Post July 4th

Today, I am boxing up all my July 4th decorations to be put away for another year.  Now, if you know me at all, you know I have those decorations down the very next day.  They were down, but not boxed up.  I had a house full of company and loved every minute of it.





My sister, from Florida and two of her four kids, along with her husband came to visit.  They are seeing my new house for the first time.  I always love it when they come.  However, it comes and goes so very quickly.  One of the highlights of our time together is having coffee on the patio.  We do it at my house and we do it at her house. No matter the temp outside.

This year, my husband worked tirelessly to build me a cover for my pergola so that I could have a LONG farm table for ALL the family to sit around and visit.  I LOVE to eat outside (actually, I love to do everything outside) I was so very proud of the way it ALL turned out.  And at the very last minute.  We did get to enjoy many meals out on my table.  But the best part was hearing the laughter and catching up from all the family there.  It was a reminder of how much we do really love each other.  And no matter the distance and time that unfortunately separates us, we manage to get caught up in a matter of minutes.

The best part of the trip was that all my sisters and our husbands were together.  We got to visit my aunts, go eat at different places, hang out, laugh, share stories, go visit Grandparents house, and have a wonderful fireworks show from all the cousins.  God has truly Blessed our family.  And the best part, we are just growing stronger and stronger each year.  Who knows, we might even end up living next to each other one day....Too far? Yeah maybe, but I'm never going to say never ;)

Enjoy the pictures....Although many pictures weren't taken, the memories are embedded in my memory forever......

PHOTO BOMBERS........

               EASTER 2013
I was sick so we couldn't go to church.  And didn't feel much like doing much...so, my sweet husband made a wonderful meal......

 I made Tea cakes for my Dad....It's a family tradition......

 Finished product of the Tea Cakes...

 Neat bird nests I made....cute but somewhat tasteless....

 This was Pinterest pin of the year..colored deviled eggs...

 Homemade cheesy potatoes...they were YUMMY!!!!

MOTHER OF BOYZ: Bra Shopping.....My husband took me to a wonderf...

MOTHER OF BOYZ: Bra Shopping.....

My husband took me to a wonderf...: Bra Shopping..... My husband took me to a wonderful lunch the other day and as we were leaving the restaurant he said to me, "honey, you n...

                                   VALENTINE'S DAY

I have never completely understood this day.  I mean shouldn't I get roses and chocolates every day?  A day to remind those that are not in a relationship that they are NOT in a relationship.  Now, in our house, that is a good thing.  However, my oldest is in his first relationship ever.  And oddly enough, I really like his choice.  

So, he came to me days before Valentine's Day and asked if I could help him make his sweet girlfriend a bracelet.  So, I go to Hobby Lobby and get all the "stuff" to make this bracelet.  

The day before Valentine's Day, I find (while cleaning) movies of the boys when they were little boys.  Oh my goodness, I started watching just a few of them and then I cried, laughed, and wished more than anything I could go back to the time when my boys played at home all day.  Oh, the fun we used to have all day long.  No homework, peer pressure, girls, songs, sports, pressure....none of that....the only pressure was what fun thing we were going to do for that day.  As I sat there on the couch with tears streaming down my face I wished to spend time again with my boys....this time without cell phones.....

That evening, my son came to me and asked if I would help with the bracelet....there was my wish.  We were going to spend time together.  Even if it was for someone else, it was so worth it.  As we were sitting there making her gift, I was overwhelmed with the passion my son has.  Oh thank goodness he got that from his dad....After we finished the bracelet, he went upstairs for a long time....Later that evening, after everyone had gone to bed I was turning off lights and shutting down the house for the night and I saw the gifts he had for her.  He had made her the sweetest card.  Oh please Lord, don't let her crush that sweet heart of his.  Okay, if you are a therapist I know what you are saying right now, "oh my, get this girl in my office right now".....trust me, you wouldn't be wrong there.....I just know how very innocent and tender he is and want to keep him that way as long as I can.  

The morning of Valentine's Day....He gets himself up early, showers, even shaves....wow, I didn't even have to tell him to do that....there are some good things about having a girlfriend.....he comes downstairs and looks so very handsome.  He dressed up for the day.  I decorated their mirrors and gave them their candy.  As he stood up holding all his gifts for her I was never more proud of him.  So handsome and good man he is becoming. 

All too soon I'm not going to have that time to help him make something for his special someone.  I cherish these moments more today than ever before.  

Happy Valentine's Day my sweet son.  May you continue to learn from the greatest example you have ever had....Your Dad.......

One Blessed Mama  

I shall call you "Red Ink"

December 10, 1995 the day I looked forward to all my life.  The day I was supposed to meet my Jonthan VanWalter Cox for the first time in the nine months I carried him.  In order to understand this journey completely, I have to go back a few months.  I am married to the most amazing man in the world.  He is a tad bit older than me so the process of having children may have been a challenge.  So, after severl attempts (he didn't mind this process) and nothing happening, we had him checked out.  He cleared.  IT WAS ME?  I was the problem???  I have three sisters that have had NO problem having children. So, why me?  I'll get to the "why me?" in a bit. 

I saw several Doctors, some of whom need to hang up their coats and play golf all day.  No compassion what so ever!!!! Test upon test, only to have each month no more closer to having a child than when I first started.  Then a friend told me about a wonderful Doctor in Dallas, Dr. Bertruand.  Seems to be the best.  So, we made our appointment, drove to Dallas and walked into his office.  The first thing that hit me was a picture on the wall........12 children leaning on a porsche.  Now, I thought how cute that was.  Must be all his nieces and nephews....OH NO!!! Those were ALL his....I knew at that very moment, we are in the right place.  This man knows what to do.....

I had to have surgery to clean out all the endometricious and be on hormone replacement shots for 4 months.  That was when I KNEW my husband loved me.  Let's just say, I wasn't the easiest person to live with.  In fact, he hid my gun.  Now come on, I would never be tempted to use that.....okay, he was smart in hiding that......

I finally got pregnant.....HALLILUHAH!!!!!  What's a girl to do, celebrate....I tried to be somewhat healthy in eating...so, banana spilt seem most logical....fruit, calcium, nuts....ALL there......So, I made a habit of eating those....so much so, I got written up in red after steping on the scales at my Doctor's office.  Seriously??  After three months of this red ink punishment, I started feeling like a faliure.  Not sure what made me feel that way, oh maybe the way in which the nurse handled it.  She would make a big deal about having to open a drawer and pull out a RED pin to mark that I have once again failed.  Oh brought memories of grade school all over again....I started sweating going to the Doctor.  So I would strip when it came time to weigh in.....I told her my hairspray weighed at least 4 lbs...NOT amused....So, here comes my, "OH MY GOSH, 40 LBS OVERWEIGHT DOCTOR"  waddeling in to tell me I'm overweight????  OKAY...I started writing my checks in red ink....

My due date, December 10, 1995...The day came and the day went....