Faith

I was reading some of the conference talks from the April 2012 session.  I came across this quote from Henry B Eyring, "If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions, we can choose the right with the guidance of the Spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape and guide our lives if we choose it. And with prophets revealing to us our place in the plan of salvation, we can live with perfect hope and a feeling of peace. We never need to feel that we are alone or unloved in the Lord’s service because we never are. We can feel the love of God. The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up. And He always keeps His word."
I just thought it was such a comfort to know that when we have faith and our going through hard trials in our lives that the Lord will have angels on our left and our right to bear us up. 

Paleo

So my hubby and I have decided to try and get healthy.  Not neccesarily get skinny but get healthy.  My brother Josh came over to my mom's house about six months ago and was all the rage about Paleo.  He said that he had just read a book by Robb Wolf called the Paleo Solution.  Apparently the whole firestation shift he was on was trying to be healthy and was all for Paleo. So needless to say I read the book myself and found it quite interesting and it makes a whole lot of sense.  It basically is cutting out all grains and dairy.  Did you know that cows that eat grass naturally produce milk, and cows that are fed grains have to be pumped full of hormones to produce milk.  Gross right.  It takes us back to our ancestors who lived in the Paleolithic era and were hunters and gatherers.  When they look at the skeleton's from those who lived during that time compared to those who lived during agriculutre the comparisons are amazing.  I have been doing the Paleo diet for over a  week now and I have to say I do feel a lot better.  I don't feel bloated and gross.  My stomach doesn't hurt and I am not so tired.  My hubby is already down 15 pounds, his blood perssure has dropped significantly, and he already doesn't snore near as much or loud, and the biggest plus is that he doens't pass gas the way he used too.  I know TMI but it's great for me and my kids that this has changed (if you know what I mean.)  It really is amazing.  I would reccomend this approach to anyone.  Rob says to give it 30 days and then after that live it 80-90 % of the time and you will be HEALTHY.  So my hubby and I are giving it the 30 days.  I thought I would blog about it along the way and kind of blog about what I eat for the day. 

Yesterday for breakfast I had watermelon and a handful of almonds

Lunch was leftover steak and half of a sweet potato and a pear

I snacked on blueberries and almonds

Dinner was a delicious combination of onions, tomatoes, garlic, zucchinni, basil, and chives mixed with eggs.  It was too die for.  I had the leftovers for breakfast this morning. 

For lunch today I am having ceviche

Dinner will be seafood chowder.

There are a million recipes online for the Paleo Solution so we try and mix it up!

Tomorrow night I am going to try an orange chicken recipe.  My kids are also snacking on fruits and veggies instead of granola bars full of high fructose corn sugar and potato chips. 

I do have to say when El Charro opens up I will have to eat there at least once a month though. After all I come from Rogers blood. LOL! :)

