Me on the left, and Chloe on the right. I think we look alike. ;)

Halloween Babes

Alright, so I don't have time to write, but there is ALWAYS time to post pictures of the Sweet Ones. So here is the latest.

I made this picture our desktop background, so that when I'm doing my homework, I can mininmize my windows and just look at the babies when I need motivation (Not even kidding..). They are so precious! From Left to Right they are: Jackson, Lucas, and Chloe. Hollywood Jack (That's what they call him) is always smiling! Luke's just chillin' (he's a pretty mellow little guy) and Chloe's subtle smile is too charming for words!

I just can't get enough of them, and I can't wait to see them for Christmas!!

The Babes! :)

Okay...I KNOW there are some things I should be doing right now....but I just HAVE to post some pics of the sweet ones! (That's what I call them now!) I don't have time to write about the trip right now, but here are some pics at least!! The rest I'll fill in later...besides...if it's true what they say ("a picture's worth a thousand words").....here's 4000 for you! :)

ChLoE<3

Me & LuCaS:)

Me & JaCkSoN:D

JaCk & Me again :)

News, News, and more News...

Well, haven't posted one of these in a while...so here goes nothin'...

Several things have been going on. For one thing, I finally got to have a good, long talk with my cousin Makennah, last Friday (the day AFTER her birthday...b/c why on earth would I do the normal thing and call her on her ACTUAL birthday??!) Anyway...Happy belated KennahFest, everyone! :)

Also, about a week and a 1/2 ago, Bro. Charles and the Jesus is Lord Ministries team arrived at the Place of Hope. We set the tent up last Wednesday, had Friday Night Hope on Friday (which Angie got to come to) and had our first service under the tent Saturday. It's been a.MA.zing so far! Saturday is take-the-tent-down day, and that night we'll have the final service in the POH sanctuary. You don't even know how much I'm going to miss this...and all of them. It's been the biggest miracle having them here...and I don't want them to leave.

School's good. VERY good compared to last year. And last year was pretty good too! I read something once by Joyce Meyer about how, many times when God changes us, He does it "little by little." She said one of the reasons she believes He does it like this is so that we don't get prideful, thinking we've done anything on our own. ........ I hope that's why, 'cause this change has been sloooow in coming! But I've noticed that every year since I saw the doctor in Tulsa and starting taking medicine, it's gotten a little bit better. A little easier to have a devotion. A little easier to do homework. A little easier to schedule and get things done on time, etc. And this year has been no exception. I mean, I'm not perfect yet (and don't plan on reaching that this side of Heaven), but I am making progress. He's making progress in me. And I can't tell you how glad that makes me; and how comforting and reassuring it is.

And the last thing I want to tell you.........is....................

(get ready for this!)

I'M GOING TO SEATTLE!!!!!! I'm FINALLY going to get to see those babies! Yall...you just don't even know! Like..seriously! Best. Present. Of my LIFE!

Here's how it happened. My mom and Nana went in August for a week, but my parents couldn't afford to fly me and Cassie and Carrie down there. I was hoping to use my refund check from school to buy my plane ticket and go down for Fall break. Then I found out my refund check was going to be significantly lower this semester than it has been; also, we are going to get to see them for Christmas, so I had kind of given up hope of going to see them before then.

But a few weeks ago, Kristen (my cousin, the babies' mom) sent my mom a message on FB. You see, ever since the babies came home, Ben and Kristen have always had one of their mothers staying with them for several weeks at a time to help take care of the babies (They're a lot of work as well as fun! ... I talk like I know them...). But Kristen said that the first weekend in Oct. neither of their mothers will be there, and Ben won't either. So she'll be all alone. And she asked me to come down (or "up"... whatevs) and even volunteered to pay half of my plane ticket! So..sweet!!

It's SUCH an answer to prayer. I really don't think you realize how important it was to me to see these babies while they're still babies. It sucks that we all live so far away, and I want to see them grow up in some way. I feel like God did this for me as His gift to me. And the fact that He would do that..........no words.

Just thankYou!! ThankYou, Jesus, and thankyou Ben & Kristen! I'm sooooooo excited!

I also have a ton of hw to do....and it's one in the morning, so...I'm out! Peace.

~Chels

"And then there was...SLEEP!"

