A year in one post!

Okay I'm going to attempt to catch up here, but not sure if my memory is that great and not sure how to post on my blog anymore.  So I hope it all turns out okay.  The last time I wrote on this was Feb 5, 2013.  A ton has happened and our biggest trial ever, happened in this time.. well 6 months ago.  So my post will maybe be dates with a few pics and words.  Anyway here goes.....

Feb 14, 2012 was Mic's 21st birthday!  I have a 22 year old, that means I'm 29 again, no really I am....well that would mean I would have had Mic when I was 7.  GROSS!!  So I guess you are not believing me... well okay.....I'm coming up on my ______ birthday.  There hows that?  Anyway it was Mic's birthday and he celebrated it in Sweden!  How cool is that. Here is a picture, but it might be small

March 20, 2012  Zac turned 12 this year and is a 2 year Deacon.  Here is a photo from this year a year later, but it might give our big trial away since I'm not posting about that yet.  Well I guess it's not a secret since everyone knows about it.  But this picture is way cool cause all of our sons have the Priesthood now and they were all together to go to Priesthood, thankfully.  This was taken this year in April.  I also did give a talk on Easter 2012 in Sacrament meeting, just for the record.  Gotta record those you know so the Bishopric knows in case they ask you, you have proof.  LOL!  It was also Parkers 19th birthday!  Legal now!!

 

 

 April 2012 was kinda a big month.  My Dad who had worked at BYU for about 47 years as a Barber was forced to kinda quit.  They were letting go all the full time people there and he was one of them.  It's really sad how they handled it all, but kinda good cause he has a barber shop at his house and he took all his BYU customers with him and that's a ton over 47 years.  So if you need a hair cut he is the best Barber in the world and he is just in Orem.  Has a website too.  Here is photo of him at his retirement party we threw for him. 

April 2012 was Haley's 1st prom.  Look at those muscles!  She was so pretty that night.  Okay I better post a better one.  What a nice gentleman he is opening his amazing car door for her. 

 

 

 

May 2012 was kinda busy too with Reilly's 14th birthday and Zac's 6 grade graduation!!!  No more Elementary school for us!  It's so weird not having any kids in Elementary school.  We did that for about 18 years straight!  Lot's of activities, Halloween parties to plan, room moms, PTA lots of years and trying to help with their homework.  They are smarter than me!  Well here is Reilly's birthday picture





And Zac's Graduation.  He is almost as tall as me!!  Well he is taller now, a year later.

 

 

June 2012 was a huge month!! My 2nd half marathon, 5k's and Youth Conference.  That was a hard half for me.  I went alone and I thought it would just be on the trial in the canyon all the way, but we started out on the highway which seemed to be more up hill.  I had had the flu that week and was feeling okay, but on mile 4 I got sick, but I pushed through the next 9 miles!!!  About mile 6 or 7 we got on the trail that started at Vivian park and then we came out of canyon and ran on University Ave and ran to Center street where the new Temple will be.  I made it in 2 hr and 35 min!  I also did the 5K scout run which I always love.  I tried so hard to beat Amy Sorensen, but will never happen.  She is amazing!  And of course I can never stay up with Rachel Boconegra. She is like lightning!  I'm so proud of her and all her cross country stuff.  She is FAST! 

 

 





Youth Conference was in June and it was up the canyon which was a lot of fun. 

 

 

The Young Women Sleepover/Manti pageant was SO much fun!   We took all the girls to see the pageant on the rehearsal night and it was amazing!  We didn't have to fight the crowds at all.  We stayed at Donna Gublers brothers house.  We had one huge room and slept there.  Andy and Bro Cossey came as Priesthood.  It was crazy fun!  I LOVE THESE GIRLS!!  All the YW!  I really miss them.  Got released this year which will be in another post!  Sad day, but this day was fun! 

 

 

 

July 2012 was HUGE with 4th of July 10K, Girls Camp, and Mic coming home from his mission.  Here is my 10K picture

 

 



Girls Camp was at Spanish Fork canyon with the choo choo trains and all the Bear-Cows!  The fires were too close to go to Camp Mia Shalom, the best camp in the whole world!  But we made this SF camp ground a Mia Shalom.  Stand in Holy Places right!  Mia Shalom is everywhere.  It was totally amazing!  Even with the train honking it's horn, I'm sure on purpose in the middle of each night!  Loved that train!  Ha Ha!  We also had a sprinkler that Bro Kratzer brought up for us.  It was so hot and we stuck our feet in buckets of cold water.  So much fun!!!!!!  GIrls Camp is so amazing and the spirit is there every time.  I just went to my last girls camp this year, which will be in another post.  I'm really really going to miss it bad!!

