And we're off to the races!

As most of you know this past year has been a series of trials beginning with Paul losing his job. Well, he was hired about a month ago to teach at Hays High School. He will be teaching Pre-engineering and Math as part of a program called Project Lead The Way. He is very excited!

Cynthia is going to be teaching 3rd grade at Williams Elementary School. Most of you may not know that Williams is a RECOGNIZED school based off this past years TAKS scores. Even though we have our opinions about standardized testing we are still very proud of our students who worked very hard this past year!

Anyway, New Teacher Academy begins Monday and we will both officially be working teachers! We are excited and nervous, but mostly excited. Please pray that we are just ready for the school year with our classrooms. This is a very exciting time in our lives and we are praising God for getting us through the past year or more!

Totally Awesome!

Big News!

Paul got offered a job in Hays CISD as a pre-engineering/Math teacher! We are so excited. Please pray for God to get us through this summer so we can settle into the school year!

We love you guys!

A full time job!!!!

You will all be glad to know that I was offered a job teaching 3rd grade at Williams Elementary! I am so excited! It is for next school year, and I will have benefits, retirement, and a salary! I never thought this day would come! I am going tomorrow to sign all of the papers!

As for Paul...he is working part time at church during the day, part time at The Home Depot at night (and when I say night I mean 8pm-midnight). And the poor guy substitutes when he can on top of that!

Please say lots of prayers because Paul is going to the job fair for Austin ISD this weekend, and we would love for him to land a job while he is there. They have been known to hire on the spot in high needs areas, and well...he is certifying to teach math, so we are praying this works out.

I guess that is all going on. I'm tired, and Paul is getting ready to go to work soon! Lots of substituting this week!

What has changed with those crazy Coppingers?

For those who are wondering what the answer to this question is this blog is for you!

To answer it simply not much..

Paul has been on several interviews for Math teaching positions but they have all chosen to go a different way. He is currently working part time a church, and finishing up his certification courses. We are praying that he will be able to get an internship this next school year.

Cynthia has been spending her days with 3rd graders at Williams Elementary. She is in a long term sub position for a teacher who had a baby in January. She will continue in this position through most of April.

You might be thinking that this school name sounds familiar to you, and it should. It is the same place where she did her student teaching. Needless to say she if forming deep relationships with the staff there so we are praying that she will be offered a full time position for the fall.

Other than that life is the same. God is at work in amazing ways, and we are still trying to figure out the next step on this path. However, we have come to realize that having Christ is a far greater treasure than anything this world has to offer. It is truly amazing for us to come to a point in our lives where we know God is taking care of us, and that He is going to provide for us.

Anyway, please leave a comment if you have any questions you would like for us to answer. Sometimes we just don't know what to tell y'all!

Spirtitual Warfare

So as most of you know we have been struggling with no jobs, working where we aren't appreciated, living off of the smallest amount we can make possible, and dealing with a miscarriage.

A couple of weeks ago I had an anxiety attack (which has happened before), and I realized that I just don't know how to deal with traumas from my childhood. I have been in counseling before and I talked about it, but I wasn't given tools to deal with things when they come up. I think I have been secretly hoping that counseling would make all of that go away and I wouldn't have to deal with it. So I think I was surprised when it all came up full force, and I was left standing there saying "Oh, no! What do I do?"

So this time around I am going to do Christian Counseling, and pray that through it I will learn tools from scripture that will help me deal with these things when they do come up. I have talked with some very wise people over the last week, and they have all said that counseling will help me learn how to deal with the situations from my past but it isn't going to take it away. Satan is going to always be there as the accuser reminding me of what has happened, how I have sinned, and telling me I am no good and worthless. I think I was a little shocked to hear that Satan was involved. I am always shocked when he attacks even though scripture tells me not to be. It tells us in 1 Peter that Satan is always looking for someone to devour so BE ALERT! I'm not sure if I am sleeping or what, but when Satan comes after me I am always wondering why me!

Our good friend John was telling us about a lecture series he has been listening to from Mark Driscoll on Spiritual Warfare. As I was listening to him talk about it I realized that all that has come up with my anxiety attack is not just in my head it is Satan in full force. John was telling us about one part of the series and he could have been telling me about how I feel, but from a different side. As I left I looked at Paul and I told him we have to be praying for protection, and we have to have our armor on at ALL TIMES! It was at that moment that I realized that some of the things that have happened to me were completely from Satan, and God has truly protected me. I have to say that when I accepted Christ at the age of 5 it was a vastly different experience than most I have heard, but Christ from that moment on was protecting me from satanic attack. It was not long after that when spiritual warfare began happening in my life. I didn't know it, but I know that Jesus was with me.

