Our life

Saturday, 27 October 2007

  • For the simple reason of too many things going at once, I am not going to post on here anymore. I can't figure out how to cancel so I guess at some point it will expire or something. It's been GRAND!!

    We do have a blog that I will keep up with www.nateandrobyncopper.blogspot.com , we also have a picasa web album www.picasaweb.google.com/robyncopper

    So, without further Adou (?spelling?) 'til we meet in Heaven.

    ~Robyn

Friday, 12 October 2007

  • Andi Kristyne Copper....

    is TWO


    We asked her what she would like for her birthday meal.  She said what she always says when it comes to food,  "PANCAKES!!!!!".  I should have guessed. So, we had pancakes and bacon and lil' smokies...  Grandpa and Grandma Copper and Aunt Kaytra and Uncle Titus came over to help us celebrate.

    After her four pancakes and 3 lil' smokies...  It was present time.  She received two different colored doll umbrella strollers (which was actually a blessing 'cause she now has one to share with others, makes things more fun when you don't have to 'fight' over the one). 

    Just before she started opening presents the mail lady came to the door with a package from Grandpa Carne and Grandmaria.  Thus the adorable sweater and skirt that match the purple 'running' shoes from Grandma. 

    So, she's dressed to the hilt with even a new doll from Dad and the kids to go in the stroller. 

    A birthday is not a party until one blows out the candles so "CUPCAKES, HERE WE COME".  (I can't upload any more pictures right now so just imagine).

    She's our cuddly one for which we are so grateful.  She reminds me often to hug the kids with her sweet little voice " Hug, mom, hug please mom?"  

       

Tuesday, 09 October 2007

  • I think I prefer color of these:


    And we are officially sitting up all by ourselves.  I didn't think she was able too!!  So many things about this little one has surprised me.  From womb to sitting up.

    The rains have come already and we've already dug out the winter/snow coats and gloves so we can handle the frigid outdoors. 
    .
    Then they all came in to get dried off and drink Hot Peach Tea Lattes (a family favorite).

    On Sunday I went out to be energy, help, and encouragement to a few friends who were running the Portland Marathon.  They have trained for months, had their projected times that they wanted to finish in.  They had all planned out what to drink when and at what mile to down the Advil... 

    I, on the otherhand, didn't train, 'cause after all, I was only the 'support'.  I wasn't running the whole race!!!  So I get out there to cheer the runners on and find that I can't make it.  I'm the one drinking all the water and eating all the gummy bears.  I'm the one wishing my friend really wanted to walk a little. 

    I got to thinking about my spiritual life and how so many times I don't 'train' for times in my life because I don't 'feel' as if I am in the race.  Those of us who are in the support role need to be 'trained' as well, ready to go without water so others can drink, ready to run a little extra to pave the way so the 'runners' can make their goal. 
    How about taking this analogy to the role of a wife.  If I wait to prepare my heart at the time my husband needs me, then I will be too late and not ready to handle what he needs.  Whether it's responding to my mom, responding to the kids going NUTS, responding (graciously) to being sick and having 9 loads of laundry upstairs to do and I can't get off the couch.  Whatever it is, I need to be ready, focused, 'trained' for what God has for me. 

    And how do I 'train' if I don't know how far someone will need me to go?  How can I 'train' if I don't even know when that person will need me?  It's all part of focusing on Christ and asking for His desires and staying in tune with what He has for us and brings in our path, and responding...

    Anyways, some thoughts-

    Oh, and by the way, they all FINISHED well.
     
    We all sure love the outdoors-------These boys could fish for hours.
       

Thursday, 27 September 2007

  • DARBI ALIYA

    We have an almost SIX month old and what a happy little girl she is.



        

    Here we are almost sitting up without help.  A little floppy still but she's working on it.

    She enjoys her bed very much so we let her play in it during the day.  I think it's because the kids can't get to her very well so it's her own little space.  As you can see she is outgrowing that little 'space'.
      
    And we decided to try and get our tummy off the ground just this week.  The head is a little big yet to hold it up too long when her 'leverage' is off the ground. 

    We are sure enjoying this little sweetheart.  Last weekend Nate and I were able to spend three days with just her.  We noticed a change in her in regards to security and doing things on her own a little more.  Usually when the kids are around she doesn't need to work to reach for something and doesn't get much down time really except to sleep.  She's pretty much a keeper (of course we are somewhat biased :).

