Gratituesday Archives | Page 15 of 40

Gratituesday: Last Minute Getaway

November 5, 2012 by Laura 17 Comments

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Wow, what a whirlwind.

On Wednesday of last week, my husband was informed of a soccer recruiting trip in St. Louis…and was asked by the head coach, “I know this is late notice, but is there any chance you can go?”

It was a great opportunity for Matt to watch and visit with potential players for York College (where he coaches). And since soccer game season ended last week, we actually had the weekend fairly open. For the next few hours, we went over and over details – deciding whether or not he should go, and if so, who he should take with him.

Should Asa go so that he could have one on one time with Dad? Or maybe one of the other boys? Or maybe both older boys? How about all the boys? Or maybe none of the boys?

I didn’t even consider going. I am crazy far behind on work since this fall has been so busy, plus I have several big projects in the works (now don’t you just wish I could tell you what those are?!). Matt figured if he took some or all of the boys, I could get some focused computer time in, and it would be great all around.

The only problem was – while we discussed it, prayed about it, and slept on it…none of the options sounded good to me. Thursday morning, I was weepy, irritable, and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why. For goodness sake, having all or most of the boys gone for the weekend would give me hours of quiet time to work! It’s just what I’ve needed during the past few months!

It wasn’t until Thursday afternoon, when Matt was looking over more of the details of the hotel accomodations, and other aspects of the trip, that we realized what a family friendly trip this would be. Suddenly, without thinking, I said, “Why don’t I just go too?”

At that moment, every single bit of anxt I had about the weekend fell away. Wouldn’t you know it…all that yuck I was feeling about sending my boys off for the weekend wasn’t sadness over potentially missing them – it was lack of peace! God was trying to give me an answer, but I wasn’t listening. At least it only took a few hours this time for me to figure out what God wanted. (Sometimes he has to tell me things for years before I hear Him. I’m sure glad He’s so patient.)

Long story longer – after a whirlwind of packing and tying up loose ends, all six of us left for St. Louis Friday morning.

While I thought going on a trip would stress me out, I felt nothing but calm the entire time we were gone. (It was that peace God was waiting to give me.) Matt went to dozens of soccer games, spoke with players and parents, and made many great connections that will be great for upcoming soccer seasons at the college.

In the meantime, the boys and I swam, worked out in the fitness room, watched movies, and played basketball at the hotel court. (Why yes, it was a very nice hotel.) Believe it or not, I was even able to work a little on my projects on the laptop. And we all got to hang out with Dad when he came back in the evenings.

Here we all are out for dinner on Saturday night. So much fun!

God always knows just what we need, doesn’t He? I sure do love it when I listen.

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Gratituesday: A Change in Seasons

October 29, 2012 by Laura 12 Comments

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Now that soccer season is over, our family should now have all kinds of free time on our hands.

Haha, that may be one of the funniest sentences I’ve ever written.

But compared to the busyness of soccer season – now that Matt isn’t scheduling his life around college practices, games, and road trips – and now that our days aren’t dictated by which boy has a game to play or referee at what time – I find myself taking a relaxed sigh of relief.

Some of the projects that have taken a back seat to the soccer schedule can now be pulled out and worked on. Some of the ministries we have felt called to do can now be executed. The people we have wanted to have over and spend time with? We might be able to fit that in a little more easily now.

Soccer season is fantastic – and because of our involvement with soccer in the community and at our local Christian college – we feel that soccer in and of itself is a ministry that our family is blessed to be a part of. We love being able to be around so many families and college students. Matt’s ability to coach young kids and young adults alike is quite a gift. (I love watching him coach.)

But today Matt was able to help an elderly friend pack his home to move – and since he didn’t have to be back in time for soccer practice – he could stay until the job was finished. Tonight we got to go to the college to support our men and women’s opening basketball games – just because we wanted to. This Sunday, we get to start hosting High School Huddle again.

