Away in a Manger

Above our dining room radiator sits a humble nativity set. Its fragile pieces are carved out of soft wood, and have seen better days. The shepherds' staffs are bent; the lone sheep has lost a leg. The star has come unglued from its place above the manger and now rests sideways on top of the stable. Poor Joseph is nowhere to be found at all, a likely victim of either our dog or our youngest child some years ago. Yet, with all its flaws, I couldn't bear to part with this Christmas decoration. Greg and I received it as an gift at a Christmas-themed engagement party more than 20 years ago, and every year we've displayed it proudly. More than any of my other decorations, its simplicity and humility remind me of the true story of  Christmas.

Jesus came as a helpless babe, born in a smelly barn, to poor rural teenagers. The first guests in his baby register weren't kings, but instead were lowly shepherds. This was God's plan? That the Son of God, the Savior of the World, would arrive in such a plain, ordinary way? Why?

"...Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:6-8)

The humility of his surroundings showcased his mission -- to serve the least and the lost. He didn't come just for kings, he came for shepherds. For garbage collectors. For homeless guys. For me. For you.

If you look closely at our poor little nativity set, you'll see one perfect piece. Jesus. The wee babe still rests peacefully in his straw-lined manger. The paint on his closed eyes and contented smile are still as brilliant as the day we received it. When our daughters were very young, they liked to play with the wooden figurines, but they always handled Jesus with tender care. Even then, they knew that Jesus was special.

The story of Jesus doesn't end with the manger. It doesn't even end with the cross. That's just the beginning. 

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knees should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:9-11)

This Christmas, let's remember that although Jesus came humbly, he lived magnificently, he died victoriously, and he reigns eternally. Hallelujah!

Fete des lumieres

Last weekend marked the annual "Fete des lumieres" (festival of lights) in Lyon. This world-class event draws some three million visitors to Lyon, making an already compact city even more crowded than usual. But the energy and excitement of the celebration creates an atmosphere of camaraderie; "yes, it's hectic and uncomfortable, but we're all in this together!"

The history of the Fete goes way back to the 17th century. Southern France was hit hard by the plague in the 1640s, and the people of Lyon prayed to Mary for deliverance. When the plague ended, the city's leaders vowed to pay tribute to Mary each year. Fast forward two centuries to 1852. On December 8 (the date observed by Catholics as the feast of the Immaculate Conception), a golden statue of the Virgin Mary was placed atop the Basilica Fouviere. Candles lighted the way for a solemn procession from St. John's Cathedral up the steep hill to the Basilica. Every year on December 8, Lyonnaise Catholics light candles and place them in their windows to remember these significant events.

In recent years, the festival has lost most of its Catholic tradition, and has become a very popular -- and very commercial -- spectacle for tourists from all across France, Europe, and beyond. Renowned lighting design companies produce amazing special effects, using buildings as canvases. Lasers, projections, films, fireworks, luminaries, neon lights...every kind of illumination you can imagine is on display, all throughout the city. This year the event lasted for four evenings, and I believe it would take all four to see everything.

We went out three of the four nights and were rewarded with some amazing, jaw-dropping spectacles.  Pictures don't do it justice, but these will have to suffice. If you want to get an idea of how these lighting artists "paint" on buildings, check out this YouTube video from last year's Fete which shows St. John's Cathedral.

Chinese lanterns float atop the trees at the Parc de la Tete D'or

Neon "flowers" reflected in one of Lyon's many fountains

View of the palais de justice across the Saone River

The Basilica Fouviere towers in the distance above buildings in Vieux Lyon

One of the best light shows this year was displayed on adjacent buildings:
Hotel de Ville (City Hall) and the Musee Beaux Arts

Inside the courtyard of Hotel de Ville

The simple beauty of a 10th century Benedictine Abbey

Christmas Carols

I couldn't sleep last night. Like an old movie, my mind kept rewinding to an event that happened three years ago. Greg and I were on our very first trip to Lyon to explore ministry opportunities, and one event in particular solidly changed the course of our future for good.

That event was the annual International Christian Community of Lyon's Christmas Carols service.

