Gracey took this picture the other day. Apparently Esther was felt the need to pucker up.
It's a beautiful day here. All is calm in the French Alps.
Hope you have a great day.
sf
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
We are off to a flying start here this week. School has just this week left and then we have a 2 week break. The kids are doing their thing, and Janice just got back from a shopping trip.
Now that we have food, nobody's gonna starve or anything so the kids are happy.
Nothing earth shattering to report here. Just enjoying our time.
Have a great week.
sf
Now that we have food, nobody's gonna starve or anything so the kids are happy.
Nothing earth shattering to report here. Just enjoying our time.
Have a great week.
sf
Friday, February 8, 2008
Have you ever....
Have you ever exclaimed, "Hey, this stupid thing doesn't work!" only to find that the only thing that was 'stupid' was you?
Well, yesterday, while eating lunch - or really, I should say, while trying to eat lunch - Gracey made such a remark. She was trying to eat some leftover pork chops from the previous night's dinner but was having trouble cutting said pork chops. After diligently attempting to cut them for several seconds she blurted out, "Mom, this dumb knife won't cut!" Janice took one look at Gracey holding the knife and said, "That's because you need to flip it over. You're cutting with the wrong edge." We all burst out laughing - even Gracey.
You know, the exact same thing happens to me a lot with the French language. I have noticed that I'll often hear the words being spoken but for some reason I either cannot understand them or I hear the correct words but assign the wrong meaning to them. Either way, I end up confused and frustrated. It is especially maddening when I finally do comprehend and I realize that I struggled with something as basic as, for example, the time of day.
Such is our life right now as we endeavor to learn French. Pray for us, we need it.
A Demain.
sf
Well, yesterday, while eating lunch - or really, I should say, while trying to eat lunch - Gracey made such a remark. She was trying to eat some leftover pork chops from the previous night's dinner but was having trouble cutting said pork chops. After diligently attempting to cut them for several seconds she blurted out, "Mom, this dumb knife won't cut!" Janice took one look at Gracey holding the knife and said, "That's because you need to flip it over. You're cutting with the wrong edge." We all burst out laughing - even Gracey.
You know, the exact same thing happens to me a lot with the French language. I have noticed that I'll often hear the words being spoken but for some reason I either cannot understand them or I hear the correct words but assign the wrong meaning to them. Either way, I end up confused and frustrated. It is especially maddening when I finally do comprehend and I realize that I struggled with something as basic as, for example, the time of day.
Such is our life right now as we endeavor to learn French. Pray for us, we need it.
A Demain.
sf
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Con-Trails and Random Thoughts
It's a beautiful day here in the Big A. Lots of blue sky, mild temperatures, and several hot air balloons floating around. It all makes for a beautiful scene, especially with the Alpes in the background.
You know, after spending over 5 months here I have noticed that the skies over Albertville seem to always be filled with the con-trails of passenger jets. I have counted upwards of 8 or 10 in the sky at any one time. In fact, right now, I can look out our window and see the characteristic white line being drawn accross the sky by a jumbo jet speeding to its destination. I wonder what the people on the plane are doing and thinking right now? I wonder if I know any of them or if I'll one day run into one or two. Of course, there's really no way to know the answer to any of those questions but it does bring up a good point.... We never know who our paths will cross with those of other people. People we may or may not know. People with whom we may or may not share common experiences, world views, or religions. But, no matter how many of those things we do, or don't, have in common we all have a responsibility to leave those people better off for having spent some time with us than they would have been if our paths had never crossed.
That was essentially Jesus' message to those that heard him tell the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10. I think we all want to be "Good Samaritans" but we often don't have the will to follow through.
As we've lived here in France I have come to really appreciate those "Good Samaritans" who have gone out of their way to help us. They've made us feel special and have really shown us God's love. I think we all have a better understanding of Jesus' story in Luke. We certainly have lived it from the perspective of the bruised and beaten man. And, now that we have our legs under us (as it were) we can take advantage of the opportunities we have to be "Good Samaritans" to others and with no strings attached.
Let's all strive to touch other people's lives in a meaningful way this week.
Thinking of all of you.
sf
You know, after spending over 5 months here I have noticed that the skies over Albertville seem to always be filled with the con-trails of passenger jets. I have counted upwards of 8 or 10 in the sky at any one time. In fact, right now, I can look out our window and see the characteristic white line being drawn accross the sky by a jumbo jet speeding to its destination. I wonder what the people on the plane are doing and thinking right now? I wonder if I know any of them or if I'll one day run into one or two. Of course, there's really no way to know the answer to any of those questions but it does bring up a good point.... We never know who our paths will cross with those of other people. People we may or may not know. People with whom we may or may not share common experiences, world views, or religions. But, no matter how many of those things we do, or don't, have in common we all have a responsibility to leave those people better off for having spent some time with us than they would have been if our paths had never crossed.
That was essentially Jesus' message to those that heard him tell the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10. I think we all want to be "Good Samaritans" but we often don't have the will to follow through.
