Calee Reed

I have recently discovered a new LDS artist and I am in LOVE with her music! Her name is Calee Reed, and she just released her first album, "The Waiting Place". She either wrote or arranged all of the songs on her CD, and they are incredible. Calee's mom passed away from colon cancer January of 2011, and she wrote these songs to help her find comfort in the middle of such a difficult time for her and her family.  Below I have put the video of Calee Reed's Album trailer below, as well as the music video of her song, "She Put the Music in Me" which she wrote about her mom. I hope that you will at least listen to some of her songs because they truly are inspirational.

Calee's Album

Calee

Thanks for reading!
Lots of Love, Brianna

Better Than A Hallelujah

God loves a lullaby, in a mother's tears in the dead of night, better than a Hallelujah sometimes. God loves the drunkard's cry, the soldier's plea not to let him die, better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody. Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts, are better than a Hallelujah.
The woman holding on for life, the dying man giving up the fight, are better than a Hallelujah sometimes. The tears of shame for what's been done, the silence when the words won't come, are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody. Beautiful the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts, are better than a Hallelujah.
(Better Than A Hallelujah by Amy Grant)

We all go through times in our lives when we are either praising God, or hurting inside from the trials we have been given. When we go to the Lord, in our weakest moments, to Him, that is 'better than a hallelujah', or better than the times when we praise Him. Isn't that amazing? I believe that is the way Heavenly Father shows us that He loves us so much. I love the knowledge that we can go to Him at anytime, anywhere, in our weakest moments, and He will still love us and listen to 'the honest cries of [our] breaking hearts'. 'Beautiful the mess we are.' Even if we are in a huge mess and struggling to cry out to our Father in Heaven, he looks and thinks we are beautiful. When we go to God in prayer and pour out our miseries, '[He] just hears a melody.' Again, He thinks that is simply beautiful, and He hears melodies instead of miseries. This is something we all need to remember, especially during the moments when we need Him the most.

Love, Brianna

A Letter Just For You

I hope that you will put your name where I have put mine.

Dear Brianna,

How are you? I just had to send a note to tell you how much I care about you. I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends. I waited all day hoping you should walk and talk with me also. As evening drew near, I gave you a sunset to close your day and a cool breeze to rest you, then I waited. You never came. Oh yes, it hurt me, but I still love you because I am your friend.

I saw you fall asleep last night and longed to touch your brow, so I spilt moonlight on your face and again I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk. I have so many gifts for you!

You awakened late this morning and rushed off for the day. My tears were in the rain. Today you looked so sad, so alone. It makes my heart ache because I understand. My friends let me down and hurt me many times, but I love you. I try to tell you in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in the leaves and trees and breathe it in the color of the flowers. I shout it to you in the mountain streams and give the birds love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the air. My love for you is deeper than the oceans and bigger than the biggest want or need you could ever have.

We will spend eternity together in heaven. I know how hard it is on earth. I really know, because I was there and I want to help you. My father wants to help you too. He's that way, you know. Just call me, ask me and talk to me. It is your decision...I have chosen you and because of this I will wait...Because I LOVE you!

Your Friend,
Jesus

Blessings

"What if Your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near? What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life, is a revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy? And what if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights are Your mercies in disguise?" (Blessings by Laura Story)

I feel like these lyrics are incredibly profound. It brings up such an amazing point of view that we all should have on life.  I've been thinking a lot lately about the trials and challenges that Heavenly Father asks us, as His children, to handle. It amazes me what people have to deal with. From death, to divorce, to Diabetes, to unemployment; the list goes on. I was wondering why people have the trials that they have, and then it hit me. The things we have to face are just various trials of our faith. They are tests that Heavenly Father has given us to see if we will stay true and faithful to Him even through difficult times. 'And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?' I truly believe that we are only given challenges that we can handle. I also know without a doubt that Heavenly Father knows what is best for us, even when we can't see it or we don't agree with it.

"Sometimes God calms the storm...sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child."

I also know that our trials don't last forever. Even when they seem extremely long, in the amount of time that it lasts, we are able to grow and learn so much from it. I know personally from my trials, that they have given me such a different point of view on life, and my life has been blessed for it. God loves us so much and He will never forget us!

"I will not forget thee. I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." (Isaiah 49:15-16)

With Love, Brianna

A Little Bit About Me...

Hey! My name is Brianna and I am the oldest of 3 children. After me, there is Cameron (12), and then Brenden (9). I am 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. I am also serving as the Mia Maid President in my ward. I love life and I have been blessed with so many amazing things!

I absolutely LOVE my family. Yes, it is true that they really push my buttons some of the time, but I love them nonetheless. (: Over the past year and a half, my mom has been diagnosed with Celiac's Disease (allergic to gluten), and my 9 year old brother, Brenden, with Type 1 Diabetes. Both of these things have been really difficult to deal with - not only for my mom and my brother, but for our whole family. However, it could be so much worse. Watching both of these diseases in my home has really opened my eyes and made me so much more grateful for life and my health. It has also made me realize that you never know what Heavenly Father is going to ask you to deal with in this mortal life.

Another thing I love is music. What can I say? It is a truly incredible thing. I am in Women's Choir and I love it! We just had our last Festival yesterday, and we got 3, straight, superiors - the very best you can do! It made me so happy! Along with singing and being in choir, I LOVE to play the piano. It is such a release for me when I have had a stressful day and I need a break.

I love to watch movies with my friends and family. A FEW of my favorites are: Tangled, A Walk to Remember, Pride and Prejudice, Charly, The Blind Side, Enchanted, and Letters to Juliet.

Some of my favorite music artists are: David Archuleta, Carrie Underwood, Michael Buble, Nichole Nordeman, Jenny Phillips, Mindy Gledhill, Hilary Weeks, and Mercy River.

I love the gospel and I am so grateful for it! I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I am in awe of all that He has done, and still does for me. I know I have a loving Heavenly Father who knows what is best for me and loves me unconditionally.

I hope that through this blog I can share with you what is in my heart and the things I hold near to it.

Love, Brianna