Jet-lagged and disoriented, we arrived at the service not knowing quiet what to expect. We knew the ICCL consisted of just a handful of families, so to see hundreds of people pour into an 17th century church on a cold, rainy evening was exciting to say the least. The service itself was fun, festive, and family-like. People of varying ages and cultures enthusiastically sang traditional carols together, many doing so in broken, heavily accented English. I vividly remember sitting towards the back of the church, taking it all in, with a wide grin on my face. I recall thinking that Christmas brings out the best in people. Example: a very classy elderly French lady sat next to me, and I remember her literally jumping to her feet and singing loudly during the French verses of an international rendering of "The 12 days of Christmas." That would be considered very "un-French" like behavior on a normal night, but this night was special.

Fast-forward the memories three years, to today. We now live in this beautiful city, and we're on the eve of the annual Carols service once again. For those of you who reside in or near Lyon, please join us! It's this Sunday, December 1 at 4:00 pm at Temple du Change in Vieux Lyon. Warm up your voice and be sure to bring your Christmas cheer!

My 3 Thanksgivings

This morning I read this promise from Jesus in the Bible: "...there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms for my sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age..." These words brought great comfort. Today is Thanksgiving in America, and I miss my family terribly. But even where loss dwells, God showers blessings: he's given me three Thanksgivings this year.

Thanksgiving #1: ICCL
Our church celebrates Thanksgiving each year in mid-November with a potluck luncheon before the Sunday afternoon worship service. Like us, the founding pastors of the ICCL (International Christian Community of Lyon) are also Americans. Many years ago, after inviting French families to celebrate Thanksgiving with them in their homes, they discovered that internationals really enjoy the concept of a festive holiday centered around gratitude. At church, we're constantly giving thanks to God for his manifold blessings; it makes perfect sense to combine the custom of a Thanksgiving meal with our worship. Our meal is hardly an "all-American" feast, however. The table is filled with foods with distinctly international flavors. We do have the traditional turkey, sweet potatoes, and cranberries...along with Pakistani chicken curry, chrysanthemum tea jelly from east Asia, and of course, French bread.

Thanksgiving #2: Home
Even though the girls have a long school day today, we'll have a "thanksgiving" meal on our own this evening. I plan to get a rotisserie chicken, and I'll fix my grandmother's escalloped pineapple, mashed potatoes, and green beans. For dessert my girls requested chocolate chip cookie bars -- they aren't big fans of pumpkin pie. Growing up, my family's tradition was to go around the table after dinner and share the one thing we were most thankful for that year. I hope to Skype in during my parent's meal (usually a late lunch, so the timing should work out well) so we can continue the tradition long-distance.

Thanksgiving #3: American Club
On Saturday we plan to participate in Lyon's American Club annual thanksgiving meal. It's another potluck -- still more pineapple and cranberry dishes to prepare. I look forward to meeting more Americans living in this city. I think about 20 families are expected to attend.

So as you can see, I'm not missing out on Thanksgiving. Actually I'm just extending the festivities -- before, during, and after the actual date! I hope and pray that everyone out there has a blessed Thanksgiving. Remember, there is a lot to be thankful for!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Baby, it's cold outside

The celsius scale makes sense: zero for freezing, 100 for boiling. But even after four months in Lyon, it's so strange to read the temperature in celsius. Yesterday's high was 1. That's right, one! Brrrrrr...on any scale, that just sounds cold to this southern gal.

We officially got our first snowfall of the year on Wednesday. Nothing stuck "in town" near the rivers,  although the snowflakes slowly floating down were beautiful. However, the suburbs just a few miles west of town saw several inches of snow. Some of our friends posted a picture of their yard:

Yesterday, the girls reported that it hailed & sleeted a couple of inches at their school. The teenage boys were so excited to see the white stuff -- you couldn't really call it snow -- that they ran outside during a break and made "sleet-balls." (Which, of course, they delightedly threw at all the girls).

