Nevada (Day 1)

A week ago, my family and I embarked on quite the adventure--a road trip through Nevada to Northern California. Our journey began on Saturday, August 3rd, and we drove. And drove. Along the way, we stopped at the Salt Flats. 

I don't know what happened to the
coloring on this one...sorry! haha :)

 

 

 

Salt Flats Selfie :D

 

I had never seen them before, and they were pretty amazing. I had no idea how much salt we had!! Ha ha :) After about 7 1/2 hours of driving, we finally made it to the small town of Fallon, Nevada. The motel we stayed in for the night was kind of a dive, but hey, it made for some good memories. Especially since a casino was part of the main lobby. Haha--good times. ;)

I will see you again

Three days ago, I said goodbye to one of my best friends in the whole entire world, and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. We talked. We laughed. We cried. It was the most bittersweet mix of emotions. It was a night I didn't want to end, but goodbye arrived and we couldn't escape its undeniable reality. As I watched him drive away, I was in awe of the peace that filled my soul. I thought I knew for certain I would be falling apart at the seams, but in that moment, I was miraculously being held together by the Spirit of the Lord.

 

Here I am, a few days later, and it is really, really hard. I already miss him terribly. But when I really stop and think about it, I wouldn't have it any other way. It's difficult now, but I know without a doubt it will get easier as time goes on.

 

Today he embarks on a new adventure -- one in which he will serve the Lord and the people of McAllen, Texas. They truly have no idea how lucky they are. They are incredibly blessed to be the ones he has been sent to, to bring the light and joy of the gospel into their lives. He is going to do phenomenal things; I have no doubt about that. :)

 

 

For the next two and a half years, we will be on our own adventures writing the next few chapters of our stories. I am so excited to see what life has in store for each of us and see the change that takes place within each of our lives--a change for the better. It is going to be so amazing, and so absolutely worth it. And until then, I hold onto the knowledge that I will, one day, see him again.

 

 

"I will see you again; this is not where it ends.

I will carry you with me 'til I see you again."

All my love,

Brianna <3

Noah

It was during the course of Prom this year that I came to realize something. One of my best friends, Noah, who I have gone with to three formal high school dances, has been there for me from the moment we became friends. But you know what is amazing? As I started to think about it more in depth, each of the dances I went to with him represent a different stage in my life. Let me show you.

 

 

Preference. Junior year. December 2012.

Notice my long, pretty, curled hair. :)

 

 

 

Homecoming. Senior Year. September 2013.

This time, with most of my hair gone, with what remained

tied off to the side, in a curled ponytail.

 

 

And last, but not least:

Prom. Senior year. April 2014.

A pixie cut. :)

 

You can see the stages physically, just by looking at my hair. But what I find most amazing is that these were three extremely pivotal times in my life, when I was going through difficult trials. To me, this is just another piece of evidence that Noah has been one of my truest friends--there for me through thick and through thin.

 

I will forever be grateful for his friendship and the support he has always given me, especially during the hardest and darkest times of my life. :)

 

"A best friend isn't just someone who's always there for you. It's someone who understands you a bit more than you understand yourself."

 

Thanks for visiting my blog--come back soon! :)

Brianna

Cambri

So, I have this friend, and her name is Cambri.  She is absolutely amazing and beautiful inside and out.  She is also a light and example to all those around her.  She and I share the same birthday, and ever since we met and found that out, we just clicked.  We are both very passionate about music.  She left for college back in January and I miss her so very much.  We still keep in touch, but I miss seeing her beautiful face and smile often.

Before the holidays, we had been trying to get together to hang out for FOREVER and we finally did.  I had the best time eating frozen yogurt, playing games, and talking to her.  It is a memory I will cherish forever.

She is still in the middle of a semester but she came down to visit last weekend and we got to sit, talk, and catch up on the last few months of our lives. It was so good to see her and I was reminded of how much I love this incredible girl. :)

 

I love you Cambri!! I look up to and love you so much! You are amazing!! :D

 

Lots of Love, Brianna

10 months later

Today is June 23rd. Today marks 10 months since I underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. It is amazing to think it has really been that long. I can remember that day like it happened yesterday. Ten months ago today, my life was changed forever. It began one of the darkest times in my life, and yet the light and healing that would eventually follow was the most beautiful experience. A friend of mine once penned this line: "The darkest moments illuminate our identity." I know without a doubt this is true. I believe it is in our darkest moments we truly find ourselves. There wasn't really ever a time I felt completely lost before all of this happened, but now, I have a tremendously greater understanding for who I am and who I am supposed to become. I also have come to understand in a greater sense the work Heavenly Father has sent me to complete while I am on this earth. Another good friend of mine, for a project in which I had "forgotten" who I was, wrote this about my experience: "If you were to cut all your hair off, you would find a scar where they cut in to your skull to save your life, and where Jesus Christ showed you that you still have a work here to do." How powerful that is, and I know it with all my heart.

