Since I’ve been introduced to the JOY DARE I’ve begun to take notice of those gifts that come to us each day. Some are even wrapped in dark packages! April has always been one of my favorite months with Easter, a birthday, spring, and whatnot …
I may be too old for an Easter basket but not an Easter box, thanks to a dear reader in Kentucky:) Those tiny chocolate bunnies were too cute to eat (but I did!)…
Thanks to a return to good weather, Randy and the boys finished an arbor at one end of the garden for some heirloom loganberries that have gone wild…
I finally had my frontiersman framed. The gallery ladies told me they’d fallen in love with him and hated to see him go!
A birthday brought one amazing German Chocolate Cake, the first in years…
Then came the pages for this next Ballantyne book, the final stop before print…
And Brandon Hill surprised me by posting this shot of all our hilarity from the cover shoot of Love’s Fortune🙂 I had such fun messing this lovely model up!
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Lest you think it’s all rosy in the Frantz household I won’t go into detail about the Easter flu or our Paul coming home with Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, something I thought entirely fictitious. It’s not;) Life is never dull, huh? I’ll just focus on the positive here and stay thankful.
Hope you had a blessed Easter and April has held some special gifts, too!
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Love the photo of you and the model. Both of you are beautiful.:) Life’s shadow days of sickness and trials make the bright days so much brighter. Prayers and hugs!
Paula, So appreciate your gracious words, thank you. You’re so right – those shadowy days make the sunny days far moreso! Health is indeed a huge gift. Little compares. I really appreciate your prayers – and can almost feel your hugs :)! And thanks, too, for the kudos about Brandon’s fine work. After getting over my shock that I could be the model’s mother, I sure had fun ;)!
This was so fun. I love the painting of the frontiersman. Can you tell us more about that? Blessings, Carrie
Carrie! My pleasure :). Glad he’s lured you in to. I forget that some didn’t see the special post I did of him a month or so ago. I left a reply for you on Facebook, too.
This is a new painting by David Wright, an artist renowned for his frontier art. He’s a Kentucky native. The title is “Someone Is Wondering Why He Don’t Write.” I found him at a gallery in Gettysburg, PA at a time when I was looking for a template for my next frontier hero. He’s a perfect match :). God is so good at providing inspiration just when we need it.
Thanks for asking!
Oh, Laura – I just love your beautiful post today!!
That cake looks delicious enough to “die for”!! Just hope you have felt well enough to truly enjoy it!! If not – perhaps you tucked some away in the freezer to enjoy at a later date??
I just love Ann Voskamp and her idea of the “Joy Dare”!! She is such a profound, inspirational lady!!
Your frontiersman looks so handsome (and dare I say beautiful??)- the frame fits him so perfectly!!
I love hearing about, and seeing pictures of your family, orchard, and garden!! Washington state probably doesn’t compare in your mind (nor mine) with our beloved state of Kentucky – however, I think you and your family have probably created your own little “piece of heaven on earth” with your garden and orchard, etc., and I would love to see it!! Even though you have a lot of rain, etc., I think the wooded and mountainous areas of the state must be beautiful!!
I’m SO looking forward to the release of “Love’s Fortune”, I KNOW God will use it as the perfect inspiration for SO many readers – to say nothing of the delight and enjoyment from reading the beautiful music of your words!! I absolutely LOVE the cover and that beautiful shot of you holding the fan on that lovely model – Brandon Hill is one talented photographer!!
I’m truly sorry that you and your family had flu during the Easter weekend, and I had to look that Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease up online – who would have thought?? I think that must have been what the baby of a friend of mine has been ill with, repeatedly, over the first year of his life – picked up at the daycare center, probably from chewing on infected toys and surfaces and coming in contact with other babies carrying the germ/virus. Was it a separate infection unrelated to the flu virus – for your son??
I’m saying prayers of healing for you and your dear family, Laura, and hoping the worse is over and your body can start to repair itself for that wonderfully beautiful trip to Scotland, coming up so soon!!
While April has held some huge trials for me, my faith and trust in God has enabled me to also enjoy many of His beautiful gifts – these lovely Spring days, sunshine, and flowers, especially!! EVERY day is a “special gift” in itself!!