As we've lived here in France I have come to really appreciate those "Good Samaritans" who have gone out of their way to help us. They've made us feel special and have really shown us God's love. I think we all have a better understanding of Jesus' story in Luke. We certainly have lived it from the perspective of the bruised and beaten man. And, now that we have our legs under us (as it were) we can take advantage of the opportunities we have to be "Good Samaritans" to others and with no strings attached.
Let's all strive to touch other people's lives in a meaningful way this week.
Thinking of all of you.
sf
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Late Night in Albertville
A lazy, late night here in Albertville. We are all just getting off to bed right now. Janice is in one of the kid's rooms, saying goodnight. And, I'm in our room banging out this message while Ethan sleeps beside me and Alex is in Tawnee's bed. Oh yeah, Esther is in her crib and there's a bed on the floor just in case one of the other children decides it's a good idea to sleep with mom and dad in the middle of the night.
Today was a good day. No school! But, I was able to get some work done anyway. And, Janice and I had a nice dinner with some friends. We talked about our faith a bit and about our kids and families. It was a good time. (And, the food was good. We went to a nice Indian restaurant. Strange, though, we were the only ones at the restaurant.)
Tomorrow there is no school either. Janice and some of the kids are going skating. One of my fellow students, who's from Zambia, will be coming over to use our computer while they are gone. The first week here his went belly-up so he comes over here every now and then to comminicate with his wife and family. (Can you imagine comig to France to learn French without your family? That's what he's doing. His wife and 4 kids are still at home in Zambia. I feel sorry for him, and his family.)
Hope you all are having a great day.
A Demain.
sf
Today was a good day. No school! But, I was able to get some work done anyway. And, Janice and I had a nice dinner with some friends. We talked about our faith a bit and about our kids and families. It was a good time. (And, the food was good. We went to a nice Indian restaurant. Strange, though, we were the only ones at the restaurant.)
Tomorrow there is no school either. Janice and some of the kids are going skating. One of my fellow students, who's from Zambia, will be coming over to use our computer while they are gone. The first week here his went belly-up so he comes over here every now and then to comminicate with his wife and family. (Can you imagine comig to France to learn French without your family? That's what he's doing. His wife and 4 kids are still at home in Zambia. I feel sorry for him, and his family.)
Hope you all are having a great day.
A Demain.
sf
Monday, February 4, 2008
Superbowl!
Bonjour!
Payton and I watched the first half of yesterday's Superbowl on French TV. A few of the fellas fixed up a big screen TV and we watched it at the Centre. It was a good first half but I think we watched the wrong half!
We finally rolled into bed at about 2:15 AM. Boy, was I glad that I had taken a 3 hour nap during the afternoon.
The kids and I watched about 1/2 of the commercials on Youtube after lunch today. Some were pretty good but most were just ok. It's kinda strange that the commercials are as much a part of the Superbowl experience as is the game.
Today it is quite cold and rainy. A drop of only a few more degrees and it will begin to snow. As I look out the window here I can see some snow and rain mixed.
The entire student body is going skiing tomorrow. Well, most of us are. A few, like me, are stayig home. Lift tickets are about 25 Euros as are the tickets for any child over 12 years old. By the time we added rental on skiis, boots, and poles the cost is well over 50 Euros per person. That's a lot obviously and add on top of that the cost of buying proper ski apparel... Well, we would've needed to take out a small loan.
So, we'll just hang out here and have fun at home.
Have a great day.
sf
Payton and I watched the first half of yesterday's Superbowl on French TV. A few of the fellas fixed up a big screen TV and we watched it at the Centre. It was a good first half but I think we watched the wrong half!
We finally rolled into bed at about 2:15 AM. Boy, was I glad that I had taken a 3 hour nap during the afternoon.
The kids and I watched about 1/2 of the commercials on Youtube after lunch today. Some were pretty good but most were just ok. It's kinda strange that the commercials are as much a part of the Superbowl experience as is the game.
Today it is quite cold and rainy. A drop of only a few more degrees and it will begin to snow. As I look out the window here I can see some snow and rain mixed.
The entire student body is going skiing tomorrow. Well, most of us are. A few, like me, are stayig home. Lift tickets are about 25 Euros as are the tickets for any child over 12 years old. By the time we added rental on skiis, boots, and poles the cost is well over 50 Euros per person. That's a lot obviously and add on top of that the cost of buying proper ski apparel... Well, we would've needed to take out a small loan.
So, we'll just hang out here and have fun at home.
Have a great day.
sf
Friday, February 1, 2008
Tres Difficile
I have come to understand that learning French is very difficult. It is very humbling to listen to people talk and not be able to understand much of what they are saying. It is equally humbling to know what you want to say but not be able to get it out. Or, to be able to get it out but sound like you have an IQ of about 2.
I can honestly say that 6 years of engineering school was easier than this for me. I have never been this frustrated with anything in my entire life. It's true!
I know, though, that He is able to get me through this. If I focus on only today I know that I'll fail but if I focus on the prize and take this journey step by step then slowly but surely things will improve.
Until next time....
sf
I can honestly say that 6 years of engineering school was easier than this for me. I have never been this frustrated with anything in my entire life. It's true!
I know, though, that He is able to get me through this. If I focus on only today I know that I'll fail but if I focus on the prize and take this journey step by step then slowly but surely things will improve.
Until next time....
sf
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