Baldasztis.

This weekend, Travis and I served at a marriage conference. Every single meal was served restaurant style, and a new table setting for every meal. As stress free and fun it was, we were both excited for our slow Sunday date together. Our good friends, Arpi & Andi are total foodies, and they both share the new and exciting restaurants in Budapest. So on Saturday afternoon, Travis and I did some research for a new restaurant to try, and we found a new and hip restaurant on the Buda side of our city. Baldasztis.

Basically, it was amazing.

The restaurant takes traditional Hungarian foods and desserts and modernizes them. So you don't lose the feel and flavor, but you enjoy Hungarian foods with a new flair. Travis enjoyed a arugula salad with paprika chicken, I enjoyed prawns with ewe-cheese risotto. And we both sipped their homemade lemonade ( there are a lot of places in Budapest that make their own lemonades, and they are delicious) We ended our lunch by sharing the two desserts on the menu, one the Somló, a Hungarian trifle and Esterhazy cake and of course a cappuccino! All was delicious.

Both of us cannot wait until we can enjoy breakfast together at this shabby chic restaurant that overlooks the Danube river and the chain bridge. Spending the entire day with Travis, my husband to be was incredible special and blessed. The whole day I was on cloud nine as I reminded myself how much God spoils me. I loved soaking up the beautiful sunshine and the hearty laughter of Travis.

I know this all coming from a girl who is madly in love and who happens to be engaged to the most wonderful,creative, and humorous man on earth,

But...

a life that is under the will and leading of God is sure to be divine and decadent. Every moment spent on this earth should be treasured and cherished. So, I charged you dear readers to enjoy every single moment and know that you are loved and spoiled by God.

-Autumn


Here are some pictures from the day

Look! We took a picture together!

Somló and his super handsome self :)

The place mat...

Oh man ! He is SO handsome! And I get to marry him! Eat your heart out ladies, he's mine ;)

His food.

The obstructed view

Eszterhazy Cake & Cappuccino

Good-bye Mr.Jeremiah

May 2006,

I was fourteen years old, I had just moved to Kurdistan with my family when I met Mr.Jeremiah. When I first  saw him and for the next few weeks, I was honestly rather intimidated by the tall,blond  American with a very strong jaw and deep voice. But as time went on, I began to respect him and he became my older brother. Mr.Jeremiah came over often as a hungry bachelor who had no luck in the kitchen.

 I remember the dinners when he would come over, the evenings were fun. He would make fun of my favorite t.v show, The Waltons, and I would ask him for help with my history homework. He took interest in my education and always encouraged me to try harder. As I began to think about career paths, he encouraged me to think about what I loved doing most, but above all, he encouraged me to follow the Lord. 

Yesterday, my parents broke the news to me that Mr. Jeremiah had been shot and killed by one of his students.  I was in complete shock, and it did not seem like real life. As a family, we prayed together and I began to pray through my tears. I prayed for Jeremiah's family above all, I prayed for the people who witnessed the horrible moment, and I prayed for my father who ran over to the class room as soon as he heard the shots. 

My heart is still grieving and it aches for everyone experiencing loss. But I do know that God has a plan for this, Jeremiah served God with his life wholeheartedly and so I know, that even in his death, Jeremiah's testimony will be used greatly. For now,I must hold on to the fact that Jeremiah is worshipping Jesus in Heaven and rejoicing at His throne.

Please pray for Jeremiah's family,my family, our team in Kurdistan, and the kids who witnessed this event, and all that are grieving.

-Autumn

"He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, [which] may preserve him!"
Psalm 61:8

Jeremiah,Pauli, some kurdish students at a party during my freshman year.

Exodus 26:11

 "And you shall make fifty bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one." - Exodus 26:11




Only three and half months until Travis & I tie the knot. Three and half months until I become Mrs.Autumn Klare Wallace. Three and half months until two hearts become one, two bodies of flesh become one. Three and a half months until I am one with my beloved . 


SO EXCITING!


I am currently reading through the Old Testament, and in this chapter, God is telling Moses exactly how He wants the curtains of the tabernacle to put up and together. This verse caught my eye and I began to contemplate the idea. As much as I am looking forward to my wedding day, and even more so the rest of my marriage, I look forward to becoming more one with God for the rest of my life. Right now I have three and half months to become one with God in my single life to lay down a strong foundation for my married life. I find this an incredible blessing! And my goal for these next months more time in the Word, seeking His face, the face of my first Love. 


