This is my All-Time-Favorite picture of Molly! She is about 16 months old and fell asleep in the floor with our Little People Baby Jesus under her hand. More precious than I could ever imagine - and still is!! :)

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

"But as far as I'm concerned, Mary is always going to look a lot like Imogene Herman-sort of nervous and bewildered, but ready to clobber anyone who laid a hand on her baby. And the Wise Men are always going to be Leroy and his brothers, bearing ham. And I thought about the Angel of the Lord-Gladys, with her skinny legs and her dirty sneakers sticking out from under her robe, yelling at all of us, everywhere:

HEY! UNTO YOU A CHILD IS BORN!"

Ok, so my blog has been soooo neglected during the past month. We've been busy living life here! Snow days, 2 trips to Virginia, sewing for Christmas presents, sewing for other people's Christmas presents, shopping, baking, decorating, etc - it all kept me away from my blog! So here is my Christmas card to each and everyone of you! Merry Christmas and may each day be blessed! Love, The Cox Clan: Chad, Toni Jill, Molly, Cooper, and Brody

Happy Thanksgiving

Just a few lines from a song that's in my head today....If you have never seen Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby, please rent it this holiday season!! It's definetly a Cox Clan favorite!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

"I've got eyes to see with

Ears to hear with

Arms to hug with

Lips to kiss with

Someone to adore?

How could anybody ask for more?

My needs are small

I buy them all

At the five and ten cent store

Oh, I've got plenty to be thankful for!!"

Today I am a little emotional. Today I am a little nostalgic. Today I am a little sad. But today I am very honored. For two reasons really...You see, today 5 years ago a friend of mine named Ryan McGlothlin was killed while serving our country in the U.S. Marines. And today, I had the privilege of making a dress (out of her daddy's camos)for a little one who will see her daddy for the first time on Monday November 22nd as he comes home from a tour of duty with the U.S. Marines. I do not believe in coincidences. I do not believe in chance. I believe in God and that ALL things happen for a reason. So, as I reflect on Ryan McGlothlin and what a true hero he is to me and so many others for the sacrifice he and his family have made, I am also thankful and humbled to Josh Bush and his wife Amber and children Arios and Isabella Mae as they prepare for a very happy reunion. I am honored to be a small part of both of their lives. Thank you each for your service to our country. May God bless you and your families. Semper Fi - Always Faithful!

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never failing but in rising again after you fall." ~Vince Lombardi

The Chilien mine rescue has had a MAJOR effect on me people! I couldn't stop watching. I want to know how they are doing today. I had chills. I had tears. I wanted to know my daddy's thoughts, a coal miner for 20+ years, a mine rescue team member that won a national competition in 1987, he knew everything that could go wrong and he was a fellow worried on-looker. I cried everytime another miner came out. I am still praising God for the miracle that He performed Tuesday and Wednesday in Chile!

Thank you Lord that you STILL perform miracles everyday!

Heaven

When I was younger, I had a shirt that read, "This world is not my home, although it seems to be. My home is with my God, in the place He's made for me. He's coming back real soon, the signs are very clear. And when that trumpet sounds, I'll be outta here!" (I think I bought the shirt at Camp Bethel - holla!!) And for some reason - I can't get those words out of my head today. Do you know where you are going when that trumpet sounds? I am just checking so I can start praying!! :)

JCHS Cheerleaders

Friday night I got to see some of my favorite girls! My cheerleaders that I coached for 2 years at Jefferson County High School! We went to countless ballgames, camp and competition in Orlando, FL! I miss these gals more than I thought! So good to see you girls! It's been way too long!!

Golden Raisin Bread Pudding

4 c. white bread, toasted and cubed
3/4 c. golden raisins
2 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
2-1/2 c. milk, heated to boiling and cooled
2 T butter, melted
1 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/8 t. nutmeg
1/8 t. salt
Garnish: whipped cream

Combine bread cubes and raisins in a slow cooker that has been sprayed with non-stick vegetable spray; set aside. In a bowl, beat eggs and sugar; whish in cooled milk, butter, vanilla, spices and salt. Pour over bread, pressing down so bread will soak up milk mixture. Cover and cook on low setting for 6 hours. Serve war, topped with whipped cream. Makes 8 servings.

Snickerdoodle Cookies

Snickerdoodle Muffins: Gooseberry Patch Cookbook (Autumn In the Country)

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour

1 c quick-cooking oats, uncooked

3/4 c sugar, divided

1 T baking powder

1 c milk

1 egg, beaten

1/4 c margarine, softened

1 t vanilla extract

1 t cinnamon

Combine flour, oats, 1/2 c sugar and baking powder; Mix well. In a seperate bowl, combine milk, egg, margarine and vanilla; blend well and add to flour mixture. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Mix together cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 - 14 minutes. Makes 18 large muffins and 3 dozen mini muffins.

