We felt God was asking us to sell our home. We looked at each other with total defeat but in our hearts, we knew this was what we both were hearing from the Lord. "Will you trust me?"
In the spring of 2015, my husband and I were reviewing our finances, as we always did when tax time approached. We were staring at an outstanding balance of around $30,000 in debt—even after paying down a significant amount. We knew. We had exhausted every other avenue to make extra income and chip away at our debt, but it just wasn’t enough. And now taxes were looming, ready to hit us hard. (Honestly, it felt more like a kick in the groin.)
As we prayed and discussed what to do, we felt God asking us to sell our home. We looked at each other, feeling completely defeated. But deep down, we both knew this was what the Lord was leading us to do. “Will you trust me?” That’s what He was asking.
My heart screamed, Nope! No way! There’s got to be another solution! But despite my resistance, I knew we had to obey. Following the Lord, even when I don’t understand, has always resulted in true, deep blessing.
We crunched some numbers and realized we had enough equity in our home to pay off all our debts. So, we called a trusted realtor friend and started the process.
Two weeks later, my husband’s employer called; he was being let go at the end of their fiscal year in June.
I've literally done it all at one time or another including Patsy Cline impressions and deliver pizza. . . all while raising two kids! True story. We were working our butts off.
I want to give you some background on my husband’s work so you can understand what a hardworking man he is and avoid any misconceptions. For the first 16 years of our marriage, Noah was a professional surfer. He was paid by various surf companies to use their products—clothing, shoes, surf gear, surfboards, etc.—and promote them through photographs, magazine articles, and surf movies. This was our primary source of income.
In 2012, Noah started a beach fitness boot camp, which has since grown into Momentum Fitness, our current main source of income. We also ran surf camps in the summer, and Noah also had a tile business on the side.
I always worked too, though I never made much. Music and the arts are fulfilling, but let’s be honest—they don’t exactly pay the bills. 😊 I’ve done it all at one time or another, from performing Patsy Cline impressions to delivering pizzas—all while raising two kids. True story.
We were working our butts off, especially Noah. He was putting in 12 to 15 hours a day, and I was genuinely afraid it would kill him.
This is my husband surfing in Nicaragua. Noah Snyder
After many amazing years of professional surfing, Noah’s career was coming to an end. We couldn’t even be upset about it. God had graciously given Noah his dream job for far longer than the average surf career typically lasts. Those years had been such a blessing to us.
Even when the changes were announced, the surf companies went above and beyond. They later returned with a severance package—another half-year’s salary! We’ll call that miracle number 2.
The first miracle was God speaking to us about selling our home before we even knew we would lose our primary income. In His kindness, He gently led us to make that decision on our own without making us feel forced into it.
"I actually cried AT a woman, I was barely acquainted with, at the grocery store who's only mistake, was asking how I was doing! She was so scared of me! She said, "Oh! honey You need chocolate."
So, how did I respond to all this grace? I spent a month walking around crying and mildly panicked! Hahaha! I’m laughing as I write this because I wish I could say I immediately embraced perfect peace. Instead, I was so… well… female and human. (Please don’t send me feminist emails—I love us women! We’re amazing, and yes, sometimes we wear our hearts on our sleeves.)
But my sadness was real. My children had been born and raised in that house. It was the only home they’d ever known. On top of that, my husband was about to lose his job. My reaction to miracles #1 and #2 was like a child who trusts their dad is leading them the right way but is still heartbroken to leave and unsure about what’s ahead. Even in the uncertainty, there’s peace in knowing your Father knows what He’s doing.
Still, I had my moments! Once, at the grocery store, a woman I barely knew made the innocent mistake of asking how I was doing. Cue the tears. I cried at her—full-on tears. She looked so scared! Her response? “Oh, honey, you need chocolate!” You can’t make this stuff up! Haha!
Later, I ran into a friend, Audra Krieg (of outerbanksmom.com, a fellow blogger), who asked the same question. This time, when my lip started quivering and the tears flowed, I was met with such compassion. She shared her empathy and encouragement, which helped me lift my eyes back to where my help comes from: my trustworthy Lord. She had been through similar experiences, and seeing her that day? Miracle #3. I think I’ve only bumped into her two other times in the last three years. That day was definitely a God appointment.
After all the emotional roller coasters, we went through everything we owned—selling a third, giving away another third, and packing up the rest except for the essentials. Once the house was staged and ready to go on the market, we were prepared to take the next step.
(Stay tuned for another blog post on the importance of purging and simplifying your home!)
...for Noah and I it was bittersweet. On one hand, we were losing our home. But in letting go of that house, we were gaining something far more valuable: our freedom. We could taste it.
Our house was officially on the market. I should mention, a few years earlier, we had tried to sell our home for similar reasons—but that time, it was our idea, our timing, not God’s. The result? It sat on the market for an entire year without a single offer.
This time, it was God’s idea, His timing. Miracle #4: our house sold in just one month! I was both exhilarated and panicked. We hadn’t even started looking for a place to live. We assumed it would take a few months to sell, at best, and figured we’d begin house hunting in the fall. That’s because in the OBX, spring and summer housing is dominated by vacation rentals. Finding anything year-round before fall is nearly impossible.
But now, with only 60 days until closing, I launched into a frantic search for a rental. We weren’t ready to buy anything yet—plus, we had no idea how much equity we’d have left after paying off our debts, if any.
Then came miracle #5. A dear family we knew from church had been building their dream home for years—almost the entire time we’d known them. Just as we were about to be homeless, they were finally moving into their new home. And they needed someone to rent their current one.
The house was tiny and adorable, just blocks from both the ocean and sound fronts, and perfectly within our budget. It only had two bedrooms, so we’d be cozy, but there was plenty of storage space underneath, which saved us money on renting a storage unit.
So, we moved. We left behind our beloved neighborhood, the home we’d lived in for 13 years, watching it fade into the rearview mirror. The kids grieved, and for Noah and me, it was bittersweet. On one hand, we were losing our home. But in letting go of that house, we were gaining something far more valuable: our freedom. We could taste it.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
The refuge on Sportsman.
We moved into a 900-square-foot saltbox-style home on W. Sportsman Drive. Thank God we had already gotten rid of over half our belongings! Our previous house had been 2,400 square feet with a workshop and garage. Even after downsizing, we still had too much for this little house.
There are a few details about this home that I feel compelled to share because they highlight the goodness of God. Sportsman Drive held special meaning for us. It was where Noah lived the summer we met and where our romance began 18 and a half years earlier. It was also where he lived when he began his journey with Jesus—a beautiful full-circle moment.
The house was less than a block away from one of the most beautiful drives on the Outer Banks, with a bike path running the length of the soundfront. The sunsets there were breathtaking—pure, nightly reminders of God’s glory. In the other direction was the ocean and Avalon Pier, where Noah and I had our first date. My favorite café was just at the end of Sportsman Drive.
We were smack in the middle of the OBX, just 10 minutes from everything. We rode bikes daily, soaking in the beauty around us. Right next door, we had friends from church, and across the street, we found welcoming neighbors.
Our year on Sportsman was so sweet in so many ways. It became a refuge for our weary hearts—a safe place to regroup and rest. Little did we know, it was also preparation for what God had next. What came next... we never saw coming!
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