Ahhh, the joys of winter. I have to admit there is an excitement in the air, as the days get shorter, the street lights come on sooner, and Christmas decorations start to appear in shop windows. Even as I complain on one hand about the weather, on the other hand it's energizing. After getting bundled up in my thick winter clothing, briskly walking down the streets of Lyon, I'm stimulated by the crisp air. I think I'm ready for a winter wonderland!

A grocery bag filled with Home

Today Greg arrived home with a cooler in one hand and a large, heavy grocery bag in the other. I expected the cooler: we had made arrangements for two frozen turkeys to be delivered for our church's Thanksgiving celebration. But the other bag was a question mark. When I asked him what was inside, he grinned. "It's some Thanksgiving treats from Dan," he answered, taking the bag into the kitchen. Dan is a fellow pastor from Marseilles, and he was our source for the turkeys. Apparently, he has access to other American goodies, too, because inside the bag we found all sorts of familiar comfort foods. The girls and I excitedly unpacked the treasures: Pepperidge Farms stuffing mix, canned cranberry sauce, creamed corn, pumpkin pie filling, craisins, brownie mix, and light brown sugar. Best of all (causing actual squeals and jumps for joy), we discovered a package of Nestle's chocolate chips and a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies!

It's not as if we can't find these things here in France, but A) you often have to pay through the nose for them, and B) they just don't seem to taste the same. Take chocolate chips, for example. Yes, they are available in most grocery stores -- but there must be a slight difference in the recipe, because they just don't have the same flavor. Not a bad flavor by any means, it's just different.

Opening that bag today launched a passionate dialogue about foods we missed from "back home."

Lori: I really miss all the unhealthy foods -- chimichangas, nachos with beef and cheese and beans, the foot long hot dogs from Sonic...
Lindsey: Waffle fries from Chick-fil-A!
Me: I thought you didn't like waffle fries?
Lori: No, that's Dad. We just don't like the ones that still have the skin on them.
Me: What else do you miss?
Lori: BBQ, hushpuppies, oooh, oooh, egg rolls!
Lindsey (loudly): Dunkin donuts! Milkshakes! Oh yeah, frozen yogurt...FRO YO!!!"
Lori: I miss going to get slushies with Taylor.
Lindsey: But you don't even like slushies!
Lori: I know, but it's Taylor.

It seems that food is more than just physical nourishment. Food links us to the places, the people, and the events that are important in our memories and dear to our hearts. I've already written about all the amazing foods that we've enjoyed here in France. And when we leave this place someday, I'm sure we'll have the same nostalgia-filled dialogues about baguettes, pain au chocolat, brie, raclette, chocolate mousse....

I think it's time for a little snack. Where are those chocolate chip cookies?

Raclette

Last year during a visit to Lyon, some friends of ours invited us over for dinner. It was a bitterly cold night, perfect weather for introducing us to a dish called "raclette." This hearty meal originated from the mountainous regions of France and Switzerland, and typically consists of melted cheese, sliced meats, potatoes, and bread. (Customarily, this meal was prepared over an open fire, and I imagine it provided a lot of warmth and conviviality during the frigid Alpine winters.) Our friends had described it to us as "similar to fondue" when they extended the invitation, so at first Greg was not excited (his usual response to "fondue" is "fon-don't!"). He was pleasantly surprised at how delicious raclette turned out to be.

Our friends prepared the meal directly at the table. They had a special raclette machine which included six miniature griddles called "coupelles." Sliced charcuterie selections (dried meats, salami, ham, etc.) and cheese are put on the coupelles and then placed under the electric grill to melt and brown the cheese. Then the cheese/meat concoction is scraped off the coupelles and onto potatoes or slices of bread. The term raclette is derived from the French verb for "to scrape," racler.

When these dear friends moved back to the U.S. from Lyon, we were the happy recipients of their raclette machine. Yesterday was one of those cold, blustery, rainy days -- an "Eeyore" day -- so I considered it to be the perfect opportunity to inaugurate the raclette maker. It was a big success. Since you're creating the meal together as a family, the activity seems to stimulate animated conversation and laughter. The machine even provides extra warmth for the table! Lori claims that this is now her new favorite dinner. It's a very hearty meal, though -- not good for my waistline -- so I'll have to practice moderation!

