Ed's New Girlfriend. . .

I don't know what her name is but her initials are G.P.S. Ed got a new GPS system and so we took a road trip to Spokane last weekend. I drove while he hooked it up. While I was driving all of sudden I heard this quiet pretty voice say "You're exceeding the speed limit" I looked at Ed then the GPS then my speedometer. I was barely off the 70. I kept going and she said it again. And again. Pretty soon I was arguing with her! So Ed took over driving. She also told him when he was exceeding the speed limit but he didn't seem to care. When we got in Spokane I entered our destination address and by dang she told him every turn and street to take right to our destination. I didn't have to say a word. When she said turn right he did. When she said turn left he did. No arguing, no shouting no dirty looks. (If only it could tell him when the light was green or red, but hey, maybe someday) I just set back and enjoyed the ride. I got to thinking how great it would be to have a GPS for men at home. A beautiful calm voice would remind him "You left your socks and shoes in the living room" "The garbage needs to go out" Your plate needs to go in the dishwasher" You left the milk out" (well there's not room for all my list) But just think how much voice we could save and no nagging. Well I can dream can't I.

Ben's Farewell

Wasn't Sunday great! I didn't count but we had alot of family members at church Sunday and it was wonderful to all be together. Grandma Cox talked and gave lots of great advice and council for us and our families to not give up and keep striving to over come evil. Ben gave great council to the teenagers to not give in to peer pressure and strive to go on a mission. I truely felt the spirit there and we will miss you Ben and your great sense of humor but we know that Santa Rosa California is getting a great missionary. The dinner afterwards was wonderful. Lots of good food and conversation. I love it when we all get together! The Bisnetts all fly out tomorrow morning to Utah and the great MTC experience. Take lots of kleenex!

This is Ben's Week

Today Ben will be going thru the Temple and we hope to see some family there. 5:00 at the Columbia River Temple. On Sunday is his farewell and his family would like to invite everyone to it. Also they are having a potluck lunch after church in the cultural hall. They are providing the meat and asking everyone to bring something to add to the meal. There might be some extra friends there so please think big portions. I know this has been a busy and stressful month for the Bisnetts -"But we are here for you!" Good Luck Ben! We know you will be a good missionary!

Luck Changing Already . . . .

Ok. . . so yesterday I was a little skeptical-in a mean way. I apologize. I do hope that this new beginning will be a good thing. Honest I do. If we don't have faith we have nothing. So anyway while the Obama's and the elite were dancing the night away we also had our own little party. You know that feeling you have when you find a dollar in your pocket that you didn't know you had or you get a rebate check in the mail that you weren't expecting. (Well this was better.) Or do you ever dream of being on that one Oprah show that she gives away a bunch of stuff. (Well this wasn't as good as that)But it was pretty good. We went to Kyle's B-day party at Michael's On the Lake last night. Mishelle had ordered several trays of appetizers but when we got there they had forgotten. So after we were all seated in the VIP room they told us we could order anything off of the menu 'FOR FREE!' Talk about being at the right event - at the right time. Plus we got the appetizers too. And our soda's! I kept telling Mishelle to go ask them again to see if she was right and finally the waitress came in and said yes - order whatever you want and its on the house! Most of us were conservative with primb rib or prawns of course but Michael had Steak & Lobster! Anyway - it was a fun night and one we won't soon forget. And oh yea, Happy Birthday Kyle.

Today is a New Day!

Today is a new day. Today things will begin to get better, and we will see the light at the end of the tunnel. Change is coming and Alleluja life is going to be wonderful now. According to our New President. I am so excited and can't wait for this new wonderful life that is going to be ours. I know that we aren't really in a recession because they have spent more than 170 million dollars on President Obama's inauguration. So thankgoodness for that. I probably won't have to work anymore and we will have lots of money because our taxes are going to be lower. The government will even buy our house and we can live there for free until we die. I'm sure the day is coming that we will be given food, and clothing and just about everything else we need. He is going to take care of everything and all we have to do is sit back and enjoy life. What a country.

Where's The Sunshine?!

Is anyone else going thru January depression? This is a hard time of year. All the excitement of Christmas is over, and now all we face is cold weather, dirty snow, fog,winter weight gain, and December bills. Its hard to find the joy in this. We partied hardy and now we face the wrath of our own doings, plus winter weather. So how do we find joy this time of year. One way is to sit down and make a list of all the things you have. If you are not homeless or without a family you are pretty much "rich". If your family is in good health you are doubly "rich". (If you're still reading this) - Next I would tell you to make a list of things that don't cost any money that you can do to make yourself happier. Now I am not a professional but these things have worked for me. I usually walk outside for 2 miles every morning but the weather stopped that in Dec. So I got out my old excercise video and started doing excercises - there is also a good stretch and fit program on every morning at 6:30 on TV. and its free! I can't tell you how much this has helped me. Excercising releases endorfans that make you happy. I also gave up Diet Pepsi! Shocked me too. But I heard that the sweetner in diet drinks makes you hungry. Well I don't need to be hungrier. It seems to be working. I have always started out with a diet pepsi at 8:00 in the morning so this has been a big change for me. And I'm not as tired as I used to be. I cleaned my oven last night at 8:00! I'm usually sound asleep by then. I'm also trying to cut out the sugar from my diet. I'm suprised how easy its been. I've tried every diet known to man, I even lost 30 lbs. for Tyson's wedding but gained it all back. Now here we go again. I think our attitude has everything to do with how we feel. I'm trying to be more positive in a negative world. And reading my scriptures in the morning definately help that. (If your still reading this) Each day is gift and I hope you can find happiness in each day. No matter where you are in life: A woman with little kids, A woman with teen agers, an empty nester woman, or lonely widow woman - there are struggles at every stage of life,(just ask Grandma) but you have to make your own happiness, or life just stays the same ole' thing.

