The Ring I was tellin you about..

Check out my new bling I got for Christmas!!!

I LOVE IT!

I'm a ring addict... this one is gorgeous :)

:)))

Wish the picture quality was better, it is the shiniest and most expensive ring I have ever seen on my hand- I love bling :)

"Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got, I'm still Jenny from the block".. love this stinkin song!

Ok God, Lesson Learned..

I asked God to take away my pride. And God said "No".
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said "No".
He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said "No".
He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said "No".
He said He gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said "No".
He said suffering draws me apart from worldly cares and brings me closer to Him.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said "No".
He said I must grow on your own. But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said "No".
He said He will give me life, that I may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me love others, as much as he loves me.
And God said "Ah, finally you have the idea!"

I just want someone that's afraid to lose me

....

that is all.





-Bri

I love my job!

I love my job.

I'm in a thankful mood today, I think because it's my last day working at Paradise Farms. This last week has been great working there, and I am sad that it is ending.

My Job: I get to be farm manager/caretaker for usually around 1-2 weeks while owners of farms in the area are on vacation. I love it because I am always at a different place, meeting new animals (which they all have different personalities, and I love discovering all of them during my stay), and sometimes I get to stay there and house sit as well. This job is perfect for me because I love traveling, always being on the go, and animals are where my heart is. I love taking care of them, loving on them, and it is so rewarding to know that you are being trusted with someone's operation while they are gone. It is always nice to meet with the people a day or so after and see if everything was left like they wanted and that everyone is still ok.

My other part time work is giving riding lessons. Lately I have not been doing as much of that because of the weather and circumstances, but I love doing that as well. Well, I guess I should say that I love teaching the horse crazy kids that I have as students. They are so much fun because they soak up all the information you give them, and they are eager to take care of the horse as well as learn to ride. I have cut back on my number of students that I have been taking though because I get a little burnt out on it when the kids aren't horse crazy and when their parents are difficult to communicate with on scheduling and payment. If they are horse crazy though, then it's a different story.

Ok, well I am off to take a nap! Mmm I love Christmas break :)

-Bri

New Years weekend.. not so much.

So I was/am planning this roadtrip to Fort Worth at the end of the week.

Trevor lives in Abeline, so it's not too far for him to drive, and we can stay in his grandma's huge house for free (free is good!).

We were planning on Ethan, David, and I going up there and meeting him for New Years weekend (which is also his birthday weekend).

Everything was going good until some stuff happened (parentals aren't happy that I am going with guys), and now I might not be allowed to go.

This sucks.

I am so tired of stuff like this. I want to be able to just pick up and go on a roadtrip with my friends whenever I want to without having to get approval from anyone. I am a good judge of character and can take care of myself. I have my taser and my mace and my Karate training, what more do I need? BLeh.

Ok I am done ranting and venting.

Love,

Briana

Christmas Time is Here

Today has been a surprisingly good day.

My dad and his family left me this weekend, so I have been with other family.

It's been good, but also sad at the same time because I did not get to have my usual Christmas.

The Loot I got for Christmas:

I got... a ring! It's amazing, I'll post a pic of it later.

A bible with my name engraved on it- my first ever 'study ' bible. Favorite gift of the day.

Earings, diamond studs- they are gorgeous

Pajamas, they are awesome. I got 2 pairs of zebra, one camo, and one plaid tommy hillfigure.

Lots of underwear. My family is so weird. I love the ones they picked out though, haha, they have good taste :P

Money- for my mission trip (which is awesome!)

Laptop case for my mammoth laptop

Truffles! I am going to get so fat off of those..

Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn- a favorite series of mine.

Socks! I love socks!

A car travel kit- with everything and anything I'll ever need in it.

Lots of good horse stuff

Silver Dollar City Season passes!!! YAY!!!

A cute hat and gloves set from Dillards- taking them back though because I want a different color

A bible case- taking that back too though, I didn't like the pattern very much.

Next week will be a semi slow week- I am working at a farm nearby, and then next weekend I am going to Fort Worth to spend some much needed time with Trevor. I miss him so much, it really sucks when your best friend lives 8 hours away. It's his birthday this next weekend also (Jan. 2) and he's turning 22, so we are going to party it up in Fort Worth New Years style with him and his cousins and some of his buddies :)

Chris' Birthday is also Jan 2 (weird that both of my best friends b-days are the same day- it is also the day that I tore my ACL which was a huge part of my life). I wish he could come to Fort Worth with me, but he is doing a family Christmas thing on New Years. :(

Ok, well, I guess I'll go to bed- I tried to sleep earlier but I couldn't. I'll try again I guess.

