The Ritz Carlton

So the other night John and I went on a date! We headed down to the Ritz Carlton to look at the Christmas lights and the big waves at the beach...here are a few pics...
the walk up the drive way

the tree!

the giant gingerbread house, I took the pic with my iphone and couldn't fit it all in one shot (right side)

(left side)


I f you have never seen the giant gingerbread house I would suggest it! We had so much fun! I love my husband!

A taste of the future...

So last night John and I watched Avery (4) and Brylie (almost 1) Shinners, two of the cutest little girls! Anyway, John and I definitely got a taste of what having kids is like. By the time we left we were both exhausted and it had only been 4 1/2 hours! :)

We watched Hannah Montana, I fed brylie and John made cookies with Avery (too cute)! Then Avery and I attempted to make snowflakes, and finally settled down to watch the beginning of the Santa Claus 2!

It was just a reminder that we love spending time with other peoples kids, but are in no way ready to have our own :)

today was a good day!

-I went to walmart to get some supplies for some small group leaders... yeah for a new 6th grade girls group!

-had lunch with allison murray...so fun! I freaking love her!...and got to see some old friends :)


-got some starbucks and began to work on my message for the weekend. Our series is on Christmas carols and finding the true meaning of Christmas. Last week Phil did "Silent Night" and for this weekend I have chosen "Drummer Boy" hopefully it will be good. Lately I have had such a heart for our students to understand the meaning of the season. I work with students from some of the wealthiest families in Orange County and my prayer is that they would have a desire to give to others, rather then focusing on what they can get for themselves.

-made dinner for my handsome husband. I decided to try something new and it turned out to be delicious! I made chicken with corn cilantro salsa, it was really good~! And John cleaned up!!

-We are finishing the Georgetown vs. Alabama basketball game, then we're off for a date of Starbucks, Christmas lights at the Ritz, and then down to the beach to see the big waves!

...today was a GREAT day!

so what we've been up to...

So John and I went to Oklahoma for thanksgiving and it was so much fun! Here are a few pics from our trip!

this is a group of some of the greatest youth pastors in our country and some of John's best friends.

John and I with our sweet little niece

Yup, another night at the Melting Pot in Oklahoma City

john and I on the patio at his parents house

Back from Oklahoma we went to the Christmas tree lighting at Mariners, it was so much fun!

Dinner at El Ranchito in Laguna Beach

no blog lately!

well, life has been a little crazy, busy, overwhelming, fun, and exhausting. Therefore, I have not blogged as my husband reminds me of everyday! So, this is only to say it's coming!

ok, so a lot has happened in 5 days

Saturday
-Got in a sumo suit at work. It was very hot! But really funny!


-drove to San Diego for the half-marathon and stayed in a very ghetto hotel with some of my best friends



Sunday (more pics to come)
-Ran 13.1 miles in the half-marathon in Coronado. It was such a beautiful run, at one point there was water on both sides.

- finished under 2 1/2 hours (not that great) thought I was going to die!

-sent Kristen off to the hospital

-hung out with my friends

-went to bed at 9am



Monday (more pics to come)

-slept in, then had lunch with the girls

-came back to my place and went to the pool, it was 90 degrees!! Got a little sun

-checked on Kristen, she was doing better

-complained of stomach pain

-had dinner and dessert with the girls, played Wii and guitar hero



Tuesday

-went to work

-had a meeting on top of a hill :)

-complained about my stomach, Phil joked about me being pregnant (so not true!)

-had team lunch (Happy Birthday Sadie!!)

-met with a volunteer

-came home and thought I might die

-went to 6th grade small group night out, we went bowling! so fun! But was in so much pain!

-Came home to meet Tara and to watch the Biggest Loser at 9pm

-1030pm she was taking me to the hospital

-11pm checked into the ER, too many tests went on, John and I were there all night



Wednesday

-430am got admitted to the hospital

-total blurry, but I know Allison Murray came :) And my husband was the best thing in the world

-2pm had a endoscopy (spelling?) a camera shoved down my throat to look at my stomach

-finally found out I had a few ulcers (yah crazy! they say it was in combination with the 13 miles and the ibprofen I took before and after the marathon)


Thursday

-slept terrible! the hospital was crazy packed so they stuck me in the Stroke unit! yeah! Kind of funny that everytime someone came in to check on my roommate, they were shocked to see a 20something year old.

