The best time is FAMILY time!

So, as this Christmas season approached, my mom realized that this would probably be our last Christmas with all of us kids home, since my brother leaves on his mission soon (42 days!). When she realized this she decided that we needed to do a bunch of stuff as a family. I have to say, that this Christmas has been one of the very best, at least for me. I have spent more time with my whole family than I have in a long time. It has been pretty neat. It didn't really hit me until today, that my brother is really leaving soon, and that all this family time we are enjoying is about to change. I am so very grateful to have such an amazing family to spend my time with. They truly are my bestest friends! They have been there through everything for me, and have strengthened me more than ever lately. I have come to appreciate my family so much more in the last year, and cherish every moment we get to spend together. This Christmas has been amazing because i got to spend every minute of it with my best friends. We have enjoyed many laughs together this Christmas season, and have created memories that will last a life time. I don't care what you think I have the BEST, most fun, CRAZIEST family ever!!!

Tomorrow is my brother Justin's 19th birthday! He is all grown up!! In just over a month, he will off to serve the people of Hawaii, and they don't know just how lucky they are. He is one amazing young man who is going to make an awesome missionary!! He has been such a strength to me, and has helped me through a lot of tough times. Growing up we didn't always get a long too well, we were either the best of friends or worst enemies. Although we still have our moments, I consider him one of my very best friends!!! He really is an example to me and I look up to him so much! He has taught me so much about living life, and enjoying every moment! He has such a free spirit, and can make people laugh. He knows how to enjoy life, and live it to the fullest! He is the best younger brother any sister could ask for!! I love him so much and am so grateful he is my brother and best friend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUD!!!

something clicked!

So, since my last blog I have had this amazing experience. Not even so much an experience as a turning point, a new perspective, different point-of-view. It's been pretty cool to see in myself! It hasn't even been a week yet, and I have this whole new outlook on life! It's like something finally clicked i guess. It's taken a long time, but the effort finally paid off! I have know gone over a week without drinking Cherry Pepsi (pathetic I know), I have worked out everyday for a week, and on Saturday I organized all of my living space bathroom included. Needless to say, my parents were shocked! They weren't quite sure what had happened to their daughter, but they weren't about to jinx it. But really, if you know me, you know how surprising all of this is! I am surprising even myself. But aside from just these physical things I have done, I have amazed myself with my new found perspective, and point-of-view! It's amazing to me how one conversation ( a very inspired conversation to say the least) can change everything! Since Wednesday night, I have totally changed the way I think, and feel, and act based on one simple truth. What is this simple truth?? That it all happens in His time frame, and when I am doing what I need to be, I will be blessed. To you it might not seem like a life altering concept, but for me it was! It was something I had heard pretty much my entire life, but it finally clicked for me. I may want something soooo badly, but if it's not the right timing, then it doesn't matter how badly I want it. He knows best what i need and when I need it, so until that time I am just going to keep pushing along, enduring, and living life to the best of my ability! Watch our world, Brianna has found her game! Nothing can bring me down!!!!

Some days I need to take my own advice!

So today I had a very humbling day. I don't want to go into a ton of details, but let's just say I had a breakdown of sorts and was venting to a friend, feeling pretty down on myself and beating myself up. There was a point in our conversation when my friend says to me "Bri, what do you always tell me?" My mind was blank, I couldn't think (plus I didn't really want her to tell me I already knew the answer) so, she says you always tell me that everything will be okay in the end, if its not okay than it's not the end. After she said that, I remembered because this is one of my favorite quotes. I don't bring this up because I want to sound like I have all the answers , but instead to show that sometimes we just way over think things and totally over complicate something when its actually something we already know the answer to. Today was one of those days that started out great but quickly went down hill, and I began to question a lot of things I was doing. And the funny thing about it is that I talked to four different people about a couple of my challenges right now, and none of them told me things I didn't know, or things that I hadn't heard before. They all gave me advice that I actually give to people all the time. Sometimes we just need to listen to our hearts or our heads, whichever is speaking to us. Sometimes its our hearts, and other times its our heads. A lot of the times we already know the answers, but are just to preoccupied with our trials and challenges that we forget. I am thankful that I have an AMAZING friend to remind me of things that I need to hear. Tonight she knew exactly what I needed, when I didn't even know it myself. and for that I am extremely grateful!!

So, when struggling with something, just remember most of the time we make it harder than it needs to be and we often know what we need to do, but have just forgotten. It's okay to take our own advice. Because after all if it can help others it can surely help us!

How did I get so lucky

Today has been one of those days that I have looked at my life and said, "How did I get so lucky?" I have the most amazing people in my life! What did I do to be so blessed!?!? I mean really I am one lucky girl! I have great friends, an amazing family, and church leaders who are very dear to my heart. I have learned that i need to be more careful of how i treat these people, and that I make sure and let them know on a constant basis how much they mean to me. Today I was reminded of just how lucky I am. There are many who come and go but the ones that matter most are the ones who will stick around. I have been so blessed with amazing people who care about me and my well-being. People who go out of their way to make sure i am okay, and those who will drop what they are doing to listen to me, give me advice, and provide a shoulder to cry on. I love these people very much! So, this is a shout out to all of my friends, family, and other loved ones who have touched my life for the better. You all know who you are :) I wouldn't be the girl I am today if it weren't for you and your loving influence. Thank you for all you do! You are indeed making a difference in the lives of others, or at least in the life of Brianna Brough.

Thankful to be me!!