Love,

Bri

Soo...

apparently I sound like an idiot.

Awesome.

Atleast I don't sound like a sheep :)

Question Time!

It's time to play the question game!

1. How does one "get over" somebody?

I've always wondered methodologies on this, so please, somebody enlighten me on this subject.

2. What age gap between a couple is 'appropriate' by societies standards?

3. Why is that age gap there? Why is it not socially acceptable to be with someone who does not fit that criterion?

4. Where in the bible does it back that age gap/society standard up? (I'll answer this one for myself- it does NOT say anything against it in the Bible, so why is it such a big issue for people?!?)

Because I for one am confused on this subject. I would like some answers. Not for any reason, but it has come up in conversation lately and social norms confuse me on why they are right and wrong. That probably doesn't even make any sense to most readers.

Anyways, my day has been not good.

1. I lost my phone. (For good it feels like- I can not find it and I have strip searched my house/barn/cars)

2. I have been having really really bad dreams lately. One's that you don't want to hear about that will haunt me for the rest of my life unless God steps in and does something about it. I think I am going insane.

3. My two best friends are gone this week. Not good when I am going mentally insane and I need them super bad right now.

4. This weekend is Christmas- and that all in itself is thoroughly screwed up. My family is leaving me. Don't ask.

5. This break from school has been more stressful than not. Why does the devil always do this to me?!?!?!?

6. I want to cry.

7. Ok, I think I will go cry. It always helps.

-Bri

My New Dream

I Had a Dream

Once I used to go on long rides in the woods

I would talk to God and ask him who I was supposed to be.

I loved to laugh, cry, and play

Lived life as full as I knew how

Gave it all I had.

I dreamed a dream, I wished upon many stars,

I prayed to God that He would make it all come true.

But suddenly I grew up

I had no choice but to put up my bluff

Put on a brave face and played it strong.

Inside, I was dying

Along with all my life.

I still laughed, cried, and played

But now it was all a game

Nothing was real, it was just shame.

Then God came.

He was and is, and is to come.

He showed me that all was not lost.

Even though I'd been misused and abused,

I was still alive and would not be abused by my God who loved me so.

He would never give up on me.

Never mistreat me.

Would give me strength no matter what.

Even though my dream was lost,

He gave me a new dream that was better than I had ever dreamt.

I now stand proud for my God who gave me life,

He showed me how to live,

How to dream,

How to be who He wants me to be.

Life is not about me.

Neither is my new dream.

The end.

Baby You're a Firework

Come on let your colors burst

Addicted to that song.

Right now watchin ' Survivor finale.

Spent the weekend in Bentonville with Sydney and we had a good time. Needed a break from Fort Smith.. So tired of this small town.

Went Ice Skating in Fayetteville and had a blast. Ate at Mimi's Cafe (my favorite restaurant) and it was de-lish.

Sitting here facebooking and just chilling. Church was good tonight, we had our Christmas special and then we had fellowship meal afterwards.

Ate at an 'Indian Buffet" today and it was disgusting. I have finally found a food that I hate. It is Indian food. Bleh.. The rice pudding almost made me sick. Sorry if you like Indian food, but you can have my share.

Ok, just thought I'd do a quick post. I'm not feeling to great right now, been kinda depressed since I got home. Fort Smith depresses me. I am thinking about moving somewhere, I don't know just where yet though. My friend Sydney is moving to Portugal, I want to move with her. haha.

Ok, see ya.

-Bri

It's not all hunky dory..

Tonight was fun.

Up until we went to Waffle House at midnight. Never again will I go to the one on 71 late at night.

