Wise Men

The beads and the ribbons, the baubles and balls,
are all a distraction from real Christmas calls.


It's not about presents and bows and the wrappings,
It's not about trees and stockings and trappings.


It's not about hours spent finding gifts for family and friends.
It's about minutes spent caring for the unnoticed, unloved and uncared for He sends. 


Are we being WISE MEN?

Have a wonderful week!

Truth is.........

Truth is.......it's National Cupcake Day and somehow, I forgot.  That's just NOT right!
Truth is.......I just STARTED Christmas shopping.

Truth is.......just need to put a few more ornaments on the tree and it is done and that damn ladder that has been in the MIDDLE of the family room can be put away.

Truth is......I ordered Christmas cards at MIDNIGHT on Saturday.  I think they get here next Tuesday. 

Truth is......I don't have time to care.

Truth is......Trammell and Jen (the sutnningly beautiful fiancee) arrive tomorrow, so NOTHING else matters.

Truth is......every single year, I get to about the 15th and wish that we had JUST ONE EXTRA week to get ready for Christmas.  Why can't we turn back the hands of time?

Truth is......every single year, I swear that NEXT year will be different.  Guess what?  It won't!

My Top 10 Excellent seasonal carols:

Are you feeling a little bit like the Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge?Here are some Christmas Carols to lighten the mood, put things in perspective and help you feel more "peace on earth, goodwill toward men."
1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are

3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas
4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....

6. Paranoia --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting You on an Open Fire

8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why
9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?
10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells


Of course, I didn't make these up.  I'm NOT that creative.  However, it IS quite possible that someone has been spying on me and my behavior inspired some of these carols.

Roosters, Hens, Chickens But Not...............

What?  It's Tuesday?  It's December 12th?

I am SO not ready for Christmas.  But at least I have some Christmas RaNDoM for you!

And if you can't get enough RaNDoM, go on over to Stacy's.  She's got MORE than enough for everyone.  She's the Hostess of RaNDoM!

* It wouldn't  be Christmas without the sound of an ornament falling from 10 feet and shattering!

And of course, it has to be one filled with some kind of toxic liquid.

I should have called Hazmat.  Who knows what they put in those snow globes.

* Yep, I did it!

The ladder has been poised in the family room for two weeks.

The tree has been lit and bedecked with beads and bows,

but nary an ornament has found it's way on the tree.

I STARTED decorating it last night.........in a skirt.

Yea me!

* I was unwrapping ornaments and came across this -

WTH?  A rooster in a canoe? This is HIDEOUS?  WHO brought this in to the house?
One look at the underside of the canoe and I saw "Garrett 2010"
I marched into my office, where Parker was taking a test.
"This is horrible! Why did Garrett pick this for his ornament last year? He is NEVER allowed to pick ornaments again."
"Mom, you are disturbing the testing center. Please!"

* Several ornaments later.  I unwrapped this -

Oh my gosh!  What is wrong with my children?
I looked at the bottom of the cock's rooster's feet and saw "Parker 2010."

I march in to my office the "testing center" and proclaimed,
"YOU are not allowed to buy any ornaments either!"
"Mom, it's cool! What did Trammell buy?"
"I don't know, but it was probably something mature!"

Trammell  2010

* Not mature, but WAY more classy! Who can argue with a colorful glass cock rooster.

I marched in to my own office one more time.

"What is wrong with you guys? This isn't holidayish?  This is ridiculous!  Don't think I don't know EXACTLY what you boys were thinking."

It's times like this that being the only child home is SO much fun!
"What?"

"You all bought roosters.  That's NOT funny!"

"But mom, we're the cocks Coxes!"

Merry Christmas from the Cocks Coxes!

Let My People Go!

As I mentioned, Parker got sick of sitting in boring classes.
He applied for early graduation............2 1/2 months past the deadline.

I feel a little bit like my life has turned into the Ferris Bueller movie!

One of the requirements is that HE had to write a paragraph detailing why he should be allowed to graduate.

Another requirement is to have your parents write a paragraph explaining why they support the decision for the student to graduate early.

Here is mine -
"We mostly support Parker’s desire to graduate early. I kind of want him to stay because it’s six hours of free babysitting and I know where he is during the day. But you and I both know that he is just there killing time with stoners, losers and tramps.

