worship wednesday - noel

Christmas. 
is. 
8. 
weeks. 
and. 
2. 
days. 
away. 

I am so ready. Recap of our Christmas holidays since we've been married. 
2010 - Newlywed bliss. I lie. Newlywed- not sure if being newly married to me resulted in bliss for Chris. 
2011 - Pregnant. 
2012 - Brand new city. Boxes everywhere. Not how I envisioned Hutton's 1st Christmas. 
2013 - Miscarriage. Yep, I'm a downer. 
2014 - New job for Chris. Baby at home. Not how I envisioned Mills' 1st Christmas.

Goals for this year:
Be done shopping the week of
Try to enjoy every moment
Do fun crafts with the boys
Watch lots of Christmas movies 
Throw away the expectations and realize that some of the above things may not happen. What's most important:

Enjoy my family and help them to make room for Jesus in their lives this Christmas. 

Now - to the point. 

This song. Yall. Just enjoy the magnitude of how awesome it is. Come. Listen. Be prepared this Christmas to truly come and see and soak in what God has done. His son. Here. For. Us. O come let us adore Him. 

Thank you Lauren Daigle and Chris Tomlin for making this song my 2016 Christmas anthem. And for people like my friend Hannah who are just as obsessed and don't think I'm crazy when I've listened to the song 10,000 times. 

Love incarnate, love divine
Star and angels gave the sign
Bow to babe on bended knee
The Savior of humanity
Unto us a Child is born
He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel

Son of God and Son of man
There before the world began
Born to suffer, born to save
Born to raise us from the grave
Christ the everlasting Lord 
He shall reign forevermore

Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel

 

happy friday - adele is back

Most people know that my husband is the music know it all guru in our marriage. But, I'm a pretty big music lover myself. Yesterday, I found out the best music news in all of 2015. 

adele. 
is.
back. 

November 20th. That's less than a month away. I had to repaint no bite nail polish on my nails from biting my nails in excitement. Not only that - she made a video to remind us that she hasn't lost her touch. 25 was good to her. I just love the fact that the song is called "hello". Well here I am saying hello to you too Adele. Welcome back. Words cannot describe my excitement. 

p.s. Hutton was a pretty big Adele lover himself and at the mere age of 6 months "rolling in the deep" was his favorite song. Mills is excited to follow his brother's footsteps and become Adele's next biggest fan. 

p.p.s. Adele please go on tour and inform my husband that if he does not take us to the closest concert that he will sorely regret it. 

flourish

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree. Psalm 92:12 

We came to Clearbranch a little over one year ago. Shortly after, God really placed this dream on my heart and thanks to the support of our amazing pastor and many incredible women - flourish came to be. 

We kicked Flourish off in April and just held the sixth event this last Tuesday. The idea is a monthly gathering of women. No series. No major agenda. Just God's stories told through His women each month. God has blessed this dream so much and connected me with other women with the same dreams. Dreams of a safe place. A place to worship. A place to fellowship. A place to receive a word from the Lord. A place that points to Jesus. A place to flourish. 

What a gift it has been to see this ministry flourish over the last six months. We meet again November 17th - join us will you? We will be hearing from Cristin Dedmon who is the director of programming for the United Methodist Children's Home. 6:30 - be there. 

what's in a name

Consumed 

Years ago I had (and there are parts of me that still do) a dream of opening my own store. I dreamed that this store would be filled with gifts, clothes, jewelry, journals & more made by people in other countries to help them support themselves and thrive. I dreamed of a store that held weekend nights of worship. I dreamed of cozy sitting areas where people could talk and pray. I dreamed of a revolving library where people brought books, took a book, read a book. I was going to name that store Consumed. 

Why Consumed? I had seen this quote... 

I've always been one who struggled with being consumed with things. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want new clothes, nice cars, a pretty home. But I'm continually walking this line where my desire is to be consumed with the creator but my flesh gets in the way. 