I love this song and wanted to share it with you. One stanza stands out to me:

"There is no doubt, that He has made me. He's giving me life with each breath I breathe, and I feel a debt to never forget Him." 

 

I truly feel a debt to NEVER forget Him. Ever. He has never forgotten me--never has, never will, and the least I could do for my Savior is to emulate His life to the best of my ability and remember Him in all that I do. And I feel fortunate in the fact that I have a huge scar on my head that will always be a reminder to me of the miracle of my life and the multitude of the Lord's tender mercies.

 

"For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yeah, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."
(1 Nephi 21: 15-16)

 

 

On a more light-hearted note, this picture. I laugh every time I see it, and I hope you will too. Take notice of the word on the green in the background.

 

 

You know which word I'm talking about, right? Good. :) This picture serves to be a wonderful reminder that life isn't always going to be easy. Sometimes it's going to be really, really hard, but we need to remember to laugh. Laughing is so vital when going through hard times. Along with laughter, remember that there is a God in heaven who loves you more than you can comprehend and who is always looking out for you.

 

Thanks for reading my blog!

I hope you have the best day ever!! :D

 

All my love, Brianna 

Changed for good

Believe it or not, high school has drawn to a close.  I honestly can't believe it.  This has filled my life the past three years and it's all I've known.  It is truly incredible to think about how my life has changed during this short time.  I have changed tremendously since the first day of school my sophomore year, when I walked through those front doors into uncharted territory. It was scary at first, but I grew more during this time than I ever have before.

Throughout high school, I have met some incredible people. During a time when I didn't think I would have any friends, I found myself surrounded by a group of people whom I truly believe are the best at my high school. I am extremely blessed to have known them and to have been able to learn from and grow with them.

High School wasn't easy--it was far from easy. High School consists of some of the hardest and darkest times of my life.  And yet, at the same time, it is made up of the happiest and most exciting times of my life.

I have laughed, I've cried. I've been hurt, and healed. I've worried about what the next day would bring, not knowing how I was going to make it. At times I had no idea how things would work out, but they ALWAYS did. No matter what.

Even though I have been hurt by people, it has taught me about forgiveness and loving them the way Christ loves them--unconditionally. Through this process, I have come to know more about the enabling power of the Atonement and it's capacity to heal you.

I have watched close friends suffer through, yet endure some extremely hard challenges. Having gone through incredibly hard things myself, I was able to empathize with them. These hard times brought us closer together and made us stronger.

These friends of mine are some of the most incredible people I spent my time with during my journey through high school. They have taught me more than I could ever repay them for.

I've heard it said,
That people come into our lives
For a reason
Bringing something we must learn.
And we are lead to those
Who help us most to grow if we let them.
And we help them in return.
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you.

 It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime.
So, let me say before we part:
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you.
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you'll have rewritten mine
By being my friend.

 Who can say if I've been changed for the better.
I do believe I have been changed for the better.

 Because I knew you
I have been changed
For good

This song perfectly explains my thoughts and feelings towards high school in general. I will forever remember and treasure the things I have learned while attending high school. I received countless blessings in so many areas of my life that allowed me to succeed and inspire and be inspired by those around me.

Another quote comes to mind...

Smile. It's that simple. I am sad high school is over and my friends and I are going our separate ways. But at the same time, I will always look back on this time of my life, and smile, because I have been changed for good. :)

Lots of Love, Brianna <3

Friends Forever

The morning of graduation, my friends and I did a friend photo-shoot. It was such a blast and I wanted to post some of those pictures. :D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for visiting my blog! :D

Have an amazing day!!

Brianna

Class of 2014

High School Graduation. Can I just say, it is the craziest thing to call that a thing of the past. It came and it went just like everything else does in life, but after preparing for it for 13 years, after it's all said and done, it's almost like it never happened.  Here are a few shots of me throughout the day. By myself, and with those in my life who I have learned from, grown with, and been inspired by. 

 

 

 

 

 

The gold cord is because I graduated with
a 3.8 GPA or higher, and the white collar is for
participating in the National Honor Society.

 

 

 

 

I honestly owe everything to this beautiful mother of mine.  She has been there for me from the very beginning and has taught me everything I know. She is truly a rock in my life and I honestly have no idea where I would be without her. She inspires me to be better and to be the very best person I can be. :)

After graduation, I partied with my friends all night long. Literally. I didn't get home until 10 am the next morning. Our party consisted of pizza, s'mores, other delicious junk food, High School Musical 3, games, and breakfast. It was an unforgettable night and we all had a blast!! :D

Thanks for reading!
Brianna