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THE NEXT (AND BEST!) 18 MONTHS OF MY LIFE! 

ADIOS

Reality Is A Lovely Place, But I Wouldn't Want To live There

My Life=Better Than Yours! 

4.79 Days

114.86 Hours

6891.98 Minutes

Till Hermana Brennan Status! 

Families Can Be Together Forever... THANK GOODNESS!

THIS is why I'm going to Chile for 18 months! 

Boy oh boy, this makes me bawl.

I'm REALLY going to miss my favorite 7 people.

Eternity is going to be hilarious!

I CANNOT WAIT!

The Playlist of A Pre-Missionary

I realized that so much of my life revolves around music. I run to music everyday at the gym. I cannot drive without listening to music. I do all of my Mothers monotonous chores and get through it to listening to music. AND for the next 18 months... I can only listen to church music... BUT hey I get to be a missionary SO no music = no big deal. So what will I be listening to before I depart normal life and enter into missionary life of splendidness....?

1). Angles: Owl City

2). I Run To You: Lady Antebellum

3). What If: Colbie Caillat 

4). Oh Darling: Plug in Stero

5). Everything You Do: He Is We

6). The Best Day: Taylor Swift

7). Cool: Gwen Stefanie

8). Enter Sandman: Metallica

9).Give Me Everything:Pitbull

10). Blame It On The Rain: He Is We

11).Pumped Up Kicks: Foster The People

12). The Night Sky: Keane

13). Fast Cars and Freedom: Rascal Flatts

14). Amsterdam: Coldplay

15). All I Need: Mat Kearney

16). Gold Digger: Kayne West

17). Thank You: Jay-Z

18). Somebody To Love: Justin Bieber

19). Life Is Beautiful: Vega 4

20). ENCHANTED: TAYLOR SWIFT 

The Countdown Begins!

2 Weeks

13.90 Days

333.54 Hours

20012.56 minutes

Till I'm Hermana Brennan 

Life doesn't get much better then that! 

I Just Haven't Met You Yet...

I use to HATE that song by Michael Buble, "Haven't Met You Yet" because I thought it was in NO WAY applicable to me, until TODAY! I was driving to pick up my dry cleaning and this song came on my iphone from shuffle and I realized, I haven't met him yet! For so long I was confident I met the boy of my dreams, but he's the boy of some other girls dream. BUT I know that "it will all turn out" and I'll meet him and he will be more then I could have ever imagined and I'll be so grateful for everything that lead me to him, but the Future Mr. Aubrey Brennan I gotta go tend to my Chileans, so I'll think about you in about 18 months and feel free to make yourself known at anytime after that, okay? 

I JUST HAVEN'T MET YOU YET :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEST FRIEND!

Today is August 5th, which my mind has been programed for the last 17 years, as Kati's Birthday. 

Kati is currently serving an LDS Mission in the Paraguay Asuncion North Mission and comes home in a year and four days!!!!

Kati and Me at her Missionary Farewell... you can't even tell I bawled my eyes out!

In honor of my best friends day of birth I want to tell a tale of two girls, the first is Aubrey and the Second is Kati.

Our Weekend Getaway To Yellowstone... Very Romantic As You Can Tell From This Pic

Kati and Aubrey first met when they were five, but there weren't exactly friends until Kati defended Aubrey's honor in the first grade and punched a boy who was making fun of Aubrey in the stomach, and then got suspended for it. Aubrey and Kati were inseparable from that day on. They spent their childhood playing with puppies, bouncing on the tramp, playing hide-in-go seek, playing school in Kati's loft, swimming for endless hours, talking about their future husbands, playing soccer, playing softball, riding razor scooters, enjoyed girls camps and boating trips, and having many many sleep overs where they did everything but sleep. Aubrey and Kati were the best of friends. They use to tell their parents that they'd be best friends forever, and their parents would smile and say, "forever is along time, and people drift apart." Aubrey and Kati didn't care what they said.

