What Is The Point Of That...

This post is going to be a time for me to vent once again. This time the subject is family.

When there are times like today, my sister's birthday, and any other birthday or holiday where family is supposed to be able to come together, I feel as if my family is the most disfunctional family on the planet. I know this is not true and that it could be much worse, but I really do feel that way often.

Let's start off with invites. When there is a holiday or birthday in my family, we celebrate and invites have to happen. Well, those are not simple in my family. On my mom's side OR my dad's side. For example, if aunt so-and-so is going to be invited...then don't invite grandma...or if cousin so-in-so is coming...then mom isn't going to go. Blah Blah Blah!!!! WHAT IS THE POINT OF THAT? Can we not really all just be in the same room for those 3-4 times a year that we celebrate together??

Mark 12:31 says "...You shall love your neighbor as yourself..." It's the second greatest commandment next to loving God.

Matthew 7:12 basically tells us the Golden Rule

There are also a million verses that tell us to "Honor Our Father and Mother" and "Obey Our Parents."

My family clearly has chosen to ignore all of the latter. I'm really just SO tired of my siblings, cousins, and I having to pick and choose which family members are the "right" ones to invite to our parties or celebrations. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THAT?  I'm tired of seeing mothers sad because their sons and daughters and grandchildren cannot all be in the same house at the same time...instead someone always ends up being left out and hurt. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THAT? Why is it that whatever stupid grudges people hold in their minds about the past cannot be covered for ONE day so the celebration or party can just be about that person it's supposed to be for? I'll never understand and I'll never be happy about it. Family drama like this is what makes me not want to have holiday celebrations or birthday parties with my family...ever.

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 19: What I Miss

Day 19: What I Miss

What is it that I miss? Where do I begin? I disliked high school very much. I wouldn't ever say that I miss it or I want to go back. There were things that came along with a high school experience that I do miss though. For starters, my mom used to be an AISE representative when I was in high school. AISE is an association that places foreign exchange students into american high schools for a year. My mom used to do that. So! I had the opportunity to meet so many students my age from all over the world. During this process I hosted a few in my home, my room, my family, and my friends. I shared my life and my world with these students. All together we had 8 students to live in my house over the years. The ones who became true family members were Barbara (Slovakia), Yuki (Japan), Connie (China), Fabio (Brazil), and Pim (Thailand). So, when asked the question "what do you miss", I automatically think of my Pimmy. It was hard to see all of these girls and boy go, and I hate to admit that I have a favorite, but I do. Pim was the closest thing to older sister that I have ever had in my life. (Even though we joke because I was bigger than her, but she was a year older than I was.) I always wanted an older sister, and I had one for a full year. We still talk on the phone every chance that she gets, and I do plan on us seeing each other eventually. She's been gone for 6 years now, but it still feels like it was just yesterday that we were doing everything together. So that is what I miss. I miss her.

Love you Pimporn Jane Nusitchaikarn Hammon! ;)

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 17: What I'm Looking Forward To...

Day 17: What I'm Looking Forward To...

This is easy! The first thing that pops in my head when I'm asked this question is...GRADUATION. I will finally be finished with SEMO after my student teaching this fall. I'm also really looking forward to the step that is student teaching as well, but graduation trumps that. Just knowing that I've accomplished something that I have had my mind set on since I basically started school is really exciting. I'll be the first in my family to get a Bachelor's Degree. Right now, because I'm SO tired of school and ready to start teaching, I'm not thinking about a Master's. Not saying that I never will, but I just don't want to think about it right at this moment.

I don't know if this is sad, but that's all I currently have to look forward to. I mean, long term I'm looking forward to getting a teaching job, a house I can call my own, and eventually a family. But, short term...graduation in December 2013. I don't have any trip plans this summer like I usually get to look forward to, but I can look forward to all of the sleeping that I will be doing after my group piano lessons are finished and drama camp ends.

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 16: Something I'm OCD About

Day 16: OCD

There are just a few things that I am actually OCD about, but those few are pretty specific in my head. I'm not so bad that I can't sleep if these things are not right, but I will be the one to fix them if I see them because it will bother me to look at...

1. The blinds on the windows all have to be at the same length. I hate it when some of the blinds are half of the way down and others are three-fourths of the way down. This bothers me more when they are side by side. If they are on windows that are not side by side, I may be able to deal with it.

