The Gift of Worship

Seems like the Lord is reminding me of this a lot lately. Thanks, God's Daisy, for sharing!

P.S.

Does anyone see anything odd about this picture (I mean, besides the poor quality)?

This is a sign we saw while on our excursion in Illinois. Girlie Girl was thinking that maybe the Bud "Family 24 Pack" comes with a nipple for the baby...only in Illinois...okay...and maybe Wisconsin.

Our Weekend With Branching Out

Okay, so I am a little late on this post--I can't believe a week has gone by--but we had a wonderful weekend last weekend with the fine couple over there at Branching Out (pictured below).

You graciously allowed seven of us invade their home and, I must say, your hospitality exceeded our expectations (you even had Coke in the refrigerator and Sunday night popcorn)! We had such a good time catching up with you; hearing how the Lord has been working in your lives and reminiscing about our days together at camp...not to mention our weekend at that...well...ritsy golf resort with Jeremy and Brina! We loved getting to know your sweet boys; we were excited that Rocky finally had some boys to play with (as I type this he is being coerced by his older sisters to play "wedding" with them). Going out to eat with you on Saturday night was such a treat (many, many, many thanks to WeeBecca) and we left wondering why we don't keep in better touch with you!

This post may specifically be for Branching Out...I know I am not that swell at putting my thoughts into words--and I know this post does not do it justice--but you were a huge encouragement to our family last weekend, probably more than you will ever know. We love you guys!

Where to start?

I can't even count the number of times I have started to post on my blog and then stopped thinking, "Is this really blog-worthy after being a non-blogger for so long?" Tonight I have decided that is does not matter, I'm just going to post with high hopes that blogging will just get easier from here on out (does anyone understand what I mean...the first post is always so hard after being away for a while).

So much has changed since August 15th. The biggest change being that as of August 31st, we have been homeless and living with my parents. We are thanking God for doing the impossible by selling our house in less than a month; if that wasn't a push, I don't know what else could be! Closing day was an emotional one for all of us (including "Frankie", our newborn, who cried through the whole signing process). I am especially missing my sister who lived just a block away--now she lives 5 minutes away! Although they are so excited to live with Papa and Mimi the kids miss "going home". We are very thankful for Papa and Mimi allowing us to live with them even though I'm sure the house gets a little louder and a little messier than what they are used to!

The kids are doing well. Twiggy is now in first grade and loving it so much more than Kindergarten (as am I). Her reading is getting so much better and I can tell that she's really starting to enjoy the challenge of picking up a book and sounding out words she does not know.

Daisy is equally eager to learn and enjoys sitting in on school lessons. Her favorite thing to do lately is to sing and color at the same time and I love to listen to her sweet voice.

Rocky is all boy. His two new passions in life are Thomas the Tank Engine and driving his older sisters crazy! His younger sister, however, can do no wrong and he is SO protective of her. The other day at church he came crying to me, "Mom, those kids are watching my sister!" As a two-year-old, he is almost as tall as his four-year-old sister!

Frankie has obviously done the most changing! She smiles a lot and LOVES her brother and sisters...and is maybe a little spoiled! We are all thoroughly enjoying watching her grow and change!

Paul and I are doing well. While we our hearts ache at the thought of leaving here in two months our urgency grows as we get closer to moving. We are looking forward to this next chapter in our lives as we prepare with To Every Tribe Ministries, but are longing for God to teach us and grow us during this transition time as well. I am amazed already at how specifically God has proven Himself to be the almighty, all-powerful God who can do anything!

Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday, Daisy!

We are so thankful for every day the Lord has given us with you and we love you so much!

Happy Birthday also to Uncle John (30!) and happy 9th anniversary to the couple

over at Helms Deep!

For You, Granny

Hi Granny. I made my Mommy take some pictures for you. Here they are, in no particular order:



Here I am sleeping. Don't you like how I have my hands up by my chin? Mommy thinks it looks picturesque, whatever that means.

Here I am sleeping with Daddy. His arm is very comfortable. If only he didn't snore. How can a baby sleep?



Here we are again.



Mommy surprized me with this one!

Here I am with the whole fam except for Mommy.

Here we are again. Don't Rocky and I look happy?

Here I am in my new dress. Daddy and Mommy think I look pretty in blue.

And last, but not least, a full body shot. Pay no attention to those rolls on my legs.

And that's all for now! I love you, Granny!

Big Brother

Today Rocky really started to bond with the baby.
He has been asking to hold her much of the day
and has remained by her side often.
He has been pretty protective of her making
sure the girls are not too rough with her (hee hee).

Here are some pictures from this morning:

P.S. Congratulations on your wedding, Princess Teresa!

I hope all went well! We wish we could've been there

New Arrival

The Fourth of July turned out quite eventful at the Poppe household with the arrival of this little firecracker:

We are continually praising the Lord for a safe labor and delivery of this much-anticipated little blessing and look forward to seeing what He is going to do in her little life. Mommy and Daddy are doing well and Twiggy, Daisy and Rocky love their little sister very much.

If you are interested in details on the little one, please feel free to e-mail us!

Big Boy.

Does this look like the face of a boy who woke up dry this morning?

Well, it is...

...just for the record, so did I.

What DO They Do?

I was upstairs getting clothes for the kids to wear today and I came downstairs to this "discussion" Daisy and Rocky were having at the breakfast table:

Rocky: Where's Daddy?

Daisy: He's working...

Rocky: No! He's at church!

Daisy: No, he's working!

Rocky: No, he's...at...CHURCH!!

(...and so on...)

I guess even pastor's kids wonder what these men do when it's not Sunday!




p.s. no baby yet.

Tick...tick...tick...

