We're RICH!!

Brett and I were checking out at Walmart Sunday when we were reminded of the fact that we're RICH. Here's how the conversation went:

(Staring at a Snuggie made especially for dogs, we were contemplating getting one for Buster)

Me: I wish we'd thought of the Snuggie. If we had, we'd be rich right now.
Brett: Yeah, it's so ridiculous people just buy them as a joke. These people created Snuggies as a BIT and now they're making money off of it.

At this point the cashier interrupted and said that she realized long ago that she might never be rich in worldly things so she needed to be rich in the things that mattered. WOW! Pretty profound words to hear in the Wal-mart checkout line! Life lessons pop up in very unexpected places if you are paying attention. In this case, I'm sure glad I wasn't too pre-occupied with Snuggies to get the message.

I continued the conversation with the lady and told her that it sounded like her priorities were in check. She was definitely on to something.  As we walked out to the car, Brett and I discussed how RICH we really are. I began to think about this woman behind the cash register. If  she can be content with her life and circumstances and consider herself rich, why can't the rest of us? Most of us have higher paying jobs, and would consider it perhaps an embarrassment to work at America's favorite superstore. But the riches she spoke of had nothing to do with her employer but more importantly with her Savior, our Savior. We could all learn a thing or two from her.

What if instead of counting our money (or lack there of) we counted all of our blessings?  We would be millionaires many times over!! What if instead of tallying our hardships we tallied all of the important life lessons we've learned? We are blessed beyond imagination and we forget daily of everything that we have.

Society has taught us to focus on what we are lacking. The media wants us to feel like we un-whole if we don't:
-have the product they are promoting
-watch the shows they are advertising
-share the beliefs they are broadcasting

I am ashamed to admit that I often find myself throwing pity parties when things in life are less than perfect. It can be defeating to focus on all the negatives. Instead we should really think of all the ways we are RICH.

I am happy to say Brett and I are:
(just to name a few)
RICH IN LOVE - we are loved and in love
RICH IN MEMORIES - already we've shared new experiences that we will never forget
RICH IN LAUGHTER - we find ways to laugh in the midst of stressful, difficult times
RICH IN FRIENDSHIPS - we have lifelong friends that bless our lives each day
RICH IN FAITH - we recognize where our blessings come from and we are thankful

None of us know what the future holds. We can not count on being wealthy by earthly standards. Possessions do not hold their value. Look closely at your life and you will see so many new ways to count your life fortune.

Our Halls are Decked!
Christmas is only 17 days away and we have donned our gay apparel and really gotten into the Christmas Spirit!! Here are a few pictures...we only have 3 trees this year but I'm hopeful for more next year. Can one have too many trees?!?!

A Wii-ly Wii-ly Bad Emergenc-wii

I suppose in an attempt to make our lives into more interesting stories, God let hardship come our way last week. Last Thursday night while Brett and I were watching TV, we both realized, almost at the same moment, that our Wii console was not in its usual spot in the entertainment stand. Brett automatically thought I was up to something and had moved it. I quickly assured him that I had not. My heart stopped. Had someone really broken into our home and stolen things that belonged to us? Slowly we put the pieces of the puzzle together and realized that they had. Along with our missing Wii and Wii games, we discovered the following missing items:

-Brett’s Texas Tech Ring

-Some of Brett’s luggage/backpacks

-Brett’s watch

-Our piggy bank with our life savings in change ($35 dollars in change!!!)

-2 ipods

-My Dad’s High School ring (given to me as a wedding gift)

Now, everything above, except my dad’s ring, can be replaced. So you could definitely say that it “could be worse” but it’s still pretty crappy and disturbing when someone comes into your property and violates you by taking things that do not belong to them. I am really having trouble having any compassion for this low-life LOSER. I should be praying for them, or something but I don’t want to. I am so angry!!

So we filed a police report shortly after our discovery and were basically told that there was nothing they could do and that we most likely wouldn’t see our things again. Gee, thanks!

