To be stuck in the now of your existence is to be rendered powerless.
Michelle McKinney Hammond
The Power of Femininity
April 17, 2008
April 15, 2008
The other day my 3 year-old niece, Janae, squeezed me as tight as she could in her little arms and declared possessively, “My Beemoo!”
I scooped her up and relished being in the ownership of such a charming adorable little individual when she informed me, “Beemoo’s a girl.”
“Oh, right. Good job! What is Janae?”
“Wanae a girl.” And then she continued, “Gamma a girl, Hannah a girl, Mommy a girl. Daddy a boy. Gampa a boy. Wevi a boy.”
“Wow! You are so good!” I affirmed excitedly. Just then her brother Landon breezed by. “What’s Landon?” I asked.
“Nannon a boy… No….” Her brow furrowed deeply in concentration. “No, he a dude.“
April 5, 2008
In my browsing around the blog world this evening, I happened upon this recipe. I plan to try it. 🙂
March 16, 2008
The Day Britt Realized She Was Crazy
Posted by brittneyleigh under grace thoughts, humor[8] Comments
Reality strikes can be frightening, especially when you’re 200 miles away from home, in a bustling, crowded, unfamiliar city with heavy traffic and most of what you’ve known and all you’ve ever cared for were the country towns that didn’t even have a traffic light.
So there I was, trying to navigate through vehicles, hoping to have a chance to turn on to the correct crowded street as soon as I should happen to locate it when fact intercepted on the recesses of my overloaded cranium. “Britt, you have GOT to be the craziest person in the world!” And in crashed reality. I mean, really, exactly who in their right mind would undertake such a venture with little to no preparation time? With a sick feeling ever growing more acute in the pit of my stomach I calculated the extensiveness of this craziness.
- My older sister took 3 months to practice one song on the piano. She performed it live (at her wedding no less) and still managed to mess up once (oops, the secret’s out now). I had two days to practice for two CDs, and now here I was on my way to a studio to record piano background for seventeen songs.
- For six of the songs I had the words and a rough sketch of the chord implantation—penciled in at 11 PM the night before. The other eleven I would have to wing, relying on nothing but my ear.
- I had the grand total of the hours in a mere afternoon to accomplish the recordings, and in two different studios.
- I had never recorded before and had no idea what to expect, other than a producer telling me to do it again and again and again and again.
- Green Bay was a large, unfamiliar town… And rush hour was taking on new, fresh meanings.
- My one passenger and directional navigator (my younger sister) was having a bad day when it comes to retaining wits around her. How many times can a person look for their sunglasses in a day—especially when they happen to be perched on their own head? Could I really trust her?
- And just to top it all off, I had but a few hours of restless sleep the night before, dreaming about the CD projects being fouled, getting in an accident, and everything else that was sure to happen.
Let’s just say I was trying not to freak out too bad here. I needed to keep hold of my cool, calm and collected composure because my mom was already worrying herself sick about me. It wasn’t helping that my sister had left part of her brain still sleeping on her pillow back home.
It was a moment of sheer desperation.
God, please don’t ask me what I’m doing, because I sure don’t know. Don’t tell me I’m crazy—I realize that, and can’t do much about it anymore. I don’t know what I’m doing, I don’t know where this is going, I don’t know how things will end up. All I know is that I’m at the end of my own resources, my rope is fraying and I’m pretty sure I’m going under. I thought You were the One putting me up to this anyway, and I jumped in feet first figuring You were going to catch me. I’m doing this for You. I want You to be glorified even if I manage to fall on my head. Please give me grace to accept and deal with the failure that’s sure to ensue.
Not the most saintly, spiritual, faith-filled prayer ever prayed. But that’s exactly how I felt, and since God knows my heart I figured it wouldn’t work very well to pretend I was full of confidence in this undertaking. I have to admit, it did help me feel a wee little tiny bit better.
Arriving at the first studio, the musicians I was playing for introduced me to the producer as Stephanie. We were off to a good start. For goodness sake, nobody can keep my name straight! “Um actually, I’m Brittney. Nice to meet you.”
A little over an hour later the producer deemed it a done and excellent deal while the musicians were complaining of facial muscle aches from smiling. They declared it was way better than they even expected and were thrilled with the outcome.
What? God, did you hear that? This is really done? This was actually a success? I mean, I believe in miracles and everything, but this was outstanding! Did this really happen?
The next studio was a little more challenging, with equipment that wasn’t as high-tech as the previous one and I’m pretty sure the ill-fitting, un-adjustable headphones put a few extra creases in my ears and a couple dents in my skull. I didn’t so much as have a sheet with chords to follow either and was playing strictly by ear. I had to do more retakes than at the previous studio but thanks to technology and the ability to edit and “punch in” (a producer term) I didn’t need to be there until midnight just for the first song.