Many hugs and much love coming your way, sweet Laura!!
Bonnie, You are always such an inspiration!! Love your fondness for exclamation points – that surely is another trait of you, me, and Julie – perhaps our dear Liz, too!! It exudes joy and and generosity of spirit and enthusiasm in spades :)!!
LOL, I am calling April the very clinical “Medical Month.” I didn’t even mention our trips to the ER with Wyatt for a cut hand! We have been so well till now and then everything hits us at once. YES, it is very likely that poor baby of your friend had the very same. It thrives in daycare and schoolbuses (probably where Paul picked it up on athletic trips) and that sort of thing. Yes, it was a completely separate virus he had prior to the flu. We didn’t know what it was till the school sent home a warning about it and said there was an outbreak. Our little school here has had 6 teachers out and 70 kids with the flu virus itself the last couple of weeks. Seems late for flu season. Next year I will be first in line for flu shots :).
You have had so much going on yourself that the flu and foot and mouth seem very trivial! Love how you remind us that the human body is so good at repairing itself. Truly a marvelous creation! I am reminded of Psalm 139. So appreciate your prayers. You sure have mine, too.
So glad you like this little peek at our orchard and garden. Nothing ever compares to KY for me (you know me well) but I must admit, like you said, many people believe this is paradise with the mountains and clean air and lakes and beaches, etc. I urge people to come visit from July-Sept otherwise bring their rain gear :). The orchard is blooming now and is so beautiful! The apple blossoms and cherries are my favorite.
Brandon Hill is pure magic with his camera, yes – he has more shots from the shoot he’ll share closer to release day. We have something cooked up for readers that I hope you like very much. He’s wonderful to work with – so creative and proactive!
Hugs to you, Bonnie, and thanks for making April so much sweeter :)!!
You just want to model your life after mine, don’t you???
My daughter had that LOVELY disease. On vacation. With ALL my in-laws.
Say it like Silas, “Aye, greeeeeat.”
That, umm, frontier-y dude?
Fans self.
He’s umm…
Whew, it sure is warm in here…
What was I saying? Oh…buck skins…and chocolate…on the same page?
Ahhhhh….
LOL, you’re just the medicine I need this springy morn, dear Jennifer :). SO YOU, TOO, have been blessed with this highly contagious little bug that wreaks havoc on appetites and skin and such via your daughter! Strangely enough, he kept it to himself though Wyatt did share the flu with all 4 of us! AYE, GREEEEEEAT just about sums it up!
Glad the frontiersman here makes you want to whip out your fan. Here’s hoping he has that same effect on my heroine when she first meets him. I can hardly wait to begin his story. Good thing about being under the weather – lots of time for plotting and daydreaming if not actual working :). This is a very poor pic of him, too – wish I could hand you a better quality photo of him. He’s truly stunning, thus the reason he broke the gallery ladies hearts, lol…
Hope you are well and the sun is shining and all is well in your world as we move into May!
Thanks for sharing your joy and not so joyful life with us. It’s always fun to see your human side and not just the book jacket blurb :-). What beautiful ladies you and Rowena are! You should be the cover model of your next book. And your blue jacket is GORGEOUS!!!
Amy, YOU are so gracious – so glad you like these humble pics and that end shot of me and Rowena :). I almost didn’t post this but you make me glad I did! I always wonder if anyone is interested in these day to day things. You said it well – fun to see beyond the blurb. Thanks for the jacket kudos. I wasn’t sure what to wear to the shoot and pulled that out of my closet, nearly forgotten. That blue is absolutely electric for lack of a better word! Though I’d much rather be wearing that 1850 ballgown! Only I couldn’t fit!
Thanks for being here and adding to the joy of a very eventful month. I hope May is full of blessings for you!
My daughter Maryn had that terrible malady when she was about a year old. It’s especially tough to watch our little ones suffer. They can’t tell us where it hurts. Now she’s almost 8, and talks more than anyone else in the house. 🙂 April also brought a birthday for me (on the 25th), as well as a surprise visit from my sister for Easter. She’s expecting baby number two in June, so it was fun seeing her pregnant and cuddling with her two year old son Tucker.