We have filed a claim with our insurance company and hopefully they will decide to reimburse us for some of what we’ve lost. It’s just a shame that people think it’s ok to take things that don’t belong to them. It is important to remember that stealing is stealing no matter how big or small the thing is that you are taking. If it’s not yours, DON’T TAKE IT!!

Brett's Big Race

Brett ran the Rock N' Roll marathon last weekend in San Antonio. I was proud of him before but seeing him turn the corner and run the last 100 yards to the finish line was one of my proudest moments as his wife. What an accomplishment! I think marathons are quite emotional. You literally see thousands of people pushing their bodies to the limit. It's incredibly inspiring! Brett has more determination, perseverance, and motivation than anyone else I know....including me. I have a lot to learn from him. Although I don't have any desire to run a marathon, it does help me realize the importance of setting goals and working hard to achieve them. If Brett can do it, so can I. GREAT JOB BRETT. I COULDN'T BE PROUDER!!!!!!!

While in San Antonio, we stayed with our good friends Kelly and Ryan Moody. They are expecting a little girl soon but were so accommodating to us! They showed us a great time and we are so grateful to have them! Ryan was our navigator on race day so he drove us all over San Antonio to watch Brett at different mile markers. I am NOT familiar with San Antonio and couldn't have gotten around without him. He was great!! And Kelly was such a trooper. She's 9 almost 10 months pregnant and walked all over the place with us and never once complained. She was a great cheerleader and I was glad to have her. Thank you thank you Moodys! I CAN'T wait to meet little Moody!!

Give Thanks!

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Brett and I are having our first Thanksgiving feast in our new home and we are so excited. My family is coming in town for the holiday and we hope to impress them with a great meal. Here's our menu:

-Butternut Squash Soup (served in little pumpkins)

-Turkey (this will be my first turkey to cook)

-Brisket (Brett makes a mean brisket)

                                   -Green Bean Casserole (it's a classic)

                                   -Broccoli Casserole

                                   -Mashed Potatoes

                                   -Brown Gravy

                                   -Pink salad (the kind with the marshmallows)

                                   -Dressing

                                   -Pumpkin Pie

                                   -Pecan Pie

                                   -Baklava (my dad is famous for his baklava)

I'm excited already. It should be a yummy meal! We will feast and be thankful for all of our many blessings. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

Life Story

Fifteen Things God Won’t Ask
  by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation. God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home. God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy. God won’t ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class you displayed. God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life. God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary. God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones. God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others. God won’t ask what your job title was, but will ask if you reformed your job to the best of your ability. God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others. God won’t ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend. God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others. God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbors. God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character. God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will ask how many times they didn’t. I found this online the other day and it really got in my head and made me think long and hard about the priorities in my life. It's good to remember what really matters and what doesn't. Sometimes it's easy to get the two confused. I can't tell you how much time I've wasted thinking about such trivial things: my job, money, and popularity. Worrying about what everyone else thinks really doesn't matter!!

This Sunday, Donald Miller, a popular Christian author (best known for writing Blue Like Jazz) spoke at our church. He is on a big tour for his new book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. He was great and his words were thought-provoking. I had never had things presented to me in the way he did but it was very enlightening. Again I started to question my priorities and the "story" I am living.

Miller's new book is all about living a life that matters...even if that means re-writing your life "story" to make it incredible. What a concept! According to him, life shouldn't be easy or conflict free.(It's the commercials and society that teach us that life is supposed to be simple.) If it is, then we are merely coasting along through life. 

I know I am guilty of avoiding conflict like the plague or not doing things I know I should because I don't want to feel "uncomfortable." I stay in my little comfort zone so as to not have to experience anything scary. Yes, I'll admit it, I'm a WIMP and currently my life story is pretty wimpy. What do I really do to challenge myself? What remarkable things do I do for others?

I am currently reading Miller's book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh outlook on life. Miller's definition of a story is this:

A character that wants something and overcomes conflict to get it.