What happened: We were sitting in a booth, me and Chris on one side, Taylor and Mason on the other side, and Caleb pulled up a chair to the booth. We had eaten and were just sitting around talking when these high/drunk/whatever 2 guys came in. There was also a lady with them, but she was not drunk. One guy was younger, I'd say about 27, and the other guy was about 45-50 (really tall and scary looking). They kept cursing and carrying on about only God knows what, and then the scary guy stands up and goes to the bathroom. As he is coming back, he passes Caleb and says "Punk" under his breath.. Caleb didn't hear him though, so he turned around and said "What?" (not in a rude way though). The guy comes up to Caleb and starts saying "I'm going to f-ing slit your throat, you bleepity bleep". He then grabbed Caleb's neck and starts shoving him out of his chair. He let go, and then he leans across me, to Mason, and tries to head but him. Mason just stayed cool, and we were all calm, but he kept saying stuff about slitting their throats and calling them names and asking if we had a problem with him. Then he really got angry, said "I don't like you, you f-ing whatever", and wanted to fight. The lady stepped in and told him to get his a** to the car, and she kept apologizing saying that he usually doesn't get this drunk. He kept trying to come back, and then these nice (but scary also) looking guys came up and pushed him back. He shoved him to the floor, knocking the lady, the other young guy, and the guy who was trying to help us down to the floor. They eventually paid and then left.

I don't know why this has affected me so much tonight. It made me shake and cry. All I could think was "He has a gun, or a knife, and he's going to pull it any second now and take out some pent up drunk anger on us". I was mostly afraid for Mason and Caleb, for some reason he didn't want to have an issue with Chris (thank goodness). It just reminded me how scary people can be when satan gets a hold of them through liquor- or any medium really- to mess with them and others. Evil exists. It's a scary thing. I am glad that I have God on my side and that he will take care of me no matter what- even if I do die. If I die, that would actually be the best thing that could happen to me. Like Paul said, "To live is Christ, to die is gain". Meaning, to live we get to live out Christ, but if we die we get to go to heaven and be with God- which is the ultimate reward.

It also made me very thankful for my parents. My mom has always been super cautious with me. This situation made me realize that maybe she is right- anything can happen, you never know, and we need to take as many precautions as we can.

Thank's God for saving us and protecting us tonight. Thanks for friends who would have protected me and Taylor if anything would have happened. (at least they said that after the fact that they would have- I don't know if those scardey cat boys would have done anything or not haha).

Just got a phone call. Chris is one of the sweetest guys ever. He called to make sure I was ok, and told me to watch Pride and Prejudice to get my mind off of it so I won't have nightmares... sigh. I am blessed with scardy cat awesome guy friends who take care of me- that's nice when I don't have anyone who really fits that job description right now. Even family.. ok we won't get into that here, this is public haha. Even though no one reads this thing. Ok, I'm really leaving this time.

Love,

Bri

Today...

I am sick.

Still sick. Still sleep deprived.

BUT

I had a fabulous time last night :)

And I am fixin' (yes, I am from Arkansas so I can say fixin) to go bowling with Chris!

Don't tell him, but I am going to kick his butt. Last time we went he did awesome though, he got 200 (gag) so I have a tough record to beat.

Last night was so fun though. The bible study group that I go to on Wednesdays (college group) had their Christmas party. It was a tacky sweater party where everyone wore tacky sweaters and we played Dirty Elephant (mix between dirty santa and white elephant).

I ended up with Landon Riley's homemade popsickle ferris wheel thing. It was hillarious.

I am so blessed with awesome Godly friends who keep me laughing when all I want to do is cry and be depressed all of the time.

The horses are as snug as a bug in a rug in their blankets tonight. It's cold out there, they were happy to have them on.

I am going to NWA this weekend to spend time with Sydney- I love her. We are going to watch movies, sleep, church it up, and shop. Oh, and maybe do a little hot tub'in ;) Her appartment complex is soo awesome, they have inground pools/hot tubs everywhere, and all her friends live there so it's fun to hang out with everyone. They also have indoor basketball courts and a gym. Can't wait to live there when I move up there for grad school!

Ok, I'm done rambling, time to go bowling! :)

Love,

Bri

So over Christmas break I PROMISE to write on this blog more. Ok?

Ok, so right now I have officially finished my 3rd semester of college. I have 60something hours finished and 70something more to go. Yipeee.

I think I have all A's this semester so far, but we will see when the final grades come out. I know I have A's in alteast three classes.

I am super loopy right now because I have taken my meds for tonight (I'm sick, and being sick sucks), and they make me dizzy. So I should probably head off to bed. I have to work at a horse farm in the morning, I love my job.

This is probably making no sense. I am so tired. I stayed up till 4 last night finishing a final project that was due at 6 today.

Ok, bed time,

Love,

Bri