Friday, January 31, 2014

Rambling Along the River


Today, after work, I took a short drive to one of our local national parks and parked the little, red truck near the river. I slipped on my gloves and tied a scarf about my head and took off; Laughter slipped from my mouth as the fish swam hurriedly across the bottom in the opposite direction and I relaxed while I observed the beauty of the clear, cold river water.

It had been a good day full of paper work to be done, envelopes to stuff, phones to answer. I enjoyed my dear friend (and boss’) homemade cocoa and eventually ate a late lunch of her sloppy joes. I love days like this.

But it had also been a long day and my mind needed a quiet place—if only for a few moments.

So I skipped some rocks. Enjoyed the squish-squish sound treaded sand makes. Looked after some animal tracks. I prayed—soft prayers, loud prayers, beggar prayers, praise filled prayers.

And soon enough my heart began to sing. Because God is so much bigger than our earthly pains. I found rest in His sovereign oversight and grace. He would work all things out for good.


 
Where do you go to clear your head and/or realize the goodness and power of God?

Monday, January 27, 2014

Inviting You


Eeeee! It is with great jubilation that I announce that the invitations have been sealed and stamped … ready for their great adventure within the mailing system!

If you were hoping to receive one of these little creatures, drop me a note along with your mailing address at authentic_virtue@yahoo.com.

I am so thankful to have each of you in my life—you are quite wonderful, dearies! Wishing we could settle into the sofa for a chat and some chai tea!

Frannie

Thursday, January 23, 2014

An "Inviting" Glimpse

Planning our wedding has been one of the most joyful, exciting and encouraging times in my life. I love watching our ideas turn into plans and plans spring into actions creating beautiful reality. The guest list transforms into addresses on envelopes, wedding dress shopping turns into the dress fitting and discussing who will marry us blossoms into a fun, encouraging appointment with our pastor.

One of the most exhilarating and ~challenging~ adventures thus far has been the making of invitations. We had saved money by deciding on a local location, ordering dried flowers and finding a dress on sale. {Eeeeeee!} Because of our so-far thriftiness, I wanted to make the invitations ourselves.

To get started, I found a pattern I liked and began, with the help of my wonderful mom, to create something out of nothing. This proved to be (a lot) harder than expected but I am very excited with the results so far! J

Next, we decided to have an invitation assembling party! Woot! This was a lot of fun—I bought each of the girl’s favorite candy, assembled the supplies in some sort of order while mom set the counter for a baked potato bar (baked potatoes surrounded by toppings like chili, cheese, sour cream and anything else your carb-loving, starch-enjoying tummy could desire). Our friends worked so diligently and I had so much fun seeing my piles of paper begin to become mail worthy.
 

 


 
( Haha! Looks like the camera caught us in a fit of professional seriousness. :)

There is about ten more hours of work before these babies will be ready for debut (which I will of course let you in on!). Until then I’ll share a few handy-dandy tips I have found useful.
1)   Count the costs … literally. I forgot neglected to calculate the costs which turned out to be more than expected. I assumed that because I make cards I would have the supplies needed. Wrong.
 
2)   Have candy on hand
 
3)   Have protein on hand (this is more important than step 2 even though it isn’t quite as fun)
 
4)   Let go of the little details yet stick to the original beauty you envisioned.
 
5)   Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee … COFFEE
 
6)   Buy a lovely return address stamp unless you tend to be like me … a wee bit over zealous and have an attachment to the hand written appeal
 
7)   Learn to laugh, go to bed if need be, practice over-abundant gratitude to those helping and again … go to bed if needed J
 
8)   Pop in your favorite films (Les Miserables, Little Women and Julie and Julia anyone?) or listen to a sermon to help the time pass by
 
9)   Better yet, pray for each guest as they come to mind
 
10) My favorite: use the time preparing your mind. You are a bride; a bride endeavoring to be prepared for the day you walk down the aisle to meet your wonderful, sweet groom. Most likely, he will not mind if the glue stick makes the vellum bubble a little or that the RSVP stamp might be a wee bit crooked—he just can’t wait to call you his. Enjoy it, sweet girl!
 
P.S. I want to say thank you for your wonderful notes of love you have given to Dalton and I! We truly appreciate it!
For each of you who have shown an interest in exchanging mailing addresses or emails, yes, yes, yes! J Please grant me a few more days of work time and soon after I will be back in touch. Ah, your friendships are so precious to me!
 

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Dear Mr. Duncan

 

 hello, Dalton.

Yes, I know you are reading this post. You're probably in some sort of coffee shop or unknown Wi-Fi spot. Do you know how much it means to me that you read my blog? How much it means to me that you are working so diligently on our future life and home? How your gentle, warrior spirit reminds me every day of God's Husbandly/Fatherly love?

