Merry Christmas 2009

It has been far too long since I've posted on this blog. God has been so faithful in our lives this past year. We have experienced, character building, friendship blessings, ministry growth, laughter, tears and a growth in our dependence and yearning to be all Christ would have us to be ~ as I sad before, God is faithful and we are grateful!!

Merry Christmas and God's Richest Blessings On You!

With Love,

The Polar Poeppings!

Mission Trip to Mexico

Wow, what a trip! We flew out on Wednesday night stayed in Seattle overnight and got to see Rod's parents for a few hours which was nice! We woke up early on Thursday, caught our flight down to San Diego where we met up with the Morissets and hopped into our Giant 15-passenger van - Muy Bueno! We got over the border and arrived at Mexico Caravan Ministries (http://www.mexicocaravanministries.com) at about 2:00pm. We met the staff, had our orientation and were ready to go!

10/17-We got up on Friday morning, had devotion time, worship and teaching and set off to build a house. We had an awesome building crew; Dave, April and Josh Morisset, Rod, Michael, Lucy and me and from the Caravan crew we had Britta, Travis, Laura, Eddie and Derrick (who used to be on staff and was down visiting). We had a fun day building, playing with the kids; Lupita and Jenny and of course with one another!

10/18-On Saturday we went out to a neighborhood about an hour's drive from the dorms and set up these huge tents and on the inside we put up an undressing area, delousing station, showers, clothing station, a dressing station, a foot washing station and an area to do hair, paint nails and love on the girls. It was a wonderful experience for each of us. I can't tell you how amazing it was to look over and see Lucy washing the girls' feet, picking out pretty socks to match their new outfit and giggle with the girls, priceless!

After we were done, we went to Rosorito beach and Michael, Lucy, Josh and Britta went swimming ... in all their clothes - ha ha! It was such a warm day at the bath house, I bet it felt GREAT!

We all went out to see the "Castillo" (The Castle) which is a ministry getting started in this amazing home/castle built on a hill overlooking Tijuana and the US border which will allow students to come and study under numerous Biblical teachings for a 9-month period, too cool! Then we went to dinner and stayed up way late, past curfew chatting, laughing and eating chocolate cake mmmmmm!
10/19-Sunday, well Sunday was a rough day for all of us physically (except Rod) - thank goodness or we'd have been TOAST! One by one, we all had our moment or in some cases, many moments getting sick! Josh started us all off and I think Lucy finished us up as we were sitting on the tarmac in Anchorage and each of us had our turn or, in my case many turns ... that was the LOOOOOOONGEST trip home I have ever experienced in my entire life! I feel like someone ran me over with a MAC truck!

Well, needless to say - all the single or double ended "relief" in the world cannot take away from the amazing experiences we had this past weekend having the joy and honor of serving Christ by building a home and helping His children feel loved and cared for. The blessing is ours, the memories will last forever and the friendships we've made with staff at MCM will remain for eternity ... I'm grateful, I'm different and I'm blessed!

For His Glory,
Diane

Wow, what an amazing summer. We have had such a full summer in our family. Here are a few highlights:

M and L had the opportunity to spend a month in Washington with grandpa, grandpa, auntie, uncle G, their new nephew Max and of course got to see their pals!! They went camping for over a week, went to Wild Waves, movies, shopping, had sleep overs and a lot of fun. It was really nice for them to have such a great time visiting with friends and family.

Just before the kids left to Washington we bought a house. We are excited to have an opportunity to set down roots here in Alaska. The house we bought is in the same attendance area as our rental home and will allow both kids to attend the same schools we planned for them to attend. This consistency is something really important to us so we're super happy it worked out. L will begin choir again and is looking forward to it.

R has been working very hard training for a half marathon that he'll run tomorrow! I am so proud of him! He has been so faithful with his running and it's exciting to watch!