Ingredients: bread, charcuterie, cheese, potatoes

Step 1: Place meat & cheese onto coupelles

Step 2: Place coupelles under the grill.
Bread can be warmed on top of the hotplate.

Step 3: Scrape the melted cheese onto potatoes or sliced bread.

Step 4: Enjoy! Bon appetit!

Giving Thanks Day 31: Everything

One of my favorite set of Bible verses is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

This month of giving thanks has taught me that there are many things to be thankful for, I just have to be looking out for them. This month I gave thanks for simple things, like balconies and picnics. I gave thanks for silly things, such as scarves and google translate. I gave thanks for the people who are most dear to me: my husband, children, and parents. I even gave thanks for difficult things, like tears and going to the prefecture. In each of these daily blogs, I learned lessons on gratitude. I learned that it opens the door to joy. That it takes watchfulness and intentionality. That intimate prayer often follows thanksgiving.

So today, as the calendar turns to November, I give thanks for, well...everything!

(I must admit, although I plan to continue giving thanks in my heart every single day, I'm also going to be thankful for a short rest from writing daily posts.)

...give thanks in ALL circumstances....

Giving Thanks, Day 30: Surviving the Prefecture

It's easy to give thanks for pleasant experiences. It takes a mature person to give thanks for fiery trials. Like today, for example - I give thanks for the unpleasant experience of going to the prefecture.

I'm (halfway) kidding about the horrors of the prefecture (which is the government administrative office of France). It's definitely not fun, but it's hardly a fiery trial. Please forgive me for comparing a two-hour ordeal to the much more serious matters taking place in our world today.

But back to the topic at hand. Let me describe for you the prefecture's office. If you're from the U.S., imagine your worst experience at the DMV, multiply that by 10, and you have an idea of what it's like to go to the prefecture. (The first time we visited Lyon, a friend of ours had to go to the prefecture, and Greg went along for the ride. Afterwards he came back to our hotel and said, simply, "We're never moving to this country.") This office handles all the administrative duties of the national government, and is responsible for distributing such things as identity cards, driver's licenses, passports, residency permits, work permits, student permits, and vehicle registrations. They also manage the police forces and firefighters, and they oversee the creation/dissolution/modifications of all associations in France.

There are only about 100 prefects in France, so you can imagine the enormous lines that form as people try to get the different governmental services they need. Today I had the pleasure of standing in one of those lines. We were required to get documentation for our daughters called "documents de circulation pour  étrangers mineurs." There was a long list of things we needed to bring with us, such as birth certificates (translated into French by a certified specialist), justification of our domicle, our passports and "titres de séjour", verification of school enrollment, two identity photos, etc., plus extra photocopies of everything. We also had to purchase special fiscal stamps in advance from a tabac (convenience store), and special self-addressed envelopes from the poste.

I had heard what a nightmare the prefecture could be, so I came prepared with my French homework and a book to read to help me pass the time while I waited in line. Taking advice from others, I arrived an hour before the line opened. When I got there, I was horrified to see a long line already snaking from the front door around the corner. Thankfully, there was a separate and much shorter line for the étrangers mineurs. (In the past, there were no separate lines for different services; you just had to brave it out and wait in one huge wedge. So things are definitely improving.) The hour went by fairly quickly, and before I knew it, I was able to get a numbered ticket that held our place in yet another line. I'll spare you the boring details, but suffice it to say that eventually we jumped through all the hoops of getting their documentation completed.

All in all, the experience really wasn't that bad. But I am thankful that it's over...until next year, when we have to stand in the really long line to get our titres de séjour renewed.

Giving Thanks, Day 29: Our Balcony

Apartment living has many advantages, but there are a few drawbacks too. Advantages: Convenient to everything. Friendly neighbors. No mowing (Greg's favorite perk). Disadvantages: Two flights of stairs. Noisy street. Lack of privacy. No yard for barbecuing or just hanging out.

