Holy Cow! I cannot believe first that it is 2008 and second the the first month January is almost over. This week has taught me a lot about relationships and love for others. I want all my family and friends to know that I love and care about you no matter what may happen in life. This past Sunday, President Gordon B. Hinkley died at age 97, he was the Prophet of the LDS church. I have been thinking about what the last decade and a half have been like with him as our Prophet. The church has grown in so many ways and member and people around the world have been blessed by his love and wit. The counsel to stand a little taller, be a little kinder, and do a little more is one of my favorites. I know if we ALL did a little more than society would be a little kinder and a lot less crazy. I am attaching one of my favorite photos of him kissing Sister Hinkley's coffin. I am sure there was a happy reunion between them in heaven. President Hinkley will be greatly missed by the world, but I know we will have another prophet that I will sustain and we all will grow to love. Have a great Day!

So, I am writing this blog a bit aggitated. I had a family member post a blog about cheating/adultery. I know that many people on society believe it is a new sin and one that is nor forgivable. We know that it has been around since the beginning of time. It the new testament, A women "taken in adultery" was brought to Christ to be judged according to the law. The law stated she must be stoned. The pharisees that brought her wanted Jesus to cast stones, but instead he said, "woman where are tine accussors?" This He asked after stating, "he without sin cast the first stone." I have learned over the past few years the reality and miracle of the Atonement and forgiveness. I have known several cases where families could have been completely destroyed by sin if there wasn't an understanding that the Atonement is for the sinner and those whose hearts need mending. Society says that those who support adulterers are weak and allowing themselves to be abused emotionally. I SAY they are some of the strongest peoplein this world and if society had more people willing to forgive others we just might not be where we are today regarding morals and family relatinships! So I say yes to supporting families staying together no matter what. All families are worth the hard work that it will take to become an etrnal family. For those who think that when someone commits a sin that it is about the other...YOU are wrong. Most cases it's selfishness and lovingyour spouse isn't even a factor. Youcan read in most health journals that adultery in today's society has a lot to do with the rapid growth of Pornography and it addictive results on those involved. Like addictions the addict has to realize there is a problem before there can be resolve to fix the issues. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ that teaches all men that no one can make it through this life without the Atonement and recognizing our reliance upon it to recieve forgiveness no matter how small or large our sins may be. I love my little family so much. My children help me understand everyday the concept of unconditional love. My husband is so dear to my heart and is definitely my BEST FRIEND. remember none of us our perfect and let's not cast that first stone.
\have a great day!

So Brevan has been our little firecracker since he was conceived. He came in with a boom and still lets everyone know he is around. His new favorite thing to do is wear the big shoes in the house. This is him wearing his daddy's. He's got quite the shoes to fill:)! Another one of his things he does alot is sign and talk. I tried with him to sign when he was about 7 mos because kyle through tantrums for a year because we couldn't communicate well. Well I didn't think Brevan ver got it. now that he can talk he signs all those words that I tried teaching him a year ago. I guess he caught on after all!





Kyle is our little Betty Crocker. He loves to help make and bake things. As you can tell he's all ready to make those cookies daddy promised! He is the best big brother ever. I keep telling him he better be nice to Brev because he just might grow up to be bigger like daddy and his older brother.

This is what I couldn't wait for when I first learned shortly after kyle was 1 that I was pregnant again. @ kids close in age but the bestest buds in the world. They play so well together. When brev can't find kyle or he wakes up before kyle(which is everyday almost) he says, "where kyle go...sounds like while go?) So finally I am glad that they were close in age!

So we survived Brendan's first week back to school after seven years. I say we because he has a couple of pretty late nights and that means the kids don't seeat all on Mondays and very little on tues-thurs, but it's what we need to do for a few years until he gets his masters finished in counseling. I am getting use to the late nights again. That's the way it had been several months until October, so we'll see if I handle it as well as before. At least now Brendan and I are on the same page concerning family andour responsibilites. Mackenzie ws so funny on Sunday. She asked Brendan, "Are you nervous about your first day of school daddy?" I had to laugh because if you could see him pacing around it was very noticeable that he was definitely a tad bit worried. The fact that she even noticed was proof how evident it was. I 'm sure he'll be fine once het gets into the swing of things. So wish him luck!

