Ils m'appellent Brie

Daisy Love.

2010-07-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hi fellow bloggers, followers, friends, family... strangers, believers...

If you have a moment, please check this out..

http://prayfordaisy.tumblr.com/

Peaks and Valleys, but He is good through them all...

xo

Crazy Heart

2010-05-10T00:27:00.000-07:00

She stood with her back against the wind, arms raised slightly above her waist, as she let the breeze escape through the spaces between her fingers. With a deep and purposeful sigh, she drew in all that God had displayed before her. "This is Love," she whispered quietly to herself, but verbally because she knew He was listening. The slightest crinkle of a smile meandered across her sun-kissed faced, rested momentarily in the creases of her dimples, and disappeared as slowly as it had traveled. She could smell the stillness, and it was the smell of comfort; of Eden.

"I love you too," she whispered quietly again to herself, but verbally because she knew He was listening.

Food For Thought...

2010-04-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

"Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him." -Psalm 115:3

I often hear questions like, "If God is real, if He is SOOO good, then why are so many people dying of starvation?" Or "Why are innocent children murdered," or how about "Why did Hitler exist?"

Sound familiar?

Except.. that got me thinking...

Couldn't.. or rather, shouldn't... God ask us the same things? Yes, why are all of those things happening? And wouldn't the answer still be the same? It is due to our natural, sinful state. The one we remain in without full submission to the great I AM. God.

Riddle me that world.

sketch.

2010-04-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

I'm a little rusty.. but you gotta start somewhere..

The Comeback Kid

2010-04-12T11:43:00.001-07:00

Well... Im back.

After a few months hiatus from the blog world, I have made my way back with a new background color, a new banner photo, and a new season in life. Im excited to see what God has in store, but in the meantime enjoy this photo I found... I dont know where this house exists, but I wish I lived in it.

Remember:

Peaks and Valleys, but God is GOOD through them all.

xo.

Happy Birthday

2010-02-12T22:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Ryan Anthony!

Born Feb. 12, 2010

7lbs, 11oz.

My first assisted birth as a Doula... :)

I love You, and I'm Your's.

2010-02-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am skillfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in my secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand-
when I awake, I am still with you.

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139: 13-18, 23-24

Birds of a Feather

2010-02-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning at the ripe o'clock of 8, dragged myself out of bed, and routinely turned on the shower in hopes or waking myself up.
I opened the window in the bathroom to allow the steam to let itself out and not congregate around the mirror making it impossible to see when I stepped out.

As I opened the window, a slight chill filled the room, and the smell of fog and potential rain presented itself. That's when I heard the early morning chirping of the birds. It reminded me of a sound I knew growing up in Virginia. That, mixed with the smell, let me know that today was going to be a good day.

Hats off God.

Granola Hearts

2010-02-08T00:50:00.000-08:00

Soooo... call me sentimental, but I bought these new heart-shaped mini cake pans.... maybe because Valentine's Day is around the corner... or maybe just because I like the shape of hearts, but never the less, I soon found myself in a bit of a dilemma.....

I had mini heart shaped cake pans without any heart shaped cakes to make. Therefore, I did what all girlfriends decide to do, and I made my boyfriend a tiny spice cake topped with almond chocolate granola (for any of you that know him, you know he LOVES granola... he's a hippy like that).

1 batch of Betty Crocker's Spice Cake Mix

1 tub of cream cheese frosting

1 box of almond chocolate granola

3 mini heart-shaped cake pans

2 hours of time on my hands

countless possibilities

Mustache O' Rama

2010-02-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

I tried, but you just can't mess with the best.....

Liberation.

2010-01-19T14:57:00.001-08:00

lib⋅er⋅ate–verb (used with object), -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.

1.	to set free, as from imprisonment or bondage.

A few things I've learned...

Soo... Im sure I am going to get a lot of flack for this post, especially if you read it and we don't actually know each other... but these are just some thoughts swirling around in my mind on this raining Tuesday afternoon..

Women's "Liberation":

1. Should we, whether we recognize we do it or not, really be taking our cues from culture as to what a "Woman" truly is. We are not men, ladies. Embrace WOMANhood.

2. Your mother was right, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. YOU ARE SPECIAL.

3. "Sexual Freedom" in the true sense, should be reserved for your husband. The very meaning of "freedom" is that you are FREE, and not bound by the chains that society casts you into

4. Please, let us stop looking to magazines and models to tell us what shape we ought to be. Love YOUR body, it is the only one you will ever have. Treat it right.

