5 Years

Five years ago today, I married my best friend. Wow, that's hard to believe!

Craig is an amazing husband, and my life would not be the same without him. He is always willing to help around the house and finds jobs to do without being asked. He follows the example Christ set of a humble servant. What a blessing to be able to share every day with him! Happy Anniversary Craig!! I love you more and more each day!!

My wonderful friends who stood by my side
Rebekah, Codi, Bethany, Emily, Melissa, Betsy, Elizabeth, and Mary Brook

First Anniversary: Islamorada
We spent a few days (including our anniversary) in the Keys with Craig's family.

Second Anniversary: Florence
We were in Florence still celebrating the holidays with my family.

Third Anniversary: Gatlinburg
We went to Gatlinburg with Craig's family to celebrate New Year's.

Fourth Anniversary: Florence
We were in Florence celebrating the holidays with my family.

Fifth Anniversary: Jackson
We celebrated our fifth anniversary early with a trip to Asheville.
Tonight we have dinner reservations and a movie planned in Jackson.
(This will be our first anniversary spent just the two of us.)

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
I Peter 4:8

Happy Birthday...

Mom!!

Well, it seems lately I don't have anything to write about except for birthdays. As promised before, I will update on other events soon. (If anyone out there is still reading.) Oh well, now for today's special person.

Today is my mom's birthday. She is one amazing woman, and I'm so thankful to have her as my mom and my friend. She is constantly putting others first and making sacrifices for the ones she loves. She is always there and is willing to drop everything when I need her. What a blessing to have her in my life!! I love you Mom and hope you have a wonderful day!!

Happy Birthday Sissy!!

I know I am behind on my blogging. November passed without one entry. We enjoyed a wonderful 5 year anniversary trip to Asheville as well as fun time with the families over Thanksgiving. I will blog about those events on another day.


Today is a special day for my Beautiful, Extraordinary, Talented, Humorous, Adventurous, Nice, and Young sister. Happy 26th Birthday Bethany!! You make my life more fun.You are full of life and energy. There is never a dull moment when you are around. I am so thankful for the close bond we share and for your constant support.You have always been there for me and know more about me than most people. You know what to say as just the right moment. I know I can count on you for anything. Thank you for always making me laugh. I only wish we lived closer so we could have celebrated tonight. I hope your birthday has been amazing, because that is what you deserve. I love you so much Sissy!! I am so proud to call you my younger sister. You make me smile.

Happy Birthday Luke!

Last week my brother, Luke, celebrated his 30th birthday!! Laura planned a wonderful birthday party for him on Friday night. Craig and I were able to go, and we had so much fun! Luke and Laura planned games for everyone to play with a partner (putt-putt, corn hole, football throw, basketball, airplane, base bowling, soccer, and tennis). The games were very creative, and everyone had a blast!!

Craig and I won the competition

Birthday Breakfast at Cracker Barrel

In honor of Luke turning 30, here are 30 words to describe him:
adventurous, brave, charming, clever, confident, courageous, daring, dependable, easygoing, encouraging, energetic, faithful, friendly, funny, giving, happy, helpful, imaginative, kind, loving, peaceful, pleasant, polite, popular, positive, religious, skillful, talented, thankful, and trustworthy

Birthday Wishes

Happy 29th Birthday Craig!

Just wanted to wish my wonderful husband a Happy Birthday!! God truly blessed my life with Craig, and I am so thankful for him. He is patient, compassionate, thoughtful, humble, and dedicated. He spends long hours at work and comes home willing to help in any way. He doesn't wait to be asked. He sees the need and chooses to serve. He is constantly putting others first. Thank you Craig for showing me the servant heart of Christ on a daily basis. You are amazing, and I love you so much! I hope you have an incredible birthday!!

Sissy

I.LOVE.MY.SISTER.

On Wednesday, I drove to Nashville to catch my flight to Fort Lauderdale. I was thankful that Luke was able to take me to the airport, which allowed us a little time to catch up. I love my family! After a short delay, I boarded the plane, played some games on my iPad, and arrived in Fort Lauderdale. Bethany picked me up, and we began catching up.