So simple, yet so profound. Think about all the good movies out there, they are all about a character wanting something and facing challenges to get it. If there isn't a challenge, we won't watch the movie....however we still think initially that conflict is bad. Maybe it's not so bad afterall. Miller says conflict "serves us well." I think maybe he's right!

So how will I make my life a good story? How will I make sure that when I leave this earth, I lived a life that really mattered? Well, for starters I can stop being selfish and give more of myself. 

While at Miller's event, I had the opportunity to sponsor a child in need, no, make that two children in need. One is a boy in the U.S. that is growing up in a father-less home. I joined a program (actually Miller's non-profit called  that is going to provide him with a mentor/father-figure. Did you know that 85% of the prison community in the U.S. grew up in father-less homes? Just think if every child in this country had a father or mentor to guide them through life, we could greatly reduce the number of prisons in our country. Pretty cool initiative he's started. If you are looking for a good cause to support, this is definitely one. The video shows more:

Mentoring Spotlight - Ben and Dennis from The Mentoring Project on Vimeo.

The other child I'm sponsoring through World Vision is Jose. He lives in Honduras. Although I know very little about him now, I should be receiving more information in the near future. I do know that he has a birthday coming up, December 24th. I hope to send him a birthday card!

Knowing that I am making a difference in two lives is a great feeling. I hope to be able to do more in the future, but for now I am excited to know that I am helping others instead of just worrying about myself. I've tithed my money in the past but this is the first time it feels real to me that I am directly helping someone else. I know exactly where my money is going and who it is helping. It's pretty cool!

I'm still going to think about my "Story" and what I can do to really kick it up a notch but for now, I am pleased with my new outlook on life.

I'll leave you with this final thought from Miller:

If you think life is meaningless, you should consider instead that maybe your life is meaningless. And only YOU can do something about that.

So get out there and Do Something That Matters!!

Kidney Infections = Nothing to KID about!

As many of you know, the last few days have been rough for Brett & I. However, I have been so overwhelmed by the love and support of my friends and family. I really didn't want the extra attention but I can't deny that it has been nice. Sometimes I feel invisible and wonder (hopefully this is normal) if people would notice if I was gone. Now, I can happily say that I think they would!! Brett & I want to thank everyone for their phone calls, messages, visits, gifts, food, and flowers. It really did feel nice to know so many people care about us and would go out of their way for us! THANK YOU!!

Here's a not-so-quick run down of what happened:

On Thursday of last week, I left work after lunch because I wasn't feeling well. I was feeling nauseous and having sharp pains in my lower right abdomen area. I really didn't think much of it but since I was uncomfortable at work, I planned to go home and sleep it off. Around 4 I was ready to call the doctor. My doctor wasn't taking any more appointments for the day so I called Brett crying and told him we needed to go to a clinic. He was a dear and came straight home to take me to a Care Now Clinic (also referred to me by friends as a "Doc in the Box"). After about an hour wait, I was taken to see the "doc" and about another hour later I left with a diagnosed UTI and some prescriptions that were supposed to make me feel better by the end of the night.

We immediately filled the prescriptions and I took them according to my instructions but by midnight that night, I was feeling just as bad if not worse. I was in so much pain and I couldn't eat or drink anything without getting sick. I woke Brett up and was finally ready to throw in the towel. I told him we needed to go to the emergency room.

We didn't have to wait long in the emergency room (less than 5 minutes) before they took me back and started assessing me. Within a couple of hours they were admitting me into the hospital with a kidney infection and an infected kidney stone.

Friday around noon, I was taken into surgery for a quick procedure to help eliminate the infection in my kidney. They put me under and I am happy to report that I don't remember a thing about it. I spent the rest of Friday in the hospital and then was released Saturday morning.