Seriously, the school was phenomenal when Trammell attended. And then I blamed Garrett’s intelligence and study skills when it seemed he wasn’t getting the same quality education that Trammell received. But now, I realize that I need to apologize to Garrett. The school has slipped. Parker is bored out of his skull. He’s no dummy. He wants to maintain straight A’s and he wants to be in a stimulating atmosphere. He loves his AP classes. But he has enough smarts to realize that taking ALL AP classes would cut into longboarding time and any kind of social life.

Every day is a battle to get him to go to the “regular” classes. The students are unmotivated. The teachers are disorganized and undemanding. When he gets to class and he is one of just a few kids who have actually done the homework, he is disgusted that the teacher then allows the kids to spend the class period completing the homework that he responsibly completed last night. He spends those periods surfing the web for airfares to longboard races and designing custom boards. Why not let him do that in the comfort of his own home?

Our relationship with the high school is no longer mutally beneficial. He isn’t learning anything. It’s time to move on.......or I could just excuse him from all the useless classes on a daily basis.  It's up to you.

Sincerely,
Gina Cox"

The Blessings of the Temple

I am speaking in church today about the blessings of the temple.
They are too numerous to mention in my 7 minute talk, but I love the temple because it brings me peace and perspective.

The temple is where we can be sealed to our spouse and to our family so that we can be together for eternity.

The temple is all about Christ and helps me be less selfish and more charitable.......and I can ALWAYS use a little reminder of that!


If you have ever wondered why Mormons even have temples or what they do there, check out this video.

SOMEONE!

SOMEONE is hosting a little bit of fun!Mrs. 4444 is the QUEEN of Friday Fragments!

Go pay her a little visit!

* Meanwhile - can SOMEONE tell me why this was the LONGEST week known to man,
but it is already mid December and I haven't gotten ANYTHING done?
Is anyone else having technical difficulties with their calendar?

* SOMEONE is a little bit excited about getting married.
He's been engaged for 10 days and they have -
reserved the temple (okay that was done a month before they got engaged),
reserved the location for the reception,
planned and paid for the honeymoon,
hired a photographer,
and hired a videographer.

I should have had them organize my Christmas!
And maybe it would be done!

* Meanwhile, the youngest Cox is missing school today.
But it's for a important reason.
He's at the State Cheerleading Competition.
SOMEONE has to support the cheerleaders!

* SOMEONE at our house has not even started Christmas shopping.
But I that someone is going to start AND FINISH it today/tonight.

* Where are those Christmas elves?
I need them to come on over and decorate the house!
More than decorate, SOMEONE needs to put away the bubble wrap, bins, paper, and bows that are ALL over the floor.
And for heaven's sake, can SOMEONE put away the ladder that has dominated the family room for two weeks?
But before you put it away, go ahead and decorate the tree.
Evidently, it's not going to decorate itself.

* Just for the record -
I would prefer that ALL my storage bins match and are of a neutral non-holiday color - like blue or gray.
SOMEONE thought it would be a good idea to have orange bins with black lids for Halloween decor and red bins with green lids for Christmas decor and spring green for Easter.
Well, it WOULD be a good idea unless SOMEONE puts the Glitter Corn in a red bin with a green lid.
Glitter Corn is NOT a Christmas decoration! What color would a Thanksgiving bin be?

* Oh, I have HIGH hopes for this weekend..........
like cleaning the house,
writing a talk for church,
getting in the Christmas SPIRIT,
finishing the Christmas decorations,
Christmas shopping,
making Christmas cookies and maybe trying my hand at some toffee and other candy.
Don't distract me!!!!!

Have a great weekend!

Class Act

Congrats to my little brother for being nominated AND being awarded the University of Illinois Medical Center's "Class Act" Award.This is a HUGE deal!
The Class Act Award recipients are people working in the Medical Center that have demonstrated values and service recognized as being exemplary.
The criteria for this award: This employee is a role model who continuously demonstrates exceptional competence and compassion in the performance of his/her job responsibilities...an outstanding example of the University of Illinois Medical Center’s five values: Integrity, Innovation, Service Excellence, Safety, and Accountability.

Chief of Staff, ER physician and the "class act."

Jared: "I am still trying to figure out how this happened. Paperwork mix up?

This is the first time a Resident has received the award.
And it's the first time someone from the Emergency Department has received the award.

Normally, when someone new or a resident is nominated, it's brushed off.
This award is for someone who has a history of excellence and has made a difference, not just in their department but in the entire organization.