2. Dishes, mostly plates and bowls, need to be stacked in a pattern. I feel like this one is more of a preference. For example, when there are two different decorative sets of plates in a cabinet, then all of one kind needs to be stacked on all of the other kind. If they are intertwined...I don't like it. Same thing with bowls in a cabinet. Also, if there is color involved, then they need to be stacked in a pattern or all one color on top of all the other color. No order with color bothers me in this area.

3. If there are two stacks of something, they both need to be as equal as possible. For example, when I see two stacks of plastic cups, I like to arrange them where they stand at the same height.

Those are the only things that I can really think of right now. I feel like there is another big one that I'm forgetting, but I can't remember it for the life of me. I guess when I see it again I will know.

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 15: My Dream House

Day 15: My Dream House

I'm not really sure what all details are within my dream house, but this picture is a round-a-bout look that I really enjoy on a house.

I always imagined my house to be red brick. I think those are so pretty. I love windows too!

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 14: A Picture I Love

Day 14: Pictures I Love

 

I could not pick 1 picture that I loved more than any other, so I picked my top 4.

 

 This was right before my 21st Birthday dinner.



This one was staged in New York City outside of the Broadway Production of In The Heights

This one happened sidestage before a performance of Once Upon A Mattress

 

This was a Spring Break On Ice pic

 

 

 I love the times that I have had with my friends. They really are a bunch of weirdos! Being who we are as individuals helps fit us together as a whole. I love them each for different reasons, just like I love each of these pictures for different reasons.

 

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 13: My Life Goals

Day 13: Goals

Well, I have a mixture of short term and long term goals...so this is something that I can put into a list! Yay lists! Here it goes...

1. Finish student teaching successfully
2. Graduate from SEMO with my Bachelor's Degree
3. Get my substitute certificate for the state of Illinois to go along with my Missouri one
4. Sub for a few months while looking for a school district I really like
5. Get my first full time teaching position (hopefully in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade). I love the babies.
6. Get my own apartment or house (I'm looking forward to not having more weirdo roommates.)
7. Travel around the world (I really wanna visit Pim!)
8. Be in some more musical productions on stage...I miss it too much.
9. Give music lessons (This could be anything)
10. Meet the man of my dreams and have a huge wedding

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 12: What I Believe

Day 12: What I Believe

This is a funny question because my blog name is Breelynn Believes. That would mean that I write about what I believe in my posts. Before this blog challenge, I know that I posted at least three times about things that I believe. I'm not sure I can make my normal list for this one. There are too many things to remember. A big one is that I believe in Jesus. I also believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I write my beliefs around these thoughts. There are issues in the world that I'm really not sure what I believe. If you have a random thought that you want to know what my thoughts are on it...feel free to ask me :) I'll answer just about anything for you...with my beliefs.

 

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

(How Ironic, lol)

Day 11: A Recent Photo

Day 11: A Picture

Welp. That was easy! This is the most recently taken photo on my phone. Kirsten and I were playing around with the camera settings on my new HTC Rhyme phone.

 

 
And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 10: What Am I Afraid Of?

Day 10: Fear

This one is difficult as well. I usually don't sit around and think about the things that I am afraid of on a daily basis. It's hard to say I have a steady list of fears because some of my fears change as I grow and others I'm unsure of until I'm put in that situation...ya know? If you haven't learned by now, I'm a list person. So, here is a list of current fears that I have...

1. Snakes
2. Being Trapped in a Vehicle While Needing to Escape
3. Being Alone for the Rest of my Life
4. Mice
5. Loosing my Freedom
6. Not Being Able to have Kids
7. Stong Pain
8. Loosing A Life of Someone In My Care

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 9: Pictures of my Friends

Day 9: My Friends

I hate to brag, but I have about the best group of friends ever. There are only two people from my graduating class that I still talk to (Jamie & Ronique), so most of my friends come from Shawnee Community College. It was there that I met that best people that I'll ever know. I'm very greatful.

This group just about covers them all! It was my 21st birthday party. I think I'm only missing Marissa, Blake F, & Taylor.

 

 

Kirsten is going to LOVE this one.

 

 

 

 

Dear friends, if you are not pictured...that is because I do not have a good picture or any picture at all of me and you. If you read this blog and your face is missing...come find me and take a real picture please! Love you!

