What I'm Grateful For

This past month has been an excellent time for me to really think about what I am truly grateful for. I am eternally grateful for my sweet, caring, hilarious husband. He is my best friend, love of my life, soul mate, and rock.  

I am grateful for my family, both mine and my husbands. They are always there for us whenever we need them. I have been blessed with incredible in-laws who accept me and are supportive of me and my man. 

I am grateful for the opportunity I have to go to college and to get a better education. I'm grateful that I am able to receive scholarships so I don't have to pay my full tuition....let's face it. College is expensive. 

I am grateful for my loving Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Without them I wouldn't be the person I am today. I am grateful that I am able to attend weekly church meetings, even if I do struggle with getting up on time. 

Now it's time for me to go and cuddle my amazing husband in front of the fireplace and play a game of Yahtzee. 

Love,
Britt

Our Life

It's been a while since I've posted anything, and I'm sure someone out there, somewhere, is wondering what is going on with the Spencer Family. Here is a short review of the last seven months. 

Brysen turned 30 this past January! I'm not sure who was more weird-ed out by this, me or him. He took all of the teasing in stride and had a good time....or at least that's what he told me. :) We celebrated by going bowling and out to dinner before returning home to just spend some time together. 

Brysen's "Awesome" Present

We celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary in February, which was a blast. Brysen was in charge of the evening, which was perfect for me. He took me out on a progressive dinner date since I had never been on one before. We had our appetizers at Applebee's, drinks at Jamba Juice, dinner at the Brick Oven, and dessert at Coldstone. It was such a fun and amazing evening, despite the fact that I was sick to my stomach by the end of the night. 

My amazing big sister found out she was pregnant with her first baby in February as well. I was beyond excited for my sister and her husband, knowing how long they've wanted this baby. However, at the same time, I felt guilty because I was so incredibly jealous of them. I wanted my own baby honestly struggled with her pregnancy for a while. My sister being my best friend and one of the most incredible people I know, supported me through my emotions and helped me come to terms with everything. Now all I focus on is being the best, coolest aunt to my new niece!

The Expecting Parents

Brysen celebrated his one-year anniversary at his job in March. I began to have some struggles with my job around this time and would joke about quitting, mainly during midterms. In May I finished my Junior year at USU and was placed for my practicum. I was one of the lucky ones who got their number one choice of placement! I officially start my practicum in August at DCFS and I couldn't be more excited!

-Britt

New Years Resolution

This year I originally came up with the resolution to lose weight just like most people. However, after many tried and even more failed attempts to do just this for almost all of 2013 I realized that I needed to come up with a new plan of action. 

On Christmas my mom and three of my four sisters and I were all sitting around on the couch jokingly complaining that we had all eaten too much and were gaining weight from all of the meals and candy we had consumed in the past month. The sad thing? None of us were really joking. 

We came up with this wonderful plan that we would all try to lose the weight together and that we would be one another's support system. We created our own Facebook page and blog. All of us were excited to get started. All of us except me. 

I am the kind of person who needs someone to go to the gym with me to motivate me, to hold my hand as I go through the process of losing weight. Setting a goal is great, but if I don't think I can accomplish the goal then I don't even really start. If I do accomplish my goal then I completely let go and put all the weight back on in half the time it took me to lose it. So when my family and I decided to lose the weight, I honestly wasn't that into it. 

Here was my plan: "I have been too stressed out with work and school which has made it more difficult to lose the weight" or "I have anxiety and depression which makes it more difficult to lose weight". 

Yep. Excuses. I'm ashamed to admit that these thoughts not only crossed my mind but I was already planning on using them. 

And then something strange and wonderful happened. I had a realization as I was sitting and talking with some close friends at a party on New Years Eve.

We were going around and talking about what we wanted to accomplish for 2014, and the most common theme between all of us was to lose weight. And then  Brysen's cousin said something that seemed so obvious to me. He simply said "I want to live healthier." 

Now I know for some people that this might go hand in hand with loosing weight, but that was never the case for me. Sure, the thought had crossed my mind every now and then but I never really realized what it meant. I figured that as long as I was losing the weight then I could still make Brysen take me out to eat several times a week where I could binge and then I would watch what I ate the rest of the time. 

If I can learn to not just go on a diet and then go back to fast food multiple times a week and learn how to eat properly, to find ways to stay more active instead of watching t.v all night and to make it a habit, then not only will the weight stay off but I will be a happier person overall. 

My new resolution is to become a healthier person; losing weight will be an added bonus. 

Now I am much more motivated to lose the weight and to keep eating apples when I am craving french fries. 

Until next time,

Britt