Wednesday, 19 September 2007

  • Remodel


    There is the kindest, most generous family in our church who were in need of a little more space for their family of 12 people, 10 of which are growing rapidly.  The Lord provided for them in a fun way to have enough money to get this remodel done and so Nate and I thought it would be fun and exciting to help out.  Nate (building being his expertise) is the general for this and we have had tons of free labor from our church and also friends of this family helping out with their spare time after work, taking off work...


    They have twin girls here on either side of Andi that are a little over two months older than her and boy do they have a blast together.  HOW OFTEN DO THEY GET TO WRITE ON THE WALL AND NOT GET IN TROUBLE!!!  They had so much fun.

    Then the wall came out and that is where the boys came in and did what they love best (of course the girls did a ton too, being the 'kid' that I am)  We called the demolition ANGER MANAGEMENT/RELEASE.

    We actually have it all sided and roofing on and HVAC put in and gutters on but that picture is still in my camera down in the truck .  Next post.

    I actually did get to help some and enjoyed every minute of it.  I loved watching Nate build as he quit building right when we started dating and I haven't seen him do much at all.  He's AMAZINGLY good.

    The Misses of the house spoiled the kids and got them all hard hats to work on the job.  They would wear them to bed if they were comfy.

    Todd and Nate (below) helped every day bringing boards that needed to be cut and pounding nails where they 'needed' to be pounded.  It has been soooo much fun for everyone (at least in our family and most of the workers that I've talked too).

    This is their third to last child, what a ham, you can tell his sister loves to take pictures and is becoming a great photographer.



    It will be painted and looking better and more finished here really soon.

    Another job well done.

Tuesday, 04 September 2007

  • Memories

    September 3, 2001

    Mom, Grandmother, Jan Carne

    Have you ever thought that praying about a certain situation was futile. That people around us are 'healed' miraculously but it never happens to us (so we think).

    I'm one of those cases that the circumstances were not beautiful leaving the end result even uglier. Yes, thoughts such as, "so what was the whole point of praying about it," crossed my mind more times than I can recall. In my heart I know God's will was accomplished and I claim that to this day. My burden is for everyone who has a false view on 'crying out' to God/prayer. Maybe you are like me in that the subject of crying out is clear all the way up to the aspect of God's will, what is His will and how do you find God's will.

    A couple of days before the year 2001 I got a call from my sister saying, through sobs, that our mother was given 6 months to live. I had just left her in perfect health the night before. The little lump on her shoulder she thought was a reaction to a sedative she had a few months prior, turned out to be cancer. OUR MOTHER, who almost always ate healthful foods, took her vitamins religiously, exercised regularly, and loved the Lord more than anything else in the world?

    I immediately left my gathering of friends and began the 4 hour trip home. Did I cry out and talk with our Savior? You bet! Honestly, I didn't really know what to say so mostly just cried and listened for something (not sure what). When I met my family at home never had I seen my father so broken or my mother so 'strong'.

    The elders prayed numerous times for her healing. People all over the U.S. were asking the LORD TO SPARE HER LIFE. We As a family were beseeching the Lord to heal her body and rid her and my father of all this pain and suffering. Never did we think that He would answer our prayers in the way He did.

    We spent 8 long months encouraging each other and looking for some sign of rejuvenation in Mom's body. My brother and I both were married that Spring and I and his wife were pregnant with our first children. September 3rd we were all gathered at my parents home. My mother had a seizer or two and was now in a coma. She probably weighed under 80lbs and was hardly recognizable.

    Up on the hill behind their house is a special rock I would often visit to be alone with the Lord. I know the time was near for something to happen as she was hardly able to breathe. On that rock my heart was screaming with hope of her recovery, but my mind and mouth were literally yelling for the Lord to free her and us all from this pain. Within a half an hour she took her last breath. I watched the hand I was holding turn blue and lifeless. The pain and sadness on my Dad's face was like nothing I'd ever seen before and it felt too big to bear. But we had to bear it. The Lord's will was at that point made known to us all in regards to our mother's life. She was healed and rid of all the pain, not only physically but in every aspect of her being.