It wasn’t long after 4 PM that we were walking out of that studio, with even some mandolin recording (cheers to the girl who can’t keep track of her sunglasses!) for three songs.
I was home before 9; having spent around 450 miles on the road, 4 ½ hours in studios, and dinner out thanks to Bud and Tom. My mind was reeling with the tangible evidence of God’s hand in my entire day—from holding the steering wheel, keeping me awake, to guiding my fingers on the keyboard.
The moral of the story is, never underestimate the outcome of crazy moments with God.
March 11, 2008
My Prince Song – Isaiah 61:10 & Isaiah 62:25
Posted by brittneyleigh under guest author - Rachel Marie, quotes, singlehood[5] Comments
Submitted by Rachel Marie
I’ve got a brand-new story though you’ve heard it a time or two,
About a Prince who kissed a girl right out of the blue;
Hey, this story ain’t no tale to me now,
For the Prince of Peace has given me life somehow;
(You know what I mean!)
My sleep is over I’ve been touched by His fire,
That burns from His eyes and lifts me higher and higher;
I’ll live forever with Him right by my side,
He’s coming again on a white horse He’ll ride;
He’ll clothe me and crown me and make me His bride.
(You know what I mean!)
-By 2nd Chapter of Acts — {:::} …
listen to short clip of song here!
Graphic design by Rachel Marie.
Click on thumbnail at right for full size desk-top wall paper version.
March 3, 2008
So as hard as I try, sometimes life gets a little dysfunctional and terribly disorganized. My own living space has become clutter central. Frankly, I hate that. So, what do I do when it all gets to be too much? Reorganize. I found a very helpful site and am looking forward to reclaiming my closet and life. 😀 www.LifeOrganizers.com. It has articles and tips covering every facet of life that needs organizing. Check it out. Hey, who wants to come raid my over-stuffed closet?
This past weekend Rachel Marie showed me the most adorably shabby online store. Whether you normally like dresses or not, these are going to crawl into your heart and seriously make you consider reconstructing your summer wardrobe. Check out www.ShabbyApple.com. I just found the inspiration to thin out my closet… So I can stuff it again!
And since this site deals with the girlie issues of the day, I can’t help but point out a helpful little site on beauty tips, hair care and make up. www.Beauty-Makeup-Guide.com. Don’t we just love being girls?
February 26, 2008
These are they who have come out of great tribulation
They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb
They have come through much sorrow into great jubilation
They’re redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
February 25, 2008
February 25. It went down in my history two years ago as a sad day. A day that death came and robbed the world of a truly beautiful and precious woman.Gramma. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since she left. It seems longer than that, yet the pain of her sudden departure is still so fresh that whenever I sit down to pen my most precious memories of her, it is through a haze of emotion, my thoughts smeared with tears.
There’s the memories of the times I managed to claim the coveted seat next to Gramma at church, being little enough that my lace-frilled ankles hardly extended past the edge of my chair, and softly paging through her big, worn, blue Bible that took up my entire lap and then some.
The taste of her summer staple—cucumber salad, is still a pungent memory to my taste buds. Not to mention her amazing strawberry shortcakes.
There are so many sweet things that come to my mind when I remember her, and the beauty of her smiling face will never be erased from my mind.
She was one of those people who managed to touch my life without even trying to. She laughed when I laughed, cried when I cried. She supported me through every phase of my life. There were times I was making foolish choices and wrong decisions, yet she never stood in my way; instead she loved me and prayed for me, and hugged me when I came through—a little wiser with a praying and perceptive Gramma to thank. How I appreciated her.
As the years took their toll and her health began to fail in a major way, I watched Gramma grow stronger. She was a tenacious woman. She loved the unlovable, reached the unreachable, and lived a life of constant giving. I’ll never forget the times I stayed with her when she was sick, helping her pay bills, listening to her favorite program with her—Unshackled (produced by Pacific Garden Mission), and listening to her talk. I had so much to learn from her.
Scripture tells us that God will make all things new, and that our mortal bodies will put on immortality, and that there will be no pain or suffering in heaven. It thrills me to think of Gramma dancing around heaven, no longer leashed to an oxygen tank, no longer struggling for breath; having a new body and singing with a voice as strong and clear as the angels. But when I get there, I hope Gramma still has those smile lines on her face. They added so much charm to her beauty here on earth, that I want them to be on her radiant face next time I kiss her cheek.
February 23, 2008
Tomorrow morning if you wake up
and the sun does not appear
I will be here
If in the dark, we lose sight of love
Hold my hand, and have no fear
‘Cause I will be here
I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin’
Through the winning, losing and trying
We’ll be together
I will be here
Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I will be here
Just as sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So I will be here
I will be here
And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we’re older
I will hold you
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be hereI will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me
Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I will be here
Oh, I will be here.
by Steven Curtis Chapman
Feminine::Espresso 