 

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 8: Great Places of Travel

Day 8: Travel

 

I really love to travel. Unfortunately, I do not get to do it very often. Many families take a yearly vacation or sometimes more often than that. Ummmm, not mine. We have had family trips, but not every year. Maybe every 4 years :) Also...we mainly go to Florida if we vacation. My mom likes it there. She has always had the final say so in our vacations because my dad has never been on one with us before. He works non-stop and hasn't had that chance to vacation with all 5 of us. The main trips that I have taken and LOVED are pictured below. This is just the beginning to my travels though...

 

 

 

The Luxor Hotel in Viva Las Vegas!

 

 

 

 

Madam Tussards Wax Halle Berry & Me

Vegas on my 21st Birthday!

 

 

 

 

 

My Trip to New York City!

(Yes, that is that Broadway Stage for the show In The Heights)

(Yes, that is Mr. Corbin Bleu himself...who I met and hung out with)

 

 

 

My Tampa, FL Trip..

(That is also a real Giraffe)

 

 

 

Chicago Trip!

(Peter Pan in the outdoor 360 Theatre)

 

 

 

Disney World on the 4th of July!

 

 

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes



Day 7: My Favorite Movies

Day 7: My Favorite Movies

This is one where I'm going to try and list my favorites, but I know I'm going to forget some. A list of favorite movies for me can go on for days because of my giant love for movies in general. I'll give it a try though. Here are my top...30!

These are in no particular order once again.

1. Mean Girls
2. Pitch Perfect
3. Bridesmaids
4. Easy A
5. The Help
6. She's The Man
7. Finding Nemo
8. Miss Congeniality
9. The Proposal
10. The House Bunny
11. It Takes Two
12. Pretty Woman
13. Life As We Know It
14. Toy Story 1,2,3
15. The Lion King
16. The Notebook
17. A Walk To Remember!
18. Sister Act 1 & 2
19. Billy Madison
20. The Hot Chick
21. Titanic
22. The Princess Diaries
23. How To Loose A Guy In 10 Days
24. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
25. Just Go With It
26. The Backup Plan
27. Jersey Girl
28. Losing Isaiah
29. The Nutty Professor
30. ANY Madea/Tyler Perry Movie

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 6: A Few Of My Favorite Things

Day 6: A Few Of My Favorite Things

1. Watching Movies
2. Playing Music and Singing
3. Schwan's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
4. Playing with my Friends' Hair ( It all started with Clarissa lol)
5. Musicals
6. The Frizzell Family
7. Having Kirsten as a Roommate/Best Friend
8. Long Talks with Pim on the Phone
9. Papa John's Pizza
10. My Kids (the students that I have had so far...I LOVE teaching)
11. My Black Yoga Pants (the pair that I bought in 7th grade and still have)
12. Going to my Grandma's House
13. Sweet Tea!
14. Playing in the Praise & Worship Band
15. Taking Trips with Friends (NYC/Chicago/Ice Skating)
16. My Puppy
17. Watching Reality Talent Search Shows with my Mom (American Idol, X-Factor, The Voice)
18. Breakfast Foods at Any Time
19. Purple
20. Socks & Earrings

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 5: My Favorite Quote

Day 5: My Favorite Quote

This one is hard for me to answer in a different way. I don't think I truly have a favorite quote. There are quotes that I often hear and I say, "Hey, I like that" but I don't have a favorite written down somewhere...yet. I say yet because Kirsten and I have decided to start writing our own quote books this summer. She already started on hers and I haven't. I picked the idea up from one of my favorite movies...A Walk To Remember. There is that part where Jamie gives Landon her mother's favorite quotes book. It has anything from movie quotes to scripture. So! When I start that book, questions like this one will not be as much of a challenge. Until then, I can give you a quote that I recently saw and liked.

"When life's storms are upon us we have to remember...to grow and bloom to our fullest beauty, we need both the sunshine and the rain." -Unknown

I can't wait to get started on my quote book this summer!

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 4: My Favorite Book

Day 4: My Favorite Book

I have loved to read ever since I was a small child. When I got to college, my reading for enjoyment almost vanished. This is because the classes and teachers that I had were assigning readings of their own...some of which I enjoyed and others of which I did not at all. So! A few favorites that come to my mind are listed below. These are also not in any special order...