Then when Aubrey was 13 her family moved to Utah and Kati and Aubrey parted. They didn't keep the best in touch, but when people would ask Aubrey who her best friend was she'd still say Kati Van Dusen. Then when Aubrey was 16 her family moved back to California and Kati treated Aubrey as if  she had never even left! They picked up right where they left off. In their teenage years they enjoyed driving to T-street, had sleep overs, but Kati could never stay up past 12:30, made quesadillas at Kati's house during lunch, had TOO many good times with their two other Best Friends, Meredith and Kari, went to several dances, talked about their boyfriends, played lacrosse, worked at Coldstone, had fun trips up to June Lake, talked about their futures and became the best of friends, again. 

Sara, Kati, Me and Brooke Cuddling At Squaw Peak

Then when high school ends most best friendships end as they go off to different colleges, but not Aubrey and Kati's. They both went up to BYU Idaho, made many other good friends but still found time to kick the soccer ball around, play glow-stick tag in caves, and come to each others aid when boys, school and life got too much to bear.

Kati's 21st Birthday... My Best Friend Is A Babe!

When Aubrey transferred to BYU in the middle of their sophomore year, Aubrey and Kati talked on the phone three times a week, then four times a week, then everyday for many hours. They never missed a beat in each others lives and made time to visit each other while they went to different schools. They always looked forward to the holidays when they'd come home so that they could see their families but also each other.

First Week Of College

Then Kati and Aubrey got older and Kati was turning 21 and it became time for Kati to serve a LDS mission, as Kati had always planned. Kati got her call on October 11th, 2010 and Aubrey was on the phone when she heard Kati say she'd be spending the next 18 months of her life in Paraguay. Aubrey was very excited for her but knew that she'd have to face life alone for 18 months. Aubrey and Kati's other best friend flew home to hear Kati give her farewell talk in church and Aubrey cried from the opening hymn to the closing hymn as she realized Kati was leaving and this would be the longest amount of time in the 17 years that she had known Kati that she would not be able to talk to her or see her. Kati left for her mission on Wednesday February 9th and Aubrey hugged her and watched her walk to the MTC.

The MOST Bittersweet Day Of My 21 Years Of Life... Kati's Walk To The MTC

Yellowstone

Aubrey cried everyday for a two weeks straight as she felt empty without Kati, but Aubrey knew that Kati was doing the right thing and that Kati was going to make SO many people happy in Paraguay. Then two weeks after Kati reported to the MTC, Aubrey was walking to the TRC at the MTC and saw a very beautiful and familiar face walk out into the courtyard, and it was KATI! Aubrey and Kati ran towards each other and hugged and cried. Kati told Aubrey that she was loving the MTC and loved being a missionary. Aubrey told Kati she loved her and was so proud of her. After this Aubrey stopped crying as she knew Kati was alright.

Oh How I Love Thee... Even When You Abuse My Face

Then a month later, on March 27th Aubrey decided that she was suppose to go on a mission and on April 18th, Aubrey got her mission call and found that she was called to serve in the Chile, Concepcion Mission, which is only  1,593 miles away from Asuncion, Paraguay. Aubrey was SO excited that she was going to serve in South America at the same time Kati was serving in South America. Aubrey and Kati are very anxious for March of 2013, when they will see each other for the first time in 26 months, but both know that 26 months is nothing when you get to be best friends forever. So the tale of Aubrey and Kati is a never ending one.

22 Reasons I Love Kati

1). She can read my mind. There have been SO many times when she knows what I am thinking and finishes my sentences.

2). We both decided in the third grade that we'd name our first born daughters middle names after each other. So my first born daughter is going to be Kennedy Kati... 

3).  She calls me out when I am being a brat or when I am just flat out wrong and she is the only person that can do that without me getting mad. 

4). She NEVER puts me down and always pull me up. I know I can trust her with my life.

5). It can tell her anything! When something big happens in my life, It doesn't feel official until I tell her. 

6). My sisters consider her their sister and my mom considers her, her daughter. She is apart of my family and I would do anything for anyone in her family. 

7). When my heart has been broken in the past or I am just having a bad day, Kati ALWAYS knows what to say. 

8). She is the BEST aunt in the world! 

9). I know that she love everything about me, which is hard! I don't have to hide anything from her or hold anything back because I know she will accept me no matter what.

10). She is comfortable with who she is and loves who she is.

11). She inspires me everyday!

