For my bi annul losingmydebitcard celebration! It's a fun fabulous Fantastic day that happens about twice a year when my debit card vanishes into thin air. It's such a wonderful surprise! I'm sure they will greet me with gifts and a feast at the bank when I have to get up extra early in the morning to get a new card! I can't wait !

Nail polish that can't chip.

I'd have a Mohawk.

But they do make life more interesting. I suppose we are all strange in different ways and to different people but there is a sort of strangeness that goes beyond opinions and is accepted universally as just plain wierd. These sort of people are the ones that make everyone uncomfortable because they can't stop talking and usually it's about themselves and it usually doesn't make sense. As soon as it starts to make sense it falls apart into nonsense and I'm sitting there trying to grasp what this person is talking about . I am trying to not think of anyone as strange and instead just listen and try to understand them. But it really is hard to engage in a conversation that is pretty much me listening and them going on and on saying things that make me want to laugh out loud at the nonsense. The reason I say all this is because a guy came into the airport today that was very strange and kinda got under my skin. He walks in and said he wanted to fly so I asked him when. He Asked me what was available and I sAid there was alot of times available so when are you avilable and I'll check the schedule. Instead of him answereing my question he asked if there were pilots around so he could talk to one about what he wants to do. I told him there weren't any around right now and asked him whAt he wanted to do. And he answered that he wanted to talk to a pilot.... And that's when i decided this guy was rude. He answers every question with another question and was actually annoying me. I finally told him he could wait for a Pilot to come back from a flight or take his card and call him later or make an Appointment with me. He decided to wait and sat down quietly for a moment . Only a moment. Then he comes up to my desk and kneels down in front of it so just his shoulders and head are Above the desk and he leans in and says, " ok this is my story and I'm sticking to it...." and goes on to tell me a story about three months ago he walked into a music store and a lady came in to sell the store her piano. He used wierd snorting sounds to describe that the store didn't want to buy it and the lady kept persisting. He described this conversation as, " the lady said "snort" and then the guy said " snort" and then i said "snort" and told the lady I'll take her piano but I don't have money. So she let me put up some shelves in her house and she gave me her piano and I haven't stopped playing since and now I hAve CDs and a concert at the Lancaster performing art center." well he continues to tell me that his music sounds like birds so he wants to fly and take pictures to make a video for his piano playing. He wanted to talk to the mechanics so I sent him upstairs and after a while he comes back down writing on a small piece of paper and saying, " people Try to imitate nature but you have to really feel it and understand the spirit of nature and birds and the spirit of the world. And I just wrote this down, 'if you open up your heart, your mind will soar" and it's so true. No body has done this before , what I have done in less than a year. I'm just gonna sit here a while and feel the planes" then he goes into my bosses office and I they shake hands and I hear the guy say, "when people shAke with hands with hands it gives self confidence." I could tell my boss was wierded out. Well a little while After he left, he calls back to tell me I should write a book about him.... And he wasn't kidding. He reminded me about ten times thAt he was serious. But throughout all this wierdness and sometimes rudeness I was trying so hard to just really get him and not think he was strAnge. I mean it is pretty cool that he is a plane mechanic and now after a few months he is a pianist. I probably won't write a book about him though lol. He has inspired me to write this blog though. I can appeiciate that strAnge people give me more to write about... And he's gonna be flying here often so I'll hAve plenty of chances to try to understand him.

I have neverending hiccups! Bleh!

1. Read Deuteronomy 1-17

2. Complete at least two days of Breaking Free Bible study

3. Read two chapters in "So long Insecurity"

4. research outreach opportunities

5. Find info on substitute teaching

It's just PMS and not my personality.

Why is it that people who have so much have such a hard time being happy and those who have little are the ones that are so hopeful they usually are the ones that change the World?

So tonight was one of those nights I just really wanted to savor. It was very simple yet priceless. My best friends and I went and had Thai food (remind me not to get the hotness at level five.. I'm think i died a little). Then we went to my house for cell group and discussed a chapter from the book CrazyLove and had a great conversation about trying to live a life that requires faith And sAcrifice And the struggles of treAting everyone like we would treat Christ. Then we jumped on my big trampoline in my back yard And that's always a blast ! Then we went to the gym and played raquetball till about two in the morning. I'm really loving raquetball and I feel I am getting better thanks to patient friends. Now here I am in bed about to go to sleep and I just had to write how precious nights like this with great friends and moments that slip away so quickly. I really value this time in my life because I know there will be a point in my future when things won't be the way they are now . People move and God calls us to different places and who knows what adventure is onthe horizon but I want to cherish every moment from simple to complex easy or difficult, joyful and sorrowful, because each moment is a neccesary part of the journey. Each moment is a foundation for the next. Thank you God for this time in my life. It is by your grace And truly a gift that I don't wAnt to take for granted .

