I was pondering today about Chris and my current situation and just thinking about how we got so lucky to be where we are right now, and how we are just so blessed to both have steady income and own our own home and just sooooo grateful to be able to pay our bills every month! And I was wondering...How did things just click with us right from the beginning?? I mean we both were unemployed the first year of our marriage and you'd think that would have put a damper on things right? We made it through though Chris was able to get a great job and so was I. I CAN'T believe it! ( no really) I'm in shock and awe at our blessings and I don't take any of it for granted. I do know though that life can change in an INSTANT, and I REALLY REALLY want to be prepared for hardships and misfortunes, but how do I get started? I have been saving a great deal in my 401k at work and we have a set amount that we throw into savings monthly, but is that enough? Compared to many families we are not rich by any means, but I do know "anybody can save" even if its the smallest amount it adds up. Basically I'm writing this blog for advice. Chris and I already have a budget that my dad helped us put together when we were first married and its proven extremely affective, but I will take any advice I can get. We are trying to stop bad habits and tightening our belts a lot so we can prepare for the future. Even if you can just give me some cheap meal ideas that are quick and easy it would help sooo- much! (I don't get home until 7:30 pm and Chris & I are both on the run with school, so we tend to eat out more than we should) Do any of you have budget spreadsheets that you find have saved your lives?? Or do you have tricks to grocery shopping that you would like to share? I know we are on the right track, but also I know there is always room for improvement. Also, how does your family justify spending money like on decorating your home or clothes for work or play? Do you have set amounts that you can spend on a certain area or do you save for things like repairs and maintenance on your car or home? I know everyone is trying to become more frugal these days and I'd like to know what you do so I can help make our budget better :) Love you all!
<3 Brittany
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Making Me Better for ME!
It is a waste of time and energy to worry about what others are thinking about you. because... You can never know exactly what another person is thinking...AND, the worst part is...they are usually not thinking about you at all. They are too busy worrying about what others are thinking about them. So, the truth is, all those terrible thoughts you thought they might be thinking about you, are your own thoughts about yourself. Better spend your energy worrying about that...or, you just might convince somebody to think what you were afraid they might be thinking after all. ~Portia Nelson
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sisters
"Sisters, sisters
There were never such devoted sisters,
Never had to have a chaperone, no sir,
I'm there to keep my eye on her
Caring, sharing
Every little thing that we are wearing(except that we are COMPLETELY different sizes)
When a certain gentleman arrived from rome
She wore the dress, and I stayed home(never really happened..but they helped me get ready for school dances)
All kinds of weather, we stick together
The same in the rain and sun
THREE different faces, but in tight places
We think and we act as one
Those who've seen us
Know that not a thing could come between us
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can(We all have sweet husbands who get along marvelously, so no worries there)
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister
And lord help the sister, who comes between me and my man!"
I was at the hospital today visiting with my sister Heather on her Birthday and I just was thinking about all the fun I've had with my sisters throughout the years. I love them sooo much they are such amazing woman and I look up to them A LOT! They are both so strong and hardworking and I feel like they have achieved and conquered so many obstacles with such grace. Heather Has Cystic Fibrosis and who would ever really know? She never complains and is just so much fun to be around! I don't know one person who is not just completely in love with her! I wish I could always have the optimism Heather holds in her heart :) She has the best look on life and has helped me to learn that everything always happens for a reason. She also owns her own Credit Card processing company with her husband and its doing GREAT! She know how to multi task and I have NO IDEA how she does it all?? Heather is also VERY talented when it comes to being "Crafty" If you have seen some of her projects you know what I am talking about. I am so proud of her for accepting her CF as a part of who she is and I am so happy to have her in my family, she will make such a great Auntie to my children. Ashlee is the most tender hearted, sweeetest-kindest most genuine person EVER. I totally give her a hard time just to get a rise out of her sometimes :) I love her soo much she has accomplishes so much! She graduated from UVU with her Bachelor's in psychology emphasis in child development and I am so proud of her! Ashlee is so smart and I love that she never leaves anything unfinished. She has been my motivation through school and I want to be just like her. Ashlee and her sweet hubby have conquered a great load of trials and they are finally expecting a beautiful baby boy in less than 2 months!! Ash is going to be an AMAZING mom. I can't wait to see her in action! I just love them and am so thankful for their love and support. We sometimes but heads, but we have become such great friends and I love that we are getting closer and closer! I am still the LITTLE sister and every once in a while my mom points out how much they mother me LOL. I love them and here are some cute pictures of us :)
Notice how we did "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" totally backwards? WE ARE AWESOME!
