Visitors

It's been a little busy lately..........Well, a lot busy. We've had some visitors to our house. Scott came to visit for a long weekend to see my mom and play with the girls. I don't know what is most shocking about my brother's transformation the past 7 years........but probably the biggest surprise is how much he truly LOVES and ADORES my girls. It's great. And they LOVE him to pieces and climbed all over him during his visit. Check out these pictures.  They didn't want him to leave!!

And then the Smith's came to town.  We just absolutely adore them and have been smothering them in prayer during this difficult season.  Brooke and Katelyn had so much fun together.  It was just a cute moment to listen to them play and have a sleepover.......I'm glad our kids are the same age!!!

After they were worn out from the park, it was time to go to bed.......well, almost!!!!

And Ashley and Elijah certainly were fast friends too!!!  We had such a great visit and can't wait to see them again soon!!!!!!

Front Row Seats

Aren't front row seats amazing?  You're up close and personal to all the action?  You can sometimes even catch a sneak peak "backstage" to see what is going on behind the scenes....there's something thrilling about being right up front. 

The past month I have had front row seats to one of God's best miracles in my life.  My arms have been outstretched in praise to the miracle we witnessed in saving my mom's life.  It's been a tough few months, I won't lie.  I never doubted God's presence.  In fact, I felt it more than I ever have before.  I remember telling a close friend (who is also going through a difficult season in her life) that I really didn't feel like God was telling me mom was going to be okay---He just kept telling me that I would be okay.  That scared me and comfoted me all at the same time.

But now we are on the other side.  She's cancer free.  She's home from the hospital.  She's healing from surgery.  She's back to walking a couple miles a day.  She's babysitting my kids.  She's even back to being annoyed at my dad----life is truly back to normal.

It was my job while she was hospitalized to keep our friends and family updated through emails.  My mom is probably one of the most amazing people I know.  She clearly touches a lot of lives.  These are snippets from some of the emails I received from her friends:

...humbled
...looking heavenward with huge smiles and overflowing gratefulness in our hearts
....God is SO good, n matter the earthly circumstance
...a walking miracle
...woo-hoo
...thank god
...prayers of praise and thanksgiving for all HE has done
...the news keeps getting better and better
...giving thanks and singing the Lord's praises for the news
...Praise God
...God is AWESOME
...Amazing Grace
...Praising our Great Physician for the outcome of her surgery and that she has done so well.  He is ABLE!!!!!
...I cried tears of joy!  It is  going to be okay
...she's an inspiration



So yes, my arms are oustretched in praise as we humbly give thanks for the outcome we've been given.  God is so good and I'm beyond grateful that I had front row seats to this miracle.

HOPE

Have you ever wondered why God allows us endure hardships?  Every once in awhile I admit that I question God's timing or reasoning.  I know I shouldn't, but I do.  I wonder why my single friends aren't married........I wonder why those who desperately want kids aren't blessed with them........I wonder why little kids suffer and die............those types of things. 

This has been a season of trusting God and learning patience.  A few weeks ago our family heard the dreaded "C" word.  We were shocked and admittedly devastated to hear that the doctor thought my mom had cancer.   I think we all cried the entire weekend.  It wasn't about "why god?" but more of "what will I do without her" mentality.  If I think of it too long, it can still bring me to tears.  She started to pray for hope---and boy is that what God gave her.

Over the past few weeks she has endured a million tests of every kind..........and every single one came back with good news. Sometimes, startling good news.  It was all so surreal and bizarre.  Every test result provided more and more hope.  However, today the cancer diagnosis was confirmed.  Surgery looms ahead.  A tough recovery looms ahead.  But every step along the way God has provided hope.  He continues to do so.  We rejoice that the team of doctors think this is the "best case scenario" she could've had.  We rejoice that if all goes according to plan, they will remove the tumor and she will be cancer free.  We rejoice in so many things.  But right now, most of all, I rejoice in my babysitter getting meningitis.

Huh?