I just want to ask that you pray for Paul and I as Satan is coming at us like we never thought we would experience. We have been warned that Satan is going to try to come between us in our marriage, and he is already attacking me personally. Please pray that through counseling God will reveal to me how to forgive those who have been used by Satan to harm me, that I will learn how to deal with these attacks when they happen and not allow them to get to the point where I have anxiety attacks, and please pray for our marriage that God would be the center of it, we would come to Him at all times of day for wisdom, and that God will protect us as we go through this time.

Thank you for all you do for us, and especially for your prayers!

Happy Anniversary?

As I write this, I have been married exactly four and one half years. As some of you know, I am taking a speech class as part of my teacher certification classwork. Our last speech is today and it is a "special occasion" speech. So it could be an award acceptance or an eulogy or an after dinner speech.

As I talked to Cynthia about my topic a while back, we thought it would be great for me to "redo" my wedding toast to her. Not many know this, but my original message on our wedding video was awful. Seriously, really, really, reeeeally bad. Since we talked, I thought about it and thought about it. Basically, I knew this would be hard, so I found ways of talking myself out of it and trying to pick another topic. Stuff like "the format just doesn't work for what the Prof wants." Or, "I can't deliver a non-funny speech." Also, I had this funny award speech all ready to go this morning.

And Cynthia called me on it.

Basically, I hadn't put the time or effort into writing a speech that could have written itself - there's that much to talk about, really.

So, back to this morning... Having recognized that I was shirking something that could potentially be a very good profession of my love for my wife; I decided to do something about it.

I figured out a speech format that would work, I rewrote the speech and I gave it. Got a good grade and everything.

Great, you say, who cares? Nobody else gets to see it! So, I figured that maybe I could web-cam myself doing the speech for y'all, and most especially for Cynthia.

So, here it is:

Sorry for all the cuts - I'm kept fumbling words, so I just kept editing them out.

I would like to publicly apologize to my lovely bride - Darling, I'm sorry for letting this slip; I was wrong in doing that and I humbly ask for your forgiveness (even if it is in front of everyone).

I can't wait for the next 4.5 or 45 years of your companionship...

Happy Anniversary.5

-paul

For Kevin Burns...

Kevin needs an update...apparently he was left waiting on pins and needles since it has been awhile since we updated. So Kevin...this one is for you!

Most recently...Cynthia went to see NKOTB (aka New Kids On The Block). It was AWESOME! Except for the part when a lady threw her nude old lady bra on stage, and the worst part was when it was over and it was time to go home.

However, before she left for the adventure we made the decision to take a break from Trying to Conceive (TTC). So Cynthia is going back on the pill, but this time it is one that doesn't enhance the production of androgens in her ovaries so hopefully when we have jobs TTC will be less dramatic.

Paul is off in running as a substitute teacher. He has good days and bad days, but it is substituting so it is one of the hardest jobs in the world.

Other than that, we are just busy with substituting, tutoring, ministry, etc. We are VERY busy, and have no money...it sucks!

So Kevin...we hope that this appeases you for awhile and we will try to update more often ;).

To the glory of God

The sermon at church this morning was living life with a mission. Jake made a point to say that when we pray, we should pray for what we want to appease our selfish desires, but so that we can glorify God.

As I started to think about it I thought that I frequently pray that God will give us jobs so that we can have health insurance and pay our bills. Basically I want to live comfortably. Jake suggested that we should pray "God, let me have a job so that I can minister to those who need you, and you will be glorified.". This was new concept to me. I have never thought to pray for something so I can be better used by God instead of praying just for me.

My wish is that the pain of losing a child we never got to know, would go away. That one or both of us would have a job so we can have health insurance and pay our bills. But I also want God to be glorified as we go through this situation. I feel like we are failing miserably at this, but I pray that at some point in this struggle God has been glorified.

This is not where I thought I would be in life right now, and I don't know the purpose. All I know is that I serve a God who is gracious and merciful. I just want my heart to be content through the trials.

Rejection

Didn't you hate it when you were a teenager and someone of the opposite sex would say "You are really nice, but....", and then they turned you down? For some reason they just couldn't see the gem within you.

Well, yesterday Paul sent and email to the HR guy at Freescale, and he heard back from him this morning. Apparently they really liked Paul, but decided to go with someone internally. If another position comes open they might call him back. Texas Instruments said the same thing. What is it with these people? Do they not see a good thing when it is sitting right in front of them?

I know that God has a plan and He has opened doors for Paul to get his teacher certification, but WE NEED HEALTH INSURANCE!!!

I am praying that this principal calls me back with a job offer, that way we know that we can afford my seizure medication....ahhh....don't you love waiting?

Thank you!

Thank you to all of our friends who have lifted us up in prayer the last few days. It has been an emotional weekend, but we know that God is truly being glorified. Please keep praying for us as healing is taking place, and that God will provide jobs for both of us.

