Robin Hood

So yesterday, Mark and I were talking at church... and he said he was going to see Robin Hood, and invited us to go with. I talked to my dad and he said sure, that we would try to make it. We still had 40 minutes to make it back home, drop off mom, Diego and Lili, unload the van, and turn right back around. But someone in our family (cough Kelsey cough) did not want to leave mom alone. (SHE DOES THIS EVERY TIME! Don't know what's going to happen when she get's married! haha) So we get there... around 10 minutes before it's starts... Mark saved us seats... dad get's up to the ticket booth... AND THEY ARE SOLD OUT! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! =( He ended up getting tickets for a later showing, but I really wanted to see it with Mark!
So we ended up going to Guitar Center (whip-de-do! NOT! haha). Kelsey, dad and Josh were drolling! haha... Me on the other hand, well let's just say that only thing about music I know is my iPod and Guitar Hero. haha But the 3 of us were talking, and when the 3 of us get talking... we have some very weird conversations! haha Kelsey was talking about how Guitar Center is her heaven... Josh said his is Bass Pro Shop... and mine is Dick's Sporting Goods! haha... it's amazing, how we all come from the same family, but are so different!
Well, it was time for us to be heading over to Rave, and when we did, we were the first in the theater!!! Got seats right in the middle!!! It was sweet! =D
The movie was really good, I thought! My family on the other hand thought it was to slow. Yes, it was slow, but it had some humor, pretty good action scenes (wish there was a little more), a great love story on how Robin and Marian meet, and Russlle Crowe!!!! haha But it wasn't your typically Robin Hood story... and that's all I'll say! haha You'll have to see it for yourself!

15 minutes after we get out, Mark texted me. Come to find out... HE SAT BY HIMSELF! I felt soooooooooo bad! =( But he was very sweet about it, and said he was glad we got to see it. =) I guess there are lots more movies we can try to see together!

(In my last blog, I did movie review, and I would like to do that again! So here is #1! =))

♫As Long As You Are Glorified♫

This is an amazing song from the Sovereign Grace cd "Come Weary Saints".
How many times do I praise Him who created me in times of plenty... but not in times of drought? In EVERYTHING I do, I hope I glorify Him!!!

♫Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings

Yet not welcome any pain

Shall I thank You for days of sunshine

Yet grumble in days of rain

Shall I love You in times of plenty

Then leave You in days of drought

Shall I trust when I reap a harvest

But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me

In Your love I will abide

Oh I long for nothing else as long

As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper

And true only when I’m filled

Are You King only when I’m carefree

And God only when I’m well

You are good when I’m poor and needy

You are true when I’m parched and dry

You still reign in the deepest valley

You’re still God in the darkest night

Written by Mark Altrogge

"Better Than I Deserve"

So I have FINALLY finished "The Cross Centered Life" by C.J. Mahaney. I have lost count how many times I have started reading that book, and have never finished. I started reading it again at the end of December... and today, I finished it! haha (I am a slow reader at times!)

It is a short book, seven chapters... and it is written by one of my favorite writers. Very easy to read! I would encourage you to read it!

But as I was reading the last chapter, I came to the section named "Better Than I Deserve". Growing up in a Sovereign Grace church, I have grown up with this saying all my life! I love it! And I have always wanted to say it to people, but always forget!

This is what C.J. Mahaney has to say about it in the book,
"Ask me how I'm doing on any given day and you might be surprised by my response. I don't give the typical "I'm doing great" or "Fine, thanks!" Instead I say, "Better than I deserve." It catches people off guard. Many times non-Christians have argued with me, convinced that I suffer from low self-esteem.
But no -- I just understand who I am and where I deserve to be. I deserve God's wrath. Honestly, I deserve to be in hell. But instead I'm God's child. I'm forgiven and loved by Him. I'm going to heaven. I'm doing much better than I deserve!
That perspective fills me with joy even on days when things aren't going as I planned. We all face disappointments and difficult circumstances. Some of us experience deep pain and loss. But regardless of the situation, understanding the gospel lets us marvel at God's love."

Short story... but when I started to read this again in December, a friend started chatting with me on Gmail. They asked how I was doing, and I replied, "Better than I deserve!" After a few seconds, they responded with asking what I meant by that. I simply told them, I don't deserve to be forgiven! I deserve the wrath of God... and deserve to be sent to hell. But by the grace of God, He sent His Son to die in my place! That friend did argue with me, and told me that I probably should not go around telling people that. I am ashamed now that I listened to them!

