Ella's PreSchool Christmas Program

I will embed this later. For now, check out the video of Ella's Christmas program here. http://youtu.be/yUL3GCCIlx8

Mommy Reads Christmas Story to Ella - Christmas Video #25

Romanian Christmas - Christmas Video #19

Exactly three months from today, Jana, Ella and I will be on our way to Romania for a three month stay with friends of ours and our church!  We look forward to helping them and this entire new adventure.  While we won't be able to be in Romania during Christmas, I thought I would let you see a Romanian Christmas.

Secret Santa and the Cops - Christmas Video

This just has to be shared.

Christmas Split - Christmas Video #12

Sand Art Christmas - Christmas Video #11

I saw Joe Castillo at a youth conference at Ocean City, MD in 2010.  Click here to see the post. Since then he has been on America's Got Talent and is in high demand.  I would love to have him at the church.  His sand art is fun to watch.  Here is a short version of one of his Christmas "drawings".

A Short Funny Christmas Video - Christmas Video #10

Christmas Light Display, Buffalo - Christmas Video #9

There has to be at least one of these light display videos, right?  I SOOOO want to do this, but by the time I have the time and money, it will really be old hat.  Anyway, I liked this one from a Buffalo Bills fan . . .

Soldier's Christmas - Christmas Video #8

Thanks to all those who defend this country and spend Christmas away from their family for me!!

Silent Night - Christmas Video #7

This, the second week of Advent, our pastor is talking about Peace. The words "Sleep in Heavenly peace."  keep coming to my mind.  Enjoy this Pentatonix version of Silent Night.

Text Me Merry Christmas

Ella in "awe" of Dexter Herman

In anticipation of the big game tomorrow (Liberty Flames vs. Villanova - In the second round of FCS football playoffs), Ella made this video.  She fell in love with Dexter Herman a few weeks ago when
we saw him play in Lynchburg, VA.  I helped coach Dexter when he played football for East Juniata and now he is the starting tight end for the Flames.

What is Christmas About? - Christmas Video #5

"Redemption", from Word Of Life Fellowship will be at Richfield Mennonite on Tuesday, December 9 at 7 PM for a concert.  The concert is FREE but there will be a offering. Plan to join us.

Hallelujah Christmas Version - Christmas Video #4

When I first saw this, I thought it was new this year.  I was wrong, but it was new to me and I loved it.  I hope if you haven't seen it yet, you will love it too.  If you have seen it, I hope you enjoy it again.

 

Hairy Christmas - Christmas Video #3

I enjoy Duck Dynasty . . . "a hairy Christmas" to all . . .

Decorating the Christmas Tree - Christmas Video #2

We went and picked out a real Christmas Tree for the first time since we have been married.  It was fun.  Then, Ella and Mommy decorated the tree this afternoon.  Here is the time elapsed video we did.  Enjoy.

Trace Bundy Playing Backwards - Christmas video #1

Pass the Salt and Go Mute for he Meal

Yesterday I posted about the challenge my sister gave our family - to go "Mute for the Meal".  Here is a comical video that goes along with that challenge:

Go "Mute for the Meal"

Mute For The Meal Challenge

My sister, Michele, has issued us a challenge for our Thanksgiving get together . . . go "Mute for the Meal".  No, this doesn't mean we don't talk to each other!  Rather, that IS what she wants us to do!  She is challenging us to put away all of our electronic devices for the period of time that we are sitting down to eat so we can actually talk to everyone!

I have to admit, I am terrible when it comes to checking my iPhone every 5 minutes, or I should probably say every 5 SECONDS.  I know I am distracted and I am sure it is annoying to others.  Our electronics have become so ingrained into our lives that we have gotten into habitually using them.  If we can turn them off for even just one hour, I think it would do me some good.

So, I am going to take the challenge.  I will mute my device and concentrate on conversing with my family - at least for the meal.

