-today is the day-

Goodbye WordPress

bwiedeman — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 06:15:02 +0000

This is my official goodbye to this blog. Surprisingly, this is harder than I thought it was going to be. A little bitter-sweet, I guess. But the sweetness is Cody and I have started a blog TOGETHER.

The address to this site is:

brodyanders.tumblr.com
[brody stands for brittney + cody....]

or you can visit our wedding website at:

theknot.com/ourwedding/BrittneyWiedeman&CodyAnderson

I love you wordpress and the memories we’ve shared together…
Goodbye

Focus of the Season

bwiedeman — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 05:18:22 +0000

Wedding Planning is under way!

Groom=check
Bride=check
Date=check
Church=check
Reception Hall=check
Caterer=check
Cake=check
Photographer=check
Dress=check

Need to do:
Flowers
Brides-maids dresses
Suits
Register for gifts
Finalize Honeymoon

While the planning has been fun and dandy (and surprisingly not very stressful), we are trying to keep the heart of this season at the center; the marriage. I ran into a friend today who gave me great insight and reminded me to keep the priorities in check. It can be so easy to get distracted and let worldly concerns get in the way. While I love planning a wedding, I love even more planning for a marriage.

Proposal Story

bwiedeman — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:00:01 +0000

If you haven’t already heard, I’m engaged! This last weekend I went to Albuquerque, NM to visit Cody for the weekend. We picked this weekend because it was the International Balloon Fiesta but little did I know it would be more than that. I arrived late last Thursday evening. Going into the the weekend, I had a suspicion he might pop the question but by Friday morning I had fully convinced myself he wasn’t going to propose over the weekend. Friday afternoon we did the normal; ran errands and the like. After we ran errands, we planned on going golfing. He has golfed throughout his life and is very good so he was going to begin teaching me. We started at the driving range to practice swinging. After practicing for 15-20 minutes, he was going to “ask” if we could golf a bit on the holes. On the way to the course, he told me his favorite hole was on the course so I was excited to see this hole. We got to number 4 and it was beautiful! Then I was distracted by the challenge that was ahead of me; getting the ball over the pond. Internally I decided that I was going to sit this hole out and move on to the next. The Lord quickly stopped me and reminded me “With God all things are possible”. As I set up to tee the ball, I repeated that verse to Cody, slightly sarcastically.

It took me about 3-5 minutes to actually hit the ball. I missed the first time. My next hit, I got the ball over only not in the right direction. I was so excited but Cody didn’t seem to share the same joy as I did. His reaction was strange to me because he had been so delighted the other times I did well. He responded “Yeah! Good Job…isn’t it beautiful out here?” and my response was “Yeah…I got it over!” Luckily he realized I was not picking up on the hint and turned me towards the hole. Right behind the hole was a banner that said “Brittney…” my response was “Hey, does that say my name?” [genius, I know]

The next ten minutes flew by. I remember most of what he said but then again I don’t. He started out by talking about our relationship, when we first met, and etc. Cody does a great job of affirming me so I was still unsure if he was actually proposing. My clue was when he said “I love you for…” because we hadn’t said I love you up until this point. When we started dating, we decided not to say “I Love You” until we were engaged because we viewed this phrase as an ultimate commitment. Even though we were 100% committed, we still felt it was best for us to wait. After I finally realized he was proposing, I lost it. He then pulled out his Bible and ring from the divot box. He read from Proverbs 31 from the Bible which has extreme significance to me. For the past two years, Proverbs 31 is the womens study that we do in San Diego as we learned about “a woman of excellence”. Finally, he got down on his knee and proposed! When we got back to his house, he had an engagement party waiting for us. Also, throughout the whole process, he had friends hiding in the bushes taking pictures. Trust me, he thought through EVERY detail!

Now the wedding planning begins! We are getting married in Norfolk on May 14th. I’m excited for this new stage for many reasons. It’s not about the wedding but about the marriage that is developing. I am so blessed to have a man like Cody in my life. Cody loves the Lord with his whole heart and is a man of great integrity. He is one of the most serving and giving people that I know, and I don’t say that because I am biased. He loves me well and always has my best interest in mind. I could go on and on but for the sake of time, I won’t. Needless to say, I see it as an honor and privilege to spend the rest of my life with Cody Anderson.

I wanted to personally let you all know because I am so thankful for so many people including you throughout this process. I met Cody on San Diego Summer Project 2009 and we went back together as interns in 2010. The Lord used you in a very meaningful way through our relationship. Because of your prayers and support, I was able to meet my future husband. SDSP has great meaning in our relationship for many reasons. Not only did we meet there, but our relationship also grew significantly this last summer while we were there as interns. So again, I am so grateful for the ways you responded to giving and following the Lord. I have been so blessed from all of you.

Love,

Brittney

Land of Enchantment

bwiedeman — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:18:26 +0000

Well, I have officially been done with school for approximately two weeks. Luckily, I didn’t have any finals this semester. Having two education classes and two English classes really paid off. So instead of taking finals, I worked at the daycare as much as possible. Spent a couple days at home in Norfolk, which went by very quick. When I was home, I was able to spend some quality time with my family and some friends, unpack from school then repack for the summer. Those five days flew by!