I slept most of the weekend away and let Brett take care of me...which he completely did! He went above and beyond the call of duty and I am so grateful to have him! He really is an incredible man and I don't tell him enough how much I appreciate what he does for me. But I've already nominated him for HUSBAND OF THE YEAR. Here's just a few reasons why:

While in the hospital -

- He held my hand and did his best to be brave while they put in my IV (he's the one afraid of needles)

- He talked to me while we waited and tried to keep me entertained so I wasn't focused on the pain

- He tied my hospital gown closed (knowing I'm modest and didn't want to show the world my tushie)

- He wheeled my IV for me and made sure it didn't get tangled when I wobbled to the bathroom (countless times)

- He combed my hair for me when I had visitors so that I looked a little more presentable

- He cut up my hospital food into small bites so that it was easier to eat

- He spent the night on a crappy fold out chair and never once complained

- He answered multiple phone calls and kept friends and family informed of my condition

- He stayed on me to do my breathing exercises as instructed so that my lungs would return to normal

- He came home after filling all of my prescriptions with beautiful tulips for me

- He cooked a wonderful dinner for me and my friends on Sunday night

- He cleaned the house while I slept

The list could go on and on. He is WONDERFUL!! As we share new life experiences, like hospital visits, it just brings us closer and makes me realize how lucky I am to have him to journey though life with. We are a team and he is a solid teammate. I'm so blessed he chose me!

The good news is that I am back at work and feeling much better. I return to the doctor on Friday afternoon so that we can re-evaluate my condition. I'm hoping that the kidney stone is gone...but we shall see. I'll keep you all posted!

I tried to find the humor in the situation. Here's a clip from a Friends episode where Joey gets a kidney stone:

A few pictures to document the event:

Beautiful Flowers from friends  


Lovely orange tulips from Brett










                          


 Proof that I was actually in the hospital

  

Flowers below from a thoughtful co-worker

So, needless to say, this week has been pretty much all about me at home. But next week is going to be ALL ABOUT BRETT week. Next weekend we are traveling to San Antonio and Brett is running a FULL MARATHON on Sunday, November 15th. I am already so proud of him and the hard work he has put in training. And I know I will be so excited to see him cross the finish line!! Anyway, next week I want to make sure that he is mentally, emotionally and physically ready for the big run....so next week will be all about my little runner boy!

Oil Spills and other unfortunate accidents -

So I've been thinking that Brett was perhaps a little accident prone and I was starting to worry. However, due to events as of late, I am thinking that in fact it might be both of us who are accident prone. Last week we had two rather significant "accidents" take place. Both of them, if we had to place blame (which we shouldn't!!), would be technically my fault.

Water, water, EVERYWHERE-

Last Tuesday I decided to do laundry so I started a load and left the laundry room. About an hour later I went back to check on the load...it was still running. I left again thinking it was almost done. Brett and I went to run some errands and when we returned (almost 2 hours later) the water sounded like it was STILL running in the washer. Finally, being the Sherlock Holmes that I am, I decided to see why the water was still going. Well, lo and behold, the hose that was supposed to be attached to the back of the washer had come loose. Water was just shooting out of the back of the washer and into the back yard. Can't wait to see how our water bill looks next month! Opps!

Oil Spill-

The next day, Wednesday of last week, we were attempting to make Chile Rellanos for dinner. Brett had already prepped the peppers and stuffed them with cheese, corn and chicken. They were ready for frying and since I'm the "Fry Queen" it was time for me to do my thing. As I was getting out the fryer, the saddest thing happened. I slipped on a banana peel and spilled the entire vat of oil all over the kitchen floor. Ok, ok so the banana peel part is a lie but the rest is true. It was a major oil spill. 2 or 3 paper towel rolls later (thanks Bounty - the quicker, thicker, picker-upper) we had the mess under control and were ready to tackle the Chile Rellanos....now that was a whole other issue.

A new found respect for the Chile Rellano -

Tensions were already running high by the time we were actually ready to fry the chile rellanos. Brett had to go to the store to get more oil, I was mopping the floor with Dawn, and it was getting late. Well, the batter I had bought slid right off the chiles when we dropped them into the oil...so that was a failed attempt. Next, we tried to dip them into milk and then flour...that also didn't work. We obviously didn't do enough research and we clearly didn't have enough respect for the chile rellano makers out there. In the end we gave up and just baked the chiles in the oven. They were good but we are determined to try again and successfully fry them!