We have just finished back to back visits from SVA. Roy came up a few weeks ago to shoot some videos that will be used in a sermon series of Rod's in the coming months. Then we had 19-guys come from SVA to help do a remodel on our building here in town. We now have a lobby, a foyer, the ability of folks to enter the sanctuary from the back (you used to walk right in on the side and EVERYONE could and would stare at you -- very uncomfortable)

Diane has a friend of the family (like an auntie) who owns a B&B on the Kenai River in Soldotna, AK. After they did the remodel they caravaned down to Soldotna and spent a few days fishing; salmon fishing and halibut fishing; some hired charters and some fished right from the shore. Even L & Diane caught some fish ... good times were had by all!

Both kids begin school on Wednesday and I cannot begin to tell you how ready we are for that~~ schedules are a GOOD thing in our house! M will begin his guitar lessons again and L is thinking of beginning piano lessons ... maybe they'll start a band!

We have had one of the ickiest summer on record here in Alaska (of course). We laugh that we've just survived an Alaskan winter and headed straight into a Seattle winter ... ha ha!

Well, all is going well for the Poepping's ... steady goes it! We miss you all and think of you often. We send our prayers, well wishes and our love!

For Him,
The Polar Poepping's

Hello all!

It's been far too long since I've posted. We have had a lot going on and our lives have been full!

In March M & L flew to Washington for a visit with family, school friends and daddy & mommy's friends too. They had a wonderful visit, got to see loved ones and enjoy family - especially baby Max :)

Rod flew out a week ago to spend some time in Snoqualmie on the front end of a business trip. He has been reporting back to me how much fun he has had seeing everyone and reconnecting. He heads out to the District Conference in Portland tomorrow afternoon and is excited to head home.

I fly out on Wednesday this week to head to Washington for women's retreat from our previous church and visit with friends. I'm so excited I can't see straight ... I'm going to start packing TODAY! For those of you who know me - you know that pre-packing is a HUGE deal; I usually pack 20-minutes before we need to be at the airport :)

M finished up wrestling 5th in the city which was no small feat - he had some serious competition! He has decided to become a rock star and received a guitar as a gift. Lessons will begin shortly.

L is still enjoying choir once a week at her school and her singing has improved a lot. She has deeloped some very sweet friends at school and has been bitten by the social bug here in Alaska!

The kids will fly out in mid June for four weeks to stay with their grandparents again. They will be camping, having sleep-overs, hanging out, enjoying cousin Max and family for a bit of their summer break.

Our weather here in Alaska has quickly changed; we went from sunrise at 9:50am and sunset at 3:00pm to now experiencing sunrise at 6:22am and sunset at 9:34pm giving us over 15-hours of daylight ... this is a bizarre place I tell ya! The best part about the weather in Alaska, is the lack of percipitation. I think we have had a total of 3 or 4 days of rain since we've moved here in October and for the most part, when it's daylight - it's sunny!

We are looking forward to a group of men from our previous church to come up this summer for a mission trip and experience Alaska. We are also very much looking forward to floating the Keni River and doing some fishing :)

We have been talking about it and it's time to start looking for homes. We will begin with the whole process sometime in May - early June. It's time to settle in a bit and make our home our own.

Well, that's what's up with us these days. I love when you post a comment or a thought, it's very uplifting to hear from you! Here are some items you can be joining us in prayer:

• Pray continued success with our church - we are growing and our desire is to grow as 'deep' as we do 'wide'
• Pray for M to connect with other boys here in town. Pray for him to get bitten by the social bug
• Pray for safe travels for our family in the days/weeks to come
• Pray we would be blessed with a home to purchase, in our price range and in a neighborhood well suited for our kids

Well, until next time ... we wish you well and send our love.

The Polar Poepping's

We are SO PROUD of Big-M!!

First off last week he received a certificate for Honor Roll!

Then, we went to his wrestling match on Thursday night
and he pinned BOTH opponents!

Getting ready ...



Watch this ...

... and this

... and THAT'S a pin!
WAY TO GO BIG-M!!!

It has been a long time since we've given an update on our Alaskan adventure ... life in the "permafrost" is going very well.