I am thankful that God is in control and I am not (even though sometimes I like to think I am). After having pretty steady contractions for three days with no "results", I can so easily and selfishly say, "Poor me! How can this be good?" God is saying, "This is good! I will be glorified"

Thank you to those who have been thinking of and praying for me these past few days--they truly have been good days! Please continue to pray that the Lord would give me patience and that He would be glorified in the birth of this baby!

Twiggy's appendix

One of Twiggy's close friends, Rara, just had her appendix removed so Twiggy has been talking about it a lot. Today, she came to me looking like she does in the picture below. Did she break her arm? No. Did she sprain her arm? No....

She had her appendix removed!

Pamper the Pregnant Lady, Part II

For those of you who have also been keeping up with my sister's blog, you may remember her post from last October when she was a pampered pregnant woman. Well, yesterday, I was the pampered one and was sent off by some wonderful friends to get my very own pedicure. These women are quite the troopers because they had twelve children in their charge while I was relaxing in the quiet of the salon. Here are my feet:

Besides being ugly feet, don't they look beautiful???

After my pedicure, I went shopping all by myself before heading to my midwife appointment.

I had a wonderful day and would highly recommend being 9 months pregnant for anyone who has terrific friends! Thank you tons and tons, Mommy, Molly, and Rachel! The day was so much appreciated!

Water Fight at Helms Deep

Yesterday the kids and I headed down the road to Helms Deep for fun in the sprinkler. Our air conditioning is not working right now and since the temps soared to the upper 80s, we thought we'd take advantage of water. Once again, I did not think to grab my camera until we were almost done with the water, so you are only seeing aftershots...sorry!

Can you believe there is a year-and-a-half difference in age between these two (above)?

The kids had a great time (except for some reason they were willing to get the Mommies very wet, but a little more unwilling to let the Mommies get them wet). After our water fight we hooked the hose to the slide and the kids had fun on the make-shift water slide (I have video of the water slide but am not sure how to post video...sorry...again).

Above is my little native in his loin cloth. Wouldn't he fit in well in Papua New Guinea???

One of these evenings when I have lots of time I will update you on what is going on in our lives. Between a baby coming (three weeks to go), selling our house, and getting ready for the upcoming move we've been very busy.

Remembering that Freedom is not Free

Thank you to the people who are serving in our military. We appreciate the sacrifices you are making on our behalf. We remember you today and always and you are in our prayers!

Thinking of you, Big Brother!

Johnny, today the kids and I made cookie dough just for the purpose of eating it!

We love you!

More Fun With Math-U-See

Echoing my sister's thoughts, we love this Math-U-See curriculum! Math is probably Twiggy's favorite subject and the younger two love to play with the blocks while Twiggy is doing school! Rocky found a new use for the blocks...

"Mommy look! Socks!"

Twiggy's turn!

All I have been blogging lately are weddings and birthdays, it seems. We really do have other stuff going on! Yesterday Twiggy was in a friend's wedding. The ceremony was out-of-doors and the weather was beautiful! Twiggy was right in her element! I know it's ridiculous, but when she came down the aisle I cried!

She loved her tiarra!

Here she is with the beautiful bride, Amber.

Here's Rocky with what he feels is a good use for the flower girl basket!

Happy Birthday Rocky!

Rocky is two years old today and, Lord willing, as I type this he is flying in the air with Paul on their way to North Carolina. He has been talking about going to Granny and Grandad's constantly for the last 24 hours or so saying, "Airplane! Granny and Grandad! Cake!" (Granny ordered a cake for his birthday).

Rocky, I miss you and Daddy already and, Daddy, if you read this today give the birthday boy a big smooch from his mama!

We love you, Big Boy!

I've been tagged.

I think this is the first time I have ever responded to a tag (no...make that the second time). Not that I don't like to be tagged, I'm just a lazy blogger at times. So, here goes...

Here's how it works, I’ll write 10 facts about me and/or habits of mine.- I’ll tag 10 people.- If you’ve been tagged, you do your own list and tag 10 more people...or however many you wnat (”No tag backs.”).

1. I am not very well organized (if any of you who are rotfl can get up now--I know this is common knowledge). If I need something organized, my sister volunteers to come over and help me because she loves to organize. I hope she will still volunteer even after we move to Texas! ;)

2. I do not like to talk business on the telephone and will avoid it at all cost. If I have to make a doctor appointment for one of my children, I would much rather go to the clinic and set it up face-to-face. If I have to make a phone call I will write down word-for-word what I am going to say and rehearse it or else my mind will go blank while on the phone. This does not bode well being a nurse...you have to talk to doctors on the phone every day--and sometimes in the middle of the night!

3. I like to sleep on my stomach. This is hard to do when you are 7 months pregnant!

4. I love to go for walks!

5. I'm not too keen on formalities. There! You have the dirty scoop on me! I don't understand why, if you are able to give a heartfelt "thank you" on the telephone or in person, you are still required to send a thank you card? I am working on getting better at this one, but don't know if I will ever understand it.

6. I don't mind being corrected. If I have offended someone or have done something wrong, I would much rather someone tell me instead of keeping it to themselves.

7. I do not want to be a man. I love the role of a woman! I love being able to nurture and take care of my children while my husband is out slaying dragons. What an honor (and huge, scary, responsibility) to be able to raise the next generation to love the Lord!

8. I am not a very good reader. I don't know if it has to do with the phase of life I'm in, but I don't read very much and it bothers me (yes, I is a learnin' my children at home). I have great respect for people like my husband who read and read! I'm working on this one too!

9. I have lived in Chetek all my life. This move to Texas will be a huge transition.

10. I love shopping!

And the 8 people I tag are...

Froggy
Mommy
Fannie
Mindy
Branching Out
Gknee
Zack S.
Paul (my man!)