Homesick

At times my homesickness for Charleston hits me stronger than other times. For some reason I'm always quite homesick on sundays. But anyway, here's a few pictures of random events that we thoroughly enjoyed. There are a lot of pictures but this is mostly to be included in the future when I print out our blog.

2006. My first calling in Chas was a sunbeam teacher. They were a hoot! (And a handful).



Thanksgiving 2007. Becca preparing to send everyone home with leftovers. Kimball pulls some of the best faces I've ever seen! Lindsay the head chef who did a fabulous job. Matt, Krystal, Doug, Joel, and Spencer playing Rock Band.





Halloween 2007. Great costumes! Clara, Matt Tipping, Josh and Michelle, and Brice and Tawni.




2008 Tedrow's farewell party. We miss you guys and I wish I could see your cute pregnant belly! Congratulations!
2008 before Francis' moved to Chile. Game night with Tippings, Hirschi's, and Francis'. What a blast we had!

We love the Tippings!!!! Enough said. (tear, tear)

August 2008. This is the YM & YW at our luau. Collin rocked at the Limbo!

2008. Game night with Hirschi's. Annalee and I always beat the boys, what can I say we make a great team!

I LOVE MY BEST BUDS!!!

2008 right before we moved back. I had a lunch date with Crystal, Becca, and Trea and their kids at Chic Fil A. And to think this was my first time eating there. Shame on me!

2008. This is most of the kids being entertained by the ol' pirate at Brian M's birthday party.

The ol' pirate himself, Matt Tipping. Yes he's so rough and gruff he steals the little kid's capri sun drinks.

2008 The girls hitting it up with rock band. You really were awesome! Vanessa, Jenny Leigh, Krystal, Teagan, and Becca.2008. The best fourth of July ever! I've never seen fireworks quite like the ones these boys shot off.

2008. This is Lance and I right before we left for a date to see the Middleton Plantation. No comments on my hair.....seriously what was I thinking?!

Lance will probably shoot me once he finds out I posted this picture since he's lost so much weight since then. This was at Boone Hall, July 2007 right after Jason and Makenna moved to Chas. We had a short tour of the mansion and enjoyed an outdoor concert by the Chas. Symphony followed by cool fireworks. It was there we learned how people really get into the picnic contests and we got eaten alive by the noseeums. (Don't ask me how to spell it but Jason, I know you know what I'm talking about!)

Ever seen a redneck beach house? Only in the south!

Blah!

Does anybody else out there have the winter blues? Seriously, after several weeks (if not months) of fog and mist and snow and rain and lots of wind............where's the sunshine?!?!?! Where's the warmth and the love of walking outside because it's so nice???? I'm so sick of winter, it's getting quite ridiculous and very on my nerves. I just want some sunshine people, is that too hard to ask for?!?!

Glimpses Into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I have been reading this book about sister Hinckley and I wanted to post an excerpt in her words that really touched me:

"A grateful heart will give you a touch of refinement that can come in no other way.

I went to high school during the days of the famous Depression. It was a miserable experience. But, in a way, I wish you could have been there with us. Somehow it helped me to appreciate much more the prosperity we now enjoy. I know some of you think you are on a tight budget, and you are. I am glad if you are. But it is a tight budget because you have nothing else to compare with it. It isn't your fault that you have had three square meals a day, most every day of your life. It isn't your fault that somehow or other you have always been able to get a new pair of shoes, whether you needed them or not. It isn't your fault that you have at least five or six changes of clothing in your crowded closets. But all of this makes it doubly hard for you to be truly grateful.

Has the fear of not being able to get an education ever struck terror into your heart? Probably not, for you knew that somehow or other you would get here and that somehow or other you will stay as long as you so desire, for this is America, where only your own indolence can keep you from the good things in life.

And when you finally develop a little gratitude in your heart, make up your mind to express it. 'Appreciation unexpressed is not appreciation.' If you can't find someone to say thank you to for something, just take a look at your toothbrush and say, 'Thank you for being. You are a wonderful little gadget.'

'Thank you' is a wonderful phrase. Use it. It will add stature to your soul. Never let a day go by without saying thank you to someone for something - and especially to your Heavenly Father."

Another Excerpt from Sister Hinckley's Book

"As I watched some of the young mothers come into this meeting with young children, restless from meetings that have preceded this one, I think I felt something of your frustration and challenge to be the perfect mother. Relax. There is no such thing as the perfect mother who fits all the eulogies. We just do the best we can with the help of the Lord, and who knows, these children who are struggling to be free may someday rise up and call us blessed.