Will you take the challenge?  Let me know in the comments below and maybe we can tell of our experiences on Friday. . . Well that will be Black Friday . . . I may be looking for some great deals on my phone. . . well, sometime after Thanksgiving.  :)

Reducing for Romania - Week 8 Update

So far so good!  Today marks the two month (8 weeks) period in my weight loss adventure and I am happy to report that I have lost 22.5 pounds so far.  I am relatively happy since, while I have been more active, I haven't been to the gym, etc.  That will come soon enough, but so far, my diet has changed enough that the weight has been coming off.  Oh, I have walked to work and back a couple times a week and I have used some 5 pound weights while talking on the phone, etc.  But, other than that, I have stuck to a low carb, vegetable and meat diet to loose the weight.  I am now down to my lowest weight in the last 5 years and starting to wear clothes I had thought I might never wear again.

The Reducing for Romania finances go up with every pound I loose.  I have until December 15 to
loose as much as I can (I am trying not to loose to much too fast, hoping to keep this off).  I think I should be able to hit my goal of 30 pounds - only 7.5 left to go.   However, I haven't been aggressive in asking for donations.  So far I people have pledged $23 per pound making my total so far $517.5 for the team coming in June of 2015.  Would you be willing to sponsor me per pound.  Comment below or send me a personal message.

The nice part of my diet/weight loss is that my sugar is down over 30 points in the morning to almost normal levels!  Now, instead of dreading going to the doctor for my blood work and results, I am really looking forward to his reaction!  (He is sponsoring me, by the way.)  I am really praying I can cut back and even stop my medication for the diabetes at some point.

Thanks for your prayers for me as I loose this weight,  for my family as we leave in March and the team who will join us in Romania in June.

Reducing For Romania - Week Four Weight Loss Update

So, after a week of bad batteries in the scale, we are back on track in the Reducing For Romania weight loss/fund raising. I feel as though I have done very well over the past four weeks and today I have some exciting news, At least I Think it is exciting.

Before I tell you the weight-loss, I would just like you to know that in the last two days my blood sugar was 118 and 115 respectively. I haven't seen those numbers in the morning for two years!  That's exciting in and of itself. I am praying that with this weight-loss, I will be able to cut out some of my medicine I am taking for my diabetes.

And now on the skinny (pun intended) on the weight loss. This morning when I stepped on the scales it reported to me something that I haven't seen in over five years. I am now under the 300 pound mark! It's only by 1 pound, but it is exciting for me. So far I have lost 16.2 pounds in the four weeks that I have been on my diet.

This means that so far I have raised $372.60 for our team who will meet us in Romania next June!  At first I was hoping to lose at least 30 pounds. And, until I reach that, it will be my goal. However, I'm starting to believe that I might be able to push it to closer to 50 pounds. I have until December 15 to lose as much weight as possible. I would like to raise more money for our team. Would you be willing to sponsor me per pound? Let me know. 

Until next week, keep praying for me and our team as we raise our money and I lose weight.

Reducing Update . . .

Here is an update on my "Reducing for Romania" weight loss . . . Since August 25 I have lost 8.6lbs!!  I am happy with that but I know the pounds will start to come off slower soon.  My goal is to have lost 15 pounds by October 1.  I know that isn't really aggressive, but I want to have an achievable goal as well.  Tomorrow I get my quarterly blood work done.  And, even though I know two and a half weeks won't make a big difference, I am hoping for a good report when we get the results next week!  I also hope the doctor notices my weight loss as well!!!

As far as pledges are concerned, since the last post, I have GAINED (bad word when you are losing
weight but good for this cause) over $16 per pound for a total of $21.33 per pound lost!  My goal is to at least raise enough for one person's flight to be covered for the trip.  Jana just purchased tickets this morning.  The price of a ticket is $1350.  As it is right now I have $183.43.  If I loose 30 pounds I would need have $45 per pound in pledges to pay for one ticket. The end date will be December 15.  If you would like to pledge to this cause, you could email me at rmyuth@gmail.com.