I love how different seasons provide different opportunities. And I love how the changes bring refreshment. Are we going to be less busy now? Probably not. But our involvement with people will be a little different than it has been during the past few months, and I find myself looking forward to it.

And maybe, just maybe, I am just a little bit relieved not to have to make any more trips out to the soccer complex to drop off, pick up, or cheer on a team…until the spring season starts. Then I’ll be all over it!

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Gratituesday: The Completed Living Room

October 22, 2012 by Laura 33 Comments

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Remember two years ago when Matt and his dad tore into our living room so that they could insulate our walls?

After they tore out the lath and plaster, they sprayed in some awesome foam insulation, and then put up dry wall. And of course, they got all that mess cleaned up and put the living room furniture back where it was supposed to be.

At that point, the project kind of came to a halt. That’s because all Matt does is sit around all day watching TV.

I am so totally big fat kidding.

The guy is an extremely hard worker and finds himself with more to do in a day than he typically has time for. Plus, the outside of our house has needed painting, so in the warm months, he works on that project instead of indoor projects.

Slowly but surely, Matt textured all of the walls, then painted all of the walls, then put up and painted the trim. It has been a work in progress for quite some time. But a couple of weeks ago, we were finally able to hang curtains and call the room “finished”.

Now, just for added “aaaahhhh” effect, go back up and look at the “during” pictures.

And now…

Isn’t it beautiful!!!

I love the wall colors we picked (gold and raspberry). Those colors were actually picked by a great friend of mine who has the decorating gift. I clearly do not have that gift. If it were up to me, the wall would have been a very exciting shade of…off white. ;) We found a great new rug that is a perfect match. And another friend helped me pick out sheer curtains.

Now, the laptop isn’t a living room decoration, but if you look over to the right of the picture, you will see that Asa, our 15 year old, was doing his Algebra 2 lesson this afternoon when I snapped this shot. I’m sure he’s pleased to have his feet in the picture.

I can’t tell you how great it feels to have this project completed! Each time I walk into the room, I just have to stop and stare for a moment. (Not at Asa’s feet – but at the warm, pretty colors.)

I’m thankful for my hard working husband and my beautiful living room – and sure – even for Asa’s feet. :)

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Gratituesday: Homecoming Weekend

October 15, 2012 by Laura 19 Comments

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I look forward to it…long for it even. Homecoming weekend here at York College always brings lots of house guests, soccer games, and festivities. All throughout the weekend, we run into so many friends that we love catching up with. Often, we don’t know who will be coming, so bumping into people we love all throughout the weekend is always so much fun!

One of the highlights of this weekend was that Matt was able to talk his former YC roommate – the best man in our wedding – into making the trip from Texas. They played soccer together, traveled to church camps together during summer breaks, and have been wonderful friends from the time they first met. Having him here for the weekend was fantastic. The only thing that would have made it better is if his family could have joined him. Next year. (Cindy, that was a hint.) :)

Here they are after playing in the alumni soccer game. Watching my guy play in that game is a highlight of my year – probably because it is a highlight of his. Why yes, he did score a goal that day. :)

Before all the running around began, we were able to sit in the living room and play games together. Love this.

I had the most fun making meals for all of our guests. I’m thankful I had so many meals made up ahead of time so that I was able to relax and enjoy my company. Our friend Lisa was celebrating her birthday while she was here, so the Cake Boys rose to the occasion. That episode will be coming soon, I’m sure.

Lisa loved the cake. Well, we all did, as a matter of fact.

The hugs, the visits, the fun – they all filled me up and left me refreshed. I am so thankful for all of the wonderful people God has put in our lives to encourage and sharpen us.

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Gratituesday: Family On a Mission

October 8, 2012 by Laura 25 Comments

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I can not tell you how thankful I am to have such grown up kids who are so willing to help.

Since we were sick last week, we got pretty behind on day-to-day tasks, plus we have several projects we’d like to finish before our company comes on Wednesday night.

