Reflecting on our first year of marriage together I can't help but smile. We made everything big. Our first Christmas was insane..we spent a lot of money and went a little crazy on gifts for each other. We loved it though! It was the perfect first Christmas together. That is kind of how our first year as a whole was. We went out to movies all the time, ate out regularly, spent money on fun things, had frequent treat runs, and pretty much did what we wanted. It was such a fun year. We have been so blessed and are so grateful for the life we have been given. It's a new year for us though and a new year is sure to bring plenty of changes ( both good and bad ), stresses, happiness, and above all, it is sure to continue to bring us closer together.
It's funny how quickly things change. It's interesting to look back on the goals we had, the things we wanted, the attitudes we had, and the points of view we had before as we create new goals, wants, attitudes, and points of view. We have had many discussions on our plans for the next year lately. Trying to figure out school plans, work, living situations, etc. It has been a little hectic here in the Cooper home! It started to feel really overwhelming for both of us, so we began praying a lot about things. We realized there is no way we are going to figure out what to do and how to do it all on our own.
Yesterday ( Saturday ) we decided to go to the Provo temple to do some temple work and pray for some answers there. The entire time we were there I had the primary song "A Child's Prayer" stuck in my head...
"Heavenly Father, are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child's prayer? Some say that Heaven is far away, but I feel it close around me as I pray. Pray, he is there. Speak, he is listening. You are his child. His love now surrounds you. He hears your prayers. He loves the children. Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of Heaven."
I felt the spirit so strongly in the temple. Jason and I both felt answers through inspirations power. It was so incredible. I actually started crying in the car when we were leaving as I told Jason the things I felt. I felt overwhelmed with happiness, love, and gratitude. I knew I was in the right place at the right time and we now know everything is going to work out the way it should. It's amazing to know you are never alone when you seek out the spirit. It's like the story of the footprints in the sand...the footprints you see are not yours but rather Christ's. He is carrying you through it all.
As Thanksgiving quickly approaches we are reminded that we have so much to be thankful for. We really do! We are glad for what we have now and for the many things yet to come. It is a little nerve wracking but I would be lying if I said I wasn't thrilled. We definitely plan to update on changes as they come.