Warner Lucille Coplen

I wanted to write down the experience of Warner Lu coming into the world so she could always come back and read this someday.  When I found out I was pregnant with Warner I was so estatic.  Her daddy and I had been waiting for another little child for a long time.  We had experienced many ups and downs along the way.  We had gotten pregnant two times before you came but unfortunately they ended in miscarriage.  So when I found out I was pregnant with you I was so excited but at the same time scared and nervous.  I really wanted you to make it past that 13 week mark.  I remember going to my 13-14 week appointment and Dr Beck was sick so he wasn't there to do my ultrasound, I was so sad that I may not get one because I really just wanted to know that everything was ok and you were growing properly.  So Christie the nicest nurse ever decided she would try and find you and make sure you were ok for me.  She started moving the wand all over on my stomach and she couldn't find you.  Immediately I started to panic and tears started to come out of my eyes.  I was so sure I would have to be told the bad news again.  When Christie saw how upset I was she told hold on let me get Dr Tutt so he can take a look.  I lay there on the bed waiting for them to come back in and tears are starting to stream down my face now.  I said a quick prayer in my head to my Heavenly Father to make everything be ok.  After what seemed like an eternity Dr Tutt came in and put the wand thingy on my belly and he found you instantly.  I felt a rush of emotion come over me.  I was so HAPPY and THANKFUL to my Heavenly Father for giving you to me.  Both DR Tutt and Christie said wow those are some long legs, and I knew right then you were mine and you were a Coplen. 
     The next months of the pregnancy went really well and I was so excited to get to meet you.  Deep down I knew you would be a girl becuase I had this feeling.  Sure enough we had more than one ultrasound to confirm you were a girl for sure (only because Tillman was also going to be a girl but well ya you know your brother is not a girl) once Dr Beck gave me the ok to buy pink I was so excited.  I knew I was going to have to schedule you to be born a week early if you didn't come before that due to the CRAZY summer that lie ahead.  Uncle Ty would be home on June 21st and aunt Mo and Lance would be married on July 17th, and Dr Beck was scheduled to go out of town and I didn't want him not to be there for the delivery. So I scheduled to have you exactly one week early on June 18th.  Well when June 18th rolled around I got a call from the hospital the night before saying we are too full here and you can't come in today, and we will call you when we have a bed available.  So needless to say we were sad and a little anxious that it was just not going to happen.  Then the next day around 3:30 pm I got a call that they had a bed available and to get there as soon as possible.  So we dropped Tillman off at grandma and grandpa Cal's house and called Kennadee who was at the Barn helping Daniel coach volleyball and told her that grandma and grandpa would pick her up and off to the hospital your daddy and I raced.  We got there and checked in, and I was so excited I forgot to eat anything and so I knew I would be so hungry after I had you because you can't eat once you get all hooked up.  They got me hooked to the pitocin around 5:00 pm and about an hour to an hour and half later I asked for my epidural.  In between this time DR Beck came in to check me as he was still at the hospital and had just delivered another baby.  It was a very rigorous check and after it actually broke my water.  I told the Nurse it broke my water and I don't think she believed me, when the new nurse came in I told her and she checked and sure enough my water had broken.  Not long after this your Grandma Theresa and uncle Wade showed up.  Eventually Wade left and Grandma Theresa stayed.  I was watching the Bachelorette on the tv. It was Jef and Emily's season. We kept calling Grandma Pommie and aunt Mo and we didn't think I would progress very fast so we told them to wait until I was around a 7 or 8 and then head up.  Well I was at a 4 and then an hour later Dr Beck came in and said you are at an 8 so we called them to tell them to come up. Right about that time I felt I needed to throw up, Dr Beck came over and wiped me off with a towell, he is the best Dr ever. He then left and came back in about 10 minutes later and said you are ready. It only took a couple of pushes. So about 10 minutes later at about 1:14 am out you came.  You weighed 8 lbs 15 oz and were 22 inches long.  You were huge. No wonder why I was so uncomfortable.  I was so excited and so happy you were here.  You were so beautiful.  Like literally beautiful.  Of course I started to cry because I couldn't believe you were actually here.  I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for allownig me to be your mama.You had the cutest daintiest nose and beautiful eyes.  Unfortunately Grandma Pommie and aunt Mo didn't make it in time but they got there about 20 minutes after you were born and were so excited.  Grandpa Cal, Kennadee and Tillman were there too and they were so excited to see you.  You were loved so much.

Let your light SHINE

I feel like the older I get the more non confrontational I have become. I used to be able to say anything about the way I felt and really not care. I feel like the older I have become I kind of hide how I feel or I don't say things I want too. I try to take the middle of the road and not put myself out there to express how I feel on every subject. I think there are times to take the middle ground and then there are times when you do need to stand up and say how you feel. In today's world I see so many people rant off on whatever they want whether it is offensive or not. It seems to be normal for people to disregard God and have little or no regard for him in anything in life. When this happens everyone just seems to say nothing or just figure that is that person's right. But then when someone stands up for God and is vocal about God's commandments or acknowledges Him in something they are suddenly close minded and get bashed for their views. I can't tell you how many times I have witnessed this on facebook, the media, blogs, etc. So I just want to say that I LOVE GOD and I see HIM in all things. I believe he created this EARTH we live in. HE loves us and he wants us to come unto him. HE is OUR Heavenly FATHER. I am so thankful I have generations of family members that raised their children to know and LOVE GOD. Morals in this country keep getting worse, but for all the bad there is, GOOD and it also prevails. From now on I am not going to keep my thoughts about GOD inside I am going to let my light shine. There is no GREATER Power on Earth than the Power of GOD. This life is not always easy and I have made so many mistakes and will continue to do so but I will never DENY GOD or the LOVE I have for HIM.

New Camera!!! Lots of Pictures Beware!

So I got myself a new camera and I am so in love with it and so excited. I have always wanted a really nice camera to take pictures with and I finally got one. Here are some of the pictures I have taken since I got it! :) Who knows maybe I will get really good at it and one day be taking pictures for you. :) I am trying to talk my sister in to letting me take her engagement pictures. Let's see if that really happens.

I also love this time of year, it is my absolute favorite! I love the Fall with the nice weather and all of the Holidays. It puts me in such a good mood.