M has begun wrestling and this past Thursday got his first pin of the season (yay for him!!!) and he challenges for Varsity on Monday!! We experienced a loss in our family - M's bird Pepper passed away 2-weeks ago. That was his second bird that passed away so we are going to refrain from "replacing" this bird until the pain of this loss has subsided a bit.

LuLu has started going to choir one afternoon a week at her school and is really enjoying it - you should HEAR her sing - she's really got a talent! I have attached a picture of Lola, LuLu's bird, who against seemingly high odds has survived the Poepping household for now - "hang in there Lola!"

The kids are going to visit Washington over their spring break and are excited to see Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Tina, Uncle Garrett, their cousin Max, and ALL of their friends! They are putting together a "schedule of events" for their time in WA ... it's very cute! Both plan to have visits at their old schools and have sleep-overs etc. Please keep them in prayer as they travel on Friday March 7th, THANKS!

Rod has been busy with the church; organizing systems, different outreach ideas, building teams, preparing sermons and learning the in's and out's of full time ministry. The church is moving forward and we are developing some wonderful relationships inside and outside the church walls. Rod has put the first poker night is on the calendar which I know he is super excited about - now THAT is settling in as far as Rod is concerned!! Rod is traveling in April to District Conference in Oregon. He has plans to spend a few days in WA to reconnect and have hang time with family and friends - he's excited!

I am still plugging away at learning my job and I very much like it. I work for two teams; they are very different from one another in a lot of ways which is good for me because it never gets dull! I am not one who flourishes someplace mundane and stagnant, that's for sure! I am planning a visit to WA to attend the women's retreat from our previous church. I am excited for the time to commune with God in a familiar "thin" place. "Thin places" are those places in our lives where heaven and earth feel as though they connect - where we feel ultra connected to God - I feel that way about the wonderful camp where we are going for the women's retreat ... anxious to meet God there! I am very happy that this visit will allow me to spend time with my family - especially that I get to spend the day with my mom-in-law on her birthday!


Prayer Requests:

**Keep Rod's ministry in prayer: that God's goodness would shine through all he does
**Keep M, LuLu, Rod and I in prayer as we prepare for travel
**Keep Diane in prayer as I move forward with the development of a healing ministry at our church
**Keep our housing situation in prayer as we look at the options and possibilities of purchasing a home here in ER
**Keep our finances in prayer; the move here took it's toll on us financially and we really want to honor God with all we do financially

Please let us know how you are doing by posting a comment!

Until next time,
The Polar Poepping's

What a year, huh? I think it goes without saying that our family has had an exciting year. As I reflect on the many highlights, I’d like to share some with you;

• Our friends John & Mary “left it all” and committed to serving as full time missionaries in Mexico
• Vacationing to Cannon Beach with our friends Roy & Joy
• Rod’s ordination and interim position in Lynnwood
• Diane chairing Women’s Retreat @ SVA
• Rod’s sister Tina delivered our beautiful little nephew, Maxwell James
• Diane completed her second Danskin Sprint Triathlon
  
• Our son came in 2nd overall in the division in wrestling
• Our daughter found a love of softball
• Our family went to Canby Grove for the C&MA’s Family Camp
• Rod left his 10-year career as a commercial electrician to accept a Lead Pastorate in Eagle River, Alaska
• We sold our home in Snoqualmie
• Diane got a job at a financial institution in the same building her father built 25-years previously
• We now have a pet - a parakeet named Lola
  
• We had our first of many (we hope) house guests and were excited to share our Alaskan adventure with;

* John and Mary who spent nine days with us celebrating a “Misfit Christmas”

* Rod’s parents, Mike and Deb who came for a great (but too short) six day visit also celebrating Christmas and getting some good quality time with their grandchildren

• We rang in the New Year with our new church family playing games, laughing and building community

This has been a large year. We are forever grateful for each one of you who has supported and encouraged us to get where we are today; our lives are richer for having family and friends who love and support us the way you do, thank you!

We wish each of you a very Happy Holiday Season and a life-transforming New Year!

For Him,

The Polar Poepping’s

P.S. - please feel free to leave a comment and let us know how YOU are doing!!