Last Day, Tous Les Enfants

Oh my, will you indulge this mama?

Today was the last day of school. I lack adequate words to describe the bravery and dedication these three put forth this year as they dove into French school. New language, new culture, new environment ... these kids have some serious gumption. Not to mention that their teachers all told me of their kindness and hard work in spite of all the inevitable challenges. Goodness, I just want to high-five the world, right now.

I think back to the first day for Jane and the first day for Peter and Lucette and I marvel. I just recently told them how I used to drop them off and then pull over to the side of the road and cry and pray. I was so scared and nervous and worried for them. And yet ... I continued to feel a peace that they were where they should be and He was walking through the day with them. 

Thank you, Jesus. I'm just about bursting with gratitude and pride. 

Jane Goes to French School

Want to see inside a French primary-school classroom?? I know I sure did ...

 French school is very much what I would imagine school to be a couple generations ago in the States. This is not a criticism, not at all. Just an observation. Teachers know best and parents kind of stay out of the way and don't seem to stress it too much. I've only been inside the classroom a handful of times, which is very strange for this former-teacher, avid parent-volunteer.

There is no school email (never received one single email!!), no phones in the classroom, and there isn't a school secretary or office for the primary level. The teachers just seem to take care of it all. If you have a question, you write a note in your child's carnet (a planner book that goes back and forth). If they need to tell you something, they write a note in the carnet or just flag you down during pick-up time. Field-trip? Might be in the carnet or might just be word-of-mouth ...

La Poésie de Noël

At school, the children in Jane's class work on memorizing a new poem each month. I'm amazed with Jane's increasing capacity. We still have to look up a lot of the words for meaning, but her pronunciation is incroyable! 

A Christmas poem from Jane to you!

First Day, Les Grands Enfants

Today, Peter and Lucette had la rentré scolaire in collegè (middle school). First days are always big. This seemed behemoth. And to be honest ... it was. It was overwhelming and confusing, but they did it. I am really proud of them.

And. I am really glad they have each other.



To be honest, I am rather emotional today. Prayer has been my occupation and thoughts to share are escaping me.

Somedays, some events, some seasons ... sometimes it's just like that.


I love these two so dearly. Somedays I feel like my heart is on the outside of my body ...

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15

A First Day, En Française

Today was Jane's first day! Oh my, we were both so excited and filled with nervous energy we could hardly sleep last night. (It felt like my first day too!)

But the morning came and we were ready. The hairstyle had been planned and practiced, clothes laid out, school supplies and backpack ready, French language cheat sheet in pocket.


She's in third grade this year! In France it's called CEII or 9ème (they start at 12th grade/ème and count down rather than up, like we do in the States.) We were told we could come up to the classroom early to meet Monsieur Laurent, Jane's teacher. He was kind, soft-spoken, and ... spoke excellent English. Hurrah! Oh, such an answer to prayer.

I stayed with Jane for the first half-hour, whilst the other parents were in and out dropping their kids off, looking excited and nervous just like us. After a bit, Jane told me that she was ready to do the day on her own and gave me a kiss on each cheek, just like a proper French girl. She amazes me.

All day I would find myself remembering her and what a big day she was having and begin praying feverishly. And when I saw her exit the building at the end of the school day, my heart near skipped a beat. Up she came running to me with both relief to have made it through the day and excitement at all she had done.

We all quizzed her over dinner (Peter and Lucette don't begin until Wednesday), peppering her with questions. We learned a lot about her day, but her most favorite thing? Lunch. They ate on proper dishware and enjoyed a first course of fruit or savory crêpes, a main course of roast beef with a sauce/gravy (that was apparently a-mazing), roasted carrots, and "the best crispy, salty fries I've ever tasted" and for dessert, a cheese sampler, yogurt and dark chocolate squares.

As I tucked her in this evening she sighed, proud of her accomplishments today ... and was wondering what will be the next lunch served.

My kind of gal.

Inevitable Fails and Small Successes

I have been forcing myself to make small ventures into town each day. Both to get out of the house and to get used to it! I confess, the driving rules* and language and cultural differences make it rather intimidating. In someways, large cities are easier to be a foreigner ... because so many people are!

