President Barack Obama

Our 44th President, Barack Obama.
I am not ashamed to admit that I didn't vote for him.
Even still, as a woman of African American descent,
I could not help but be overwhelmed with emotion while
watching the Inauguration.
I sat back in pride, as I watched a man, a man that even today
in different parts of the country, would be told
he would never be the President of The United States,
take the stand, and be sworn in. Tears fell from my eyes.
Everything else aside, today we made history.

Let us lift our new president before the throne of grace
daily, and let us pray for the salvation
of him, and his family.

Let every soul be subject to the governing
authorities. For there is no authority except
from God, and the authorities that exist
are appointed by God.

Romans 13:1

Goognight Mom

I read this last night in the, 'Last Word' section of the November issue of Parenting.
Yeah, you can see how often I actually get to sit down to read. Anyway, my kids and I absolutely love the book, Goodnight Moon, and I just thought this was so cute... and yet true. Enjoy!

(With apologies to Margaret Wise Brown)


In the messy green family room
there was a telemarketer ringing the telephone
and a crying toddler because his brother, just popped
his red balloon. And a picture of-

The cow jumping over the moon.
(Which someone colored on with permanent marker)
And there was a missing teddy bear, and a girl
with gum in her hair.

And one to be scolded
and laundry to be folded
And a very hungry spouse
And something stinky in the house
( that no one else seemed to smell)

And a comb and a brush and a colicky
baby who just won't shush
and a frazzled mommy screaming HUSH!

Goodnight messy room
Goodnight scribbled-on moon
Goodnight cow getting out while she can
Goodnight telemarketers and the
popped balloon

Goodnight long-gone teddy bear
goodnight cereal bar smeared all
over the dining room chair

Goodnight spitup
and goodnight leaky sippy cup
Goodnight much-too-little house and
goodnight grumpy spouse
Goodnight comb and goodnight brush
And goodnight to a certain 4-year-old
who just needs to hush right now I mean it

Goodnight Elmo
Goodnight toys we'll pick up tomorrow,
or the next day
Hello chardonnay and TiVo-
"me" time finally.

FIREPROOF

My husband and I both are very excited. Our cafe at church, The One Way Cafe, is an official licensed site for the #1 inspirational movie of the year, FIREPROOF!
We will be showing it Saturday, January 24th @ 7pm.

Neither one of us have seen it yet, but we know many who have and they say it's pretty good. After being warned by my husband not to, I went online anyway, and started reading some of the reviews. I have to say, after reading quite a few, the reviews seem mixed. Mostly just complaining about the acting, and the fact that most of the movie takes place in a firehouse but there wasn't really to much action taking place at all. Most people said, there was to much dialogue.
Then there were those who said the action was great, and they really liked the message.
Honestly, my hubby is not one for dialogue, and I myself could care less to see a movie with a bunch of firetrucks in it. From the previews I saw, it looked pretty balanced. I'm looking forward to it, and I know he is as well. We've been wanting to see this movie since it first hit the theaters, but just haven't had the time.
Well, I'll be back to post my own review.

Family Day

So today we spent the day as a family. After getting home around 8:30, from walking 4 miles with my friend Lorraine, we all got ready and went BACK to the park i had just come from.
I had to take them there. Amiyah has been before, while on a field trip with her class, but the Bean, and my Obe had never been. It's a park in Margate that has a trail that's a 1/2 mile all the way around, basketball and tennis courts, and a really nice playground in the middle of the trail for the kids. The only thing i didn't like to much, was the sand. It's such a pain getting it all out of not just their shoes, but socks, and the toes. Yucky!
Anyway, the kids loved the park. We brought Emilio's huge Tonka trucks, for the sand, but he could have cared less to play with them, and a few balls.
Amiyah saw a few kids her age involved in a game, and I could tell she wanted to join in. I encouraged her to ask them to play, but she refused. So , I had an idea. I started my own game with Amiyah. We played hide and seek. Once the kids saw us running around playing, they decided to stop their game and ask to play with us.
It was fun! Oh and, no, I didn't go and sit down once the kids all started playing, shoot, I was having fun right along with them. We played hide and seek some more, and then a game of tag, which is actually another form of hide and seek, but whatever.
Joey took his football onto an open field, and about 3 little boys followed him. Oh wait, and Jessica went with them as well. She reminded me so much of myself at her age. She was probably about 11 or 12, but could have cared less that there were all boys out there. She played just like them, and even better. She even gave Joey a high five when they were finished.
Emilio just kinda kept to himself most of the time we were there, he really enjoys just doing his own thing.
After going down the slide for abut the fourth time, he noticed another little boy, following him. His name was Camden, and he was soooo super cute! Beany loved that he had a friend. They would wait for each other at the top of the slide, and then count to three, and go down together.
They did this, over and over again. Camden's mom and I were talking while watching the boys for so long, that we went from just introducing ourselves, to an in depth conversation about religion. It was funny, we both had a good laugh.