What the heck am I doing awake right now? It's all thanks to my cousin MaKennah (that's MaKennah with a capital "K"). You see she's grown up and is going away to college (even though I'm older, she grew up before me...we all knew it would happen). And she made the honest mistake of telling me she was shopping at Pier 1 (for her dorm room no doubt) and there was lots of stuff there I would like! She told me via Twitter and I read it at like...one in the morning. I went straight to their website and looked at EVERY SINGLE THING! I now have copied and pasted everything I like (as well as everything I think my sisters would like) into a Word document and saved it on my computer! So...here I am...3:30 am and still not in bed. Haven't even brushed my teeth yet.

And on that sorry note, I would like to make honorable mention of Wednesday's dentist appointment! I got to go to the dentist!!!!! (hence the appointment) I LOVE my dentist! He's like a grandfather and is just the sweetest thing ever! His whole entire office is. They're the kind of people you'd want to run into if you're having a bad day. The kind whose smile can just turn your whole day around. The best part was I had 2 cavities (well..not really cavities....I don't really know what they were TECHNICALLY...something to do with my wisdom teeth...yes, I still have those......but ANYWAY...((yall should really try and stay on subject))...there was SOMETHING wrong) and I had to go back yesterday to get it taken care of. I was so excited but it ended up only lasting like fifteen minutes (and that's including the time in the waiting room!). I was seriously disappointed. Not even kidding...

Well, I guess I'll go pretend I'm normal and go to bed now. Goodnight, and thanks for reading my blog...you must be really lame! 8)

The Cat's on My Pillow

Well, I'm back!

The youth group came over to Victoria's after service tonight just to hang and stuff. Some of the girls (including me) are spending the night. Me, Joy, Kim, Victoria, and her little sister, Brooke, that is. Church tonight was aBSOLUTELY aMaZING!! Pastor Matthew did aWESOME! The message was totally from God. (I think those are the best kind! ;)

It's 2:30 in the morning and the girls just left to go chalk the guys' cars. (They're staying at Josh and Kim's apartment.) And Bella (Victoria's kitten) has fallen asleep on my pillow. She is the sweetest little thing! And I don't like cats...they creep me out! but this one I love. Now, granted, she is a kitten...but she's the kind of cat that I think I could love if I had her from the time she was little. Too bad she's taken! Anyway, she's so funny. She falls asleep in the strangest and cutest positions....ANY position! She's like Cassie...she can sleep in any position!

Yep, I think I would do just fine with a cat like Bella. We're very similar: we both like naps! (Or is that all cats??)

Anyway, I re-read last night's blog...and I must say...as I've already said...that youth service tonight was great. I see God doing things. I feel like maybe God wanted to get us out of our comfort zone. He definately did...at least in my case, anyway. My heart still hopes they'll be back. But I'm desperately trying to just trust. And learn how to pray...........

Ahhhhh, okay. I'm extremely tired. More like sleepy. Actually both (there is a difference). So I think I'm gonna go kick my new friend off my pillow (not literally, of course) and lay down for a while...til they get back. And I want to be AWAKE when they do, so they don't chalk ME!!!

Goodnight, Loves!

~Chels

Chelsea Lately... :)

Haven't posted one of these in a while. And since this is my typical time of day/night to write one....now's as good a time to blog as any!

Every now and then I just start feeling things. Like, stronger than usual. And we all know how much I feel on a regular basis! But this is different! It's like God's speaking things into my heart. And, at the moment, I can't make out the exact words He is saying; it's more like just impressions He's placing deep inside of me where I can't escape them and they can't escape me. And later on down the road it becomes clearer and I can put it into words. But for now... just feeling it...... is AMAZING!

He's being so precious. Some of this I don't even know if I want to put into words, because it's just so personal, so intimate. It's like God's pulled me out of "the real world" to just show me who He is and who I am. (When I say out of the real world...I just mean I feel like I'm in this season of "Sanctuary." Like now is the point in time of my dreams where I just wait, and let God pour into me so that when the fulfillment comes, I'm totally ready and completely full of Him and empty of me. By the way, I'm getting this idea of "sanctuary" from a book I'm reading called The Dream Giver for Teens by Jessica and Bruce Wilkinson.)