I fell asleep half way through American Idol last night, mostly because the guys were really horrible annnd boring. But then I woke up at six thirty on my couch and now my back is all stiff and achy. But yesterday was a good day. The day before was pretty emotional, because one thing after another just stressed me out till I couldn't handle it anymore. But a few hours of crying and praying really changes my perspective. We all need a good hysterical cry once and a while. There have been some things changing in my life that I'm having a hard time handling. I have worked at the same middle school since before Christmas and now suddenly they switched me to another middle school. I grew close to those kids because there were only about 14 of them and my boss left me alone to do whatever I wanted, so I had a lot of freedom. Well I went back to the other school for a few hours last week and they all said how much they miss me and how the new lady is mean and boring and when I left they kept begging me to come back. I drove away crying that day because it seemed like a permanent change because this other lady was totally taking over and changing rules and stuff and it really made me mad and sad. Now I'm not even the one in charge at this other school and there's like fifty kids and its tough getting to know them all over again. But yesterday was better. I have been getting to know the kids better and they are trusting me more. I think that's what it is. They don't trust new people. And they don' t like being told what to do. But I get them to trust me, and then they start listening to me. Its a balance between being their friend and their superior. I'm learning and starting to feel like I have a place there. But it's still hard for me. I miss my other kids. I think I am going to do whatever I need to become a substitute teacher. I am kinda tired of the way the Boys and Girls club is ran. That's my next challenge...become a substitute teacher.

I'm excited for today. It's a pretty packed full day, but full of good things. I'm at work right now, and right after wards my best friends and I are getting together to finish Bible study. Then Jenn and I have a racquetball court reserved at two and it's on like donkey kong! Then we might see shutter island if time and minds permits. Then tonight is Mosaic ( college group) at my church. Some how I have to fit a shower in there. I don't usually write journal entries like this these days. But i've realized it's fun to write about what fills my days. It also gets me thinking about what fills my time, and helps me reflect if its healthy things that make up what is Brandi's life. I love simple things like going to the gym with my best friends and going to church. I still probably need to spend more time with my family. Maybe I'll find out when my mom or my brothers have free nights or mornings and make sure to spend some time with them. I usually see my brothers in passing. But seriously, For the last few weeks I have been spending every thursday with my sister and my nieces and its has changed me and my relationship with them so much. Every time I see Kaylie she gets super excited to see me. We play catch together and then usually we start dancing around her house. Then we play the wii and she's really good at it! My sister told me that the other day, Kaylie said, " Brandi's coming over? I just love her!" She's only three and I can't believe she said that. I just love her too and I value every moment with her. It got me thinking i should call my aunts because I don't talk to them much and I have quite a few. Well, I hope everyone is having a great day and I love you =)

Was a great day! After work I was gonna see shutter island but it was sold out so instead my best friend and I went shopping and we found some great clothes at old navy. Then we had cell group at my house which consists of reading a chapter in a book together ( the book's called crazylove) and we discussed it and have worship. After that Jenn , Joel And I played raquetball for about two and a half hours at the gym and that was awesome . We did twenty minutes of cycling and then headed back to my house where Jenn and I traded some music. It's just a simple day but still so beautiful.

Goodbye texting and sweets for 40 days! Dude this gonna be hard! But it could be life changing!

I have never had a significant other on Valentines day, but I've always still loved celebrating Love. Every year I feel God promising me that some day, when I do have that someone, I know that it will be worth all the years of singleness.Not to say I don't ever become sad about this longing to some day find that person. But life is not all about romance with that one person and the concept of love goes way beyond that. Usually on V Day, I find some girlfriends, chocolate, and a few romantic comedies and we celebrate our singleness. I always have fun on V day, and just enjoy where God has me on the this journey, clinging to the hope that he knows what is best for me. Also, Christ is asking us to be His Valentine. Not just today, but everyday! Who needs a box of chocolates when we have what Christ gave us on the cross? That is True Love! I'll take freedom and mercy over roses any day! Love is central to our faith and although we try to practice love the best we can, everyday, I think celebrating it one day a year should be a good thing, not a bad thing. Some of you may have good reasons that it gets you down. Maybe you had a bad experience or you are recently single and it difficult for you to really feel loved today. Try to take what us humans have distorted into a nauseating exchange of cheesy cards and fruit filled chocolate, and usually renders us lonely or disappointed, and remember that God promises that if you, "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart," Psalm 37:4. But just because we don't have that one special person, doesn't mean we have to close our eyes, stuff our faces with chocolate to fill the void, and just hold tight for the torture to be over. If you are single, just focus on who God has put in your life to love and celebrate your family and friends. Let us take on new perspectives and remember to love those that are not easy to love. Let us delight in the Lord's love and celebrate Christ's Love today by sharing it with everyone around us! Reflect on how God asks us to love and let's put it into practice, letting today just be a reminder, and putting it into practice every day =) I love you!

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,b but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13