It's been a while...

Photos from our Elevation Church during "Love Week." Collectively we have given over 10,000 hours of service back to our city!

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So I realize I haven't posted a blog update in a while...it was a crazy week. Between getting in grades for progress reports, karate classes and seminars, couples bible study, intercambios, and volunteering for Love Week, we were stretched pretty thin.

So, for those of you who are interested, here is the summation of our crazy week in February in a rhyming poem. Which is quite entertaining to write.

This week was one of learning and fun,
but we were both BEAT before it was done!
On Monday, the grade-book disrupted Kathryn's teaching flow,
as she had to get her progress reports ready to go.
Charlie was chill until Tuesday
When he taught karate the Ishinryu way!
On Wednesday, Mr. Snearly dedicated his time,
and volunteered at a soup kitchen, and gave food to each man in line.
LOST was that night, our favorite show,
but we were too tired so it was a no go!
We watched it on Wednesday instead,
but the story line is so confusing, people are alive when you thought they were dead!
On Thursday there was rain, and the ground was yucky and muddy,
but no matter, that night was small group Bible study.
Friday was a hectic day and busy night of running "errands"
because Charlie had dinner with karate friends
Kathryn went to a Peruvian restaurant for an "Intercambio" and some authentic dinner,
and spoke Spanish, which was a blast--the night was a real winner!
Saturday was a karate seminar that was a sensation
and Kathryn volunteered sorting and organizing clothes for Elevation.
Later we watched a movie from Net-flix called "The Green Mile"
which is sad, and scary, but the message does make you smile.
That night was awful, as Luna woke up at 2:30 whining and screaming,
and that Sunday morning we were HARDLY beaming.
But we both had volunteer at church,
but Charlie was sore from his seminar, and his muscles really hurt!
We came home, tired from the day,
we were fulfilled that we had accomplished so much....it's the Snearly way!

Mr. "Snerley"

I love Valentine's Day, and I know a lot of people find it pretentious, but as a teacher, I find it to be just about the best holiday there is. Not much hype at school, not much hype at home, and there is no feast to be prepared or travel plans to be made. It's the one holiday where people give you little tokens of love, kind words of encouragement, and make you get the tingly "I'm special" feeling. It's far better than the "Christmas mentality" where you are given obligatory "my mom bought this for you at 10 pm last night because I thought you needed a gift."

I got a couple Valentines from students this year that really made me melt. Made my whole week, actually. Nothing beats a home-made card and/or a kind word. Even my mom sent us a home-made Valentine which was so sweet (Love you, Mom!) I thought it was great that Charlie got to share in the love of kids this year, too. He received a Valentine from one of his karate students. I thought it was sweet, and you could tell he felt special to be "loved on" by a kid. Here is the card

We love little Taylor in the "Snerley" house

Luna-speak

I suppose this comes from knowing each other for our whole lives, but Charlie and I have a shared understanding when it comes to our conversations. I swear, sometimes we don't make much sense, but we always understand each other and what we're trying to say. So this is what married life is all about!

This is especially true when dealing with our dog. Sometimes, there just isn't an English (or Spanish for that matter) word to explain our "Luna experience"--she's kooky, she's crazy, and she's a Luna-tic.

Somehow, over the past several months we have inadvertently created a "Luna Language" to describe her behavior, and these words have become a regular part of our vernacular. We will share some with you....

Schnermal, v. To strangely creep about
"Luna schnermaled behind the couch."

Snug, v. To forcefully cuddle
"It was so cute when I sat on the couch and she snugged to me."

Squiggle, v. To sqirm/burrow in order to cover one's self awkwardly (esp. with blankets)
"She squiggled under the red blanket"

Spexico, n. The "country" where Luna is from. It's a mix of Space (because of her name, Luna) and Mexico, because she's part Chihuahua.
"That's why she does that. She's Spexican."

"It"...we usually refer to her as an object, especially when her behavior is bad.
Kathryn: "Where did it go?"
Charlie: "It's eating."

We are sure that we are crazy. :)

Fíjate!!! (Check it out!)

Despite the cold weather of this week, school cancellations and delays, I had something to warm my heart...I GOT ACCEPTED TO THE MASTER'S PROGRAM IN SALAMANCA, SPAIN! Wooooo! I found out on Feburary 1st. At the end of the two-year, summer program mi título oficial will be a Máster universitaria de cultura y lengua españolas. Legit, right? ;) I'm so incredibly excited.

Salamanca is an amazing place, known as La Ciudad Dorada (The Golden City). It is located about 2 and half hours west of Madrid (about 200km). It is a Renaissance city filled with culture, history, and droves and droves of foreign students. It is well known for the La Universidad de Salamanca (USAL), which was established in 1218. And it's my new school! It's the oldest Uni in all of Spain!

