letter to Christmas dress deisgners

Dear Dressmaker,

Why do you design dresses for little girls that are sleeveless? Christmas dresses are worn in the winter not summer. Thus the need for warmth. OK, granted if you live in a sunny place like CA. It is not a big deal. But I live in TN and it is getting a bit cold, rainy and wet here. Plus don't you know tans have faded by December so I don't want to show off my baby girls white arms if I do not have too. Don't worry I bought a dress w/ sleeves last year for her but just an note for the future. People say well, put a sweater on her. Well, that is fine and dandy but sometimes they don't match right and well, I like my girl to match (even though she could care less at times).

Sincerely,

A distressed mother

gold, frankincense and myrrh

By: Marybeth Whalen (Proverbs 31 Ministries)

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 (NIV)

Whether you grew up in church or not, you’ve probably heard the story of the three wise men placing gifts before the baby Jesus, throwing their own little royal baby shower. Christmas carols tell of it and many a Christmas pageant has featured children with crowns askew, tottering in with their royal gifts.

Yet far from soft blue blankets and a selection of baby toys, these three kings brought seemingly odd gifts for the tiny Savior. They placed at His feet gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Bible doesn’t tell us what Mary and Joseph did with Jesus’ gifts, but I have to wonder. Unless she understood what they meant, I can almost picture Mary saying, “Wow, umm, thanks. I know just where I’ll put these!”

I recently learned that each of these gifts has a symbolic meaning. When we study these meanings, the wise men’s gifts take on much greater significance, a significance that is at once sobering and amazing.

Gold has always been a symbol of royalty. This gift signaled the wise men’s understanding of who this child was, and how we should receive Him. Because of this child, we are transformed from lowly paupers to royalty seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6). He had to leave the perfection and grandeur of heaven in order to walk among us, trading His royalty for a time, but never losing His deity.

Incense was a symbol of His purity. Because He was born sinless and lived a perfect life, Jesus was that perfect lamb, without blemish, offered up for our sins. Incense was used as a fragrant offering to God. But the beauty of the scent couldn’t be released without being touched by fire. Jesus’ life became a fragrant offering through the flames of affliction. And in His death, we receive His purity.

Myrrh symbolized death, as it was used for embalming in those times. Nothing says “congratulations on the birth of your baby” like a little symbolic death! As these men laid this odd collection of gifts at the feet of this child, a little shiver had to have run down His mother’s spine when that last one was placed before Him. Already Lord? She had to be thinking. Do I have to start letting Him go already? But I suspect Mary knew that to accomplish His purposes on earth, Jesus’ life had to end. And now as we seek to follow Him, our lives have to end as He asks us to die to self and to take up our cross and follow Him.

Have you ever asked yourself why the wise men chose those gifts? While we will never know for sure this side of heaven, I think it’s because they listened to God. He directed them to bring these gifts as an outward statement of Jesus’ ultimate purpose. Each one points to suffering and death that ultimately leads to transformation. Jesus didn’t come to earth to be born, He came to earth to die so we could be reborn.

This Christmas I pray we keep our hearts focused on the meaning in the wise men’s gifts – and give our lives to Him, just as He gave His life to us.

Tree

So the other day I was blog-hopping. New term I got off a friend's blog and I saw this picture of this tree and dining room. I thought it was so beautiful and modern. I would love something like that. It is very shabby chic and cottagey. Maybe in 18 yrs (once the kids move out) when my house could potentially stay looking like that, right?

photo by yvestown

We took the kids out to Dollywood on Monday. It was started raining but we still got to do a few things and of course use the new camera.

E likes the reindeer's.

Giving Mama kisses

They look so cute here I think. But I guess I am biased. But heck they are both smiling and looking at the camera. It is a sheer miracle!

A bit small?

I told E to get dressed the other day and this is what he come down wearing. A pair of M's pants got put in his dresser drawer and he tried to put them on. I see him struggling to zip them up and I was like why are they so short until I realized they are M' pants. Too funny!

What are you thankful for?

We are starting this thing each night where we ask everyone what they were thankful for that day? So this is what the fam said last night

Easton-That I got to see my friends today
Jon-That we got to spend time as a family
Mommy-That I got to have a nice morning out w/ a friend sans the kids
Makenlee-Shoes

My flippin almost 20 mo old says she is thankful for her SHOES!!! Chip off the old block! HUH! Jon and I looked at each other and could not stop laughing. So today we asked what she was thankful for and she said, "Braa Braa" Her Brother. So sweet. Can they love each other like this forever? I hope b/c it is the sweetest darn thing in the world.