Tips for Marriage -

 These tips were passed along to me by a friend and I think they are great tips! I thought I would share them with others. They are helpful whether you are married already or just wanting to prepare yourself for a fulfilling marriage. Each one is so important!

1. God has you here to serve one another. Love acted out is serving.

2. Women need respect and nurturing. Love your wife so she knows you'd
    lay your life down for her. Continue to date her and admire her. Share
    a hobby, find something you can do to have fun together.
3. Laugh often.
4. Be patient. Love crumbles quickly under the weight of unmet expectations.
5. Spend more time trying to fix yourself than your spouse.
6. Keep short accounts. The Bible syas, "Do not let the sun go down
    while you are angry." Make a habit to fogrive.
7. Determine up front that divorce is not an option.
8. Learn about love languages. Not all people show love or receive it
    in the same way. You want a back rub and your spouse wants a clean
    kitchen. The love languages are fairly simple: acts of service, time,
    physical touch, gifts, and words of affirmation. Learn them. Love is
    better received when it's in the language that person speaks.

9.  Words of affirmation are a love language for all men.

10.Men are born leaders. He cannot lead unless she gives him
    confidence to do so. If you love your husband, build him up. Confident
    men do not seek love outside the home.

Hair today, Gone Tomorrow -

Times are tough...so in an effort to cut back, Brett and I have decided to cut our hair. In theory, the less hair we have to wash, the more money we can save on shampoo. That's not actually why we did it but you'll see that after our last hair cuts, we have much less hair! Our necks will be cold for winter...but oh well, sometimes you need a new look!

Nobel Peace Prize? How bout a noble piece of my mind...

I'm sure it comes by no surprise that I am less than pleased with Obama's recent Nobel Peace Prize award. There are many people out there that do so much good in the world. They are the ones that deserve special recognition....not the President of  The United States! Hasn't he gotten enough praise? Everyone knows his name, his causes, his purpose. Have you heard of any of the people listed below? Maybe if they had been awarded the "prize" you would get to hear more about them and their hard work to create a better world. Politics aside, I feel like this year the nomination committee got a little lazy and I am disappointed with their decision. Below is a quick list of people who were passed over so that Obama could win.

(from http://www.weeklystandard.com/)

Sima Samar, women's rights activist in Afghanistan: "With dogged persistence and at great personal risk, she kept her schools and clinics open in Afghanistan even during the most repressive days of the Taliban regime, whose laws prohibited the education of girls past the age of eight. When the Taliban fell, Samar returned to Kabul and accepted the post of Minister for Women's Affairs."

Ingrid Betancourt: French-Colombian ex-hostage held for six years.

"Dr. Denis Mukwege: Doctor, founder and head of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. He has dedicated his life to helping Congolese women and girls who are victims of gang rape and brutal sexual violence."

Handicap International and Cluster Munition Coalition: "These organizations are recognized for their consistently serious efforts to clean up cluster bombs, also known as land mines. Innocent civilians are regularly killed worldwide because the unseen bombs explode when stepped upon."

"Hu Jia, a human rights activist and an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, who was sentenced last year to a three-and-a-half-year prison term for 'inciting subversion of state power.'"

"Wei Jingsheng, who spent 17 years in Chinese prisons for urging reforms of China's communist system. He now lives in the United States."

Maybe they'll do better next time...

 

On a lighter note:

Brett really is quite the handy man. I am lucky to have him. However every handy man has their "off" day. Sadly, last Saturday was Brett's. After successfully installing this lovely new porch light, he had a bit of an "accident."

Take a look at the new skylight Brett installed in our living room....with his foot. You see he was up in the attic, installing the porch light and on his way back through the ceiling to the stairs down from the attic, he slipped and his foot came crashing through the ceiling. Luckily, I was sitting almost directly below him when it all happened. I'm truly lucky he didn't fall in my lap and hurt himself or me.