Even though I've missed having a yard (besides the upkeep), I have found a small way to experience the outdoors: our petite balcony. This balcony runs the entire length of our apartment, but is extremely narrow. We're just able to fit two folding chairs face-to-face. Still, it's great for enjoying a morning cup of coffee, or a glass of wine in the evenings.

The balcony overlooks a busy main street in our district. I love to sit out on the balcony and people-watch. It's fun to observe people walking briskly down the street, on their way to shops, to work, or to school. Others jog or walk their dogs. We see people riding on bikes, scooters, motorcycles, and skateboards. One night I even saw a group of about 50 people on roller-skates! Below us, just across the street, is a little cafe. The "regulars" camp out for hours, slowly sipping cups of coffee or mugs of beer. Most days, there's a guy that hangs out with his bulldog. He moves from table to table, conversing with the other patrons. They all seem to know him well.

Sometimes, you aren't really thankful for little things until they are missing from your life. It's going to be that way with our balcony. The weather is turning colder, and I imagine that we'll be putting the chairs out less and less as the winter months settle in. Every once in a while, though, I plan to brave the cold. I'll wrap up in a couple of warm blankets, brew my coffee extra-hot, and watch the world go by.

Giving Thanks, Day 28: My Parents

Hi Mom & Dad,
It was great to talk to you this evening on the phone! I'm so glad that I can call you from France from time to time -- I should take advantage of that more. I always enjoy our conversations.
Thanks so much for supporting me in so many ways. You have always been there for me. Even when you weren't exactly happy that we were moving so far away, you gave me your full support and encouragement. Your love has sustained me through trying times.
I really miss visiting you in person -- I miss playing games, taking walks, and eating meals together. Being this far away is tough. But I know that it will make each time that we're able to visit in the future even more special.
I love you very much, Mom & Dad, and I thank God for you each and every day!

Giving Thanks, Day 27: Friends for my daughters

Before we moved to France, Greg and I prayed especially hard that our daughters would make good friends. Praise God -- our prayers have been answered. Lindsey really enjoys hanging out with a sweet American girl from our church, and this week she has also spent some time with a French girl that lives upstairs in our apartment building. Lindsey seems to be quite popular in her class at school, too. She is so tall compared to the rest of the students in her grade, that people took notice of her immediately. Lindsey has worked this to her advantage, and her gentle, sweet spirit has attracted many new friends.

Lori has also met wonderful girls at school. Since we live in a central location near a metro stop, our house has become a hangout spot from time to time. This enables us to get to know Lori's friends, and we're very pleased with the choices she's made. Her circle of friends includes girls from the U.S., Haiti, and Portugal.

Another group of friends that Lori enjoys are the college-age students that attend our church. Almost every Sunday after church, you can find several of these girls hanging out at our house to eat and watch movies or talk. Greg and I usually retreat to our room after a while, and we enjoy listening to the sounds of laughter coming from the living room. I'm so grateful for these girls, who are really serving as role models to our daughters of young Christian women: they are fun, funny, smart, and beautiful inside and out. They love God, and their joy is contagious.

Tonight I give thanks to God for blessing our girls with sweet friends in France.

Giving Thanks, Day 26: Provence, a photo journal

Thank you, everybody, for putting up with my cop-out of a blog post yesterday. I was tired out from yesterday's day trip to Arles and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. We got in the car at 9:30 and headed south from Lyon, and in about an hour we were driving through the region of Provence. I was amazed at how much the countryside reminded me of the Texas Hill Country, with its shrubby greenery, wide open bright blue skies, and rugged cliffsides.

Our first destination was the small, quaint town of Arles. The girls love Vincent Van Gogh, and wanted to see where he produced many of his famous paintings, including Starry Night Over the Rhone. After we toured the old city, we made a spontaneous journey to the Mediterranean Sea -- just because we could! Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer was about a 30-minute drive from Arles. It seemed a bit like the Galveston of the Mediterranean. I'm sure that the French Riviera boasts more spectacular views, but I quite enjoyed the unpretentious beach-bum feel of this cute village. We spotted numerous horseback riding stables, one after the other, on the road towards the sea. I believe there are also wild horses that roam this area, similar to those in the Outer Banks area of N.C.