5. Fact: 1 in 4 teenage girls has a sexually transmitted infection. Sexual freedom?

6. What would it look like if each of us made it a point to leave every conversation having built someone up in some way, instead of tearing them down. That's a challenge...

7. Feminism, remeber, was derived from Feminine... sooo what happened?

8. Is "Putting Out" on a date not just a more culturally accepted form of prostitution? Money spent by a man...in return for sexual favors...

8. Women's Liberation...should equal LIBERATING yourself! Don't just conform into another form of bondage....

Thoughts?

2010-01-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

"When I saw the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him, I was freed from the unbiblical bondage of fear that it was wrong to pursue joy. What once had seemed like an inevitable but defective quest for the satisfaction of my soul, now became not just permitted but required. The glory of God was at stake. This was almost too good to be true—that my quest for joy and my duty to glorify God were not in conflict. Indeed they were one. Pursuing joy in God was a non- negotiable way of honoring God. It was essential. This was a liberating discovery. It released the energies of my mind and heart to go hard after all the soul-happiness that God is for me in Jesus."
- John Piper

Game Night

2010-01-04T00:45:00.000-08:00

Tonight was Game Night at the cottage.

Lots of wonderful folks.

Apparently I'm good at Mafia.

I'm not sure if that's a compliment....

XO.

Hey You.

2009-11-20T10:38:00.000-08:00

Lets find a field of flowers, lay down, and wait for this to pass

Vote.

2009-11-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

Lets put it to a vote.
Jesus came to bring restoration to our lives, correct?

Okay.

Then why is it that we insist on self loathing and self destruction? Sure, we may not look at it that way...many of us probably would not out right admit that that is what we are doing...but it is isn't it?

If we don't look at ourselves with the love of Christ...how are we to look at others that way?

Just some thoughts.

Gooddayla

2009-11-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

It's a funny, painful, and beautiful thing that we never stop growing, never stop learning, and always and forever need Jesus.

I really don't know how people survive in this town without Him.

Mew.

2009-09-08T01:44:00.000-07:00

This is a relatively short blog in the wee hours of the morning, but just got back from seeing Mew at the Detroit bar in OC. It was one of, if not the, best shows I have seen. The music was gorgeous. It was exactly what I needed...

Freaked Me Out..

2009-08-27T20:43:00.001-07:00

So, I was walking the streets of Paris, admiring some street art, when I came across this.....

I'm not sure when it was painted but....

Someone please agree with me that this is a bit freaky right?

London Blog

2009-08-13T00:52:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is the link to the blog that we will be using while in London :)

http://www.realitylondon.co.uk/blog/

With Love From England

2009-08-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

T-minus 5 days and counting....
For those of you that do not know, I am currently in preparation to leave for London this coming Sunday. The obstacles and events that have been overcome for me to even be going on this trip are nothing short of God sent. Starting on August 16th, Reality LA will be sending a team of 50 to London, England to do nothing else but pray, pray, and PRAY! Pray for the city, pray for the people, pray for the warfare, pray for the spiritual/emotional condition, pray pray pray pray.

Seeing as how this blog belongs to me, I feel as if I can be brutally honest...

Although, YES, I am SO excited to be going, there is also a healthy dose of fear that accompanies that excitement. Because of the spiritual warfare that our team has already experienced while still being in the states, it is now, more that ever, obvious that we are NOT wanted over there by the enemy. From everything from illnesses, to bike injuries, to teeth being knocked out, to car accidents, to emotional conditions, to finances, we are all being stretched to our limits right now.

Cue your entry...

If you all can come alongside our team and pray for us while we are over there, we would GREATLY GREATLY appreciate it. A select few of us from each team will also be blogging on a daily basis over there so you guys at home can track what is going down in London Town. Once I have more information on that Ill be sure and post it.

In the mean time...
PRAY!!!
and feel free to check out these other blogs:
www.withlovefromengland.tumblr.com
www.realitylondon.blogspot.com
www.realitylondon.co.uk
www.prayforlondon.blogspot.com

Cheerio!
Brie

Glory Land

2009-07-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

She called it Glory Land in her mind. As she drew in a deep, lasting, breath of the Indian Summer, she could practically taste the day's golden hour. It was her favorite time of day, and it tasted like freedom. The meadow's tall grass tickled the backs of her knees, and she reached down from time to time, absently swatting it away. The clearing had become her own personal sanctuary, the one place she met Him most. The sun kissed her shoulders, and a delighted glee escaped her lips. She stooped down, bending the sunflowers at their stem in order to make a bed for herself. On her back, arms behind her head, she made His face in the clouds. And just as she closed her eyes to take it all in one more time before her mom called her in for dinner, she saw him, and he was beautiful; more beautiful than she could have imagined.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

2009-07-05T07:18:00.000-07:00

Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Nothing but a rickety old Les Paul and an amp.