1. ANY Judy Blume Book:

I know, I know...these books are for the younger crowd. That's part of the reason why I like her so much. I started reading Judy Blume books when I was younger and just getting into reading the really good chapter books. "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret" and "Summer Sisters" are two favorites.

2. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Trilogy

Just like my TV shows, I love books that have a series and involve a group of friends. That's what these books are all about. I would always read these books in the summer time and think about which of the four girls I was most like. I think I'm a mix of Carmen and Lina. At least that's what I wanted to be.

3. "The Piano" by Jane Campion & Kate Pullinger

This was a book that was on a reading list in one of my literature classes at SEMO. It starts off as a slow read, so I dreaded having to finish it, but it turned out to be one of my favorite books by the end. It's a love story, but not one like you would have ever read before. It's not your typical boy meets girl, boy annoys girl, boy gets girl in the end silliness. This is about a mute girl and her nine year old daughter who have to move to a basically deserted island in New Zealand because the girl's father sets her up as a mail order bride. Surprisingly, the love story part is not between the girl and her mail order husband at all. It's between her and the only other person on the island who speaks English...even though this girl doesn't speak at ALL. The piano is the only way that the mute girl can speak, and the kicker is that she will do anything...and I mean ANYTHING to get to keep playing her piano. This is definitely an adult read.

4. "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel

This was yet another book on a reading list in some class. I never would have just picked this on up on my own. It's a weird book...but once again it turned out to be one of my favorites. This one is a Mexican Love Story/ Cookbook / Tall-Tale / all in one. It's about a Mexican girl who falls in love with a boy, but is not allowed to be with him. She is the youngest girl in her family, and that means she has to take care of her mother until death and do nothing else. The book goes on to tell the reader that her sister marries her love and has a baby. Then that family moves in with the girl and her mother. There are scandals, betrayals, and everything else that happens after that. There is even a little bit of mystical stuff that happens every now and then to throw you off while you're reading. Fun!

These are a few that I pulled off of the top of my head. I'm sure that there are more favorites that I have, but I just can't remember them at the moment.

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

Day 3: My Favorite TV Show

Day 3: My Favorite TV Show

 

What is my favorite TV show? This question is just as bad as asking me about my favorite song. I have so many! So, just like with the songs, I am going to make a list of my favorite TV shows. These are not going to be in any particular order.

 

1. Three's Company

 

When I was younger, my mom used to watch this show on Nick-at-Night before she went to bed. It was then that I became addicted. When I was about 13, my younger cousin and I started taping the episodes of Three's Company over movies we already had taped on VHS tapes. This is how we would watch our favorite episodes before bed when she would stay the night. About a year ago I found the series on DVDs! I bought them all off of Amazon and I watch them often. There probably isn't anyone else my age who watches cheesey 70's and 80's shows like this one...but I love them.

 

2. Glee

 

Ever since Glee first started, I have been a faithful viewer. If I ever have to miss an episode on the night that it airs, I always DVD-R it or watch it on Hulu. I own the complete first two seasons on DVD as well. I guess I just loved the fact that it was a show that was based around music. It's like watching a high school musical / drama. I feel like I really am friends with the characters.

 

3. Buffy The Vampire Slayer

 

I have NO idea how this one started, but I never watched it before my freshman year at SCC. So, back when Buffy was popular and actually on TV, I never watched it. Then they started playing reruns on the SiFi channel or something weird and I became intrigued. My group of friends at SCC also liked Buffy and started watching the series from the beginning while sitting in the basement of a mutual friend's house. After that, I had to buy all 7 seasons on DVD as well.

 

4. Once Upon A Time

 

This is a newbie. This was a show that I watched the very first episode on the first night and I didn't like it. It was confusing and I didn't understand what they were doing with it. Then I had other friends who told me that I really just needed to stick with it. They explained "the curse" and things started to make sense. So! I started watching it again and I haven't missed an episode since. I love the fact that they are making fairy tale characters come to life in the real world!

