Friendship

First I would like to say YO! Hope your Tuesday is going dandily(is that a word?)!! My brain is currently fried and I needed to take a wee break from the world of marble and decided that blogging would be a great way to get out things that are currently stuffing my brain to its brim. Anywho, let me just begin by saying that I am so blessed with some pretty amazing frienships. We are currently going to the life of David at church, and I am also going thru a David study with some dear friends of mine. As I said yesterday, it is so cool to see how the life and happenings of David really parallel with the life of Jesus. Onto what I want to discuss today...friendship. On Sunday, one of our pastors talked about the friendship between Jonathan and David. Wow, what a friendship. Jonathan, so selfless, he knew that if David was around, the kingdom would never be his, but he loved David with a selfless love. His relationship was not passive, it was deep. My desire is to be like Jonathan. I jestfully told some of my friends the other night that they could be Jonathan and I would be David and they could give me their cloak and shield and warn me and seek me out, but the truth is, I want to be Jonathan. I want to be that friend who, no matter what, is there in the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health...yeah, I know that sounded like marriage vows...a covenant between two, and that is how friendship should be as well. Not necessarly just between 2, but a covenant. We will be there for each other to hold each other accountable, to encourage, to pray for, to just do life with. I want friendships that are not just surface, but friendships where we know each other and help each other. I can say that I have been blessed with many deep friendships that I know will last forever. Friendships where we hold each other to God's standards and lift each other up, but are honest when it is hard. ONe of my close friends even told me I couldn't pass as a teenager anymore because my face was mature...that is a close friend...she so could have lied and told me that I was just as young looking as the day I got my senior pictures taken.
I hope that you are molding friendships into your life that point you to the Lord.
To all my dear friends, you know who you are, I love you all so much and I am thankful for our relationship and how it is centered on knowing our Maker better.

Monica

Funny title? Well, let me give a little explanation as to why I have titled this post "Monica". In the past year I have gotten into the show Friends. Yes, I know that I am a little late on this. I discovered that when I get home from work a couple episodes come on, and if I am a night owl I can catch the ones around midnight...anyway, back to the title. Monica is the clean freak, the one who always puts a coaster under someones glass and has a particular order to things. No, I am not to the Monica extreme, but I do relate to her when it comes to a coaster and a particular order. I have things the way I like them and I know exactly where everything is. As for using a coaster, if you ever come to my apartment, please do not take offense if I put a coaster under your perspiring drink as I do not want rings on my furniture. Trust me, if you paid for it, you would not want rings either :) haha.

This module of school is rounding the bend. I have 3 weeks left and then a long break. I am looking forward to the break. I want to reread one of the books I have been studying for school and just rest my brain. I can't believe that come June I will have my associates. It has really flown by. Thankfully. 5 classes to go!!!!

I have really been studying some awesome stuff in the life of dear ole David. So many parallels to the life of Christ. WOW oh WOW. I just want to share a couple of quotes from the Beth Moore study of David...which I recommend that you start like yesterday..."God can entrust a vision or idea to us that may be ours to pray about and prepare for, but not participate in directly" I thought this was cool It was referring to 2 Samuel 7 when David wants to build a house for the ark of God, but God had a different idea in mind. David had the vision and idea and prepared for it, but it was his son that made the house in the end. Pretty cool how the Lord works.

The quote I want to leave you with is another from the Beth Moore study. A friend reminded me of this yesterday as an encouragement."Somtimes we stand to learn the most about God form the situations we understand the least" Hope that gives you a sense of peace as it did for me knowing that even thought I may not understand my current situation, I can learn the most about God and from Him. I like His lessons...He is the best teacher and I long to be a woman after His heart.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I would like a man by Christmas...you have 29 days...GO.

Love,

Ashley

Thanksgiving Thankfulness

There are so many things that I could write about that I am thankful for...my salvation, my freedom, my independence :), extended family, and way too many things to name, but on this Thanksgiving day, I am going to have to say, I am thankful for today. Today was a wonderful day. I ran in an 8k turkey trot, and then spent the day with some of the most wonderful people. I called it the Cox and Friends thanksgiving. Not only was there family, but there were friends, and it was just wonderful. We were all one big huge family. There was way too much food, but amazing. Playing cards to playing a virtual video game to just wonderful fellowship, this was just a wonderful day. I am tired, but as I sit here and reflect on today, I can't help but smile. I know there was a lot of work that went into getting everything ready. Mom, Dad, Amber, Bobby, and Daniel all had a part in making everything look beautiful. From the fire pit, to the yard, to all the amazing table decorations, I am thankful for them and how wonderful everything was. Even tho Daniel was not with us, he definitely had a part, and his whole family was missed. I hope your thanksgiving was wonderful and that you spent it with people that you love! Love you all. Thanks for hanging with me these past few days as I came back to the blogging world. I hope to stick around and keep this up...I'll just keep you on the edge of your seat. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Ash

Summit Sisters :) #7

This post goes out to a group of girls who just make life so fun! I am so thankful for each one of them and the friendships that we share. These are lasting friendships...girls that I want to stay connected with forever. They have blessed me in more ways than they know!! Sisters, I love you all very much, and I am so thankful for you. I love the time that we spend together and the memories that we share. You all mean the world to me!

