A Week of Surprises!

Atlanta, GA.

I'm sitting in a recliner at my in-laws house, cookies are in the oven baking, the kids are playing happily, and vacation has begun.  It’s been a busy week and a half since the Bible Tour ended, but it’s been jam-packed with fun!  I had a beautiful afternoon tea party with my girlfriends, a late night tea and chocolate date that felt like a sleepover, helped out at a garage sale, went to an adorable gender reveal party, had a double date with sweet friends, got to go church for the first time in months, had a wings and basketball night with our wonderful nanny and her hubby who we never get one-on-one time with, went to our favorite taco place, had so much good family time, looked at a pretty shed for our backyard, and I ACTUALLY COOKED more than one night in a row.  It’s been wonderful! 

THEN, on Wednesday, I thought I was going to sing at a fundraiser with Amy Grant.  But when we walked into the country club with my guitar, after having just said goodbye to the kids and gotten a quick bite to eat, we opened the door to the room, and there were 50 of my closest friends and all our family yelling surprise!  

I can’t even tell you how special it was.  My birthday isn't until the 18th, so I wasn't expecting it at all.  Matt pulled off the sweetest, best surprise party of all time.  It was just perfection.  My sis-in-law made the cake (she is AMAZING and you all need to hire her ASAP), she and our sweet friend/assistant Rachel did all the flower arrangements, and the food, I’m told, was delicious.  I was so busy being loved on, I forgot to eat!  :) 

THEN, the next morning I was scheduled to lead worship and share some songs and stories with the girls at the Nashville Mercy Ministries house.  So my parents who were in town asked to tag along, nonchalantly.  We worshiped did some fun questions and answers and were about done, when suddenly the President of my label walked in and took the mic.  He then proceeded to present me with a #1 plaque for “He Knows My Name” for my second massive surprise of the week!  It was so special because that song is so connected to Mercy, and it has been so meaningful to me that they have been such partners in this song and seeing it reach so many.  If you haven’t seen the video, you need to watch it (below).  The stories these girls share are so touching.

THEN, we drove across town to a radio event where I got to sing some more songs for radio friends.  My label asked if we’d like to go eat lunch after, and when we walked into a mexican restaurant and saw SO many people from the label and songwriters from the album there to surprise me AGAIN!  It was like an overload of joy and emotion and happiness!  We were celebrating the fact that my album has been out a year and all the amazing things God has done since then.  So basically I am just riding on a cloud right now, feeling so loved.  

I am so overwhelmed and overjoyed.  I’m not 30 yet, but it’s a milestone year, and I am pumped about it.  I know Jesus is taking me deeper, and I believe this will be a year of profound freedom in Jesus' name!  

Until next time...

-Francesca