We had so much difficulty making the heart on Ashlee's pregnant belly...
I am like amazon woman compared to them
Me and Heather on her birthday at the hospital :)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Looking Back
Look at those two people up there! You know the cute couple tanned and deliriously happy, smiling right up there on the page ^ They look so young and in love with their care free smiles. Do they know what they are about to get into? Do they know what is ahead of them? Do they know that they are about to embark on a crazy life quest together? Hmmmm....NOPE they had no IDEA what they were getting into! Oh but I am so happy we did! (I do feel as though I have a lot more wrinkles since then, not to mention the extra 15 pounds I packed on!) OH how I love our life!!! It's so fun being crazy young married people!! <3 B
Monday, August 16, 2010
Counting Our Blessings, 1 by 1
Can I just tell you that when you think it couldn't get ANY worse it does? And THEN when you think *wow* it got worse...guess it can't get any worse, and than it does again!!? And THEN when you think hahah I can handle anything now because it can't get any worse than this it suddenly.gets.better. :) And then you think to yourself how much you've grown in the past little while and how mature your marriage is becoming and how much you love your sweet husband more than anybody in the whole entire world, and how you have so much love for your little family of two that you could just be content with your seemingly-small-very-modest-life forever. AND.THEN. you think, "Holy Cow" this is JUST the beginning we have an amazing future ahead of us and all the hard work, stress, budgeting, saving, and lack of seeing each other will all pay off. I'm not one bit worried about where our future is headed and it's so nice to always know that no matter where our lives go it will be GREAT we have each other for Time and Eternity and we will make this time we have on earth the best we can and spend eternity happier than ever.
Blessings and Blessings in disguise:
Christopher applied for the University of Utah and we got a letter from the admissions department stating, "To be accepted as a TRANSFER student you have to have 30 transferable credit hours at an accredited college to be accepted blah blah blah blah." seeing that most of the schooling Chris has completed have been from his Pharmacy Technician courses so he has only like 20 Credits that could be transferred sigh...so he wasn't accepted. WISH we would have read the fine print before applying, BUT the blessing is he has only one more semester at SLCC until he would have the 30 credits that would make him qualified to transfer :) AND we can save on commute expenses and tuition right before the holiday's (blessing in disguise?)
We consolidated all of our Medical Debt onto one monthly payment!!! HOORAY!!!! You have no idea how incredibly happy this makes Chris and I....we are so so so so so excited about getting these medical bills payed off and the way its set up it will all be paid of by Aug of next year!! WHAT a HUGE blessing for us because its just so much less stressful not having to keep track of how much we owe and how much to pay, its all been arranged for us :)
Our stubborn Chevy caviller has been giving us CRAP lately grrr...my sweet father in law offered to help fix it with his mechanic friend and we were so happy that we would not have to stress about finding time to fix it or take it to a mechanic, in the end saving us a ton of money!! The car was overheating and we figured it just needed a new thermostat, which apparently is a REALLY easy fix...but the mechanic said it was leaking fluid in three separate areas of the head of the engine and that we would need a completely new engine..I was like beside myself wondering how the heck are we going to buy a new engine that's at least $1000 dollars!!! My dad Mr optimist happened to talk to one of his friends that same day who works on Chevy's on a regular basis and was positive that we could just get the head milled for about 50 bucks with a few extra fixes and the car would be back to normal. I had faith in my daddy that he could fix it because he can pretty much fix anything and my father in law had the car towed to my dads house so he could tear apart the engine. I helped my dad tear the engine apart for about three days (there are A LOT of nuts and bolts that go with and engine!!) we got the head milled because it was warped and then had to put the car all the way back together and HOPE that it would start. Well Chris changed the oil the night we got it all back together and HURRAH it started and is running FABULOUS!!! AND to top if all of it only cost us a total of $205.00!! I am so grateful for the awesome and supportive dads in my life to help Christopher and I with all of our, "FIX IT" needs! LOVE YOU Daddy and Papa Kenner!!!