 



 

 

 

 

Okay Mic came home this month from his mission!!!!!  I would love to do a huge posts about that but I'm running out of time.  He did such a great job on his Mission and he stuck with it.  We are so proud of him and all that he did and all the many lives he touched!  He had some amazing experiences and did so much on his mission.  We had a little homecoming at our house after his talk.  Here are some pictures.  We are so glad to have him home!!!! 

 

 

All his family welcoming him home!

 

Haley and I could not let him go.  We hung on to him!

Love this cute cousin picture of the feet!

All the YW helped make this poster.  Valorie Gubler drew the Missionary!

 

October 2012 was a hard month.  We lost our dog Scout we have had for a long time.  He got really sick and the vet said he was on his way out and would not recover.  It was extremely sad!  Here is our Scout. We miss you tons!

 

 

 

Christmas 2012.  Here is our attempted Gingerbread Mansion we did this year,  Not as great as last year, but still BIG!  Also Santa party, riding a horse carriage at Riverwoods, A big box of chocolate from Parker, and visiting Temple square as a whole family! 

 

 

 

Well I was going to continue, but I'm not sure how to save all this that took me an hour to do and if I leave the computer it might disappear so I'm stopping here.  It's one month shy of a year.  So much more happened this year of 2012, but time is short.  This year was great!  Full of camping (ward campout, girls camp, youth conference) YW stuff, family stuff, birthdays and lots more.  Now onto 2013 which was an even crazier year and a year of some trials, but we have made it and things are going well.  We hope all is well with all of you.  Love reading your post!  





 

 

 

















An update from the Lopp's.

I'm not too great on updating my blog, but I so admire those of you who do and I love reading your blogs.  They inspire me.  Thank you for all your posts.  Not much has been going on with the Lopp family.  I did my first half marathon with Parker at halloween time, and it was amazing  The holiday's went by fast.  We did make a Bigger gingerbread house than last year and it came with a pool.  We had our annual Santa christmas party with all of the family over. 

Parker is doing great at college and he is looking forward to coming home to get ready for his mission.  Mic comes home July 20th of this year, a week after scout camp and girls camp, which are the same week.  He is doing great and is in the most coveted part of the Sweden mission.  He is in a big ward with lots of youth.  Haley is Haley and loves school!  She wants to enjoy her last year at HS to the fullest.  She loves student council and her softball.  Reilly is growing so tall and is in a size 13 shoe!!  Zac is just a little Parker and loves to sykpe with Parker. 

Andy and I are just busy working and working.  I'm going on my 4th year in YW.  All the YW are such an inspiration and I love them all so much. 

We are looking forward to spring and summer especially with Mic coming home and Parker going on a mission.  I'm thinking about signing up for 2 half marathons this summer.  I'm hoping some of our kids will do it with me.  That's about all with the Lopp's 

A Missionary on a playground as a kid

So Mic and his companion happen to come upon this little playground in Sweden and decided to let their little kid in them come out and play.  He sent all his pictures on a flash drive home and I had no idea this video clip was on it.  I was so excited to watch it over and over and I thought I would share it.  I could not get it to work earlier, so today I thought I would try it one last time and it worked!!  Hope you enjoy the little kid in Mic!  He only has less than 8 months left and is doing great.  He has a companion that has lived in Utah for 5 years and is from Sweden, so he speaks fluent Swedish, so Mic is learning alot.  His first pair of shoes are finally worn out, he did say he could use duck tape and they would be fine.  The picture he sent of them duck tape would not hold.  Mic is so frugal and will use duck tape for anything to make it last.  So for Christmas he is getting new shoes.  I am sending him letters from the ward if anyone wants to email or give  me a letter to him.  I want to print them out and attach it to a foam Christmas tree ornament to put on his life size tree I made for him last year.   I'm sending it this week.  My email is jewels5kids@hotmail.com

Hope you enjoy the video!

"I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

This is a beautiful story I found on the Missionary Mom email list I am on. I actually sobbed reading it, so have some Kleenex ready. I sent this to Mic and I think every Missionary needs this story.

He's Been There Before

The alarm rings at 6:30; I stumble to my feetI grab my companion's bedding and pull off his sheet.A groan fills the room. It's already time to arise?"It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes.

The morning activities follow: study, prayer and suchWhen its time to leave the apartment, you feel haven't accomplished much"We have a super day planned," my Companion says with a grin.I lowly utter a faithless breath, Yea, if anyone lets us in.

With the word of God and my faithful schwinn, we ride off in the street.Prepared to face another day of humidity and heatIt's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through.My companion and I are riding home, not accomplishing what we thought we'd do.

We ride up to the mail box hoping to receive a lot.Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "AIRBOX"We go up to our apartment; the day is now completethe only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It's past 10:30 Pm, my companion is fast asleep.Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weepIn the midst of sadness I kneel down to pray;I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say.

