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.
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?
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!
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!!
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?
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.
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.
They will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God's design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss; bearing fruit in every season of their lives. Psalm 1:3