 

5. Friends

 

Who doesn't love Friends? I recently realized that all of the television shows that I really enjoy are ones that have made it for 9 or 10 seasons on the air. I'm pretty sure Friends had about 10 full seasons. Watching Friends makes me want to pack up, move to NYC, and live with my friends like they do! I would want to be a care-free character like Pheobe, but I'm really a Monica. Maybe not as much of a "neat freak", but I'm pretty close. I would date a Ross though. Which is weird when I think about it because Monica and Ross on the show are brother and sister. But! I just meant that I would probably end up with a paleontologist instead of a promising actor.

 

6. Angel

 

Now this one was built off of me watching Buffy. The only reason that I started watching Angel is because it is intertwined with the Buffy season. Angel was a vampire character in Buffy who got his own series based around him moving to L.A. There were two other characters from the Buffy series that came along with Angel to his series...the characters of Wesley and Cordilia. I don't like the vampire tv series because I'm a girl who wants to marry a vampire like the Twilight groupies...I just like the groups of friends in the shows.

 

I was thinking one day...there has to be some common factor between all of the shows that I just love to watch so much. I found that factor. They all have close knit groups of friends who work together or love each other! I love that :) I put myself as a character in each show that I watch. I always fit. It's pretty awesome. This is the list until something new comes along.

 

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

 



Day 2: The Meaning Behind My Blog Name

Day 2: The Meaning Behind My Blog Name

 

The meaning behind my blog name is a mix between my name, a nickname my best friend gave me, and what I wanted to write about in my blog.

 

My blog name is Breelynn Believes. Let's break it down :)

 

My name is Briana (pronounced Bree-Anna) Lynn.

 

One of my best friends Kirsten started calling me Breelynn right before I made my blogspot in 2009.

 

The reason that I wanted to blog in the first place was so I could have a place where I could write about what I believe. This was my inital thought. I wanted to be able to vent.

 

When you put all of that together, that is how I came up with the name Breelynn Believes for my blog. Then I had the bright idea that I would always end the blog that I was writing with the phrase "And that is what...Breelynn Believes." because what I'm writing is what I believe :) I know, too cool. So that's it!

 

And That Is What...Breelynn Believes

 

 



June's 30 Day Challenge! Day 1: My Favorite Song

Day 1: My Favorite Song

 

Well! Hello once again. I haven't been able to blog since New Year's Eve of 2012. That just make me...awesome! Not. It's really actually just sad, because I love to be able to write random things like this. That is exactly why I have decided to try and be a part of this 30 day blog challenge. With that said...Day 1! What is my favorite song? Well, if that's not an impossible question I don't know what is. I LOVE music. I have about a million favorite songs, and they change with the year or the time present. I'm just going to name a few that come to mind right off the bat and my favorite line from each. I know I'm going to miss some. These are not in any specific order.

1. "So Small" by Carrie Underwood

"While you sit around thinking about what you can't change and worrying about all the wrong things, time's flying by moving so fast, you better make it count cause you can't get it back."

2. "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie

*I have to explain this one. This is the song that I happened to listen to right after I left my best friend and sister Pim at the airport in St Louis. So, this song automatically reminds me of her and how I felt in that moment. I miss that kid!

"And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket, but I've got to get a move on with my life. It's time to be a big girl now, and big girls don't cry."

3. "For Good" from Wicked

"People come into our lives for a reason bringing something we must learn. We are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return."

4. "He Lives In You" from The Lion King

*I always thought this song should have been a christian song.

"He lives in you. He lives in me. He watches over everything we see. Into the water, into the truth, in your reflection, he lives in you."

5. "Only Hope" by Mandy Moore

"When it feels like my dreams are so far, sing to me of the plans that You have for me over again."

6. "You're Not Alone" by Meredith Andrews

"You've had to face the music on your own, but there is a sweeter song that calls you home."

7. "Jump Around" by Cypress Hill

* This is one song that literally makes me jump around :)

"Word to your moms I came to drop bombs, and I got more rhymes than the bible has psalms."

8. "Believe" by Brooks & Dunn

*This song was played at my paw paw's funeral. It makes that connection with him.

"So I raise my hands and bow my head. I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red. They tell me that there's more to life than just what I can see...I believe."

These are just a few songs off the top of my head. I realized after naming them that most of the songs are slow or sad. Oops. I guess my connection with these particular songs has left them fresh in my memory. One thing about music...it has the power to take you back to that moment in time when you first heard the song. It can bring the feelings back that you had in the moment the song was played. Man! Gotta love it.

And That Is What Breelynn Believes...