that this world would like to fool us into believing is our only option.

It is with joy-filled tears (knowing what God has brought us through) that I tell you - "Don't be defined by your circumstances, by the challenges ahead of you - persevere! Trust God to lead you, embrace His way of living and NOTHING will keep you down. Stand tall and know you are strong enough!"