Nope no babies anytime soon anymore... We'd really rather get ahead before we get behind. And you know what? It's okay. I'm finally REALLY okay with it. I think since we tried for over a year and then lost the baby, we started re-evaluating. We are now working towards getting pregnant instead of working on getting pregnant. We have so much time ahead of us that Chris decided to put his foot down and have us take a break for a while. He Thinks it will take some stress and heartache off the table and I have to say I finally agree with him. I feel so loved by Chris and I know he knows whats best for our family. I will be a mom someday just not as soon as I would have hoped.
My sister Ashlee and her husband Phil are in town!! We have had soo- much fun having girl's nights and planning Ashlee's baby shower! It's so fun to be so close to finally haveing a baby in our Ewell family. Me and heather just love touching Ashlee's belly and feeling baby Harrison move. I am so happy for my sweet older sister and I am glad to be and Auntie to one of my sisters!!! All I can say is baby Harrison is going to be one LOVED kid and My Mom and Dad are going to be the BEST Grandparents ever I just know it!! My Daddy is so tender hearted and just melts with every baby he See's and he is just so gentle and so attentive and patient with little kids, and my mom is the most amazing woman I have ever know! She has such a natural way with soothing babies and she just really knows her stuff. I've learned all my swaddling tricks from her :)She is also good at being practical. I went baby shopping with her for Ashlee a few days ago and she pointed out to me the things babies need most and that though she LOVES buying clothes for new moms its more fun for her to buy things like a crib or car-seat because she knows it's something the parents and baby really need and she knows it is a gift they will really appreciate. I know I'll learn a lot from her when I'm a mommy and I'm sure my sisters and I will be calling her with all sorts of questions with our children. I am so grateful for such wonderful loving parents that raised me to be very independent as well as practical it has sure been beneficial in my marriage.
I am so blessed and very happy with my life. I know bad things happen, but I've learned you just have to keep going because life won't stop for you and I don't want it to pass me by. I want to live every day to the fullest and not take any moment I have to grow and learn for granted.
I am first MOST gratful for my Heavenly Father and how patient and understanding he is with me. I am secondly Most grateful for my husband he loves me in the most perfect way and he is my very best friend. We are together every extra moment and he is the most loving and hardworking man I will ever know. And I am thirdly Most grateful for my trials. They build me into a better stronger person and I am becoming more and more closer to the Lord and the things that are most important.
Don't forget to count your blessing EVERYDAY. You will be amazed at how many things you have to be thankful for. Count them 1 by 1.
Love Mrs. B Kenner
P.s I am not an english major... so don't judge my writing skills haha not that that's important, but just sayin'
Blessings and Blessings in disguise:
Christopher applied for the University of Utah and we got a letter from the admissions department stating, "To be accepted as a TRANSFER student you have to have 30 transferable credit hours at an accredited college to be accepted blah blah blah blah." seeing that most of the schooling Chris has completed have been from his Pharmacy Technician courses so he has only like 20 Credits that could be transferred sigh...so he wasn't accepted. WISH we would have read the fine print before applying, BUT the blessing is he has only one more semester at SLCC until he would have the 30 credits that would make him qualified to transfer :) AND we can save on commute expenses and tuition right before the holiday's (blessing in disguise?)
