Signing On!

Category: Uncategorized
It’s been two months since I last blogged.

Admittedly, I’m hesitant to get back on here and say much of anything based on some criticisms we received about it a couple months ago.   I’ve thought about quitting it altogether, but it made me sad just thinking about it.  Then, I thought about changing the address of where I blog and only informing supporters of it’s new location.  All of this seemed rather cowardly and if you know me at all, I’m not someone who takes a fearful approach to my life.  I’m rather outspoken with strong goals and convictions, and passionate about Christ.  While I do not intend to offend anyone with my blogging, there may be times that I handle my life differently than you would, brag about our daughter excessively, and may have people who comment on these blogs in a way you find annoying.  My only intent is to offer you a glimpse into the adventure of our lives.  Come along for the ride, if you so choose.  Today is the day that I shed any fears or insecurities and proceed forth with something that has given me great joy for over a year.

Perhaps I need to revisit WHY I blog.  I have three goals that I hope to achieve through this blog:

1.  A baby book / memory book of sorts for Siena - something she can look back on and have fun reading about herself and seeing the ways God has been working in our lives during her first years of life.

2.  A way to keep family and friends up-to-date on Siena’s new developments and informed on the many changes going on in our lives; this way you can know how best to pray for us.

3.  And finally, my prayer is that what we share with you will potentially bless you.  We have had some pretty hard times over the past year or so and yet, I feel God is truly growing us and giving us reason to praise Him despite the storms and even BECAUSE OF the storms!  I hope that any encouragement He has given us, will in-turn encourage and bless you as well!

So…there it is.  For what it is worth.  Terra Roper is signing back on!

Since I last blogged, as usual, much has occurred for our little family!  Siena and I flew back to Denver at the end of January and packed up as much as we could, with the help of my parents.  Ryan joined us at the end of that week and we loaded a small UHaul trailer (with the help of my parents and Ryan’s dad - thank you!!) with all of the necessities we would need for living in a small apartment in Shawnee, Kansas.  We ended the week with Ryan’s family, celebrating his Grammy’s 80th birthday!

PopPop, Gg, and Chancy the cat help Siena read a book

Four generations - Grammy, Jan, Siena, & Ryan

Packed to the gills, we slowly pulled out of the driveway of the sweet house on Milliken Street that we had called home for over 3 years.  So many memories…  Yet, there was an adventure with God awaiting us in Kansas City.  And while we don’t know all that this yellow-brick road may hold for us, we do know that there is a peace that comes in knowing you are following the Will of a faithful God who does not change and has our best interests in mind.

Mark and Taylor Hamilton, who we had been staying with up until this point, helped us move into our tiny one-bedroom apartment on February 1st.  We are only 15 minutes from Ryan’s office and he is loving that part!  It’s taken me awhile to get us all moved in here.  Talk about getting creative on the organizing front!  It’s not easy having so little storage space, but we’ve made it work.  Siena even has part of the closet in the bedroom as her little hideaway!  Her pack ‘n play fits just perfect and we even brought Squirrel Nutkin with us from the Milliken House.  Ryan painted that beautiful mural in her nursery, and Siena had grown fond of saying “Goodnight” to Squirrel Nutkin every time she went down for a nap.  So, I took a picture of that silly Squirrel, printed him off, and now he is hanging over her pack ‘n play.  What a treasured token from the nursery she can no longer enjoy.  She seems to like him in her new closet-nursery, though!

Mark & Taylor helping us move in!



A couple photos of our new digs…

Not long after we moved in, we were joined by very unwanted company.  We thought we were killing some of the weirdest ants we had seen.  We soon learned it was a brand new crop of baby cockroaches.  The onslaught of cockroaches (big ones too!) came soon after, and we found them on our counters, in our pantry, on the floor, in the dishwasher, and even the bathroom sink.  Apparently, they like toothpaste residue.  Who would’ve thought?  It took a bit of hassling with the main office, but they soon hired a very competent exterminator to help us out.  He was pretty sure the cockroaches were coming over from our neighbors, so he treated their apartments too and has been coming every two weeks ever since.  For the first few treatments, however, I had to unload every cabinet in the kitchen and bathroom and then I could put it all back and then do it all over again in two weeks.  So much for “moving in”.  Life felt very chaotic here for the first few weeks for sure.  I *believe* we’re done unloading the cabinets now because we haven’t seen any cockroaches for a couple weeks now and we are thrilled!  Talk about disgusting!!  The exterminator is going to continue coming for quite awhile yet, as they are apparently very difficult to get rid of permanently.  We’ve taken on a whole new level of clean around here.  There’s not an item of food that isn’t in a Ziploc bag and we never leave a dirty dish in the sink for even a minute.  I also vacuum at least two times a week and have to run the dishwasher every night.  So, the first stop of the adventure hasn’t been overly thrilling!