Summer Fun

Just some random pictures of the past week. We went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Grandpa and Tillman had so much fun together. Grandpa got down his gun, (Tillman's eyes got huge with excitement) let Tillman play with his tractors, and even got out of his chair on his knees to box with Tillman. My grandpa is the BEST EVER. I would put my grandparents up against anybody else's for THE BEST GRANDPARENTS EVER! Mine would win hands down. :) The other picutres are of Kenn and Till in the Walmart parking lot. (we were waiting for Randy, he left the keys somewhere inside of Walmart, I really don't use Walmart as a backdrop for my kids pics) Who would have thunk you can have so much fun in the parking lot. LOL. My kids are growing up way too fast and I want time to stop.

Kennadee was supposed to have her first softball game on Thursday but it got cancelled because of the heat wave we have had this week. Let's hope for some cooler weather, so she can play her scheduled games next week.

So Excited

I am so excited and my heart is over joyed because my husband Randy is going through the Temple for the first time on Saturday. I am so happy for him. Then the following Saturday we get to be sealed along with our children for time and all eternity. When I think about how long I have waited for this day it truly is nothing compared to eternity. I love my family so much and I would never want to be seperated from them even after death. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I am thankful for all of the blessings my Heavenly Father bestows upon us.

Oh yeah and on another awesome note, my Kennadee Addison the 6th grader made the 8th grade softball team. She amazes me everyday with how awesome she is. She always has such a great attitude! Tillman on the other hand has been getting in trouble at school. Yeah yesterday he told his teachers to shutup, and threw a tantrum..... NO NOT MY TILLMAN.. COULDNT BE... I wonder where he gets that from. :) I told him if he continues to act that way he is not going to be able to play T-ball. We will have to wait and see if he actually listened to me and if he will be nice at school. Tell me how can I have two kids that are so opposite? LOL! I love them both! I think with Tillman he teaches me how I need to be patient and he tests my last nerve too. :)

Will post pictures from the Temple after the big day.

Back to School

Tillman and Kennadee 1st day of school pictures for this year. They are both growing like weeds and getting way too old already. Kennadee started middle school and of course she was so nervous last night. Her daddy gave her a father's blessing and I know it made her feel so much better. I love that he is able to do that for her. We said another prayer this morning before she left. I know she will have a great day. :) I know the Lord loves her. She knows it too. :)

Poor Kennadee

Poor Kennadee. He always hogs the whole bed! :)

FOREVER

Ok so it has been forever since I have posted anything, but I have decided to start posting again. Let's see if I can actually stick to it this time. :) This summer has gone by so fast for us. Tillman already started preschool and Kennadee starts school next Monday. She is really excited to be starting middle school (where does the time go). Jake and Kristin got married on July 1st and we had so much fun celebrating with them in Harvey ND. It was by far the most fun wedding I have ever been too.
P.S. I got my dress to zip!! LOL :)

Makenna & Tillman

Ringbearer and Flower girl

My tomboy Kenn Dawg!

The wedding party trailer

IN LOVE

Seth, Heidi, Mom, Jacob, Mareen, and Joshua

TOO CUTE! :)

Jakey, Caden and Kennadee

My mom and her 1st baby

Randy bustin a move.

Me, Jake, Tex, Mo and the Stowers getting LOW!

My beautiful Kennadee

bridesmaid, groom, bride, taller bridesmaid! :)

FAMILY

Tillman & Jacob

Jakey

Kristin and Makenna

Randy, grandma, & Shelly

The BOYS!

Seth, Kamber, April & Makenzie

Randy and Cal cutting chicken

Kennadee's 9th Birthday

Last Sunday was Kennadee's 9th Birthday! I cant believe my little girl is getting so old. We celebrated her party with everyone. My brother's were down from Washington and she had such a good time! April and Caden came down too and it was so great to see them all and for Kennadee to have them all here on her birthday. Kennadee's favorite gift was the Warner Jersey from my mom and dad. She got so excited when she opened it she screamed and squealed. Here are some pics from her special day!

Believe

We took a trip up to Williams, and got to take a ride on the Polar Express! It was so fun and the kids loved it. Kennadee especially loved it she was so excited when the "Real Santa" gave her the silver bell and she could hear it ring. She was so happy! She said I BELIEVE MOM! I would highly reccomend it to anyone. It was well worth it and Williams was so pretty with all the snow and lights. I hope we can do it again next year!

We also went to a deer petting zoo and that was a blast too. The deer really liked Kennadee!! Here are some pictures of our trip. Enjoy!