    I then heard many people talk about 'crying out' and how 'it' works. Never once did I hear any speaker tell any story other than those of success and God bringing someone to health and safety. So, did I not 'cry out' good enough for God? What good did it do anyway? Why didn't 'it' work for me and my family? --

    It did 'work' for me. The Lord sustained her life long enough to meet my husband and feel our first child kick in the womb. Only selfishly could I wish her back here in our lives. After she has met the Savior face to face do you think she would even consider her life here on earth? Death is so very ugly yet God's will was accomplished through her life/death and it is beautiful. Yes, we miss our mother but this is a different kind of 'success' story. God heard and answered our cry. He went far beyond what any of us ever though or imagined even though it wasn't the direction any of us thought or wanted Him to choose.


    I didn't have the time to post yesterday because of being out of the house all day but yesterday marks 6 years. I no longer cry myself to sleep EVERY night, it's down to once a week now. But I sure do think of her most days. When I am trying to cook and need someone to help me out. When my children have a birthday or come to know the Lord as their Savior, or loose their first teeth or my children ask me what it was like for me when I was little and I can't remember the details correctly, or maybe when I want to go shopping or just go out to coffee/tea (she didn't drink coffee), Or maybe each time I have given birth... Those times is when I miss her the most, when I am living my everyday life.

    Enough for now...

    Andi Kristyne swinging in Great Grandma's swing

    Todd and Andi having their own little picnic-

    Nate and Todd fishing when we went camping the other weekend-

    Nate asked me to make him a cowboy and take some pictures-

    The kids went outside in the rain here in August and then...

    And then came in for Peach Tea Lattes
      

    Life doesn't get any better than this.  These guys keep it so fun around here.  If anyone wants 'purpose' in life, just....

Sunday, 19 August 2007

  • Ketch'up' time!!

    The kids have been into building lately, anything and everything.  Nate made an airplane, a bike jump, and is working on a house.  We went to Home Depot and got some nails of their own and it's been super 'busy' since.



    Below the kids are trying out their new jump.  It actually worked quite well.  Nate even gets some good air.


    Andi just prefers to 'jump' over because her bike is too tippy. 

    Dad arrived just in time to 'help' them finish their jump and make it SAFE.

    It is also fair time again so we tackled the animal barns and a ride or two, ate some 'fair food' and came home exhausted.  It was an awesome family day.
        
    We took the kids to the skate park here in our little town and they had a ball.


    Here is Hal going off the steps at full speed.

    Nate getting ready to head down the ramp.

    Andi, doing what mommy said, "CCHHHEEEEEEESE"!!!

    Whoever said pink and red don't really go together?  Pretty dress up girl going to play with her brothers at the track.


    Andi Kristyne got her first hair cut.  Out of necessity because she twirls the back into knots so bad the only option is to cut them out.

    This mommy and her babies come to visit us here in our backyard very often.  We are so spoiled...
           

Saturday, 28 July 2007

  • Cousins!!!

    We had a family reunion for my mom's side of the family here at my house and so my brother his wife (who is my husbands sister) and their four children flew out from Ohio.  Nate's oldest sister came down from Seattle and so we did a grandkids picture for Grandma.  Man, trying to get any of them looking at the camera...  It was super fun.  Grandma had her little bag of 'treats' ready for the kids who sat still and smiled without their finger up their nose...  You know, all the fun kid stuff to do when one is bored. 


    These below are my brother (And Nate's sister's) kids:  Jan, Alec, Anne (with the pigtails) and Patagonia (or Pati).

    We have Pati in the front, my Darbi in the middle, and Sonjia bringing up the rear.

    The four in this picture are Nate's oldest sister's kids:  Elise, Trianna, Tate (laying down) Simone and Sonjia.

    Nate's sister Kristi (my brother's wife) and her four kids.



    Twas fun to be with family for a whole week and a half. 

Friday, 06 July 2007

  • Some Freedom fun!!

    Every year we since we were married we have taken a family picture on the 4th of July and however it turns out we put an 8x10 on our wall (however casual).  Here is this years:



    Nate took the four oldest for a little trip and I got to spend some time cleaning up the house or whatever.  Darbi fell asleep on our bed so I took advantage of the time and took a few shots.

     
     


    Now just some fun fireworks before bed.






Sunday, 24 June 2007

  • Cowgirl fun

    A good friend gave Andi these little black cowgirl boots and she looooves them.  They make her little feeties a little red and she can't go up to the slide very well because they slip off the climbing bars, but won't take them off!! I caught her up on the logs there watching the other kids swing and play, very content to just watch.  So I took advantage of time here with the little cutie and we had a mini 'photo shoot'. 





    A little bit of color.


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