Shots of the boy

E was playing with the kids nativity scene. All in plastic and I let the kids do whatever to it as it will not break. The next thing I know I see Easton taking out the sheep.

He will make a sword out of anything. These poor sheep did not have a chance.

My lil moose boy. Yes, there is a moose on his sweater and I specifically put him in this sweater to match the ears. At least one of my children will let me match them. HA!!

So we are still messing around with this bad boy and I love close ups. So I did a lil shooting of the boy while we sat on the couch together.

Love this look!

I love this one. What a chesser boy!

Christmas at Chilhowee Park

We went to Chilhowee Park last night for their Christmas tree lighting event. We love going but this year Easton was a bit of a whiny boy so we left early. He is and has always been TERRIFIED of mascots well they were out in full force their and he kept yelling, " I want to go home." Plus it was cold and my CA boy does not weather well when it is COLD.

We are still figuring out all the settings on the camera. All the lights threw it into a tizzy.

M had this light wand toy they passed out.

All bundled up but still cold.

New Toy

Jon and I got our Christmas present early from my parents. A new camera. It is a sweet toy. Needless to say Jon and I are taking pictures of everything as it is so cool to have something that takes pics super quick and clear. Our old one we got the week before we found out we were preggo w/ Easton boy so much needed.

I am now determined to get a good pic of all 4 of us looking and smiling.

This bad boy could do it!!

The other night Jon was sitting on the couch taking pics of the tree and ornaments and a cross we have on our wall. So I am looking at them and I notice the nose on the snowman ornament is rubbed off and the cob web in my cross. Hillarious what a good zoom can do. I never noticed it before. HA!

Poor little nose on M's snowman is rubbed off.

Christmas Card 2008

Here is our Christmas card and letter for all my bloggy friends I do not have addresses for. If you are dying for a hard copy then email me or post a comment and send me your address and I will send you one. If not enjoy it online.

The pics of the kids in blue and pink were taken when it was like 40 degrees outside. Way too cold but they managed to smile in a couple.


Cox Family Highlights of 2008

-Easton started preschool in August. He loves it and is learning so much there. He does a lot of fun things and brings home some cool art projects. He will be 4 years old in January. He is a funny little boy and he loves to make us laugh with all the things he says. He started AWANAS this Fall and learns a bible verse every week. He enjoys it a lot.

-Makenlee Avery is 19 months now. She is all GIRL but she is one tough cookie too!! She loves to dress up and wear fun hats, shoes and dresses. She has quite the Miss Independent I think I am bigger then I am attitude. It is very fun to watch her grow and also to see how she loves her big brother. Easton adores her too.

-Melissa started working part time at Children’s Hospital in the admitting department in November.

-Jon is working at a local grocery store now and we all enjoy him being home a lot more now due to his hours.

-We took our first family road trip to Barron, WI in July to go to Jon’s grandfather’s funeral. The 15 hour drive through the night sure was fun
The kids slept the whole night and did great for the reminder of the drive.
We did enjoy seeing all the family and now we know the kids do well on long drives like that.
.
-We got to take a family vacation to Hilton Head, SC and Savannah GA in September.
We enjoyed it so much and it was great to be at the beach again.

Latest outift

Her is another picture of our lil fashion plate. Yes, she is wearing TWO jackets and she would have been had a complete outfit and matched if it was not for the argyle gray and pink hat she was ADAMANT on wearing. She is So obsessed with her Minnie shoes so looks like I will be looking for things to match them as the ragamuffin look is driving my nuts.

"Are you my friend?"

Easton and I have some conversation this was latest on the way home from the store today.

M-"Easton, I love you. Did you know that?"

E- "Yes."

M-"Are you my friend?"

E-"No, Mom. I have enough friends. You are just my Mom."

He cracks me up. I am just the Mom.

Spinning

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to turn off the music

Jon was listening to U2 and Makenlee kept spinning around and around then she would try to walk and it did not go well. It was funny to watch and she was having so much fun.

Also check out my 3 yr olds hot pecs. HA!! He had just put his jammies on and had not buttoned his shirt.