On Thursday, I spent the day relaxing at the house. Bethany had to work. I worked on some school things, read a book, took a nap, and played some games on the iPad. That night Bethany had a work event, which she had planned. It was great to see her in action and to meet some of her co-workers. They all had wonderful things to say about her, which were things I already knew. I was so proud of my sissy!!

Bethany took Friday off. She picked up our rental car (the cool blue Mustang), and we spent the day at South Beach. The weather was perfect. The only problem was the wind pelted us with sand. Friday night we went shopping and stayed up late watching Friends. On Saturday, we planned to spend the day at the Everglades. However, it rained all day. We drove around Miami, colored our hair, watched football, and hung out with some of her friends. I had to leave early Sunday morning, which made me sad. The trip was great but just a little too short.

I am so thankful for my amazing sister! I wish we lived closer, so we could hang out more. I miss seeing her whenever I want. However, I am so proud of her. She loves her job and works hard. She is committed and dedicated to City Year, and she is a blessing to this organization. She is independent and out going. She has a great sense of humor and makes others smile. She is supportive and loving. She is my encourager and supporter. She knows what to say when I'm down, and she knows exactly how to cheer me up. I am thankful for my best friend.

Our ride for the weekend

Bethany's CasaRelaxing at the BeachOn my Miami tour
(We are both supporting our teams)

Fall Break

I have been counting down the days until Fall Break. Tomorrow I have a half day of school, and then I am off the rest of the week. I love my job and my students, but I am so excited about the break!! This year Craig was not able to take the time off with me. (He's studying for a big test in a few weeks). Well, I decided I wanted to go somewhere and relax. So, Miami...here I come!! I can't wait to see my sister and hang out for a few days!! I miss her so much, and I'm looking forward to our time together. I will post more about the trip when I return.

The secret's out...

This summer Grandma asked Santa for an early Christmas present. She asked that one of the Copelands would have a baby, so she could be a Great-Grandma again. (This request was also made to make her daughter and son-in-law extremely happy.)

When Bethany and I (as well as the rest of the family) learned the news, we were thrilled. We jumped for joy at the thought of being Aunts. We can't wait to spoil this little child!!


Well, congrats to the lovely couple...


Adam and Cathy, we are so excited for both of you!! We can't wait to welcome baby Copeland in April. We love you!! Aunt Anna, Uncle Craig, and cousin Tucker Bear

College Football

College Football means

lazy Saturdays on the couch

weekly RTR texts from the family

fun arguments with Craig about which team is best

sporting my team's colors as much as possible

yelling at the t.v. and pacing around the room

I love spending my Saturdays decked out in Alabama paraphernalia and watching numerous games with Craig. This is the only sport that I could watch all day. There's just something special about College Football. Here's to a great season!

30 Years Ago...

My parents, along with four other couples and four small children, left for Brasil. Their mission was to spread the love of Jesus and to teach the people about the grace of God. Mission: Accomplished. The work still continues in Brasil, and many lives have been changed.

I have always admired my parents for the sacrifices they made and for their commitment to the Lord. This past weekend we gathered in Fayetteville, Arkansas for a reunion. Four of the five couples on the team made the trip, and six of the fourteen kids were present. As a Brasil family, we have gathered to celebrate reunions at 5 years, 10 years, and 20 years. During the previous trips, I spent most of my time playing with the other children. However, this year I enjoyed sitting around and hearing the stories. We laughed. We had fun. We shared memories of God's provision and his love.What a wonderful weekend!! Thank you Dad, Mom, Rod, Tina, DJ, Deb, Terry, Jenny, Joe, and Jennifer for making a difference in the lives of so many. Thank you for teaching by your example and for allowing God to use you. I pray that I will always listen for God's voice and that I will be willing to go where he leads.

Deb, Mom, Jenny, & Tina

The American with 2 of his Brasilian siblings.
We missed you, Bethany!

On my heart

Brian and Cortney May

Brian works with Craig, so we have become friends with this sweet couple since we moved to Jackson. Brian is a fun guy to be around and always has a joke. Cortney is the type of person who would do anything to help you. They have a precious one year old son, named Jackson. Jackson is such a laid back baby, and he looks just like his daddy. This family's world was turned upside down on Monday.