A lot's been going on: too much to post! But one thing that happened recently was camp. Youth for the Nations (at Christ for the Nations in Dallas, TX). CFNI is a great school where a lot of amazing gifts have been stirred up in God's people. And my experience at camp was nothing short of incredible. To be honest, I wasn't really sure how it was going to go. About a month ago, I found out my youth pastor and his wife were moving to Louisiana. The church can't afford to pay them, and they've applied everywhere in the Columbia/Nashville area, but so far nothing's opened up. It's really discouraging. For me, anyway.

I know that God has a plan. And I trust Him. He's been so good and so faithful through everything I've ever gone through that I can't help but trust Him! But that doesn't stop the feelings from coming, and to be honest, I'm really tired of feeling like I have to pretend they're not there. I'm upset..... I'm hurt. I'm tired. I'm angry.
I feel like I keep falling for the same thing over and over again. I've gone through so many sets of youth pastors that I'm beginning to wonder what a REAL youth ministry looks like....or if it even exists. After my first experience of feeling abandoned by my youth pastors, I vowed never to try another youth group again. I didn't quit GOD, but youth group was over for me. But my parents prayed and so we know what that means........ I ended up in another youth group. Along with my sisters. And we LOVED it. But, after those sets of youth pastors left to start their own churches, we were, once again, left as teenagers to figure out what had just happened and why and what was going to happen next. And when Pastor Daryll asked me what I thought of Tim and Miranda...I'm gonna be honest...I simply said, "I don't know." I was so burnt out with youth pastors and youth ministry, I think I was wary of even giving anyone a try. And I told him that. But God had me give them a try and (big surprise) I quickly grew very attatched to them. (Story of my life).
I totally think the WORLD of Tim; he is such a hero to me. And Miranda is such an inspiring woman. Just AMAZING! They really just have a special annointing on them...that when you're around them, the "real you" just comes to the surface. Even if no one else notices it, they can pick you out of a crowd and tell you more about yourself than even YOU knew was there! They're just so real and authentic that it's just Life to be around them.

And now they're gone. And I don't know what to do. Do I pray for God to open up the door for them to come back? What if that's not His will? Then I'm praying against His will. But I feel like if I just pray the generic, "God, let Your will be done..." I'm not really praying much of anything. Not from my heart. And so I'm just stuck in this place where I don't even know how to pray. But I just want Him to hear my heart.

When we left for camp, and I realized that Pastor Tim and Miranda would only be there for the end of it, I was really discouraged. But all I can say is, when I woke up to Miranda's voice greeting Cassie in our dorm room......I seriously almost lost it! The week had been out of this world amazing, but I was still so unsettled. But the second they got there, I felt like I could breathe again. It just felt so right. Like everything was back to normal and it was all going to be okay.
Then I realized: It's not going to last. Tomorrow they'll be gone, and confusion will again be my close companion. It was almost more than I could bear. But I decided to just enjoy the time that God had given me with them and hope and pray for the best.

And God did something so amazing with me during the service that night. Something I will never be able to thank Him enough for. I can't even describe it, but I'm crying right now just thinking about it. He understands me. And that's really all I need to know. If I can just have that, everything else seems immaterial. And worthless. He just began to settle something in my heart that night and it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. Jesus is my most worthy Prince Charming. I'm IN LOVE with Him. As weird as that may sound......in love with the Son of God...in love with God Himself!! Crazy stuff, but it's true. I can't help it - He's changed my life! And NO ONE can argue with that!

Just to be sure I'm clear on this point: When I say I'm angry....I am not at ALL angry with Tim and Miranda. I know they've done everything they can to get back here if it's God's will. But I'm just so tired of this happening. All I know is if I EVER marry a youth pastor, the ONLY way I am leaving our group of teenagers is if God MAKES me! I want to set a new world record for the longest a youth pastor's ever stayed in one place! (which shouldn't be too hard to do!)

Sorry that I'm being so blunt. I just haven't really gotten all this out yet. And I needed to! So thankyou for listening to me go on about how terrible my life is (woe is me!). But before I go, I just want to make one more thing clear.

Jesus, I trust You!

You mean everything to me. And I know I don't always show it,

but You're everything and I just ask that You would keep showing me that.

I trust You to take good care of Tim and Miranda and me and my youth group. You love us.