My heart desired a place where those created things led and pointed to Jesus. 

So I've renamed my little corner of the Internet Consumed. When you hear consumed most people think of eating or drinking. Or using all of something. One definition of consume is to absorb or engross. We can be consumed with so many wrong things. Ourselves. Our money. Jealousy. Pride. What if we were that consumed with God our creator? What if we found ourselves engrossed in Gods word? I pray that we find ourselves seeking God and being consumed by His love and less consumed by our earthly desires. May this be a place that encourages us all to sit and become more engrossed with our Father, Creator.

Lord help us to love you first. Let us be consumed by your love. 

worship wednesday - shepherd

What do you think of the new look and the new name? Lot's more to come with this and I'm excited to be taking different pieces of our lives and laying them out for you here. Tomorrow I'm planning on explaining the name change. There are about three people in this world who know where it comes from. (Ahem... Rachel) Thank you for indulging me reading my blog - that's why we're friends. My favorite part of this little or minute corner of the internet to me has always been sharing worship songs with you on Wednesdays. So I thought the best way to debut the new look was with worship. 

Right now I'm living through Amanda Cook's new Brave New World album. It's tempting to list every song on here but I'm going to stick with this beautiful song Shepherd. I just can't get over that line - so walking on water is just the beginning. It's no secret that Chris and I lead very busy lives. We always talk about how to make our lives less busy and we just stare at each other realizing that there isn't anything that we can or want to let go. But, God is with us through all of that busyness and he arranges our steps. With him, ALL is possible and walking on water is just the beginning. 

Or how about - "you're making melodies over me." Yall, I can't even. God- singing melodies over me. Tears. Worship. Rest. See y'all tomorrow! 

In the process, in the waiting 
You’re making melodies over me 
And Your presence is the promise
For I am a pilgrim on a journey

You will lift my head above the mighty waves 
You are able to keep me from stumbling
And in my weakness
You are the strength that comes from within
Good Shepherd of my soul 
Take my hand and lead me on

You make my footsteps and my path secure
So walking on water is just the beginning
Cause my faith to arise, stand at attention
For You are calling me to greater things

Oh how I love You, how I love You
You have not forsaken me 
Oh how I love You, how I love You 
With You is where I want to be

Fears

This morning I began my commute into work my mind consumed with all going on around me. It seemed like there have been so many storms lately for people. I've taken Facebook off my phone and slowed down on watching the news and other TV from being overwhelmed with all the bad. All the bad that was going into my head was causing me to have awful nightmares and wake up emotional. This morning though, my mind was consumed with the pain that a precious family I know is going through. Saturday I have a friend that was told her Daddy has cancer. Such a nasty word. I've tried to find words that I know haven't been enough but those words and prayers are all I have.

But, then this morning I was listening to music on my phone and the song "No Longer Slaves" from Bethel came on. Tears filled up my eyes as I realized that so much of our pain comes from fear. Fear of a diagnosis. Fear of the future. Fear of the unknown. We hold onto fear that keeps us captive. When Moses was leading the Israelites and they saw Pharaoh's soldiers coming after them with a sea in front of them they were full of fear. BUT GOD. Don't you love the BUT GOD points of our lives? They were full of fear but then as Bethel puts so eloquently - "You split the sea so I could walk right through it. My fears were drowned in perfect love."

For my sweet friend and her family - cancer is an ugly word - BUT GOD.

For my crazy self and my fears and nightmares and struggles - BUT GOD.

For sweet friends trying to have a baby but repeatedly take negative tests - BUT GOD.

BUT GOD split the sea. BUT GOD brought him back to life. BUT GOD rose from the dead.

Worship Wednesday

It's Wednesday which means it's the day I post songs - that is when I'm blogging. You never know what you might get from me! Anyway, last night were the Dove Awards which I've always wanted to go to. The Dove awards recognize Christian music and last night the Best New Artist was a huge favorite of mine - Ellie Holcomb! Congratulations to Ellie!

