The Cox Corner: January 2012

As most of you are aware, we are home and doing well! We have made changes to try to keep Ryleigh healthy, including pulling Aubrey out of preschool temporarily. I am looking forward to extra time with Aubrey, but at the same time, I am sad that she is missing out at school. She loves it! I love getting to make up for lost time with her though, and I know that in no time at all she will get to go back to school with her friends.

Marabeth's Service on December 10th was exactly the way I had imagined and dreamed it would be. As crazy as it sounds, I was looking forward to celebrating Marabeth's life. Of course it was an emotional day for me, but at the same time it was such a great honor in her name. Our preacher, (Chris Seidman) started off the sermon; and did an incredible job. He reminded us that "Human beings are significant not because of what they do, but who they are." I also loved how he explained that the hebrew word raham means compassion, and was the word they used to describe a mother's womb. He also explained that God feels for his creation, the way a woman feels for a child within her womb. So true! My Dad did the Eulogy, and also did an amazing job. He is such a gifted speaker. He ended with a touching poem he wrote called, "These Were My Gifts of Life" as if Marabeth wrote the poem. It started with simple pleasures that she never got to enjoy like "pretty sandals" and the "flame of a birthday candle"; "football games" and a "summer breeze". The ending was my favorite part though.
" My gifts of life were the people I touched; the minds of the doctors who worked in vain; the love of family and friends who knew my name;

Christians who opened their Bibles and knelt to pray; and sinners who, for me, gave up their ways.

My gifts of life were the things I felt; the sanctuary of my mother's womb; the hope that comes from an empty tomb;

The pierced hands of Jesus who carried me through the gates of Heaven; and the Grace of Almighty God who made me feel welcome and gave me a home.

So Mom and Dad don't weep for me. I'm with you and I'm with God. I have found my Aunt and my little cousin. We will be playng together until we meet again. I am the child you had, but never had, and yet will have forever. I am Marabeth Renee Cox."

It still gets to me, everytime I read it! Rod's Dad did an amazing prayer, and the music and worship was so uplifting. One of the people on our worship team, Jaron Pitts, as well as our friend Holly O Quinn sang, and our close friend Ben McGregor played the guitar. We chose the songs "Never Once" by Matt Redman as well as "I Will Carry You by Selah, and "Our God is in Control" by Steven Curtis Chapman. Everyone did an amazing job!

Rod and I wanted to speak to Marabeth, and about her life; but there was no way we would of been able to do that at the day of her service. We spoke on video instead, ahead of time. Here is what our message was to her. (There is some music in the beginning, so it takes a minute before we start speaking)

It felt good to be able to speak to her, and how proud of her I am. I love her and miss her everyday!

It was important to us that we end with worship and praise songs. Despite the hard road we have been on, we have felt God with us, and we still praise him for what he did through her life! We were at the front so we couldn't see everyone, but the pictures show how many people's hands were raised during the worship, praising him. I love that!

My brother in law, Zack (Tami's husband) did the closing prayer. It was the perfect ending to Marabeth's service. He was so genuine, and so real with his emotion. We were all so touched by him, and the words he said, and the prayer he offered to God.

Close friends made sure everything about the service fell into place. The decorations were amazing, the scriptures, the flowers, everything about it, was perfect. I am so grateful we have such supportive friends and family to make sure that Marabeth's life was celebrated exactly the way we imagined.We appreciate all of you who came to celebrate her life. Although none of us ever got to know her, she was still loved by so many, and that means the world to me. Thank you.

Here are some pictures from that Day!

We had a wonderful meal afterwards full of great food!

We love you guys!