La Photo Mystère

Isn't this a great shot that Pops took? How many of us can you find ...

**ps- This was taken at Chateau de Sassy. How awesome is that.

Loved Ones and New Days

I love this photo of Pops and his Dad. Like the two of them, it says so much with out saying much at all.

We were most blessed to have my in-laws come for a springtime stay this past month. They brought gifts from the States (English magazines, candy, and steel-cut oats were the height of excitement!), as well as love and hugs and affection. It feels good to be loved on by friends and family when living halfway across the world.

The weather while they were here was unbelievably beautiful and sunny, making for lunches outside, promenades to see the creek and the cows and rousing games of demolition petanque (Like a kamakaze bocci ball sort of game that the menfolk devised. Stay alert. That's's my advice ... stay alert.).

Whilst here, we also took a rather epic train trip to the northern Ligurian area of Italy. We had three connections each way and anyone who has traveled by European rail knows that it's no joke. The train roles in and you have 2-3 minutes to locate the correct car and board with all 7 seven people in your party plus luggage and bags ... while dodging other travelers, trying to discern all of the directions in foreign languages, and keeping the family circus intact and alive. It's intense.

I have some lovely photos and memories to post for posterity on our time in Italy. It was beautiful, as Italy insists on. I did, however, manage to develop a pretty severe migraine while there that kept me in bed a bit and set me back some. It's two weeks on and I am still avoiding light (and the computer), napping and into bed by early evening. It's a bummer, but whatdya gonna do. Needless to say, lengthy blogging time will come later.

Have any of you had an illness or setback while traveling or during a big event? Found that you had to readjust expectations? Find new ways to trust and pray and be thankful? It seems I've had basket-full of health challenges and issues these past couple of years and it can get me down when they flare. But it also pushes me to pray more for others ... because I get so sick of thinking about how I feel, blah, blah, blah. And always ... this is a good and rich thing.

Happy springtime.

Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. 

Ecclesiastes 11:7

Joyeuses Pâques and Happy Celebrations

 Easter Sunday is one of my favorite holidays. The celebration of Christ's resurrection, the newness and possibility of spring, the chance to celebrate and be together as family.

And while our holiday experiences as expats are different than when we are "at home" and have put some well-loved traditions on hold, we continue to find joy and unexpected blessings in our time here. Like finding this easter basket delivered in the wee morning hours by the darling and generous Madame S.

And even though the children are getting older by the minute ... there was no question that they were up for a pre-church chocolate hunt. (Did you know that bells bring the chocolate instead of bunnies in France? I am told that it is because the bells are silent from Good Friday until Easter Sunday, when they ring to announce "He is Risen!" Naturally, in celebration ... the les cloches must bring chocolate!)

 Does one ever really out-grow hunts? There is an undeniable thrill at finding and racing and scavenging!

And, ahem. Can we just for a moment comment on how sharp Pops looks!

This year, the bells passed over La Cressonnière and left chocolate Euros! Fancy that!

Another Easter to rejoice in ... and marvel at how the kids have grown!

Joyeuses Pâques and Happy Easter!

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope 

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,

kept in heaven for you .

1 Peter 1:3-4