So go ahead! Ask me today... how am I doing? I'm doing better than I deserve! =)

His Blood

I know I just posted... but both of these things have been on my mind to share. So I am! =)

We have often (well I know I have, since I grew up in a Sovereign Grace church!) heard people talk about Jesus dying for us. Heard people use the terms, His blood washed away our sins. Heard it in songs time and time again. But have you ever stopped to think about that? I think for people like me, who have grown up in the church all their lives, sometimes don't really stop to think about things such as this.
Yesterday, I was reading "When Sinners Say 'I Do'" since our church is going through it together. (Which is a great book! And I will post soon on what I think about that! haha) But in the first chapter Dave Harvey is talking about our sin, the gospel, and marriage (haha)... . And at one part he says, "There really is no end to the glories of the gospel, which is why we will spend eternity marveling that the Holy God would choose to crush his only Son for the sake of sinful man. The gospel explains our most obvious and basic problem - sin has separated us from God and from each other. Thus we are objects of God's wrath. A Christian understands the necessity of the cross; our sin was so bad it required blood, the blood of God, to take it away! Without the cross we are at war with God, and he is at war with us."
I have heard this a thousand times... over and over and over again! But for some reason reading that one paragraph... it made more since than any other time!!! WOW! I almost started crying when I read it.... My sin was sooooo bad it required blood. Christ's blood! I'm chocked up just typing it! HOW AMAZING!!!!!! =)

♫It Was Your Grace♫

This is a great song!!! And at the moment it really means a lot to me.
The end of the 2009 and the start of 2010 some of you know I was going through something I had never gone through in my life before. Something that was very exciting! I was trusting my Heavenly Father... but not like how I should have been. And at the end of January... He took it away. February I must say I was kinda going through depression. I was not wanting to leave the house... or talk to anyone! BUT GOD! (I love that! haha) By His Grace... March rolled around... and I began to see this was His will being done... for my good! He thought me that even through something hard like what I was going through... I can praise Him in the storm! And I did! It was very hard at first I'm not going to lie. But man! God is good! I see now that He used this situation for me to draw closer to Him! And I have not felt this happy/joyful in years!
Recently, He has even brought it to my attention, that one week before the end of January, I was feeling very lost. I was not wanting to be at the church we were at... I still did not have a job... I still was unsure where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do in school... and unsure what God had for this situation I was in. I spent sometime in prayer that night... that God would make the choices I need to make clear... and asked that my time with this one thing not be wasted if it was not His plan. One week to that day... He took it away. And since then as well, we have found a new, wonderful church... I now know where I want to go/what I want to do in college... and I have a wonderful job that I love! I now remember that night, and the prayer I prayed! And it shows me, He is taking care of me! HE IS GOOD!
I love the part in the song where it says, "And You stripped me of everything I would depend on, so I'd depend on You". WOW! That is exactly what He did!!!! I am so amazed that He can take something so hard... and turn it into somethings that is so good!!! All I can say is, He is so good!!!! =)

♫It was Your grace that drew me to the cross

It was Your grace that gave me faith

It was Your grace that reconciled me to Yourself

Though I had sinned in every way

You disarmed me of everything that I would lean on

So I would lean on You

And You stripped me of everything I would depend on

So I’d depend on You

In You alone my strength is found

In You alone my hope abounds

In You alone my strength is found

My life is bound up in You

And in my weakness give me still more grace

Grace to cast myself on You

In every trial let me find Your peace and joy

And grace to humbly walk with You

O disarm me of everything that I would lean on

So I will lean on You

Jesus, strip me of everything I would depend on

So I’ll depend on You

Give me more grace

Give me more grace

And new mercies every morning

Give me new mercies

On the Sovereign Grace cd, Valley of Vision
Written by Mark Altrogge

April update... well, the end of April update! haha =)

Hey friends,
Here is another update. I'm trying to stay more on top of it. When I started it back in February 2009, I said I was going to try to update once a week. Well... two things... some weeks I had nothing to update on, life was the same... and it was a little much trying to update every week. So now I am going to try to update the first week of every month about the previous month. I'm hoping this will work better! haha