The trick is to enjoy it. Don't wish away your days of caring for young children. This is your great day. Sometimes we get so caught up in the physical work and trivia that we forget the big picture. We forget whose children they really are. When the house is filled with children, noise and teasing and laughter, you get the feeling this is forever. Before you know it they will be gone. When our second son went away to school at the age of seventeen, I said, 'But Clark, I am not through with you. I feel there is so much I will need to teach you.'

'Too late, Mother, too late.'

Our children grow so quickly out of our reach. The rewards of mothering are not immediate. There are times when you are less than appreciated. I took from the oven one day what I thought was a beautiful casserole, only to have my six-year-old son say, 'Mom, how come you baked the garbage?'

There there is the unexpected hug, when you least deserve it. And while you are enjoying these days of mothering, be sure your demands on your children for perfection are not so heavy that they cannot be children.

Don't be like the mother I know who said to her ten-year-old daughter, who was the oldest of five children and from whom the mother needed a little help and cooperation, 'Sometimes you act just like a child.'

'But Mother, I am,' she wisely replied.

A busy parent writes: 'One morning I was hurrying my three-year-old's dressing procedure because I had only minutes to spare. In the middle of the commotion and worry, my little girl cleverly enjoyed a little joke of her own about something unrelated to the job at hand. I ignored her fun and indicated my disapproval . . . Her sweet, thought-provoking response: 'Mommy, don't we even have time to laugh?'

We all feel the pressures and stress of the sophisticated, fast-paced, complicated, competitive world in which we find ourselves. Not only do we feel it as adults, but the children feel it too. Because of TV, the press, and videos, our children are exposed to adult life very, very early. This makes it doubly important that mothers and fathers consciously strive to make it possible for children to be children before they become adults."

Holy Cow.....I mean, bunny!

Lance has a love for rabbits and even though the term "bunny" is generally reserved for speaking to children, we call them bunnies. Before we moved to Charleston we had two unnamed bunnies that we called Bunny (we're so lazy we never actually named them). Ever since Lance got a little Christmas money from his parents, he's been dying to get another bunny. Saturday he went with Kempton up to Gooding and bought one while I was out with my mom and sister wedding planning. When I got home I asked Lance to bring the bunny in the house so I could see and pet him and in the mean while I used the bathroom. When I got out I heard this unexpectedly loud thumping. I looked over to where the sound was coming from and I was seriously terrified! This was the largest bunny I have ever seen in my life, it was HUGE! I mean, I was a little scared and then realized just how large this thing was and thought it was freaky/comical. Anyway, needless to say he's quite large so we took him back to the owner. Here's the bunny who we called Rupert for a day while we had him.

The Old Men

Many of you who knew Lance from high school, knows that he is an avid lover/supporter of barbershop. No, not barbershops like the kind that cut hair because after all, he doesn't have hair to cut. I'm referring to barbershop music. Before we moved to Charleston he was the director of the Magichords in Twin Falls, a group of 30 old and grumpy men that love to sing in harmony (and complain a lot). Now that we're back in Twin he's formed a quartet with his brother Kempton, and two high school friends TJ and Ben. Let me tell you, they have such a great time together! I think they do more laughing than actual singing but it has been so fun to have the four of them together doing what they love.

Friday was the annual barbershop dinner and though we were the only "youth" there (I thought youth was ages 12-18 but apparently in barbershop you're still a youth if you're under 55), the quartet was asked to sing a few numbers. They did a fantastic job! We had an awesome time together and I'm so glad Lance is again involved in his love of barbershop.

It's Official

I now have a display with lots of jewelry items now available at Just 4 Kids on Fairfield Avenue above Real Deals. COMING SOON: I'm in the process of making another display so I'll have a lot more jewelry for moms, not just kids. Right now there's plenty of baby bracelets and several sets of earrings, go check it out!

I Gave In!

Ok I've never been a big fan of reading books that are popular. The Harry Potter books and movie - I could care less. The Chronicles of Narnia - not interested at all (although I did see the movies because Lance read the books several years ago and loved them). I'm just not a science fiction type of person, all the fantasy and weird creatures and powers, just a little too bizarre for me. I like to stay a little more grounded.

