Composed and performed as a gift about and for Brettany (Bretta)Renee Blatchley on her 49th birthday as she journeyed into womanhood.

Beautiful is about Bretta's struggle to acknowledge her inner beauty before God and how God already embraces her and promises more, both inner and outer beauty, both here and in eternity.

BEAUTIFUL

(lyrics: Janet von Berky, Music Janet & Caitlin von Berky, Performed by Caitlin von Berky)

Beloved hid her face from me
And cried she wasn’t beautiful,
And would I make her beautiful
When I took her home?

I turned Beloved’s face to mine
And told her she was beautiful
And yes, I’d make her far more so
When I took her home.

Oh, Beloved, you are cherished,
You are beautiful!
And when you stand before me
With my radiance you’ll shine!
Oh, all my love for you is wild and it’s extravagant
Of all the good things granted you
The best is that you’re mine.

Beloved turned her face to mine
And let me hold her close to me,
The dance we danced was Beautiful
For all the world to see.

I turned Beloved’s face to smile
On many other dancers there 
Together we will learn this dance
Until I take you home.

Beautiful

Back in September, my younger brother (with whom I have had no contact in years) connected with me unexpectedly.

He sent me a long text expressing his love and but specifically begging me (as a fellow serious Christian) to repent from (what he believes to be) the grievous sin of my being transgender and expressing myself as a woman. He entreated me to "be the man God created me to be, along with him."

My brother is not "online," nor does he use email. So I am posting a letter to him along with some pictures a dear friend suggested. As I was printing these pictures, I was inspired to send more and send them as a photo album. To make all this more intimate, I have read my letter into an audio CD, and that is how he will experience this: he will know I am a woman in my own voice.

Dear Kyle, a Spoken Letter Affirming my Life as the Woman I am

Advent One: "Waiting" (on God). Saint Paul's Lutheran church, Aiken South Caroline USA, 29 November 2015, contemporary service.

St. Pauls Worship Advent 2015 - 11 - 29

Jack Edwin (Ed) Stoudenmire Jr. (October 26, 1956 - March 1st 2016

Memorial Service, April 2nd 2016
First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, NC, USA
Rev. David M. Helms,
Rev. Benny Edwards (solo),
Susan S. Ward (keyboard)

(Recorded & post-processed, Brettany Blatchley)

Ed's Memorial Service (2016 - 04 - 02 Audio Processed)

This is the classic "Rainbow Passage" used to test one's speaking skills.

Rainbow Passage - Brettany Renee Blatchley - 2017 - 04 - 04.wav

"A Bright Sadness," chapter 10 read from "Falling Upward" by Richard Rohr. Spoken as an encouraging gift.

Brettany Renée Blatchley

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