Early Sunday morning, Jackson went for a walk with his grandparents in his wagon. While on the walk, a dead tree branch fell on him. He was rushed to the hospital and passed away yesterday afternoon. Shock. I just can't wrap my brain around this. I just don't understand. A precious little baby and a tragic accident.

Please pray for this entire family. Also, pray for the families of the children who will receive Jackson's organs. May he save the lives of many.

"Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22

Blessings

Hope you enjoy this song. It's one of my favorites right now.

This is the story behind the song.

Believe me, the words of this song speak volumes.

Thank you God for giving us what we need instead of what we want.

Everything's Better Deep Fried

I thought our house was the state fair on Tuesday night.

Our dear friends, James and Elizabeth, and their sweet little boy, Andrew, came to visit. We spent the day hanging out, catching up, and playing with Andrew. It was a great day. However, the boys will tell you the fun did not begin until later that evening. After dinner, James and Craig decided to deep fry everything in the house. Snickers, Oreos, Reeses, Zingers, Almond Joys...I think you get the picture. The boys had a blast, while Elizabeth and I were a little disgusted by all of their creations. Don't worry, Memphis family, they have decided this will be done again at our next reunion. I will leave you with pictures from the deep frying fun...

James & Craig preparing the batter

The frying begins

A closer lookAll the fried goodiesThis picture is priceless

On a side note: I made a new dessert while James and Elizabeth were in town. It was amazing!! I found it on pinterest, which is my new addiction. Buy a brownie mix and add the eggs and oil, like the directions say. However, do not add the water. Instead, add 1/2 cup of cookies n cream ice cream as well as 1/4 cup of hot fudge topping. Layer half of the batter on the bottom of a 8x8 pan. Then place oreos on top. Last, layer the rest of the brownie batter. The result was amazing!!

Hard to resist

Mary Brook gets Married

Last week, I spent the entire week in Florence celebrating with my very special friend, Mary Brook. Mary Brook and I have been friends since 7th grade. We have shared lots of fun times together, and I'm so thankful for her friendship. For the past three years, she has been living in Seattle, so we have not seen each other too often. I was so excited to spend the week with her!

Well, the week was very busy with wedding activities...

• Tuesday: Bridal Shower at Melissa's
• Thursday: BBQ dinner at Brad & Myra's
• Friday: Bridesmaid Lunch, Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner, Lingerie Shower
• Saturday: Wedding!!

Here are some pictures from the week...

Bridal ShowerMelissa, Me, Mary Brook, Codi, & Jackson
(We were missing Elizabeth)Me, Mary Brook, & Melissa
at Brad & Myra'sBridesmaids Lunch
Finally, together again!
Melissa, Codi, Mary Brook, Elizabeth, and Me

Melissa, Me, Mary Brook, & ElizabethThe wonderful coupleGlad the Hubby was able to make itYou probably want to ask someone else to cut the cake.

The wedding was beautiful! Congrats Mary Brook and Graig!! I am so happy for the two of you.

Gatlinburg Pictures

As promised, here are some pictures from our Copeland Family Vacation...

the shady pit stop

our cabin for the weekendgirls win game 1bowling at the community centerbreakfast at the apple barnmy amazing siblingsthe out-lawsthe whole family on the porch

Gatlinburg Part II

Well, I can't get my pictures to upload, so visit my sister-in-law's blog for pictures from the trip. Although she is an outlaw (ha! ha!), I think she did a better job of recapping the trip. So forget my previous post and read Laura's. When my camera decides to work with my computer, I will have another post from our wonderful weekend trip. Until then...

Gatlinburg

We just returned from a long weekend trip to Gatlinburg with my family, and we had a blast! It all started on Thursday when we dropped Tucker Bear off at his boarding home. Then, Craig and I drove to Nashville to pick up two of our favorites (Luke and Laura) for the remainder of the trip.