Many of you know Jenni came down with meningitis in December while visiting her family in Texas.  She was so incredibly sick and beyond miserable.  Her recovery was taking such a long time and she was struggling with it on many levels.  Everyone tried to encourage her but not really understanding why God allowed her to be knocked to the ground.  As I told her today, God not only allowed it, but he orchestrated it.  Jenni getting sick saved my mom's life.

Huh?

My mom was supposed to get her annual physical in January.  But Jenni was sick.  So my mom was full time daycare.  Not knowing how long Jenni would be out my mom made her appointment for a day in Feburary when I was off school.  February happens to be "heart health month".  My mom's cholesterol was high.  They wanted to put her on medicine.  She didn't want it.  The doctor sent her for a heart screening of some kind because it was heart month  and the results would dictate the need for medicine.  The screening came back fine for her heart.....but revealed the tumor.  So what does all this have to do with Jenni?  If Jenni had been healthy, my mom would've gone to the doctor in January and the doctor NEVER would've recommended the heart screening.....and the tumor would never have been found until I am sure it was way too late. 

So the next time you are wondering what God's plan really is or how is God going to use any of these hard times you're going through for his glory............just remember Jenni and my mom. 
 Her meningitis was my miracle!

Bringing up girls........

I've been reading a book by James Dobson called, "Bringing Up Girls".  I have a long way to go (who has time to read with two pint sized power houses around?????)  But a few things have caught my eye lately.

"Children are a gift from God and we are stewards of their welfare.  Training up our daughters in this sense implies helping them navigate the cultural minefields hat lie in their paths....it means instilling within them an appreciation for truthfulness, trustworthiness, self-discipline, self-control, generosity, and sweetness of spirit.  It means teaching them modesty, morality, and manners.  That is just the beginning, which is why parenthood is such a daunting responsibility."

Daunting responsibility?  Exactly.  It can overwhelm me.  How do I instill all these core values that I want them to learn?  How do I not jump on everything they do to allow them to experience the world and let natural consequences take hold?  One thing is for sure---I have a lot to learn.  Luckily I have the grace of Jesus to help me and I'm glad that I also have a husband who is willing to let God guide us.  We have a long way to go to learn in giving our parenting over to the Lord.......but we're working on it.  We're so thankful to have found our new church that is just pouring the love of God into our girls.  They talk about Kids World every day---yes EVERY day.  And although it wasn't long ago that Brooke cried to go each week.......she now "pretend calls" Ashley's teacher (Mr Steve) Sunday mornings to tell him to wake up because we're on our way.  And we're blessed to have Jenni in our lives pouring the love of Jesus into the girls every day.  And the fact that her care includes trips to "bible study play time" and "bible study class" each week in addition to the preschool--------our girls are just getting "loaded up on God"and I can't think of anything better that I could ask for.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks........here are some pictures of the ladybug extravaganza!!!

So yes Lord, I need your help to raise these girls!!  Please continue to guide our thoughts, words, and actions in how we parent these two amazing and beautiful gifts from you!!!

Mini Me

Almost two years ago I was very surprised to meet Ashley.  Not because her birth was unexpected---the C-section had been on the books for weeks.  More so, because Ben and I both were almost 100% convinced that SHE was really a HE.  I had felt the entire pregnancy that it was a boy.  Although we suspected our ultrasound tech "slipped" when referring the baby as "her" we still were confident that we were about to meet Josh on that Friday morning........boy, were we surprised to hear, "It's a GIRL!"  I was immediately overcome with emotion as most moms are and couldn't believe I was about to embark on raising sisters.

Although Ashley slept the first six months of her life away, it didn't take long for us to realize that she was my "mini me" in so many ways.  Now that she is about to turn two years old, I truly am at a loss to describe how much she's changed my life.  She has brought so much spunk, attitude, and trouble to it!!!!  But all in a good way.  She really is the most hysterical person I've ever met (and while I think it's adorable now, I know when the teachers start calling I won't think it's so funny).  The way she can look at me and smile just melts me heart.........or tells me to start singing to her.......and which song it can or cannot be......or tells me to stop singing.........or the way she runs through the house with her arms behind her as if she's a ski jumper about to take flight.........or the way she tells her Bible verses and sings "This Little Light of Mine"....or the way she looks at me and says, "Love you mommy". 