Here are some of the comments from his nomination:
“Throughout his shift in the Emergency Department, Dr. Marcucci spends as much time as needed with each of his many patients. He makes sure each patient had a clear understanding of the care they are receiving while in the ER and the plan of care as far as discharge or hospital admission.
Dr. Marcucci is very approachable and has a professional attitude. He listens attentively to anyone who speaks to him. Everyone who worked in the ER is equally as impressed with Dr. Marcucci as I am.

But the events that happened at the end of his shift, make Dr. Marcucci so deserving of the Class Act Award. I received a patient at 05:40am who was in quite a bit of pain. Dr. Marcucci's shift was to end at 6 am. I asked if he could order pain medication for the patient before he left. Not only did Dr. Marcucci immediately order pain medications for this patient but he stayed until 8:30am caring for this patient. I accessed the patient's port-a-cath to administer fluids and pain meds. The patient needed a CT scan of her chest and the port-a-cath had to be removed. Dr. Marcucci started a peripheral line using ultrasound to locate the vein.
Dr. Marcucci explained all the procedure to the patient; he explained the need for admission to the hospital and our plans to control her pain while she remained in the ER. The patient was very appreciative of the care she received from Dr. Marcucci. Dr. Marcucci truly embodies the values of UIMC. His dedication to his patients well being and his profession is genuine.”

The following remarks are summarized by John Williams MD. He incorporated his comments and other comments from various attending physicians and nurses in the ED.

Jared is an intelligent and outgoing resident who is thorough, energetic, genuine and unusually compassionate. Jared’s significant life experiences have given him a sense of perspective beyond his years. In a discipline where the physicians pride themselves on being patient advocates, Jared clearly goes the extra 2 miles. He routinely stays late after the end of his shift to address patients’ needs and assist them in ways both clinical and personal. In fact, he has been known to come in early for shifts in order to go upstairs and see patients he cared for previously in the ED.

Jared is sensitive to the patient’s perspective: he’s committed to ensuring that the patient is well cared for both medically and emotionally. Jared is humble and conscientious, showing a level of empathy that is rare in young doctors of his age. Jared is aware of the many factors affecting illness that others often brush aside.

Jared is friendly and outgoing, and goes beyond being a “team member” by personally engaging with and assisting other individuals no matter their role. He reaches out personally to everyone, it seems, including the entire ED team. As an example, our Emergency Department PharmD and our regular APN in Fast Track both commented on how he introduced himself at their first meeting and made them feel welcome from the beginning and offered his help to them.

Jared always seems to have keen insight into patients’ family and social conditions that ultimately affect their health care. This is a rare trait among young physicians. Our attending physicians agree that he is an astute clinician, keen observer, and an excellent patient listener with a “heart of gold”—an unusual combination. His sense of humor is refreshing and uplifting to those with whom he works. He’s eager to learn and strives to improve his medical care. What is more, he is eager to share his energy and talents, and we are much richer for it.

Congrats Bro!  You ROCK!

Gina

Can it Get More Random?

It doesn't matter that the Christmas tree still only has 5 decorations on it and the ladder is STILL in the middle of the family room.Life goes on.
RaNDoM goes on.
In fact, RaNDoM REIGNS!
If you don't believe me,
go see the queen of RaNDoM

Stacy knows RaNDoM!
I'm pretty well acquainted with it myself!

* And now, just FYI -
REAL cowBOYS do NOT wear earrings.
It's not up for debate.
They just don't.
* Yesterday at 2:30 pm, I drove into my neighborhood.
The thermometer in my car read 14 degrees (the high of the day).
By the time I got to my house 1.8 miles later,
the thermometer read 9 degrees.
Wow, that high was short lived.

* I didn't mind that it was so cold because -
the sun was out,
the sky was bright blue,
and I was wearing these -

Yep - my friend Margaret spied them in a shop window in London.  When she stopped short on the sidewalk and gasped, the man right behind her, who ran into her, thought she was hurt. As he started to apologize for injuring her, she explained, "Oh no. Those gloves are so cute, I have to go into that store and get them for my friend."  He thought she was crazy.

Thank you Margaret!

* I was feeling so sick last night.  I have had a headache for seven days.  I felt nauseous and every time I bent over to pick something up, I thought I might throw up.  Plus it sounded like there was an erupting volcano in my stomach.  So instead of having chili and cornbread for dinner,
I had candy and cookies.

* Who was the CUTEST indian in Romania on Thanksgiving?

Hands down, it's that cute missionary in the front row with a hot pink head band and a floppy feather. Only Garrett would look good in hot pink!

* Parker does not let the snow stop him.

Yes, that is a snowy, icy street in our neighborhood.

