Notes from the Cox Nest

Updates on the clan...

2009-07-14T21:41:00.003-05:00

So much has happened in the last 4 months! It is amazing how life changes instantaneously!

Only a couple of days after my last post I received a phone call from Jayson informing me that he would be home shortly after. March 24th (exactly one month after our 2 year anniversary) was the day he arrived home to us! It was a very exciting, emotional time and was a great reunion for our little family!

April 4 we welcomed our new sister-in-law into the family. We made the journey from Ft. Campbell to Columbia, SC for the wedding!

May 14, we successfully closed on our first house! We are now home owners! What a joy it is to own our home! We are almost done unpacking boxes and decorating. And of course, I'll be back to work very soon, so my summer was definitely spent unpacking, but we were able to spend it together and that's what counts!

Waiting

2009-03-20T07:58:00.004-05:00

This time last year, I was at home waiting for the day Jayson had to deploy. Here I am again, waiting for the day he will come home. For the past week, all I've been able to do is "hurry up and wait." I am generally a patient person. Sure, I have my impatient moments, but I am usually able to keep my cool. But knowing that Jayson is coming home sometime next week and not knowing just exactly when is really frustrating. I am supposed to get a phone call 48-72 hours before he leaves and then another about 12-18 before he arrives. You would think that since I've already spent almost 12 months without him, I would be able to handle another week or a few days. He will be here next week, I am just waiting on a phone call to let me know. Hopefully I'll get one this weekend.

Anxious Anticipation

2009-03-11T08:48:00.003-05:00

It's been 11 months and 11 days since Jayson deployed. Originally, he was supposed to be gone for 15 months and I remember thinking, "How in the world am I going to get through it?" By the grace of God, the deployment was reduced to 12 months, which means that Jayson will be home in a few short weeks. 13 days, to use his timeline! How exciting it will be for our little family to finally enjoy all of the things that families are supposed to be able to enjoy together! I want to cook dinner for my husband and be able to go out to eat with him and simply enjoy our home together. It's amazing what you miss when you're apart for such a long time.
This month is going to be so exciting! I am thrilled that he will be here in 13 days! I can't wait and just had to share with everyone! March is a great month!

And we're off!

2009-01-22T22:38:00.002-06:00

JB is turning 14 months old and is "Speedy Gonzalez." He had been working on walking starting at about 11 months. All Christmas long, we tried to get him to walk to us and he would come part of the way, but crawling was easier. Amazingly, in a week's time, he became a pro at walking and is walking everywhere. He hasn't looked back since. I am so excited and exhausted at the same time. He is into so many more things now that he can walk. And he just loves it. He gets so excited when he walks around and will smile whenever he's doing so. My baby boy is growing up right before my eyes. It's so phenomenal to me. With 8 teeth and more on the way, my little boy is getting so big and it's only been 14 months! Wow!

Tis the season to be jolly...Right?

2008-12-11T18:52:00.002-06:00

I received fabulous news this morning! My husband will be home by 3:15 tomorrow! I am very excited to see him for the first time in 8 1/2 months. And this morning, after I heard from him, I was overjoyed. Even as I walked into my house this evening, I realized that the next time I did so, we would be together! Unfortunately, my joyous state didn't stay that way for long.
Once again, someone made it very clear to me that they have to be the first person to see Jayson. I realize we are all selfish beings and I try very hard to be as selfless as possible, but I'm having a harder time with that at the moment. We are planning to see some family this very weekend after he arrives and we are traveling to do so. We don't have to, but we are. Jayson wanted to do so in order for us to have more time together as a family during the holidays.
I suppose prayer is all I need this weekend as I am going to try and be, once again, the selfless one. I'm tired of the competition that I've been thrown into without my consent. I don't want to compete for Jayson's love because I don't have to. Love isn't a game and it isn't a competition. It's just something we do.
This whole situation has made my holiday not so jolly tonight. But, I'm praying that the Lord will give me the strength to press on.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-07T08:28:00.002-06:00

I realized this morning that I've not written since September when I got my job. That just goes to show you how busy life can be when you're acting as a "single parent" and working too. Don't get me wrong though, I love my life! I enjoy my job and the time I spend with my son. But my life is going to get even more hectic in roughly 6 more days, and I am so excited!
As most of you know, my husband has been deployed since 31 March making it a little over 8 months since I last saw him. I have been waiting patiently, well as patiently as one can, and now my wait is close to over. I am so happy to say that I will see my love again this coming weekend! The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful gift this year, sharing the Christmas holiday as a family! I am so glad that our son will not miss Christmas with his daddy! And I am pretty excited for myself too! This is the one time in my life that I don't feel bad about being selfish.
Still, I can't help but think about those soldiers all over the world who won't be spending Christmas with family. They are making such a sacrifice and my heart does go out to them and their families. So, as you are celebrating this holiday season, just remember those who are serving our country and sacrificing so that we can all spend Christmas with the ones we love.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Welcome back Mrs. Cox!

