We are Thankful

Jons mashed potatoes

Issac (Squanto) and Lincoln (Captain Rex--of the Mayflower) act out the first Thanksgiving story.

Jacob waiting for the Turkey Trot to start

Thanksgiving 2010.  So much to be thankful for.  The gospel.  Our missionary and all those who faithfully serve. Our family.  Dear friends.  Jon's family was with for almost a week, Katrina and Gordon came and joined in the fun and Jacob was able to be here.  The weather was mild and pleasant so we played outdoors and in the parks.  Elijah loved playing outside and being with his Aunt Katrina.   Thanksgiving morning it turned cold.  We went to the Turkey Trot and watched Jacob run (too late for the little boys to sign up and so cold we were glad to escape after Jacob's very fast run when everyone else was still in the distance coming in:)  Home to cook together (and watch lots of football:)  Isaac and Lincoln baked rolls.  Isaac loved basting the turkey and seeing the orange inside (each time he pointed out the orange his eyes got very wide--no one can do wide eyes quite as well as Isaac:)   We had LOTS of mashed potatoes.  Jon and Jacob peeled a whole 10 pound bag.  They were yummy (we're still eating frozen ones).  Jon redeemed himself from the awful mashed potatoes of the year before and now knows exactly how to do it!   Lincoln was a pro on the Plasma Car, joined by Brother Isaac and the older (adult) kids (who couldn't get them going quite as fast:)  We went to the big Ice Show down at the Gaylord.  Inspired by their scrumptious (and Texas BIG) Gingerbread house display we came home to make some of our own.  Isaac and Lincoln are getting to be pros!  Lincoln played his violin for us and Isaac serenaded us with his piano solo being prepared for his first recital . . . he had some duets and trios with Gramma on the piano with him and Joseph on the violin. Anna and I and Kat got some Black Friday weekend shopping in and had fun venturing out on a couple of occasions.  Movies (The Original Cosby Kids and spouses revisited their childhood with HARRY POTTER the almost last installment, MEGAMIND with the kids, and lastly TANGLED with Kat and Gordie at the end of the holidaiy.  I really liked Tangled:)  Such FUN!  We are THANKFUL!

Joseph's 15th Birthday

Joe turned 15 on September 29th.  Wow!  Old enough to get a driver's permit.  Joe has been the light of our life.  Youngest.  Clothed in a Technicolor Dreamcoat since birth.  (His brother Jon played Joseph in the musical when Little Joe was a year old) . . .What more can I say?  Well, his brothers never, ever threw him in a pit, for one thing.  And there were only 5 . . .not 11, and a nice older sister.  He's had it good.  And so have we.  Happy Birthday Little Joe!

Isabelle's Tea Party, also starring Olivia

Great Gramma Nathala got new shoes for her birthday from the SAS shoe factory in San Antonio . . . and a new purse!  Martha brought tea sets from England and we had a tea party featuring herb teas, juice, and snacks including Danish Havarti cheese (very yummy!) to honor her English and Danish roots.  Isabelle got her own little mini tea set, which she loved.  She had a wonderful time at the tea party . . . and so did we!  Shoes, purse, and tea party, what more could you wish for?

Gramma Nathalas Visit

In September my mother came to visit us in Texas.  We had so much fun visiting with Gordie and Katrina.  (She had been too ill to attend their wedding) in Houston, Ben's family in San Antonio, and my cousin Kelly and her family in Temple.  We had an early birthday party to celebrate her 85th birthday.  Happy Birthday Mom!

Sam's Family Moves to Boston, Part II

I took so many pictures of Anna!  There are lots more darling ones on my facebook.  A two year old girl is about the cutest thing.  Anna in action is a ball to watch . . . she loves to laugh, talks clearly and cleverly, and loves everyone . . . how special my little grand girls are to Gramma!  I love Anna!

Sam's Family Moves to Boston

Sam's family moved to Boston.  They stopped by and I took lots of pictures of the grandkids since we won't be seeing them as often.  We are excited for them and wish them good luck and great memories, including those of the Cosby Ranch back here in Texas:)  Levi was going on four months old:

He certainly bears a resemblance to his Dad as a baby!   So so cute.  Well, they were going to be in England so I'm glad we had a few months with Levi . . . and Boston is closer than England, so that's another plus!  Lots more pictures on my facebook.

SUMMER RAINS: July 4th, 2010

It was the coolest 4th ever.  Temperatures in the seventies!  Unusually cool for Dallas Fort Worth in July:)     Cloud cover and rain contributed to this.  Joseph was getting ready for his high adventure scout trip and while he was getting a part for his bike at WalMart he and his friend Jacob Cole bought some cheap tubes to try and tube down "Cosby Creek" which runs behind our house in the greenbelt whenever it rains.  Joe, Jacob and his little brother Sam floated on the creek and then headed for bigger adventure on Timbercreek, which was high and wide (30-40) feet, and running pretty fast.  Couple of snakes sunning out on the trail added to the excitement.  The boys had a lot of fun, and an exciting float down Timbercreek.  I have posted an album of pictures on my facebook.  What a great 4th of July!!  This was actually Saturday July 3rd .  . . fireworks that evening to top everything off, plus Joe and Jacob had a wonderful time at their scout high adventure at Broken Bow Lake.  Nothing better than water in the summer!