And if I'm wrong about EVERYTHING...just teach me. Gently. And help me, cause this is so hard. Do what You will. You're in control and You have the right to do whatever You want (which is always best for us anyway). But like I said....please help us. Help me. Cause it hurts.

In Jesus's wonderful and saving Name I pray,

Amen

New Baby Pics!!! :D

These kids are getting cuter and cuter! I can't even describe! Just take a look!!!! And try not to spend the whole day staring at the cuteness!

Luke





Jack

Chloe

Just Another Saturday

Well...woke up today and there was a leak in the house. So we couldn't turn on any water. So I was loading the dishwasher (even though we couldn't turn the water on??) and I wanted to wash my hands but (for the third time) we couldn't turn the water on! SO..



I put soap on my hands and went outside to let the rain wash it off. PRETTY sure the neighbors and passersby thought I was crazy...I just kinda stood there in the rain with my hands out in front of me like I was either worshipping or getting arrested...Or...if you're normal like me...washing my hands in the rain. It was kind of taking a long time though, cause it wasn't raining very hard, so I ended up finding a puddle and washing them off in that.

One good thing did come out of the whole leak thing, though (I mean besides getting it fixed): I found out you can get into the ceiling in my parents' bedroom. I had no idea. We don't even have an attic! How does that work?! Pretty sure I wanna play hide & seek now!

ANYWAYS...today was a WONderful day! Had some great "quiet time" and tonight me, Carrie, and the Cuz went to Cool Springs. Tornados were chasing us but we were too fast for them. Anthony kept insulting my driving (as usual) but I told him he sure talked a lot of smack for someone without a license! Anyway...Carrie wants movie night now....and I'm up for it (I always am) ..although I'm not sure when I'm gonna start my hw! ...... :/

Night, BlogWorld!

My beautiful, beautiful, PRECIOUS babies are here!!! Ohhhh, I want to go up there SO BAD!!! Here's some pictures of them!

Here they are all together! I think this one's within 24 hours of their arrival!

Jackson James Cooper

Chloe Elizabeth Cooper

Lucas Samual Cooper

Are they not the sweetest things ever!!!? I can hardly stand just looking at them! They're TOO PRECIOUS!!! I have got to get down there ASAP!

The Babies!!!

I can't even begin to explain my awe and excitement about these new babies coming into the world. Like, I'm seriously about to cry! I would give almost ANYTHING if Ben and Kristen lived within driving distance so I could be there when they're born. Do you know how absolutely amazing it would be if the whole family could be at the hospital when it happens?! I wish so much that Papa were here..he would be more thrilled about these kids than anybody!!! I wish he were here for this so much. (Okay, now I AM crying!)

ANYWAY...I have gone absolutely nuts buying gifts for these babies! I can't wait! Again...I wish they lived soooooo much closer so I could babysit and see them all the time! (Anyone know of any good schools in the Seattle area?...I'll be graduating from Columbia State next year hopefully!)

Well, I don't really have much more to say, but I wish I could fully express my feelings on the subject! I CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!! This is one of the best things that's ever happened to me! (Yes, I am aware that these babies are not mine...but I think i'm trying to live my dream through Kristen! I want triplets!! Not only that...but I was actually planning on naming one of them what they've named one! Weird...)

"Let it [KEEP] Snow[ing]!"

Okay, seriously.......I could get used to this! I've been saying how some day when I get married I want to move somewhere where it snows all the time in the winter. Where 1/2 foot of snow is an every day occurrance! Now I'm thinking I may not have to! Now, granted, I haven't had to drive in it yet...but I'm willing to learn and give it a try.......the snow's so beautiful I think it's worth it! Plus...all my classes were cancelled today!!!

The Gathering

Tonight was wonderful.
We started college group tonight at New Life, and I love it! It's my first experience in a "college group" and I wasn't exactly sure what to expect...but whatever I expected...tonight definately exceeded my expectations! For one thing...we started off with coffee...a sure sign of a great time ahead!! Mmmm....
And the video........LOVED it! If you haven't seen the Nooma videos with Rob Bell...you should. I've only seen one, but I can't wait to see the rest!