Today, we needed groceries (again), underpants, shoes for Jane, and pencil pouches. We have yet to complete our full school supply shopping (daunting), but apparently pencil pouches are expected. My kids weren't thrilled with the comic character pouches at the grocery and I had noticed a Librairie (bookstore) in the center of town next to a promising shoe store.  The Librairie had darling leather pouches of myriad electric colors (one for each child), plus needed post-it notes and the most darling cahiers. Cahiers being the French name for blank, lined notebooks. I'm certain I desperately need these for something.

Sorting the Details

Leave it to the French to eschew the manila envelope for an understated brown-wrap envelope. It was addressed to M. et Mme, as well. (Monsieur and Madame ... I feel so fancy.)

Of course, as soon as I opened this package from the children's école, regarding their classes in the fall, I had to yank out the dictionaries and chat with my good friend Google Translate to help decipher the directives.

I am so proud of the children to be willing to dive in like this, but also nervous, as well. The language takes everything to a whole new level of intimidating. Choosing to pray instead of worry, however, knowing God is capable of redirecting our path (homeschooling is always an option) or equipping us for the challenge.

In other news, we also purchased our plane tickets! Visa appointments are next week and we have to come with tickets in hand. Tickets to Paris from the northwest are expensive and require lengthy flights, so we decided to get clever. Turns out two flight legs is cheaper and appealing! We will first fly to New York and spend a few nights there. We'll sight see a little, adjust to the time zone by 3 hours, and break up the journey! We were not looking forward to a 22 hour hop across the globe with three children and all of our baggage. Even though we will just be bringing clothes, computers, and some other random pieces ... this will not be a light pack like last time. After a little Manhattan whirlwind, we'll take off once more for Paris via Reykjavik. I know it's just the airport, but how great is it that we get to stop in Iceland? I've always wanted to go.
 
As for now, we are prepping the house for sale and Pops is on his second day of remote-work for his new company. It will be new and different and fun to have him at home so much. I am sure we'll have to work out rhythms that foster productivity and sanity for us both, but I think having him around, even if he is busy working, will be such a blessing once we are in France.

And on the docket for this month? Cramming all of the doctor's appointments and procedures in before our insurance coverage ceases at the end of the month. We will only have catastrophic coverage until we leave. For a mama with three kids and a slew of her own health issues, this is a whole new opportunity to turn things over to the Lord!

Tips? Encouragement? Words of wisdom? Send them over. I need them all!

The Little Rascals Start Again

 

Jane, 2nd grade

 Lucette, 5th grade
 
 
Peter, 7th grade

 
Another new year ...

 
... but they are still my same little rascals.

Through the years:
2012 
2011
2010
2009

Proof of Accomplishment

And we're off. School is well underway, rhythms being reestablished and confidence renewing itself that "we can do this!" Life is such a team effort for families, isn't it? It's a good thing.

My mother brought over a bag of "we-have-way-too-many-of-these" plums and into jam they went. Plum jam has a surprising tartness amongst all the sweet. A very nice alternative to the still-delicious blackberry, raspberry, strawberry goodness that was also sugared into jars earlier this summer. (I was kind of jam-crazy there for awhile).

So even though the jam is ready to be put away in the cupboards, I have opted to leave them on the kitchen sill for a little while longer. They seem to be beauty and accomplishment in a jar. Like a little wink and thumbs-up every time I look at them while I'm racing to do the next oh-so-important task ... like making lunches or taking out the trash.

Sometimes I need to be reminded that proof of accomplishment comes in many ways. Sometimes that is a clean house, or a jar of jam. But frequently, for me, it's in remembering that proof isn't always tangible. And all the mothers smile and give a sigh of relief ...

Another First Day

 Ahh, my babies. Growing. Still.

Today was the first day of school, full-day ... all of them. Peter 6th (gulp!), Lucette 4th, and Little Jane 1st.

 

 I already miss our summer days together. But my heart is so happy for all that is before them.
Growing up is hard ... for all ... but it truly is a good thing.

 And mamas will always be mamas.

 And Pops will always be Pops.

We're a 'special' family. And I love it.

A Christmas Thank-You Gift

Personalized pencils for teachers along with a little festive zippy pouch (made from a vintage table-cloth and red ticking!). Affordable, practical ... and still awfully cute.