Perfect.

Ray

2009-06-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Ray LaMontagne makes my heart hurt just a bit.

The Winter Evening

2009-06-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

As I laid on my back in the ice cold snow, he offered his mitted hand to help me to my feet. With an unintentional smile spreading across my cheeks, I accepted. Face to face, we each let out a giggle and turned to face our creations. My snow angel was considerably smaller than his, to which he didn't hesitate to comment.

We stood starring for a few moments as the cold began to tingle the tips of our noses, and the dampness of the snow began to make itself known on our backs. As the silence hung in the diamond speckled air, we each drew in a deep breath and individually relished in the mystery of God.

He reached for my hand, and held it for the first time. And we both stood standing.

Not needing to say a word.

Brie

2009-06-13T23:41:00.000-07:00

Holy Holy

2009-06-13T16:19:00.001-07:00

"Holy Holy over land and seas

Holy Holy over galaxies

Holy Holy over all my needs

Holy Holy over me."

Thoughts Today...

2009-06-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

It was when God gave Jacob a new weakness, that Jacob became a new man.

2009-06-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

"But You, O LORD, are a shield about me,

My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

I was crying to the LORD with my voice,

And He answered me from His holy mountain."

Selah.

-Psalm 3:3-4

Psalm 127

2009-06-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

Psalm 127: 1-2

"Unless the Lord builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,

The watchman keeps awake in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early,

To retire late,

To eat the bread of painful labors;

For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep."

Annnnnnnnd......

2009-06-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

It hurts.

Bridgette B.

2009-06-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

I stopped by Pehrspace a few weeks back and happened to come on a night that Bridgette B. was showing her work. Needless to say, I loved it!! I bought a piece called "Pink Trees" (see side) and anxiously awaited its arrival at the end of the month. As the date approached, I received an e-mail from the manager of Pehrspace...unfortunately, during one of the live shows, someone made off with my purchase! Crushed, he graciously told me that he was already in the process of reimbursing me, as well as commissioning Bridgette to perhaps do another piece. She agreed. So, not only is she being commissioned to do another copy, but I still able to own some of her work on top of being reimbursed for it. Everybody wins!...sort of...
In the WAAAAAAY off chance that the person who stole this is reading this, just return it man.

Haha, the culprit will never hear my cry, I'm sure of it :)
Peace and Love

These make me :)

2009-06-04T11:47:00.001-07:00

A little update

2009-05-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

Life sure has been hectic lately. I think my biggest prayer at the moment is learning how to take life in stride. I think that it can become so easy to create a long mental list of the "have to's" in life. "I have to do this...." "I must make sure I do that..." etc etc etc. Do we ever think "I have to relax" ?

Lord show me how to rest.

I've spent the last few days moving into our new.....HOUSE!! Yes, you're reading correctly, a house! Not more than a month ago did I have words with the Lord about feeling like if I stay in LA I'll never be able to live in a house...well...I stand silent before Him. It's funny how sometimes it seems like the prayers we deem little and meaningless are the ones He chooses to answer to quickest. He shows us that He cares about every inch of us in so many ways.

Anyway, as soon as we are all settled in, we're planning on having a house warming party. And all of you are invited!!

All 12 of you that follow this...
(one of which is my roommate...and one of which is my boyfriend...)

:)

Love you all.

So Close!

2009-04-21T15:49:00.000-07:00

S.E.V.E.N

2009-04-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

Inn of the Seventh Ray
For Seven months
Weather, hot
Missed the Concert
Summer Nights
Cheap movieeeeees
You+Me

Baby!

2009-04-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

There is this fantastic MOPS (mothers of Preschoolers) group in Malibu who threw my client Sarah a baby shower! They went ABOVE AND BEYOND. It such a sweet blessing to be able to watch these women give Sarah advice and giggle with her about the joys...and the fears....of being a mother. We drove away with my Jeep Liberty entirely filled to the brim with baby gifts, we couldn't even fit everything, so one of the mothers is dropping off the remainder of the items at the clinic today!
God thank you for creating these women with the hearts that you did.
Great great day.

PS: I also had too much coffee....

Photo!

Photo 2!