April brought the completion of my third novel (yet to be named). It’s set in 1927 and the heroine is named Emily Sinclair. My critique partners are reading it now and then I’ll send it off to a few beta readers. Hoping to submit it to my agent by mid-May. This was a fun story for me to research and write. I was able to use my Lindbergh knowledge in a whole new way. The characters were also fun to develop. Everything about this story is very different from my other two.
We also had some sickness this spring, but ours was upper respitory and sinus issues. Everyone is healthy now. Looking forward to a fun summer with a trip to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant in Walnut Grove, MN with my mom and daughters. My oldest, Ellis, is planning to enter the Laura look alike contest. We’re all excited for that trip. That’s the beauty of Little House on the Prairie. It’s timeless.
Thank you for sharing your April with us! It’s so much fun to get a sneak peek into your writing and life. Love the picture with the model and the fan!! 🙂
Gabrielle, I can’t believe both our birthdays swept by – and we were deep into the throes of writing 🙂 And mothering and all else! Sorry you know firsthand about that little malady via Maryn in the past. It must be even harder on a baby than a 14 yo. I am praying for a return to good health for everyone – so many sick out there…
WOW – your 3rd novel finished is just a HUGE accomplishment! I’m really thrilled for you, especially knowing it taps into your love and wealth of knowledge about Lindbergh. I remember that is how we met – you came over to Facebook and told me about that history. I was fascinated! Anne Morrow remains one of my favorite authors. You know all the behind the scenes stuff!
And if I remember correctly, YOU were flying to see you sis with TCL in hand when she had her first baby! But it’s been a little while and I might be mixed up! I’m so glad you’re close and can celebrate things together. I imagine you, being a little ahead of her, are a mentor mom :). I’ve always thought it would be wonderful to have a sister. Just NOT Elspeth!
I so wish I could tag along when you all go to the Walnut Grove pageant! I’ll be looking for pics. I think it would be wonderful to dress up and recreate/honor that book/series, one of my favorites. What memories you will make together. You said it well – timeless.
Thanks for being here and adding to April’s fun/joy, always :)!!
Hi Laura! I feels like it has been ages since I visited your blog. I think it has been quite a while. I am sorry to hear about all the germs that seemed to have found their way into your home! I have had an ongoing battle with some cold viruses, but that is nothing compared to the flu or hand, foot and mouth disease! My sister is sick with some virus and actually took a day off work because of it! She never does that. I am looking forward to the summer where these things will hopefully be few and far between! I think we all need a nice break from the winter (and early spring) gloom and germs!
How exciting that the printing for Love’s Fortune is getting so close! I am currently reading the 5th Amelia Peabody book, but lately I have been craving some swoon worthy romance! I wish I Love’s Fortune in my hands already! I shall just have to be patient and get my romance fix elsewhere for the time being! 🙂
Emma, So glad you’re here – and NOT sick! Hope your sis feels better soon. We’ve had such a long winter this year so maybe that’s why there’s a plethora of germs lingering. Summer is much better that way, yes :).
Love that you’re into Amelia still. I sometimes pin those covers on Pinterest and they look so interesting. Here’s hoping LF delivers in the swoon department! With 2 heroes this time, I think it may. And I won’t mind a bit if you have as hard a time choosing as Wren!
Happy belated birthday, Laura! <3
Such a cheerful post, filled with joy! The frame of your frontiersman suits it so well. Sigh. What a fun picture of you at the photo shoot. How much fun!
Carla, YAY – so glad to celebrate another April with you! Thanks for ushering in spring – you’re one of its best gifts, my friend. I had to laugh because Randy said he could have ripped the timber off an old barn and framed this frontiersman himself ;). It really does suit him, that rustic board! Let’s hope I can bring him to life.
Hope your spring is going well – I think of you often!
Oh Laura! I don’t know what’s more delightful the gallery ladies falling in love with your frontiersman (can’t say that I blame them … 😉 ) or your delightful picture with the model. What fun! I just love it! I’m so glad you had a happy Easter and I hope your loved ones feel better soon. Hugs!
