Francesca Battistelli

This summer has flown by. Wasn't it just Christmas? I feel certain that as we get older, time speeds up. Doesn't it feel that way sometimes? Between playing shows every weekend since June, writing and recording an album (or at least, beginning the process), being pregnant, and moving to Georgia, life has felt like a whirlwind. I honestly can't wait to settle down. Believe it or not, I have yet to step foot inside a maternity store or a Babies-R-Us…and I'm 7-months pregnant! But such is the life of a traveler. I can't wait to get all the boxes out of the nursery that don't belong, so I can fill it with the things that do belong--namely, a crib, a dresser, sweet blankets and onesies, and come October, our baby! Many of you have asked if we're having a boy or a girl, but we have decided to be surprised. So when we find out, I'll be sure to let you know! :) God is good, and I'm excited for all the new things that He is doing in our lives right now. I can't wait for you to hear the new music. It's going to be great!

In all the busyness, I'm learning to let go of the things I can't control and trust Him more fully. If He calls me to something, then I believe it is His nature to equip me with more than enough to accomplish that task. There have been times on stage or on planes this summer where I've started to feel really sick, or faint, and I've been afraid that I won't be able to finish the task at hand, but God has always come through. If we could remember His provision in the heat of the moment and look back and thank Him for the times that He has provided for us, I don't think we'd get so worked up and worried over the things in our future. This is something I'm learning and something I hope you are too. He loves us so much, and He never gives us more than we can handle. Praise God! He is good!

Blessings,
Francesca

Well, my oh my. It's been quite a busy summer so far, and it hasn't even officially started yet! So far this summer I've started recording my next album, had a "really-amazing-oh-my-gosh-is-this-photographer-and-styling-team-for-real" photo shoot, begun work on our house in Georgia, started to feel the baby move, and been traveling on the weekends. Okay, I'm tired just looking at that list! But it's been such a blast, and I can't even believe how much is going on right now. It's amazing to see God working in our lives, and we are so blessed and thankful!

It's funny, I've noticed lately that it's getting harder and harder to play the guitar because my belly keeps growing. :) It might just be that by the time the summer's almost over, I'll have to take a break from playing. But thankfully, I've got a really fantastic band backing me up, and they can take over! My husband Matt is playing drums (quite fantastically, I might add), my good friend Reed is playing keyboards (he's been playing with me for the past couple of years, so you might have seen him), our buddy Seth is rocking the bass, and our newest band member and recent Atlanta transplant Steve is playing guitar. You'll just have to come out to a show this summer to hear these guys. They're amazing! We're excited about all the festivals and conferences and concerts we've got coming up, and I hope to see you at one of them.

I'm also excited about my latest single, "Beautiful, Beautiful." It's really starting to get heard, and your feedback has meant so much! I've been waiting for this single to come out for two years, and now that it's finally here, it feels like a brand new song. If you haven't heard it, head on over to iTunes. You guys recently made the music video for the song #1 on the iTunes Christian chart. And that's just one of the many reasons I love you! :)

Many blessings, and enjoy your summer!

Love,
Franny

I can't believe it's almost Mother's Day! Time truly flies when you're on the road. This year holds special meaning for me for several reasons. Not only is my mom amazing (I love you, Mom!), but I've also inherited an incredible mother-in-law this year! It's a blessing to have two superb women in my life who can offer wisdom and encouragement in good and bad times. As if that weren't blessing enough, as many of you know, my husband and I are expecting our first baby this Fall! That means I get to celebrate Mother's Day this year for the first time. It's truly the greatest blessing we could imagine, being given the honor and responsibility of raising a child. Of course, we haven't even met this baby yet, and he or she already holds such a huge place in our hearts. I can't wait to see all that God has in store for our family, and I just know I'm going to write songs about it. So here's to all the moms out there...you are amazing! And celebrate your mom this year by letting her know how much you love her!

Blessings & Happy Mother's Day!
-Francesca

Wow! What an amazing experience the Dove Awards were! I am beyond thrilled and honored to have been part of such a special night. I knew from the first rehearsal with Michael O'Martian (piano player) and the string quartet that the performance was going to be so much fun. They made "Beautiful Beautiful" sound, well…beautiful! Everything went smoothly from start to finish--even the quick change between the award and the performance! Winning two Dove Awards was truly an unforgettable experience. I went to the show without any expectations because I didn't want to worry or allow myself to be disappointed. How surreal it felt, walking up the stairs to give my thank you's for Female Vocalist of the Year. To follow in Natalie Grant's footsteps is truly an honor, as she is an inspiration to me in so many ways. Many of you may not have seen my acceptance speech (though you can find it online), but I was so nervous because I knew I was about to make a huge announcement. After thanking everyone, I got to tell the crowd that my husband and I are expecting our first child in October! I called it our "collaboration!" :) So needless to say, between winning Female Vocalist, announcing the news we'd been bursting to tell, and getting to perform one of my favorite songs on the record with incredible musicians, it was truly a night to remember. And let's not forget the touching finale to the night--singing in the choir for Michael W. Smith's "Come Together Now." It was amazing to be a part of the recording back in January that benefitted Haiti, and it was truly an honor to be a part of the live performance at the Dove's. And I was so excited for the Erwin Brothers (the guys who directed both of my music videos) when we won for Short Form Music Video of the Year for "Free To Be Me" in the non-televised pre-show. What a cool way to start the night off!

All in all, it was an amazing experience, and I wish I could have savored it even more. We hopped on a bus that night after the awards to drive to Iowa for the last weekend of the Rock and Worship Road Show with MercyMe and David Crowder and celebrated with Panera Bread in the front lounge of the bus! :)

Blessings to you all, and thank you for your support! You guys are the best!

Francesca