Copper Senior Family Photos

Finally, we were able to co-ordinate our schedules and get some photos for my in-laws.  We had a great time.  I always get nervous with people I know thinking what if they don't turn out and we have to do it over again and I've just wasted their time...  But it went well and they got some shots that will work for what they wanted.

Kaytra and I had more time planned to get some further shots but as we were in this lonely part of town (we were the only ones around) this elderly lady was pushing her walker down the sidewalk all alone.  It was cold and she wasn't wearing much so I asked her how she was doing.  She told us she was lost and trying to find her duplex.  We gave her a coat to wear and noticed on her walker was a number.  We called the number and sure enough she had 'went for a walk' and escaped from a nice care home nearby.  They came and got her....  but my point is that we didn't get to finish Kaytra's photos.  We may try again sometime in the near future.  

 

FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADERS

These are out of order but the first one is Nate catching a pass for a touchdown.  Picture two is the ball coming to him for that catch.  Pictures three and four are just action shots during the game earlier on.  He's really improving and getting better and LOVES it.  Todd and he play in the yard everyday but they like to play tackle, forget the flag stuff:).  

These girls and boys are 1st and 2nd graders and during one of the time outs or halftimes when they are supposed to huddle and the cheerleaders come and do their routines.  One of the little boys says to Nate (who is coaching Nate M's team),"  Um... coach Nate, could we not huddle and just go watch the cheerleaders this time?"  Nate was floored, it has already started.  And he's only SIX years old.  

Below is the Hal with her amazing cheerleading.  She LOVES it too:

Halley is quite the cheerleader.  She loves shakin' those pompoms and cheering for Nate.  Andi is learning too and got her own little pink poms for her birthday so she says the cheers right along with the big girls.

When I can figure out how to get pictures in here without it taking 5 minutes per photo to upload I'll post more.  But for now, this took me ALL morning as I hit a wrong button (not sure which one it was) and deleting everything a couple of times.  

We are all battling a sickness of some sort right now so we are home a lot.  Nate ran to a meeting in Seattle as he just couldn't miss it.  He had been trying to get into all of these gentlemen's schedules for the past 4 months and it will mean some more business if things go well.  His brother is driving him so he could lay down in the back seat and look 'rested' by the time they got there.  Good to get this all over with before Trae gets here.

Our FISH

The three oldest kids and I got to go out fishing one day thanks to Grandma for watching the little ones and making their day special too.

Here is Nate with fishing line tied to his life jacket, a hook on the end in the water with a little fish head on the hook.  He was really hoping to catch a big one.  What a little fisherman he is and sooo patient.

This is our catch of the day.  A 26 pounder (I guess that is big).

Melon face here started to get a little goofy after a while.  She started saying she wanted to go home about 30 minutes into the 7 hour trip.
Us all on the trip back just after our big catch.
Todd's usual posing for the camera face.  what a cheerful little man.  He jumped in every place possible on that boat, and then some.  He untied the anchor (which was scary because he could've gotten caught in it and drowned).  Now we know.

Halley's comment after we got home was, "I think I will just let you and the boys go next time mom".

A big thanks to Vince for taking us out all day and making it fun for us all.

MOM

After finishing last years scrapbook and viewing a few of the photos that are going into this years album, Nate realized something; I (Robyn) took 99% of the pictures.  Meaning that I wasn't in 99% of the book and all our memories as a family.

So, the next day I was washing the truck with the kids and he brought out the camera and took some shots.  So, maybe this year the book will contain a little more of 'all' of us and not just 'Mom was their, see, she's taking the pictures'.  

But, of course, I couldn't help but put a couple of Darbi and her shoe fettish on here as well.

Marriage

Nate and I had yet another opportunity to be involved in the marriage of two neat people.  Luke and Allison were married in July and what a fun day, great location, and most of all a Christ-centered day.  He was honored by these two dedicating their lives to each other and service in the everyday things to the Lord.  

Just a couple of shots below from our time with them on their wedding day.

Conversion

For the past few days or so I noticed a struggle in our little Hal.  Everything that she wanted to do it was nearly impossible for her to actually do it, in regards to doing what was right.  

For the past few months Halley has also been talking with us about her need for Jesus and acknowledging Him as the boss of her life.  Nate and I have prayed for wisdom as to whether it was just an emotional 'stage' or whether it was true desire and understanding of what it means to be born again.  (I don't think I fully know the meaning and all the implications of salvation... however we didn't want it to be something that was merely 'popular' to do at this age.)

Anyways, after a pretty rough day yesterday she asked us the question “why can't I be good, and why can't I do what is right', and 'I hear Jesus telling me not to do it but I do it anyway'.  She was understanding about her lost state and that she couldn't 'be good' in and of herself.

We prayed with her and Nate spent some time just sitting with her and asked her to pray all in her own words, whatever she wanted to say.  Her prayer was so precious, so honest, so innocent and full of meaning.  She was LOST and needed a Savior and KNEW it.  

After sleeping on that emotional day she brought it up again the next morning.  “Dad, Mom, I want to make God my boss.  I know that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and I want my heart to be clean.  

Right then we knelt down beside our couch in the living room and she asked Jesus to make her heart clean.  

Later on that day she asked us sort-of under her breath, “So, is Jesus still in my heart, even when I have a bad attitude?”  What an amazing opportunity to tell her of Christ's ever presence inside of her heart and life; now her capability to ask for forgiveness for her sins and to be made clean again.  She was SOOOOO excited, (and when Hal gets excited, it's with lots of exclamation marks). 

What a special day.  I understand a little of what my parents meant when they would say, “it brings us no greater joy than when one of our children makes a wise decision, (or does what is right).”  Just a glimpse of how God must feel when we choose His ways over our own.  His love is so much greater than the love that I have for my children, and that's quite a bit.

Afterwords she wanted to call her little girl friends and tell them all about it.  She called Grandpa's and Grandma's and a few other special people in her life.

One of her comments was, “Now, if I die I will go to heaven and be with Grandma”.  Another piece of our conversation had to do with  the fact that we (christians) will all be in heaven and so even if we die we will still be together.