Grateful. So Grateful!

Today is Day 18 of the days of Thanksgiving.

Boy, do I have a lot to be grateful for!

I have a great job, awesome co-workers, a fun singles' ward, and the list could go on and on!

 

Looking specifically at the past week, though:

 

I'm grateful that my cousin Tahlia is engaged to a great guy and that she's happy!

 

I'm grateful that my cousin Melissa will have a healthy baby boy any minute now!

 

I'm grateful that my cousins Jon and Tyla let me watch their little cutie Averie on Saturday.

There's nothing like holding a sleeping baby to make one feel like all is right in the world!

 

I'm grateful for the opportunity to work in the temple each Monday morning.

The sisters there uplift and inspire me and make me feel like I have 30+ moms right here in Utah!

 

I'm grateful for an hour of "Shark Tank," a bowl of strawberry ice cream, and a good chat with my friend Katy, even when she wasn't feeling well.

 

I'm grateful for being able to see the play "The Wizard of Oz" with my friend Lindsey!

 

I'm grateful for a fun Friday night date!

 

I'm grateful for a lazy Saturday morning and a chance to tidy up the apartment!

 

This is just a sampling of all the things I have to be grateful for!

I am amazed at how many things the Lord has blessed me with and how the blessings keep coming!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Relief Society Broadcast, General Conference, New York, and Other Fun Adventures!

The past month has been full of fun adventures!

The best way for me to share them is to show you pictures!

 

New York trip first. :)

 

The view overlooking New Jersey! I haven't seen many more gorgeous sights!

Manhattan Temple! So incredibly cool!
 

Food in New York is so good! On my first night, Sarah and I enjoyed Korean burritos! So yummy!

Living the big city life (at least for a couple of days!)

Meet Alex: our dynamic history-buff-turned-chocolate-tour-guide!

So vintage and cute!

 

Headed uptown on the subway!

This was an expensive photo! The next time a friend warns me not to take a picture because they might ask for money, I'll walk the other way!

I could pass for a New Yorker, right?

Times Square!!

We saw "Cinderella!"

Delicious cupcakes we enjoyed on our chocolate tour!

Here are a few flashbacks:

Courtney and I went and saw the play "The Secret Garden" at Utah State!

Relief Society Broadcast!

Me and Jeanice on Temple Square for General Conference!

She is so fun!

Of course, a girls' weekend has to include some shopping!

This was last night at a Halloween party! (I'm the Angry Bird)
Let the festivities begin!

 In summary...I went to New York to visit my friend Sarah and I LOVED it!

I just got called as the 1st Counselor in our ward's Relief Society Presidency and it's great!

The girls I serve with are amazing and quickly becoming some of my best friends!

I'm looking at graduate programs, hoping to start something next fall!

 

Life is good! Happy Fall!

 



Midway to Heaven

Every once in awhile we all need to escape the busyness and craziness of everyday life.

Friday night I headed up to Midway with a group of friends.

It's "Midway to Heaven." Good for the soul!

 

Our overnight cabin trip included homemade caramel popcorn, viewing "The Philadelphia Story,"

sleeping in, a hot breakfast, card games, and a tour around town!

 

I'm a lover of all things vintage! Isn't this truck adorable?

Came across this book at a cute little bookstore. :)

Can you believe these adorable houses?

Gorgeous views!

Me and Courtney. Love her to death!

My cute new clutch!

 

Courtney and I found a neat little antique shop. They had clutches with lace glued on them and they were so cute! We replicated them last night (see picture above). Isn't it cute?

 

I'm so grateful for wonderful friends and fun times. I definitely look forward to the time when I will be married and have children, but in the meantime I'm living life to the fullest! 

Blogging in Bed on a Sunday Morning

I woke up this morning and realized I had fallen asleep on the couch last night while watching the tail end of "The Wedding Planner." I got up and put a roast, potatoes, and carrots in the crock pot in preparation for my dad, brother, and sister driving up this afternoon. Then I laid in bed for a few minutes before I decided I wasn't going to be able to sleep. Too many thoughts!

So I thought I'd share a few.

 

The past several weeks have been filled with friends and fun, along with a few ups and downs.

I'm so grateful that the gospel is a constant in my life. I'm grateful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

These ups and downs in my life always leave me a with a greater realization that Heavenly Father loves me and has a plan for me.

