Thank you very much for praying for my second trip to Paris. After an uneventful flight on Wednesday December 8th, I arrived in Paris early morning the 9th, missing a record snow fall and flight cancellations by only about 10hrs. After dropping off my suitcase at our apartment we are lending to some YW@M m!ss!on@ries, it seemed best to trudge through the slush and ice and pick up my card from the Prefecture to bar any unforseen closures the next day.
I then received my 10 year card with no glitches, hang-ups or hold-ups! After doing a jig of praise and thanks to G0d by Notre D@me, I slipped, skidded and metroed the way to the Monet collection exhibit and celebrated by seeing this rare re-collection of his works on display, without schedule of after-school picking up of kids pressing upon me. A visit I had been dreaming of making since it was announced last Spring. Monet's love of and fascination with the beauty and ever-changing mood and palette of G0d's creation and his consuming passion to capture it on canvas both moved and overwhelmed me. I felt close to G0d, as I do being in nature, as I regarded Monet's works.
Besides being a long-time fan of Monet, I am also a fan of getting together with friends. We enjoy our work that G0d has given us of building relationships and intoducing Parisien friends to Je$us though actions and words. Part of this building and maintaining of all relationships includes regular visits, conversations, and moments together, of course. Besides needing to return to Paris to personally retrieve my 10 year card, my two trips have been useful for tending to and keeping these important relationships going.
My previous trip in October was a week long and was completely filled from morning to night with visits to various friends of ours and our kids. This was very productive but exhausting as well as difficult on the rest of my family having me gone for so long. Al did great and the kids survived, although looking rather unkempt when I viewed them each night via skype. However, they communicated quite clearly to me "there's no one like mom"!
In light of this and also due to less administrative tasks to be done, it seemed wisest to make the December trip as short as possible, and short it was! I had 3 whole days in Paris! Several families I visited very briefly last time, in October, stated that they wanted me to make sure I visited them again and for longer the next trip. When planning my 3 days, it seemed best to go where there were already these open doors and continue to let God lead me as I went. And lead He did!
Thursday evening, I had a great time and meal with neighbors who are "regular" C@thol!cs (vs. the 1/yr "C@thol!cs" in name only). I felt free to talk with them about sp!ritu@l subjects and did my best to answer their questions about the French Ref0rmed chu*rch beliefs and those of other Pr0test@nt d0ctrines, while wishing my B!ble College-trained husband were there to help out!
After taking care of most of the administrative tasks Thursday, Friday morning was spent on domestic tasks, lunch and time of encouragement and prayer with a Japanese Chr!stian artist friend who is married to a non-bel!eving French man. She then helped me shop for French food gifts for our family and friends in America. Our kids are missing much about their life and home in Paris, especially their friends but also the food there and sent me with special requests to bring them back some of their favorites during my last trip there!
These items, I quickly deposited at our apartment, then rushed to go to goûter (afternoon/after-school snack) with a French family to whom we all feel close to pay them and their new baby a visit. Then accompanied them to the Jardin d'Enfants where our 3 kids have attended pre-k and kindergarten for a Christmas performance, seeing and chatting with several people we know. After a brief visit there, I dashed off to have an appetizer with a Senagalese family we know through swim classes. During my October visit, I saw them briefly, and the mother made me promise to see them again and for longer the next time I would come to Paris. So I kept my promise and was glad to hear her say that she was enjoying getting to know me better and wants our families to get together more often to get even better acquainted when we all return to Paris, saying our family is special and so kind to them all.
It was already nearly 8pm and my evening wasn't over yet! From this family, I then slid and skated back to our apartment, changed quickly, met with another neighbor lady whose daughter was in one of my English Clubs and caught the bus to join 6 other neighborhood ladies from the "Moms' Night Out" that I had started last January. We all met at a local restaurant and enjoyed a tasty meal together, seasoned heavily with lively conversation, followed by lavish desserts, a quick photo together and goodbye kisses on the cheeks. I felt very touched by the fact that these ladies had arranged to meet this evening to coordinate with my second trip back to France in order to see me and for me to see them. I was also moved by how all who had had kids in my English Club stated emphatically how much their kids enjoyed learning English with me that they refuse to (or sulk if made to) attend any other English class but mine, and are thus eagerly awaiting our/my return to continue! One mom stated, "It looks like you have your own fan club now, Nicole". How encouraging to hear that my efforts blessed them!
My last day, Saturday, was just as much a whirlwind as the previous 2 days. The morning started early, despite jet-lag and a late night, with coffee with the Marais Ref0rmed Chu*rch concierge. It was wonderful to hear of exciting changes, ideas, number of service growth and growth by births, even to couples formerly unable to conceive children. Even the Sund@y School that I helped get off the ground with some curriculum ideas is growing in numbers. She stated that we would be welcome and wanted to return upon our return next summer, is it is G0d's will.