As our strength has slowly come back and we are getting back to normal (whatever the “Coppinger normal” is) – the to-do lists are being made and we are on a mission. The house is being whipped into shape, and so far, I haven’t heard anything but a willing, “Okay, Mom” as I’ve handed out jobs. (Oh if they would always obey without arguing…)

If you have a household of little ones right now, I really want to encourage you to take heart! As they get older, and if you work with them now to train them to be helpers, you will be amazed at the work load they can take on once they are a little older.

They may not always see what needs to be done and do it without asking (says the lady who lives with four male children who will forever and a day step over piles of laundry without ever once thinking about the fact that the clothes may be theirs and that they should pick them up and put them away for Pete’s sake). And the cleaning may not always be done the exact way I would like it to be done. But wow, can they tackle a job and take a load off my shoulders when asked!

Here are the cookies Malachi and I worked on together while the older boys were working on upstairs projects. (Yay! The summer/winter clothes are finally sorted and put away!) While Malachi cut cookie dough into pumpkins, apples, and leaves, I worked on Lasagna Casseroles. Hooray for multi-tasking!

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Gratituesday: Spanish

October 1, 2012 by Laura 21 Comments

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If I felt like being cute and clever, I’d write some of this post in Spanish, just to impress you. However, as we all know, I struggle mightily with speaking anything but English. And actually, depending on the busyness of my day, sometimes my English doesn’t even come out very clearly. Bless my family’s heart for translating my well meaning but oft times meaningless garb when I’m in the midst of doing too many things at once. (I’m a master of not finishing sentences and making my family guess where in the world I’m asking them to go put the…)

Which is why I’m so thankful for the fact that my boys are learning to speak Spanish through Rosetta Stone. It’s pricey software, no doubt. But we are so thankful we invested in this for our kids. It has been a fabulous tool. In fact, Justus now sometimes speaks more Spanish than English – just because he enjoys it so much. Matt understands what he’s saying, and so does Asa (who is on his second year of learning the language). Me? Well, slowly I’m actually beginning to pick out a few words so that sometimes I can shock him by actually answering his questions that he asks entirely in Spanish.

Sometimes.

I mean, I have a time or two accidentally told him that we are having blue for breakfast or that it is cheese o’clock. Need I remind you that foreign languages are not my gift?

As a home school mom, I am thankful that I don’t have to be a master of all subjects in order for my children to receive a great education. The resources available are fantastic, and Rosetta Stone is just one example.

Now if I can just keep up with my kids. ;)

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Gratituesday: September and Still Standing

September 24, 2012 by Laura 18 Comments

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I ran into a friend at the soccer complex Saturday, and her question to me as I headed with my boys to our van cracked me up: “Why are you leaving? Don’t you live here?” Ha! Yeah, that about sums it up. :)

I try not to whine too much (or too loudly). Forgive me if it seems like I complain about soccer season. I truly love soccer games and practices and watching the birds begin to fly south while I’m at the soccer field and running back and forth from the soccer fields to drop off boys to referee games and coming home from games to scarf down a quick meal so that we can head back to the soccer field again or packing food so we can eat during half time…

I’m serious. Supporting our York College soccer teams and participating in the “Rec-League” with our boys is so stinkin’ much fun! I can’t stay away, and if YC has away games, I try as hard as I can to watch the games online.

But yes, August through the end of October is just a little bit hectic for us. (I was actually trying to finish the newest eBook project I’m working on by November. I’m pretty sure that is not going to happen.)

So today, I’d like to give a little shout out to God. We’re heading toward the end of September – and I’m still standing. How about that?! Through umpteen jars of applesauce, dozens of soccer games, and countless stinky shin guards and missing soccer socks – I am surviving.

Better than that, I’m lovin’ it.

Now, just make sure you don’t open our living room closet if you come over and we’ll all get along just fine. (That’s where our cleats and shin guards are kept. You don’t want to go there. Phew!) ;)

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Gratituesday: Reading Time

September 17, 2012 by Laura 46 Comments

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I have always enjoyed spending time reading to our boys. But during the past two weeks, reading time has become my favorite part of the day.

