If you’ve been around here you’ve heard me talk about the upcoming Route 66 Road Trip  in April — and I cannot believe it’s only 70 days away!

70 D A Y S!

What started out as a fun trip with some book stuff has now morphed into an amazing God adventure in faith!

When this whole thing started I decided I would reach out to churches in the areas we are traveling through.   I tried that and I failed.  It felt too much like “Hey look at me, I have a book.  Please let me come and tell your women all about me and my book.”   I didn’t want to come across that way.  I want to meet women right where they are — and here their stories.  I want to share what God is teaching me through this walk of faith.   I don’t want to SELL myself, I just want to have conversations out there on the road.

So I started panicking — oh Lord, how is this going to work?  Where do we start?  How can I afford it if NO ONE wants me?  What will I do?  How will I do it?  And what if NO ONE SHOWS UP at all?  

After the panic attack I did what any Jesus loving girl would do… I emailed all my girlfriends and whined.  And they emailed back and wrote “Get OVER YOURSELF!”  Well, they used a few more words, but the meaning was there.  So, I did just that — got over myself and starting praying… A LOT!

It started coming together — and I LOVE how the Lord works things out .

First, I get a request from Oklahoma  – the VERY FIRST STOP on the trip!  (Don’t miss that the Lord answered the ‘Where do we start?’ )

I’ll be a breakout speaker at the Oklahoma Baptist Ladies Retreat !  God provided a starting point!  And not just any starting point, but one with a keynote speaker who is a sweet friend, Angela Thomas.(and endorsed my book!  Thank you Angela!!)

As I’ve prayed, processed and panicked my way through this adventure I’ve realized that God is teaching me to trust His calling on my life — even when it isn’t comfortable and even when it may look a little crazy.

The road trip is about meeting women out there — on the road.  It’s about linking arms and sharing stories.  It’s about laughter and tears and joy and heartache.  It’s about coming together for a precious few moments, hours or days and glorifying God with our lives.

We are putting together Faith Pit Stops.  You’ll find me and some of my girlfriends there and I hope to see lots of you.   I’m asking local churches to join us and meet the women from the community.

So WHERE and WHEN?

We’ll be in Davis, Oklahoma April 13 and 14th and then it’s out there on the open road.

As I put more stops in place, I’ll keep you posted.

You can read more about the trip HERE. 

If you would like to suggest a place for us to have a Faith Pit Stop — just comment and let me know.

I recently spoke on the Girl’s Get-A-Way cruise and a sweet friend recorded the whole thing.  I needed a bit of video of me speaking to share with groups who are interested in booking me and to use in my 2012 Christmas video…. and I’m totally kidding about that second one.

My sweet friend, Kim, recorded my entire 35 minute talk with my little FlipVideo  – she’s a major trooper and a dear friend!

I’ve put five minutes of it on my Speaking Info page, but I just wanted to let you know in case you’ve ever wondered just what southern sounds like on me. But, let me caution you, the video is 5 minutes long…. and if you’re like me 5 minutes is just a bit much.  So if you want to watch, feel free to shut me up at the 1 minute mark.  I’ll never know.

You’ll find that video right here.

Have fun!!

Now, I’m living the lesson.  Seems I have to live out every single thing I teach… maybe I ought to just teach the fun stuff and leave the hard stuff for other people.

Just when I think I’m slightly together, everything about me falls apart.   And there I am, in pieces.

I WANT what I WANT!  It’s what I WANT to shout.  And what I want is good.  It’s not bad.  It’s positive.  It’s fun.  But it’s not for me.  The Lord has closed door after door.  And here I stand pounding my fist shouting ‘I WANT THIS! Let me in!’   Apparently, I am a slow learner.

So here I stand — packing up my wants, with tears running down my face.  I don’t want to walk away from this.  It’s been my desire for a long time.  I KNOW it’s time to step away, but I want so bad to stay.

I KNOW God’s will is just beyond this want and I know I’ll step into it as soon as I pack up this want.  Knowing is one thing and doing is another.  I’m REAL good at knowing.  It’s the doing that trips me up!

Are you packing up any wants today?

I got up EARLY this morning… before 6am early.  I had to be dressed, made up, hair brushed and reasonably coherent by 8:30am.  Oh, and I had to be across town at the local TV station by that time, too.

A local morning show had me (and my book) on as a guest today.  After anxious hours picking clothes, planning hair and doing makeup I arrived at the station all ready to go!

I signed in at reception.  Sat down on the couch.   I waited.  And waited and then waiting some more.

Finally this cute, young girl taps me on the shoulder and says… ‘ are you the one with the God, Girlfriend something  book?’  I nod and she motions for me to follow.

We wind through an office filled with cubicles and the noise of early morning office chatter.

And  there it is – the SIGN that reads ‘On Air’ – whoa!  I thought I’d at least get to ask someone how my makeup looked or if my hair was working. Let’s not EVEN talk about  my dreams of a makeup artist with a snazzy apron on to hold all her brushes & magic wands.   But nope, none of that — we were walking through the door and smack up in the middle of the studio.

Mystery girl (since I still don’t know her name, title, anything) directs me to a sofa and then hands me a microphone to clip on my blouse.  I run the wire under and attach.  And then I wait.

A few minutes pass. we go to commercial break and one of the two hosts walks over, sits across from me and asks me a couple of simple question…. and then it’s “4 seconds” and we go live.

We chat for about 2 minutes and I’m done.

I got up early, did my makeup, fixed my hair and put on cute clothes…. I even put bronzer on my arms for this?

But I’m blessed — I manage to say ‘Jesus Christ is the foundation for all relationships’ and I was pretty thrilled to put that out there.

So — how was your day?

