Barbara: "The Lady in Red!"

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Any woman that has lived within a 50 mile radius of her mother knows that when you start having children there is a magical exchange that takes place.  It's strange because you would think in all the years you've been alive that your mom would have told you that you are really one of the Marvel Comic X-Men.  Your mutant power suddenly kicks in or something because you COMPLETELY disappear and the only thing left are the grandchildren! Of course, since you have disappeared, your mother nobly takes it upon herself to open the very gates of Heaven (usually picking the locks thereof with a very long church hat pin) and pour out upon the children the very Riches of Glory!! (These riches usually manifest themselves in the forms of stuffed, fluffy items, frosted or chocolate chipped treats and/or anything bedazzled or glittery.)  She lavishes every whim of the cherished grandchildren (whether real of imagined) upon them that she can possibly muster.  If she could candy coat their baby booties, add a bubble gum center and keep them to give them back to the children at their respective wedding days, she would do it!  She sees it as her duty to reward the babies for simply having skin.....daily.  If any of this sounds familiar, you might have a Grammy.

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My mother, Mrs. Barbara Jean Mills-Hamilton, is a 5'2'', red-headed, curly-haired, Bible verse quoting, Western Channel watching, "red is my favorite color" wearing, ice cream loving force of nature!  She is also "The Grammy", and being such is the emotional trump card to everything that happens at SRB!  As she feistily steps out of her Kia Sorrento, tells the dogs to shut up as she enters the yard, still stays on her phone conversation and holds her duffel bag she calls a purse over her elbow (as true ladies do) while balancing a foiled paper plate of goodies that she was given by her Service Club sister, you can't help but chuckle as she hot steps it to to porch.  You open the door because her hands are full (and because royalty demands these things) and she turns on her Superman X-ray vision (which apparently works even through bi-focals) and sees each of the grandchildren in their respective rooms and beelines for them.  I stand in awe as I swear she actually teleported THROUGH my body and straight to them!  Could she always do this stuff and I just missed it?

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Here's the thing... a Grammy is just a little opinionated, nostalgic, paranoid, irreverent ball of sunshine that warms your heart...but blinds you!  I hate to admit it, but she is vital to the balance of our yin and yang!  When she is not here, Devon is miserable because he has no one to argue with!  When I need to watch a good chick flick, but have someone ask me questions through the WHOLE THING.....who can I call on?  The Grammy!  Who will insist that she is COMPLETELY neglected by EVERYONE in the house as she eats my last Greek yogurt with her feet up on the couch while watching her 3rd episode of Bonanza that YOU had to turn to for her because she just doesn't understand why you don't get a remote that works?  The Grammy!  When the kids need an "impartial" judge who will ALWAYS rule in their favor against the parents, where do they go?  The Grammy!  Grammy is an institution all to herself.........why?......Because she says so! 

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Amy: "How Deep is Your Love?"

Lots of our friends and family wonder how in the world do we keep things half way in order with as much as we have going on in our lives.  Well, the answer is simple...we have a 5'2'' secret weapon:

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This, my gracious readers, is Amy Zapata!  The original Thrilla from Manilla!!!  Amy has been a member of this family since 2008.  Forget the NBA....SHE is where AMAZING really happens!!  Her pet name in the house is Ate (pronounced 'Ah-Tay') which means "Big Sister" in Tagalog.  It is a term of endearment and great respect, and Amy has earned every drop of it!  The children cry for her when she is not here....heck, I cry for her when she is not here!!  Let's keep it real...SRB would be a hot mess without her! 

Having house assistance in the Turks and Caicos is a cultural norm.  But Amy transcends just being a "Nanny"...she is truly our Big Sister with comfort, organization, advice, laughter and a "Can Do" attitude that just doesn't stop.  If there is a need, Amy knows how to make it happen.  And that is a fact!  The truth is, she left her own family of 4 beautiful daughters and a husband behind in the Philippines to seek gainful employment here.  So, each day she labours with my family, I think of her family and pray that the Lord is guarding over her family the way she guards over mine. 

Now, before you get all gooey-eyed with the sentimental tributes, understand this:  This chick is no pushover!  She is one firecracker!  My favorite sport here at SRB is to start some mess between her and Devon...and then disappear!  One thing is for sure, we love her very much and owe her more than words can say.  It is because of her that I can devote my entire day to home therapy for Josiah.  What more can I say...that is more than most ever give in a lifetime.  "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

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Ok, puppy addicts: Week 3 Updates!!

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Oops! Wrong puppies!!

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It is KILLING me how cute these kids are getting!  (Yes, I mean our little pumkins as well!) The eyes are all open and sensitive to light and dark. They are definitely recognizing specific scents and their hearing is begining to open as they respond to random noises with curiousity.  It is so incredible to watch.