Who are these amazing Summit Sisters?!? Well, here they are...

Megan, Sarah, Christi, Maggie

AshMarv, Sarah, Me, and AshDelappe

Robin and Ashley D

Ashley Childs and Sarah

Amy, Shyana, Anna, Christi, Becca, Maggie, Sarah, AshD, Molly, and Naomi

Ladies...you rock. This is A.Cox OUT!

Thankfulness...my parents

What do you get when you mix a Danny and a Diane? A pretty great family! I am so thankful that my parents tied the knot all those years ago...little did they know what they would produce. 31 years later, 4 kids, 5 grandkids, and alot of memories later, my parents are still going strong. I am so thankful for their example of a godly marriage, and their service to each other. My parents are the perfect team. They both make each other stronger. Like my good friend Rocky Balboa once said..."I've got gaps and she's got gaps...we fill each others gaps" My parents are like that and God is the glue that makes the gaps stick.

When I think of my dad, I think of an extremely giving man. He does so much and never expects anything in return. He is an example of a true giver. I want to marry a man who has a heart like my dad...still looking...haha

My mom is such a sweet spirit. She is very knowing...whatever she is reading, she studies and knows it backwards and forwards. She is a researcher, and I love that about her. My mom is also a giver...she is such a great example of the wife and mother I want to be one day :)

Mom and Dad, I am so thankful for ya'll. You both mean the world to me. You have taught me so much and are still teaching me everyday! Thanks for all you do for me and for our family. Ya'll rock!

*I would like to add that I am also thankful for all the spankings that I got. They have made for good stories...and lessons learned. :)

Cinco...

Hard to believe that I have blogged 5 days in a row...this might be a record...anyway, onto another thing I am thankful for...or should I say person since I have just been blogging about people...my older sister, Amber. I am a solo runner, but Amber is the only person that I can run with...I think it is the deep seeded competitivenss that we have with each other...but it is a healthy competitiveness. It is something that helps make the other person stronger. This is not only in running, but in life. Amber is strong, stubborn, annoying(when it comes to me finding a man) beautiful, kind...she is my big sister. One thing I love about our friendship is how we can get mad at each other and 5 minutes later be laughing our head off at something else. She has mastered the art of pushing my buttons and finds it VERY amusing. She is very special to me and I treasure our sisterhood and our friendship. Her eggo is currently preggo with my niece or nephew...I am so excited about another baby...and I am glad she is pregnant because she is super funny when pregnant...and when it comes to food, she will say anything to get what she wants...hahah! (Amber, you know what I am referring to)


Amber, my sister, my best friend...I love you very much!!!

#4- Thankfulness

This is a special post...this thankfulness post is about a very special guy in my life...Daniel. My older brother. The other middle child. What is special about Daniel? EVERYTHING! He is funny, crazy, weird, hard working, loving...and he gives the best hugs ever. When I think about Daniel, all I can do is laugh...everytime we are together it is pretty funny. Take tonight...he tap danced for me while I river danced. I love when Daniel calls me...I never know what kind of accent he is going to have or what he is going to say...what I do know is that I will be in stitches by the time we are finished chatting. It is always a treat when he comes into my office, I know exactly what he will do. He will leap onto my desk and then jump off...never fails. Daniel is strong. He is a great brother and an awesome friend. He is pretty good looking as well...haha. (stop blushing dano, you know your so fine...lol)

Daniel, I love you big brother. I am so thankful for you and all the memories we have and all the memories we make everytime we are together. There is never a dull moment when I am with you. You are the best ever.

Thankfulness...part three

I feel like ever since I decided to blog on some things I am thankful for, my brain has been in non-stop thinking mode...

Okay...drumroll...what I am thankful for part three...IN LAWS! Let me just tell you that I have a pretty amazing brother in law, and a fantastic sister in law.

