Today

Today is one of Brien's best friends birthday. Normally things like this dont hit me all that hard or I dont think about it all that much. But facebook reminded me that Dom turns 24. Happy Birthday Dom. I wonder if Brien and Dom would have still been friends. If they would be out scoping chicks and causing trouble. I believe that they would have been doing just that. I guess when FB reminded me to say Happy Birthday to Dom, it also reminded me what Brien is missing out on. Or rather what we are missing out on not having him here. Its hard to explain I guess.

So happy birthday Dominic. I know Brien is celebrating right there with you. Enjoy you day. And thank you for being my brothers best friend.

Its that song

Today me and kake went shopping at a thrift store and that song, the song that gets me everytime. forever young started playing. once the fist cord was out, kake and I looked at each  other. and just hugged. we miss u brien. always.

The Brien Project extended

So I know I keep saying that this is my last post on the Brien Project at least 2 times but I have decided that I dont only think of Brien once a year I think of him all year around So the Brien Project is here to stay. I wont post on it daily again until next year but I will pop back every now and again. I have another Blog that will now host my everyday whatever living called 15 minutes with Aimee. There you will find my regular post, pictures both personal and from AimeeLeigh Photography. So if you still want to send me something on Brien feel free to, this blog is here to stay. Dont forget to follow me on the new blog too. Thank you everyone who took the time to read this blog about Brien. He is truly missed greatly.  

From Mom

( I know I said yesterday would be my last post on the Brien project until next year but my mom asked me to post this and you just cant say no to that.)
 I am so thankful to all of our family and friends that were able to attend the Ghetto Fire in the memory of Brien, Curtis and Katie. It really is so comforting to know that so many people think of Brien and that these three amazing teens have touched the lives of so many people. I cannot express enough, as Brien's mom, how much it warms my heart to know that Brien has not been forgotten. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping Brien the heart of the game!!!

Happy Heavenly Birthday to my son Brien, who is celebrating his 10th birthday with Jesus today in Heaven. I miss you & love you so very much, Brien. You will be in my heart forever. I am so thankful to Jesus for teaching me through the years to hold on to Him. Without Jesus this day would be sad and depressing. But today I celebrate Brien's life and I am thankful for the 14 years I had with him on this earth. I am thankful that he is in the arms of Jesus.



"Peace is not the absence of crisis but the presence of Christ"

In Christ there is peace!!!



If you are sad today then reach out and hold on to Jesus. He will give you that deep peace and rest. He will give you that peace that no one can understand. A peace that only Jesus can give.



Through these past 10 years Jesus has taught me so much and I would like to share a few quotes and scriptures that helped me through the rough times. I hope you too can find the peace of Christ.



Deuteronomy 32:4 - He is the Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.



"Life will never look fair. But when we trust God, we always know that He is faithful" ~~Dave Branon~~



"I have been through the valley of weeping, the valley of sorrow and pain; But the God of all comfort was with me, at hand to uphold and sustain" ~~Anonymous~~



Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.



"Sometimes it's hard to trust the Lord when you don't understand. But fight the urge to run from Him ~ Reach out and take His hand" ~~Sper~~



Psalms 34:19 - The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.



Lamentations 3:22 - Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.



"When our hearts hurt because of loss, we can find hope in our Lord, who never changes" ~~David C McCasland



"Grief is messy. All of us grieve at one time or another, including those of us who are Christ followers. For the believer, however, there is something beyond tears, pain and loss. There is HOPE."



My prayer for each of you is that you can find that peace that only Christ can give. I pray that you will not be sad and depressed but that you will be celebrating along with Brien that he is in heaven with our Lord. I pray that you will take hold of Jesus hand and never let go. I pray that you will walk daily with Christ and live in His peace.



Let's all rejoice and be glad. Brien loves to laugh and smile so let's laugh and smile with him. I know one day I will once again see my son and believe me I will hold him tight. I pray that you too will have that assurance of seeing Brien again in Heaven and living forever with Jesus.







In the arms of Jesus and forever in our hearts.





Also I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to Karen, Brandon's mom, who is celebrating her birthday in heaven with her mom and knowing Brien I am sure he is in on the party too. So happy 50th Karen. You are loved and missed greatly.

Day 28: The Aftermath

When your world shatteres into a million pieces on the floor, its hard to put those pieces back together again. It will never be the same.
This is my last post on the Brien Project this year, it will be back next year. My blog will go back to just me blogging about whatver my heart desires. Doing the Brien Project has helpe me express the way I feel and I am greatful for all that read it.

The aftermath so much of this project has been dedicated to who my brother was. I want to take this time and show you all the lives he touched in such a short time. There is a basketball court dedicated to him at ramona jr high, a tree planted in memory of him at Anna Borba Elemenatry, an award in his name given at Ramona jr high and for Brien, Katie and Curtis there are three tress planted on the corner of Walnut and Euclid.  These three kids are still touching lives today. Thank you so much to all the family and friends who were able to come to the ghetto fire and those that were with us in spirit and were praying. Words could never express our love and gratitude to you.

Day 27: Shattered

Ten years ago today I learned a very hard lesson, the lesson that yes it can happen to you too. Ten years ago today I lost my little brother Brien and two great friends Katie and Curtis. They went out to a basketball game at Ontario High. Loaded themselves in the back seat of Katie's parents car with Joe and Katy(Katie's mom and dad) in the front seats. It was just another typical teenage trip, not going but 2 miles away. Yet they didnt even get that far, about 3 blocks in, the first light they came to. Their lives, our lives were forever changed. When a man decided to run a red light and hit the car my brother and friends were in. Katie, Brien and Curtis were killed on impact. In an instant my life forever changed. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Being woken from a nap, my mom saying that Brien had been an accident, rushing to the hospital, somehow hearing the news. Going to my dads, waking up Kurt. Telling Kurt the news. Holding Kurt in my arms as we both cried. Running hard and fast to anywhere but there. Somehow found myself walking with Mike. Calling Kristin. And then walking walking for hours with what was left of the neighbourhood kids. Just walking all night. Not sleeping, just walking. My life fell in to a million pieces. Shattered, broken, lost. I felt like that that day. I lost so much that night, my brother, my friends, my hero, and a part of me. Ten years sometimes feels like a lifetime ago, sometimes it feels like yesterday. Today will be a hard day, I have already cried many times. Today will be a day to remember all the joy that those 3 beautiful people gave this world in their short lives. I am so very grateful that Brien saved my life and dragged my out to play when I was 13. I got to meet and become friends with Katie and Curtis. And I wouldnt changed that for the world. I miss them so much and love them even more. 

Day 26: The gift of Love

So today is valentines day... which is nice and all dont get me wrong but it always no matter what makes me sad. 10 years ago this was the last day my brother ever said goodnight to my parents and his siblings. The last day he he watched the sunset. But I wouldnt trade the 14 years I had with him for anything. He taught me how to love, and what love really is. He saved my life. I am by no means a writer and so words are fleeting to me but pictures that I can do. I speak pictures. So today with all the love in my heart I made this video. It brings me to tears just talking about it. I hope this video shows you just a glimpse of who Brien was, a boy full of love, life and laughter.

*Disclaimer get the box of tissues out*