And here is the aftermath from the hole...Brett is so thoughtful that he wanted Christmas to come early for me so he made it snow in our living room! : )

As bad as things seemed last weekend, I am happy to report that we (meaning Brett and Uncle Paul) have successfully patched the hole in the ceiling. We simply weren't ready for a skylight and all that extra sunshine in our living room.

At times like these, all you can do is laugh. And now, we can look back on this as a funny little memory!


Sunday, a time for reflections and conspiracy theories

Brett and I were sucked in by the History channel today. We woke up and there was a JFK Special on. Well, little did we know that it was an all day event. I could barely get away from the TV. I mean, maybe the mob did kill JFK, maybe it was another group who did it. Why do all the Kennedy's die? Doesn't it seem a little weird??? I dunno the answers but sometimes its fun to listen to the theories...they can get a little far fetched. And yes, I did spend quite a lot of time watching but hey, it's educational...right??

Then, as the JFK programming was ending and I thought I might actually be able to get away from the TV, the history channel jumped right into a special on 9/11 conspiracy theories. I guess I've been under a rock for the last 8 years but I had no idea that people really thought 9/11 was this huge conspiracy. And although I found it quite interesting and entertaining to listen to, I can't help but think there is something wrong with people that think the government is wicked enough to fabricate such an elaborate and devastating event. Don't get me wrong, I think the government is corrupt in many ways, but to kill thousands, or to allow thousands to be killed sounds too far fetched. Anyway, if you are curious, you can google "9/11 Conspiracy" or "Loose Coins" to hear more of these theories.

Outflow - outward-focused living in a self-centered world:

My mom gave me a new book to read today. It's actually more of a 5-week study on how to better yourself and others by living a life focused on others. I'll admit it: I'm self-centered and self-absorbed. I often worry about myself and only myself, my problems, my life....but that's not how it should be and that's not how I want to be remembered. On the very first page of the introduction, I read something cool. It's a pretty simple, but profound concept:

The glass is not half empty, and it's not half full, it's overflowing. 

Despite all the problems we face daily, don't we all have gifts, that are overflowing that we could and should share with others? Instead of focusing on ourselves and our situations, we should look to others to see how we can help them. If we all did that, then there would be others looking to help us, while we were helping others. We'd all reap the benefits. Make sense? Have you ever taken note of something nice someone has said to you, or something thoughtful they've done for you? Think about what an impact it would make if we all did more....even just little things for other people. Sometimes I get bogged down with thinking I need to make these grand gestures or come up with elaborate ways to give back....I think to myself, when will I ever find the time, the money, the resources? Before I even do anything, I get overwhelmed and then as a result, do nothing. Well, not anymore....or at least hopefully not anymore!!

You've Got Mail - 

Some of my readers (hum, hum) ok, all of my readers have gotten a little lazy and rely soley on my emails, to plop in their inbox, so they can read all of my profound thoughts. That is NOT the way a blog is supposed to work....at least I don't think it is. A blog is an actual website that people are supposed to visit regularly. I've been babying all of you and for this reason, nobody reads what I write unless it is emailed to them. So, in the near future, I am going to stop sending my posts via email. Hopefully this will encourage everyone to visit the website and if you want to...make it a "Favorite" or "Bookmark" it so you can visit again and again. And trust me, I have some GOOD stuff coming up in the near future.....so you won't want to miss a post! : )

So that there's no confusion the website is:

http://bplusmcox.blogspot.com

No TV Tuesdays -

In an effort to be more productive, Brett and I have started a "No TV Tuesday" rule at our house. More accurately, it is a "media-free" night. We stay off the internet and refrain from watching TV on Tuesday nights. We are on week 2 but I am already convinced that it is a great concept. We all waste so much of our free-time surfing the internet or sitting in front of the TV. Think of all you can accomplish without those little distractions. This week, instead of watching TV, I:

                                                -cleaned up around the house

                                                -updated our weekly activity board

                                                 -updated our weekly dinner menu board

                                                -finished my book, White Oleander

                                                -took my first bubble bath in our new home

                                                -decorated for Fall

                                                -cooked dinner

Not too bad! And Brett was also productive! Brian and Cassie introduced us to the concept and I really hope we can keep it up! Of course, having DVR helps us make sure we don't miss anything important. HA! : )

Fun at Fort Woof -

This past weekend was a full weekend for us. There was a lot going on in Fort Worth. I attended Christmas in Cowtown with Brett's mom. Then immediately after, Brett and I took the dogs to "Barktober Fest" at the dog park, Fort Woof. There was a great turnout of canines and their owners. They had an entertaining dog costume contest. It was funny! We had a good time and I think the dogs did too. Here are a few pictures…

Dance Buster Dance!!