-got released at noon with a months worth of ulcer medication to take

so yeah! ridiculous I know! And soooo glad to be home!

getting ready for tomorrow!

Well, the day has come! My friends are in town and we're ready to run the 13.1 miles in the morning! It's half-marathon day! I'm just excited that we all get to be together!

I'll bring back pics! Wish us luck!

Junior highers, my Husband, Starbucks, and a cool night...

4 things I love! Of course my Husband the most! But yesterday I had a pretty lazy day after church, I was exhausted and delirious so I slept through some football and watched some football. The reason I was so tired was because the night before we had our annual JUMBOLAYA at church! It is an event for Junior High students only at our church, it is designed to reach students who don't go to Mariners. Anyway, it was so fun and chaotic, but it was a good chaos. We had about 700 students and about 70+ adult leaders. It was a great night, I didn't get to bed until 2am.

Anyway, last night my back hurt because I had been laying on the couch most of the day. John and I decided to get a Starbucks before we watched Extreme Home Makeover. Anyway, we decided to walk, yes it's that close!!!! It was a very enjoyable walk and the air was cool and crisp!! Fantastic night with the Hubby!

I've been tagged by the wonderful Allison Murray!!!

in 3 words or less...
1. Where is your cell phone? In my purse
2. Who is your boyfriend/girlfriend or Husband/Wife? John William Snyder
3. Where is one of your parents? At home
4. Cheesecake? New York, Please!
5. Your favorite thing to do? Hang with friends
6. Your dream last night? Raelyn got engaged
7. Your favorite drink? Chia Tea Latte
8. The room you're in? comfy, colorful, mine!
9. George Bush? He is great!
10. What you're good at? A good friend
11. One of your wish list items? Awesome new camera
12. Where did you grow up? Orange County, California
13. The last thing you did? Ordered glo sticks
14. What are you wearing? Jeans and sweatshirt
15. Who stole your sunglasses? My sister, Evelyn
16. Ketchup? On hamburgers/fries
17. Your computer? mac book
18. Your life? So BLESSED
19. Your mood? Cheery, excited, fantastic
20 Your next blog? this
21. Your car is? It’s still running!
22. Your summer? Tropical vacation
23. Your relationship status? Married toanamazingmanname, John
24. Your favorite color(s)? pink 
25. When is the last time you laughed? During lunch

I tag Kayla J & Jordan Gunderson

we're ok...just breathing in a lot of junk

Well, luckily John and I live about 20 miles from the blaze, but it is burning very close to Saddleback. Pray that the firefighters gain strength, that they can get more help, and that the wind STOPS!

Thank you for all your phone calls, emails, and text messages!

So here's the scoop about Branson, Missouri!

It was truly an amazing trip! I felt a bit selfish because my friends are such amazing God-fearing women that encouraged me and loved me the entire time, I just tried to get all that I could from them! I truly felt so filled by the time I got in the car to leave. Most of them work in youth ministry and truly with all their heart feel it as their call, their passion, and their life. I love being around people that love students just as much as I do.

Anyway, everything was fantastic, from the bachelorette to the rehearsal to the wedding day! The following aren't my pics, but other were generous to send me theres (can't find the camera cord again!)

This is all the Kwest girls, who were in the wedding, at the rehearsal dinner. It was at a delicious BBQ place!


The beautiful bride and her groom. I think most of us were so thrilled this day had come! They couldn't be more perfect for each other! God is going to use them in amazing ways!


All the Kwest staff in the wedding


kwest girls



All the kwest staff at the wedding



Me and Raelyn


Ali and I back together again! It was so fantastic to see her! This is us at a piano bar after the wedding, there was like 15 of us, no one wanted to go back to the hotel because we won't all be together again for a long time!



Overall, the weekend was so wonderful. Then I hitched a ride with some friends back to Oklahoma and got to see John and the fam. I changed my flight so John and I headed home on the same flight!

Back from the Ozarks!

So I got back monday morning and of course I have so much to tell you! But it was such a fantastic weekend! So many stories and pics, got to find my camera cord to fill you in!!