We consolidated all of our Medical Debt onto one monthly payment!!! HOORAY!!!! You have no idea how incredibly happy this makes Chris and I....we are so so so so so excited about getting these medical bills payed off and the way its set up it will all be paid of by Aug of next year!! WHAT a HUGE blessing for us because its just so much less stressful not having to keep track of how much we owe and how much to pay, its all been arranged for us :)
Our stubborn Chevy caviller has been giving us CRAP lately grrr...my sweet father in law offered to help fix it with his mechanic friend and we were so happy that we would not have to stress about finding time to fix it or take it to a mechanic, in the end saving us a ton of money!! The car was overheating and we figured it just needed a new thermostat, which apparently is a REALLY easy fix...but the mechanic said it was leaking fluid in three separate areas of the head of the engine and that we would need a completely new engine..I was like beside myself wondering how the heck are we going to buy a new engine that's at least $1000 dollars!!! My dad Mr optimist happened to talk to one of his friends that same day who works on Chevy's on a regular basis and was positive that we could just get the head milled for about 50 bucks with a few extra fixes and the car would be back to normal. I had faith in my daddy that he could fix it because he can pretty much fix anything and my father in law had the car towed to my dads house so he could tear apart the engine. I helped my dad tear the engine apart for about three days (there are A LOT of nuts and bolts that go with and engine!!) we got the head milled because it was warped and then had to put the car all the way back together and HOPE that it would start. Well Chris changed the oil the night we got it all back together and HURRAH it started and is running FABULOUS!!! AND to top if all of it only cost us a total of $205.00!! I am so grateful for the awesome and supportive dads in my life to help Christopher and I with all of our, "FIX IT" needs! LOVE YOU Daddy and Papa Kenner!!!
Nope no babies anytime soon anymore... We'd really rather get ahead before we get behind. And you know what? It's okay. I'm finally REALLY okay with it. I think since we tried for over a year and then lost the baby, we started re-evaluating. We are now working towards getting pregnant instead of working on getting pregnant. We have so much time ahead of us that Chris decided to put his foot down and have us take a break for a while. He Thinks it will take some stress and heartache off the table and I have to say I finally agree with him. I feel so loved by Chris and I know he knows whats best for our family. I will be a mom someday just not as soon as I would have hoped.
My sister Ashlee and her husband Phil are in town!! We have had soo- much fun having girl's nights and planning Ashlee's baby shower! It's so fun to be so close to finally haveing a baby in our Ewell family. Me and heather just love touching Ashlee's belly and feeling baby Harrison move. I am so happy for my sweet older sister and I am glad to be and Auntie to one of my sisters!!! All I can say is baby Harrison is going to be one LOVED kid and My Mom and Dad are going to be the BEST Grandparents ever I just know it!! My Daddy is so tender hearted and just melts with every baby he See's and he is just so gentle and so attentive and patient with little kids, and my mom is the most amazing woman I have ever know! She has such a natural way with soothing babies and she just really knows her stuff. I've learned all my swaddling tricks from her :)She is also good at being practical. I went baby shopping with her for Ashlee a few days ago and she pointed out to me the things babies need most and that though she LOVES buying clothes for new moms its more fun for her to buy things like a crib or car-seat because she knows it's something the parents and baby really need and she knows it is a gift they will really appreciate. I know I'll learn a lot from her when I'm a mommy and I'm sure my sisters and I will be calling her with all sorts of questions with our children. I am so grateful for such wonderful loving parents that raised me to be very independent as well as practical it has sure been beneficial in my marriage.
I am so blessed and very happy with my life. I know bad things happen, but I've learned you just have to keep going because life won't stop for you and I don't want it to pass me by. I want to live every day to the fullest and not take any moment I have to grow and learn for granted.
I am first MOST gratful for my Heavenly Father and how patient and understanding he is with me. I am secondly Most grateful for my husband he loves me in the most perfect way and he is my very best friend. We are together every extra moment and he is the most loving and hardworking man I will ever know. And I am thirdly Most grateful for my trials. They build me into a better stronger person and I am becoming more and more closer to the Lord and the things that are most important.
