What day is it again?

Life has been running full speed for both Daniel and I ...and some days...I wake up and have to ask myself, "what day is it again?" I absolutely love what I do at Elevation Church. God has given me some amazing people to work with. Today, I overheard one of the people I work with said to another..."can you believe what we get to be a part of every day? how many people can say they did this kind of thing at work today?"

I agree.

I love the opportunities I have to grow and be challenged to grow...one of those opportunities included me getting to post at Access:Elevation. Go check out that post here.

...in addition to loving work...

Thank you to everyone who made yesterday (my birthday) such a fun an memorable day. Who knew 28 would be so exciting? My husband hooked me up with all kinds of good stuff...along with my family, friends and co-workers. Thank you so much!

....in addition to my birthday....

so many pictures are coming from the Lanning Family with the Beautiful Mess. Keep checking us out to get a sneak peek on those!

Suddenly I See!

Good morning! So....it's been 3 days since that last post, and well, thank you to everyone who left encouraging comments, e-mails and face-to-face interactions. I think what I've learned from this in addition to what I put on my last post...is that...everyone has moment's such as these. They are never forgotten, but they are not quite as painful.

I think I'll be able to laugh at this one, sooner than I thought.

Currently, Daniel and I were encouraged to begin watching Battlestar Gallactica. Now, we are not sci-fi fans, but, we are going to give it a try. We'll let you know how that all turns out.

Have an amazing Monday!

Piece of Humble Pie?

Tonight I was scheduled to sing at a Baby Dedication for my church in front of a couple hundred folks. The song: Legacy, by Nichole Nordeman. I practiced and learned it for two weeks. I made it there early tonight and rehearsed it with the band...oh....maybe 6 times. I was set. I was a bit concerned that I would mix up a couple of the words. But...I had practiced & prepared so I was sure the Lord was going to get me through it.

Just before walking out on stage...I rehearsed the words over and over in my mind. The keyboard player had been playing another song...and I was to start right away after that. The worst happens. The beginning of the song is my voice only, then music. I started in the wrong key and wrong octave.

Okay. "breathe. you'll get"...i kept telling myself.

Wrong.

Okay...after the first two verses, it wasn't coming to me. Finally. I got it...made it through. My eyes were closed the entire time. I walked off the stage and out the door.

Mortified? Yes. Humiliated? Absolutely. Cried on the phone with Daniel the whole way home. How in the world could I have possibly messed up the key? Then freak out and not get back on track? It was just one song.

What went through my mind afterward....'People are going to remember this moment...I'll never get another chance to make that up and prove that I can do it....I let everyone on staff and the families down.' Right or wrong..this was my train of thought.

So....I ask myself. Lord, what am I supposed to learn from this humiliating experience? I practiced, prepared and was ready for this. Well...Pastor said a couple of weeks ago when he was chatting with his son, and his son's response to one of his questions was, "Because I just did." I guess that would be my response. Because I just did. Wasn't intentional, couldn't change it now even if I wanted to.

Sometimes no matter how hard we prepare and practice for something.....it may just turn out to be one big mess. It can leave you feeling helpless, humiliated and frustrated. I think the Lord wants us, even in those times to humble ourselves before him and be reminded. He is Lord of all. No matter what we do and no matter how good our intentions are, we can mess things up. But he is God and author of all things.

I leave it to him to restore my soul on this one...and one day, I pray I can laugh about this mortifying and humbling experience.

Before's, After's and all the MUD that lies in between...

Pastor Steven ROCKED it on Sunday with his message, The Method To His Madness. (you can listen to it here or download it off iTunes). It was actually a real comfort to both Daniel and me....so to understand...you must listen to the message (bwahahaha...yes...this is me, again encouraging you to listen to it.)

....more to come...

The Bless Back Project.

I'm just beyond words at this point. We just started the series (i.e. capital campaign)DOMIINATE . Amazed. So much so that our church shared 40,000 dollars with the congregation to go and bless someone in the community. Confused? You can visit the site at Bless Back Project .

I would tell you more....but instead, how about you listen to it here (it may be Monday or Tuesday before it's up......wait for it... :)

The girls...in my family.

The girls...in my family.
Originally uploaded by Whitley

Well...last weekend we celebrated my grandmother's 66th birthday...and my Aunt Starlee (far right in picture) came up from Florida for a visit. Thank you Dana (my cousin...in the yellow polka dot shirt) for the picture.

I also just read Pastor Furtick's blog post from today (from my church Elevation)...and all I have to say...BRING IT PREACHER....to see what I'm talking about....click here.

One more thing....check out NewSpring Church's capital campaign stuff here...really creative...nice work NewSpring!!

Powerful.

Read this blog post. Powerful.

.....

Life is going good. Daniel and I are getting more involved at our church as the days pass on. It's amazing how church can provide such a wonderful breeding ground for community. We are so thankful. Daniel shared a really cool story about his baptism....you should read it. I'm really proud of him.