Another strain in the adventure - Ryan was backed-into in our apartment complex a couple weeks ago and we are still fighting her insurance on this one.  She claims that Ryan “backed” into her.  We’re trying to figure how that worked since her back bumper plowed into the front of Ryan’s car.  Thankfully, I witnessed the whole thing and took photos, so we’re hoping this resolves itself shortly.  We could use your prayers on this!

We have loved having our own space, though, despite the financial strain of maintaining a mortgage payment along with a rent payment and paying for the electricity/water/etc. of two different homes.  Our home in Colorado has not yet sold, but we are still optimistic that it will and that God has just the right buyer for us in HIS time!

Weekends have been fun around here!  We’ve spent each weekend discovering a new part of this city we now call home.  It’s been nice being free of home owner obligations and being able to just skip out the door each Saturday.  We’ve also been trying a new church each Sunday.  The Nazarene denomination is headquartered here in KC, so we feel like we are in a Nazarene candy shop when it comes to the number of churches here!  We are having fun experiencing the different kinds of churches within the denomination and will hopefully find one that we can call ‘home’ soon!

Lunch with Dad!

Fun at the park! (It wasn’t me, Mom!  It was him!)

Throwing leaves!

Siena and I have also started attending a toddler story time at our local library on Tuesday mornings and go swimming at the indoor pool at our complex on Thursdays.  She loves both of these activities, eagerly waiting for me by the front door and shouting bye bye when she knows where we are headed!  I am cherishing these moments with my tiny girl, who is getting bigger and bigger on me everyday.  She just turned 15 months last week and we had a great appointment with her new pediatrician. She is picking up a lot of new words and is walking all over the place these days!

Here she comes, Hollywood!

Busy walking everywhere!

Our bathing beauty!

Having one of her famous tea parties!

The adventure may not be without hardship, but what a depressing life we would live if we never said ‘yes’ to the Will of God.  Ryan and I never saw ourselves going down this “yellow-brick road” to Kansas, but we’ve talked since then of the ramifications of rejecting God’s leading in our lives.  We would have missed out on His blessings, turned our backs on the growth opportunities He has planned for us, and by settling for the comfortable and “known”, we would be accepting of the complacent Christian life, that which is to be greatly feared!  Never in my life do I ever want to be called a complacent, comfortable Christian.  I want Siena to see that her parents stepped out in faith and said ‘yes’ to an adventure with God!  We are called to live radically for Him and though it may not be an easy road, it definitely leads to amazing blessings!  We PRAISE you, Lord!

March 22nd, 2010
10 comments so far

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  1. Rhiannon Turner Says:
    March 22nd, 2010 at 2:28 pm

    I am sorry to hear about the opposition you were faced with earlier this year in regards to your blog. After reading this, I felt the need to let you know that I LOOOOOVE your blog! I love getting to see all of the pictures & watch Siena grow, even from a distance. Since I have not yet met her, it is a blessing to feel like I know her at least a little bit. More than that, your faith & courage truly does bless me. You are braver than I can ever imagine being, but your journey reminds me that we should all focus on what we NEED rather than all the things we WANT…and also, that God truly does provide for our needs. Thank you for sharing! Please don’t stop!

    Love you!

  2. Gg Hirst Says:
    March 22nd, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”
    Who would have ever thought it would really be Dorothy’s Kansas???

    Ryan, Terra, and Our Ever Precious Siena -

    Didn’t see it coming. Didn’t think life’s storms (tornado) would take you far away to Kansas. However, you demonstrated great COURAGE, Ryan (and Terra) in stepping out on faith and trusting God with a new future for your family - taking the new job and establishing a new life in Kansas City. The 2 of you spent time before God to find His WISDOM for your lives and what steps to take. And through this walk, this life journey, with our amazing God - He is increasing the LOVE OF YOUR HEARTS for Him. With that increased love for and faith in the Lord, you will lead precious Siena in His ways - directing her little heart to Him, and showing her the faith it takes to follow His leading in one’s life.

    It hurts not to have you here any longer. It hurts to miss out on so much of Siena’s life. It hurts to see that empty nursery and vacant home. It would hurt so much worse to not see you following after the Lord and trying to live faithfully for Him. We pray over little Siena ALWAYS that she will grow up serving and loving our Father God all the days of her life — and with great passion. We pray the same for Mady, Logan and Laurell as well. The next generation raised up for the Lord! Earth is not our home - just a temporary place to learn to live for and practice our worship of our Coming King and Lord.