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Enoch is nothing if he is not a bundle of trouble waiting to happen!  He completely thinks that he is born to run things! Nail clipping and a comb through was complete AGONY.....for ME that is!  He grunted and wiggled almost the whole time!  Finally when the deed was done, he was more than content to waddle around sniffing at everything and everyone...I guess he was looking for more loyal servants to bring him milk if momma starts trippin'!  He is a go getter for sure...but what is so funny is watching him drag his pot belly across the floor as he shuffles over to push someone off a nipple to steal their turn at the milk bar!  A fat little gangster!

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Eve, on the other hand, was more than happy to be pampered at her first beauty treatment!  The perfect little lady, she allowed me to clear out any dry skin and trim her nails with no complaints.  Devon has decided that he loves her coloring best of all.  The chocolate sable tan point combination is really unique.  She has a sweet temperament but is no pushover as she holds her own against the boys on many occasions when bitter family feuds break out over milk rights!

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Now for our star of the Big Screen and Golden Globe Nominee: Elijah!  Eli knows how to bring the drama and has the looks to back it up!  He is definitely the most vocal in the whelping box and when he gets what he wants he has more facial expressions than any dog I've ever seen!  So, his screen name for this week is Idris Alba!  He also has the strut to back his acting chops.  He was the first to walk fully on all fours and is definitely the most athletic.  Only occasionally is he out powered by Enoch's weight or out manuvered by Eve's cleverness.  But if it is a clean race, he is definitely the front runner!

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Nicole: "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman!"

So, here is my dissertation on myself!  I really don't find myself NEARLY as amazing as my family!  But for the sake of good form, I will play the matriarch and give you the low down!

That's me!  Sporting my most popular "Oh, really?" glance to the hubby!  I was born in Atlanta, GA even though my parents both hail from South Caicos (yes, just like Devon!)  We only lived there until I was four years old, but somehow I think the grits and cornbread sunk all the way to my bones!!  I still crave peach cobbler!  I truly am a Southerner at heart and think that the simpler life is, the better.  Being the daughter of a Baptist minister, I had my fair share of travel early on.  We moved to Harvey, Illinois (right outside of Chicago) and lived there until I was 10.  We then moved back south of the Mason Dixon line and settled in Sebring, Florida.  With all that bouncing, you see why I sigh when people ask where I am from! I moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1995 to attend the University of North Florida and stayed there until I married Devon and moved to Turks and Caicos in 2005.  So, truthfully, Jacksonville is more my home than anywhere else.  So much so that I chose to birth all 3 of our kids there! 

My love is Classical Music, which was my field of study in school under the Vocal Performance track.  I was super blessed while in college to experience 2 separate trips to Europe not just to be a tourist, but to perform as a member of two separate choral ensembles.  It was an excellent taste of what it would be to live out my vocation exactly where I wanted to be!!  A lifetime learning Bellini, Mozart, Verdi and Puccini librettos was all I thought I wanted!  Hours of Schubert and Faure were fine with me!!  Teaching voice lessons would be how I would afford my extravagant meals of Ramen Noodles until The Met called!!  However, God had better plans for me as now I am blissfully married with 3 AMAZING rugrats and serve as Worship Director for our church, Harvest Bible Chapel, TCI.  I still teach a few voice students, but it is for enjoyment and every now and then I solo for events or church.  Generally, God has replaced music as the center of my life with people being the center.  A pretty functional way to live!! It is amazing what can happe when we allow God to balance our lives.  It releases us into our ultimate fufillment.  It is nice to know that He can use you to touch others and do His good works....and Mozart and I still see each other on weekends...

Adaiya: "The Entertainer"

This picture was taken of Addie when she was 15 months old...and to this day it is the most accurate visual of this kid's personality!  "Bundles" has been her household call name from the time she came home from the hospital and believe me, buddy, SHE IS A BUNDLES!  Bundles of attitude, bundles of joy, bundles of drama, bundles of love...you name it and she brings it!! Two snaps up, girlfriend!! Adaiya was born on April 30, 2009.  For as much commotion as this little girl causes in the house I wish I could tell you that her name had a complex Biblical tale to go with it.  But, no.  Her name is briefly mentioned in II Kings 22:1 as the grandmother of none other than King Josiah!  It was the meaning of her name that entranced us; "Adorned by (ornament of) God".  In our minds, Queen Adaiah must have been a wonderful grandmother because her grandson ruled with Godly wisdom for years.  That sounds like some good home training to us!  And the iron fist this kid wields would be just the ticket!  We pray that as she grows she truly becomes decorated from head to toe in the Grace of God.  The beauty of a life in Christ is the greatest beauty she can attain.

As the Lord would have it, Addie is very precocious. This works very well for us because one of  Josiah's challenges is his lack of drive for social interaction.  Bundles is the perfect antagonist to keep up with Kaiya and work Jojo's nerves to PIECES until he responds to her barage of questions and comments!  Without a doubt, Addie is the Lord's choice to round out our trio of trouble.  We love them all and pray always that we honor the Lord with the treasure with which He has entrusted us.

