Celebrating 44 years of life!
Yes, I have a lot to celebrate! I am now in what society calls "middle age", which means I am in the middle of my life, or in the prime of life! Ok, so I don't have the body of a 20 year old, yet my body in my 20's was mostly spent pregnant or nursing, so I can't complain about having the body of my 20's! So I don't have the energy of my teenage years, but what is soooo bad about going to bed early????? I can eat dessert first, I can say no to PTA, have a ball with my little people and send them home...........I GUESS I AM IN THE PRIME OF LIFE!!!!

Last night we went to dinner as a family to celebrate my birthday, it was really fun, I told my offspring ( I can't really call them my kids anymore!) that they could ask me any question about my past (brave!). After they got the questions like -- "Did you have colored TV and indoor plumbing?"--out of the way we had a fun discussion. They wanted to know how many boys I had kissed...............Pranks I had played..........times I got into trouble..........and life experiences I have had. In turn I asked them of their earliest memories as children and then we had a fun night reminiscing on all the great times we have had as a family.

So this morning as I lay awake in bed contemplating my life, (because who want to get up and exercise on their birthday??) I felt very blessed with the life I have lived thus far, and realized in the thinking that I still have a lot of life to LIVE!! So, because one day I hope my family will want to print this blog and have it published for posterity!! I decided for my birthday gift to them I would share some parts of me today!!

Things I love:

Rain.........warm rain.
Sunshine, sand and a beach.
Falling Leaves, the colors of fall.
Snow days! If I get to stay inside, by the fire and watch it out my window!
Walking on fresh powder snow when the sun is shinning and the snow is glistening.
Babies---the way they smell, kissing their feet!
Children, curious, busy, laughing..........
Teenagers

Things I do:

I fight passionately.
I love passionately.
I love learning.
I love reading.
I like sewing.
I clean when I need a stress relief.
I go to the movies when I don't want to think.
I like to get my hands dirty planting flowers.
I love sunsets.
I like to dance in the rain.
I prefer ice cream in a cone and chocolate with nuts.


Dreams

Travel to fun places.............the list is endless.
Laugh with my granddaughters.
Dance with my grandsons.
Deliver a baby.
Work in the ER.
Make a difference.
Watch a sunset, holding hands with my husband in our 80's.

To me!!

He got it RIGHT! I want to start off this post by saying that I have a wonderful husband who is thoughtful and caring and I have appreciated his all of his birthday gifts over the years. With that said, Mr. Cox has a hard time with the concept of gift giving......my first birthday gift (before we were married) was a flannel night gown! Yes, the kind that buttons to the neck and goes all the way to the ground!! Later, after we were married I quizzed him on that gift, he told me that he wanted me to stay warm at night!! Sweet, well the flannel nightgown was just the beginning of a long line of practical gifts from my man! So imagine my surprise when he called me last Wednesday to tell me he bought me tickets to BRAVO BROADWAY with the UTAH SYMPHONY!! Knock me off my feet! After twenty-three years of marriage he is finally starting to get me! I love the arts, I love to be wined and dined, which he did!! We both dressed up! He took me to the restaurant at the "Roof" in Salt Lake City, and then we went to the symphony! It was a night to remember!! Thank you honey!! I love going to ball games and being a crazed fan in the audience with you (ok, so I am the crazed one.....), but this gift filled my cup and showed me you get me, thanks for coming over to my side and enjoying the scenery with me!! I will always treasure this memory!!

Wow! Time is wizing by!! It snowed today, which made me take a double take as to what month we are in! No, it is not unusually for us to have snow in November, but when the snow flies you know Christmas is just around the corner!! I just about got out the Christmas carols and started decorating!! I love the snow, but I hate the cold!! Couldn't we have snow without cold?

Food 4 Thought

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Breakfast
You wouldn't be caught dead, where? I wouldn't be caught dead sky diving! Or jumping off high places for kicks! I would not be caught drinking alcohol, or sleeping with anyone but my husband! The rest is hard to say, cause things I said I would never do, I have done!!

Lunch
Was there ever a time you were frightened for your life? Many times, but usually my fears are things I have over come. I am learning to face fear in the face and deal with it!!

Dinner
What are you passionate about? You name it! I love to learn and when I learn something new it becomes my new passion. I have learned over the past few years about the power of unlocking your true potential. As I have unlocked these principles in my own life, I get excited to share with others. Other things I am passionate about are: eating healthy, spending time with my family, blogging, my hubby, and leaning!

Midnight Snack
Have you ever won a trophy? Nope never have!

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?) STICK TO YOUR GUNS!!

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Food for Thought
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Breakfast
What is the last thing you watched on TV? Grays Anatomy! I have to study my med term words!! I love medical shows, the more blood and guts the better!

Lunch
Do you speak more than one language? No I wish I did, I do a good job interpreting teen talk and baby talk! The language I would love to learn is French.

Dinner
What are your favorite websites to visit? Sadly, I don't have time to surf the web anymore! I mostly check email, and my blog.........when I do have time facebook, lds.org, and any of my health nut sights are the ones I visit! I do love to do Christmas Shopping on the WEB!! Any great deals out there anyone??

Midnight Snack
You have won a prize. The prize has two options, and you can choose either (but not both). The first option is a year in Europe with a monthly stipend of $2,000. The second option is ten minutes on the moon. Which do you choose and why? I would love the year in Europe!! I have been there just for a taste and that was enough, I fell in love and want to go back.

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?)Daily Decisions Decide Destiny!

I have been wanting to share this blog for a while now. I have just been waiting to be-able to express how I feel, and put into words how incredible Stephanie is. I have found that words will never do Stephanie justice. My sister Kimberly introduced me to Stephanie on the year anniversary of her near fatal plane crash. I have been in awe of her ever since. Not, just because of her courage......her will to live.........and the love that radiates through her , but because she does hard things everyday and she does it with class and beauty. Stephanie has become my hero and I hope one day I will have the privilege of meeting her, and let her know how much she inspires me.
So today I want to introduce you to Stephanie................go hear and be prepared.......to be inspired.........and cry........and laugh...........and read the most incredible love story!

She was on Oprah a month ago and she is on KSL tonight at 10:00pm.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

words of wisdom!