Don't forget to count your blessing EVERYDAY. You will be amazed at how many things you have to be thankful for. Count them 1 by 1.
Love Mrs. B Kenner
P.s I am not an english major... so don't judge my writing skills haha not that that's important, but just sayin'
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
I have decided I am a HORRIBLE Blogger...I only update my blog about every 6 months to every year, so I am sorry for that. I can't be helped :)So how is life in the Kenner home you say? uggguh...It's not ideal. I have enjoyed these first two years together with the minor bumps and newly-wed bliss. But we all know it can't stay PERFECT forever. The love and complete adoration for each other is still very present, our time together has just become almost non-existant.
The Good:
I very recently have been promoted in the company I work for, Us Bank. I am very proud of myself and hope to have further oportunites and continue to excel within the Bank. I <3 Us Bank.
Chris applied for The University of Utah last Wednesday! Hurrah! We are crossing our fingers! I am so extremely moved by his continued hard work and amazed at how smart and dedicated he is. I am glad he has finally found the career he is super excited to persue and can be very happy with. (also, he is such a goof! He checks EVERY drug label on every perscription he happens to come across..)I <3 my nerd!
I have a new baby nephew, widdle Lucas Robert Christensen. It's crazy how the second you lay eyes on a tiny baby you are instantly in LOVE with them! Oh- I could write a whole blog about how much I love that baby, but you all might think im crazy/upsessed (which I am) He is just so..PERFECT! You can tell he came straight from heaven though, I love it when he peeks at me and gives tiny little smiles. There is something different about being there for the entire proccess where I got to see him grow in my sister Jessica's belly, then see him the day she delivered him and see him grow every step of the way that makes him so special to me. I love me some Kyle boy as well! I don't hold favoritism with my nephew's, I have know Kyle since he was only 4 months old! It's just really special when you get to know the baby right after he is sent from heaven. To be in your family for eternity that really moves you and lets you know that Families are Forever.
My good friend Dorothy who lives with us currently has become engaged! I am sooo- happy for her and Craig :) the wedding date is set for October 1st!
I made the invitations for my sissy Ashlee's baby shower and they are to DIE for. I love them so much I just want to keep them all so I can awe at them every day. haha
I found Gluten Free Cake mixes...that taste d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! Go me!
Chris has been called as a cub scout leader...haha good practice for when we have chillins I guess?
I heard a funny Joke about Obama/bra's and how just like obama, bra's loose more and more support everyday..hehehe
Fall semester for me starts in 34 days!! Can't wait! It's my last year before Nursing School! Heck ya!
And...I love my husband more and more everyday, I have constant confirmation that we were meant for each other.
The Bad:
We lost our first baby 5 weeks ago today :( I was nearly 10 weeks pregnant and the doctor says the baby just stopped growing. At my first appt the doctor thought I had maybe just been measuring small or concieved later than we thought, but in the end it looked like that baby was meant to be with us at a different time. The second doctors appt confirmed the heartbreaking news and now we are just trying to get through this hard time. I am a very sad Brittany, it's been very rough for Chris and I. Since I don't have as much on my plate to occupy my thoughts (Like Chris) I am not seeming to move as far past the sadness as I would like to. A lot of people say it will hurt like this until we have a healthy baby of our own, but who really knows? I know I will be happy again and with the help of all my loved ones and heavenly father, I WILL get past this.
The Ugly:
Christopher's Weekly Schedule
Monday: Work from 8-4:30, Pharmacy Internship 5-10:00
Tuesday: Work from 8-4:30, Pharmacy Intership 5-10:00
Wednesday: Work from 8-4:30, Pharmacy Internship 5-10:00
Thursday: Work from 8-4:30, School from 5-9:30
Friday: Work from 9:30-6, Pharmacy Internship from 6:30-10:00
Saturday: Pharmacy Internship 9:00-7:00pm
Sunday: ME TIME
Other than the fact that I only see my sweetheart 1 day a week starting next monday...he will be DONE with his Pharmacy Tech Classes, Internship and be a licensed Pharmacy Technician by the end of August!! It's been a LOONG year but oh how worth it this all will be :)
All of this with Love <3 B
The Good:
I very recently have been promoted in the company I work for, Us Bank. I am very proud of myself and hope to have further oportunites and continue to excel within the Bank. I <3 Us Bank.