 

Really, when I think about it, the gospel is what connects me with all the wonderful people in my life.

Here are some of them!

 

Members of the Summer 2008 ASN class of BYU-Idaho. I had a lot of fun organizing this little reunion!
These are very accomplished and faith-filled people and I am blessed to be associated with them!

Another lady who has blessed my life! Courtney is one of my go-to people.
She always reminds me that everything happening my life is simply part of the plan.
Lucky for me, she shares my love of musicals!
Here we are getting ready to watch an outdoor performance of "Oklahoma!"

I celebrated my 25th birthday by inviting a bunch of friends to watch "Hotel Transylvania" at the Capitol Building.
Lindsey, Janiece, Jill, and Sarah are such great girls and I love them!

In keeping with our tradition from last year, Dad took all the Cozzens cousins out to lunch yesterday!
I look forward to the weekend every year when he brings Jeanice out to school because it means I get "Dad time," too!

Tyla (and Averie :), Cathy, Jeanice, and me
We're lucky Tyla and Cathy married into our family!

No tour of BYU campus is complete without a photo with Cosmo!
Can't wait for the home football games to begin!

I didn't complain when Dad suggested we swing by the Creamery!


I hit the jackpot last year on Black Friday when I got a great deal on a Canon Rebel camera.
I've been trying develop my meager photography skills this year.
It takes a lot of time and practice, but I'm inching my way to where I want to be!
Several weeks ago, I photographed Kirk and Taunia and their cute kids on Temple Square.
Here are a few of my favorites:

Handsome Cade!

Isn't this the most darling family you've ever seen? I love them!

Loved the lighting and the temple in the background on this one!

Another favorite. :)

 

If any of you have photography tips/advice/suggestions, I would love to hear them!

I would love to have a small business on the side, but I don't know if I'm quite good enough yet.

E-mail any thoughts to meredithcozzens@gmail.com

 

Happy Sunday! 

Fourth of July Fun, "The Sandlot," and a Little Bit of Paint!

Every Fourth of July I head up to Powell, Wyoming for the Cozzens Family Reunion!

 I had never been to the world-famous Cody Stampede Parade, so we checked that out!

Me and Micah

Samantha, Rebecca, me, and Mikayla
Don't I have cute cousins?

Me and my sisters--Jeanice and Micah. Love them!

Me and Aubrey!

The day after the 4th, Grandma took us all swimming at the pool!
It was so fun to look around and see the pool full of Cozzens cousins!

 

This year was especially wonderful because all but two of the grandkids and two children-in-law

made the trip to Wyoming to celebrate Grandma's 80th birthday (48 people total)!

Her actual birthday was in April, but we postponed the big celebration until the summer

so we could give the Grandma her best picnic ever!

Marcie and cutie Autumn--love them!
Marcie is one of my greatest examples of the love a mother has and an inspiration to me
for the day when I will be a mother!

I just love this!

Another of my inspirations--my cousin Jon, his wife Tyla, and their cutie Averie.
Someday I want a family like theirs!

Averie and Luke!

Absolutely one of my favorite pictures!

My family! Love them!

Grandma and her seven children.
What a wonderful family we have!

You're never too old for balloons and presents!

Marcie and Tahl--some of my favorite people!

Me and the siblings!

With dad. Sure love them!

With Grandma Vesa. :)

 The Fourth was wonderful!

The best part of the birthday party was hearing Grandma share parts of her personal history.

Each time I go home (I say home--it basically is!) to Wyoming for a visit I come away

with a deeper appreciation for my rich heritage and wonderful family!

Several of the grandkids also shared memories of growing up with Grandma Vesa.

I'm sure grateful for my cousins and for the closeness we have!

Friday night my friend Courtney, her brother Tanner, and I went to the Bees' game and stayed

after for the 20th Anniversary showing of "The Sandlot!"

It was so cool! We spread our blankets out on the field and enjoyed a classic!

Me and Courtney.

Yesterday my friend Lindsey and I spent a few hours in the afternoon painting the bedroom walls and bathroom shelves in my new apartment!

She was so great to help me!

We had some good conversations while rolling "Dapper Tan" onto the walls and getting

stuck on the cheap painting plastic I laid out!

Bedroom before. . . .

Bathroom shelves before. . . .

 Stay tuned for after pictures!