"This book delights and instructs on many levels simultaneously. It honors the author's silent Mennonite ancestors by telling the stories of their pioneering lives and their sacred, everyday work. As profoundly spiritual as Thomas Merton and Kathleen Norris, as wise about leadership as Margaret Wheatley and Max DePree, Lee Snyder has created an alabaster box memoir out of which she pours a lifetime of reading, revery, and relationship. It makes me want to be a better person." —Shirley H. Showalter, Vice-President­Programs at the Fetzer Institute

"Lee Snyder’s witty, readable, memoir is both humble and elegant at the same time—revealing a college president who knows how to fold laundry,  chop onions, savor T. S. Eliot, and draw inspiration from a well-worn Bible. The searching intelligence, honesty, and sense of humor bestowed on this Oregon farm girl comes through on every page, as she  demonstrates how the pursuit of higher education, a heartfelt response  to the arts, and a deep commitment to service can enhance a life  grounded in a strong sense of place, identity, and faith. By sharing  selected moments of her own story, Snyder encourages readers to consider what grace can arise when the unexpected intersects with their own lives."

"Snyder's beautifully written book shows how true leadership arises from the humble ingredients of everyday life, met with courage, faith and imagination."
--Ann Hostetler, Professor of English, Goshen, College, Author, Empty Room with Light; and Editor, A Cappella: Mennonite Voices in Poetry

"This luminous book, full of lively stories of what God has asked of Lee Snyder and astute reflections on the life that she has lived in response, makes for fascinating and instructive reading." —Jeff Gundy, in the Foreword

"I’m delighted that Lee Snyder has taken the time to share with readers stories from her life journey. In the world of Christian higher education, she was a pioneer for many of us as one of the first female chief academic officers, then completing an exemplary ten-year presidency. Having observed her personal and professional investments while in these senior leadership positions, I am inspired by the ripple effects of her life’s work."

"Snyder combines her artistry with words and a lifetime of experiences in brief chapters that can encourage and challenge others in their professional journeys. This book contains both wisdom and humor, reminding us of the amazing ways that God can guide our daily steps." —Karen A. Longman, Professor of Higher Education, Doctoral Prograns in Higher Education, Azusa Pacific University

"Lee Snyder has written a simple yet eloquent recollection of the turning points of her life that have composed her remarkable journey from a farm girl to university president. We often only see the ‘polished side’ of our leaders, but Snyder’s stories offer a very genuine and poignant reminder of how life’s challenges, surprises, detours, and doubts can shape our identities and help us to decipher our own pathways in life." —Korine Steinke Wawrzynski, Director, Undergraduate Research, Michigan State University

"Offering truth-filled candor and grace-filled insight, Lee Snyder has written an engaging memoir that will speak to any individual's personal exploration and embrace of the vocational journey." —Kim Phipps, President, Messiah College