Vilate!

 Vilate turned twelve in June. She craves the spotlight and why not? It craves her. Her last school year found her as student body president, choir and band member, lead in the school play, star guitar and lead guitar club member, founder of several clubs, and with a flawless GPA- leading her to the Honors middle school track she's on today. Last week she gave her first Sacrament Meeting talk- with all the poise and confidence we expected of her. Vilate is a white-hot conflagration of talent and charisma; defender of the downtrodden- with the strength of will to intervene and prevail in most conflicts.

I find it amusing that oftentimes a younger child will approach me with a request, Vilate will answer on my behalf while I consider my response, and the child will go away in an attitude of defeat as if Vilate's word is the law and have to be called back to receive my answer. That's our Vilate. We love her spirit! She has her father's knack for imitating voices, accents and dialects. A mondo musician, tearing it up on guitar, hefty vocals and sax, she is also the consummate hostess.

When she helms a get-together, the invitations are decorative and handmade, the favors lavish and personalized, and the food displayed in her own collection of just-so presentation-ware- with no parental assistance. If we're at a thrift shop, she gravitates to the most resplendent drinking and parfait glasses, and will purchase them if she has the cash. She is an intuitive, creative and luxurious cook- purveying the most tempting of treats in as apropos a manner as is in her power- i. e., how else should fries be displayed but in a waxed paper lined, oval mesh basket (which she acquired herself for that express purpose)?

She is just as proactive about helping as she is about taking charge- volunteering and pitching in wherever she sees a need. She's a gem at the grocery store- running price totals, finding elusive items, and loading and unloading with everything she's got! I love her intensity, her boldness her honesty, her style, her humor, her hugs and her belly-laugh. Her tough exterior houses a sympathetic heart, seething with compassion and a desire to provide relief. I so much admire the capacities she has that I lack, and the times and conversations I've had with her, in which she's bared her tender heart, are as precious to me as any in my life. Vilate, girl, I'll love you always and forever!  

Helaman!

Written in my personal journal on 3/16/14:

Talking about Helaman.  Helaman!  My sweet boy.  I often tell him he'll have a lucky wife one day.  So handsome!  Big, beautiful eyes and oozing with dimples.

Mrs. Salazar, his teacher, says she adores him, and so do all the other kids, including certain of the girls.  And not only is he handsome, he loves to cook!  He is fastidious in making his cookies and pancakes and has refined tastes in his choice of cooking implements.  Another reason why I say he'll have a lucky wife.  Plus, he loves to give hugs.  A beautiful, affectionate boy.  He is also fantastic at anticipating needs.  When he's helping in the kitchen, he's got the thing you need before you even have to ask.  Great sense of humor, marvelously intelligent and sensitive.  Wants very much to be thought well of.  Loves, loves, loves the baby.  An absolute pro at making him laugh.

A great big brother.  Helaman has a friend down the street who's a bit older than him- Julian.  Nephi likes to play with Julian also.  But I never see Helaman complain about Nephi coming along.  Not once.  He works hard to include Nephi and protect his feelings.  He enjoys music as well.  Right now he's liking some stuff by Bruno Mars and Imagine Dragons.  He plays bass in the school band.  He once turned in a fine performance in a 5k with his school running club. Helaman told me today that he would like to serve his mission in The Netherlands, China or Japan.  I adore this boy.  Adore!  We had "the talk" not too long ago.  All about where babies come from. He handled it like an innocent, yet mature young man.  I believe Helaman to be extremely caring and insightful.  I believe that one day he'll not only be the best husband ever! (always excepting my David), but a wise, loving and devoted father to my very fortunate grandkids.  Helaman, you have "swag"!  And I love you all to pieces.  I am among the wealthiest of women.

Nephi!

Nephi, Nephi.  He is a delight.  He turned 7 on June 12. He calls me "mom" and it humbles and pleases me.  He sings little songs to Gideon and calls him "adorable".  Nephi has a crooked smile that's a photographic gem, rarely bestowed for the camera.

 A jaunty, triangular wild grin.

Here are a few of his choicest quotes: 

8/03/12 "I want a knight-sized bed".

8/27/12 "If I just had 5 more feathers, I might be able to fly".

Spring 2012 "It was so good I had to use 2 forks!"

Spring 2012 "You can't have firsts and seconds at the same time.  It's virtually impossible!"

He has the Cox intellect and the ability to hold an audience.  He's a ham and a half with a gravelly voice that makes him sound like Boyd K. Packer when he gives a talk.

At Christmastime, he and I made a precious memory together. He helped me "doorbell ditch" some treats to a neighbor.  He was adventurous enough to run up the porch and ring the doorbell, then rush over to join me, hiding, on the side of their house behind a trash can.  We'd agreed to hide until they'd opened and closed the door, so as not to be seen running down the street.  As we hid together, listening to them opening the door and looking for us, he looked up at me with an enormous, mischievous smile, the sense of fun and excitement pervading his whole self, emitting a quiet laugh.  It was an unforgettable moment- a relationship changing moment- a "we're having a moment" moment that will always warm me in its recollection. 

There is no one else like Nephi.  Bold and smart and wonderful.  I love you!

Gloria!

Gloria turned 9 on July 28th.  I wrote the following about her on March 2, 2014.
Gloria is a wild elf with a glorious spirit.  A sanguine, bubbly, laughing delight.  She's insightful, bold and intelligent.  She's also saucy, compassionate, helpful, talented and quick.

Once, last year, while preparing to Christmas shop, I found an envelope marked, "To Santa from Gloria".  I opened it in the hopes it would help me know what to buy. But instead of a list, I found a lovely picture she'd drawn for him.  I smiled. That's Gloria. Luckily I found another one.  But when I opened this one, I discovered a thank-you letter she had written to Santa for her gifts from the previous year.  An exceptional child.  She is continually offering to help and looking to comfort the baby.

One night, a couple of weeks ago, at bedtime, she shared with me that she had just said her prayers, asking if Heavenly Father was really there.  she told me she had felt the Spirit answering yes.  When asked, just now, what she likes to do in her free time, she answered that she likes to read and to draw.  She takes initiative in working on her "Faith in God" achievements, and is doing wonderfully well in school.  She is a girl who champions good.  If friends are behaving badly or being unkind, she'll mention her discomfort over it to us, and even to them.

I believe she is a child of extraordinary gifts who has a grand mission to perform in this life.  She has begun calling me "mom," which positively makes my heart sing.  I am so blessed to have her as a daughter- to receive her many daily hugs, to sing to her at night, and to help her discover how precious she is.  There is no one to compare to Gloria.  And she sings like an angel.  Love you, girl!

Our Copious Cox Clan

David and I (Summer) have been married for two years.  When we met, he was a widower with 6 kids, and I a divorcee with 2.  Our 9th (and 1st) child was born nearly a year ago, and number 10 is on the way.  This is a record of our lives together.  First we'll meet the children one by one in no particular order.