sending the snyder's off with MUCH love {and sadness}

our friendship with evan and stacey has been unique. and so so special.

we have many deep friendships. but most of them are deep as a result of YEARS and years of friendship together. 

the snyder's have been different. we've only known them for a couple years, and from day 1 (the first night they came to our house to discuss adoption - when we were in the process and they were about to start) our bond has been deep and strong. their love for us, our children and the God we all serve is so big and has blessed our family greatly.

 we launched a ministry at our church together (with 2 other amazing couples!) with the intent to LOVE orphans in any way God led us.

and stacey and i prayed and prayed (and everyone else thought we were silly) but God answered and we were all in ethiopia together!

this was when they first arrived...such JOY amidst some HARD moments.

it sounds like something big is happening, doesn't it?
it sounds like they might be moving to timbuktu or something.
they aren't moving actually. but they are leaving our church to help start another church.
we are SO excited that God has called them to this and SO proud of them for following Him.
we can't wait to see how God is going to use them! 
we are also so sad that we won't see their faces at church and we are just going to miss them being a part of things we are used to having them at.

we sent them off last night with a group of people that love them dearly.

we spent some time praying for them...

their passion and strength comes from WHO they are and the God they serve.
they are a very special couple indeed.

not only have they loved us and our children so well, they also make us laugh and cry. they can be so silly and so deep. there isn't much chit-chat kind of talk when we are with them. we get RIGHT to the "real" stuff. i love that.

it's NOT goodbye. but i would be lying if i said i didn't cry and have a bit of a temper tantrum with God today about the whole thing.

evan and stacey (and ezekiel and micah) - we love you so very much!!!