BOYS AT PLAY: June 2010

Jon's family was headed down to our house in Texas for Anna and the boys to party with us while Jon left from DFW for a business trip he had in St. Louis.  Isaac had been struggling with a virus that seemed to be hanging on for a couple of weeks, but his Doctor thought that he would be recovered and on his way for a fun family vacation; however, something bizarre hit and Isaac ended up in the hospital!  So, I flew up to Nebraska to watch Lincoln and Elijah.  After a few days Isaac was sufficiently recovered (and sufficiently disappointed to not be making his fun trip to Texas), that we all got in the car and drove on down to Papa Van's Texas Ranch:)    Jon and Anna had tickets to see Wicked in Dallas at the outer end of Jon's business trip (which got cancelled), which they were able to use and enjoy!  While I was with the boys in Nebraska, and then for the few days they were able to be in Texas, we had great fun watching the boys play.  I love to watch kids play!  Isaac learned to drive a go-cart by himself, we went to the Flower Mound waterpark they love, and the boys played with Papa Van, the Uncles,  Mom and Dad, and each other.  We are grateful everything turned out well!  My facebook has lots of pictures of the boys at play posted.

Peter and I visit Mom

My brother Peter and I went to Arizona to visit my Mom. I flew to Salt Lake and drove down with Peter.  We had a lot of fun on our road trip!    Last winter Mom had a spell of hospitalization and illness and was too sick to make it out for Katrina's wedding, we were so happy to  find her recuperated enough to want to visit Kitt Peak with us and my sister Sara and her family and then to travel up to our old home in Prescott!  Mom and I are standing on Courthouse Square  in front of the Prescott Post Office Building (across the street) where we would visit my Dad in his office.  What a lot of great memories were brought back by this trip and visits to family and friends!  We were able to settle some affairs of Mom and all enjoy being together.  Peter, who is our family genealogist, shared some great family stories and took me to family history sites along the way.  We also just had fun together eating favorite foods and hanging out at interesting places.  The picture of me and Peter was taken at a bridge where we stopped and were taking pictures of California Condors . . . More pictures are posted on my facebook of this Arizona trip.  After being with all my sisters for my Dad's birthday, it was a special treat to be with Peter and my youngest sister and my Mom as well!  Mom is also going to use the plane ticket she bought for Katrina's wedding to make a trip to Texas this year, so we are looking forward to some more good times with family!

Daddy was always my Hero: Happy Birthday May 22, 2010

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD a.k.a. GRANDPA FRANK a.k.a. PRIVATE MAC!  88 years ago my Dad was born in the great state of Michigan.  His father was an Irish immigrant.  His mother died when he was very young.  He graduated from high school in Michigan and was supporting his Dad when war broke out.  At the age of 20 he decided to serve his country and joined the army.  He was trained on tanks, but ended up being sent to the Pacific Theatre with the 112th Cavalry.  His duty was Reconnaisance Patrol, riding as shotgun in a jeep ahead of his regiment, scouting.  All my life I heard stories from my Dad, so this year we decided to go the WWII Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX as part of his birthday celebration.  His four daughters came to celebrate with him, which made this very special for Dad.  (My brother is coming to see him this fall.)   The picture of Dad in front of the tank is an actual tank in the museum that is almost identical to the one Dad rode in.  In the picture of me and Dad together, I am pointing to the 112th Cavalry Plaque that is displayed along the "walk of honor" at the museum.     Dad has always been my favorite war hero!  One of the things that has made our country great were the common soldiers and common good men...and great Dads. . . like my Dad.  We met some of these wonderful veterans at the museum on Dad's birthday with their families at their side.  It was a great honor to be with these veterans  and with my Dad.    I love you, Daddy!

ELDER COSBY: FIRST 3 DAYS AT THE MTC

Dear Mom and Dad,
     I am doing great here.  It just so happens that my buddy Elder Kaulukukui from BYUH is also my companion here at the MTC.  We are studying hard and I feel like I've learned a lifetime of things and it has only been a few days.  It turns out that I am going to be here 11 weeks so my estimated departure date is July 20th, and that is only if my visa gets cleared so we will see . . .
     When I first got to the MTC they were handing all the Elders their packets with PMG [Preach My Gospel] and other gospel materials.  I walked past the english Elders who had these small packets and then past the foreign Elders who had slightly larger packets.  Then I got to my section and they said, "Elder, you are very lucky," and handed me two huge bags that I had to have my host help me carry.  Supposedly my district is one of the first to be going through this new type of training at the MTC which is cool.  Our teachers are awesome and the rest of my district is awesome.  One of the guys is not here yet because he said that he had to finish finals but we think he really just wanted to see Iron Man 2.  It's been pretty exciting to see all my friends from BYUH here too its pretty cool to see people that I went to school with here especially since I didn't really know they would be here.  Our branch president told all of us newbs to have talks in french prepared for tomorrow and he chooses randomly who will give the talk which was kind of overwhelming . . . It is cold here . . . There are some things that I need . . . I have used 27 of my 30 minutes on email just writing this letter so if you could keep emails short and sweet that would give me more time to write.