Yes, he is on a longboard.

Yes, he is stupid.

Have a RaNDoM TueSDaY!
Gina

What Could Go Wrong?

It was nice to have Trammell home for Thanksgiving weekend.
It was nice to have Parker home.......wait, he lives here.
Kind of.

The older the kids get, the less you see them.
It's not that hard to say goodbye when they leave for college because they are NEVER home their senior year.
And Parker is no exception.

But he was around more this weekend.
And so, what do you do when the family gets together and you want to have some good ole bonding time?
WORK IN THE YARD.
Okay, so *I* wasn't home.
I'm not stupid!
I heard "work" and I suddenly had to run some errands.
I think I went to the grocery store because there was NO FOOD in the house after Thanksgiving. ;)
But Brian told the boys he just needed an hour or so to gather up the fallen leaves and pine needles.
They had bagged up ten 40 gallon trash bags and still had several to go.
Boredom set in.
Boredom is BAD!
Boredom is dangerous!
But you've gotta love kids who can make work lethal fun.
Why BAG the leaves when you can BURN them?

Is that even legal?
What could go wrong?
Really........what could go right?

Just as I pulled up, a neighbor girl came running down the street to say that some neighbors up the hill had just called them and asked if our house was on fire.  They could see the flames and were getting ready to call 911.
Luckily, no one was injured and no property was damaged.  Everyone just smelled like a forest fire.

Gina

God Has a Plan

I went to the funeral of my friend, Jane yesterday.
It was beautiful.
All six of her children delivered wonderful tributes to their mother.
She left behind an amazing legacy.

Her family is sad.  They will miss her deeply.
But they feel comfort.  They feel peace.

What give people the strength to carry on after the death of a loved one?
It is the knowledge that there IS a God and He has a plan.



Have a wonderful Sunday!

Gina

Two Parties & a Funeral

Is it seriously Friday?
Well, according to Mrs. 4444 it is.

I need five more days.  We have a crazy weekend and I need it to be Monday so I can get ready for Friday. Can you believe I am saying that?  What is WRONG with me?

Don’t answer that.                            

·         Priorities for today –

o  Order Funeral Flowers

o   Make a Christmas Carol Trivia Game

o   Buy Christmas presents for the Company #1 Christmas Party.

o   Write a letter to the school administration saying I support Parker graduating early.

·         Yeah, the Christmas Party for Company #1 is tomorrow.  It was supposed to be at MY HOUSE.  It was supposed to be TONIGHT.  Yep – Company #1 Friday and Company #2 Saturday night.  My house isn’t even decorated for Christmas……….unless you count a tree with 5 decorations and a ladder in the middle of the room as festive.

·         Luckily, I talked Company #2 into having their Christmas party in January.  And then I moved Company #1 to Saturday………and out of my house. Phew!  Now, I’m only in charge of games and presents.  I can do this!!!!

·         Would you ever order this – for a funeral?

I hope not.

·         Trammell is over-the-top goofy in love.  Yesterday, I spoke with him three times. 

“What are you doing?”

“Well, my beautiful fiancée and I are driving to………..”

                Or

                “We are talking about dates for the Colorado and Minnesota open houses, do you think…. Oh here….you can talk to my beautiful fiancée.”

I love it!

·         Parker may or may not graduate a semester early.  Yeah, we know the deadline to make that decision was 2 ½ months ago. At the time, he didn’t think he would graduate because 1) he was still 16 and didn’t want to start college in January as a brand new 17 year old. 2) he thought 2^nd semester would be “fun.”  Having all your college apps turned in, knowing your grades don’t really count for much, hanging out with all of your friends sounded kind of appealing.  But now that he’s bored out of his skull………it doesn’t sound THAT fun.

Well, I've got to get to work on these priorities!
Happy Weekending!
Gina

I Won! I WON!

Oops!  I thought I posted this last week.
What the heck was I doing?
Shopping for diamonds?
Making pies?
Roasting turkey?
Who doesn't like to win?
I LOVE to win!

My dear friend Andrea over at Maybe it's just me..... gave me this happy little award!

and I get to pass it on to five blogging friends who keep me entertained.
Ooooo............such power!

Without further ado -
* Julianna - over at Surviving Boys.
She's a newlywed with a teen boy and two youngers who regales us with stories about work, domestic life and romance <- if you count working on home improvement projects together as romantic.  She's UBER talented.  She made her own wedding dress!

* Danelle - over at Outnumbered.
She's a mom of all boys. And they keep me almost as entertained as they keep her!  Her photography is beautiful.  Go for the pictures.  Stay for the writing.