However, while Lance was having quartet practice tonight, Emily, one of the other fellow quartet wives such as myself, came over while the boys sang their little hearts out. We decided to go see a movie. And yes, I gave in and watched Twilight. Now, in my defense Emily had already seen it a few times and although she hadn't read the books, she was SO in love with it. I mostly went along with it to humor her because in all honesty I really didn't think I would enjoy it at all. I mean come on, vampires, really???

Needless to say, I am now a Twilight fan and come Monday I will be the first one at the library checking out the books. Yeah I'm too cheap to buy it and besides we live literally, right next door to the library so I really have no excuse not to read the books now. I'm debating if I should just read the first one and then wait until the next movie comes out to read the second. I don't like to jump ahead and I don't want to spoil the next movie. But if I like the books as much as the movie, there's no way I'd be able to wait for the next movie. Alas, I am now a fan!

A New Era

On Sunday an older woman in our ward whom I greatly admire for her strength and wisdom, stood up in Relief Society and gave an analogy that she was taught several years ago by her visiting teacher when she was about to move. She talked about how each of us are in different eras in our lives; some are newlyweds and others are celebrating their 50th anniversary. Some are finishing school and others are well into their careers. Some have little tots running around and other are raising teenagers. Etc, etc. As we enter in these eras we are like four white walls. If there are regrets or mistakes on our old wall decor, we have a chance to decorate these new white walls with whatever we wish. We ring in a new year and everybody has resolutions on their minds, well this is our chance to create a new era, to make needed changes in our lifestyle or habits, and to "hang up" a picture of Christ on our new walls.

Of course she said this much more eloquently than I just explained, but as she did I welled up with tears and my heart ached to be in Charleston. I felt sad, alone, and really vulnerable. Then I realized that I have entered a new era in my life: Lance and I have moved back home to Twin Falls to finish up school. I have just as much opportunity as the next person to make changes in my life. And so I decided to be happy. I decided to do what makes me smile and laugh. I decided to quit being selfish and self-centered and feeling sorry for myself for being so far away from my friends and all the things I came to absolutely love about Charleston. I decided that all the familiar sayings and quotes are true and not just cliche that states, "Only you can make yourself happy" or "You choose your own attitude" or "As a man thinketh so is he." One of our best friends in Charleston has a big board above her mantle that just states Be Happy. I'm making the decision to be happy, to be proactive and outgoing about making friends and making Twin Falls home again.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Debbie Downer. I've just realized that I need to change my attitude and be more optimistic. Life is to be enjoyed and we're supposed to be happy. That's why families, chocolate chips, and crafts exist! :) No really, one of my goals that I previously posted about was to read more. I finished reading The Peacegiver a few weeks ago and it really changed me. So I'd like to take the initiative to help other people laugh and smile and feel good about themselves because if they do, then so will I.

Look Who's Getting Hitched!

On New Year's Day my younger and only sister, Christine, got engaged! How exciting, we've already taken a trip to try on wedding dresses and of course, day dream. Aahhhhh.....

Beading By Becky

I've added a few recent designs to my jewelry blog, click HERE to check it out!

The Peacegiver

I have a book recommendation to everyone: it's called The Peacegiver, by James Ferrell. Read it, it offers some amazing insight into the atonement and how it applies to others, not just ourselves. Seriously.....read it, I highly recommend it and cannot say enough good things about it.

Resolutions...Not Really For Me

This post is personal but for the sake of keeping a journal, I think I'll include it.

I know for New Years everybody has resolutions that they'd like to accomplish for the following year, ie. losing weight, finishing school, new career, having kids, etc. I don't know why but I've never been too much a fan of resolutions, probably because I never reach them or care after the first few weeks.

I do however, like goals. I think they're more reachable (if that's even a word), they have more meaning, and they're more personal. Every Sunday I tell myself I'm really going to do better at my personal scripture study and then find myself the following Sunday promising the same thing. This year I have decided to be different. I've never studied along with the Sunday School lesson, ever in my entire life (no, not even when Lance was teaching in Charleston, I'll admit), but this year I'm going to. I believe the new book to study is Doctrine and Covenants (someone correct me if I'm wrong) and to ensure that I'm focused and getting something out of every weekly lesson, I'll read everyday right along with the manual like I'm supposed to. That's going to be one of my goals, because ever since I've been married I just lean on Lance's reading. Right, like I'm going to get something out of verses I haven't read! When I was single I read and read, and couldn't read enough, I just starved for it. For whatever reason, being married makes me lazy and I lean on Lance too much. So I'm going to set my goal and actually achieve it this time.

