“It’s not about the years in your life,
 It’s about the life in your years.”
                        -    Abraham Lincoln

That quote means a great deal to me after the death of my husband, George, on November 7, 2003. My children and I are still on a journey of recovery and always will be. But by the grace of God, I know that we will be all right.

I live at 4260 Day Road, Lockport, after moving 2 years ago from 3828 Dale Road, Gasport. However, I am hoping to sell this home and return to Harrington Road in Lockport. I now own the original Snyder Farm where George grew up. Hopefully, someday one of our children will buy the farm from me to keep it in the Snyder family (as it has been for the past 60 years). I plan to build another log home down the road from the old 1817 farmhouse and not far from the log home George and I built in 1975. What an adventure I have ahead of me!

Hopefully, in the near future I will return to substitute teaching at the Royalton Hartland Elementary School in Gasport. I also attempt to keep “dabbling in the arts” – folk art type oil painting on canvas and old barn wood. Grandma Moses and Tasha Tudor are real inspirations to me. I also enjoy taking walks and reading.

For many reasons, I look forward to one more move, so I can eliminate more “stuff” from my life. A “minimalist” lifestyle looks very appealing to me at this point in time.

It goes without saying how much my 3 children mean to me. I’m so thankful that George and I were able to share 30 years of marriage and family life together.

Josie is 26 years old, completed her education at Roberts Wesleyan College, and just finished her 4th year of teaching Life Science at the Clifford Wise Middle School in Medina. Besides being in the classroom, she attends graduate school, assists with coaching field hockey and directing musicals, and in her “spare time” makes unique gemstone jewelry.

Jesse is 24 years old and has completed his 4 years at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also played football. He recently accepted a job at the AES plant in Somerset. He lives in the Snyder farmhouse and also raises beef cattle and grows crops on the farm.

Julie is 20 years old and attends classes at UB, after completing some semesters at Roberts Wesleyan College and NCCC. She lives upstairs in the Snyder farmhouse, hopes to beome a City of Lockport police officer, is a certified personal trainer, and also makes wonderful wedding cakes and other confections.

A year ago, I “adopted” 2 mixed-breed puppies from a rescue shelter -- Stella and Adrian. They have definately accelerated my aging process with their antics.

Wishing everyone many years of good health and happiness.

God bless.