Whether you are married,engaged or single, God has called you to Him. He is calling you to become One with Him, He is calling your heart become bound with His. And I challenge you, oh faceless reader that you will answer this calling with Yes.

{Deadly Ever After }

About a month ago, Travis and his mom Terry were acting sightly secretively, but I've learned not to ask questions ( did I mention Travis is planning out our honeymoon to a secret location, have I mentioned I have an amazing,romantic fiancee?) Anyways,Travis told asked me if having a murder mystery engagement party would be alright with me.

Would it be alright!!!!?? Would it be alright!?!?!!

OF COURSE it would be alright!

The theme they chose was a Deadly Fairy Tale, which was perfect for us because we have been watching " Once Upon a Time". If you didn't know my Travis used to run the costume department for his high school's  theater department! So he has all of these fun costume that he's made that totally go with our theme!  So went out and bought all of these wigs and props and dressed up our friends and families in fun costumes!! Travis was the Mad Hatter and of course he looked handsome! He wore grey pants,a green button up, a green vest with the fluer-de-lis back ,black tails, mad hatter wig and hat! I wore a maroon and gold dress with a three feet long wig and crown. Needless to say by the end of the night, my head hurt and I was ready to sleep!

The night was spent eating food, spreading gossip around the assumed murderer. We created a cupcake tower that looked exceptional! It was cool to have one last opportunity to see friends before Travis and I leave for

I had a wonderful engagement party and I am sure no party will ever be able to match up! But what can i say? The Wallaces do throw an amazing party!

Thank you!


-Autumn Klare Keenan


- Some pictures from the evening... so fun!

Mad Hatter & Rapunzel... opposites attract!

Travis's sister, Tiffany as Alice

Leslie, a friend from work, the Wicked Witch

Travis's brother in law, Ryan as the Count

Travis's Other brother in law, Andrew as Robin Hood

Coral 

Sherlock... always getting in the way!

Snow White & Alice... so cute!

The Body...

Alice & the Mad Hatter! Precious!! 

Travis's Grandma as Juliet... she likes red velvet cupcakes!

{ My Merry Christmas }

This past month has brought so many joyful surprises and inexplicable blessings. In case you didn't know, my lovely Travis Scott Wallace asked me to marry him on December 14th ( and I said yes!!). And I have been able to meet my future family and have been able to spend time with them. All I can say is that I am a very,very blessed woman!


The Wallaces read the Christmas Story and take communion before opening presents, ( they open presents on Christmas Eve), and having this time together as I am slowly initiated into this family was rather special. I couldn't help the wells of emotion come up to my eyes, there was a warmth here that I have  never truly felt anywhere  else but within my own family.


This year, God has shown me that He has a perfect and wonderful plan. He has special blueprints that He has written up for my life. And this past year has only been a taste, and every day I get more excited to see what else He has in store as I step into this stage of life.


So, dear readers, as we enter this new year, I encourage you to remind yourself about all of the things that God has done for this in this past year and all that He has shown you. And be reminded about why God sent His Son as a baby to be born in a dirty stable to lowly parents to live a belittled life.


 "For unto us a Child is born,
      Unto us a Son is given;
      And the government will be upon His shoulder.
      And His name will be called
      Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
       ⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace
      There will beno end,
      Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
      To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
      From that time forward, even forever.
      The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."


- Isaiah 9:6-7




-Autumn 




PS- Proposal story coming soon!!!

{ The Day I Said Yes }

Where does this story begin? There are many places where I could start, but I think I will start this story the day that I met Travis. It was June 17th of this summer, that morning was a normal morning besides the fact that I had woken up late and had to hurry out  the door. I had volunteered myself to work breakfast because I got up early anyways, and the dining room girls could use a break. I set out breakfast and waited behind the counter for my fellow SOSers to come and get their cornflakes and acidic fruit yogurt.
The windowless downstairs dining room began to fill up and then he walked in, and I figured that this was the guy that everyone had been talking about for the past four months. And little did I know what events were about to unfold.