It hasn’t really felt like summer time until the past couple days. Last Wednesday I arrived in New Mexico and have been here ever since. For the past four days, I have been hanging out with Cody and his family. Honestly, this time has been wonderful. We’ve been busy but at the same time have had some quality down time. Thursday and Friday we ran errands and went to graduation parties and the like. Saturday we went for a hike and picnic followed by church and dinner with his parents. Yesterday was probably the laziest of them all but one of my most enjoyable. As I said, it’s been pretty low key which is nice because when we get out to San Diego, our lives will be nonstop.

Speaking of San Diego, we leave bright and early Wednesday morning at 5AM (6 am central time). It is beginning to hit me that we will be in Sandee soon. For the longest time, I was looking forward to coming to New Mexico and once that came, I would prepare for San Diego. Well, that time is here. We will get into Cali around 8 or 9pm (pacific time). To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what our schedule will be from there. May 31^st is when the students arrive. So from the time staff arrives and students get there we do a lot of preparing and training.

What to pray for? Would you be praying that the Lord would prepare the staffs hearts as we will begin Wednesday evening/Thursday morning. Pray for unity among the staff and for wisdom and discernment. Would you also be praying the Lord would fill all of the student’s spots? I know recently there have been some students who have withdrawn from the project leaving empty spots. SO if you know of anyone who does not have summer plans and wants to spend ten weeks on the beach, send them my way.

Would you also be praying specifically for my heart for the summer? To pray that I would connect well with my four growth group ladies and would lead them well. Would you also for Cody and me as we are together on this project? Pray that the Lord would allow us to be a glorifying to Him and that would we be able to grow more as a couple. It has been so good and such a blessing to spend time with him before actually going out there.

Hmmmm. Well I think that is all I have for now. I wanted to write something before actually going out there so this is my attempt. I am going to be trying extra hard this year to spend out weekly email updates, so if you would like an update let me know your email address. Blogging is also something that I am going to be working on, so feel free to keep my accountable.

Love, Britt

One More Day!

bwiedeman — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:14:36 +0000

With only a day left of classes (and NO finals!) life is on hold at the moment. Tomorrow will be my last day my junior year and then I will move into my senior year, even though with credits, I am already a senior. Anyways, today is a little hectic trying to finish projects that are due tomorrow. Could you be praying that I finish strong? Would you also pray for my friends who are finishing as well, for the projects and finals they have to finish. Summer is right around the corner…WOOHOOO!

Okay, I had to make this brief because it is time to get back to the homework!

God is for Me

bwiedeman — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:44:28 +0000

I feel the need to write but have no idea what to write about. Then I was looking at the title of my blog and saw “what God is teaching Brittney” so why not go with that route.

This semester, we have been going through Colossians at our leaders Bible study and finished it up this last Sunday. We read Colossians 4:7-18. As this passage can typically be seen as a “throw away” passage, there was great insight Paul told us in these verses. This passage gives an example of Christs love and his heart for encouragement through community. I was very surprised how encouraged I was when I walked away from this study. The Lord really spoke to my heart and asked me to pray through a couple things. Through these 11 verses, Paul shows us to enter into rich relationships with others, labor in prayer for others, challenge people, and remember others in their hard times. For these four areas, the King asked me who I could put under each category. Who could I enter into a richer relationship with? Who do I need to pray for? Who needs to be challenged around me? Who do I need to remember during a difficult time?

By remembering someone and acting in these four categories, I am honoring the Lord and entering into a deeper relationship with him. He doesn’t want me to do this in a legalist/works based way, but in a genuine, loving manner. Ultimately, I would be showing HIS love to people around me. Isn’t this exactly what he wants us to do? Doesn’t he want us to love the people around us the same way he did?

One of the verses we referenced to was Psalm 56:8

(8)”You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?
(9) Then my enemies will turn back
in the day when i call.
This i know, that God is for me. “

We looked at verse eight, but when I kept reading, I found the words written for me (and so many others) in verse nine; God is for me. What a comfort and relief to know the GOD of the universe is for me.

Kari Jobe has a song titled “You Are For Me”. I have posted the lyrics below. My prayer is that truth would sink in your heart that way it did in mine.

Kari Jobe, “You are for Me”
So faithful
So constant
So loving and so true
So powerful in all you do
You fill me
You see me
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to you

I know that you are for me
I know that you are for me
I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness
I know that you have come down
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who you are

So patient
So gracious
So merciful and true
So wonderful in all you do
You fill me
You see me
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to you

I know that you are for me
I know that you are for me
I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness
I know that you have come down
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me that

I know that you are for me
I know that you are for me
I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness
I know that you have come down
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who you are

Fight the GOOD Fight

bwiedeman — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:34:50 +0000

For my Social Studies methods class, I have to create a family history scrapbook. I LOVE to scrapbook so this is fun for me. While looking through some of my grandmas family history, I found this great quote from her great uncle (or something..)

