new blog

With the new year, it's time for a new blog. So come see us at aliandbrianspittler.blogspot.com
xoxo
A&B

happy night

Last New Year's Eve we got engaged. It was perfect. We drove past the capital tonight, so we stopped and took a jaunt up to the exact spot it all happened. I loved it. I remember exactly where I was and what I was thinking. I was actually thinking, "Oh, he's so cute. He's telling me all these wonderful reasons he loves me, he's so great, OH MY HECK! HE'S GETTING DOWN ON ONE KNEE! I'M GETTING ENGAGED!" I honestly had no idea that he was going to propose, even right up to the very second he was doing it. I'm an easy girl to surprise, which is a convenient thing, because I love surprises. 

I'm the luckiest girl.

As we drove away from the capital, we remembered all the events that led up to getting engaged. Moments here and moments there. Heavenly Father really does put us in the right places at the right time, and He is fabulous at micromanaging. I will be forever grateful that He put Brian in my life. Oh, man. 

Tonight was perfect with celebrating Grandad's birthday with the cousins, sitting by the fire, chatting and laughing. And then making out at the capital. Life is so happy. 

so this is christmas

Man, Christmas time is a sentimental time, isn't it? I cried the other night last week because we didn't have any Christmas-y things in our house, and I was all worried about our own Christmas traditions, and I was sad that I still hadn't seen 1194 all spruced for the holidays.

It was quite an emotional whirlwind.

You see, we're moving this Friday, and so we decided to not buy a tree or hang lights. I thought I'd be okay, but it was a little harder than anticipated.

But, my dear husband came home with a wreath the other night that he purchased for a steal-of-a-deal, and I was elated. Now it feels (and smells!) like Christmas at our house, and that's what I wanted.

A Spittler family tradition is to go the Christmas Store in Park City and buy an ornament every year. So we bought our very own married ornament on Saturday with them, and I just really loved being married while we were choosing. It's a train and really perfect. I'm so grateful for the Spittlers and for Brian. We also found our stockings, which I was worried we wouldn't, and then what would Santa do? Christmas at our Provo house slowly came together, and we're happy.

Brian hung lights around our window and hung our stockings on either side, and it actually looks darling.

I love my husband. So much.

you can do hard things, he said

In this picture, I'm sitting on a HUGE tire swing that was crazy fun and gave my stomach a whirl of a trip. But it also made me laugh hysterically --- the laugh that just keeps giving, and soon is out of control. I'll admit that I was nervous at first, and even more nervous as the tire spun in circles at times. But I did it and loved it.

Sometimes, we just have to do hard things. They're there, but it's so easy to choose not to. But Brian pushes me to do hard things. He knows that I can do them and he completely believes in me. Sometimes I need a little push to do those hard things.

One of those is an internship in D.C. I originally was just going to work out there while he was the intern. But then he had this crazy idea that I should do one too. I love him for that. I really love him for it. I am now going to be an intern for the Department of Education in the Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs. It is the liaison between the Department of Education and Congress. So, I will be attending briefings and hearings (like on C-SPAN!) and taking notes. I'll be sitting in on meetings and running all over the city attending lectures (which will help with my direction skills. . .or lack thereof). It will be completely out of my comfort zone, but something hard that is so good for me. I'm so excited because it feels so right.

And now D.C. feels more real. Wahoo! What a crazy, fun life we'll lead for the next four months. We leave December 29th. It's gonna be something we'll never forget.

lessons on home

When we first looked at the house we currently live in, I was in love with it. I didn't mind the dirt and grime and broken window in the kitchen. It was somehow all enchanting. I was overwhelmingly excited about the checkered kitchen floor, and I knew that once our belongings were inside, it'd be darling. Most of all, though, I was excited to have our own, and very first, little place as a married couple. I couldn't wait to make it our own.

Before we moved in, we cleaned, cleaned, cleaned. It sparkled when we finished, and the ammonia smell from the previous renters slowly faded. Once everything was in, it felt like home.

It's always felt like home. But I will admit that I wanted the front yard to be prettier, I've wished for a disposal many a time, and wanted drapes so badly. Our front yard is currently a space for weeds to grow. There are many. And we hang towels for drapes. But we've made it work. And really, I don't mind. Brian actually hung a sheet in our front window, and it's fooled everybody; they all think it's real because it dips and hangs like a tailored drapery would. He's a genius.

But, our house has become an easy thing to joke about. It's easy because we're just renting. It's easy because we're only here for a semester. And all houses/apartments in Provo are pretty bad. However, I love this little house on 8th east. We've made it home, and we've made some of the most fantastic memories here.

I'm really gonna miss it.

remember vision

I miss writing. I miss being creative. And yet, I'm so creative at school because I have some sort of project due in every class. But I think they've all drained me.

I start to get the yawns by 10pm.
I wake up feeling like I just fell asleep.
I just go, go, go all day long
I'm on campus 'til 8 every night it seems.

The point is: I love school and I love my major, but I'm not feeling the Balance. Where did it go? How do I find it again? It's hard.

Remember vision. That's what I keep telling myself.

________________________________

I'm interviewing still for internships in DC. They're looking promising, but I'm still holding my breath. I think that once I have my very own internship to call my own, DC will feel more real. It's coming so quick, but it hasn't quite hit me yet.

I love my husband. He makes me laugh so hard. And he's such a good support. Heaven bless him.

halloween

I was Taylor Swift. He was Kanye West. I went younger. He went black. I held an award. He tried to steal it.

It was pretty awesome.