It's rather incredible we've been here a year. So very much has happened, been accomplished, struggled through, and deeply enjoyed. It is with mixed emotions that we complete our time here at La Cressonnière and move on to the next adventure.
I have never lived in the country before. Never observed the rhythms of farm life nor experienced the pace. And French country life has a uniqueness of its own. Cows taking a walk down the street, ancient stone barns being repaired, fishing at the
la petite rive down by the old mill, taking walks after dinner and moving aside to let the tractors pass.
It has been a blessing living here. We have been grateful for the space to roam and a peaceful respite from a busy world.
And yet, we are ready. This last week has been full of some rattling hiccups requiring hurried mental adjustments. Namely, we have discovered (for a variety of bureaucratic reasons), that we can no longer drive in France after October 1st. It's a long story. The American in me could not conceive of existing entirely without a car and I had a full two-day panic attack. For serious. A major kink in the plans.
I am still wrestling with nervousness, but we have come to a place of peace and trust in the Lord that this too is part of His plans for us. We are
moving to a location where we can approach life on foot, bicycle, bus, and train. Not
completely what we planned on, but possible. If we had planned to stay in the country ... impossible.
And God is good.
We pick up our visas next Monday (oh have mercy, let them be there and ready) and depart on Wednesday. With renewed visas in hand we will be able to exit and re-enter the country and have plans for a stop in Burgundy and Switzerland as we work our way down south. We shall enjoy the freedom of driving while we have it and prepare ourselves for a new kind adventure ahead.
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left,
may your ears hear a voice behind you, saying,
This is the way; walk in it ..."
Isaiah 30:21
Beautiful photos! Hope this next season in life is full of even more excitement and joy!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Elizabeth.
DeleteTo be willing to live, unable to drive in a foreign country would have been unthinkable a year ago, and now here you are, accepting it and ready to live w/o a car (which sounds unreal to me, even w/ everything within walking distance), and I think it is AMAZING- I think YOU are amazing and I'm so proud of you and excited to see how you manage, and learn, and live in a totally new way (all the while while still in France, hello). And won't it be amazing to come back and be in WL and drive to Targét whenever you want! ;) Miss you <3
ReplyDeleteWow, thank you for this encouragement! Really, thank you.
DeleteI love your new clean blog layout.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Keep us updated!
Thanks, Farrah!
DeleteI havent checked out your blog in a few months, and I don't know why. I love reading about your adventures in France. Did you change your blog layout? It looks really good (not that it didn't look good before but I am loving how it looks now). That is so terrible that you guys can't drive after October... that would be a huge trial for me since I like the freedom to go wherever I want, whenever I want. Sending you love and strength to get through the trials ahead. Keep up the pictures--they are unreal!
ReplyDelete--Samantha
http://www.BesosFromAmerica.com
Thank you, Samantha! And yes, giving up the instant freedom is already feeling like a pill to swallow ... but it's a new experience, that's for sure!
DeleteIt's unfortunate you won't be able to drive, but so amazingly fortuitous (well, God's work) that you'll be in the city where it will be so much easier to bear it. I bet you'll enjoy it, and I bet you'll see the good in it - of course you will! :)
ReplyDeleteLisa, that is exactly our hope ... we will find out that these new circumstances are a blessing and part of His plan, somehow. :)
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