"I'm Still Learning" ~Michelangelo

This picture gives me goosebumps. I love looking at these blank journal pages, just waiting to be filled with anything you could dream of. There are just so many possibilities at this moment, before pen hits paper. It's magical.
My journal is a bit of a curious thing. It contains my life, expressed in all sorts of interesting ways. There are those pages filled with ramblings about my day. Things that I love, things that bother me, or excite me, things that anyone else would see as mundane were they to read it. But all these things work together to make me who I am, and they're all recorded in this book.
The pages of my journal also hold lists. Lots and lots of lists. Anything from a packing list, to a guest list. Sometimes even shopping lists! I always like to keep things organized, so my journal contains an insane number of lists.
My journal has a crazy amount of poems and song lyrics, too. Seriously, it could be anything! I have a quote from Horton Hears A Who, and lyrics from a song by Skillet, and a poem I wrote about me and my boyfriend. There are some drawings as well, and if you look at the first one and the last one, you can definitely see an improvement!
Reading all the old entries and tidbits almost brings tears to my eyes! I've grown so much, and learned so many things. For instance, when a teacher asks you, "Why are you and your boyfriend late for class, where were you?" Don't say, "Around..." It sends the wrong message... :/
The title on my journal is, "I'm still learning. ~Michelangelo" I thought it suited. I'm still young, but I hope will never ever stop learning. :)

~Brie

My Bored List

Boredom seems to be my lot in life some days. I find myself sitting on the couch having absolutely no ideas about what to do. And that's lame. That's like a sundae with lame sauce all over it. That's how lame it is. But worse than being bored is being bored but having this urge to do something specific. Nothing but that one thing will satisfy the strange impulse, and no matter what, that one thing cannot be found. Ugh, I get frustrated just thinking about it! Hence, a list of fun things to force myself to do when I'm in this state if mind:

*Have a movie marathon
*Do something unexpected...
*Look up YouTube videos (I suggest Julian Smith or Three Year Old Crying Over Justin Bieber)
*Sing a song! (Even if you can't sing. In fact, especially if you can't sing haha!)
*Laugh
*Find creative ways to encourage someone (like a card or a cake, or a random puppy...)
*Color a picture
*DO SOMETHING!!
*Do something to praise God
*Have a bubble bath (seriously, when's the last time you did that?)
*Graffiti something
*When talking to someone, stop and actually listen to what they have to say.
*Go to a movie
*Say hi to a random stranger (this is super fun cuz some will be super happy, and some will wonder what you're smoking haha!)
*Write a poem (or rap) about being bored
*Make hot chocolate and share it with a friend
*Think deeply.
*Make a masterpiece
*Look for funny or profound quotes on google
*Write the story of your life
*Appreciate nature
*Appreciate dust bunnies
*Go sledding (who cares if it's seasonally appropriate? Slide down the stairs on a cushion in the summer!)
*Be random.
*Make a pizza!
*Come up with more things for this list.

I've done a good portion of those already. I won't tell you which ones, I'll leave that to your imagination. ;) but try them out! They are seriously insanely fun. Some of them may seem lame, but once you get going, boredom is out the window! Hey, that reminds me of a song! "Hit the road Jack, and don't come back, no more no more no more no more!" Yeah... I don't even try to comprehend what goes on in my head anymore. Haha! But this, my dears, is my advice for the day: Don't Be Bored. Simple as that.

~Brie

My Life Feels Like a Soap Opera

"Hello, and welcome to another episode of, "What Was Up With That Last Blog? It Was Uncharacteristically Moody!" Last week, Brie was uncharacteristically moody and wrote about the age old question, "What is love?" This week...