 

Sweet little Buster with his mommy!

Brett and Maddie...how cute are they??

World Site Day -

Take a Moment to Reflect…Today is World Sight Day!

Today, October. 8, 2009, is World Sight Day. This international day of awareness is held each year on the second Thursday of October, to focus attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

Sponsored by Vision 2020, a partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), there is a theme each year surrounding one of the societal causes of world blindness. This year World Sight Day is focused on the relationship between gender and access to eye care. Two-thirds of blind people worldwide are women and girls and in many places men have twice the access to eye care.

Oh the life of a housewife...

This picture made me laugh! She looks so pathetically "distraught." I'm into vintage pictures of housewives….and I'm wanting to do a Vintage theme in the kitchen and use pictures of women and housewives cooking….kinda like these pictures below:

ABC

Day 2 of my challenge - Use the alphabet to take note of what you are thankful for...bear with me...some of these were a little hard to come up with! : )

A   Alive - I'm so glad to be alive!
B   Brett - I don't know what I would do without him.
C  Creativity - Although I don't always use it, I am so glad to have a creative mind!
D  Dogs - Maddie and Buster can be a handful but I love them more than I like to admit.
E   Ears - Although my hearing is limited at times, I'm so glad I can hear!
F   Friends - I have some of the best friends a girl could ask for, I'm blessed to love my family enough to  call them friends.
G  God - I am thankful that God is good.
H  Home - Brett and I feel so lucky to have a place to call Home
I    Inspiration - I am thankful for the many things that inspire me daily.
J    Job - I'm very lucky to be employed.
K  Kids - They say the darndest things!
L   Love - It is a blessing to love and be loved.
M  Meatloaf - Weird as it may be, I do think it's my favorite meal...made by one of my favorite people
N  New - I'm greatful for all of my new things: new house, new furniture, new clothes!
O  Olives - YUM!
P   Pillows - Nothing hits the spot like a great nap. Pillows make this possible!
Q  Quilts - They are great for snuggling!
R   Reading - I'm amazed at the power authors have to move you with their words.
S   Salsa - I like to make it and eat it.
T   Technology - Without modern technology, my little blog would not exist.
U   Umbrellas - Very good to have when it's raining!
V   Victory - Winning is always something to be grateful for.
W  Washer & Dryer - I've been living without one for the last few months and am so thankful that I'm about to have one again.
X   Xylophones - Can I be thankful for Xylophones? Without them the letter "X" would hardly be used.
Y   Youth - Even though I feel old at times, I am grateful for my youth and I'm trying to enjoy it while I have it!
Z   Zippers - Ok, so maybe it's a stretch...but it's a pretty cool invention so I am thankful for it!

Gratitude Challenge

Give Thanks
Yesterday was World Gratitude Day and I got an email about a new initiative called the Gratitude Challenge. It's a pretty cool concept. Basically, you commit to giving thanks for 21 days. I encourage all of you to check out the website and if you dare, take the challenge yourselves. I'll do my best to take you all with me on this 21 day journey. If nothing else, I encourage you to watch the video below. It's pretty cool. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again, we all have so much to be thankful for. Things will never be 100% perfect in life but if you choose to focus on the positive, you will see how truly blessed you are!

DAY 1

Today you start The Gratitude Challenge. Sign the contract and make a commitment to take note and give

thanks for the next 21 days.  Express why you accepted this challenge and what you hope to achieve from it.