OH YEAH... Did I Mention She Changes Lives EVERYDAY!?

12). She is beautiful inside and out! She has a great smile. Great hair. Great eyebrows. Great back side. She is loving and loyal.

13). Kati is ALWAYS 100% honest. I always take her word for it, because her words is truth.

14). She is NOT a quitter!

15). She is the glue of my life. Everything makes more sense when she is around. She always provides a much needed reality check and presepective
16). Have you ever heard of those Pavlvo dogs who would react when they heard a bell ring, well I am kind of the same, because when I hear the name "Kati", "Paraguay", or "Sister Missionary" I start to cry... yes she has made me an emotional reck!
17). She's not a push over! She sticks up for herself and those she cares about! Loyality is her middle name!

18). I like her handwriting... strange but it hasn't changed from the first grade.
19). I love her laugh. It reminds me of a little kid at the ice cream counter
20). I love her ghetto dance moves... classic!
21). I love her commitment to the gospel, her inspiring testimony and her never ending desire to share the gospel. I love that she is a missionary and she's one of the biggest reasons I decided to serve a mission!
22). She's my best friend and no amount of time or distance will ever change that!

The Besties Last Hurrah For 26 Months! 

Most people go their whole lives without finding a friend who loves them and accepts them for all that they are, who they can run to for anything and who would never disrespect, gossip about or turn their back one. I found that person and I found her at five years old. Kati and I call each other "Our Person" because we love Grey's Anatomy, but the real reason Kati is my person is because she is more then a best friend and a little less then a sister. She is literally my angel on earth who helps me each and every day to be a better person and to grow closer to my Father in Heaven. Whither its through her words, her example, her random funny text messages, her letters in the mail, her smile, her good pass to me with a lacrosse stick, or her snoring when we have sleepovers, she makes me better.

 I am Aubrey Ann Brennan because of my faith in Jesus Christ and the Gospel. I am Aubrey Ann Brennan because I was born to Sterling and Annette Brennan and have 4 wonderful siblings and a sister-in-law. I am Aubrey Ann Brennan because of the trials I have overcome and experiences I have had. I am Aubrey Ann Brennan because when I was five I met Kati Kristeen Van Dusen.

So Happy 22nd Birthday To My Best Friend. My Person. My Better Half. My Paraguayan Missionary.

Euphoria

Yesterday I went to the temple with my dearest Britt! We had a great time and as we were walking back into the dressing room we saw another great friend we had grown up with. As the three of us stood there talking, I realized the three of us had gotten down and dirty at girls camp. The three of us had braces, blemished complexions, an awkward fashion sense. The three of us experienced our first day of high school together. The three of us go to the same university and now the three of us are at the temple. Two of them sealed and one, it might be a bit (me). The three of us listened to those sunday school and young women lessons. We made mistakes and are no where near perfect, but we always tried to do the best that we could, and although we all have so much life to live, we've made it to this point and we are on the right track. As we were talking in the dressing room I had the most euphoric feeling come over me... We have grown up and we grew up right!

 I have many different friends, going in many different directions in life. Some are married and dealing with the fun and various struggles that come with being poor, wide-eyes, yet happy newlyweds. Some are on missions, preaching the gospel in foreign lands thousands of miles from home, yet loving every minute of their gospel sharing adventure. And some are in school, close to graduation or have just graduated and  are patiently waiting to see what the Lord has in store for them. What ever road they are taking, whatever job they accept, whatever major they choice, they are ALL on the right track!

 It's such an overwhelming and amazing feeling to see your friends grow up and choose the right path. Not all are choosing the same path, but none the less, its the right path for them and the path the Lord wants them on. We are not kids anymore. We are learning, growing and experiencing life and we are all doing it through faith in God. 

P.S. I Miss You

Today I woke up and I INCREDIBLY missed you... I miss you A LOT every other day, but there was some thing about today that made me INCREDIBLY miss you... I don't really know why.

We pose so well together, we almost look like lesbo-lovers... OH but BOYS are our lives! So don't you worry! 

THEN... I got a letter and you told me all about the amazing experiences you are having, how much you love being a missionary and how excited you are for me to be a missionary. THEN I went back to just missing you A LOT because I realized for these next 12 months, they need you more then I do.