Ok, well since I just updated two weeks ago... this one is going to be a little short.
But since then... nothing has really happened. Kelsey and I house-sat again for some friends of ours. We had great sister time! We... well I should say I... watched a lot of basketball, since it's the Playoffs. =) Kel loves to play... but does not like to watch it on TV. SHAME ON HER! jk So some nights I had to suffer and watch movies instead of the Lakers game... but it was ok. Thanks to Mark... he texted me the scores! haha =) During one of the Lakers games... it was the 4th quarter and Lakers were up, they decide to put Luke Walton in. He had not been in the whole game, and was in for maybe 10 seconds... and fouls another player! Well, as the other player was going up for 2 foul shots, Walton gets a technical. Kel and I thought it was so funny! We said that we could play NBA basketball better than that! Then... minutes after this, a player from the other team was about to go up for a shot under the basket... and Walton (at the top of the key) runs hard at the guy, the dude ducks, and Walton does this tumble over the other player and hits the ground on his side. Kelsey and I were about to pee our pants we were laughing so hard! And thanks to DVR we kept rewinding the wacko move and playing it in slow motion. We even tried to see what he was trying to do... and we could not come up with anything. Did not look like a block... looked more like Walton was playing football on a basketball court. haha If the other player did not duck, Walton would have tackled him! I love the Lakers... but ever since Walton's rookie year... I have not liked him!
During that time, we also got to go shopping with Sarah and Rachel at the mall. We had so much fun!!! Then eat at Panera Bread. I wish they had more than just one here in P'cola!
Kel and I also go to play basketball with some new friends, Mark and Sean. We had a blast! We meet at an outside court... and the first game it was Mark and myself vs. Kelsey and Sean. We won! =) Then it was girls vs. guys the rest of the time. I am proud to say that we beat them the first game... but they both say it was because they were going easy on us. Ha! ;)Kel and I were both making all our shots they just weren't blocking them! ;) haha The games after that they did beat us. Seeing how Mark figured how to block ALL my shots (which was not very hard for him haha) and he kept dunking over me. Glad Kel was making all her shots... since I was clearly unable to make any!!! =) We are hoping to play a lot more games!!! Sooooo glad we found people to play with!!! Basketball is just not very big here.
April 26th came, and Diego Alexander celebrated his 5th birthday! Dragon-style! haha (It was a "How to Train Your Dragon" party.)
And on April 27th, the metal things that were stuck on my teeth for almost 3 and a half years were taken off!!! =) Yes! My braces were removed!!! I am so happy!!! I am still needing work done... like my peg needs to be bonded and I need an implant. I'm a little short on the moola... but God will provide! He has been so faithful to me the past 2 months... it's been amazing!

Also in the last 2 weeks, God has really been speaking to me! It's crazy the different ways He does speak to us... for me most of the time, it's through my iPod. haha I guess because I have it on all the time! I love my music! ;)
But He does not just do it through one song... it's through many! And all about the same thing! I shared in my last update that He was showing me that even when I am in the middle of a storm... I can still praise Him! Like in Matt Redman's song "Blessed Be Your Name"... the bridge says "You give and take away. My heart will chose to say, Lord blessed be Your name"! I love that!
The last 2 weeks though, He has been showing me that it is ONLY by Him I am saved. It wasn't me!
Here are some songs that I have been listening to...
♫"You Alone Can Rescue" By Matt Redman
♫"It Was Your Grace" By Sovereign Grace Music

The part I love in It Was Your Grace is the first verse... "It was Your grace that drew me to the cross. It was Your grace that gave me faith. It was Your grace that reconciled me to Yourself. Though I had sinned in every way. You disarmed me of everything that I would lean on. So I would lean on You. And You stripped me of everything I would depend on. So I’d depend on You."
So many times has He disarmed me of things I was leaning on... and I wish I would have known it was Him trying to get my attention.... But He does things in His timing! He is good!!!

Oh! And Andrea only has 21 more days till her due date!!! Hurry, Sabrina! Hurry! haha

Ok, that's my update for April. haha
Hope you enjoyed reading! Please comment! I love reading yall's comments!!!
=)Brittany

Wow! Long time no see... well more like update

Hey friends,

Sorry I have not been updating like I said I would! It's been a while. Life is so crazy!!!