Thanks for your prayers for this endeavor!  This should be good for me AND helpful to our team as well.

Reducing For Romania

On Sunday at church I announced that I would be trying to loose weight and needed some help. I asked some people to consider sponsoring me per pound to loose the weight. All of the money that is raised will be given to the team from the church who is going to meet us in Romania in June. I am calling it "Reducing for Romania". I have found in the past that I do better when I am held accountable to others. So far I have had a few people who have offered to sponsor me in this adventure - the total so far is $4.75/pound! I am sure there will be more, but if not, it doesn't matter. Whatever comes in is great. 

To begin, I weighed in this morning and will be weighing in every Monday morning - in front of our lead pastor. The end date is December 15 (I want to eat a little during the Christmas holiday. You could pledge, if you like, by commenting below or contacting me, rmyuth@gmail.com. I am hoping to be thinner and healthier and be able raise some finances for our team. Please pray for me.

Finally, Friday's Video from Camp

Two Videos from Thursday

Ella Learns a New Song at Camp

Wednesday's Video from Camp

Tuesday's Video from Camp

Monday's Video from Camp

Aaron Discovers Duel Screen Diagramming

Aaron loves to diagram Greek for his sermons. Today he learned that he could do that on two screens! I enjoy watching him get excited about these kinds of things!!!

Read the Book - Don't Wait for the Movie!

This is an encouragement to everyone to read the most exciting book, filled with the most exciting content . . . I love the Skit Guys - and the Word!

If An America Football Coach Was Hired As a World Cup Coach . . .

This is a follow-up of my last post . . . Again, no offense to anyone at all.  This is just fun.

World Cup Minions

Disclaimer:  The "people pleaser" in me doesn't want to offend those who love the sport of soccer. I have come to appreciate the skill that the game takes.  However, you have to admit, this is at least comical, if not very true to life.

Snyder's Are Headed to Romania

Come March of 2015, my bride and daughter and I will be ministering in the country of Romania for 3+ months!  Our church has asked us to consider this for a myriad of reasons.  We will be visiting missionaries we support there, Daniel & Marianna Cocar who live in Timisoara.  I will be blogging here over the next year about interesting things about our trip and we are in the process of beginning another blog, to be released soon, about our ministry while in Romania.

I will give you more information over the next week or so, but we really need to start raising some of the money we will need to go.  If you are interested in helping us financially, you have two options at this point. 1. If you don't need a tax deductible contribution, you could follow our "Go Fund Me" campaign:

If you want a receipt from our church for tax purposes, you will have to cut and mail a check to Richfield Mennonite Church, 167 Church Street, Richfield, PA  17086.  Please put Romania in the Memo.

While we are looking forward to this challenge and period in our life, I am feeling awkward about having to ask people for our finances.  Please don't feel obligated to give, but, we WOULD appreciate your prayers as we go.

Look for more information soon!!

Hallmark Movie Channel to Run Santorum Produced Film This Sunday, March 23

New Hallmark Movie Channel Original Premiering THIS SUNDAY, March 23, 2014 at 9p ET/8p CT.

AN OUTLAW BEYOND ALL HOPE GETS A CHANCE AT REDEMPTION THROUGH A FAMILY’S KINDNESS

STARRING DREW WATERS (“Friday Night Lights”) AND ERIN BETHEA (“Fireproof”) IN ‘THE REDEMPTION OF HENRY MYERS’

Flower Mound, TX - A hard-living outlaw finds a chance for redemption when a loving family comes into his life in “The Redemption of Henry Myers,” a Hallmark Movie Channel Original World Premiere Sunday, March 23 (9p.m. ET/PT, 8C). Drew Waters (“Friday Night Lights”) and Erin Bethea (“Fireproof”) star with Jaden Roberts (“Brother’s Keeper”), Ezra Proch (“Seven Days in Utopia”), Beau Smith (“Deep in the Heart”) and Rio Alexander (“The Last Stand”) in this prairie love story from Executive Producer Rick Santorum.