    So thankful you are walking as a couple, as a family, in the footsteps of the Saviour - following Him - leading Siena! — I Peter 2:21 —- So thankful you didn’t have to go “home” to Kansas to find a Heart for God, God-inspired Wisdom, and God-filled Courage. He blessed you with His faithfulness in your lives before you ever departed Colorado.

    Take care of that little angel of our hearts - Sweet Siena! You have our LOVE and PRAYERS over the 3 of you - ALWAYS!

    Much Love! — Mom (Gg) and Dad (PopPop)

  3. Ashley Says:
    March 22nd, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    I absolutely love your updates! I don’t get to see you guys often and it is fun to read about everything happening in your lives! I love all the pictures of little Siena as well! She’s just as beautiful as her mom and dad and I can’t wait to meet her!
    Miss and love you guys!!
    Ashley

  4. Terra Says:
    March 22nd, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    Thanks, Mom - love how you wove more of the Oz theme in there! Thank you for your love, prayers, and support! It means the world to us! We miss you guys too…more than you know.

    Thanks, Rhiannon - I’m so glad you are getting to “know” Siena this way too! This whole year has been a big dose of what I need versus what I want. It’s not an easy thing to deal with and I struggle with it on probably a daily basis. But, we are abundantly blessed and I have to keep reminding myself of that! I love keeping in touch with you on FB too! Give that big guy of yours a hug for me!

    Thanks, Ashley! It is good to keep in touch with you too! I like razzing you on FB too! :o) Thanks for letting me pick on you! You’re a great cousin and I am anxious to see you again! Can’t say when for sure, but I hope it’s soon!

  5. Heather Says:
    March 23rd, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    I can’t imagine who would be so bold as to oppose how you express your love and adoration for your baby, husband, and Savior. I do believe that is what a blog is for. You should have absolute freedom to express yourself for the memories it will leave for your precious child someday. This also gives those of us who are so far away a wonderful window into which to glimpse the growth Siena is making and keep us with the changes in your lives. I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world. Don’t quit blogging! I absolutely love the blogs! I also find new information that allows me ways to pray for you and your wonderful family! Know that I love you all so very much! This is a very challenging time in your lives, but someday you will look back and see the hand of God so very clearly. These moments are precious. Our children grow so fast, and life seems to go so quickly by us. Treasure this time, as I know you are! I love you all! Let me know if I can do anything to help in any way! -Heather

  6. Michelle Dye Says:
    March 24th, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    Hirsty! Love you muchly and I am now sad and missing you after reading your blog and seeing all the pics. So..because of the sadness you make me feel I have to say that I am in agreement with the naysayer–no more blogging! Of course, I am just kidding (as you know). Keep it up.

    We need to chat sometime soon. It never seems long enough, but I don’t think any amount of time would. No vacation time with you is ever long enough either. Man, I am just one hard person to please. :o )

    Tell you mom thanks for the great sermon she left in your comment page. It blessed me and reminded me of the quick life we do have on this earth and can’t wait for eternity with Him.

    Love you muchly!

  7. Dan Says:
    March 25th, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    I’ve missed the blog but am glad to know that it is back on! I could never have the discipline to blog - I can barely handle my facebook page! I would occasionally come out here to see if there were any new updates only to find that you were probably too busy with all that is going on in your life! Anyway, glad to read about the Roper house and watch Sienna grow! Thanks for doing this!

  8. Sydney Stoltzfus Says:
    March 27th, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    I am glad that you are blogging! I love reading about and seeing (looking at pictures) of what the Lord is doing in your lives. I’m so glad that in the midst of such a trying year you are holding onto Christ. Keep on perserving in Him! I hope that you find a home church there soon. We’ll be praying for you.

  9. Ramie Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    I love seeing that sweet niece of mine smile and shop! I also love knowing my rotten brother, you and the little one are doing well in Kansas City! Thanks for posting the new digs! Would love to see you guys soon but I know life is busy! I keep praying for all of you! Love you guys!
    PS: I get the giggles everytime I see Siena looking for those eggs :)

  10. Sarah Says:
    April 27th, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    It is wonderful to see more updates on the Roper blog! It has been missed and I am sorry to hear any opposition you received. It was completely undeserved. If someone has an issue with the openness at which you share your lives with us, they are welcome to click on a different link :)
    I love blogging, and reading yours too! Keep it comin’, I will surely be readin’!!
    Love you guys!
    Sarah

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