This always happens...I get on here to write a blog..and then don't know what to say. But I think it's good that I say something when I feel it...even if I don't know exactly what it is. That's one thing I've been trying to learn for a long time now.......I really don't have to have it all figured out. Christianity and the Gospel were up and running lonnnngg before I was born...and I think it'll do okay- even without my efforts! (More like in spite of my efforts! lol

Anyway....
I just wanna' say...I'm really excited about this college group thing. It's really neat b/c things that I didn't know I needed (spiritually, emotionally, etc.)...and things I didn't know how MUCH I needed...are suddenly clearer to me. Like, I feel like tonight started a whole new journey..a whole new Season of my life. One of discovery and learning...about myself..the world...God..everything that matters, and everything that doesn't. I love how it's a discussion and not a sermon. Not that I don't like sermons (well..some I don't like! ha!), but the discussion approach really gives me room to think and figure out for myself what's going on. I feel like there's room in me to grow. Like tonight..God opened up this whole new section of my being that I didn't know was there..and He's saying.....okay, there's room for more..more knowledge, more Love..more EVERYTHING! I don't know what's gonna happen..but I know it's big and I know it's good! It's just so weird b/c (this always happens, and I LOVE it!) for quite a while now (okay..for like my whole life) I've really turned thoughts and opinions and questions over in my mind..and just wondered and asked and sought answers to things that everyone seems to disagree on. And I love discussions. Not necessarily debates. But discussions. I like it when people (especially people with the same essential beliefs) can sit down and discuss something. B/c even if I don't fully agree with everything someone is saying..sometimes it gives me a different or broader perspective than I had before. Like maybe my though wasn't "complete".. There's more to it than I could see. Then someone says something or points something out, and all of the sudden it's even clearer and my opinion more definitive. And what's right for one may not be right for all...I mean..some things are black and white: No sex outside of marriage. But other things can be relative...like dating. Some people have made commitments to not date..either for a certain period of time or not at all, ever. It's something I think you really just have to search YOUR heart about and say, (sincerely!) "God..I really want Your best for me..You've given me so much and I want to do what YOU want. How do I do that? How can I best and most fully give my heart to You and learn to love another human being according to the beautiful design You've set up?" (Now I'm getting into next week's discussion: Love and Sex)

Now I feel I'm just rambling! But this is a blog, not an essay or a book..although it might be someday! All I care to say tonight is............GOD IS SO...FREAKING...AMAZING!!! And the things I've been meditating and dwelling on lately...and looking for an outlet for...or even just someone who understands it...and "gets" it...gets me.........those are the things we talked about tonight. The rain and oh my gosh, I just can't get into it all........it's so awesome! Suffice it to say that - once again - God has personally hand-crafted a "Gathering" for me that just proves to me all over again how intimately He knows me and knows my every word and even every thought...and He's sooooo in love with me..and longs to hold me close.

Guys...you just don't know even know!

There are so many feelings running around through my heart right now. I don't even know where to begin. I feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster (to use a cliche). There are so many things I feel God's implanted in my heart. And I just don't know what to do about them or with them. I don't know where to start, and I just don't feel like people get it. Like they don't get the Vision and they don't understand me and how big my dreams really are. There are things in my heart I can't even express. I just feel like I would give ANYTHING to see them fulfilled. Everything in my being is just crying out right now for it all to come together. And sometimes I just wonder....does God even see?

So many of the things that God's taught me personally, and so many things He's placed in my heart...dreams and visions and longings........and then the people He's put in my life...all these connections. And I don't know what to do about it. It's like I see people and I think...if they could just meet w/ these people...if we could all just connect..........WHAT COULD HAPPEN?!

I just want to let it all out!!!!!!!!!! I NEED to let it out! I've got to get these ideas out. I've got to express myself, make myself understood. I want to see the fulfillment of the Dreams He's placed in me. I will DIE if I don't. I don't want to live if I can't really LIVE.

What am I supposed to do when the people closest to me don't even get it? I guess God knows....I KNOW He knows...but I still feel like I need this support system. And I know that God is more than faithful to finish the work He's begun in me. But I think He intends this to be part of that process.......this thing in me...this restlessness and discontent with the way things are and the way things look. I can't go through the motions anymore. And yet I have to be disciplined. Dreams don't go anywhere without discipline. I just feel at a loss. Oh Lord......what do I do???!