God is so good! I feel like we are on the downhill slide of Brody's eye surgery and recovery! He did great with his "happy juice" that put him to sleep before he was actually put to sleep and then surgery went very well. Waking up and recovery was very painful for Brody and momma and daddy. His eyes were swollen and sticky and he couldn't open them and cried. Thus making it harder for him to open them. He said, "I don't wanna go here." and "I can't see your faces." I did ok trying to console him until then. I didn't ant to hear my baby say he couldn't see my face. I cried and it was probably a good thing that he couldn't see me! ;) However, after about 30 minutes or so we got him calm enough to open his eyes, watch part of a movie, eat 2 popsicles and go back out to play the touch-screen video games in the hallway of Children's Hospital.

Brody has had a couple of rough mornings with swelling, burning eyes, squnting and not wanting to put in his drops but I can defintely tell a difference in his eye placement with and without the glasses! Praise God for straight eyes! And the best part is that for the past 2 nights I have gotten to rock and sing my 4 year old baby to sleep...Good medicine for this worried momma's soul.

uin

Brody's Surgery

We got the call today from the hospital and Brody has to be at Children's Hospital in the morning at 6:30 a.m. for surgery around 7:30. The surgery should only take less than an hour and then recovery and a popsicle! That's what he is most excited about ;) We will be home I bet before lunch and hopefully all will be well. We plan on trying to go to school Wednesday with his only restrictions being: No Swimming for 2 weeks and No playing in sand or dirt. So pretty much after surgery tomorrow we should be good to go! We will go back Wednesday for a post-op appointment and then a week after and then finally a month after. Please pray that one surgery is plenty. Please pray that being put to sleep is ont an issue. Please pray that the medicine does not make him sick and recovery is as easy as they say. Please pray for momma and daddy who don't like to have to give their baby over to someone to be put to sleep and have surgery on his eyes which we think are perfect. Please pray that one surgery is enough. Thank you all for standing with us on this and for all of your prayers!

This is what my sweet life is all about!

This is how I found Molly and Cooper, this morning, in our bed!

On this day 4 short years ago, I was induced and birthed 2 of the sweetest little boys I have ever known. They are so different in tons of ways that sometimes I forget they are even twins! One is strong-headed and stubborn, outweighs his brother by 10 pounds and stands over him by 2 inches. The other is very lovable and stuck to his momma like glue. Together they protect each other to the end and fight like cats and dogs if the moment is right. The last 4 years with twin boys and their "Oh so much older" sister has been a huge challenge but I would've never changed it for the world. The Lord blessed us richly TWICE and I am forever grateful!!

Brody Man

Well my friends, it's official: Brody has to have eye surgery on Tuesday September 21st and we would love to have your thoughts and prayers. We will go for a pre-op appointment next week where they doctor will give us a little more information on the surgery itself but basically, his vision is now the same in both eyes! 20/20 with his glasses on! However, his eyes continue to cross even with the glasses on. Therefore, he needs the surgery to correct the crossing. Brody will be put to sleep and the doctor will go in and relax the muscles in the corners of both eyes. Why both? They explained it like this: "If you have a bicycle with a flat tire in the front or the back, you can't ride. So you have to make sure you have air in both tires before you can ride." So, that's why we need to have both eye muscles operated on. After his "less than an hour" surgery, he will go to recovery and then we can come home. Brody's only restrictions will be: No swimming for 2 weeks and No playing in the sand box or dirt. Which Brody took as NO SWIMMING FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE and we had to have a little come to Jesus moment about that. After surgery we will have 3 post op appointments, the day after surgery, the week after and finally a month after.

It's no fun having to have a child put to sleep but I am TOTALLY trying to keep this surgery in perspective here. Please pray for our apprehension and anxiety about the whole situation and for complete and easy recovery for Brody! I will keep you posted!

I am so ready for Fall - I'm just sayin ya'll!!

(It's the best time to take pictures of my babies!)

Photographer Brody Cox

Brody has been at it again with my camera - I think I was sewing at the time - and he took some hilariously cute pictures that I just had to share. Including a blackmail picture of Cooper that I am sure he will use to his advantage about 12 years from now when Cooper has a serious girlfriend and Brody is mad at him because he wants to use the car.....You figure out which one I am talking about!