Joanne! SO happy to be celebrating spring with you :)! Glad you like the look of my new hero. He’s spinning round my head and I’m madly writing down scraps of dialogue and scenes. Bliss! I know you know the feeling. And that day in the studio was so fun. Really neat to meet the model in person as she’s so right for Wren. We’re on the mend, thanks, and I hope all is well with you and your loved ones, too!!
Oh, I’m late commenting here, but this all looks fun (not the flu and “other thing”, mind you)! Just look at that cake and your lovely yard, and oooh… your over-the-mountain-man. He’s wonderfully large! What does Randy think of him? ; )
Love the scrolling font on that stamp and the Ballantyne name, too. Sigh. : )
Looks like you had a great birthday. : )
Whitney, SO happy to have found your and Mary Jill’s comments on this rainy Saturday in May:) THANK YOU for your comments. Love them:). My real-life hero is sorta amused by my frontiersman:). He says he could have framed him for me by ripping off a piece of our barn, lol, as that is what the finished frame looks like! He’s STILL not on the wall, bless him. Still reclining against my desk. Waiting for Randy!
So glad you appreciate the little details with fonts and stamps and such. Me, too! It’s the little delights of life that make it so worthwhile.
You’re counted as an April gift, too, or a May one, as we finish spring together :)!
Oh dear Laura! I have just found your books and have been
in book heaven for a while! I was introduced with The Ballantyne Legacy and then I realized that you were the author of Courting Morrow Little which I had in my cart for months and finally couldnt remember why I chose it! Now that still remains my favorite! Thank God for you Laura! You have already added so much to my life! I look forward to many years with you God-Willing! Love your journal site It is lovely like You!!!
Mary Jill!! I’ll happily add you to my April gifts :). Thanks so very much for your gracious words. Very happy Morrow has a special place in your heart. Mine, too. Love the thought of you reading and finding my Ballantyne books and recalling the CML, etc. You’re the reason I write! Bless you as we move into May! And thanks again for stopping here!!
I just finished reading the first 2 books in the Ballantyne series and I am overwhelmed! I have enjoyed immensely reading all your books, and these last two exceeded all my hopes! Please keep writing, your gifts for historical fiction are great. I live how you show the power of prayer and the possibilities of redemption, and the enduring power of love. God is a grace note in every chapter. I have health issues, and this past month had been particularly trying. Thanks for allowing God to use you to ease my pain by allowing me escape into your beautiful stories.
Kate, Oh my, I’m so honored by your beautiful comments. Truly, you have a gift of words all your own! SO very happy you are enjoying those Ballantynes. I hope Wren wins you over just like Eden and Silas, Ellie and Jack. You really “got” what I was trying to do in those stories regarding prayer, redemption, and enduring love. Wow. Most of all, I’m really touched that you were able to find some refuge in those stories as you dealt with your own pain/health. I will be praying for you knowing that – health struggles can be overwhelming and yet you are handling them with grace, I can tell! Love your words, “God is a grace note in every chapter.” You have a musician’s heart, too.
THANK YOU for going the extra mile and writing this here. I treasure your words and will remember them. And pray I can keep writing the kind of stories that touch your heart. Please keep in touch!!
LAURA! Oh, it seems like ages since we’ve talked. So sorry to hear that your family was under the weather during Easter. The flu bug is definitely NOT fun to have. SO glad that you’re all on the mend.
I understand why you and the ladies from the gallery are smitten with your Kentucke hero. I feel the same way. Wouldn’t mind having him to hang on my wall. 😉
That photo of you and the model at the cover shoot makes me smile every time I see it. You look like you’re just having a ball.
Praying you have a good week, my friend!
Angi – so good to catch up with you! Isn’t spring a whirlwind!? We’re all better now, thankfully, and I hope you are feeling good, too. Glad you like the look of my frontiersman – he has quite a presence! Even in grungy buckskins! We have more coming from the cover shoot once the book releases. Can’t wait!
Praying for you and yours this week, too, dear Angi!