* Mama Badger - over at Out of the Boondocks.
She might have the two cutest little boys in the universe.  They are dolls.
And she almost has me convinced that living in the midwest might be fun.

* Andrea - over at The Sock Monkey Mom.
She's an "old" blogger with a "new" blog.  She's a great writer and always has something fun going on.

* Stef - over at Oops...there goes my mind.
She has a pack of funny kids and a humorous husband as well.
She always entertains and lightens my day!

Congrats girlies!
Go forth and treat some of your favorite bloggers with an award!

Gina

All That Glitters Part Two

She said YES!

Trammell and Jen are ENGAGED!
I'm so excited!!!!  Where do I start?

Romance at it's best -
Plan A -
Trammell and Jen were going to fly to Minneapolis on December 17th where sometime during the 4 day stay, Trammell would have a formal talk with Jen's father and ask permission to marry his daughter.
Then when Jen came to visit us in Denver, Trammell would propose on New Year's Eve.

Trammell came home for Thanksgiving and 30 seconds after he stepped off the plane,
we went to our favorite family jeweler - Trice Jewelers - to meet with Ralph.
IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!
And then Trammell was even more excited.........as if that was possible.

Ralph said that he could have the diamond set and the ring sized by the next day if Trammell wanted to.
But, with Jen off at home and the engagement not for more than a month, what was the hurry?
For the next two days, Trammell kept saying, "We should have told him to have it ready now!"

We went to pick up the ring on Friday - Best. Black. Friday. Shopping. Ever!
And then for the next two days, Trammell opened the ring box every 15 minutes to look at the ring.

We all knew that Plan A was going out the window!

Plan B -
Jen and Trammell go to Minneapolis on December 17th.
Corner her dad sometime and propose sometime, somewhere in Minneapolis before returning to Denver on the 23rd.
But Trammell kept looking at that ring and thinking of beautiful Jen.

By Sunday, we were on to Plan C -
Trammell texted Jen's father and knowing that Sunday was a busy day for him, asked him to call him at his convenience........anytime between now and when Trammell would get on the plane to go back to school at 6:30 pm or anytime after 8:30.
Jen's father called right as Brian pulled up to the curb at the airport to drop Tram off.
So that Trammell wouldn't have to have this conversation with "There is no parking in the red zone" in the background, AND to give Trammell some privacy (I so wouldn't have done that!), Brian went in the airport and sat in the terminal and left Trammell in the car in the parking lot to "chat."

Trammell had a prepared speech.
He never really got to give it.
The Kerrs knew this was coming.
Trammell did insist on telling Jen's father how amazing Jen is and how in love with her he is.
Permission granted!

Trammell got on the plane with the ring...........
although security did spot it in his backpack and ask what it was.
Then he had to wait 24 long, painful hours until Monday night.

You see, there is some history with the Monday night after Thanksgiving.
Last Thanksgiving, Trammell spent the holiday thinking.
He was "friends" with two girls.........Jen and someone else.
He knew he couldn't date two girls.
He thought about the two girls and tried to figure out who he should date and who he should "give up."

When he got back to school on that Monday after Thanksgiving,
he called Jen up and asked her to go for a drive.
They drove around and talked.......
and then he said..........
"I really like you.  I don't want to hurt you.  Please don't like me anymore."
She wasn't happy.

He dated the other girl.
He wasn't happy.
They broke up in the Spring.
Trammell went off to Arkansas to work for the summer..........
but he started calling Jen all the time and chatting.
And the phone calls got more frequent.
And by the time summer was over,
he could hardly wait to get back to school and date someone who had become his best friend.

So now, the Monday after Thanksgiving 2011,
Trammell called Jen and asked her to go on a drive.
And they drove to Sundance ski resort and they got out of the car and walked around.
And then Trammell reminded Jen of that painful conversation last year............
and then he told her he didn't want her to NOT like him.
He got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
And he gave her the ring

AND SHE SAID YES!

And they are getting married Saturday, April 21st at 3 pm in the Salt Lake Temple.
Come ON!  They are first borns!  Trammell reserved the time at the temple weeks ago!

We LOVE Jen and we are thrilled and so excited to have her in our family!!!!
I'm giddy!  I might be a little bit more excited than the bride and groom-to-be.
But maybe not.

Gina

All That Glitters

Yea for Tuesday!
Yea for RaNDoM!
Yea for Stacy!