Meetings to check is all was going well with the YW@M m!ss!on@ries using our apartment, then checking in at the bank, and a late lunch with a dear French Chr!st!an friend going through challenging times filled the rest of the morning. We then went and saw her expo of her artwork at the YW@M owned and run restaurant nearby.
Supper was following yet another open door by accepting a diner invitation to a French pre-Chr!st!an family whose son is a close friend of our son's. After chatting with their sons and saying goodnight, supper included a very interesting conversation, started by the mother about religi0n and why she didn't believe in G0d. She went on to explain to me that her grandmother so tainted and warped her view of G0d, the Cath0lic chu*rch and religi0n by mixing those 3 subjects together with such superstition and scary stories that our friend decided it was all false and rejected all, any truth about G0d along with the lies and superstition-filled stories.
mercredi 29 décembre 2010
mercredi 15 septembre 2010
Clashing blasts of Culture!
Hello again! After a VERY long pause of writing, I will work at beginning again. Though not a writer by nature, this might be a good way to help me think through things and process them- with a small audience!
Since returning to America July 22, I have been "hit" by many cultural differences between my recent home country of France and my former home country, the USA. Some have been funny, others frustrating, some shocking to me.
As a disclaimer, please note these are my personal experiences based on my life in Paris, France and my experiences of some places in the US. I realize that my statements are not true everywhere in the US nor in Paris or France. These observations are not meant to be a negative critique, just a record of my thoughts and experiences as these 2 cultures in me and before me collide.
Here's a few to get started and to clear my mind of almost 3 mo.s of accumulation!
France : small fridges; clean potatoes; dirt-y fruit and veggies; less choices, but ok; many things w/in walking distance; public transportation easy & accessible; small public bathrooms; not often clean bathrooms and often out of soap; people stay after school, church, mailboxes,etc. to talk w/friends or people they know a little; pigeons and their doo everywhere; interesting, even beautiful TV ads; movies and few series on TV; priority on being outside, enjoying nature, weather, neighbors, family as often as possible for any occasion; rarely any a/c; churches small, unpolished, fairly simple in presentation and service; customer service rare; service persons in stores rare; junk food much less/ limited.
USA: big fridges; dirt-y potatoes; squeeky-clean fruits and veggies; unending choices, overwhelming; almost always need a car to get/go anywhere; public transportation?; large, clean public bathrooms; bathrooms almost always have soap, towels, and hand dryers; people rarely seem to have any time, desire or interest in talking after school, church, at mailboxes, etc. for longer than 5-10 min. and mostly w/people already know very well; have only seen pigeons in US big cities and in the county fair!; loud & sometimes bizarre tv ads (ex. "Bob's Bargin Barn"); TV series R us, on almost every main channel- woe to those who missed last season or who've never heard of it!; priority on being inside, despite lovely, big yards in houses older than 5 yrs.; enormous newer houses w/ hardly any yard; "outings" into nature on isolated occasions like the weekend, camping trip, fall hike, etc.; the land of a/c, and extreme a/c; churches big, more polished, professional, sometimes near performance; doing church is an art, a formula, or a recipe it seems; customer service is simply AMAZING & WONDERFUL; service people visible & v.helpful!!!; junk food abounds in stores, on TV ads, anywhere.
Well, take it or leave it, there's some of my initial reactions to experiencing these 2 cultures clashing. The most recent, I've lived in for 12 yrs., the other I lived in for 22 yrs. but not lived here since 2000. Our kids have never experienced life in the US longer than 3 or 4 mo.s (as babies/toddlers) and as older kids never longer than 2 1/2 mo.s. Seeing some of what they've noticed to be different is interesting too.
Today, while returning in the car from a local park, daughter #1 said she prefered living in Paris because their best friends are there. Daughter #2 said she prefered living in Paris too because our home and their toys are there. Our son said he prefered the USA because it's "more funner", with more things to do and taller slides.
Well, thanks for "listening" and thanks for your >5 minutes to spare!
Bisous,
Nicole
Since returning to America July 22, I have been "hit" by many cultural differences between my recent home country of France and my former home country, the USA. Some have been funny, others frustrating, some shocking to me.
As a disclaimer, please note these are my personal experiences based on my life in Paris, France and my experiences of some places in the US. I realize that my statements are not true everywhere in the US nor in Paris or France. These observations are not meant to be a negative critique, just a record of my thoughts and experiences as these 2 cultures in me and before me collide.
Here's a few to get started and to clear my mind of almost 3 mo.s of accumulation!
France : small fridges; clean potatoes; dirt-y fruit and veggies; less choices, but ok; many things w/in walking distance; public transportation easy & accessible; small public bathrooms; not often clean bathrooms and often out of soap; people stay after school, church, mailboxes,etc. to talk w/friends or people they know a little; pigeons and their doo everywhere; interesting, even beautiful TV ads; movies and few series on TV; priority on being outside, enjoying nature, weather, neighbors, family as often as possible for any occasion; rarely any a/c; churches small, unpolished, fairly simple in presentation and service; customer service rare; service persons in stores rare; junk food much less/ limited.