Salamanca leaves it's mark on the world because of it's amazing history... it was occupied by the Vacceos (Celtic people), Romans, and Moors. It boasts a beyond-all-compare 18th centry Plaza Mayor (above), Gothic, Renaissance and Romanesque artitecture, and the Uni itself.

My schedule won't be easy... 8:30-7 pm classes with a 30 minute break for lunch, 6 days a week. On Sunday there are mandadory excursions around the region, and 100% attendance is required to pass. I'll be one tired puppy. But, when you get to see all this, who can complain:

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADAM! Love you!

An ice-tastic weekend!

Today there was no school!!!!!!!!! (Every child in Union County was jumping for joy.)

Don't get too excited for me, yet. It was a teacher workday instead. Boo.

The morning driving conditions were horrendous, as melting snow froze overnight into a sheet of ice on the roads. No good. I went in to work about 10:00 am after much of the ice had melted, and I worked for a little over 4 hours. I'll admit it was nice break, but knowing that one of my workdays in February now becomes a school day isn't a pleasant, future thought. Oh well, cest la vie.

This weekend we were all couped up at home due to the weather, but Charlie and I watched Elevation's service online and took communion from home. Technology is pretty amazing that we can watch service live from the couch (Luna even attended!)

We were celebrating Kathleen's birthday this weekend, and we postponed our dinner date until Sunday (again, due to weather). After a delicious dinner at Micky and Mooch's (I had seared Tuna and Charlie had a burger), we returned back to the apartment from some speed Monopoly and cake! The cake was a little, well, sad looking. I only had a square pan and a round pan, which I thought would create a beautiful mixture of shapes and a cool "layered" effect, but it actually made my baking creation look like a blob of frosting. To top it off, the sides of the cake were "chipped" by my cake platter top, so it made it even more wonky. No matter, Kathleen is the best friend ever, and she was so happy that I made her cake! Case in point:

Happy birthday Kathleen!

Luna even enjoyed some of the fun, although she gets nervous with lots of commotion, she was happy to pose for a picture with the cake...although I don't think she cared much about the camera.

I stand corrected!

We woke up this morning to a "mantle of white." (Or a "dusting", depending on where you are from.) It was actually really beautiful, but when we took the dog for a spin to take the trash, we realized that the consistency of the snow was exactly like a snow-cone....and totally has the potential to become a sheet of ice. It's already dangerous to drive in. The most dangerous part is partial melting and re-freezing as temps drop. Maybe we SHOULD be thankful that we went shopping last night! The picture is from around 9:00 this morning...reminds me of January in Michigan, no?

Now, if only this had been a late start day at school! (Way for snow to fall on the weekend for nothing....)

Winter weather...

Dear Citizens of Charlotte, NC... a winter storm is approaching! Take cover! (aka if you are southern, run to the grocery store and stock up on milk, eggs, and salsa...yes, I too found salsa odd.)

Charlie and I never, ever shop on Friday night...now that's just craziness. Who wants to work all day and then go to the store? Not I! But, we were in need of a few items, and decided to make a quick run, only to find everybody and his brother there preparing for some "winter flurries." And no bagles remained...

Still, while out, we decided to join in on the fun and did our week's worth of shopping. As we left the store, and I was sitting in the car making faces at the dog in the van next to us, Charlie tapped on the window with a large take-and-bake pizza in his hands (something not on our list). When I opened the door he said, "Look! I found a pizza in in cart return! A PIZZA! They just forgot it! No one is around...I don't know whose it is... Do you think we can take it?"

Looking around to see no one in sight, I nodded, and we stealthily escaped with our "stolen" frozen pizza. I think we both thought it was pretty clutch. Charlie firmly believes that it is the American dream to run across a free pizza, and this doesn't happen often in one's life. And so, Charlie is very excited for lunch tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after.... ;)

Fridge stocked, fruit dish loaded, I'm feeling pretty good tonight. Maybe we'll be in all afternoon anyway with "winter weather"! Let's hope tomorrow night isn't bad for Kathleen's birthday celebration at Mickey and Mooch's!

I will leave you with our newest addition to the Snearly household (perfect for a winter storm I might add). Luna's new cadge gear! It's amazing! We bought the exact one on the left. I found it online to muffle her morning whines, and now she's pretty much obsessed with her crate. She loves to go inside, and in the morning I'll catch her in there, even when I've let her out for the day. I think she loves the side padding. It is her most favorite thing to sandwich herself inbetween pillows and bedding. Case in point:

Oh, Luna....