 I love you Gospel Girl! 

ANNIVERSARY!!!!!

SO... My Two Most FAN-tastic Parentals Were Sealed For Time And All Eternity In The Los Angeles Temple 29 Years Ago!

If You've Ever Wondered Why I'm Such A Babesarus..Here Is Why! 

Thanks For Getting Married, Creating Me, And Still Wanting To Have Children After Me!

LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH! 

Behind The Scenes:THE MTC

ONLY 33 More Days!

I CANNOT WAIT!

How Did I Make It This Far Without You!?!?

Today is July 26th (happy birthday Daddy) and exactly 6 months ago I said so long, farewell to my best friend and then two weeks later to my other best friend! I cannot believe all that has happened these past 6 months  and how fast it went. It really does seem like just yesterday I was looking up Brazil facts, watching gossip girl and pillow talking with Hanns and it really does seem like just yesterday that I was talking to Kati on the phone for hours about the mission, eating pop tarts together at Meredith and sleeping on her floor. To be honest I didn't think I'd make it without them, or at least do as well as I have done.

Mi Hermana & Minha Irma <3

I really thought I'd be a complete and total emotional wreck when they both left, but I made it! YES it was hard, yes there were tears, yes I did feel empty and yes I'd NEVER repeat February EVER again, but I made it and they've made it out in the mission field for 6 months. They are both being the best possible missionaries in Salvador, Brazil and Asuncion, Paraguay. I've missed, thought, and prayed about them each 187.5 days they've been gone, but I TRULY know that they are were they are suppose to be and where the Lord needs them most! They are changing lives, every minute of everyday. Yes I am 3,00% excited to see my besties but apart of me wants them to never come home because I know how much they are loving it and how many lives are better each day because of their presence, BUT all good things must come to an end.

It is SUPER crazy that they come home NEXT summer... I don't want to say that is irrelevant to me... but I am not counting down to next summer but to Spring 2013! Through it all I could not be happier to joining these two girls and become apart of the South American Sisterhood!
HAPPY 6 MONTHS SISTER HANNAH JANE DAVIS

Boys Good News For You... She'll Be Home In One Year :)

Brazil Better Love You As Much As I Do

Are My Best Friends Babes Or What?!

HAPPY ALMOST 6 MONTHS HERMANA KATI KRISTEEN VAN DUSEN

As Cute As They Come

Paraguay Tu Tienes Mi Mejor Amiga Se Comportan!

BEST looking girl in Paraguay

I'll Be Seeing These Two Beauties March 2013 For Sweet Reunion Time!

It All Works Out In The End

It all works out in the end. I know I am only 21 years old and life still has MANY curve balls to throw my way, but I know that everything works out the way its suppose to. Sometimes we ask, "Why is this happening to me?" or "When will I feel normal again?" and I can say that there will be a day when we look back on everything that has happened and we will realize that it all worked out for the best. Everything fell into place and what God had in store for us was for our best and what we actually wanted in the end. 

This is where my happy begging will take place

Today is that day for me. Today I am looking back on my life and I realize that everything I did, everything that has happened to me was suppose to lead me up to this point. I was suppose to and wanted to be here and I never could have done it by myself. There had to be intervention. There had to be hard times. There had to be heart ache, and confusion so that I could end up where I needed to be and do what I need to do. I know that through out my life there will be many more days like today and also many more days like the past, where it was hard and at times impossible to see any silver lining, but next time, I'll be better and more prepared to see through the the bad times, because I know that days like today do happen and will happen again! There is a quote I absolutely LOVE by Elder Holland, "Don’t give up. Don’t you quit. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead. You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.”
It all works out in the end

HAPPY 52nd DADDY!

SO...his birthday isn't until Tuesday, but the man is TOO great to just have his date of birth commemorated one day of the year, so I thought I'd start the festivities early.For the record Sterling A. Brennan is the best possible person, and lucky me, he is my father!

SO here are some of the top reasons why I love my Daddy!

He's the hardest working person I know

He calls me 'pops'

He falls asleep in every movie

He ALWAYS makes time for me, his wife, and other kids, ALWAYS!