Today I am thankful to be me!! I can't imagine wanting to be anyone else! I am proud of who I am now and who I am becoming! I have always struggled with my self-esteem, but lately I have found confidence in who I am. I am no longer afraid to be me. I may not be a size two model, a star in a movie, or the girl on the cover of a popular magazine, BUT I am ME, plain and simple and that is all that matters!! I am comfortable in my skin! I am finally happy with who I am. After struggling most of my life with self-esteem issues, I cannot tell you how liberating it is to finally be free from it! Don't get me wrong, I am sure I will have my struggles along the way, but not like I have had in the past, because I now I am beginning to see myself the way my Father in Heaven sees me. I am a daughter of a king, a princess, a child of God, and no one can take that from me!! I was born to do great things, and no one can stop me, because knowing who I am and where I come from gives me power that I cannot find anywhere else!


I maybe a girl who is crazy, out of control and full of emotion, but I am ME!!!

Marilyn Monroe says it best "Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it is better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring!"

Today is an UP day!

So, today was a typical monday...

From the minute I woke up I knew it was going to be one of those days... My day started with me waking up ten minutes before I had to be to my work meeting. After my meeting I remembered that today was the last day I could take my accounting test, so I went home to study, then when I was all ready for work, I looked outside and it was SNOWING!!! I was not really dressed for the weather, but I was running late, so.. I wore what I had on. Work wasn't too bad( other than I had to take down our stupid sign in the pouring rain) I studied for my test and got a lot of things done. Then after work I went to take my test feeling very confident that I knew the material and that I would do well, even during the test I felt good. But when the test was over and I saw my score, I wanted to cry!! I BOMBED it!! After all that work and all that effort, I felt like nothing had paid off and that studying wasn't worth it. I came home feeling very down on myself, hoping that my family would help cheer me up...

... and that they did. After a day that I was so ready to be done with, I thought I was just gonna go to bed feeling sorry for myself. But then my little sister changed my whole perspective. If you know my sister you know how positive and enthusiastic she is. We have a joke in my family that based on her mood she is either having an "up day" or a "down day," and when I got home from work she was off the wall hyper, laughing and giggling at nothing, definately having an "up day." It was her that made me realize that no matter what our day is like, or how things turn out, we are the ones who determine whether or not it will be an "up day." My little sister is not afraid to show how she really feels, and so you always know what kind of day she is having, but it is amazing to me that regardless of all the stress she has in her life, she can still have amazingly good days, and that she doesn't let things get her down. She is an amazing example to me of staying positive through stressful times. She reminds me every single day, that life is short and that we need to live it to the fullest!

So, today I start blogging about things I am thankful for, I start with my little sister Courtney... As you can tell, she means a lot to me and I don't know what I would do without her!! She really is one of my best friends. She knows best how to make me smile, and make me mad. She knows how to make me feel like a pretty cool older sister! She makes me look up to her more and more everyday!! She knows how to love more purely than a lot of people I know! She is so quick to forgive, and let people know that they are loved! She is such a good example to me, and I am SOOOOO very grateful for such an amazing little sister! She truly is a blessing to me!!

QUESTIONS!!

So I was tagged in a blog, and so I decided to play along :) If I tag you just answer the questions I post at the bottom!

1~What would your perfect day be like?
Hmm... My perfect day would consist of sleeping til about 8 or 9 and then getting up, working out, and getting ready for the day. Then I would spend the day with my family and friends, because no day is better spent than with family and friends. We would just relax and do whatever we wanted with no cares in the world. (I actually spent a day very close to perfect this last weekend at Bear Lake)

2~ What is your favorite reality TV show?
My favorite reality TV show is definitely Biggest Loser! I love, love, love that show! It is very few shows that actually help people change their life for the better. It's not about greed, or money(sort of is), but instead about health, and living the best life you can. They are helping people extend the length of their life. I love to watch it every week, and i will admit, it makes me cry!

3~If you could go back and give advice to your 16 year old self what would it be?
As much as I hate to admit this, I would say.... Listen to your parents!! I could have saved myself a lot of hurt, heartache and trials, if I would have just listened to them. They really do know what they are talking about. I would also say, not to forget about family. I wish I would have been a little more focused on them instead of my friends.

4~Post one of your favorite pictures and WHY is it your favorite?
I love this picture!! This picture is of me at one of my friend's wedding with her little brother. We were waiting for her to come out of the temple, and we were just talking and he randomly starts saying pick-up lines on me. It was so funny, I couldn't help but laugh. Right be for this picture, He said "So do you come here often?" and right before that he informed me that mine and his wedding would be next! ....He is 16, so I guess I have some waiting to do. :)

5~What is one thing that always makes you smile?
Lots of things make me smile, but something that always makes me smile, is hearing others laugh. I love the sound of laughter, and those who know me know that when others are laughing I can't help but laugh even if I have no clue why they are laughing. I know I am a dork.

6~What has been the happiest moment of your life so far?
Hmmm... that is a tough one, I would have to say it wasn't really a moment really but a short period of time, and it was when I discovered who I am as a person, and as a Daughter of God. I have always struggled with my self esteem so when I finally started to see who I really was, my whole outlook on life chaged.

7~What is one of the saddest or most heartbreaking moment of your life so far?
Another tough one. I would have to say though that it is seeing friends settle for things. I have seen too many people settling, because they are scared they will never find what they really want.

8~Whats your wish list for Santa this year?
I want others to be happy and to find the joys in life. I know Santa can't really bring it, but the true meaning of Christmas can :)