First up...Natalie. I have known Natalie since I was in 5th grade...she was around when I got glasses, when I had braces...and pretty much every major milestone in a girls life. As the years have gone on, we have gotten closer and closer. She held off popping out my nephew until I got back from Europe and even grin and beared it thru my graduation. She is spunky and crazy, and I am so glad that she married my brother because I know that was a scary thing to do :) Love you Nattypoo

I met Bobby in the spring of 2003. He married my sister that December...ever since he came around, I have loved him. He is crazy, funny, and so honest. I get the pleasure of working with Bobby, so I see him everyday...if there were no Bobby, there would be no fun. He is infectious...when you are around Bobby, you know you are going to have fun. He has the biggest heart. As a girl, it is always nice to get insight from a guy about things...Bobby is who I ask. Because he is honest and has my best interests at heart, I know I can count on him to tell me what a goofball I am. Love you BooBoo

Natalie and Bobby I love you both very much and am so thankful that my siblings picked the best! You both help make the Cox family complete :)

I'll blog more about this little girl later, but I need to give a special shout out to BAILEY CLAIRE MEDLIN on turning 2 today!! Happy Birthday Bales!! Aunt Ashwey loves you very much!

#2 Thankfulness- my marine

As I mentioned yesterday, my PawPaw helped to give me a love for my country. Today I want to share that I am thankful for the men and women who serve our country. I am grateful to all of them, but I want to mention 1 name. Adam. My younger brother. Adam joined the Marine Corp after he graduated high school in 2007. He has served overseas, and is not serving stateside. Being the sister of a marine, I know that it is not an easy life. Adam has been demanded to do many things that I am glad I will never have to do. That is where my highest respect comes in. Adam answered his call to serve and went. He has served with great honor, and I am extremely proud of him. I am very glad that he is home for Thanksgiving...I have only spent 1 Thanksgiving without him...while he was in Afghanistan...and I am very thankful that he is here with us. Adam, I love you more than you know. You are such a strong and valiant man. You are not only a man of strength, but a man of tenderness. Thank you for your service to this country. You are my hero, and I even tho you are my younger brother, I look up to you in many ways!

Thankfulness

Exactly 1 week until Thanksgiving Day. A day that I look forward to every year. A day when pretty much most of my whole family is together. A day that is crazy fun... Cox style. I know no other way to have Thanksgiving than to have fun... whether the boys are running across the backyard dodging paintballs, shootings bows, playing capture that flag, wrestling, or just sitting around with our pants unbuttoned from all the amazing deliciousness we just consumed...and reminiscing on all the stuff from our childhood. So, in honor of 1 week before thanksgiving, I want to post each day with something I am thankful for...this will definitely not cover everything, as I am thankful for a multitude of things, but it will just be a little piece of me :)

#1 I will start will 2 very important people in my life...Granny and PawPaw. I am so thankful and so blessed to have them in my life. Let's start with Granny, one of the most amazing women I know. She has a beautiful voice, a sweet heart, and she really has a gift with her hands...playing the piano or organ, or sewing beautiful quilts (I am sitting snugly under mine as I type this). She means the world to me. Whenever Bachelor, Big Brother, Survivor, or Amazing Race are on TV, she and I are always chatting about them. I know that I can always talk to my Granny about anything...and she will always make me laugh...I like to think I get my silly personality form her :) Next up...my PawPaw. If there was ever a man that made me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world, it is my PawPaw. He is a man of great honor. He loves his country, which has instilled in me a passionate love for my country. My PawPaw loves Fox news...I always wondered why he watched it so much and so I began to watch it...there are alot of pretty blonde ladies on there...I know his secret :) They have been married for over 50 years. They have 3 strapping sons, 11 grandchildren, and 5 soon to be 6 great grandchildren. I know that my entire family would agree with me that Sylvia and James Cox are two extremely special people who hold very dear places in our hearts.

Granny and PawPaw, I love you both very much and am so thankful that I have you for grandparents. Thanks for always looking out for me and having my best interests at heart. I know that you both really look forward to the day that I finally get married...haha...it will happen...one day :)

Now to leave you with a picture of my sweet sweet Granny and PawPaw...

Can't live without...

I like to think I am a pretty simple person. As I was sitting here at my desk, sorting thru the mounds of paper, I began to think...what can I not live without? Well, I am sure I could live without certain things, but what would I not want to live without...that is the question...so here are the whats and whys.
1. Hand Sanitzer- I go thru so much paperwork everyday that has changed hands multiple times...been in different cities, towns, sometimes even states...seriously, I don't know where their hands have been...so, I keep a bottle of the most alcoholic smellin hand sanitizer parked comfortably on my desk.
2. Quilt- literally, it is my security blanket. Sure, that is silly that a 23 year old girl has a security blanket, but my granny made it, and not only is it gorgeous, but it is always there for me...it is my comfort and support. thank you mr quilt
3. Coffee- really don't need to say much on this. coffee is the foundation of my food pyramid.
4. Tennis shoes- if I could, I would wear tennis shoes everyday, but unfortunately, they do not go with half of what i wear.
5. my brain- actually, it works half the time, so I could probably live without this...
6. humor- i could dump everything, but as long as i had humor in my life, i would be set
I can't really think of anything else...in reference to #5, my brain isnt working...