We love you guys, and are so glad that God gave you to us as friends and family.

Also, Cynthia has a blog that will share more in depth the events that are happening right now. Feel free to check it out and leave a comment here or there.

We two need you...

We both need jobs, peace, and your prayers. It has been a long weekend...the results of which are unknown. Please pray for us, specifically that God will grow our faith.

We love y'all!

The Next President...

Today I read an article by Christianity Today with the author of "Blue Like Jazz". This article really made me think about who I am going to vote for in the upcoming election. If you don't know Donald Miller who wrote "Blue Like Jazz" is giving the benediction at the Democratic National Convention. As you can imagine some evangelicals don't agree with his decision. In the article he even says that he is voting democrat. I can understand why evangelicals are in an uproar about this since the Democratic Party is pro-choice and condone gay marriage. However, as I read this article I asked myself some questions. Why do I want to vote Republican?

Donald Miller stated "I really felt like the Republican Party was taking advantage of the evangelical community by throwing us abortion and gay marriage, really not giving the heart of Christ more thought. I felt like it was the party of the extremely wealthy and they needed this conservative base in order to get a majority and so they pandered to us. I felt used by the Republican Party in that sense. I started looking at the Democratic Party and looking at social issues that are affecting the world, seeing the presidency and Congress from a global perspectives. Even though many Democrats don’t identify themselves as evangelicals, many of the precepts of the party, charitable foundation of the party did reflect what evangelicals are about, the sanctity of human life, the importance of really not leaving people behind. I don’t think either party is the answer to the world’s problems. I lean toward solutions the Democrats seem to favor."

This quote made me realize that Jesus is not Democrat or Republican. Jesus was about helping those who were in need. Jesus cares about those unborn babies, and Jesus cares about the sanctity of marriage, but Jesus cares about those in need.

In an interview with Rick Warren Obama said that he is pro-life but feels like the choice should be left up to woman. He said that we don't need to just be for or against abortion but focus on lowering the number of unwanted pregnancies. In regards to gay marriage he said the he believes that marriage is between a man and woman but that we can afford to give homosexuals the right to a civil union.

McCain also interviewed with Rick Warren and even though he is more cut and dry with his views about abortion and gay marriage, when you look at his stance on anything else he isn't as clear.

I haven't decided who I am going to vote for yet, but I know I am going to pray about it. I also know that our country needs to start caring about the least of these.


Check out these articles:

Donald Miller

Obama, McCain and Rick Warren

UPDATE!!!

Paul talked to one of the Human Resources guys at Freescale and he is going in for an interview on Tuesday! Please say lots of prayers for him!

He also has been accepted in to the Teacher Certification program at LeTourneau! He is looking at getting his certification to teach high school math. Please keep him in your prayers as he really wants to do what God desires.

Please pray that God will give us a clear direction and that He will close any doors that He doesn't want us to walk through!

And please keep praying for a job for me!

Thanks!

A Real, True, Redeeming Love

Over the past several years some people that I love have read "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers (this is the book based on the story of Hosea...from the Bible). I bought the book a couple of months ago and Paul read it but I haven't had time yet. So Tuesday when I was frantically cleaning through tears I saw the book laying on Paul's nightstand and I moved it to my nightstand so that I can at least have it available to read. I also have a Bible on my nightstand so I sat down and began reading Hosea.

To be honest I wanted to see the words I love you, and I am going to continue pursuing you right on the page. Instead I got a story. A story about how woman who was a harlot was pursued by a husband who wouldn't give up on her. Then I read about Isreal, whom God calls a harlot because they are selling themselves to things that don't glorify Him. As a read the words I realized that I often am a harlot. I follow after things that don't glorify God, but He still pursues me, just as Hosea pursued his wife Gomer. It was such a blessing to know that God still desires me when I am in the midst a crazy life and I am not having faith in Him.

I love that God shows us so often His love and mercy right at the time that we really need it. I read on Matt Chandler's blog last night...he said that he is so grateful that scripture isn't fair because fair would mean that he would get the punishment he deserves for his sin. It really made me think about fairness, and I have to say that I am also grateful that I get to experience a redeeming love that allows me to live instead of pay the penalty for my sin which is death. Is God great!

It's almost 1 am and I am still awake...

I guess the last time there was any blogging done I had just been real with all 2 of our loyal readers. I have to say that this might be another one of those posts. Life is hard...and I don't handle stress well at all. Since Paul has gotten laid off he has been to so many interviews I have lost count and still...no job. I have finished my certification and still...no job. People keep telling me God is faithful, and He will provide for us, and He has a plan for us. However, now that the severance package is nearing an end I am not sure how much of that I really believe anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I know these things to be true about God, but the question has become...do I trust Him. As scary as it was when Paul first got laid off at least we knew there was money for us to live off of. Now my faith is being tested, and we are running out of money.