Once again, I'm thankful that we had the opportunity to take some time to explore our new country. Here are some photos from our trip that will give you a glimpse of our adventures!

2,000 year old Roman Arena

The view from the city wall looks down on the signature red-tiled roofs of Provence

A Roman theatre from 1st century B.C. which once seated 10,000. These columns are all that remain of a 3-story stage wall.

Van Gogh fans might recognize this cafe. It used to be white but has been painted a garish yellow to match Van Gogh's imagination. (A copy of the painting stands where Van Gogh had set up his easel)

Relaxing at the Place de la Republique

I love the bright blue shutters which are so typical of Provencial architecture!

Another typical scene in Arles - narrow, winding cobblestone passageways

The Hotel de Ville (town hall) of Arles is behind them

Another Van Gogh site

St. Trophime Church, named after a 3rd-century bishop of Arles. The Romanesque main entrance is spectacular!

The beach at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. A chilly wind whipped straight from the Mediterranean! 

Lori enjoying the Mediterranean sunset

Giving Thanks, Day 25: sweet dreams

Tonight I briefly give thanks for my bed. It's very comfy, and it's calling my name.

We had a long and invigorating expedition today, and I'll be sure to post about it tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Giving Thanks, Day 24: PRD

Our mission organization, ReachGlobal, places a strong emphasis on health. They believe that in order to have a healthy ministry, leaders must themselves be healthy individuals. As part of that commitment to mental and spiritual health, RG requires its missionaries to take a "personal retreat day," or "PRD" once a month. This is a time set aside for prayer, planning, and spiritual renewal. The parameters are flexible. Basically, the idea is to do whatever it takes to get away from the demands of daily life and ministry so that you can focus on what is truly important.

I've been practicing a monthly PRD for a few years now, and I can honestly say that it's one of the best habits I've ever started. Today was my PRD for October. I spent time walking along the streets of Lyon, praying for the city and our church. Then I went inside St. John's Cathedral and prayed some more. Afterwards, I sat in the blissfully warm sunshine with my journal and calendar, and did some strategic planning for the future.

It's very simple to set aside a day or even a half-day per month to do this. I recommend it to everyone, no matter what your job description entails. However, though it's simple, that doesn't mean it's easy. Many things and people place demands on our time. It's actually very hard to block off a period on the calendar for a PRD, and say "no" to other things -- good things -- that vie for our attention. It seems selfish. But from personal experience I can honestly say that it's one of the most unselfish things you can do. Every time I have a PRD, I come away with a greater sense of purpose, a more charitable spirit, and a fresh outlook on life. It's a time to hit the spiritual "reset" button and receive God's grace anew.

Thank you, God, for encouraging me today through my PRD!

Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon

Giving Thanks, Day 23: My husband

Every single day I give thanks to God for my husband. Greg is the kindest person I know. He has enormous amounts of patience and grace -- he never points out my faults, though I have many.

Greg, today I say to you that I don't know what I'd do without you by my side. You have always thought of me and the girls above yourself. You serve us with quiet, gentle strength. You stand by your convictions. I thank God that He has called you to serve Him, and that you obey Him wholeheartedly.

I love your quirky sense of humor, your willingness to be spontaneous and adventurous, your desire to do your best.  I love that family is your top priority, and I love that you protect "date night" each week on the calendar. I love that we can be equally as happy whether doing something grand and exciting, or just sitting on the patio drinking a cup of coffee together. I love you.

Giving Thanks, Day 22: Getting Away

This afternoon we took the car (a rare event) and drove to Perouges, a medieval town about 30 km northeast of Lyon. The well-preserved buildings date back to the 13th-15th centuries. On weekends, vendors and artisans dress in period clothing. It was quiet today, a Tuesday, but nonetheless we enjoyed wandering the narrow cobblestone streets and exploring the church, museum, and shops. I'm thankful for this chance to "get away" today with the family.

Giving Thanks, Day 21: School breaks

One thing France knows how to do well is vacations. The average worker in France gets 37 paid vacation days a year, according to the World Tourism Organization. French school children, too, get more holidays and breaks than American kids. And they are well-deserved.