Josiah: "The Philosopher"

I think every mother does the same thing when they find out they're expecting...out comes the journal and we begin furiously scribbling all the hopes and dreams we have for the little life growing inside us!  Well, with Josiah, I was rather stumped!  I had prayed for a son and finding out that Jo was a boy seemed like blessing enough!  So, the best I could come up with was a prayer that he be the perfect fit for our family.  I prayed that he would be the ideal son that we needed in our lives.  Well, I have to say that God answers prayer in a BIG way, because as quirky as Jojo may be, we cannot imagine life at Salt Raker without him! Josiah has autism and you can read more about our adventures on the spectrum at http://dawnprogram.blogspot.com . Jo's autism doesn't define him, but it sure makes our lives a wild ride at times!  If anything, the autism has forced us to dig deeper into him to uncover the amazing jewel that he is.  And what we uncover is always profound!

May 23, 2007 was the day God blessed us with Jojo's safe arrival! We first chose the name Josiah in admiration of the king of Judah who was crowned at the age of 8.  His story is found in II Kings 22 & 23.  He was the youngest king ever crowned for the children of Israel and was responsible for returning his people to true worship of Jehovah through finding their lost Book of the Law, abolishing pagan worship in the kingdom, rebuilding the temple, returning the Ark of the Covenant and reinstating the celebration of Passover. The Lord used his reign to bring truth and order to His people.  Ironically, our Josiah's challenges have done the same for our family as we are daily called to be honest about how autism affects ALL our lives and structure our lives to be as supportive to Jo as possible.  Josiah's name has several translations, but they all are amazingly appropriate in light of God's promises for Jo's life and our own lives.  "Jehovah heals", "Jehovah supports", "Jehovah saves", "Fire (purifier) of the Lord"....all of these meanings remind us that through our journey with Jojo, the Lord reigns and will guide.  So, when he sits quietly on his favorite swing in the yard, looking up at the clouds, I don't always interrupt him right away.  Sometimes I think that the inner workings of that mind are connecting with The Wisdom far beyond our own.  And what is revealed to him may be one more step in unifying all of us.

Michaiya: "The Artist"

Our eldest daughter is Michaiya, which in meaning asks the rhetorical question, "Who is like God?" We chose Kaiya's name from an obscure prophet found in I Kings 22 who apparently was none too popular with the rulers of the day because he always told the truth and it was NEVER in favor of the powers that be!  Well, in this account the prophet Micaiah snubs his nose at 400 false prophets and evil king Ahab by letting Ahab know that he will not survive the upcoming battle.  We were inspired by the bravery to testify to God's Truth in the face of literally hundreds of opponents and certain death.  For our Michaiya, we pray the Spirit grant her boldness to always do what is right in spite of all who say otherwise.

Kaiya was born September 22, 2005 and has been our snuggle bunny ever since. NOBODY can cuddle like this kid! Just ask her Grammy, who has lost many a night of sleep due to Kaiya's "Body Wrap" technique.  At 2 weeks old we started calling her "Doodle" and the nickname stuck...little did we know that doodling is EXACTLY what this kid would love to do.  Michaiya is our Artist in Residence.  Drawing, painting, crafting, sculpting...you name it and she loves it!  Absolutely obsessed with musical instruments or writing 6 year old prose, our little dream weaver always has one foot on a rainbow and her head in the clouds...and we love her for it! 

Devon: "It's a man's world!"

Trust me...as solemn as the introduction of our blog may seem, this motley crew is far from serious!!  Our life is just a little bit crazy and we tend to take it ALL with a grain of genuine Salt Raker salt!  I see you've let the stoic setting of our posting fool you.  Fine...I'm gonna help you out on this one: Let's take a look at the noble patriarch of our clan and see where we go from there...

Mmm-hmmm....That's the joker right there!  This is the root of our somewhat nutty family tree and despite ANYTHING he tells you, he is to blame for the insanity we call life!  I hope you are smiling just looking at this picture! The Cox family name in Turks and Caicos came mostly, as far as I know, from Blue Hills (now known as Providenciales).  However, Devon Kyle Cox was born and raised on the great island of South Caicos (still affectionately called "East Harbour" or "Big South" by natives).  Harbour is a community that was powered in its hay day by fishermen, salt rakers and men of general commerce.  With amazing focus, that same community has produced the majority of educators, politicians and corporate professionals in Turks and Caicos today.  Most people who hail from South Caicos are fiercely loyal to their country and deeply committed to serving it.  Devon is no exception as he chose to become the nation's first native Electrical Engineer and to use that degree by serving as the Director of Transmission and Distribution for Fortis,TCI, the premier power company in Turks and Caicos.  All that and he STILL manages to make this cap look good!

Now, Devon has quite a few hobbies and we will get to all of them...what is the point of a blog if you can't get knee deep into people's business, right?  But one must follow good form, so I hope this brief intro sets the stage for the life and times of the Coxies!