          Henry Myers (Waters) is living a hard life, surviving on the frontier any way he can – even if it means robbing a bank. After his latest heist backfires and his partners (Smith and Alexander) betray him and leave him for dead, Henry’s life takes a surprising turn when he finds kindness and compassion from a widow (Bethea) and her children (Roberts and Proch).

          With this family’s influence and support, Henry begins to question the choices he’s made in his life. Just as things begin to make sense, Henry’s life is shaken again when his old partners show up. Will Henry Myers seek the revenge he desires or finally find his redemption?

          “The Redemption of Henry Myers” is a Clayton Miller Film: TROHM Production. Rick Santorum is the executive producer. Chad Gundersen is the producer. Clayton Miller directed from a script he wrote with Chris Vanderkaay and Charlie Shahnaian.

Hallmark Movie Channel, the second linear channel from Crown Media Holdings, Inc., simulcast in SD (Standard Definition) and HD (High Definition), is a trusted family-friendly network devoted to quality storytelling. Available in 53 million homes and one of the fastest-growing cable TV networks, Hallmark Movie Channel is a 24-hour digital cable network dedicated to bringing viewers original movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, and presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library. In today’s crowded television landscape, the network offers viewers a diverse range of film genres, including mysteries, westerns, coming-of-age dramas, and epic fantasies.

EchoLight Studios as a world class entertainment studio specializing in bringing redemptive media to the marketplace through their Dallas based studio. They produce, direct, fund and distribute faith-based films that bring communities together.together.

 Here's the trailer . . .

Parenting Ella - Learning to Pay It Forward

One of the things we hope to instill in Ella is to help others and being generous.  Here is one example of a young boy who "Paid It Forward" to a soldier as an example of generosity.

http://www.wimp.com/boysoldier/

Parenting Ella - Ideas On How To Serve

As Ella continues to grow, I am getting nervous about this parenting thing. I pray that we make good choices about her future. And, I pray that we can teach her things she needs to know to be successful and a good member of society. I hope and pray we can impart our faith and that she takes it as her own. So, I thought I would share with you from time to time some things I have been finding on the internet to help us with our parenting skills. This post is about "Ideas On Teaching Children to Serve Others" I would also love to here your ideas.  Please comment below.

Here are 30 project ideas that teach children to serve. concerninghttp://www.meetpenny.com/2011/11/teaching-children-to-serve-others-30-project-ideas/

Modeling serving to our children. This might be for younger kids.
http://forthefamily.org/teaching-children-joy-serving-others/

Good Article from Focus on the Family (maybe for a little older kids) about teaching discernment while serving.
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/spiritual_growth_for_kids/teaching_servanthood/teaching_service_with_discernment.aspx

Teaching Jesus' Model
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/spiritual_growth_for_kids/serving_as_a_family/teaching_service.aspx

Ella's First Time Bowling

Live Stream of Nye/Ham Creation Science Debate

You are invited to come to RMC to watch the Bill Nye/Ken Ham debate on Tuesday night, February 4 at 7 PM.  There is no charge.

Watch RMC Live on Sundays

Live streaming video by Ustream

Amazon's Great Customer Service

 This is the email message I recieved from Amazon.com after one of my orders didn't come on time. (I didn't even care. I didn't contact them or ask for anything.)

"We’ve refunded any shipping charges associated with your shipment. We’d also like to provide you with a $20 gift card to compensate for this inconvenience. This amount will be applied to your next eligible order automatically without entering a claim code. Amazon.com Gift Cards can be used to buy almost any item sold on Amazon.com."

Now this is customer service . . . and it wasn't even their fault! Thanks Amazon for GREAT service!!!

Getting the Wiggles Out

It was a long trip so far and we had a long way to go. We had stopped for a bite to eat. Ella needed to get out a bit more energy before we started off again. So, Ella and Daddy "get the wiggles out " on our trip to Florida. We had learned this the night before from our friend Braedon - Big Braedon, as Ella would say.