Okay here I finally have the picture of the Rexburg Temple uploaded! Are family was able to go to the open house where anyone of any faith is able to go through the temple before is dedicated. Once a temple is dedicated only member with a worthiness reccomend are able to enter. So we took this opportunity to take our three children to see what a temple looks like on the "inside" and why it is so important to mommy and daddy. This picture was taken at the top of the hill and as you can see it was snowing. it was absolutely beautiful inside and out. As we toured the inside of the temple the kids were able to see the forever mirrors(mirrors are placed directly opposite so you can see"forever"). mackenzie was so impresses and understood the importance of a forever family and marriage. She said, "I want to get married in the temple so it will be forever like the mirrors." what a sweet spirit she has. The boys like the oxen or as they said "no they are
cows mom." It was such a spiritual event for our little family to experience. Especially after the past few horrible months. It gave us a glimpse into eternity and what we are really striving for...a covenant marriage not a contractual one. We really do want a forever family and all the joy and sorrow that comes from enduring this life "together". hope you all enjoy the pictures. Especially steph ballard. We would have gotten a family picture, but the rexburg wind was TOO cold!. have a great day.

So our little family had this wonderful faith building experience. Last weekend we had to go up past Boise(300 miles) for Brendan's drill weekend. We took Princess(our dog) with us, but left the cat(tiger lilly) at home. Since she is an inside cat and we have no problems with messes in the house we didn't feel it would be a problem. As we were loading the car she escaped and climbed a tree. She loves playing outside but she climbed a 200 foot tree and wouldn't come down. So I was mad and put her food, litter box, and bed in the garage. I decided she could sleep in there for the weekend and teach her a lesson. wemleft the garage opened about 2 feet so she could slip in and out as she wanted. She has been gone all night before and always came back. When we got home Sunday night, she wasn't here and never came back Monday morning. Needless to say Mackenzie was very upset that her cat was gone and mad at mom for making her stay outside. I told her to say a prayer and maybe Heavenly Father would help her come home soon. Thursday Kenz asked when I was going to put up pictures of her(I had no planned on doing that). She said that she prayed and she had a dream that tiger liily came home. I told her if she wasn't back by saturday we should give up and put away the cat stuff. I was actually happy not having the litter box inside! Saturday morning came around and it was chore time so I had her put it all away. She said, "this doesn't mean that I am giving up mom. Heavenly Father showed me a dream that she came home." Well guess what...Last night(sauturday) When we got home from our date guess who came in right behind us. That's right. the stinky tiger lilly. It made us all realize that God is aware of us and all the things we need no matter how trivial they may seems to others. My little 8 yr old showed me that faith can open doors for miracles. Most cats don't come back after a few days let alone a week. I know that our prayers are heard and answered in the Lord's time.

picture of mackenzie after she got tiger lilly last april.

Okay this is the family picture I really wanted to show for New Year's where we are actually smiling and not being silly!

The kids have already used the aprons several times as well as the spoons(the spoons haven't always been used for mixing a lot of sword fighting).

So my In -laws wanted to do a live nativity this year with the grandchildren. Mackeznie was Mary, Kyle was a Shepard, Brevan was a wiseman, and Brendan was the Donkey!

this picture is of the shepard riding the donkey...I don't think that was really part of the nativity story, but Kyle made it a part this year!

This is a picture of the wiseman visiting the Christ-child. Brevan was too busy trying to play with the baby to actually listen to the account told.

this is a picture of Princess with her santa present....a Bone abd it was gone in 2 hours. She is still a active part of our family and we love her the same. Even though she chased the cat up the tree a few times over the holidays.

We hope you all have a great 2008. We have some pictures of the new Rexburg temple. We went to the open house last night as a family and had lots of fun. I'll give more details when I post the pictures of this once on a lifetime oppurtunity for our kids.

Have a Great DAY, Jess

Happy New Year from the Cox's! Jusrt wanted to wish everyone a great in 2008. We have had a wonderful season full of holday celebrations with loved ones. To be honest we are definitely glad they are over and we are getting back to our normal family routine. Mackenzie was glad to go back to school yesterday and see her friends. The boys did miss her and kept asking where she was. This is a family picture of our wonderful familu aprons that were made by my mother-in-law for Christmas. The kids LOVED them!.


Kyle and Brevan got the playschool's crash and go car set from santa. It has been the gift of the year for them and daddy! Brevan didn't have any problems this year learning the art of unwrapping gifts. kyle taught him well!
I received this beautiful
bracelet from my Brendan santa. It was a beautiful Christmas this year!
Brendan got a little saw from the kids. Kyle just couldn't keep from telling him what it was. He did keep it quiet for 2 days:).


After a long night of trying to keep mom and dad up, mackenzie ws finally able to open presents. She even puked the night before from too much chocolate at g-ma's house. She loves her little pet shop gift and so do the boys!




We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season and are getting back into the swing of things. I know that our 2007 wasa horrible year for us as a family*(couple) and as individuals emotionally. I know the healing power of the Atonement is real and that in 2008 we will have many miracles happen in our little family. We love and miss all of of friends and the family that isn't near.