Hello 2010!

Let's see... what has happened?

Well starting off... on January 8th, Michael Phelps died. When I went to flush him... and when I dropped him in, it sounded like a rock dropped in a pool. IT WAS SO FUNNY!!! haha And on January 20th, Peyton Manning was bought. I love his colors... he is a aqua blue with red.

In January, I went with my aunt Andrea to her first ultrasound... and it's a GIRL!!! I screamed in the doctors office. I was so happy! =) This is her 8th month... so one more month left!!! Hoping May comes fast! =)

Also in January I applied for a few Home Depots, Target (again), CVS and Publix in Orange Beach. I was not offered any. I must say... I was glad Home Depot never called... because a friend of mine and my brother kept making fun of me... saying that because I was so short, people would not see me and run me over with their carts. Haha James and Josh! ;)

But the beginning of February I started to nanny a friend of ours baby 3 days a week. I am loving it!!! And I am almost at the point where I can quote all of Green Eggs and Ham!!! haha

As some of you might know... my Colts went to the Super Bowl... but lost. =( I was not happy! Plus, it was not good being at my grandparents house (they are from Louisiana... and BIG LSU and Saint fans). Mom was rooting for the Saints as well, since she is from there. And by the end of the game... my own father was rooting for the Saints. All I have to say now... COLTS WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR! ;)

Liliana had her 3rd birthday in February... and my mom and dad had their 20th wedding anniversary! Kel and I also house-sat for my aunt and uncle in February. First time we have ever stayed somewhere over night by ourselves. I had so much fun with my lil sis! We also were able to use their car... and went to go see Dear John with some friends! That was a great week!

First day of March rolled around and my grandmother took me to get my hair cut. Well... I finally did the style I have wanted to do for sometime! Kate Gosselin's! In my opinion... I look a lot older, a little bit more my age!!! =) Some people still think I look younger. haha

March 15th, my cat Snuggs, turned the big 10! =( Izzie also ran away. Kel was not that upset... since she was at the point already of finding him a home. Since Snuggs is the only cat now, he thinks he is king! (And we have not had one cat since we first got Sassy in 1998.) So, now we are down to two dogs, 1 cat and 1 fish. And to think, a year and a half ago... we had over 20 chickens, 3 cats, 2 dogs and 1 fish! Crazyness!

Also in March, we started to meet with a neat group of people about a church plant... and they are hoping to be adopted by Sovereign Grace Ministries. It was so neat... the first night we went (March 7th), I knew this was where God wanted us to be! Isn't He good?! =) Weeks later, we made the decision to join their group. And how neat... for years, I have had it on my heart to be apart of a church plant... and here I am!

God has really been working in my life! It's been amazing! The past few months I have had a hard time with a few things... and He was right there! Not having my friends hear to talk too... I have had to turn to my mom. She has really been helpful!!! Within the past few months, God has brought it to my attention that I don't praise Him when life gets hard... I fall away. But there are 3 songs that I just put on repeat on my iPod... and listened to them over, and over, and over again!

- "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman

- "As Long As You Are Glorified" by Sovereign Grace Music

- "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns

They are all worth checking out!

He does give... but He also takes away. Like when He took basketball away from me... I wasn't able to play in college. Or when we moved here... He took Virginia from me. And a few other things... I wasn't putting all my trust in Him! But really at the start of the year, I have been learning... when He does give... and when He does take away (which He does!) we need to choose to say, "Lord blessed be Your name"! Because, isn't our heavenly Father wonderful?! He does these things for my good! That is such a comforting thought!!! ~Jeremiah 29:11~

April came... and on April 4th... Easter... we had our church service on the beach. And wow! That was so cool! A really neat experience! And 2am on the 4th, was one year since we pulled into the Keene's driveway from VA. =( Man, do I miss you guys up there!!! And I am not just saying that!!! I really do miss yall. That week we also had Matt Jones with us. That was really good for Josh! It had been one year and a day since Josh last saw Matt. But the whole time he was here... they were in J-bo's room. So it felt like he wasn't here! haha

Well, that is all I can think for an update... sorry it's long! Hope you enjoyed it!!!

Miss ya guys in VA! Hope to see ya guys this summer!!! <3

=)Brittany

Michael Phelps... MY FISH! Not the swimmer!!!

