The News is Out!

Well, sometimes I have no blog worthy things to post, so I don't post anything at all. But today I have big news! The B. family is expecting an addition! We are thrilled to announce that little B. #2 is on the way. He or she is still very tiny, so we would appreciate everyone's prayers for healthy development and a safe arrival at the end of September or early October. I am sure that over the next 8 months I will have lots of stories to tell about my pregnancy experiences in France (especially in the dead of summer which I could barely handle last year without a/c). Currently, I am trying to locate a doctor that speaks English, however, I am not sure that a fluent English speaking obstetrician is available in our area. SO, I am planning to do my best in French and trusting the Lord to lead and guide us through the next months and the hospital experience. That's of course what we all have to do anyway no matter where we are. This is not as scary as it would have been if it were my first pregnancy or if I had not already been here for over a year. I feel confident enough in my ability to understand and communicate that I am not freaking out yet. However, I am the type of person who wants to be able to ask questions and have a good understanding of what is going on, so I am going to be very prayerful about choosing a doctor. My theme verse will be Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding (leaning to my own understanding is always my tendency). In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." I am hoping for lots of comments on this post! And, I will need those of you who read regularly to remind me of my theme verse. Thanks in advance!

Just the Girls

SA and I are hanging out at home as we have had steady snow for the last couple of days. D is in England, so we are missing him. It is just perfect weather to curl up with some hot chocolate and one's honey, but I have been cuddling up with my precious pie instead. She loves to be read to, so we have been reading books. Also, we have had company the last couple of days. My friend F comes on Tuesdays and she is wonderful at playing with SA. We speak in French and she usually comes in the morning and stays for lunch into the afternoon. Today playgroup was at our house, so we got to see and play with some friends here. We had fruit salad in honor of SA's favorite song from the Wiggles ("Fruit Salad, Yummy, Yummy"). Tonight after dinner we were sharing some mousse au chocolat (my favorite French dessert). SA was feeding herself and me, and we both were a sight to see after that- our faces covered in chocolate as well as her pajamas and my turtleneck. I am enjoying my time with her all to myself. I have been brushing her teeth, which is something that D usually does at night, and reading the bedtime story. We also still rock for a little while before she goes to sleep and she gives me various song requests. Tonight we sang the usual "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "Away in a Manger", and "Jesus Loves the Little Children", but she also wanted me to sing some songs from the Wiggles. She LOVES the Wiggles. She sings and dances with them and always wants us to dance with her. It is really cute when she sings "Hot Potato, Hot Potato -Cold Spaghetti, Cold Spaghetti- Mashed Banana, Mashed Banana" all with an Australian accent! Maybe tomorrow we will actually go out and play in the snow. I am hoping that the snow will stick around until Daddy gets back, because I know he will want to play too! Hopefully we will get to build a snowmman, so stay tuned for pictures of SA's first snowman and our first snowman in France!

911 in France

Well, we have had our first real emergency situation that called for the fire department. Last year in Paris I had to go to the emergency room because SA managed to get the top off the Children's Tylenol and I didn't know how much she had ingested. That was a scary experience in a foreign city by one's self (D was working). Well, this time we were at home. Our home is pictured to the left. I went out to open the gate for the mailman. I was expecting a package and wanted him to be able to come to the door. Thank the Lord that I had opened the shutters to the french doors in the dining room. Ok, I realize that those of you who are American have no idea what I am talking about- shutters that open. So, here is a picture of one of our windows.

The shutters open and shut from the outside to cover the windows, so every night we close them for security- not to mention to keep the cold out. In the summer it is to keep the sun out during the day. Anyway, one has to open the windows (which open into the house) in order to open and close the shutters. Needless to say, this chore of closing the shutters is D's at night (when he is here) and I always open up the shutters in the morning. Well, Wednesday morning, after seating SA with her breakfast in her high chair, I opened the shutters, to the dining room. Then I remembered that the gate was shut (D usually opens it in the morning when he drives to work or to the train station) and needed to be opened. So, having left the dining room door locked, I went out the front door (leaving it unlocked) to shut the gate. I heard a strange click, but thought nothing of it. Having returned from the gate, (in my pink pajamas and robe with my hair a mess, I might add), I discovered that the front door was locked. I did not have my key as it was in the dining room door on the inside (each door has its own key and lock). Panicking, I went all around the house to try to find a way into the house, but all the shutters were shut and there was no way in (which is actually a good thing, but not in this situation). So, with no phone or phone numbers (basically, completely helpless) I ran to the next door neighbor's house for help. This is at 8:00 in the morning, and all of his shutters were still closed too. I rang the bell and he kindly came out to help. An elderly couple lives next door, and the husband has been so helpful and nice to us, but his wife is not in good health and stays in the house all of the time. We determined that the hook on the inside of the door had unhooked itself causing the door to lock on its own. Again, I know that is hard to picture, so here is a picture of our "ancient" front door and locks. The picture shows our front door with dead bolt at the top. At the bottom right of the picture is the hook which remains hooked all the time (except not this time). On the left in the middle of the door is the doorknob on the outside. If the hook is unhooked, there is no way to turn the doorknob, unless one has a key. So basically, I was locked out of the house in my pajamas at 8 in the morning and SA was inside in her highchair. Fortunately, I could see her, and talk to her, and she was in a safe place. My neighbor and I tried unsuccessfully to force the front door open using our bodies and a crowbar. Finally, we decided that we must call the fire dept. for help. I am so thankful to have this neighbor, as he insisted that I stay with SA and he went to get his cell phone to call. In addition, he was able to communicate in French and I would not have been able to explain the situation in French. The huge fire engine and 3 very nice firepeople (one was female) arrived in about 15-20 minutes. They had to break a window to get into the house to open the door from the inside. SA was fine thankfully, and I had to then call the " vitrerie" to repair the broken window as well as our insurance company. Turns out we will have to pay.

It seems that the Lord constantly places me in situations of need in which I am dependent on others. This is not enjoyable for the independent, wannabe self-sufficient side of me, but it is great for humilty (especially when you can barely communicate in the language of everyone else). Ironically, there is usually an outreach opportunity in all of it. When I asked my neighbor what I could do for him and his wife, he told me that I could just come and visit, so SA and I went today and had a nice visit with them. They really enjoyed playing with her, and we took them a flower to show our appreciatiion for their constant help (for which I got in trouble with Monsieur). He said it was his pleasure to "rend me service." I pray that we can be a blessing to these neighbors as they have been to us. The Lord had been working on my heart about going to visit this couple, but I didn't really know how to approach it as I am pretty bad at communicating on the telephone, and I didn't want to just show up unannounced. Today, Monsieur came by with some oil to help my lock and I asked if I could come and visit this afternoon. And voila, the conncetion was made! Such drama should not be necessary for me to hear and obey the Lord, but unfortunately, sometimes, I guess I require it.

More Pictures from the Alps

Anyone want a ride? SA liked pulling her sled better than riding. It is a 2 seater, so I got to ride too! Poor Danny had a sore back the next day!




D posing with the Michelin man, Bibendum, at a toll station that had air for our tires (courtesy of Michelin, of course!). So glad my husband attends to those details!

A Day in The Alps

"The heavens tell the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out into all the earth, and their words to all the world." Ps.19:1-4

Simply breathtaking is all I can say! Please pray that we would be faithful to tell the glory of God here in France along with God's glorious creation!