Ellie Holcomb is a solo artist but has in the past written music and toured with her husband, Drew Holcomb, and his band, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. Without obviously knowing it, their music has intertwined some huge events in Chris and my lives.

- Funny story about her husband Drew is that YEARS ago, Chris played the same Open Mic night as him at a place called Eddie's Attic in Atlanta. Drew won the open mic night that evening and continued to pursue music after that.

- Then Chris and I went to see them do a show literally right after we got engaged. It was a special time and they played their song "Fire and Dynamite" which has always been one of our "songs" you could say. Give it a listen- love it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RnGqjSWNEk

- Also, last year Ellie was the guest artist for Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb tour. First- know that Behold the Lamb is an incredible experience at Christmas and you need to make plans to go. They will be in Valleydale this year on December 14th. Chris knows that my dream is to go see it at the Ryman in Nashville and I hope to one day! But, we went to Montgomery for Behold the Lamb last year to announce to our parents that we were pregnant, only to have our miscarriage the next morning. One of the songs that played in my head over the next weeks was her song, "The Valley." Give it a listen- it's worth it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqhVjJ_YFRE

All in all- you should be listening to both Drew and Ellie's music as they're both incredible lyricists, musicians, storytellers, etc. On a side note- she has the best Nashville style! She did a Kick starter campaign to help fund her solo album last year and it is incredible. I thought today I would share with you one of the songs from her album, "As Sure as the Sun." This song is My Portion and My Strength... enjoy!

My Portion and My Strength

Your voice calmed the wind and the sea

Can you calm these storms inside of me?

Help me to stand

on the promise that You are holding my right hand

Help me to know

that even when I lose my grip You won't let go

Help me believe

that You will be my portion and my strength

Your voice gave the blind the gift of sight

Can you take my darkness and turn it into light?

Help me to stand

on the promise that You are holding my right hand

Help me to know

that even when I lose my grip You won't let go

Help me believe

that You will be my portion and my strength

Your voice called the man out of the grave

Can You breathe new life into this mess I've made?

Help me believe

that You will be my portion and my strength

Help me believe

that You will be my portion and my strength

You'll be my portion and my strength

Changes a coming

Now that it is announced and official I thought I would share that we have some big changes coming our way. Besides the obvious new member of our family joining us in 2 1/2 weeks is that Chris has accepted the Director of Worship Ministries Job at Clearbranch UMC in Trussville. 

We are sad to leave Vestavia and loved our time there. We are especially thankful to everyone there who has made us feel so welcome and loved. Next Sunday is our last Sunday at Vestavia and it will be a bittersweet time but look forward to worshipping one last time with everyone there. 

We are headed to Clearbranch excited about what God is up to there and joining in and continuing our ministry there. Everyone we have met so far has been so sweet and welcoming and we couldn't be more thankful!! 

On that note, I ask for your prayers as our next few weeks are super busy with the transition and Baby Mills upcoming arrival! 

Lastly, I must put in a shout out to my sweet husband. I couldn't be prouder of the man God made him to be and thankful for how I get to witness The Lord work in and through him! 

Sprinkled with Love

Everyone loves to celebrate babies! That is just what we got to do last weekend. We headed back to good ole Gump Town for the weekend to get together with some old friends who sprinkled Baby Mills with some love! Being that this is our second baby and we're having another boy, we didn't feel comfortable with a big shower but some of our friends spoiled us with some love in a low key sprinkle fashion!

We can't thank them enough for the sweet gifts they "sprinkled" us with but the best part was the time spent with them. Since moving we obviously don't see these friends as often as we would like. Hutton enjoyed his time with all these ladies and Baby Owen! As you can see, he's not into pictures as much as the ladies! 

We are so excited to meet Baby Mills and see how God blesses our family of FOUR! Five weeks from today!! 

10 Things on Thursdays - Fall is Coming!

Who is looking forward to Fall? I can't even begin to express how excited I am for Fall this year!

