12.22.2013

Merry Christmas



This year we are going to focus on the true meaning of Christmas... we've said that so many times- that we are going to pare down, to give more, with a joyful heart. That we will stay slow, and lay low so that we can cherish every second of the season and focus more on what really matters.

Each year we start out with the goal, but party invitations and perfect gift ideas that become an obsessed quest for that one thing tend to take over quickly.  Our desire to bless the people we love with a little bit of extravagance takes our eyes off of the most extravagant of Gifts.  We don't say "No" even when we should- and we become frantic, shopping laden, traffic fighters.  The entire season that is Advent turns into mayhem.  We only get one season a year when twinkle lights are hung, strangers smile a little bit wider and sweet songs play in our heads all day long.  We bake our children's favorite treats, and pull tissue-wrapped memories out of boxes.

This year it's all wrapped up in a little tree for us.  We have been blessed to receive so much from the people whom God has brought into our lives during our move to Africa.  But the normal goals of my Christmas season, like waiting until after Thanksgiving to play Christmas music or put up a tree, got chucked out the window when we spent the season in a place that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving.  So- we give thanks daily.  Christmas may not be 'normal' but it will be full of love, and the 'normal' Christmas delights have blessed us every single day leading up to it.  So November had Christmas music and red paper napkins, and one strand of twinkly light that made my smile a little bit wider!

Aaron brought home our little tree while I was cooking a Thanksgiving meal to be shared with dear friends.  Dear people whom we met 116 days ago, as they walked into school fresh off the plane with 2 sweet babies who will be more African than American, even with their blonde curls and blue eyes.  As I was cooking that meal to be shared in Thanksgiving, Jesse came into the kitchen and got the aluminum foil- a precious commodity and I asked why.  He so matter of factly said- I have to make the nail.

So on a day of thanks, when my heart was struggling to say thanks, my 14 year old boy, called onto the mission field by God, only to learn that it would be a 3 year journey to get there- reminds me of the only part that matters.  The tree, which became the cross, into which my Savior was nailed.  His shed blood.  For me. Even under the candy canes and hair bows and the one stray ornament that they found in a box of donations to students at the school, Jesse saw the cross in our tree.  In the U.S, we had a steel nail that was the first ornament hung each year.  It's all that we need on our tree this Christmas-and I had forgotten.

The cross.  The nail.  What makes our heart smile on the darkest days, and what makes the bad dreams and fever that come when we're days from our flight not so bad.

Thank you Lord for giving us your Son.  Thank you for the life that I have received because of Christ, whom I asked into my heart alongside a step-father when I was 6.  A man whom I haven't seen or heard from in 10 years, and yet he led me to the Cross of Christ and prayed alongside me as I prayed a prayer that changed my life forever.  Its been 33 years now that I have been cherished, loved, protected and provided for by my Savior, Jesus Christ.  Celebrating His birth once a year isn't nearly enough.  A celebration of Him, praising Him with music, enjoying the little things that He gives- the twinkle lights and extravagance that is lavished upon us through His Grace.  Tradition isn't happening this year, but celebration is! 
Thank you Lord for giving us your Son, a reason to Celebrate with all that is within us.


In a nutshell...






During our time here, we've celebrated 2 birthdays, seen a rugby game and amazing historical sites!  We've learned about cheese, safeguarding ourselves against thieves, and verb tenses that we never even knew existed!  The metric system and street performers have become more normal parts of our life. 



This is the reality of Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire...























We are so thankful for this opportunity to be on the most extravagant of home school fieldtrips, but I am truly delighted to re-emerge from my little hole and to praise God for His bringing us through... We are just days away from Africa!



12.17.2013

What a little encouragement can do!

Thanks for the encouragement!  I received an encouraging note from some friends that I haven't even met in person...and it was such a gift!  It was a reminder that I really can keep people posted on how we are doing and how they can pray for us- and that walking the journeys of life together is so much sweeter than alone.

                     

We moved into an apartment with bare walls and bare floors, but were so thankful to find an ikea with a free bus service, so we made a day of it!  A little bit more homey (and a little bit dorm-like as well!)

Language school has been profitable for our language skills, and challenging in every other way.  We are so thankful that, by God's grace and in His strength alone, we have survived!  One of our teachers who served many years in Africa shared the observation that, for many Americans the culture shock of moving to France is more difficult than the culture shock of moving to Africa!  We have learned the physical manifestations of culture shock- each of us a little bit different- while in 'transition mode'.  As we enter into another season of transition, we appreciate your prayers for health, safety and that the Joy of the Lord would be our Strength!

 
Life in a city full of cultural differences and returning to school full time- Oh La La!
(that's French for Aye-Caramba!)


Living Space



 
 This is where we grocery shop!

 

 
Our living room, with our new rugs and paper lanterns!
 
 Jesse's room, with his engineered curtain to block out the light- we live next to a hospital, so ambulance sounds and lights are normal here...and the ambulances sound like the minions on Despicable Me!!
 
 We shower, brush teeth and wash hands in here... and down the hall is the potty

 


 
 Our view from the salle de bains

 
 View from kitchen window

 Dryer

 ...and washer!!

We were blessed to be in an apartment that gave us a half-mile walk to school.  We have enjoyed the walk, the fresh air and the time to think.  We have a tree just outside that, up until the last few weeks, was leafy and beautiful, so we didn't see the other buildings quite as much...we've been so thankful for that!