Reflective Art

 I've been in the process of unearthing and framing some of the children's art and displaying in about the house. How has it taken me over a decade to finally do this? What's more, the children are near beaming with pride over seeing their art on display. Such minimal effort and such happy result.

Lucette painted this abstract tree when she was seven and I love it. I hung it right next to some vintage, granny-like botanical prints and the juxtaposition of style makes me smile.

And of course, decorated with Christmas tree lights makes for a most festive viewing.

Lucette Paints Still Life

Pops and Peter, Solving the World Energy Crisis

 The Science Fair Endeavor of 2011 is almost complete. I was the squawking schedule keeper, but otherwise, Pops and Peter were the masterminds in full.

And it's a good thing. If I'd been in charge we would have selected an experiment that had something to do with a dry bean or a shoelace. Never, never would I have ambitioned to test the efficacy of wind turbine placement and calculate the apportioned voltage. Say, huh??

I'm much better at sounding scheduling alarms. 

And the boys ... well they are much better at whatever it is they manage to consistently do. I just allow them to impress me and then I go back to my beans and shoelaces.

It's a happy system for all.

Oil Pastels, Arcimboldo, and Dreams of a Too-Old Mother

Peter and the girls have been studying Arcimboldo in their art classes. So awesome.

I kind of wish I was in grade school again. Think I could audit?

The First Day, All Three

 I sent my baby off to kindergarten today. My littlest dear-heart. She was so excited this morning she was vibrating. I'm so grateful she has joy and excitement over the new experiences that await. She will shine and soar.

Myself? A touch misty over this transition. Moving from being a mama of littles to a mama of school children. Such a golden time this is for us right now, but I am amazed that the baby/toddler/preschool phase has been completed. Going. so. fast.

 This picture makes me realize how much my Lucette has grown. Third grade? She is a young lady now, I am realizing. Sometimes I wish I could halt time and keep her little. But then I would miss out on all she is becoming. She is such an eager, willing, zesty girl.

 And my boy. A fifth grader this year. He's all limbs, and brains, and band-aids, and smiles. I love this kid. He makes me proud in so many ways.

 The three of them. Together. My abiding, goofy, reality-check joys.

 We walked into school together today. Knee-socks pulled high, fresh haircut for the boy, new shoes ready for adventures to come.

 The girl who can't wait, the boy who could ... but is ready, and the little one who still needs just a little bit of Mama. Thank goodness.

And here we go ...

A Well-Balanced Diet

You've been eating your Kale Chips, right? Since you've been so good, I think you need to round out your diet with a little fruit. Nevermind the vehicle in which it's delivered, let's just focus on the fruit part of it.

Do you have this cookbook yet? Rustic Fruit Desserts is one of my all-time faves. It is utterly gorgeous in it's presentation and every single recipe I've tried has been praise-Jesus-worthy. This "Stone Fruit Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake" is helping us celebrate the end of the school-year tonight. I'm thinking we're going to have a gooooood time.

Board Game Afternoon & Roofing Intrigue

One more day to go 'til summer officially starts for my school children. They've almost done it. In the meantime, a no-homework night calls for an pre-dinner game of Stratego. A fine way to pass the time if you are looking to fill an hour ...

... or if you are just trying to distract yourselves from the roofers that have been pounding above your heads for three days and mistakenly began to install the wrong materials while you were out for the morning. It's always a surprise to come home and find an orangey-beige roof instead of the charcoal-brown you anticipated. "No, Edgar, I'm sorry. I really don't think I'll be fine with the orange. I'll be 65 years-old when this roof needs to be replaced again. I am going to have to hold out for what we ordered." Poor Edgar and his crew. The end of the week will eventually come. It always does ... and that's a good thing, isn't it.

A Sweet Little Snapshot

Working on some photos I took at the kids' school to help raise some money at the upcoming auction. A framed and matted 11 x 14 could be kind of sweet, no? Any thoughts on what to title the print?

Rapt Attention

 School was in session yesterday. They were given name-tags and seat assignments.

Each student had their own supplies and listened most attentively. They were very well behaved.

I think they might have had a crush on their teacher. I know I do.