I think pride is a HUGE issue in my life too. I mean a good friend of mine suggested that I apply for a Teacher Assistant position and I immediately reacted with the thought that "I am a certified teacher...why would I do that?". I also called my old boss at Primrose and talked to her...that seems like it isn't going to work out, but I still feel like I am too good to go back there sometimes...especially if I am not going to be Lead Teacher. How the heck did I become so prideful?

I know Paul is completely willing to do whatever so that we can have an income, but I think he has a college degree and work experience he should be able to get a job that someone with a college degree qualifies for. Looks like I have enough pride for the both us, and maybe that is what God is trying to work on.

I guess the biggest thing that you can pray for is that God will provide what we need even if we have to cut out some of the comforts we have come to know and love, that we can both have jobs that we are passionate about, that God will open doors for us, and that I can really trust in WHO HE IS because I know that He only desires the best for me.

Get Real!

There is a woman in my life who I have come to admire and appreciate more than I ever knew I possibly could. As I read her blogs I find myself encouraged, inspired, but most of all challenged. I am encouraged to look to God and follow Him with all that is in me, I am inspired to help others who need it so desperately and I am challenged to stop being so selfish and fake with those around me. This woman is my beautiful sister, Elizabeth. She recently posted on her blog a challenge from her friend Angel to GET REAL! I encourage you to check out both of their blogs and take the challenge. And here I am now terribly afraid of what you might think about me if I get real, but tired of being fake. So here goes...

Over the past couple of months:
*I have celebrated my 4 year anniversary with the man of my dreams, and realized that I don't appreciate him as much as I should, but I live in fear of life without him.
*I have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) when (what seems like) every woman around me is getting pregnant or having a baby and asked God..."Why not me?". I have found that there is a tremendous amount of bitterness, anger, jealousy, and resentment in my heart towards these poor women (and some of them I don't even know).
*My husband has lost his job, and I live in fear of the what ifs on a daily basis. I wonder what God's plan is for this stage of our lives because the comfort that we have is being challenged. I don't know what we will do if Paul doesn't find a job by the time the severance package runs out, and then there is the frustration with those who complain about the job they have.
*I often question why it seems that I have had to deal with every horrible challenge a person could possibly face, and then realize that I have a home, clean water, food to eat, and clothes to wear.
*I take for granted the blessings that God has given me, and worry about those things that are out of my control.
*My heart goes to from peace and contement to debilitating fear at least 10 times a day.
*I feel like telling you these struggles will change your opinion of me, and I forget that in Christ I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). And a new favorite verse of mine reminds me that these current afflictions are momentary and light. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

So there is my junk...now it is your turn to GET REAL!

Good news for some Bad news for others...

Paul did not get the job at Texas Instruments. His side of the family is sad because they want us closer and our friends and family here are sad that he doesn't have a job yet, and excited that we aren't moving. I am excited I don't have to look for new doctors yet.

Please keep praying for us, and God's direction in our lives as this is a very stressful time for us. Any words of encouragement would be wonderful!

Happy 4th Anniversary, My Love!

Today we celebrate our 4th Anniversary, and as I look over the past few years I see how God has made our marriage stronger and solid because it is founded on Him. You are truly a blessing from God and I love you more with each passing day!

Happy Anniversary!
XOXOXO

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

Well...two out of the three isn't bad, right? For those who didn't know we sold the Bronco back to Dad Coppinger. So we drove it to Mineola on Friday and then rode the train back to Austin on Sunday. There was a slight mix up with the dates on the tickets, but nothing so big that we had to stay in Mineola (unfortunately, since it is one of the best places to be!). In case you ever ride on the train you should know that you have one year to use your ticket. So in the rare instance that you put the wrong date when you are scheduling them....it is okay.

We took some great pictures waiting for the train at the Mineola Transportation Complex. Our train was two hours late, but that gave us time to look through the museum (which doesn't take very long, but if you are curious feel free to visit;)).

Anyway, we still got home at our scheduled time so it wasn't too bad, and riding the train is really fun! Everyone should have one experience on a train. Our weekend in Mineola was quite relaxing, and it is always a blessing to hang out with parents!

**An update on Paul's job hunt**Paul had a phone interview with Intel yesterday which we think is a dead end. It is for a job that Paul really doesn't know how to do. However, he received a phone call from HR at Texas Instruments (TI) and apparently the phone interview he had on Thursday really impressed the interviewer so he will be going in for a second interview. We aren't sure the date yet, but it will be sometime after our trip to Utah. Probably around June 9th or so. We will update when we know more. Please continue to pray for God's guidance and clarity.

Check out the pictures of our trip!

TrainRide