"Oh Father," I begin, "What happened to us today?I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was awayMy hands, my aching hands worn, hurt and beatIf our area was any smaller,we'd have knocked on every street."

Why on missions are the days so much alike?the only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike.Will you send some cooler weather? the heat is killing me!I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes. Its very hard to see.

Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?People always laugh at me and call me stupid stuff.Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack;I want to give them Book Of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back."

And what about my Family? They don't have much to say.I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day.Oh Father,why am I here, Am I just wasting my time?Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind.

My Companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?The way he rides his bicycle I don't know if he can even see!Now you have it, I can't go on. I DON'T KNOW what to do!That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I leave you."

My prayer now finished I stand up, then jump right into bed.I need my feet for tomorrow; we have another long day aheadSleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away.Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day.

I'm standing alone on the hill, the view is very nice.A man walks towards me and says, My name is Jesus Christ."Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet."Arise he states, follow me to the shade you and I need to speak."

My attention towards my Savior, total and completeHe says, "Your Mission is similar of what happened to me.I understand how you feel, I know what your going through;In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you.

"Even know how you felt when no one listened to youAt times I felt not quite sure what else that I could do.I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for a car would be sweet.Just remember the donkey I rode I was not equipped with 21 speed.

I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate.I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, " Oh, the agony was great.I see you don't like your companion you would rather have someone else.I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth.

It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you.I remember when they put thorns in my head and called me King of the Jews.So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack.I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back."

Your hands hurt from tracking and knocking on doors all dayI guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ache in a similar way.It's hard not to hear from home when your family was not there to see.I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why has though forsaken me?"

We have a lot in common, but there is a difference between us you see.I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me."He embraced me with his arms, His light filled me with His love.With tears in my eyes, I watched as he went back to the Father above.

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head.I listened and heard the alarm, when I realized I was in my bed.My companion let's out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"I sat up and said. Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

No matter what we go through when we feel we can't take more,Just stop and know that we can go on with our Saviors example and we want to be like Him! We will not be given anything we can't handle. Let's carry each others scriptures and press forward.

lyrics to a song Mic made up.

This is lyrics to a song Mic made up. He played the piano and sang this song at Zone Conference this month. He does have 2 Uncles named Gary.

My name is Elder Gary
and I'm a missionary
I go around the city
and people think we're scary

We dress in Dark suits Daily
Lookin the same from day to day
But people see our smiles
and wonder what we have to say

Ooo, we're swedish missionaries
we eat potatoes and rice
we have to have our Saft daily
and we eat with a fork and a knife!

It's 6:30 in the morning
the sun has yet to rise
i look outside, its snowing
it just makes me want to cry

But studies get me going
it gets my brainwaves flowing
we feast from these here scriptures
our knowledge ever growing.

Ooo, we're swedish missionaries
We eat meatballs and Rice
we have to have our Saft daily
and we eat with a fork and a knife!

Lunch is done, so lets run
Lets go cantakting cause its fun
Contact that man he's on the run!

2 or 3 teaches are on the way
How can I make my teaching better today
Ask questions, adjust my teaching
am i really really listning?

Ooo, we're swedish missionaries
We eat Chicken and Rice
we have to have our Saft daily
and we eat with a fork and a knife!

I go to member middags
then come home and eat some more
I've already gained 5 kilo's
so its time to knock some doors!

Its time for bed
theres too much going on in my head
dop datums, member dinners, new people we have meet
there's fredrik, johanas, safi..........zzzzzzzz
(snoring and then a chromatic run up the keyboard)

Ooo, we're swedish missionaries
I have yet to try Surströming
we have to have our Saft daily
and we eat with a fork and a knife!

Beautiful song! "I Love You, Son"

This is an amazing song about a father and a son that I absolutely love. We talked about it in our YW lesson today. Our Heavenly Father and the Savior are always there and loves us no matter what we have done. The words to the song really touch your heart. It helps you to be a better parent and to love your kids even more when they do something wrong. It teaches you how to respond the right way without anger. It teaches you to lovingly discipline them when they do something wrong. This is how Christ is and we want to be like him, right?

A New Years Resolution

So I have not even made a list of 2011 resolutions. I have not had a desire to make one, until today. I have my first one. I taught combined YW today and the lesson was on God the Father. It was a hard lesson for me to put together, cause usually a lesson on faith, tithing, scriptures or love is easy for me to pull together things and talk about alot. This lesson I had to really think and learn about before I could teach it. I learned alot about God the Father and how He is so much like Jesus Christ. They are the same in all that they do.

