Wonderful Wheat?

For Family Home Evening last week, we taught the kids about food storage and let them make some special whole wheat chocolate chip cookies -- I know, sounds delicious, huh?

The coolest part was that the kids got to see the whole process and grind the wheat themselves.

After everyone took a turn at the grinder, they used the flour to make cookies. Chris was in "awesome dad" mode -- patiently allowing them to participate in every step.

It was so fun to see them all working together. The kids loved it!

I'm gonna be honest -- the cookies looked strange. But they turned out to be pretty good, and Joseph absolutely loved them!

It was a great FHE and a fun time together! Thank you, wheat, for making this activity possible.

Easter Weekend

We had a great Easter season. Lots of fun and family and tons of faith. I am so thankful for the meaning of this season, for the hope and joy it brings and for the peace of knowing that Jesus Christ lives.

Friday was a good mail day. The kids got a package, and so did I. Theirs was from Aunt Shannon, with lots (and lots) of goodies.

Lindsey got a beautiful purse. (Puhse, as she calls it.)

Cool jump ropes.

My package was the beautiful new Blackberry Chris bought for me. I am pretty excited. It's so shiny and pretty.


Joseph's pretty happy; he loves playing with my phone!

Chris took the kids to the Stake Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday morning. It was rainy and cold, so I elected to keep Joseph home.

They came home with more candy than I could believe, and it was the good stuff, too.

Sunday morning they were pretty happy to find even more goodies waiting for them. Joseph was very excited about his stash.

Nathaniel was a little happier than last year....but just a little.

I love this expression on Joseph's face -- like he just can't believe it!

A happy little princess.

Some outside shots before church.

Handsome boy!

And a lovely courtsey.

I have some good lookin' kids, if I do say so myself.

Overall, a great day. It's a pleasure to ponder the blessed events of Easter. As if to gently remind us, we had a cold, rainy Friday and Saturday, followed by a glorious, sunny, warm Resurrection Sunday. I know my Savior Atoned for me, died for me, and was resurrected. I realized yesterday, during the closing hymn of Sacrament Meeting, that 3 of the most beautiful words in the English language are, "He Is Risen."

Cinderella

So there's this song -- maybe you've heard it -- "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks. Mom introduced me to it many months ago, and since then I downloaded it on iTunes, and I listen to it quite often. It's one of those heart-tugging country songs, and I must admit that 99% of those songs drive me nuts. But this one, well, let's just say it really gets to me.

I came to see her daddy for sit down man to man

It wasn't any secret I'd be asking for her hand

I guess that's why he left me waiting in the living room by myself

With at least a dozen pictures of her sitting on a shelf.

She was playing Cinderella

She was riding her first bike

Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight

Running through the sprinkler with a big Popsicle grin

Dancing with her dad, looking up at him

In her eyes I'm Prince Charming

But to him I'm just some fella

Riding in and stealing Cinderella.

I leaned in towards those pictures to get a better look at one

When I heard a voice behind me say "Now, ain't she something, son?"

I said "Yes, she quite a woman,"and he just stared at me

Then I realized that in his eyes she would always be

Playing Cinderella

Riding her first bike

Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight

Running through the sprinkler with a big Popsicle grin

Dancing with her dad, looking up at him

In her eyes I'm Prince Charming

But to him I'm just some fella

Riding in and stealing Cinderella

When I listen to this song I can't help thinking about Lindsey, and I usually end up sobbing like a baby, picturing that day in the future when someone is going to come and take her from me. Don't get me wrong -- in my head I know this is the natural progression of things, and when the time is right there is nothing I want more than for her to meet and fall in love with a wonderful, kind man who honors his Priesthood and wants to take her to the Temple. In my head I look forward to this -- but my heart never wants to let her go; my heart never wants her to be anything but my sweet baby girl who looks at me with big blue eyes and thinks her dad and I are the whole world.

Sometimes the words of another song pop into my head -- one with a similar sentiment but where the father, as he talks to his daughter's young suitor, sits cleaning his gun.

Sometimes I ache with the realization that in just a few short years my children will be grown. They will be adults, and I will have gone from being everything to them to being someone in the background of their own lives. Yes, this is how life goes, but it's a sad prospect.

I feel this overwhelming need to protect her. (Obviously I want to protect my sons as well, but those of you with daughters know there is just something different about it.) Honestly it freaks me out to think that one day there will be boys chasing after her, thinking thoughts that will make me want to clean MY gun right in front of any young man who comes around.

It's like I have said and like I've read on the blogs of so many others: children bring us the purest feelings of joy we can have in this life, but along with that comes the greatest vulnerability on our part and the greatest possibility of pain. It has to be that way, that if we want the absolute joy we must risk the absolute hurt. And maybe it won't hurt as much as I fear it will, that day when she leaves our home and grows into a woman; maybe I will be able to look at it as a success that Chris and I have raised a beautiful little girl into a lovely, smart, happy woman.

Yesterday was an especially emotional day for me. As I blubbered through the last 30 minutes or so of the Draper Temple dedication, I felt overcome with all the blessings of the Lord in my life. Sitting there in the dark with my arm around Nathaniel, I was reminded of the fact that these children are mine forever, if we qualify as an eternal family. I felt very vividly how wise our Heavenly Father is, how well He knows us and knows what we need. The ultimate goal -- to live as a family unit for eternity -- is attainable because of the blessings of the Holy Temple. I felt reassurance that Heavenly Father understands, as a loving Father would, how I feel about these sweet little ones and how much I need and want them forever, and He freely gives us the opportunity to not only have those we love now but to perpetuate that family relationship through the eternities. There is nothing else that matters to me as much as that.

For now, Cinderella, play on. . .

In Loving Memory

On this day, two years ago, Adam passed through the veil and completed his time in mortality. Today, as every day, we remember and honor him.

Adam Ross Cox

Adam Ross Cox, 24, of Provo, was called home to our Heavenly Father on Sunday, March 18, 2007, as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. He was born February 20, 1983, at Ft. Carson, CO, the son of Fred and Nanci Cox.

Adam is survived by his wife, Melissa (Bearden), to whom he was sealed on May 2, 2006, in the Manti, UT Temple, his parents Frederick and Nanci Cox of Sutton, MA, brothers Jonathan (Rebecca) of Provo, UT, Matthew, Patrick, and Daniel of Sutton, MA, grandparents Frederick and Marjorie Cox of Medford, MA. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, 3 nephews and a niece. Adam was preceeded in death by his maternal grandparents Robert and Effie Harrington.

His extended family through marriage includes his mother-in-law Becky Bearden (GA), father-in-law Tony Bearden (FL), siblings Julie (Chris) Black (Provo), Josh (Karol) Bearden (MD), Amanda (Drew) Cremeans (WA), Adam, Becca, and Matt Bearden (FL).

Adam graduated from Sutton High School in 2001. He attended BYU before and after serving an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the France Toulouse Mission from 2002 to 2004.He had been employed as an alarms monitor supervisor/911 dispatcher for the BYU Police Dept. since September, 2005, while attending BYU and UVSC. Adam recently completed his CPAT test in preparation to enter the Fire Academy. He had previously been employed as a substitute teacher in the Sutton Middle and High Schools.

As faithful members of the Pleasant View 9th Ward, Adam and Melissa served together as primary teachers. Adam's hobbies included playing with his niece, nephews, and cousins, restoring his '72 VW Beetle, rockclimbing, and spending time with his family. He was a licensed HAM radio operator and an active member of the Timpanogos Emergency Response Team (TERT).

Adam found great joy in being with his wife Melissa, in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in serving others, and in loving all children.

His family is grateful for the time he was allowed to be with them.