Two years ago, we read Little Britches together, by Ralph Moody. It is a true story, told by Ralph about he and his family and all of his adventures growing up as a little boy on a ranch. We all enjoyed the book a lot at that time, but Malachi was still pretty little and had a hard time following the story (and being quiet so that the rest of us could follow the story!).

Now, with our boys ages 7, 10, 12, and 15 – we are reading book two in the series by Ralph Moody, called Man of the Family.

I’m not even sure where to begin with my gushing. This book is so, so good. We are all captivated by it and have a hard time putting it down each night so that we can get to bed at a decent time. And I love that it is a book that all four boys are enjoying. (For the record, I believe girls will enjoy this book too. I think that this is safe to say because I am enjoying this book very much, and I am a girl .) ;)

Beyond the overall enjoyment of the storyline, I am loving what this reading time is providing. Since we are in the middle of our busiest season of the year, it has been so great to have this time when we are all crashed out on the couches reading together at bedtime. Then, after reading time comes prayer time. Then after prayer time comes a great discussion or just random Coppinger silliness – or maybe a little bit of both. (Because we can’t just sit and be serious for too long, you know.) :)

I love it all. This time to relax and connect with my boys at the end of the day has been wonderful.

(Shoot, I just realized I should mention that while I highly recommend all of Ralph Moody’s books, there is some occasional bad language. I edit as I read, and either keep moving or use it as a teachable moment.)

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Gratituesday: The Hair Cut Conversation

September 10, 2012 by Laura 25 Comments

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This morning, I found myself growing grumpy with stress. I hate it when I do that to myself (and to my family). As if letting myself become tense and overwhelmed really helps me get through the day? Um….nope. And yet, as I was reading World History to the boys, in the back of my mind I was creating a long “to-do” list of everything else I needed to get done. In doing so, not only did my school time with the boys become not fun, my tension level kept increasing. (Why? Why do I do this to myself?)

One of the items on my “to-do” list: Give Matt a Hair Cut . It needed to be done before he left for his soccer team pictures at 2:45. But before that I needed to do this and that and that and this (Blah, blah. You don’t want to hear about my to-do list.)

By the time I finally broke away from my other tasks and met Matt outside for his hair cut, I had worked myself into a bit of a crazed mental frenzy. I gave him a half smile and admited to him that I was feeling like a bit of a basket case. I’m sure he loved handing over the scissors once I’d confessed that. ;)

He (bravely) sat down and we began the hair cut. I’ve done this cut plenty of times, so it only took about twenty minutes from my “busy schedule”. Guess what I accomplished during that time? Yes, a hair cut. But guess what else? I got to have uninterrupted conversation with my husband. Now there’s something that hasn’t happened for a while.

It was just what I needed. Time to reconnect. Time to process. Time to shift my focus off of myself and onto my husband. I suddenly became very thankful that this chore was on my “to-do” list.

And shucks, as an added bonus, we saved money on a haircut too. What a deal. ;)

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Gratituesday: Double Rainbow

September 3, 2012 by Laura 27 Comments

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Happy Gratituesday! Time to take just a moment to pause during all of our Funky Fresh Kitchen fun to reflect on what we’re grateful for. :)

Check out what we got to see tonight…

Matt and I have been super busy all day long. I think we kinda forgot we were supposed to take a day off on Labor Day. ;)

When Malachi called me to the door tonight to, “Hey, come see!” I really struggled to get up from the computer to see what he was talking about. I was in “writing mode” and didn’t want to be interrupted. But, everyone else went running, and Malachi was quite insistent that, “Sorry, I know you’re working, but you should come see this.”

I made myself stop, and no doubt, I don’t regret it. How rare to see a double rainbow – and we were able to enjoy it for several minutes!

If that’s not Funky and Fresh, I don’t know what is. Go God!!

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