Haley read the Ugly Duckling story and how he had a desire to be something better and believe in himself and to follow the other beautiful swans. I have a better desire to be like God the Father just like the Ugly Duckling wanted to be like the swans. I hope that the spirit was strong in my lesson. At times I felt like I was repeating myself and when I looked at everyone I felt like I lost my thoughts. For some reason I got really nervous an hour before I taught it. I knew I had been working on it for a few weeks and I felt prepared, but I felt like I had no confidence and at times my thoughts were not there. After the lesson a few people told me the spirit was strong and they were grateful for it. I felt the spirit, but it came in spurts. I hope the girls learned more about God the Father and felt the spirit strong and got something out of the lesson that can help them get closer to their Father in Heaven. I love teaching the YW and being with them. They inspire me so much and they are like family. I want them to achieve and be all that they can be.

My first New Years resolution is to communicate with Heavenly Father through prayer. I know that I need to work on this alot and so I'm grateful for this lesson I taught and for having a desire to talk to my Father in Heaven more.

Our Christmas Gingerbread Mansion!!!

Our HUGE gingerbread mansion! It took a few hours to make. Parker made a swing a bench and the stairs out of popsicle sticks. It took a whole box of grahm crackers from costco, lots of frosting and lots of candy. It was so much fun!

A Missionary Christmas! Love this poem!

A Missionary Christmas (author unknown)

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there. No
pictures taken with Santa Claus, My decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...

This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
I've reread November's Ensign, felt strength come from His words.
Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,

This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion , their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,

I'm giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their
shine. He's always hungered for the part of him that makes his soul
divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard, his choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand. This year,

I'm giving Him my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter. I think I finally understand:
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make, This year...

I'm giving Christ my son.

I know there's One who understands the sacrifice I'm making.
Who knows the gift I willingly give, the toll it will be taking.
For He has done it all before-- greater love, there could be none.
For years ago God gave to me,

His only begotten son.

The hands I washed, the hands I held, the hands I taught to pray;
Now knock on doors to find the ones who will listen to what he'll say.
Because I know Christ needs him, until all the gathering's done,
My gift has taken years to make.

This year...I'm giving Christ my son.


I loved this poem and for a week now I have been trying to copy and paste it to my blog and it would not let me. It finally worked! This poem makes me cry everytime I read it. I love the last paragragh... The hands I washed, the hands I held, the hands I taught to pray... now knock on doors to find the ones who will listen to what he'll say...

More pictures of Mic

Mic's first baptism, well he said it's not his, but the sisters investigator. They needed an Elder to baptize her, so they asked Mic

Mic doing his favorite thing, baking cinnamon rolls

Mic loves pinnapple

Mic's and his companions baptism! The one on the left is Mic's companion

Mic's church is on the right on the bottom floor

MTC Pictures Mic and Cory Companions

Love this Picture at the Provo Temple right when they got to the MTC!!

At the Provo Temple

Stockholm, Sweden!!!

Classroom at the MTC!

In their MTC room..... Ah I miss Mic!

New Family pictures

Help with my blog!

My design of my blog suddenly disappeared, and I can't seem to fix it. Does anyone know how? I really need to update my blog. I'm way behind. I have tried updating it with "cutestblogontheblock" but it's not working.

The MTC

Well, the day finally came! First I woke up with a hive on my eye, so nice big swollen eye for the MTC, then I got one on my arm and then my feet and hands started itching, but they quickly went down when we got the MTC, my tongue was even itching and it did not go away till the next day, but at least the swelling went down. Mic was pretty nervous, but he said "Well I think I have everything" meaning let's go! We first took him to Tacanos as a going away gift because he loves that place and unfortunately all our kids do to! As we were eating we were talking about all the things he needed and packed just to make sure he had everything and when I said journal, he said "Oh no" then that started all the other things he forgot, so we quickly called my sister Shari to stop by and get all the things he forgot. She was able to bring them to the MTC, so that was relief! When we got there they had people directing you to the parking lot for pictures, then they said we could walk over to the wall across the street to take a picture then walk back to our car get in and drive back over and drop him off at the curb. How sad, at the curb? But that's all we could do, so we did. As we came up to the curb there was 2 missionaries to greet him and we all got out and gave our last hugs crying the whole time. I miss the song they used to sing when you went in the MTC. Called to Serve, but I heard it a few times this last week, so it was okay. Well, that was it, very short good bye and now he has been in there for almost 2 weeks, I have got an email and 1 written letter. He is doing okay, he just said it's hard, but he is going to stick with it. We miss him! Here is the pictures in the parking lot

Mic and his Aunts(Karen, Shari, Mic and Joni), just missing one, and it's Shelley.

Mic ready to go

Mic waving goodbye. This is the picture that got me sobbing in the car. WOW! Can't believe he is going to be gone for 2 years!

Parker really excited to go! Okay, it just looks that way.