Gosh, my little Bo-bash is becoming a big kid.  She filled a hole in my heart I didn't even know I had.  I love you bo-bash!! Have a wonderful birthday!!!

We are blessed

I confess that there are times that I don't really think about how blessed I am.  Do you ever feel that way?  You're just stumbling along take life for granted and then all of a sudden you realize that God has really been good to you.  Lately I've had several of those moments. 

It started when our wonderfully amazing babysitter got sick and all of a sudden she could no longer do anything.  We have felt so bad for her and have continually been praying for her.  But recently I stopped to really, really think about what I would do if I was sick for 5 weeks and unable to care for my kids, spend time with Ben, go to work, and just enjoy life.  Gosh, would my faith be strong enough to keep me going?  Jenni has been such an encouragement to me as she has weathered this storm and continued to focus on God's healing power.........

.......then there is Craig and Jeanne dealing with the adoption of Kelencia and being forced to send their beautiful, amazing, wonderful daughter back to Haiti until the process is completed.  I don't know how I would have the strength to do that.  How do you put your child on a plane to return to a 3rd world country for an unknown amount of time??  And still, Jeanne presses on and all the while, praising God and being reminded of his faithfulness.  If I was in that situation, would my faith be strong enough to keep me going?

........and friends of friends gave birth to their first child yesterday who was born with a heart defect and there is apparently a very small chance that he will survive.  I was reading the mom's blog and the entire time she is pointing to God and believing in the power for a miracle and trusting in Him.  Pregnancy and the emotions that come with it are hard enough.........if I was in that situation, would my faith be strong enough to keep me going?

God is good and I know that Philippians 4:13 is true......I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  This has been Brooke's memory verse the past month at Kids World.  Her and Ashley even have the hand motions down to put with the verse.  Today I reflected on what the verse is really telling us.  Yes, God will be with us in any crisis we might find ourselves in.  He doesn't make our problems go away but He will help us navigate through them.  I'm thankful that today I don't have to deal with a crisis.............and for that, and many other reasons, I am BLESSED.

Put them in a bottle

Do you ever wish you could freeze time?  That what is going on in life is so wonderful, even if entirely simple, and you just wish you could enjoy it forever??  Ben and I find ourselves often watching the girls and asking each other if we could just "put them in a bottle" and keep them this age forever.  I've enjoyed all the stages my girls have gone through but the 18-24 month age is probably one of my favorites.  I love watching them learn about the world and start talking about it.    The Copeland house has been filled with great memories lately and there have been times when my heart could just burst with joy.  I find myself asking God how I was this lucky to get this life.  To be entrusted to care for and nurture these two little girls is humbling at times but the most joyful thing I've ever done (and also by far the HARDEST thing I've ever embarked on!)

We just got back from Disney............had an AMAZING time.

Some of my friends asked if I cried when we got there.  I didn't get it......until we took them to the rope drop (thanks Mandy for suggesting) and I had this moment as the train pulled up, and the girls were in awe watching Mickey get out, that tears welled up in my eyes.  Seriously--how is my life THIS cool? 

Ben and I talked about how we are now the parents creating the family vacation memories our kids will look back on and remember.  I take that quite seriously.  I may not remember all the vacations my parents took us on or remember all the stress it caused them.  But I remember that they took us TONS of places and perhaps that is where my love of travel began.  I can only hope we can continue to provide these memories for our girls.

So here are a few of the magical moments.  We are blessed.

In case you're wondering, the closet of the hotel is SUPER cool.........

Just before Rope Drop

Ashley couldn't wait to see Minnie each and every day..............

This could be my favorite picture of the whole trip.  Brooke and Belle were having this adorable conversation about reading books and Belle was telling Brooke that being a princess is more than just a pretty dress--it's about having a kind heart too.  So cute............

What little princess doesn't love her wand????

Notice that I'm trying to become BFF with Cinderella.  We had breakfast in her castle and it was worth all of it!!!  If you ever get the chance, I definitely recommend!