“Guard yourself seriously against spiritual unsoundness and doubt: because just as physical unhealthiness, if it is not prevented and cured, will turn into physical illness and death, so will spiritual unhealthiness turn into spiritual sickness and spiritual death. By giving way to doubt one becomes a spiritually crippled and without strength to forge ahead in the world. Because: ‘This is the victory that has conquered the world, our faith.” Hans Peter Sorensen

Just the other day I came across this following verse and I feel it connects with the quote well.

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness,. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 11-12

We must fight the GOOD fight of our faith, for it is our faith that will create miracles.

What’s your to-do list?

bwiedeman — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:14:04 +0000

If you know me, you know that I love to organize my schedule. I like to know when I am going to do something and how long it may take, even if it is mentally in my head. My best friends dislikes when I do this; she is a fly-by-the-seat of her pants person. It drives her insane when I plan out the day. At times when life is really hectic, you will find a piece of notebook paper with all that needs to be done. Oh, and I really love post-it notes.

Here is my to-do list for the weekend:

Finish sending out support letters
Send thank-yous
Homework (Family History project, a research report, read for class, and a personality test)
Enjoy time at home
EASTER!

Like I said, I love my to-do list. I even have to put quiet times on my to-do list to plan that into my schedule. Sometimes I wish that I could live by the seat of my pants, like LaShawna. Know this, I am not completely strict and have to cross EVERYTHING off; I just like to know what is in front of me. Trust me, I am getting better about this but it’s still a work in progress.

There was a speaker the other night who said

“Faith does not have a to-do list. We simply just need to place our faith in Jesus.”

As the queen of the to-do list, this really made me think. Jesus said, “If you try to find your life, you will lose it.” With to-do lists, I am essentially trying to find my life. When I create a list, even when I plan God into it, I am not giving him the freedom to work in my life. How can I place my faith and trust in Him if I am trying to control my life?

I want to trust the plans God has for me. After all, they bring hope and a future. [Jeremiah 29:11]

I feel like I am leaving this blog in the middle of a thought, but honestly, I’m not sure that I have anything else to add.

Productively Wasting Time

bwiedeman — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 21:11:42 +0000

These past couple weeks have truly flown by. I had spring break a couple weeks ago and was able to go split my time between home and New Mexico. I flew down to NM the 17th and then started the journey back Friday (March 19th). We drove to Albuquerque that Friday night and had a wonderful dinner with Cody’s parents. They cooked me a birthday dinner of steak and potatoes and cheesecake. DELICIOUS!

Saturday we trekked our way to Denver, CO and spent the night with one of my bestest friends, Kari. She is a great friend of both Cody and I from project. It truly was so good to hang out with her, even if it was a short time period. We went to dinner, took silly pictures, and just enjoyed each others presence with our other two good friends, Ben & Jerry. (Ice cream that is….)

Sunday after a brunch with more friends, we made our way to Nebraska. The 19 hours (1000+ miles..) was so good for us. We had great talks; some serious and some not. Listening to music and just being quiet was wonderful and would do it again in a heart beat. Cody was able to spend this last week in Lincoln for his spring break. It was magical ! He did a very impressive job of celebrating my birthday the week we were together. I felt outrageously special and cared for by him. It was a great week to say the least and was extremely difficult to say goodbye.

Now I am sitting at a coffee shop trying to focus on homework that I have put off all week. The weather is gloomy which makes me want to curl up in a blanket and watch movies all day. I am ready for sunshine. And warmth. My parents are currently in San Diego and are visiting my territory as I write this. Makes me so excited to think of all the fun memories my heart holds for those places. I just got off the phone with them and they are going to have a California Burrito. Burrito = Heavenly! Here is my best friend, LaShawna, and I enjoying the goodness. The California Burrito consists of carne asada, cheese, sour cream and French fries or potatoes rolled into a flour tortilla (found on Urban Dictionary). I also like mine with some guacamole. I am going to begin counting down the days for this burrito…

LaShawna and Brittney at La Playa

Yep. So now I am just sitting here at Scooters….being very successful at wasting time. I am getting little things done which is good but haven’t even touched my homework. Sweet. I was doing sooo good at being motivated and spring break stole all of that motivation from me. Maybe I should make a wanted sign. You know, like they did when a criminal was missing….

Goodbye Winter

bwiedeman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:15:54 +0000

Dear Winter,

It hurts me to write you this but after much processing and consideration, I have come to the conclusion that I can no longer be with you. It’s not you; it’s me. At the beginning we had so much fun. I loved the gifts of fresh snow and the snow days you gave. I truly did enjoy those times. This past month I really have been questioning if we should be together and I feel that our personalities just don’t match. I should inform you that I do have feelings for someone else; Summer. He brings me warmth and sunshine and all you have to offer me is cold and dry skin. You should know that I have asked for others opinions and they agree; we need to move on. Please don’t try to fight for me, it won’t work. If you try to win me back with more cold weather and snow (don’t even think about wind on top of that) it will only push me away further. I just need some space and time to consider my options and feel it would be best if you didn’t contact me until I’m ready. When would be this time be? Call me in December, when football season is getting over, and we can talk.
Until then,

Brittney