-The Apology Blog Post-

First of all, I am so sorry that it has been an insane amount of time since I've posted anything. I do have a good excuse, so hopefully you all will accept that and allow me to move on. Two night after arriving home form our honeymoon, during the middle of the night, someone came in our apartment stole our macbook,ipad,Travis's wallet, and my bus pass (?). This was extremely dissapointing, but thankfully Travis's parents were able to cancel our cards and send us some replacement devices! So we just received our laptop on Tuesday, so I am finally able to update you all!

This was just a "sorry" post, you will hear from me more next week!

Much Love,

Autumn Wallacce

June 9th, 2011

June 9th, 2011

" Dear Lord, help me to be a wife that honors you and brings joy to my husband"

Little did I know that I was a mere 8 days away from meeting my future husband and I would be preparing myself to walk down the aisle exactly one year later. I stumbled upon this very short devotional journal several weeks ago, of course my eyes watered and I could feel nothing but utter thankfulness for the Lord and how He knows and directs my steps.

As this last blog post as Miss Autumn Klare Keenan, I felt it so appropriate to share with you this gem of an entry. This desire of mine has stilled not wavered but rather increased as the day I become a wife rapidly approaches. I count myself so blessed to be called to such a high calling of becoming Travis's wife. I look forward to serving alongside my husband and supporting Him. Do I feel 100 percent absolutely ready and confidant that I can do all of these things with perfection? Honestly, no, and I don't think any one woman does, but I do know 100 percent for sure that God has designed Travis so very uniquely for me, and I for him. And I do know know that God has given me and will continue to give me every tool I need to be the wife that He knows that Travis needs.

In five, almost four days until I get married... and I am SO excited, but I know the road that lies ahead will not always be easy, but it will ALWAYS be blessed.

So, I simply ask for your prayers for my new calling that I know God has called me too.

Next time, I will sign as Mrs. Autumn Klare Wallace.... how exciting... God is good all of the time!!!

-Autumn

Calling.

As my nuptials draw closer, many people ask me if I am excited, or if I need help to plan anytime, or if I think weddings are stressful. Although I have been asked these questions a least 100 times, I could never tire of them because I know that I only have one time in my life when I can answer these questions.
But one question caught me a little off guard , " Autumn, what will your ministry be after you are married?" or " What will you be doing after you get married". This is a harder question to answer than "What will you and Travis be doing?"In the recent months I have been learning that my ministry will not be first and foremost the hospitality, or the children's ministry, or the summer interns we will be with. No, my first and foremost ministry will be Travis!
I remember a recent time when I answer " Well, I will be Travis's wife, so whatever Travis needs me to do , I will do it!!" Usually, they nod their heads,smile and move on, as if my answer wasn't quite what they were looking for. This puzzles me a little bit, because I am coming to know that as a ministry wife my ministry must be my husband first and foremost, other ministry will come second a little later. I think that some believe that all ministry wives are supposed to be doing something. That they have to lead a women's bible study, or they have to be the head of something. And for some women, it's totally and completely okay to do those things, but I think they know the secret that particular ministry comes second to their husband.

I am only 20 years old, and I am 37 days away from being married, but I know that I will gain joy and pleasure from serving my husband , weather it will be running to the store and getting a random item, or preparing the house for a weekend team, or being the intermediator communicator ( which has happened a lot in the recent weeks, which is interesting, because I don't have a phone)

Anyways, I know I have a lot to learn, but my heart is ready to learn, so if there is any wisdom, I am more than happy to listen and save it away.

-Autumn

Only 52 Days!

In all honesty, I did not to a day countdown until the wedding until we hit the three month mark. Probably because 100 days or 80 days seemed an eternity away!
So now, I am at 52 days away from being Mrs. Autumn Wallace.

The day that I have been pining away for is just around the corner, the day that I dreamt about in my young girlhood  and played dress up with my friends at sleepovers. As I got older I peeked through magazines and planned my entire wedding. Now, I am 20, still very young, but my thoughts of weddings have turned more to thoughts about marriage and on being wife. Sure, I love looking at my dress and making flower arrangements in my mind. I love grazing my delicate birdcage veil, and I love all the wedding planning. But on a day to day basis, my mind thinks about what being a wife will be like.
I know I will discover a whole lot about myself when I get married, I know that it will not always be easy, but I do know that I will be able to be Travis's best friend for the rest of our lives, I'll be there every step of the way, supporting Travis and just being his wife.

Anyways, if you think about it, I would appreciate your prayers in these next 52 days. Please pray that my  heart would in a constant state of preparation. Please pray as our families and friend come in , that those details would be smooth. And, Travis and I are having an outreach in Budapest starting this Friday and we come back to school on the 1st of May.  Please pray that our team would be fruitful and complete the mission and task ahead of us!

Much love,

Autumn

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.