Now, I don't really like begin alone and even in a room full of people I feel lonely if I don't have a companion close by, but as Travis and a friend Abbe got their cereal, I jokingly complained about being alone. And to my surprise, Travis (literally) ran behind the stainless counter and sat next to me. Within moments, we were laughing about his trip from Croatia to Hungary. From that moment I could see that we would be good friends, and Travis on the other hands had different ideas. He says now that it was the closest thing to love at first sight. From that day forward is history, as our relationship developed rapidly from friendship to a loving relationship, I could plainly see what God was doing, and His hand was artistically writing out our love story.

Now fast forward to December 13th.

Travis's mom, Terry had told me that she had bought these Arizona Broadway Theater tickets for a dinner show, and that she had told Travis's that she couldn't buy them, and I was to surprise Travis with them.  I had kept this secret for nearly two weeks, and I was ready to let it go So I gave Travis the tickets, and he acted surprised and told me how excited he was.  I felt so proud of myself that I had kept a secret from Travis , and he told me how impressed he was. So I was feeling pretty good about myself.

So, so the next day ( December 14th) I got all dressed up in my new favorite dress, I put on high heels and pinned my hair, excited for this show. It was the musical of Miracle on 34th Street, which is a favorite of mine! We ordered dinner and spent two hours enjoying food and joking about the random, every conversation ended with my sides hurting from laughing. Pretty normal for us
At intermission Travis told me that his parents wanted to meet us for dinner after the show. After the show we started driving towards Flagstaff which is about an hour or more away. I was a little confused and I wondered why we were going to so far, but it didn't bother me because the drive was beautiful and Travis is easily the most fun person to hang out with. The drive took us on top of those awesome table top mountains and we passed a rest stop sign that said " Sunset Point". The conversation that followed.
Travis- Sunset point...hmm... I've never been there before, I heard it's really amazing
Autumn- Oh really?
Travis- Really, and how about we stop? It' sunset and we have time before we have to meet my parents..
Autumn- Okay!


So we pull into the parking lot, and Travis jumped out of the car and got ahead by a few years before I had time to put on my coat and I couldn't exactly figure out why he was rushing but I hurried along and caught up. I was walking in the direction of the sunset, and he said " Let's go down this way" I followed but I was pretty sure that the sunset was that way, but it didn't bother me! We walked down a little path and we stepped on top of this sun dial type looking thing, and I turned my eyes to the sunset before me. In the corner of my eye, I noticed Travis fidgeting with something to the side and then he turned around and as he got down on one knee he said that this whole thing was not a coincidence, and for the first time ever he told me that he loved me and then asked me to marry him.

And of course I said yes! I slipped the 'true love waits' ring off of my left and placed it on my right and he slipped my beautiful ring onto my left hand. I couldn't believe it! I was SO surprised! Travis turned me to look behind us and there his parents were with an ipad and a camera recording the whole thing!!!

How perfect!!!


So, this story is only a chapter in the story that God is writing for both of our lives!

Our next step includes getting married in June, and serving in Calvary Chapel Budapest in the English children's ministry and whatever other ministries need tending! Travis and I along with our families are very excited about our upcoming nuptials!

Here are the purposal pictures

{Ten Months and Seven Days Ago)

It has been  ten months and seven days since my arrival in Europe. Ten months and seven days since I left my little apartment above the  maintenance shop in Twin Peaks. Ten months and seven days ago a scared and nervous little girl showed up to bible college with a suitcase and a backpack. I remember driving up to the school for first time, and knowing that God was going to do a lot in my life and heart, and from the very moment that I stepped out of the blue van I was going to be in Hungary for a very long time. I shoved the thought away into the back of my mind as I tried to settle into my new life.

Well, God did do some intense and crazy things in my life, things that I didn't understand at the time, things that I hated, and things that shook my entire being. But, as I began to accept these changes as a part of the work that God wanted to do in me, I felt peace ripple throughout my soul. I began to accept the fact that God was always going to do things that I didn't like or understand at the time, but I have learned that God's timing is perfect and mine is not. I learned that I am not as gracious as I thought I was, espcially when put into a position of leadership. I feel as if I have grown immensely these past ten months, and I have fallen in love with Jesus, which is exactly why I came to bible college. Putting aside the trying times that I have encountered these past ten months, I would not have traded them for the love that I have gained for my Father. I get excited as I think about the next ten months of my life will bring, many new seasons and stages to be sure. I encourage you,dearest reader, to be encouraged of all of the things that God has done in your life and to get excited about the things that He WILL do!


Well, more to come from the other side of the globe!




-Autumn