Go pay her a visit.......click the linky......I dare you.  NOT NOW! 
Click it AFTER you've read and commented.
*Guess what I found?











The GLITTER CORN?
Now I can have Thanksgiving.
Did I miss it?

Does this look like Christmas ornaments and a tree skirt?

Unfortunately, I know who put it in a Christmas box.
I know exactly what they were thinking.
I was thinking wrong.


* A repairman was supposed to come fix my oven sometime between 1-5 pm yesterday.
Guess what time he came?
NEVER!
Yeah - I hurried home and hung out ALL AFTERNOON.
I called twice - once when I first got home because I saw his number on caller ID (even though he was supposed to call my cell) and was afraid I missed him.
Nope.  The record showed that he hadn't called nor come to the house yet and I was still on the schedule.


Then at 5:20, I called and lo and behold the record showed that he did come by.
Well.........which is it? He came by or he didn't?
The "specialist" then said the record showed that he didn't come by but had typed in 1:44 as an "estimated time of arrival."
Um........no..........he didn't arrive. EVER.
I spent from 5:20 to 5:50 bouncing around "Press 8 to talk to a mornon and Press 3 if you are tearing your hair out" and listening to on hold music.

* While waiting patiently for the Oven Guy,
I did manage to clean up the aftermath of Thanksgiving, put the beads and bows on the tree so that it can be ornamentized, and finish the Christmas village set up......all while scaling the 12 foot ladder in a skirt.
The Oven Guy SHOULD have been here!
It was quite a show!

* I have some VERY exciting news (and it's not about the ovens)
But it DEMANDS it's own post.
Come back tomorrow.
How's that for a tease?

* I'm so excited I forgot all the RaNDoM.
Oh and if you are a super smarty pants,
Don't give away my totally top secret already announced to the world excitement.
Just look smug.

Gina

So Sad

I have a lot to talk about.........
lots of fun stories, lots of exciting things happening around here and lots of crazy.

But it wouldn't be right to move on so quickly without an acknowledgment.

Last night, I was typing emails to missionaries on my computer when I heard Brian on the phone.
He sounded serious and slightly panicked or upset.
I went in the kitchen just as he hung up
to tell me that a dear friend, Jane Baer was in an automobile accident and died.

I'm not sure where to start.
Jane is the beautiful mother of six grown children and a grandmother to about 40.
But she has been one of my mom's best friends and the Baers and the Marcuccis have been friends for nearly 40 years.
Our moms parented together, served in church together, ran the swim team together, laughed and cried together.
IF my parents died when I was younger, my parent's will stated that we would go live with the Baers.
They were those kind of friends.

Her influence has been profound.

Jane and Mark have been serving as the Matron and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Denver Temple for the last 2 1/2 years.
Besides seing her at church and social occasions, I saw Jane every Thursday at the temple.
It wasn't uncommon for Mark to come looking for her ....
only to find her comparing notes with me about my kids and her kids and grandkids.
She always took an interest in EVERYTHING we did.
They were at ALL the important events for our family.
She and Mark were some of the first people to come over after my brother died in the Spring.

I cannot express how much I, and my extended family love the Baers.
There are not enough words to share all the wonderful qualities Jane possessed, how much we love her and how much we will miss her.

She was a constant Christlike example of charity and love.
She cared.
She was generous.
She was an amazingly supportive friend.

It is a wonderful thing to see all the posts on her children's Facebook pages.
The kind words do not exaggerate her beauty, grace and Christlike qualities nor do they do her justice.
She was an angel here on earth and she will be greatly missed!

One Night at Costco

Take a little walk through  my world.
Parker and I went to Costco. Real quick. To pick up one thing.
We were there about 20 minutes.

* "Mom, you can get me a lynx for Christmas."
"A lynx? A live lynx?  Yeah, you can can't on that happening."
"All I know is that it's the coolest cat in the world."

Do the sell lynxes (what's the plural of lynx?) at Costco?

* Oh yeah, for youth group, we're getting gingerbread house kits and making them and blowing them up."
"Whose idea was that?"
"Think about it."

I don't have to think about it

* "Arrgghhh.......they only have off brand french fried onions and now all they have is low sodium soy sauce.  What kind of place is this? They are letting me down!"
"Face it Mom.  We're just skinny people in a fat man's world."

That explains a lot!

* "Why do you keep stopping the cart and writing?
Are you seriously writing down everything I say?
Without me, you would have NO blog.
I should get paid!"

No. *I* should get paid!

Gina

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!
Gina