He is 150% honest

He tells jokes that should be on the back of laffy-taffy's, and I love them

He reads history books! 

He loves to mow the lawn and apart of him would love to quit law so he could pull weeds, fix sprinklers and buy mulch all day

He loves my mom

He has about a billion baseball cards from when he was a kid
He looks good in a bow tie
I think he's in the CIA
Every time we go anywhere there is always someone who knows him
If I ever grow up to be something it will be because my Dad always pushed me to do my best and always believed in me
He LOVES the Beatles and has great taste in music
He is always selfless and remarkably generious
He's not perfect but pretty dang close!

He always calls to check up on me

I usually get to see him and have dinner with him two-three times a month while I am up at college and I LOVE IT

They don't make them like my Dad... I've yet to find a guy comparable to my Father, but when I do, he'll be all mine!

He lets me drive the beamer :) 

He makes great tacos

He is the busiest man in the world and the best muti-tasker on the planet!

He likes Chunky Monkey, Henry Winehearts root beer, and guacamole flavored chips

He is always optimistic and faithful!

He's basically a genius... its genetic... joke, but really he's brilliant and always know everything about anything

I can ask him and tell him anything

It doesn't matter how old I get or who comes into my life, I'll ALWAYS be a Daddy's girl! 

I LOVE YOU DADDY AND I'M REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU!

Your Future Is As Bright As Your Faith

Life is not easy, and I have a SUPER easy life. I two wonderful parents who love each other. I have  4 wonderful siblings and a fantastic sister-in-law. I am 8 credits away from a bachelors degree. I have had so many opportunities to grow and learn. I have amazing friends who save me everyday. I live in the United States of America. I am blessed economically and do not have to worry about where my next meal is coming from or how if I can pay the rent next month. I am employed. I have a mind that allows me to think, ponder and enjoy the best parts of life.

Nothing says "Faith" like a tramp stamp?

NOW you might think that I don't have anything to complain about after listing all the things that I have, but life is hard. People die, get sick, leave, make bad decisions, and life goes on. Of all the thing I've listed, when hard times arise; money, friends, and education only go so far. The thing that makes life worth living and the thing that makes you smile everyday no matter what is happening around you or to you, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The knowledge that our God loves us and knows that whatever happens to us, its all apart or his plan that will ultimatly insure us happiness that we cannot yet comprehend. So all the money in the world, the best of friends an educational and employment opportunities will never provide the peace, comfort and purpose that the gospel offers.

The gospel give us the oppturnity to practice our faith in God's plan and the more faith we exert the better our current circumstances will become as we embrace the optimsim that comes from having an eternal perspective.

Thomas S. Monson Said,

"It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even fearful of what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives. Today, however, I’d like us to turn our thoughts and our attitudes away from the troubles around us and to focus instead on our blessings as members of the Church. The Apostle Paul declared, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 

 ^{When the going gets rough, its a great thing to be Mormon!}

^{Your Future Is As Bright As Your Faith}

Change

One of my greatest faults is not letting people know how much they truley mean to me. I've always considered myself as a person who has a great capacity for love, but I am horrible at letting people know it. For whatever reason I am not good at conveying love. I am good at loving but always am short for words, especially if its face to face. I don't know why, I just wish I was better at. Often people don't know how I feel about hem until they leave, or something happens which makes me reevaluate how I feel about the people in my life. Today was one of those days. Today I realized that I NEED to let everyone I love know that I love them and know that life would be so different and in some cases not barable without them. Let them know they made a difference. Let them know how lucky I am to know them. Let them know that they were there and helped me when no one else could. I hate that it takes an ER visit, a MRI, a CT scan, and a brain tumor to make me realize that I should have let you know I couldn't have done and gotten through SO many things without you. You were there when everyone else left or thought I was fine. I wish I could be there for you like you were there for me all those times. All I can say is that

today I'll be better at it

Brooke looks good and I look drunk...sums up all of our pictures together

 Let It Be Known That Brooke Hart Eliason Defines the Word... Enchanting! I LOVE YOU LADY... You'll Be Better In No Time And You Are In My Prayers And I Don't Think I've Prayed For Anyone Else This Hard In My Life.