HEY HEY GUYS!

So I'm writing to y'all this week by starting with an apology because I haven't written in a long time. Things are going well here at school. I feel older and more in control of things this semester. Maybe it's because all the girls in my ward are 18 years old, or because I have a "real job" while at school, or maybe because I feel like I have more life experiences now. I am so grateful for the life I have lived. We have a great family and I have great siblings and amazing parents. Looking back on everything that life has brought me, I realize I wouldn't change anything! I would change a few things that I have done or choices I've made, but lately I've seen how my decisions have taken me to where I am now. I am responsible for what has happened to me and can't blame any person or experience for anything negative in my life. I feel like I see life better as I get older and have more experiences. I look back and see how I learned a lot this last summer. I feel like an expert on certain subjects. When I give my opinion, people seem to listen more here at school. It's help my confidence because I feel more mature, professional and smarter. I am seeing how things I've learned at school can be used in other classes and in life. I feel so much better about where I'm going and feel I've been intrigued to learn more and get more involved. I love it when I feel challenged, but even better is when I feel that I can be original and go where I've never been before. I have felt that more lately. 

I just want you all to know that I love you and am so Grateful for everything that you all do. I hope you all have a wonderful week. 

Love, Neil

Change in life is constant

These past two weeks my heart has been full of the emotion of how life is constantly changing. I so enjoyed having everyone home for over a week, except the Steve and Jeremy who only got two days, and seeing how they have all changed and grown. Of course the wonderful, fun, grandchildren are always changing but everyone else grows also. I couldn't be happier as a mother to see their growth but I don't like the change of them living away and I not get to see their growth all the time. Time is a crazy thing and I wish I could control it more, especially when they are all here. I wish I could spend time only how I wish instead of having to do responsibilities also. Such is my life though. I don't know what I'd change to change that.
The other change of sending Dean off. Going to the MTC couldn't get any better for a mother on one hand because you wouldn't want them any other place then there at that time. Yet on the other hand, your heart aches to walk away from them and not get to hear their voice for so long. I am so proud of him though and once again, wouldn't change that.
But the change this week of hearing my sister Shirley has terminal cancer is a new change my heart is having a hard time with. As hard of a time as I am having, I can't comprehend her emotions of the biggest change of all in leaving this earth life. We all will get our turn and once again, don't get to choose how that change happens, when or where. It just comes. She is doing it with grace, love and laughter so far and I love her for trying so hard. I've been through the change with my mom and dad going, but this will be different. Once again, I get to learn how to be grateful for the change because all I can do is change my heart not the situation.
I love you all, Margaret or MOM

Last blog!

Okay Family,
My last blog before I drive to the MTC and report innnnnn oh about 1 hour and 45 minutes! It is crazy, and very exciting! I would like to thank you all for the love and support you have given me these past few weeks. It was great having you all in town and getting to spend time with you. I don't know if I will get to blog, I don't think I will be able to. Soooo this is my last (short but sweet) post for a little while :) I love you all and hope you will keep me posted on all of your doings. Just so you have it on here my mission home address for packages and letters until I get a real address to send out will be:

Elder Dean Spencer
Minnesota Minneapolis Mission
5931 W 96th St
Bloomington, MN 55438

I love you all very much and you will all be in my thoughts and prayers! Until we meet again...
-Elder Spencer

Almost Home

This week I'm going to the East Coast for the first time in my life. I'm excited to see New York. I feel like there is a new challenge in my life. I love a new challenge! It has been great to be here in SLC for the summer, but I want something more. I feel I can do more and shouldn't shun away from the challenge. I love the feeling of being pushed to become more, being the underdog or being outside my comfort zone. I feel this is the challenge I've been looking for.

I can't wait to come home and see you all. I'm glad we can all spend some time together before Dean goes on his mission. See you all next weekend!

Our 100th Post!

We've made it to post 100! Yeah, Spencer Family! Lets go for 1,000!

Mom is in the blog world

O.K. how long has the family had this great thing and I haven't taken the time to participate? One of my goals for this summer was to "blog" so here I am. I'm in Deans space because I came in from a presidency meeting and saw his computer up in the living room. I loved seeing everyones pictures and read the updates and said to myself, "Come on Margaret, nows the perfect time with the house to yourself and the computer all set up!" Here it goes....
My life is in a great place right now! This is the most quiet, restful, no stress summer I have had my whole life I think. I have no memory of not being in charge of some big event in the summer through church work of girls camp, scout camps or football camps and for that fact the craziness of having little children all home and keeping them happy and entertained some how. Carl is gone most of the time, I passed off Big Blue football club in January, and my church calling is steady and pleasent. I did my vacationing in May with going to see Delee, playing in Arizona with friends, and chior tour with Carl to Canada and San Francisco. With my girl friends we did this thing called twenty wishes. Not goals or dreams but wishes. One of my wishes was to get into blogging (now I've done it) another was to get my front tooth replaced and I get that done on Tuesday, another to read a classic which I'm reading Dickens "Great Expectations". I'm ejoying my garden more then ever before because I have time to tend it more instead of it being just another thing I'm not getting done. I haven't made any progress though on my wish for Darwin and I to take dance lessons. Maybe this fall.
I'm excited for all of my children to come home in August! I love you guys and love being together with everyone!
I'm now going to go eat left over wedding cake from my friends daughter wedding I helped with last night. I love you all. A word from the real mother Margaret

1 month from today!

So I will be reporting to the MTC one month from today! It is coming up really fast, and I feel like I have so much I want to do with so little time to do it in. I am excited most for seeing and having the entire family here for a couple days. It will be so great! The other day I came across this funny video I had from the trip to Utah. We went to go visit the new house Ter and Jer are living in now and we played in the yard for a bit. The boys ran through the sprinkler, Paul ran a little too fast, and Sam just stood there and let the water hit him in the face. It was funny even though it is short!