The second goal I have is to read more. I've recently finished a series by Anita Stansfield and I could not set the books down, they were fantastic and engrossed every part of me. I am now reading a book called The Peacegiver by James Ferrell and so far, it's excellent. I look at our stacks of books and compare them to our stacks of DVDs and came up with this conclusion: I have seen almost every single DVD we own, but I've not read more than one shelf of books on our five-shelved bookcase. That's pretty sad and pathetic! We have wonderful books, most of them very educational and spiritual in nature, being written by prophets. Why have I not picked one up to even glance at the title? I am losing so much knowledge in letting my brain being sucked into TV and DVDs. I honestly don't watch that much TV (besides The Office, I try not to miss an episode) but I don't do that much reading either. How foolish of me! That's goal number two, to read more.

Another goal I want to set is to get my jewelry making going into an actual business. I love to design and make jewelry, thanks to Amelia who taught me in Charleston. It's a stress reliever, it's creative and time consuming. Seriously, I don't know if I've ever sat at a table for 9 hours straight and not complained about it, than when I'm beading. I have a few ideas of where to start so I'll keep you all updated as I progress in that direction.

Believe it or not I used to play the piano really well. I absolutely loved it, my whole being was consumed in the piano. I started taking lessons when I was 13 and continued for 4 years until my first year of college. My teacher was awesome, I loved the songs he picked for me to practice, I loved the way I felt when I played and heard piano music, it was my passion and I practiced for 3-4 hours every day. But then I focused on college and boys and didn't practice a whole lot, matter of fact I lost a lot of what I had known. Therefore I am now a piano loser which brings me to goal number four: to keep up my practicing so that I can play more than the hymns and Mary had a Little Lamb.

I think four goals will more than keep me busy and bustling. I love this quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard, "I believe you can train yourself to become a positive thinker, but you must cultivate a desire to develop the skill of setting personal worthy and realistic goals. I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the technique of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When you learn to master the principle of setting a goal, you will then be able to make a great difference in the results you attain in this life."

Merry Christmas To All

Lance and I don't send out Christmas cards yet and we're pretty much out of time to send them if we had any. You know, getting all the addresses and fighting lines at the post office isn't an ideal Saturday for me. So, here's a picture of us with Santa when we went to the South Hills to see the lights. We hope yall are happy and healthy and wish you the absolute merriest this Christmas. We love you all!

The Two Sicklings

Why is it that people don't get as sick in tropical climates as opposed to dry climates? That's a question I would like answered because we have now been in ID for four weeks and I've been sick twice and Lance once...ugh! When we lived in Charleston, we were sick maybe once a year. Maybe. Then we move to the cold, dry desert and are hit with every virus imaginable. Why us? Seriously, I want to know what it is about different climates that make viruses more prone to survive/spread. My hypothesis is the humidity. Probably not true, but until someone can prove me wrong or right, that's my assumption. Humidity=good health. (Although that doesn't always account for good hair days). Not to over exaggerate how miserable my sickness was but here's the list of things I missed out on: the ward Christmas party, Kempton gave his homecoming talk in church, Kempton sang in the college ward, Kempton sang at the MV Chorale concert, and the family dinner with most of Lance's siblings. Ugh...being sick is the worst!

Before I got hit with a serious wave of nausea, Lance and I took a little drive to the South Hills to see "The Lights." There's a house in the South Hills owned by the Wojciks that decorate like mad with Christmas lights. Every tree, shrub, telephone pole, square inch of grass, etc. is lined and covered with millions of Christmas lights. The road is up on a little hill with a circular driveway around the property so you can brave the weather and walk around or stay in the warmth of the car and drive the circle. It's so beautiful! They have every character light you can imagine from M&M's to Winnie the Pooh to exotic flowers to martini glasses. This year one portion of the yard was orchestrated with classical music - so cool! They transformed their garage into a display for a mini village that's all laid out so professionally, its way awesome! They also have a pet camel that you can feed carrots to. Anyway, its a very magical, cold, freezing, did I mention cold? but a magical place to see. And all for free!

I'm starting to get a little frustrated with blogger because this is the third time I've tried to update our blog but for some reason it won't let me download pictures. So until I can figure out what the problem is, the pictures will have to wait.

Tribute to Kempton

Lance's younger brother and baby of the family, Kempton, came home from his mission on Wednesday. He served in the Neuquen, Argentina mission and the following pictures depict a few happenings from the past two years. I don't know any names or places so the pictures will have to suffice.