Hello everyone!
Hope all is well! So this is good, last post was a week ago!!! =)

Ok, well nothing is really going on in the Fernandez household... but one thing. I think Michael Phelps is dying. That is my fish... not the swimmer. HAHA. Well, it all started yesterday... really I noticed it yesterday. But he is not swimming at all or eating, instead just floating on the surface. And he is still alive, because his fins are still moving back and forth.
Today I cleaned out his bowl, because normally he does that, and I clean it out... and he just swims... without stopping... for hours (happy fish =) ). Today... another story, as you read above. Someone told me, he might be cold... but I'm not sure.

Short story... concerning the "HAHA" after I said "my fish... not the swimmer". So my Betta fish, (as you know... is named Michael Phelps) is acting really weird (as you know). Told my mom... and when I told my dad, I said... NOT THINKING, "Dad, Michael Phlelps might be dying... He is not eating, and he is just lying on the surface of the water." And he replied, "Why doesn't he just get out of the water!!!" He thought I was talking about the REAL Michael Phelps!!! HAHA. It was great! I still cannot stop laughing ever time I think about it!!!

But if I do have to end up getting another Betta... I am naming him Peyton Manning. =) I'm already planning ahead!

I will post when something changes!

Thanks for reading!

Love you all... and miss you very much!

=)Brittany

Sports News

This past weekend was filled with mixed feelings. Sad, on Saturday... and very happy on Sunday.

Florida Gators played Alabama for the SEC Championship. Going in with a 12-0 record, they lost... 13-32. What a sad game! Both Offense and defense did not come to play, and did not play as the Florida Gators. During the 3rd quarter, Tebow (QB - Sr.)... and if you don't know who he is, Tim Tebow was homeschooled and is a very strong Christian! <3...>

The hardest part of it all, was when Tebow started to cry at the end. For one, he tried his best to get is team to play... but they just did not do it, as well as being his last game with Florida, or even forever. =( sniff sniff... But what a leader!!! But I personally know what that feeling is like... being so wrapped up in basketball. It's very hard!

Now on Sunday was a different story!!! =) The Colts.... well...

WON ONCE AGAIN!!!!!

They played the Tennessee Titans, and the score was 27 - 17. Titans scoring with just a few seconds left on the clock... and like the Gators... it was to late. Giving my wonderful Colts a 12-0 record. =) So I am still wearing those earing every day!!!!

Talk is going around that my Indianapolis Colts (12-0) will be going to the Super Bowl in 2010 (man that is weird to say!) against the New Orleans Saints (12-0). What do you think? Would love to see what your vote is... so vote on the poll I have posted on the side of my blog... Colts? or Saints?

=)Brittany

DECEMBER!

Dude!!! Can you believe it's December already? My little bro will be 15 in 8 days! Crazy!

Sorry (once again), that I have not updated my blog.

So what has happened since the last post...

We finally got a van, after weeks of trying to get our money from the insurance company, we got a 2005 Town and Country, with Stow and Go seating ... and we love it! It's a very pretty navy blue. =) My favorite color!

Andrea's due date is May 23rd. Gwyneth's birthday. She is hoping to find out what it is this month... so I will keep you updated.

No job for me... I'm working on it though! People are just not hiring young adults like me at the moment.

On November 24th, my great grandpa passed away. So we went to Louisiana (were most of my mom's family lives) for the week of Thanksgiving. It was sad, but also good to see everyone who I have not seen in years. We got back home on Thursday night.

COLTS! Colts are doing GREAT!!!! 11-0 so far! I am a very happy fan! Plus, my dad might be taking our fam to the Colts / Jags game on December 17th. It's going to be our Christmas present... WHAT A PRESENT! I'll get to see Peyton Manning! haha... Far away... but I will see him in real life with my two eyes, and not on a TV screen.

The weather.... Oh, the weather. Very different than VA weather! Taking some time to get use too. But it's good. It's been round 70 degrees during the day, and around the 40's at night. Not wearing the coats I would have been wearing up there. But it's good!

Nothing else is really going on.... We are doing great! God is at work here in P'cola! But I will have to do another post about that soon! Isn't He good?!

So sorry, once again! I really need to be on top of this... with all the free time I have.

Hope all is well. And I hope your all having a great start to December!

Love you all,

=)Brittany