So, this blog hasn't been a real success...

...but a lot has gone on in the past month.  I wish you would call so I can tell you.  I miss you a bunch.

Here's a photo of what's going on at my house right now.  Looks exciting, right?!

 - Beth

You remind me of...

...a ukelele!!!  Just heard a song on Pandora with a ukelele and it immediately reminded me of you.  I miss you, best friend! 

We should learn this song when you get back - "Grace That is Greater" by Bart Millard.  I love this hymn and his arrangement with the ukelele is so wonderful.  We could play/sing for CSF with harmony! 

Can't wait to Skype with you soon!!!  Praying you get through the rest of the day with peace and harmony and joy.  :)

June 19th, 2012

ANNA!!!!  I saw someone driving your car today!  It made me think of you and miss you!  Hoping to get a phone call from you this weekend!!!!

Also, your inbox is gonna be full of texts when you get back.  (:

Love, Beth

Day 1532987592837592873....(or so it seems)

Dear Anna,

Just hanging out in the wilderness of ND this week!!!  It's totally in the middle of nowhere.  Kara, Chrissy and I are staying at our uncle's house and I've dubbed it "Area 51 of Cellular Coverage" - there is NOTHING within the clump of trees.  It's crazy.

I've gotten a lot of opportunities to tell family about the trip and about you being over there now...hoping for more opportunities to use it as a gospel tool.

We had such a fun time in Minot too with our church family.  I miss the transparency, the community and the closeness that Trinity Church has - it is so far from Clifton or Graceland or Sojourn or really any other church I've been to.  (Though I haven't been to Journey or your old church, maybe those are like Trinity)  I also saw my old boyfriend (who is now dating Kara's best friend) which was really fun, just to catch up and be friends.  We were really good friends back in the day and I'm glad we got to hang out in a group a little.

I MISS JEREMY!!!!  Okay, I put that in here because I just KNOW you will roll your eyes and laugh at me.  But it's true!!

Don't you dare get engaged.  We need to talk about this, missy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you. :)

Day 7th - June 4th, 2012

ANNA!!!!  I watched a video Jeremy took of Josh opening his gift from us - and I heard your voice!  Awww, I miss you!  Hoping I get to talk to you soon!!!  I've really realized the past week how much I rely on you.  God has given you the gift of being completely open and accepting with people and it is so easy to be with you, to tell you things and to be real.  You are a dear, dear friend and I thank God for you.  Really looking forward to hearing what He is teaching you in Haiti.

Day 6, May 30th

Dear Anna,

I was trying to find funny things on Pinterest to send you...I found this:

I figured you would appreciate it.  It's late, I couldn't find anything funnier right now.  :-)

Love you!  Thinking of you a bunch and praying for you!

 - Beth

Day 5 - May 29th, 2012

I am so happy to call you my best friend!!!  :-)

I get to go hang out with the Bitners today!  I'm pretty thrilled!  I love my Bitner Bunch. 

Trying to think of a funny story to tell you...um....not sure?  Only that we hung out with The Boys the past two days - it was QUITE the experience.  There were a bunch of "what the heck" kind of moments...you would've laughed a lot.  :-)

Also, discovered that I really like Mike's Hard Lemonade (or Mango) - so much better than anything else alcoholic that I've ever tasted. 

Listening to this song this morning...thought it might encourage you as it did me.

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

 - B

P.S.  Still have straight hair!


 

Day...? May 28th, 2012

My dear Anna,

It's been a yucky week!!!!!  Stuff happening almost every day!  :-(  Starting with my car crash, ending with an ugly fight between Jeremy and I where I yelled and slammed the car door as hard I could.  UGLY SINFUL SELF!  Yuck.  He was very good to forgive me quickly.

BLEAH!  It's one of those days I wish I could go over to Grove, sit on your couch, color a picture and just vent to you and eat your food. I miss you!  I've thought of you a lot this week, realizing how much I value your friendship and miss being able to run things by you or hear your thoughts on life.  Your perspective.  You are such a dear friend to me.

Thinking about you in Haiti today too...2nd Sunday in town?  I'm wondering how things with Esther and her dad went, with visiting Esther.  Hoping you were able to get your feet under you this week and adjust to being there.  Also hoping I'll hear from you soon!

Love you, sister!

 - B

P.S. Chrissy straightened my hair tonight!  Doesn't it look different?!  I had so many split ends, it was crazy!  :-)

Day 2 - May 20th

Dear Anna,

Here goes day two!  I think you should be very proud of me for following up with a 2nd day.  :-)  It has been such a wonderful weekend of sweet fellowship with the Church (universal).  New small group on Saturday, War Games and serving together at Graceland, wonderful church this morning and awesome lunch today with Hannah H.  I am SO THANKFUL for God's people and He has poured out His grace abundantly on me this weekend.  It's amazing.

I've talked with several people this weekend about how I believe the Lord has called you to Haiti, how I see Him working out this in your life and the joy and contentment you've experienced as you follow His plan.  Hannah and I were talking today about how obvious it is in how He has provided for this trip, above and beyond your needs.  He is SO GOOD!  Rest in Him this week as you seek to just get by with the craziness of life.  I love you!!  Praying for quick growth in the language today.  :-)

Day 3 - May 21st

Dear Anna,

So this morning I woke up, got ready for work, made myself an egg, got in my car and onto I-65...and got in a car accident.  I rear-ended a guy who stopped suddenly during traffic.  It was clear as I glanced down, looked back up and he had stopped right in front of me.  Collision place says my car is totaled.  What a morning.  My head hurts and I'm sore, but not hurt worse than that.  God is very good.  Trying to remember that as I now have to look at getting a new car.  Sigh.  So many memories in my Buick!  This was the car that my youth pastor and his wife prayed about with me for over a year - and then God provided it for me!  And I know God will provide again.

Me with a stiff neck and a sore pride:

Talking to you was great last night, though.  Definitely a highlight of my week.  So glad everything is going well for you.  It was so good to hear your voice!!!! I love you!

 -B

Day 1 - May 19th

Dear Anna,

I have decided to write a blog for you - a blog that details every day (on my end) that you are gone.  Just for kicks and giggles.  :-)

Day 1 without Anna Sneed:

CHICK-FIL-A!!!!  We must go to Chick-Fil-A when you get back.  One of my favorite memories is when we got up early one morning last summer (when you were working at Journey) and went out to Chick-Fil-A for breakfast.  Then Jeff was late to church, as usual.  :-)

Wishing I could chat with you today!  Thinking of you and praying you're getting settled in alright.  I can't imagine how hot it is today!!

Love you!