The last six weeks have been like a pressure cooker. You know what a pressure cooker does...it slowly builds up steam in a tight container, causing both the pressure and the temperature to rise, and cooking food very quickly. The girls have had a heavy workload at school, and lots of homework on nights and weekends. I think they felt just about "cooked"...and then we got the news that there would be a two-week vacation for the Toussaint holiday.

It was so nice for them to wake up this morning gradually, without the alarm clock. It was equally as nice for me! I also appreciated having conversations with them that didn't involve schoolwork. It turned out to be a beautiful day, so we walked to the park and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon together. We had "pizza & movie night" tonight, simply because we could: no homework is due tomorrow.

We are hoping to take a couple of day trips during the school break, possibly to Provence and the Beaujolais. Now we're just content to relax and enjoy the time off. Only 10 days are left in my "thankful month" experiment, and I'm so thankful that each one of these will be non-school days!

Giving Thanks, Day 20: Church is the people, not the place

Tonight I'm grateful for our church, the ICCL. We met in a different location today, because our normal facility was being used for another event. This facility was amazing -- the sanctuary had a stage and a permanent sound system, a kitchen, and several classrooms for Sunday school and nursery. In our normal facility, we must set up and tear down the sound system and chairs each week. Our Sunday school is set up in a little shack of a building behind the main worship area. We don't have all the bells and whistles, but there is a refreshing authenticity to our humble little church building. When we gather together, it's intimate. We can hear each other's voices as we sing worship songs together. There's no pretension; no standing on ceremony. It's just a come-as-you-are group of Christ followers worshiping God together.

I really appreciated the facility we were able to use today. The church that owns it was extremely generous to open it up to us. It was great to have extra comforts, such as the use of additional rooms for the Children's ministry. However, worshiping there today also helped me appreciate what we currently have, too. You see, this church wasn't "home." Being in a different place reminded me that a good church isn't about having the latest technology or the most comfortable chairs. A good church is about the people. And we have great people at the ICCL.

One of those people is Darren, a friend we met on our very first visit to Lyon back in 2010. He and his family lived in Lyon for three years, and they just moved back to the States -- literally on the same day that we moved here. Although our physical paths don't cross very often, our families have remained friends from the start. They have been extremely generous to us in so many ways, and it's not exaggerating to say that we wouldn't be in Lyon right now were it not for Darren and his family. This week Darren is back in Lyon for a few days on a business trip. After worshiping with us this evening, Greg and I went to dinner with Darren and we caught up on each others' lives.

Darren and Michelle, Greg and I are so grateful for you and your investment in the ICCL and in us personally. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Giving Thanks, Day 19: Picnics

As a gift for one of our early wedding anniversaries, long, long ago, Greg gave me a picnic backpack. It's the coolest thing: it has a place setting for two, complete with real silverware and linens, a cheese knife and cutting board, an insulated section to keep your food cold, and even a padded wine bottle holder. We used it just a couple of times early in our marriage, but as the years went on, we found less and less opportunities for it. It gathered dust in our attic for a few years, and then I even tried to sell it in garage sales -- more than once. For whatever reason, though, nobody ever bought it.

The backpack didn't make the "cut" for the list of things to bring to France. At the last minute, we added one more odd-sized box on our pallet for a few of Lori's things, and we had some extra room. So the backpack became somewhat of a stowaway and made the long voyage across the Atlantic.

Somehow in the back of my subconscious I knew that the picnic backpack would resurrect itself in France. This evening Greg and I took advantage of a clear, warm night and dusted off the picnic backpack. We went to our little corner grocery store and loaded up on brie, salami, taboule, and a bottle of Bordeaux. Then we went to the bakery across the way and got a whole grain baguette and a pastry for dessert. Ten minutes later, we were picnicking on the quai of the Rhone River, with a fantastic view of Hotel Dieu against a backdrop of a gorgeous sunset.

The view from our picnic spot tonight

Tonight, I'm thankful for a wonderful evening, thanks to the fact that nobody bothered to buy that picnic backpack at any of our garage sales.