2008-09-12T13:45:00.003-05:00

Last week, I applied for a job in the public school system where I live. The job I applied for was just an assistant in a special education classroom. On Tuesday, this week, I was contacted by the Human Resources department informing me there was a job opening in a school for a special education teacher. I immediately found out what I needed to do in order to expidite the interview process and did that. The principal of Glenellen Elementary School called me yesterday and asked if I wanted to interview. I went this morning and an hour and a half after my interview, she called and offered me the job! I start working next Thursday.
Although it is a special education position, it is a new area for me to be working in. Instead of being in a self-contained classroom, I will be a resource inclusion teacher. This means I'll go around and work with the students who require services while in their regular classrooms. Plus, I get to teach a class for gifted students too! I'm pretty excited about the new experiences that I will gain and also anxious about the challenges that will come. But they will be good challenges.
When I didn't get the job I had hoped for at Ft. Campbell schools, I was disappointed and let down. I was hard on myself when I shouldn't have been. My sweet husband encouraged me though. He reminded me that it wasn't the right job for me and to have faith that the right job would come along. At that point, I asked the Lord to open a door for me. I sent my resume into a few other places, but heard nothing. The Lord sent me the right job, I know it. He did open that door!

Nine Month Check-up

2008-09-05T20:03:00.003-05:00

Today we went for JB's 9 month well-baby appointment. I am happy to say that he is doing well developmentally. He is 16 lbs 7 oz and 28 3/4 in long. I am so thankful for a nurse practitioner who didn't give me the 3rd degree about him being small. It was nice to have encouragement for a change.

Unexpected experiences that make a difference..

2008-08-24T21:51:00.002-05:00

This last weekend I had the opportunity to go on a "Strong Bonds" retreat with my army family. I didn't really know what to expect. I knew that it was based on the book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families" and knew that it was meant to help make our families and relationships stronger. It was different than I thought. The speakers didn't spend tons of time talking about things that I'd heard before. It was more of an encouraging and affirming time. Suggestions on how to keep strong bonds with our husbands while during a deployment. How to communicate and trying to understand what they are going through. It was really helpful! It was stuff that I knew and was trying to do, but sometimes didn't because I was letting the "weight" of the deployment bring me down. And what I have to deal with here at home is pretty much nothing compared to what Jayson is dealing with everyday. It reminded me that even though it's so difficult being here, parenting by myself, it is so much more difficult to be away from your family in a foreign land with little free time, having to wear body armor when you go out and wondering, worrying about your family at home. I am so grateful for the men & women who are wiling to make the sacrifice. I've developed a new level of respect and appreciation for all who serve in this way. It truly was unexpected, but has made a big difference.

Excitement!

2008-08-16T17:08:00.002-05:00

Every time I hear from Jayson, it absolutely thrills me! Reading the words "I love you" or hearing them flow from his lips is indescribable. But today, I got such exciting news! He was given his leave orders and we know the date he gets to come home for Mid-tour! He will be here for Christmas! And even though we already had our first Christmas as a family, this one will be much more special because we are going to start new traditions! Now I can really plan! I have a date to look forward to! Exciting news, that's for sure!

My Sweet Husband

2008-08-14T13:11:00.003-05:00

He always seems to surprise me. It's the little things that really matter, you know? Twice since he's been gone, my sweet husband has sent me flowers. The first time, it was a half dozen calla lilies and half dozen roses. This time, it was a half dozen roses and half dozen lilies a beautiful shade of lavender. Both times, he's just sent them, for no special occassion at all! When I picked up my flowers from the office this time, the attendant asked if it was my birthday. And I had to smile proudly. He is so sweet to me! Of course, nothing is as wonderful as having him here with me, but when he sends me flowers, it makes me feel so special to know that he is thinking of me. It's a little gesture, but is so great in my eyes!

Life is not what we expect.

2008-08-12T17:48:00.000-05:00

So, there are 346 days left to my husbands deployment. Of course, he will be home sometime in December/January for R&R, but I'm still counting the days because it helps me. I never thought I'd be where I am at the age of 25. Here I am, a wife and mother and loving every minute of it! I knew I always would, but I didn't realize how much joy I would really have in this new capacity. Of course, I also didn't ever think I'd be raising a son with my husband halfway around the world. We try our best to make decisions together and I try so hard to include him in everything. But it's still really hard to be here without him. I never truly understood what it was like to have half of yourself missing until it happened to me. But it's also amazing how much more we communicate with each other now. I have really learned to appreciate my husband so much more now that he is not with me. It really makes me think about life and what is really important. I used to let the little things get to me, but now I know that was completely ridiculous. My life has changed in so many ways and I am so glad that God brought Jayson into my life. The Lord always has what is best planned for us! He is good!

Here we are...

2008-07-13T08:11:00.000-05:00

My name is Leah and I'm 25 years old. I am married to the most amazing man named Jayson. He is 23 and in the US Army. We are currently apart due to his recent deployment. It's sad, but I have been keeping busy with our son, JB, who is 7 months going on 8.
I am hoping to be working again this fall. I'm a teacher and really loved it. I took last year off to have our son and have enjoyed every minute of it. But I know that it will be best for the both of us to get to know new people. :-)
Other than that, there's not much else to tell. I love my husband and son with all that I am. They are my everything!