After the park, we went to grab a slice of pizza from a new joint just down the street from our house. Then we dropped Amiyah off at the grandparents house so she could play. She said she wasn't tired, but the rest of us wanted to go home and take a nap. We had a really good day.

Speed Racer

Since Emilio was about 11ms. old he has been hitching rides with his sister in this jeep.
Amiyah has always been very careful with him. She would put his seat belt on for him, hold him close when they would go around a tight corner, and even hold the back of his head if she was going to push the gas, a little to hard. Emilio loved every minute.
Recently, whenever Amiyah would get inside her jeep to ride, the Bean would come running after her yelling and screaming. We would allow her to ride by herself, and then after so long, encourage her to ride her little brother around.
Lately, she hasn't wanted to ride her jeep at all, because she says, " I don't want to ride my jeep anymore, because i always have to ride the babies in it."
After we enjoyed a quick laugh with her, we thought of an idea. So we picked up the Bean, and placed him in the driver seat. Before we could finish putting his seat belt on, he had slammed his foot on the gas, and was off. Nearly running into Joey's car, barely missing the pedestrians (grandpa, grandma & mommy) on the sidewalk. It was great! He now has the blue pillow that you see in the picture behind him to push him a little closer to the pedal. Before he literally had to stand himself up. So the Bean enjoys his new found freedom. We just stick him in that jeep, turn the wheel in one direction, and he's good. Just no one tell him the jeep he's actually in, is a Barbie one. Lol!

A Copeland Christmas

Just about the cutest picture EVER, of Brianna, AKA - The Hurricane!

It would not be a Copeland Christmas without a game of dominoes.

Cousins. Miranda & Emilio.

Uncle Cody with Emilio.

Cousins!

With my sister, Carly.

Joey and I.

Showing Uncle Rick her ATM.

Amiyah giving her cousin Brianna a squeeze.

Uncle Jordan with the kids.

My Grandparents, and my Parents.

Christmas this year was at my parents house. We had, our grandparents come from Alabama, my Uncle Rick, Aunt Zena, and two cousins home from college, and of course the rest of us crazy Copeland's and our families. Of course Randall wasn't there physically, but he was most definitely in our hearts... oh, and on the t-shirt my sis was wearing just for Christmas.
We all had a couple of moments when we just needed to go and hide somewhere to cry. You never really realize how much a part of you someone really is, until they are no longer there. Al in all, we had a really great time. The kids were running around screaming and yelling, the boys were watching sports, and would stop every once in a while to play a game of dominoes. And of course us ladies would chit chat. I have tons more pictures, of course, but these were some of my favorites.

Christmas

Amiyah with her Hannah Montana guitar.

Teaching the Bean how to use the controls.

The Bean and his new truck!

These are just a few pictures from our Christmas morning at home.
The kids had such a great time opening presents, and Emilio actually knew to rip them open this year. He wasted no time!

Broken camera

Right before Thanksgiving, while visiting with Joey's parents, Amiyah asked me if she could use my camera to take some pictures. So I said, " Sure honey, just be careful."
A few moments later she returned, camera in hand, and said to me, "Mommy, I broke your camera." Before looking at the camera I had pretty much let it go, thinking, ah well, she probably just forgot how to turn it on or something. Well, let's just say, that wasn't the case at all. As she lifted the camera to me, to place in my hand, I looked down and could not believe what I saw. The lens itself was busted, and bent sideways.
I was mortified! My brother-in-law had just replaced my other camera after losing it, with this one, and now... IT'S BROKEN!

This reason I am letting all of you know this, is because, I can no longer just take a few pictures, upload them into my computer and then onto my blog. Oh no. I am now using my huge 35mm Canon Rebel. I used to only use it for portraits. So I have to use up an entire roll before I can actually go get them put on cd, and then upload them onto my computer. That's why I will be posting so many pictures at once... I can't get around it.
Although, I have been doing some research on creating a black room by using a bathroom or closet, so that, that way, at least I'm not paying for the developing fees any more.

So, nothing new really going on today. Nothing crazy and exciting. The house is now quiet, all kids are off to sleep. I'm sitting here at the computer eating a little bowl of Moose tracks, and uploading pictures onto my facebook page. It has taken me two days, but thankfully, I am nearly done. So all in all, today has been pretty quiet. I actually forced it to be that way. I have tons and tons of organizing to do, as we prepare to move. Not to mention laundry that needs to be ironed, and a basket full that needs to be put away. For some reason it just doesn't bother me that it's just sitting there. I am rather calm about the whole thing, and for those of you that know me well, your probably thinking that there is something terribly wrong with me for me to allow a basket of laundry to just sit. I assure you, I am just fine. Just enjoying my day is all. So until tomorrow, I bid you good day!

Blog daily

So I have decided to start blogging daily. Since it is so difficult for me to keep up with , I figure if I make myself visit my blog everyday, I'll start getting used to it. And, being that it is one of my Revolutions, I have decided to not only share photos, and events, but to actually share some personal things with you all as well. In the hopes that the things I share will not only encourage, but challenge you. Love you all. Check back soon!