2009-03-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

Oranges
By: Gary Soto

The first time I walked
With a girl, I was twelve,
Cold, and weighted down
With two oranges in my jacket.
December. Frost cracking
Beneath my steps, my breath
Before me, then gone,
As I walked toward
Her house, the one whose
Porch light burned yellow
Night and day, in any weather.
A dog barked at me, until
She came out pulling
At her gloves, face bright
With rouge. I smiled,
Touched her shoulder, and led
Her down the street, across
A used car lot and a line
Of newly planted trees,
Until we were breathing
Before a drugstore. We
Entered, the tiny bell
Bringing a saleslady
Down a narrow aisle of goods.
I turned to the candies
Tiered like bleachers,
And asked what she wanted—
Light in her eyes, a smile
Starting at the corners
Of her mouth. I fingered
A nickle in my pocket,
And when she lifted a chocolate
That cost a dime,
I didn’t say anything.
I took the nickle from
My pocket, then an orange,
And set them quietly on
The counter. When I looked up,
The lady’s eyes met mine,
And held them, knowing
Very well what it was all
About.

Outside, A few cars hissing past,
Fog hanging like old
Coats between the trees.
I took my girl’s hand
In mine for two blocks,
Then released it to let
Her unwrap the chocolate.
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands.

The Faithful

2009-03-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." - 2Timothy 2:1-2

It is interesting to me that Paul chooses to use the term "grace" in this passage, because it seems that Grace, God's grace, is the hardest concept for us, as Christians, to understand. So often we make the mistake of equating God's grace with our own understanding of the word; as if we have any idea what true grace actually looks like. We must remember that we, in no way, can measure God's attributes against our own. There is absolutely no basis of comparison.

And what about the later half of this passage? About us entrusting what we have heard to faithful men who will be able to teach others also? Have we, as the western Christian community, failed to do this? Is this why so many of us proclaim to non-believers, "Jesus loves you!" but lack the sound, theological doctrine to explain why this is true?

Where has this disconnect come from? And how can we, as the living church, bridge this gap?
Who will make us "faithful men"?

None other but Jesus Christ Himself.

Stay in the word.

XO,
Brie

S.I.X

2009-03-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

........ is a GREAT number

XO to him.

The Itch.

2009-03-11T23:12:00.001-07:00

To live as we were meant to.

Lamp, you alluminate my soul...so I guess you're doing your job

2009-03-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

I found this fantastic lamp for only $35!
I was so happy about this find, that I decided to blog about it.
officially an addict.

Astronomy, meet Christ.

2009-02-26T18:48:00.000-08:00

God is so faithful.
I'll start by telling you, that I have been dreading having to take Astronomy for MONTHS. Not so much because it's a science class, or anything along those lines, but just because I figured this was going to be a semester long class of arguments of evolution and The Big Bang theory. Perfect.

However, things took an interesting turn today.....

I got to my Astronomy class early this morning along with a few other fellow early risers, where we were met by our teacher (who, let me just say, is VERY passionate about Astronomy). I was thankful to be let in the classroom early, because low and behold, California is not so warm in February. Go figure.

I took my standard seat and pulled my Bible back out of my bag and continued reading. Eventually the rest of the class began to filter in, and promptly at 8am our Professor began going over the guidelines for today's lab. Once we were turned free, my professor asked if he could please see me outside. What could I have possibly done already!?

I followed him outside and he turned to me and said,

"So....I saw you were reading a Bible....what religion are you?"

Me: "Ohh...uh..I just really love Jesus, I'm a Christian..."
"Me too!!" (high five)

Me:"No way!! oh my goodness! I have never met a professor on this campus that believes in God, much less Jesus!"
"Well, I have to be pretty low key about it here...unfortunately."
Me: "You know, my roommate is a med student, and she says that the more she studies medicine the more she knows Christ is real."
"Same here! The more I study Astronomy, the more I am convinced that God created the cosmos to humble us, just as Christ humbled Himself when He came to this world!"

So not only does my professor believe in God, he is actually a legit Christian!

Praise Jesus!

We made a Fort!

2009-02-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

Our Fort

Who made forts when they were little!?

Well last night we brought a little bit of our childhood back, and Ziza and I built a fort in our living room :)
I cooked us all dinner (Parmesan Garlic chicken) and Pip came over with some blueberry juice, and we all climbed in our fort and ate dinner together.

Forts are something that should be built more often!

Take A Break Cookies

2009-02-18T00:12:00.000-08:00

I made cookies tonight to surprise my sweet boyfriend and coined them "Take a Break!" cookies. He works far too hard at his job...they all do actually. I made each of my sweets a little heart shaped cookie with their initials on them. A for Andrew, C for Colleen, and P for Pip, and plan on taking them to their work tomorrow.