 

The official first day of Fall is September 23rd so we have less than ten days to go! With that I decided my 10 things today would be 10 reasons I am looking forward to this Fall of 2014!

1- I think the most obvious reason is the new addition to our family we will meet this Fall! October 17th to be exact. James "Mills" Whatley will be joining our crew and we cannot wait to meet him. I can't figure out if Hutton is the most excited to meet him or the racecars he thinks his new little brother is bringing him!

2- Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Need I say more? I'm obsessed with these things. I have purposefully ignored every article that has popped up telling me how bad they are for me. I cannot help it - they are my favorite piece of Fall.

3- Leaves changing colors and falling. In the same way that we look forward to the blooms of Spring, I love the leaves of Fall. (Chris may not agree as he is not a huge fan of blowing leaves but it sure is pretty!

4- Auburn football. We're currently really good. Yes- we have a crazy hard schedule ahead of us but I'm hoping we continue to show that we're a powerhouse in footb

5- Fall Events - Pumpkin patches, Fall festivals, Bonfires. Granted, I don't actually have any of these scheduled but I'm convinced they will happen!

6- Family. Since we moved from Montgomery we don't get tons of visits from family but I have a feeling with a new baby coming soon we might get a few more than normal and I can't wait!

7- The smells. The smells of Fall seem to be the best. Making some apple butter to make our home smell delicious!

8- Leggings and Boots. For this pregnant and soon to be trying to get off pregnancy weight girl I don't think my body wants anything more than some leggings and boots to sport everyday.

9- Maternity Leave- Weeks at home cuddling my new baby boy- who could resist this perk of Fall!

10- Holidays! The fall is the busiest Holiday time of the year. Anniversaries, birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, preparing for Christmas! What joy and time with family these all bring. I've always wanted to host a "Friendsgiving" - anyone interested?

Worship Wednesday - This I Believe

Chris and I have always been huge fans of the worship music coming from Hillsong in Australia. Each summer they release new music and we look forward to that release each year. This year the morning it came out I immediately purchased it and played Chris the song "This I Believe (The Creed)."

The song is so powerful and puts the Apostles Creed into a contemporary song. You can hear from Ben Fielding of Hillsong here about how this song came to be. I love how he notes that in contemporary churches these songs are becoming the confessions of the modern church and this song is able to take a historical unifying piece of liturgy and allow it to be used today.

 

But enjoy this song today!

 

 

Our Father Everlasting

The all creating one

God Almighty

 

Through your Holy Spirit

conceiving Christ the Son

Jesus our Savior

 

I believe in God our Father

I believe in Christ the Son

I believe in the Holy Spirit

Our God is three in one

 

I believe in the resurrection

that we will rise again

For I believe in the name of Jesus

 

Our Judge and our defender

suffered and crucified

forgiveness is in You

 

Descended into darkness

You rose in glorious light

You're ever seated high

 

I believe in God our Father

I believe in Christ the Son

I believe in the Holy Spirit

Our God is three in one

 

I believe in the resurrection

that we will rise again

For I believe in the name of Jesus

 

Cause I believe in You

I believe You rose again

I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord

 

And I believe in You

I believe You rose again

I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord

 

I believe in God our Father

I believe in Christ the Son

I believe in the Holy Spirit

Our God is three in one

 

I believe in the resurrection

that we will rise again

For I believe in the name of Jesus

 

I believe in life eternal

I believe in the virgin birth

I believe in the Saint's Communion

and in your Holy Church

 

I believe in the resurrection

when Jesus comes again

For I believe in the name of Jesus

 

 

 

 

Mom of Boys

This pregnancy I have gotten the question A LOT of whether it's a boy or girl. When I say boy, people often apologize as if we wanted a girl and are disappointed.