Love, Elder Cosby

EVEN AS MY FRIENDS

  

6 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2010:  Van and I, Joseph, and Elder Cosby head to the airport.  I love you.  We love you.  Work hard.  Be faithful.  We'll pray for you.  Write.  Take a few pictures for me. Hug me.  Hug your brother.  I love you.  This is the fifth time I've done this.  Joseph . . . or was it you, Seth?  Remember how you cried when your  brother left?  Because he accidentally slammed your head in the trunk when he closed it . . . which brother was that? They do not blend together, my boys, but there is a familiarity to rituals like this, like a musical refrain.   Mom, are you going to take pictures of every single thing?  Yes.  And we will watch you walk away until we can't see you anymore.  Until even after we can't see you anymore.  I don't know French, or Tahitian.  I know a little Spanish.  Vaya con Dios, that I remember, a beautiful lyrical phrase.  Go with God.  Vaya con Dios, Seth, I mean Elder . . .  Elder Cosby the fifth . . .  no the sixth, counting Dad.  Reach for Van's hand.  We stand together with Joseph.   God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again.  Wave.  He is eagerly looking forward, to what is ahead.  Good-bye. This is easy.  Let the boy try, Mom . . . how many times have I heard that?  Let them go.  Let them fly.  How grateful I am that they choose to fly high when they go.  They honor us and the Lord.  I am not a wimpy Mom.   I have six sons, and I want them to grow up to be responsible, faithful, Christlike good men.  Salt water on my face feels good.  Feels like the South Pacific.

Doctrine and Covenants 84: 77-88 (excerpts)  . . . BECOME EVEN AS MY FRIENDS in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power . . . Behold, I send you out to prove the world, and the laborer is worthy of his hire.  And any man that shall go and preach this gospel of the kingdom, and fail not to continue faithful in all things, shall not be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint; and a hair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed.  And they shall not go hungry, neither athirst.  For consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin, and the kingdoms of the world, n all their glory, are not arrayed like one of these.  For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things.  Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself.  Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man . . . this commandment is unto all the faithful who are called of God in the church unto the ministry . . . that goeth forth to proclaim this gospel of the kingdom.  Behold, I send you out to reprove the world of all their unrighteous deeds, and to teach them of a judgment which is to come.  And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I WILL GO BEFORE YOUR FACE, I WILL BE ON YOUR RIGHT HAND AND ON YOUR LEFT, AND MY SPIRIT SHALL BE IN YOUR HEARTS, AND MINE ANGELS ROUND ABOUT YOU, TO BEAR YOU UP . . .

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS, including Seth Lorenzo

May had arrived and all the married siblings had departed after saying their good-byes to Seth.  In a couple of days he would be Elder Cosby; life would change dramatically.  Seth asked to go on one more "family bonding" outing.  As our family has shrunk, these requests by Seth usually meant "Walmart Bonding" (Seth's favorite), where he would put things in the cart that he wanted us to buy for him. (We miss Seth every time we go to WalMart now).  However, Seth had everything he needed and so we decided to go to another favorite bonding place:  The Museum of Science and History, taking Joe out of school to be with his brothers for part of the day.  The boys, including Van, love to build, explore, and experiment in this place.  Afterwards we usually go to one of Dad's favorite restaurants: Joe Garcia's.  The place is always packed.  It's been going since 1937, and the original little clapboard house is still part of it, but the fabulous thing about this place, besides the delicious mexican food, is the walled-garden and outdoor eating areas behind the house . . . you can meander around paved trails through beautiful gardens and different porches, areas, and outdoor rooms.  It is truly lovely and unique, a little natural oasis in the middle of cowtown.  We returned home to put Jacob on his plane to Denver, where he will be working and running this summer with friends from the track team.  We were pretty stuffed from our mexican lunch, but about eight o'clock Seth decided we needed one more trip together for family bonding and requested Cici's pizza.  We picked up our neighbor Nick, who was more than happy to have a second dinner, and headed down.  On the way, Joe and Seth sang "The Power of One" song--tropical version, loosely translated . . . Joe doing a rhythmical background punctuated by tropical shrieks from Seth.  Seth is very good at these and it is quite entertaining.  Seth is going to the perfect mission for him.  The three boys sat at one booth and ate (and ate and ate, it's all you can eat) . . . and talked, while Van and I sat across from them in another booth.  Do older boys realize what a great impact they have on younger ones?  All my sons have practically idealized their older brothers.  Seth's roommate at BYU-H, Chase, was a returned missionary   Seth called "Uncle Chase" (we found out that he was the son of a family from Van's ward in California).  He had obviously had great influences and had matured greatly in the year+ time he had been away at school.  It does take a village to raise a person of character and we are so grateful for all the people in our village, near and far, who have led our children to good things.  We came home and had family prayer and went to bed.  Seth's civilian life was over--for a couple of years.