We sailed on beautiful ship, but it wasn’t about the ship is was about the women we sailed with.  They were every size and shape and age.  And we had a BLAST! They had such amazing stories to share and share we did.  But not enough, never enough.   I am so excited about next year and more stories.

I was so humbled to have them show up to hear me speak and then to sign their copies of my book.  When I looked up and realized there was a line of people wanting my autograph, I almost fell to my knees instead I sent up a silent prayer of thanks and a request to never forget that it’s NOT about me but all about Him.

I’m home now and would love to share some picture with you but I’ll have to wait until someone posts some since I am a failure at capturing any picture memories.  Until then here are a couple of fun shots.

Me on stage…. and can you BELIEVE they gave me a microphone?  And I finally gave it back.

a few staff members, some sweet guests and a airline pilot we drafted to be in the picture!

]]> http://www.maryrsnyder.com/what-an-adventure/feed/ 6 http://www.maryrsnyder.com/what-an-adventure/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MaryRSnyder--JoyFilledLiving/~3/2yWjdQVgBwI/ http://www.maryrsnyder.com/14-day-adventure-in-faith-guide/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:47:46 +0000 Mary R. Snyder http://www.maryrsnyder.com/?p=2147 Are you ready for an adventure? Are you ready to see where God is leading you? Are you ready to PACK UP your wants and UNPACK His will? Let’s do it together! Join me on this 14 day Adventure!  Let’s leap into God’s plan for each of our lives! Come along and let’s see what...]]> Are you ready for an adventure?

Are you ready to see where God is leading you?

Are you ready to PACK UP your wants and UNPACK His will?

Let’s do it together!

Join me on this 14 day Adventure!  Let’s leap into God’s plan for each of our lives!

Come along and let’s see what the Lord has for each of us — I KNOW it will be good!

Join today by clicking this button:

He is calling us out of our comfort zones — out of the comfortable.

He is calling me out of my comfortable.  Out of the place I fit in, the place where I’m known and understood.  He is calling me to go beyond the planning and to trust Him with the adventure of faith.

Adventure of Faith.  It’s more than a catchphrase or  a snappy title on the cover of a book.  It’s a life choice for me.  I’m stepping out.  Trusting God.  Accepting that His plan is far better than anything I could dream up.

I’m reaching up to Him — hands held high, palms up.  Expectant.  Trusting.  Believing. Receiving.

Get Ready Girls!

God has an incredible year for every one of us.  I don’t know what the Lord has for you, just like I don’t know what He has for me, but I KNOW this — He is faithful and He is true.  He is my Rock and my Salvation.  In Him alone I will trust.   And in this trust, I’m stepping out onto the path of this new adventure. He will show all of us the way to go, but first we have to TRUST him.

Cannot wait to see where God leads me this year and would love to link arms with you in this adventure!

Let’s see what God has for us!  Are you with me?  No, that’s not the right question, this has nothing to do with me.  Are you ready to trust God and His will for you?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.   Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Winner of Books & Coffee is  Donna Submitted on 2011/12/28 at 8:45 am

Now, let’s give some more stuff away!!

I want to start 2012 off with a bang and I want you to do the same!  One of my favorite things to do (which I don’t do enough) is go to the movies with a girlfriend.  I decided to giveaway books and a movie would.

The winner receives two  copies of my book, God, Grace & Girlfriends: Adventures in Faith & Friendship  (signed, if you want it signed) and a $25 gift card Regal Gift card.  The card is good at any Regal, United Artists or Edwards theaters.

There’s only ONE catch…have fun!

Now, let’s get to the entering part…. it’s easy!   You can enter up to three times.

Get on my newsletter list – (click here or fill out boxes to the right of this page) and comment below to let me know you joined.

If you’re already on the list — just comment below

Tweet this page (you can click the twitter icon under ‘share & enjoy’ at the bottom of the post) and comment to let me know.

Share this page on facebook (click below is the easiest way) and comment to let me know.

Contest closes on January 2nd and I’ll announce the winner on January 3rd

Happy Entering!!

All the gifts are unwrapped and the needles are starting to fall from the tree.  It’s time to pack away the decorations until next year.  I love this time between Christmas and New Year.  I’m still recovering from the overload of fun and food and I don’t feel guilty (yet) that my tree is still up.

I know that the New Year is almost here…. can you believe it?  2012? Really?  And I wanted to do some giveaways!  So let’s get started!

Up today — win a two copies of my book, God, Grace & Girlfriends — one for you and one for a friend (and I’ll sign both of them for you).  And Starbucks cards!  Two $10 cards.  You can meet your girlfriend for coffee and catch up on all the holiday happenings!

Now, let’s get to the entering part…. it’s easy!   You can enter up to three times.

Get on my newsletter list — (click here or fill out boxes to the right of this page) and comment below to let me know you joined.

If you’re already on the list — just comment below

Tweet this page (you can click the twitter icon under ‘share & enjoy’ at the bottom of the post) and comment to let me know.

Share this page on facebook (click below is the easiest way) and comment to let me know.

Contest closes on December 29th and I’ll announce the winner on Dec 30th.

Happy Entering!!

]]> http://www.maryrsnyder.com/win-god-grace-girlfriends-coffee-for-two/feed/ 106 http://www.maryrsnyder.com/win-god-grace-girlfriends-coffee-for-two/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MaryRSnyder--JoyFilledLiving/~3/bBHKND4e3sg/ http://www.maryrsnyder.com/merry-christmas/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:45:43 +0000 Mary R. Snyder http://www.maryrsnyder.com/?p=2072 May your day be filled with family, friends, laughter and great joy! May you know the freedom of the saving grace of Jesus Christ! Merry Christmas!!!  ]]> May your day be filled with family, friends, laughter and great joy!

May you know the freedom of the saving grace of Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas!!!