The Best Years of My Life

It's February 2nd.

Holy cow!

What happened to January?

 

I got to see lots of cute kids at my cousin Tahlia's wedding!



I got to see my cousin Tahlia, one of my best friends, marry a wonderful man.
It was a happy day!

Love her. A lot!

I went to the ice castles in Midway with my friend Sarah!
We saw Olaf!

So much fun!

We finished off the night with a Christmas-tree-burning bonfire!

 

I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting today listening to everyone bear their

testimonies and I felt a great love for all my family and friends and

everyone who has supported me and brought me to where I am today!

 

I love my ward. I love working in the Relief Society. These girls are bright,

accomplished, happy, and wonderful examples to me.

I love talking with these sisters. They help me keep

a focused and positive perspective!

Definitely a mark of the best years of my life!

 

I love my family. Seeing my cousin Tahlia get married was such a wonderful experience!

After all the late-night and early-morning conversations hashing out the ups

and downs of dating, she got married! To a wonderful man!

Good and kind. That's all that really matters. It doesn't matter so much

what his major or his job is, whether he's tall or short,

or what kind of car he drives.

But if he's good and kind and loves the Lord, he's a good catch!

 

January was wonderful. I'm excited for February!

For Your Listening Pleasure

Yesterday I discovered Michael Buble's rendition of one of my favorite songs from "Singin' in the Rain." You can't help but listen to this song and feel happy! Enjoy!

Recap from Christmas and A Personal Perspective

I got to go home to North Carolina for Christmas!

And it was wonderful!

Here's a quick photo recap:

 



I love spending time with my sisters!

Christmas morning!

My family. They were so patient with me as I tried out my new tripod!

LOVE THEM!

This year our family after-Christmas trip was going to Washington D.C.

We crammed quite a bit in two days!

Library of Congress

Giant whale at the Smithsonian

Capitol Building with Dad!

Washington D.C. Temple
Dad commented how cool it was that he and my mom were married here, and now
many years later all four of us kids were standing there.
Families are eternal!

My siblings. What a great group of people!

I'm really trying to improve my photography skills! Luckily, Jeanice needed a new Facebook profile picture so it gave us an excuse to have a little photo shoot at Grandpa's house!

 



Isn't she gorgeous?

A personal favorite.

On a more personal note....

As 2014 begins, I'm thinking a lot about my life.

I'm very blessed!

I'm surrounded by wonderful people who influence my life for good every day!

Good things are happening! I currently have six close friends/family members who are expecting babies and two weddings in the next several months!

I'm so happy to be part of these special times in their lives.

 

Moreover, I have realized yet again that Heavenly Father has a plan for me.

My worth is not diminished because I am not married and don't have children.

There are other important things that I can do!

I have to remind myself of this on a daily basis because the culture might tell me otherwise.

Gratefully, Heavenly Father is patient and kind and reminds me on a daily basis that He loves me.

 

I don't often blog about my dating, but I want to today.

There are lots of ups and downs and insecurities involved in dating.

It is fun and hard and one of the most educational experiences of my life!

If I had the answer to the question, "Why aren't you married?", I would be a millionaire!

I know it seems strange to others that I'm still single.

I have all the things that would make a good wife!

The only answer is that it must not be the right time right now.

I know, though, that when I meet the right person, I will know.

 

I never pictured myself being 25 and not being married. Believe me, I never did.

But I'm so grateful I'm here!

I've been able to serve a mission and work for several years as a nurse!

I've been able to travel and develop friendships with amazing men and women!

I wouldn't trade any of it!

 

So in 2014 I'm going to be patient.

I'm going to have faith.

I'm going to continue to remind myself every day that Heavenly Father has a plan for me.

Because I know He does!

 

Elder Richard G. Scott said:

"...There is no more solid foundation than faith in the love Heavenly Father has for you,

faith in His plan of happiness, and faith in the capacity and willingness of Jesus Christ

to fulfill all of His promises."

("The Sustaining Power of Faith in Times of Uncertainty and Testing, 2003 General Conference)

 

Instead of wondering why or why not, I'm going to enjoy the good life I have.

If anyone reading this finds himself wondering why a certain blessing or expectation has seemingly been withheld, just remember that all things come in the Lord's time.

Sometimes it's not very comforting to hear that, but it's true.

The Lord has not forsaken me yet, and I know He won't.

He might let me struggle and wonder, but in the end He keeps His promises.

And He loves us!

This I know.

 

Happy 2014, everyone!



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!