.....

I have the 3 cutest nephews in the whole world. Want to see them? I thought you would say that...below are the cutest boys under 7!

Blake....


Micah....


Brock....


Yeah. They are the cutest.

You really should....

...come hang out with Elevation on Sunday. Yeah. I said it. You should. If you live in or near Charlotte and you are looking for something ....on.... Sunday, come here....you get to hear (click here to find out)...and you will not be sorry. Want a preview...a trailer of sorts? Click here.

Holla. (yes. I realize I am 27...and I said 'holla' like I was 18 once...)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDITH!

Lanna Judith Whitley Wedges 2
Originally uploaded by Whitley

So today is Judith's birthday (in the center of our silly picture) I have a TON of pix of this lady...but this one cracked me up...so I used it (forgive me Ju). Anywho...girl enjoy your last year in the twenties *wink wink* (i'm not too far behind). You are missed and and I hope this day is the best day ever!!!
----
So ballroom dancing is fun! Daniel and I learned more of the foxtrot last night...and we added SWING! Once we get the basics of ALL the dances we will pick a couple to focus on for good. Our best dances are the one's we did last night (the rumba & salsa...give me a run for the money). SO fun!

We are staying busy being a married bunch! Loving our church (Elevation)...and getting involved. More to come :).

Team Percalicious Definition...

Anywho...this past weekend was jam packed. Daniel and I went on a date...ate Azteca (I HEART Mexican Cuisine) and then went to see Spiderman 3. Our review? We liked it...it had it's cheesy parts...with Peter Parker...but hey...that's true to the comic...Peter Parker was a dork. It had zero foul language and zero indecency....but is definitely too scary (Venom...one of 3 villians in this film) for a 7 year old. I think it's worth seeing in the theater...though...its long.Saturday...we played in a volleyball tournament with some friends of ours...my old roomie Kelstar set it up...and 10 teams played. It was fantastic (In the picture: Kelstar, Chris, Joely-0, and Dan the man) It was perfect weather...and we could not have asked for better....then right after the tourney, Daniel and I headed to a fundraiser to do the photography for the BLOC folks. Awesome. So it was full day and night. Phew...

Sunday at Elevation Church was amazing. Powerful. Heartpounding. Deep. Yes, it was unbelievable.....our pastor, Steven Furtik and his volunteer staff pulled off with flying colors a surprise baptism..."How so," you may ask...Let me tell you. Steven spoke on the importance of baptism...and how it's one of the mandates that the Lord requires...and then he opened it up for anyone who would like to get baptised. Amazing. 209 people in 3 services did it...and I am sure more would if time had allowed....Check out the service online here.

Beautiful.

photog in the flowers
Originally uploaded by Sara Heinrichs (awfulsara).

This weekend I was able to photograph my friend Denise. She is hands down one of the most naturally beautiful people that I've ever photographed (and if you were to do a photoshoot with her...you would say the same...) We were able to take her bridal portraits in a field of the most lovely yellow wildflowers...ahh......her photos don't even need editing. Just lovely. You want to see them? Too bad...you will have to wait until after I shoot her wedding May 19. There are just too many of her Charlotte friends that read this and would spread the word....besides, don't you want your breath taken?

...In other news...Daniel and I stay busy making home improvements/renovations. It's just so fun to make our house, our home. We cleaned up our backyard REALLY nicely...cutting down old tree limbs , cleaning up the area wild vines and stuff on the fence (our house backs up to a cemetary)...and reseeding some areas to grow grass. It looks so nice. Our grass in the front yard showed up on Saturday...we are SO thrilled.... We also painted our upstairs bathroom....PERFECTION. My husband and I are a fantastic team.

Okay...so I have to send a huge congrats to my brother Matthew. He bought a hud home...and him & my parents are rocking out on fixing that thing...we'll join them this coming weekend. I also get a family b-day party ...wings, potatoe salad, mac-n-cheese, ice cream (ALL homemade..thanks to mom, gmama, uncle mike...) Pix to come...

So...now that you've been thoroughly entertained from hearing about our weekend...you should go and hear my pastor, from Elevation Church, Steven Furtick's message from Sunday. If you don't want to be challenged...don't go. Click here.

Oh...one more thing...my photography blog/website...is in the works...thanks to Ken, from AVCLUB. ME=EXCITED.

Happy Birthday Reba!

The Godfrey's
Originally uploaded by Whitley.

Today is my sister-to-be's birthday! I hope to day is so great...and that you have a WONDERFUL weekend!

-I have another wedding shower this weekend and I'm so looking forward to it. My friend/bridesmaid Jenni is doing the honors.....so it should be a fun time in Augusta.

3 more weeks....23 more days...till we get married. Oh...check out the church that's "Bringing Sexy Back' Sweet..huh? .