It's Finally Here!

Raleigh, N.C. -- (I start all my journal entries with the name of the city we're in that day, so I thought I'd do the same thing on the blog!)

I can't believe the day has finally come.  I've been dreaming up this blog for almost 5 years.  Thanks to the gentle encouragement of my husband, mom, sister-in-law, and Jesus, I finally worked up the courage to take the first step.  A divine connection with the lovely Danielle sparked me to ask her if she could design this space, and hasn't she just knocked it out of the PARK?  (All the heart eye emojis!)

I struggled with what to call the blog for months.  My sis-in-law Joy is one of the most creative people I know.  She can cook, bake, sew, craft, paint, or create anything I send her from Pinterest without breaking a sweat.  On top of all that, she is an incredible photographer (all of our family photos for all time have been from her camera).  After some sweet talks with Joy about how we want to live our lives and serve the Lord, the name Honeycomb was born.  Proverbs 16:24 says, "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."  What a precious reminder to guard my tongue.  I'm a quarter Italian, so I feel things REALLY deeply.  (Did you ever see that gelato commercial with the subtitles where the two Italians are fighting loudly until one of them sees the gelato in the grocery bag, and then they start being lovey towards each other...and then it ends with them yelling and throwing things again?  For your viewing pleasure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZUMYU-Ghb0 -- I feel like that woman.)  I wear my heart on my sleeve.  It is somewhat of a joke in our family that you always know what I'm thinking/feeling.  For better or worse.

But I don't want to be a mom who yells.  Or a wife who nags.  Or a friend who is easily offended.  Or a boss who doesn't offer grace.  I want the word Honeycomb to be a constant reminder to me to guard my tongue and to let my words be loving, gentle, gracious, kind.  To exemplify the fruit of the spirit to everyone I meet.  It's hard, but it's important.

Ok, on to the fun stuff.

My name is Francesca.  I sing and write songs and tour for a living.

My studly hubby is Matt, 

and we have two kids, Eli (4.5),  

and Audrey (2.5). 

We live in Nashville, TN with our kitty who has no name. 

(She's a rescue we got before Christmas.  Her given name is Kit-Kat, but we have been known to call her Risotto, Charlie, Lola, Kitty, and "stop scratching the headboard, cat!" at all hours of the day or night.)

We love Jesus, and we feel called to make His name famous by writing and sharing music that honors and glorifies him.  My husband not only manages our ministry, but he is also a graphic designer (he designed my last two album covers), drummer, and producer, so basically he never sleeps.  :)  Our kids travel with us, and we've had some pretty amazing adventures in the past few years.  We feel very grateful to call each other family and to get to spend so much time together.

There is so much I am passionate about that I can't wait to share with you all in this space.  I hope we can become friends and develop a special community of like-minded people who can learn and grow together!  Here's to a new adventure!

- Francesca