Smores Bars

Ok folks, last night after supper we had the YUMMIEST treat straight from my favorite magazine which only arrived in my mailbox yesterday - Family Fun! Great crafts for home and preschool, wonderful ideas for organization, and excellent snack, dinner and dessert recipes! The one we decided to make last night was an new twist on an old classic....Did you promise your kids you would roast marshmallows and it's now raining? Can get your fire started with that soaggy wood? NEVER FEAR! Make Smore's Bars in the oven and you won't dissapoint anyone at all (Click on the Smore's Bars link and it will send you straight to the recipe at Family Fun)!

Here's the deal: It's the 3rd Friday in August and opening night for high school football in Tennessee and needless to say, We Are Excited!

There are a couple of things that excite me about football....When Chad and I were still in college he was afforded the opportunity to begin coaching after an injury and 2nd ACL knee surgery. In 2001 while at a chapel service at Carson-Newman College, we recieved news of the 9/11 tragedy that we will forever remember. That week as a whole was a blur, however one thing stands out to me very vividly. That week at the JCHS stadium a good friend of ours and announcer at the football games said before the game started, "From White Pine to Rush Strong, From Jefferson City to Dandridge, now more than ever, YOU ARE IN PATRIOT COUNTRY!" That has stuck with me ever since. He said it at every home game for the rest of the season and I think for every game until he stopped announcing and I think I got chills and tears in my eyes every time.

Also when Chad started coaching he told me that his all time favorite "get fired up for football song" is Phil Collins "In The Air Tonight." And we try to play it for him on Friday mornings in the Fall. And hopefully if I think about it, I will text him at around kickoff and just write a few lines...let him know I can feel it in the air tonight too....

And a new favorite of ours is Kenny Chesney's "The Boys of Fall." Honestly, I cried the first time we watched the video...more than anything because of the coach in the video that says, "My daddy never saw me play football. Play for your father's tonight!" Chad's dad never saw him play his senior year and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Also, there are kids who's fathers don't give a rip if they are playing football. Those kids are the biggest reason I can tolerate Chad coaching football. Because he loves those kids like he loves his own and he worries and frets over them like he does Molly, Cooper, and Brody and he has given them gas money to get home on Friday nights and checked on them Saturday mornings to see if they are all right. There are a few lines in the song that give me chills and I know they do Chad too - I think the plan is to show the boys the video tonight before they go out for kickoff. Talk about being fired up! I wish I could be in that stinky, smelly locker room with them!

So, for those of you that have known me all my life, you know that I am a Pioneer thru and thru but tonight, I am very excited to be a Patriot!

Preschool

I am so very blessed to be able to take my kiddos to work with me everyday! Today started my 4th official year of teaching at Steps of Faith Preschool at FUMC in Jefferson City. It's great for us to be out of the house, have a little seperation from each other, be around other kids and adults and make some gas and grocery money at the same time! Today was our first day back and Cooper, Brody and I all had a great day!

AND.....Today was Molly's official "mom's going to leave me here and drive away" day at Kindergarten. She was there until 12:30 with about 1/3 of her class and had a blast! She tells me on the phone after my mother-in-law picked her up, "Mom, I made a new friend." And I said, "Great Molly, what's her name?" And she replies, "I don't remember Mom but I will tell you the next time!" Hey - at least she made a friend, who cares if she doesn't know her name!!

Kindergarten

Yesterday, I sent my first baby to school. Well, actually she went to school for a few tests and I stayed with her the entire time. Next Wednesday, Aug 18th, I will really have to walk her to the door, give her hugs and kisses and send her in....without me....

From the moment she was born on August 29th, she has literally been with me almost EVERYDAY. There are a handful of nights that I have not been the one to put her to bed (like seriously maybe 5-6 nights she has spent away from me), a handful of times I haven't been the one to take her to our preschool and even less times that I have slept in the same house with her.

Molly has gone to school with me at Steps of Faith Preschool since I started working there 3 years ago. Last year, I was her teacher and she was my student and don't think for a second it didn't bother me when she says the other day, "Mommy, I just wish you could be my teacher."

Molly is a very smart little girl. She's been able to write her name forever, knows all her letters and numbers (even up to one hundredty one, one hundredty two and so on), she colors like a dream, has a love for books and can sound out words. Do I worry about her educational experience? Not really. Do I worry about being away from her? Yes. Not so much for her because she is oober excited to be in kindergarten and begin to learn things away from her daddy and brothers and I but I guess the bottom line is.....

I am going to miss my Molly so much!!

You know that old saying, "When the cat's away, the mice will play?"

Well in this situation it should say, "When momma's in the shower, the children will take over the camera she forgot to put away!"

Fits and Tantrums

THIS is what happens when you pitch a fit for far too long!

You fall asleep in your fit-pitching position! Brody slept this way for at least 30 minutes!!