Here's a little background on the last blog entry. Oo! Inside scoop! See, my boyfriend and I were not quite on the same page. And we didn't know exactly what was wrong, but he randomly asked me, "Do you know what love is?" This stumped me, and I was really moody because things were very uncertain and I was a bit scared. Turns our, I was wondering why he wouldn't talk to me or anything, and why whenever we talked it was just silly trivial things and never anything deeper. I guess he was wondering why I wouldn't cuddle with him, hold his hand enough, or go on enough dates with him. We talked about this very rationally and respectfully, and we both decided to just be friends. I think the problem was I was holding back too much. But here's why: in my heart (and unbeknownst to me) he was still just a buddy. I always felt awkward being cuddly with him because I still saw him in that light. See, now I know! I wished I would have clued in sooner. We could have reverted back to friends much easier if I would have seen it sooner. But it might not be too difficult, considering we never really kissed or had a deep intimacy. I just hope his feelings weren't hurt too badly.
My friends so far have all been really comforting. Which is nice, but I don't think I need sympathy. I am convincing myself that I am not losing him; he'll still be around and we'll still hang out. I will miss whatever romantic element we had, but I think that years from now we'll look back and wonder what on earth we were thinking! Then we'll chuckle and take a swig of... orange pop. :) he's still one of my best guy friends (at least I really hope), and I feel like my life has been put back in order, so all is well. Until...

"Tune in next time as we reveal what Brie mysteriously finds in her dresser drawer..." haha! ;)

~Brie

What is this "Love" You Speak Of?

Do you know what love is? 'Cause apparently I don't. It seems to me that most of the world doesn't. Its an age old question...

Here are some ways people try to define it:
"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of this life: that word is love."
~Sophocles


"Attention is the most basic form of love; through it we bless and are blessed."
~John Tarrant

"Love is friendship set on fire."

"Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness."
~Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it... It really is worth fighting for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk everything, you risk even more."
~Erica Jong

"Love stretches your heart and makes you big inside."
~Margaret Walker

"Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place."
~Zora Neale Hurston

So yeah. It's a bit confusing. There's only one quote I know of that actually lays it out well.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Doesn't get much better than that. :)

Ranting (spoiler alert: French phrase at the end :D)

Apparently it's possible to be too cool. Now I'm not trying to sound spiteful or critical, but seriously. When you're meeting your girlfriends buds for the first time, don't treat them like they're stupid, it's a bit of a turn off.
Those are my words of wisdom for the day. See, one of my very dearest friends started going out with this guy a month or so ago, and we all hung out with him today for the first time. (well I'd met him before, but it didn't make much difference) and he definitely seemed to think we were all nutcases! Like, I pride myself in being a little strange once in a while, and sure I like to act childish on occasion, but no need to look down on me because of it! It was kinda humiliating/spirit-killing. Like everyone was really reserved and awkward because they didn't want any weird looks. It was lame. And my boyfriend was working so he wasn't there to be goofy and put everyone at ease. (he's great at that!) but oh well. Guess you can't win them all. I'm just proud of myself for not completely caving to criticism like usual! Yay me! I continued to be myself when the world said no. :) so happy day. (or "heureux jour", which is French) (wonder if I spelled that right...) anyway, goodbye my lovelies!!

~Brie

P.S.: This is me, in all my French splendor. :P

Christening the New Blog

Tada! New blog, as promised. And this is the very first post, so feel privileged that your eyes can behold such a masterpiece. Let's just take a moment to drink it all in...


Kay, moment done. So today was a wonderful day! We had this International's Potluck, which is pretty much a potluck where we invite people would have recently immigrated, and get to know each other and eat amazing food! Ah, it was so delicious! I'm in charge of leading the kids part, so we usually watch a movie or color or something. But today we were celebrating Easter early, so of course we had an Easter egg hunt! Haha it's amazing how joyous the kids get when you load them with candy. :) It was actually soo fun! And I made a couple new friends, too! They are two guys, one from the Philippines, and the other from Bhutan. They were pretty cool! I'm usually kinda shy and awkward, but I decided on my way there that I would push myself to be outgoing, and be interested in others more than myself. I asked God to help me be a shining light, and show them His crazy awesome love. And He totally came through! Man, I am so in love with God these days. It's really cool. :) and now I'm extremely tired, so I should probably get some sleep. :P goodnight!!!

~Brie