Ragamuffin

Makenlee already has an opinion on what she wants to wear. God help me. Seriously she is 19 mo. old. She protests if you put something on and she does not like. She will strip. I am not kidding. She will take it off. So what do I do? Well, I give in and let her wear whatever most of the time. She is my 2nd and seriously have bigger issues to deal w/ then a ragamuffin dressed girl.

This was today. Can you say ragamuffin?? She was totally mismatched with her Minnie shoes. But I said, "Oh, well." You are only young once. By the way she loves hats now. She went through a phase where she'd rip them off. She is obsessed with jackets too. She wore her red pea coat over her jammies the other night. She definitely has an opinion and let's it be known to the world if she does not get her way. We have no idea who she gets that from.

A treat for the kids..

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit last week. The kids had so much fun playing dress up, pirates, playing outside, going to sprout, reading books, snuggling and getting lots of love from G & G. Grandma was nicknamed Gra-nanny b/c I had to work all day most days so she was taking care of them which worked out. She loved it and the kids did too.

G & G came to visit

Fantasy of Trees

We went to the Fantasy of Trees this year. We had never been. It was awesome. It is one of the big fundraisers for Children's Hospital (my new employer) so I thought we ought to go check it out. We will make it one of our family traditions for the holidays plus it is a great cause.

(My pictures are completely out of order and Leah showed me how to fix it but now it won't do it. )

E putting his ornament on the tree
E made this ornament there

Always trying to get a good family pic. This is not that bad. At least E is smiling and looking and M is looking too.

She kept walking by the trees saying cheese

E liked all the pretty trees

One of the many beautifully decorated trees

Watch out women driver. The look on her face kills me

E liked the car area

Playing golf

M got a candy cane on her cheek

Loving siblings

E liked all the penguins too

So I have slacked off

I have become a slacker blogger. I had every intention of blogging everyday bwtn Halloween and Thanksgiving sharing each day what I was thankful for. Well, that did not happen. Life has been CRAZY at the Cox house. Crazier then normal imagine that. I got a p/t job working at Children's hospital. But I have been working close to f/t the last 2 1/2 weeks b/c I have been in training. So life has been nuts. But life should get back to normal (by the way, what is normal) in December. Wait pause that. No, December is nuts w/ Christmas and all the festivities. Maybe January. Nope, Gotta an anniversary to celebrate and Jon and Easton's B-day to plan and party down at. Ok, life will slow down for me in February. AHH, can't wait till then!!!!
So I decided to put it all in one post. See below.

But the 3 things I am so thankful for I posted on and that is stud muffin, Easton and Makenlee. I am also thankful for Jesus but I don't have any pics of him.

Thankful

What I am thankful for this year.....Jon, Easton and Makenlee. I am thankful that Jesus is my savior. I am thankful that I have a stud muffin husband who is so awesome, kind and is my best friend. I am thankful my kids are best friends and they adore and love each other so much. I am thankful my kids have a Dad that is a REAL Dad who steps up, leads and changes diapers and does baths w/o complaining. He is an active participant in their lives. I am thankful my husband helps daily parent our children.

I am thankful for a rockin small group that we get to lead and shepherd in the journey of life. I am thankful for awesome worship songs by my fave Hillsong and David Crowder. I am thankful my kids love to dance and sing to worship music too.

I am thankful for food in the fridge, a heater, and a car that runs. I am so thankful for consignment sales where I find rad deals, clearance at stores, free stuff at the store when I use my coupons, and hand me downs. I am thankful for free things and hook ups that have randomly come our way this year.

I am thankful for date nights w/ stud muffin, dates w/ the kiddies 1 on 1. I am thankful to grocery shop by myself b/c stud muffin is home more now. I am thankful E has school 2 days a week and he loves it and I love that I get to have only 1 kid for 4 1/2 hrs . I am thankful for our chiropractor, Andrew. I am so thankful for reconciliation. I am thankful my kids have awesome grandparents that love to see them and spoil them.

I am thankful for peppermint hot chocolate, hanging w/ friends, bunko nights, getting to bake from scratch. I am thankful I have connected w/ old friends through facebook. I am thankful for my blog and my friends blogs. I am thankful stud muffin is home more and we can be a family. I am thankful for provision.

I am thankful for you!!! What are you thankful for?