Most of my closest friends knew that in my heart I did truly want another boy! So today we are doing a Throwback Thursday to a post I wrote 2 years ago when Hutton was only 6 months old. 

http://chrisandjessicawhatley.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-little-secret-about-boys.html?m=1

When the words don't come

Over the last year, my eyes have been opened to a heartbreaking concept more than normal. If you read my blog, which I seldom post on, you know that we experienced a miscarriage last December. It was devastating. Can I look back and see God's perfect timing now - Yes. Can I see God's perfect plan - Yes. Am I beyond thrilled that we have Baby Mills awaiting meeting us in 6 weeks - More than words can say.

But...

Yesterday, I got a phone call from a precious friend that just recently had a miscarriage. I had sent her a text checking on the babe I knew was in her belly and she called to let me know that their sweet babe was in Heaven. We had a smile and laugh over our babies laughing and worshiping in Heaven together. Then - I didn't know what else to say. I just had a miscarriage less than a year ago, but words just wouldn't come.

First, I felt guilty that I was pregnant again after my miscarriage. Did my friend want me to feel guilty - no! She is thrilled for the life growing and forming inside of me. It breaks my heart that so often we don't have the words to say when someone experiences a miscarriage - because it shouldn't be that way. We've been there - so many of us. I've said more times than I can count... "I have more friends who have had a miscarriage than have not had one." That is an alarming statistic. It is common. Devastating. But very common.

We're so silent about it, which I feel is why the words don't come to so many of us. Even those of us who have walked that road often don't know what to say. Silence - we're so silent about many things in our life. If you're my friend- you know I'm not a very silent person. When I'm hurting, people know. When I'm stressed, people know. Is this a good quality? I have no idea, probably not - but I rely on those people. Why? Because when I'm broken or in pain or hurting- they lift me up. Even when they don't have the words- their presence is what I need. Their presence reminds me that God loves me and desires us to live in communion with one another. Jesus had 12 disciples He did life with for a reason. For a reason He wants us to follow. We're not called to be in this life alone. So for those people in your life - be present. Even when the words don't come. And when you're hurting - maybe let them in a little more. No- they probably don't have the words to say, but their presence might be all you really need.

Worship Wednesdays

 I used to blog more. I also used to post worship songs on Wednesdays. Whether anyone read them or not they were one of my favorite posts. It inspired me to seek out and listen to new worship music and it always seemed as if God pointed out one to me that helped me through a difficult time or just encouraged me that day. Today's worship Wednesday features a song by Shane and Shane. I LOVE Shane & Shane. They have produced some incredible music and I've never heard harmonies quite like what they have.

They released a new album in 2013 called Bring Your Nothing- go out and buy it now. You won't regret it. They wrote this song "In A Little While" based off of Hebrews 10:37 where the verse says "For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay." I couldn't find a video for this song but I have the lyrics for you to enjoy below. 

In a little while, the coming one will come

In a little while, the evil one undone

In a little while, on earth Your will be done

As it is in Heaven

As it is in Heaven

I see a city

A new Jerusalem

Coming down from Heaven

Every tear that's fallen

Will be picked up again

And we will live as one

In a little while,

The old man left within

Will be put to death

And my whole heart will be his

In a little while, the battle will be won

And I will be in Heaven

I will be in Heaven

I see a city

A new Jerusalem

Coming down from Heaven

Every tear that's fallen

Will be picked up again

And we will live as one

Heaven is here

All the shadows are clear

All the clouds disappear

And finally my unveiled eyes

Seeing glory untattered

Chains are shattered

Under the fire in His eyes

Under the fire in His eyes

Under the fire

Under the fire

I see a city

A new Jerusalem

Coming down, coming down

Every tear that's fallen

Will be picked up again

And we will live as one

A new Jerusalem

Coming down from Heaven

Every tear that's fallen

Will be picked up again

And we will live as one

Bring on 2014

I would be lying if I said I wasn't glad 2013 is behind us! It was a hard year filled with adjusting, some health scares, a broken leg for Hutton, and a huge disappointment to round out the year. 