Everybody patiently waiting at the airport for his arrival. The whole Cox family was there except for two that belong to Allison. (My flash wouldn't work in the airport so this didn't turn out too well, sorry).

Hugs to Mama Donna.

Ben Pratt, Kempton, and Lance.

The whole crew.

The following pictures are the Argentine people Kempton served, companions, transfers, baptisms, etc.

(regarding missionaries) "For the most part they are young—handsome young men and beautiful young women. They are vital and alive and enthusiastic in their work. They are not easily daunted or discouraged, although they know discouragement from time to time and in a very real way. They are dedicated and committed to the work to which they have been called. They are led and directed and inspired by a great group of mission presidents whom they come to love almost as they love their own fathers. They fortify one another, and develop wonderful associations—friendships which continue throughout their lives. They have been called by the spirit of prophecy and revelation, and their devoted efforts bring a constant infusion of new blood and new life into the Church."

"Furthermore, young men and women who serve missions are never the same. They return home with qualities and strengths that seem to come from no other experience. They know, as they never knew before, that this work is true and that it is the most important work on the face of the earth. They return home with a desire to continue to serve. They have established a foundation on which to grow in future responsibility."

"We need more missionaries. We could use another ten thousand now. Anyone who feels we have enough knows not whereof he speaks. I remember listening to reports from the Area Presidencies of the various international areas of the world. Those reports indicated the magnitude of the work we must do. For instance, in one area we have only 270,000 members out of a total population of 640,000,000. “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.” (Matt. 9:37). Now, brethren and sisters, what can we do? The mandate of the Lord is upon us. It is our responsibility to carry the gospel to the people of the earth. Marvelous things are happening. Yet more wonderful things can be brought to pass. May we be faithful in building the kingdom we love and in doing the will of Him who is our Savior and who commanded us to teach the gospel."

-President Hinckley

Recent Random Pictures

There's actually been a lot going on lately despite my sparse posts, so here's a few random photos of what's been going on.

For Thanksgiving we ate dinner with Lance's family and had dessert with my family. There weren't too many people left at my parent's house by the time we got there so Lance and I played a few games of ping pong, air hockey, and foosball.

Last night my youngest brother was set apart as a missionary for the church and today headed for UT for the MTC. This was our final good bye, he'll be serving in the Zurich Switzerland mission.

Scott and my dad - goofballs!

This is my youngest nephew, Quentin and me. Isn't he so cute?

Towards the end of November our niece Sage turned 4 years old and had a birthday party. We went bowling (I'm pretty sure Sage beat my score), had pizza, and this delicious pretty princess cake Stephanie made. Isn't she talented?

This is a hair bow/clip holder I made for Lance's sister Allison. She's finally having a girl after three boys and I wasn't able to make it to the shower. Thanks to my Charleston ward for giving me the idea and also the simplicity of the project. I think I redid it about three different times until I liked it.

Bragging Rights

It has been so much fun to be 2500 miles closer to our families for the holidays. We were able to spend Thanksgiving with both our families and are looking forward to Christmas being the same. I wanted to give a shout out to all my in-laws and let them know how much I really appreciate and love them.

Alright, I wanted to do more than a shout out to them, I wanted to brag about them. There's one thing in particular that I'm so blessed to be able to enjoy around them and that is music. Every single one of them are musically inclined, I've seriously never met a better pianist than my Mama Donna, and never a better singer than Lance's sister Jerusha. And when Lance and Kempton sing together, it makes you all warm inside because their voices blend so well. Most families will stay up late at night playing video games or watching movies, but the Cox's stay up until 2am and sing together while Mama plays. I love it! I feel the spirit so strongly whenever they're singing, whether its Phantom of the Opera or Come Thou Fount. I could sit and listen for hours and hours to them and never tire.

One Christmas tradition they have is called the Christmas Sing where everyone gets together and sings the entire book of The Reader's Digest: Merry Christmas Songbook. If there's a particular song that happens to be some one's favorite, then we sing all the verses. Between the good company, fantastic music, great holiday treats, and the occasional solo, this is one of my favorite days of the year. I'm particularly looking forward to the Christmas Sing this year because all of Lance's siblings will be home for the first time in a few years. Believe me, I'm no singer but I love this tradition! If there's a way I can post a video of it (or of Jerusha) then I'll do that as well.