On a side note...
Outside of Knoxville, we decided to make a stop for the restroom. Well, let's just say, that I don't think we will ever forget the hole in the wall where we stopped. It looked like a little shack. There was no air conditioner inside, which we noticed mainly because we had to wait in line for the potty. Laura was lucky enough to go first. When she came out with a terrified look, I knew I was in trouble. The toilet was full and would not flush. Once inside, I noticed several things. The bathroom was not clean. The toilet had several papers taped to the lid, and the top was hanging off the side. However, I really had to pee, so I held my nose and prayed the contents would not overflow. I survived. As I was washing my hands (thoroughly), I heard the toilet flush. How was that possible? Remember, I was at the sink. I walked back to the toilet to find EVERYTHING gone. I mean, there was hardly even any water in the toilet. A mystery. A funny story. A laugh shared by many for numerous days. A story we will never forget.

Back to the real story...
Anyways, we arrived in Gatlinburg in time for dinner. Dad grilled burgers and hot dogs. After dinner, we played Five Crowns until Adam and Cathy arrived. Then, we hung out and played more games. Friday morning we (Dad, Adam, Luke, and I) drove to Knoxville to pick up Bethany from the airport. We spent the rest of the day hanging out at the cabin, bowling at the community center, playing games, eating Adam and Cathy's yummy dinner, and playing putt-putt.

Saturday morning we went to The Apple Bard for breakfast, which was so yummy! Luke, Laura, Adam, Cathy, and Bethany went for an afternoon hike while Mom, Dad, Grandma, Craig, and I relaxed at the cabin. For dinner, we all contributed to an Italian feast. I organized a special trivia game for us to play, which was a lot of fun. The rest of the night was spent, yes you guessed it, playing games and hanging out.

Today we had a devotional before leaving. It was a great time to reflect on the love we have through Jesus and the love we share as a family. Adam and Cathy headed back to Harrisonburg, and the rest of us went to Nashville to watch the USA play Japan in the Women's World Cup finals. Although we were heartbroken with the final outcome, we enjoyed watching the sport we all love so much.

It was a great trip spent with 9 of my favorite people!! I am blessed with a wonderful family, and I am so thankful for the time we have to be together. Thanks to Mom and Dad for a long weekend vacation!!

Holiday Weekend

Craig and I went to Nashville for the long weekend. We were excited to see lots of friends and take it easy. Friday night we went to dinner and played several games of Ticket to Ride on the iPad, which is our latest obsession.

I met Betsy, Emily, and Jenny in downtown Franklin on Saturday for lunch and a little shopping. It was so good to catch up with these awesome friends. I don't get to see them as often as I would like, but time doesn't seem to hurt our friendship. I always look forward to any time we can get together! Saturday night Craig and I went to J.Alexander's. YUM! We watched Black Swan after dinner. Natalie Portman deserved to win the Oscar, because she did a wonderful job. However, it was a little disturbing, and I was pretty tense the majority of the movie.

On Sunday, we met Luke and Laura and went to church with them. It was a wonderful service, and everyone was so nice. (If you want a funny story, let Craig tell you about how friendly one lady was to me.) After church, we went to a great pizza place and then back to their apartment to hang out. I love spending time with my family, so it was a fabulous morning! Sunday night we met the Parnells and the Clendenins at Chili's for dinner. (I know it sounds like all we do is eat!) Well, you know how special those couples are, so of course, we were thrilled to hang out! After dinner, we got an ice cream pizza from Maggie Moo's and then went to the Clendenins new house. Craig and I watched 127 Hours once we got to his parents' house. Another good movie, but I did cover my eyes during some of the scenes.

Last night we celebrated the Fourth with some of the residents and enjoyed Medina's fireworks. We had a wonderful weekend and were so thankful to spend time with so many friends. What a blessing to live in America with all our freedoms!!

Beauty and the Beast

This is one of my favorite Disney movies, so of course I was excited to see the Broadway production at the Orpheum. We invited my parents and Grandma to join us, but Grandma had been sick and was not able to come. Unfortunately for my Dad, we went on Father's Day. I don't think this would have been his top pick for his special day, but I do think he had fun. They met us in Jackson for church. Then, we drove to Memphis, had lunch at Central (yum!), enjoyed the show, ate yogurt, and finally back home. The show was wonderful, and I loved the performance of "Be Our Guest."