So, 2014, come on! I'm not really setting any resolutions- sure I would love to lose some weight, eat/cook healthier, and be a better wife/mom/Christian/employee/friend/you get the idea. Instead these are just some of our prayers for 2014. 

- Get more settled in Birmingham. Build more relationships. Explore more areas of the city. Possibly buy a home. (Would be the first home I've ever picked out!!) 

- Begin expanding our family. This is not in my timing but after our heartbreaking miscarriage in December we are praying that this year ends with a pregnancy or child in our arms.

- Be better stewards. Of money, time, everything. It's no secret that we both work at "non-profits." I've always been a spender so I'm learning about making our finances go farther. I've sworn I would learn to coupon (not extreme) so I hope this year I stick to it! We both want to be better stewards of our time. Chris is the first to admit that time management isn't his strength so hopefully I can help him with that this year! 

- Love harder. This is one of my main ones. That includes loving God, Chris, Hutton, our families, and everyone we come around. As Christians we should be known by our love- I pray this year I live into that. 

In 2012, I felt God leading us to a year of change. That was the year we had Hutton and picked up our lives and moved! For 2014, I feel like the word settlement is on my heart. Who knows - so come on 2014, we're ready! 

What Miscarriage Taught Me About Advent

I've always loved the season of advent. I've loved the "idea" of celebrating the wait for our Savior. I never had to wait though. Yes, I have to wait for his returning as we all do. But, Jesus is with me now. 

I've never been patient. I'm horrible at waiting. Chris and I laugh about this often as it seems Hutton has taken after me in that regard. 

This year I've seen Advent differently. Honestly, I've never been farther from God during Advent than I have this year. I've been mad. Advent began with the gift of pregnancy. Then one short week later it was all gone. I didn't want to celebrate. I didn't want to worship. I was consumed with my sadness. 

The prenatal vitamins were hidden in the back of the pantry. Huttons Big Brother t-shirt stuffed in a drawer. The dreams of a new baby were shattered. 

One week later and I've gone through many emotions. It hasn't been pretty. I've heard my sweet husband talk about hope lately and just today it clicked. 

For those that waited years for the Messiah- that was all they had. The HOPE that God would keep His promise. So this isn't the Advent I wanted, but I'm choosing to hold onto hope. 

So this Advent, I joined a group of many many of my friends. A group I never wanted to join. Having a miscarriage has been one of the hardest moments of my life. But- while holding into hope- I have to stay thankful. Thankful that it was earlier rather than later. Thankful for the wonderful, silly, happy almost two year old boy God has given me the privilege of raising. Thankful for a supportive husband that sat on the couch with me and let me cry. Thankful that I don't have to wait for my Savior. Thankful that even when I'm far away, He is always close. 

So this advent and Christmas is different. Maybe this year, through my own sadness and tear filled eyes- I see the meaning of Christmas that much clearer. 

Rest

Well hello blog world - it's been quite some time since I ventured in this direction.

Catching the blog world up would be a waste of time (especially since my main readers are my husband and best friend.) So, I thought instead I would catch the blog world up on the rest my sweet family experienced in August.

August was by far one of the craziest months we have ever experienced as a couple. Work was crazy. We both had two large weekend work events in. THE.SAME.WEEKEND. Scary! Did I mention that we no longer live in town with family? Yup- even scarier.

Well once the crazy weekend had passed our family headed down some small town roads to Blue Mountain Beach. Monday thru Saturday. People- can I tell you that I have never needed a time so much in my life.

This was our schedule:

Sleep.Beach.Eat.IceCream.Repeat.

Thank you God for that rest.

Yes the rest was vital. I needed it as I was exhausted from what we had been doing the past few months. I still hadn't recovered from the craziness of moving cities away from all that I knew and was attached to. This time with my little family made for 5 of the best days I have experienced in my 27 years. That may sound extreme but I'm beyond serious. It was the best! Enjoy these pics of our lovely week...