The cookies may taste like crap, but at least it'll give 'em an excuse to take a break for a bit :)

Valentine

2009-02-16T22:15:00.000-08:00

Sweet surprises.

My Jeep.

You drove.

Angela's Crest.

Fading sun.

Mt. Wilson (almost)

Wet shoes.

Pop Rocks.

Snow.

Sweet talks.

Black ice.

Jesus.

My hand in Yours.

Newcomb Ranch.

My song.

Your book.

Indian Food.

Pea coats and black hoodies.

Kisses.

You.

The Welcome Wagon

2009-02-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

So glad this was introduced to me

http://cdn.stereogum.com/mp3/The%20Welcome%20Wagon%20-%20But%20For%20You%20Who%20Fear%20My%20Name.mp3

Mrs. Wonderful

2009-01-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

Came to visit!

For Always

2009-01-20T17:52:00.000-08:00

Oh Lord how you bless me....
Adventures.
Santa Barbara.
Painted Caves.
Open Roads.
Sunflower Stands.
Flowers in my hair.
The One to my left.
Polaroids.
Natural History Museums.
Planetariums.
Ojai.
Open air bookstores.
Starry Starry Nights.
Long rides home.

Thank You.

Tintern Abbey

2009-01-13T14:35:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from William Wordsworth's tour, revisited July 13, 1798

"... For I have learned
To look on nature, not as in the hour
Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes
The still, sad music of humanity...

...And I have felt
A presence that disturbs me with the joy
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
Of something far more deeply inter fused,
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
And the round ocean and the living air,
And the blue sky, and in the mind of man:...

... Therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows and the woods,
And mountains; and of all that we behold
From this green earth; of all the mighty world
Of eye, and ear,- both what they half create,
And what perceive; well pleased to recognize
In nature and the language of the sense,
The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,
The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul
Of all my moral being."

Kime Buzelli

2009-01-08T14:46:00.001-08:00

Women are freaking fantastic am I right?

Sooo, I caught myself daydreaming today while driving to school. Have you ever done that... been totally taken by your daydreaming ability that you suddenly realize you are at your destination and have absolutely no idea how you got there!? ...A quality I should probably focus less on seeing as how I live in the traffic ridden city of LA...

Anyway, I was daydreaming about Kime Buzelli. Seriously, I think she is superb. Fantastic. I am completely inspired by her. Her pieces seem to flow from an entirely natural venue within herself. It's like she sees the female form, enjoys it, revels in all its amazingness, and then at the same time, she brings a sense of mystery and strength that completely make up a woman. She isn't afraid to be messy-women are messy.

“Soft is harder than the hardest hard. Sweetness is stronger always. These are difficult realizations for any human being, but what it is to be strong and female means to be brazenly feminine, not merely to imitate or be counterpart to the masculine.”

Here's some of her stuff. ENJOY.

La Fin.

2009

2009-01-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Cliche (cannot figure out how to accent the e) as it may be, I've spent a good amount of time over the last few days contemplating about the year that has recently come to pass; and I have come to one conclusion, 2008 consisted primarily of 4 months.

I don't know if this is how time begins to pass from here on out, quickly and slyly, but I am trying my hardest to savor each day. Perhaps this is the reason for a blog at all-I was never sure if I believed in them in the first place-but alas I have succumbed.

Anyway

The other night at Pip's parents house, we were sitting around their table (everyone kind of in their own discussions) and it hit me just how much God has blessed me this year, and just how far He has taken me. Truth be told, on a personal scale, 2008 was a TOUGH year...but a beautiful one. And without turning into the political blogger, I think it's safe to say that with the state of our country, and who is about to be enogerated, we are about to see quite an eventful 2009. But what can we do but pray ya know?

Pray and love people patiently.

Ainsi, il commence...

2008-12-23T23:57:00.000-08:00

Truth.
It's a bit bittersweet isn't it?
The fact that we all desire it so greatly...yet fear it even more so at the same time...

This week has been a week of some hard truths I've come to discover. Truths that explain...truths that expose...truths that hurt...truths that heal...

However, the beautiful thing is that I have begun to realize that in the face of yet another growing pain, the Lord, once again, is at my side.

Why do I ever expect anything different?

I think, truthfully, (no pun intended) I sometimes hope for a different outcome, does that make sense? A way for me to be able to point and say, "See! I told You so!" But it never comes...

Because that is the beauty in Christ; His promises are unfailing.

Well, in the wee hours of this morning (1:24am to be exact) this is what I am up contemplating, and coincidentally this is also dually being used as my entrance into the world of blogging....

Truth #1: I have no idea what I am doing.

La Fin.