Right now I'm laying in bed, hair wild and unkept with a terrible fever. I'm wearing mismatched pajamas I haven't changed out of in, oh, let's see ... the past day and night. My breath smells like sickness {{ewwwy}} and my spirit is incredibly needy.

Despite my disgusting, frustrating feelings I am so incredibly missing you. And I am thankful. Thankful for your self-sacrificing love. How you graciously listen to my joys and complaints. Your patience. Your big heart and big dreams. Most of all, I am thankful that our Abba Daddy saw it fit to let me join you in the adventure called life.

Fifty days may feel like a lifetime, but it's fifty days closer to the day when our lifetime officially begins.

Love you so much,

Your Francesca
 

Of Danger and Joys and Trusting God

“She didn't need to understand the meaning of life; it was enough to find someone who did, and then fall asleep in his arms and sleep as a child sleeps, knowing that someone stronger than you is protecting you from all evil and all danger” 

― Paulo CoelhoBrida

Life isn't about being protected from all evils and danger. Just this past week I felt overwhelmed by such things: my first argument with my mom since I was 15, a flu which made me dream nightmares and lay in bed all day, financial woes, a beloved friend who shared with me her unwedded pregnancy, long-distance phone calls with D over a poor-signaled, static-y phone.

No, life isn't about being kept safe and protected. Lately, my relationship with God feels like the relationship between a circus acrobat and her high rope--shaky, undependable and unknown. It feels as if I'm walking through life with blinded eyes; where are You, God? Do You see the pain I'm going through? Why is it so hard?

To prevent further apathy on my part I pull out my Bible, dust off its covers and begin again. But I'm not reading or loving or living right because I'm living for my Savior. I'm doing good works --albeit vain works-- because I'm afraid. Afraid something is seriously wrong with my relationship with God. Like He's mad at me or something. I mean, if He and I were on the same page wouldn't life be peachy-keen?

No, not at all.

So what exactly should I do? Throw my hands up in the air, giving up on all that I hold dear? Sink deeper into my apathetic depression? No. Should I puff myself up with vain, religious words and prayers? Beat my selfish ways into submission? No.


 
I'm going to trust. Believe. Repent. Give thanks. Read. Learn. Love. Trust.
 
And then, as we all know, I won't be protected from evil and danger but I will be resting sweetly in the arms of the one who has defeated both.
 
With love,
Frannie
 
 
Love these prints? Me too! Find them at this ---> link.
 

Only ~Fifty~ More Days

Hello dear ones!

Ah, yes, where exactly did I leave off? Oh yea.

I'M ENGAGED!

There are so many emotions crashing about. Positive emotions like delight and joy ---> Finally, I will have someone to love and be loved by!  Negative emotions like fear and sadness ---> What if I do not make a good wife? Can I live without seeing my mom every day?

But God's grace is sufficient. Dalton and I are getting married March 7th. The plan is to have a lovely, God-centered evening wedding full of candlelight and good friends and family.  I. Am. So. Excited. :)

This means lots of (sudden) changes. I will not be attending college this semester but, Lord willing, plan to jump back into school this summer. Dalton recently moved to Jefferson City, two hours away, where he began his new job. He is renting/re-vamping a little house which we will both share in ... fifty days! After we are married I will be moving to the big city with all my earthly possessions in tote. ((Gasp! I should ask D if bringing my rock collection is allowed?)) :)

Here's the little kitchen D has been painting and cleaning. Doesn't the green and yellow look so pretty?
 
Here is the living room you walk into from the front door.

The beautiful pots and pans my granma and granpa gave to Dalton and I! So sweet!

Which brings me back to the subject of wedding planning. There is so much to do! Last night I had nightmares on not being able to find the perfect invitations at an affordable price. (Don't think I'm too weird--I've had a fever since yesterday which always makes me dream strange dreams.) 

One of the "Will You be My Bridesmaid?" bags I put together. They were full of goodies and treats corresponding with our colors, royal blue and champagne gold. These were super fun to make! 

In the meantime, Dalton and I are learning how to keep growing together despite the distance. It can be hard sometimes but we really want these last few weeks to be a blessing. My family and I also realize how short these last fifty days really are; my poor, dear mom is struggling most of all.

A picture I sent D the first week he was gone. I told him that the little red truck and I missed him lots. :)


So, dear readers, please keep me in your prayers. I would so appreciate it! Pray for:

- Dalton and I to find memorable, productive ways of staying connected and growing in love

- That the wedding planning will be full of joyous memories and come together in a way which speaks of God's great care

- That my family and I would see how special these last  few weeks are and that love and patience would abound

- That I would seek God first and foremost during this incredibly busy time--He is the first Bridegroom!

- For our health

Oh, I love you all so much and am so glad to have friends all over the world cheering Dalton and I on. You each are so special!!



 
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