THE GRATITUDE PLEDGE

With a hopeful outlook, I, ______________________, promise to fulfill the terms

of The Gratitude Challenge. Over the next 21 days, I pledge to complete the

activities on my gratitude calendar, including writing journal entries, taking

photos and connecting with friends. I promise to take note of life’s little blessings

and to give thanks for the relationships, experiences and opportunities that make

my life unique. From this day forward, I commit to living on the brighter side of life.

Signature: _____________________________________   Date: _________________

Drumroll Please...
I know you have all been anxiously waiting to hear how Brett and I did in this year's Church-wide Chili cook-off. Well, the results are in and we are the CHAMPIONS this year!!! Much to our delight we won 1st place for our "Deep Fried Chili" served with a Chipotle Sour Cream sauce. YUM YUM!

We were in Austin this weekend (Brett was able to go after all) and drove back at 6 a.m. in order to get home in time to fry 5 lbs of chili balls for the cook-off. We were exhausted by the time we finished but all our hard work paid off! We received tons of compliments and even got what I like to call, "a book deal." There is a lady at the church that wants to include our recipe in a cookbook!! (I'll let you know where those can be purchased since I know you will all want to rush out and buy one!) We had so many people say that we should enter our creation in the State Fair, that we are going to look into it for next year. Who knows, we could soon be millionaires. I'll try to keep up with my blog after I'm rich and famous, but I may have to hire someone else to do it if I get too busy and important! : )

So, despite the disappointing Tech game, Brett and I ended the weekend VICTORIOUS!

Again and again I am amazed at how relevant my morning devotionals can be to what I’m going through in life.

Today’s scripture: No Worries

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”

~ Philippians 4:6-7

So as well all search for a purpose and become who we are destined to be, it is good to know that there is no need to worry. We can voice our concerns in prayer and trust that God will hear us and bless our lives accordingly.

Time Traveler’s Wife


Last night I finished reading the Time Traveler’s Wife. I’ve had it recommended to me before, but when I saw that they were making it into a movie, I knew it was one that I should read first. It was a great read and one that I would suggest to anyone looking for a good book.


Tonight I am going to see the movie and I’m a little nervous. I’ve gotten a little feedback from what others thought about it and I’m just not sure if the movie will be as enjoyable as the book was. However, I’m a big Rachel McAdams fan so I was excited to see that she is playing Clare, the main character (the time traveler’s wife.) I’ll report back and let yall know what I think!


Is your refrigerator running?
Earlier in the week I forgot to mention what exciting, MONUMENTAL event took place at the Cox household last Sunday. We got a new refrigerator!! Ok, ok so it’s not really new but it is new to us and hey, isn’t that practically the same thing? We think so! We are now a “2 fridge family” and it’s pretty thrilling. We now have a main fridge and a backup for overflow. Now, the grocery possibilities are endless!

A Reason, a season, a lifetime
Someone once shared with me that there are many different kinds of friendships that we will have in our lives. Some are there for a specific reason: maybe to teach us a life lesson, or to build our character. Some are there for a season: For whatever reason, the relationship begins and flourishes and then after a period of time in wilts and the friendship ends. Just because it ends doesn’t mean the friendship wasn’t real, it just means the season has ended. And then, there are those friendships that last a lifetime: they are with you from beginning to the bitter end.


I have been blessed with all three types of friends in my life and I am so grateful for the things they have all taught me. They’ve helped shape the person I am today. One of my closest friends shared this little poem with me and I wanted to pass it along.

When I was little,

I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,

And then I started to become a woman.

And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,

God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.

Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.

Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.

Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'

Another , 'Let's fight together,'

Another , 'Let's walk away together.'

One friend will meet your spiritual need,

Another your shoe fetish,

Another your love for movies,

Another will be with you in your season of confusion,

Another will be your clarifier,

Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,

On whatever the occasion,

On whatever the day,

Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,

Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself .

Those are your best friends.

 

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several...

One from 7th grade,

One from high school,

Several from the college years,

A couple from old jobs,

On some days your mother,

On some days your neighbor,

On others, your sisters,

And on some days, your daughters.