Chris applied for The University of Utah last Wednesday! Hurrah! We are crossing our fingers! I am so extremely moved by his continued hard work and amazed at how smart and dedicated he is. I am glad he has finally found the career he is super excited to persue and can be very happy with. (also, he is such a goof! He checks EVERY drug label on every perscription he happens to come across..)I <3 my nerd!
I have a new baby nephew, widdle Lucas Robert Christensen. It's crazy how the second you lay eyes on a tiny baby you are instantly in LOVE with them! Oh- I could write a whole blog about how much I love that baby, but you all might think im crazy/upsessed (which I am) He is just so..PERFECT! You can tell he came straight from heaven though, I love it when he peeks at me and gives tiny little smiles. There is something different about being there for the entire proccess where I got to see him grow in my sister Jessica's belly, then see him the day she delivered him and see him grow every step of the way that makes him so special to me. I love me some Kyle boy as well! I don't hold favoritism with my nephew's, I have know Kyle since he was only 4 months old! It's just really special when you get to know the baby right after he is sent from heaven. To be in your family for eternity that really moves you and lets you know that Families are Forever.
My good friend Dorothy who lives with us currently has become engaged! I am sooo- happy for her and Craig :) the wedding date is set for October 1st!
I made the invitations for my sissy Ashlee's baby shower and they are to DIE for. I love them so much I just want to keep them all so I can awe at them every day. haha
I found Gluten Free Cake mixes...that taste d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! Go me!
Chris has been called as a cub scout leader...haha good practice for when we have chillins I guess?
I heard a funny Joke about Obama/bra's and how just like obama, bra's loose more and more support everyday..hehehe
Fall semester for me starts in 34 days!! Can't wait! It's my last year before Nursing School! Heck ya!
And...I love my husband more and more everyday, I have constant confirmation that we were meant for each other.
The Bad:
We lost our first baby 5 weeks ago today :( I was nearly 10 weeks pregnant and the doctor says the baby just stopped growing. At my first appt the doctor thought I had maybe just been measuring small or concieved later than we thought, but in the end it looked like that baby was meant to be with us at a different time. The second doctors appt confirmed the heartbreaking news and now we are just trying to get through this hard time. I am a very sad Brittany, it's been very rough for Chris and I. Since I don't have as much on my plate to occupy my thoughts (Like Chris) I am not seeming to move as far past the sadness as I would like to. A lot of people say it will hurt like this until we have a healthy baby of our own, but who really knows? I know I will be happy again and with the help of all my loved ones and heavenly father, I WILL get past this.
The Ugly:
Christopher's Weekly Schedule
Monday: Work from 8-4:30, Pharmacy Internship 5-10:00
Tuesday: Work from 8-4:30, Pharmacy Intership 5-10:00
Wednesday: Work from 8-4:30, Pharmacy Internship 5-10:00
Thursday: Work from 8-4:30, School from 5-9:30
Friday: Work from 9:30-6, Pharmacy Internship from 6:30-10:00
Saturday: Pharmacy Internship 9:00-7:00pm
Sunday: ME TIME
Other than the fact that I only see my sweetheart 1 day a week starting next monday...he will be DONE with his Pharmacy Tech Classes, Internship and be a licensed Pharmacy Technician by the end of August!! It's been a LOONG year but oh how worth it this all will be :)
All of this with Love <3 B
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Mrytle Beach South Carolina!
You want to know how our trip was?? Well these pictures pretty much some it up :)It was a BLAST!!! (For a more detailed play-by-play of the trip visit my sister in-law Jessica's blog)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)