What? The Coppingers have decided to move? Well, it could be stated that God decided for them…
We’ve been in York, Nebraska for 21 years. I know this because Elias was 4-months old when we moved to York from Colorado Springs. Now he’s 21.
And, of course, our family has grown just a tiny bit during these years.
We don’t even have a current family photo because just a month after that one was taken, it became outdated when this guy was born and moved in with us:
Short Family History
Matt and I went to York College (now York University) starting in 1991. We married in 1994, had Asa in 1997, then moved to Colorado Springs in 1998. Justus and Elias were born in Colorado, then God moved us back to York in 2002. For us, it felt like going home.
We moved into this house, and it felt enormous. Because it was/is.
Malachi was born here in 2004. I started my blog in 2007. We homeschooled here, hosted here, grew here, and loved here. Our boys grew up and started to move on. God filled our home with more children. Two of our boys got married. God kept adding children to our family.
As our family grew, we found that as big as our house was, it no longer met our needs. Could we make it work? Absolutely. God always provides. But I longed for a functional dining room. A more practical kitchen. A space in our home that was large enough for all of our family plus all the people we loved hosting.
We just kept squishing people in. It worked and it was beautiful. No one complained about sitting on the floor and up the stairs.
We started talking about building a house – one that was functional, practical, big, and would give us more opportunities for hospitality in the ways we felt called. We spent hours praying over this, planning this, and just when we were getting ready to execute our plans, God put us on pause.
We didn’t know why. We just knew He was doing something big because He made it clear that He was getting ready to expand us.
I was intrigued and excited by this!! And at the same time, I grieved this. We were going to build my dream home – one with a large functional kitchen and lots of room to host gatherings. One with a laundry room, a mud room, and a garage that fit our super-tall Ford Transit. So I kicked and screamed a little bit during my talks with God. I thought He had told us to go ahead with building a house. Did I misunderstand? Did I even know how to listen to Him at all?
He assured me that He loved me, that He was faithful, and that He had something even better for us.
Even better? How was it possible? How could any other house be as good as the one we designed for our needs, much less better than?
As we pressed in to learn more about what God had planned for us and why He halted the groundbreaking for our new house, He started to make a brand new plan very clear: Our family was to move 45 miles east to Lincoln. The biggest reason? That’s where our older kids are. Asa and Eva live there. Justus and Kelsey live there. Elias just graduated from college and had plans to go in that direction. Malachi just graduated from high school and was heading to Lincoln.
We want to do life together. We want our 25-year-old to know our 1-year-old. We have a total of 11 kids now – and they are in two separate generations. If we want our kids to be siblings, we need to live close by. And someday, when we have grandchildren, we want to be available to be a part of their lives. With this many littles at home, getting away from York to Lincoln is extremely difficult. Living in the same city provides so many opportunities for us to be together compared to living even an hour away.
So, friends. The Coppingers are moving to Lincoln.
If you didn’t see that coming, rest assured that we didn’t either. But God sure did. He’s had plans for quite some time now, and He’s paved the way so beautifully. Don’t think I won’t cry my way out of this place. This has been my home and where I’ve raised several of our children. This is the town that brought our new set of children to us. Our York people are so dear to us that I can’t bear the thought of driving away.
But remember? God said He was expanding us. We aren’t losing our York people. We’re expanding to become a part of a new community with our current relationships still intact and solid.
We don’t know all of His purposes in this move. We just know that this is what we are to do. So here we go. We’re packing and selling properties and giving things away. And where exactly are we going? What house could possibly fit us all that doesn’t cost a literal million dollars?
Oh, my friends. You won’t believe what God gave us.
To Be Continued…
Squee!! So much joy, excitement and change in your life!
Congratulations on the girls, and on moving.
Very happy for you! God bless you.
Amy G.
Wow!! I can hardly wait to read the rest. Amazing!! GOD is good!!
yes, yes, and YES!! You have been given the ULTIMATE dream (for any parent??)!
Happy Mother’s Day and may God continue His many blessings!
Congratulations and God bless you all the way!
I am laughing so hard right now! I AM SO HAPPY FOR Y’ALL. Happy Mother’s Day!
This is beautiful ?? I can’t wait to hear!!!
Congratulations on the adoption of your precious children, and your upcoming move!
God is so so so good.
Cliffhanger!
This is so beautiful, and a touch painful I’m sure. I’m so glad God knows what he’s doing and has your best in mind. God bless you and you process (both emotionally and physically) this move.
Laura,
Happy Mother’s Day! The dresses are so beautiful. I used to make my daughter and granddaughter’s some clothes. Praise the Lord for the move. Keep us posted. I am excited for you all.
Laura, It is absolutely amazing seeing what God is doing in your life. Mind blowing that you are even raising a second generation of 6 kids (so far)! Like starting all over, mid-life. I am very excited about your upcoming move. Looking forward to seeing what God has done with your living situation.
Wow, that is a big change! I’ve been a reader for years, and just actually shared your news (adoption and move) with my husband… I feel like I know you from years of reading your posts :). Praying for your move and that you are able to grow deep roots in your new home/town.
Ahh!!! I’ve been praying that the Lord would give you more room, an updated kitchen and more space for all the people you love! I believe as you’ve allowed He to expanded the capacity of your heart, He’s now expanding your space in the natural! Praise the Lord for His overwhelming goodness to you Laura!! I can’t wait to hear more!
Ahhh so exciting!! I am grinning ear to ear at what God is doing in your family and your lives!! Thank you for bringing us along on this journey. Your testimony to God’s goodness and faithfulness is such a blessing to all of us who are privileged to read it!
So many years of growth, loving, forming and praying! Many more in a new place. I’m so happy for all of you!
Just a beautiful story of God’s goodness and blessings!! The girls are adorable and I have followed you during your journey of fostering and adoption. I know the move will be exciting. I can’t wait to hear how God provided your new home!! ????
I remember this happening to us 40 years ago and at the time, I couldn’t imagine anything better, but I was wrong and God provided a house that far exceeded our dreams!
Yay!! I live in Lincoln and have followed you for almost 12 years! Excited to be neighbors ;)
When do we get to hear the “rest of the story”?!? Excited by the way God has clearly answered your prayers.