Interesting Blog

There is a new blog that is quite interesting and gives a brief explanation as to why death rituals are the way they are. I have a sneaking suspicion the anonymous author is Lance, so you should enjoy it and link to it! Read it HERE

This is Why I go to Church

Last week we heard some news which is a set back for Lance's school. (Long story short, he'll have to do more schooling before he's licensed. I had it in my mind that he'll be done this year but that's no longer the case). I was devastated when I heard it. I don't know why it affected me so much but it just crushed me and I felt like burying myself in a hole. I was in tears and I was beyond ready to throw in the towel.

Yesterday in sacrament meeting Michelle gave a wonderful talk in which she gave a few analogies. The second analogy I definitely needed to hear and this is it (paraphrasing):

I have children. When I count them I have 6. All 6 children have needs. Everyday at 5pm when I'm trying to fix dinner all 6 of my kids tell me each of their needs. I cannot fulfill all of them at that point in time and so I hear complaints and whining, "You never have time for me, you don't love me, you never pay attention to what I'm saying, you love her more than me!" And then I think that each of these children live in a loving home with a roof over their heads. Each of these children have clothes folded nicely in their drawers. Each of these children have dinner to eat at some point between 6 and 9pm. They have a lot of blessings and their basic needs have been met. It's the same with each of us as children of our Heavenly Father. When we pray we tell Him all of our needs and sometimes it might feel like He loves our neighbor more than us or he doesn't listen to what we are saying. But in reality, we need to open our eyes and hearts and realize all the blessings he has given us and all the needs and prayers that He has answered.

After I heard and processed that analogy a few minutes, my heart sank. I felt so blessed and happy! We may have had a set back with Lance's schooling, but at least he's in the program. We may not have an apprenticeship yet, but at least his boss is trying to pull every string imaginable and is working both with the corporation and the state to get Lance licensed. I'm so thankful for Lance's boss, Trent, who has been so good to us. I'm so thankful that Lance is in school and even though it'll be longer than expected before Lance will be licensed, at least we're working toward that goal and each step we take brings us a little closer to the finish line. Thank you so much Michelle for softening my heart and helping me realize what I have right in front of me.

Who Doesn't Love a Good Challenge?

This weekend Lance's siblings were all in town for the last of the Christmas festivities. They have decided to have a Cox Family Biggest Loser Challenge! Whoever loses the most weight by Kempton and Bonnie's wedding (April 10) will win the funds from the pot and the title of the Cox Biggest Loser. Each participant contributes $10 towards the pot and weighs in tonight, the weight loss is calculated by the percentage of body weight lost.

For Christmas I gave Lance a stationary exercise bike, because during the winter months its hard to walk/bike outside when its dark by 5pm so now when he's awake and on call at 2am he can still exercise for the day. Yesterday I went grocery shopping and stocked our fridge of all things healthy and tonight I'm hiding all the holiday treats. My man is going to win!

Ring Out, Wild Bells

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light; The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more, Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in. Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be. Alfred, Lord Tennyson