WOW! I don't know about all of you but with all of the family events that have been going on in our family I'm exhausted already and its just the beginning of the year! Its a good kind of exhausted though. Levi & Dania's reception was great! I love it when the Cox family is together for things. I love it when I go to church and I see so many family members there. We kind of count noses and if everyone's not there we are like detectives making sure everyone is ok and accounted for. I kind of slipped up this week and didn't check on Grandma Cox until Wednesday and found her very sick in bed. But with a blessing from Rick and some drugs from me (sorry thats all I'm good for) she was up and running for Levi's reception. The wonderful thing about being in a big family is that we do look out for each other. We babysit for each other, take food to each other, have get togethers, listen to each others problems, and support each other. I will always love Chad for coming to our aid last Father's Day when our sewer backed up in our basement bathroom. He stayed till the bitter end and went home covered in muck but it was fixed when he left. And all of the family that helped us move to our house now. And all the salads you all made for our kid's wedding receptions-I could go on and on. We all have our own stories to tell. I love living where I do now. surrounded by family. Its fun and gives peace of mind knowing help is just a phone call away. This seems to be the Bisnett's month. Now we are looking forward to Ben's Temple trip and his farewell. Everyone is invited to his farewell Jan. 25th and a potluck dinner at the church afterward.

New Year's Resolutions. . .

So how are your New Year's Resolutions going? To help me keep my "Losing Weight" resolution I was going to ask the whole family if they wanted to start our own "Biggest Loser" weight loss group. But then I thought about how we would look in excercise bras and tight black shorts and where would we get a giant scale and do I really want everyone to know how much I weigh. So much for that idea! So I dug out my old weight watcher book and I have been really studying it. Then I saw Shana's blog today on homemade donuts and well maybe I'll start tomorrow. My next resolution was "Not To Nag Ed So Much". This one is harder than weight loss! I have come to the conclusion that when all of your kids leave home there is only 1 other person to blame for everything or for lack of a better word, "Nag". I hate that word! I would like to call it "reminding". I am a good reminder. But in self defense I also get reminded that I should have put the chain saw back when I got done with it, and that I should have put the harbor freight catalog back when I got done reading it. You see you only have each other to blame except when you just know that someone broke in and stole your deodorant or your comb. My last resolution is to take more time off this year. (Like that will really happen) Maybe I should just say "have more fun this year". That sounds good. Yea, this will be my funnest year ever! Let the fun begin!!!!!!!!!

A Great Start To The New Year!

Friday several family members weathered the storm and drove to Tri Cities for Levi & Dania's wedding. There were cars off the road all the way there and even though we all made it - some of us didn't make it in time for the wedding. Things were kind of off schedule in the Temple because of the weather. But it was wonderful to be in the Temple and witness their wedding. We all went out to eat afterwards and didn't leave until the smoke alarm drove us out of the restuarant. (I think they just wanted us to leave!) On Sunday morning we had the sweetest suprise, Skyla suprised everyone by showing up at church. I don't know about those kids, they like to suprise Grandma Cox and she loves it! I didn't even know Skyla was there until she got up to bare her testimony. I almost didn't recognize her - she is so grown up and so mature. I loved hearing her testimony. She was accompanied by her boyfriend Mike. I can't spell his last name. But he is a very nice guy. He served his mission in the Spokane mission and they spent the day visiting people he knew from his mission. Because of the blizzard going on last night they spent the night at our house. And are supose to leave today to go back to Rexburg where he is going to school and she is going to beauty school. What a great way to start the New Year out!

Happy New Year Everyone!

As I was thinking back over this last year I was thinking about our family and how we have changed. Of course we are growing - in number and physically. Deby's house was bursting at the seams on Christmas as we crowded in trying to be together one more year. As each grandchild graduates from High School they become eligable to play the gift exchange game. This was Ben's year to join. I think close to 44 family members were here and played this year. I don't know how long we will be able to keep this event going - in someone's home that is. We might have to rent a bigger building next year. Anyway as I was reflecting on this past year - in our family we had 2 weddings, Andrew and Jennie's and Jeff and Lili's - there were 4 more great grandchildren added, Maddox, Sara, Ella Rose and Sullivan. 4 great grandchildren got baptized, Jacob, Brooklyn, Cara and Brayden. Ben & Skyla graduated from High School. Nick is engaged and hoping to get married soon and Levi is getting married Friday which will start out our New Year and be posted as 2009's first family event. We are excited for Ben going thru the Temple the 22nd and then on his mission by the end of the month. I have heard rumors that Chris and Erin might be moving to Washington soon and that is exciting. I hope I haven't missed anything -please forgive me if I have. Its hard keeping up with this large family and no paid reporters. I hope you will all continue to keep me informed so I can tell everyone here and keep sending me birthday dates and anniversary dates so I can keep the calendar current. I hope this New Year brings you many blessings and joys and lots of laughter.