USA: big fridges; dirt-y potatoes; squeeky-clean fruits and veggies; unending choices, overwhelming; almost always need a car to get/go anywhere; public transportation?; large, clean public bathrooms; bathrooms almost always have soap, towels, and hand dryers; people rarely seem to have any time, desire or interest in talking after school, church, at mailboxes, etc. for longer than 5-10 min. and mostly w/people already know very well; have only seen pigeons in US big cities and in the county fair!; loud & sometimes bizarre tv ads (ex. "Bob's Bargin Barn"); TV series R us, on almost every main channel- woe to those who missed last season or who've never heard of it!; priority on being inside, despite lovely, big yards in houses older than 5 yrs.; enormous newer houses w/ hardly any yard; "outings" into nature on isolated occasions like the weekend, camping trip, fall hike, etc.; the land of a/c, and extreme a/c; churches big, more polished, professional, sometimes near performance; doing church is an art, a formula, or a recipe it seems; customer service is simply AMAZING & WONDERFUL; service people visible & v.helpful!!!; junk food abounds in stores, on TV ads, anywhere.
Well, take it or leave it, there's some of my initial reactions to experiencing these 2 cultures clashing. The most recent, I've lived in for 12 yrs., the other I lived in for 22 yrs. but not lived here since 2000. Our kids have never experienced life in the US longer than 3 or 4 mo.s (as babies/toddlers) and as older kids never longer than 2 1/2 mo.s. Seeing some of what they've noticed to be different is interesting too.
Today, while returning in the car from a local park, daughter #1 said she prefered living in Paris because their best friends are there. Daughter #2 said she prefered living in Paris too because our home and their toys are there. Our son said he prefered the USA because it's "more funner", with more things to do and taller slides.
Well, thanks for "listening" and thanks for your >5 minutes to spare!
Bisous,
Nicole
mardi 30 mars 2010
clouds, sun and paradoxes
Hello Friends,
Haven't been on in a couple days, was a good but busy weekend. Al posted photos I promised you of our Spring balcony flowers (includes activities of this weekend)on his facebook, as he joked that they wouldn't be on my blog for another 2 years. True, as I don't know how to post them yet!
Feeling a bit strange this morning. Fatigue from some late nights and long days have coupled with a very grey and cool morning to produce a meloncholic, sleepy and introspective morning. Have found out about myself lately that I don't just like having music on, but very often I NEED music on to work, clean, organize, eat. Music for me is like the wind that moves the clouds of life across the sky of my days.
Often I have to choose my music carefully because if I pick an album too close to my mood, esp. one like today, it can drive me even further into myself and my introspection and meloncholicness. Put on Rich Mullins "Songs" CD this morning to help me get going. Meaty lyrics that are introspecive but also so ordinary, like the things of our days, and borderline meloncholic but seasoned deeply with the hope and grace of Christ. Good stuff.
Found myself wanting to know more than the little I did about this modern-day poet and prophet. Checked out a 6 part video clip on "The Homeless Man" on youtubes about Rich Mullins' life, songs and legacy. Friends said he was desperately afraid of being lonely so he surrounded himself with community. He turned his weaknesses into something positive to serve others as well as himself. Something to learn from.
Aside from Fuzz the guinea pig, I am the only one home so far today (8:45am-1:30pm). Al is out at a meeting, the older 2 kids eat lunch at school today, and the youngest one is eating at a friends' home (as I will be busy with kids' extra-curric. activities this evening and tomorrow). I might be getting a lot done this morning, but instead I am experiencing this loneliness (amplified thanks to the above mood mentioned and seeing all before me to do and trying to decide where to start). Relizing both the blessing and irony of being placed in a big city. It is very difficult, maybe even impossible to go out of my door and down the stairs just to the entry of the apt. building without crossing someone who might say hi to me. Isolation is rather a choice here. I need people contact, yet too much wears me out. It can both energize and drain me. A perplexing paradox.
Even the weather this Spring day is a paradox, the sky is very grey and menacing then 15 min. later, the wind moves the clouds out and sun boldly blazes through the windows. Another 15 min. and the same wind blows the clouds back across the sky.
Stood out on our wonderful little "loggia" (mostly enclosed balcony) watching this process, getting some distant people contant from observing and listening to hear if I could make out sounds of our youngest returning to school with our friends.
Noticed the pot with the amarylis bulb bought from kid's school. First it pushed up 2 stocks with cheerful, red flowers then, one at a time the stocks withered and fell off to the side. Emma noted this and said, "Oh, how sad. The flowers are dead now." Seeing some tips of leaves pushing up in the midst of the dying stocks I told her that it was ok because the leaves would now grow up and feed and recharge the bulb so it would be stronger and have energy to bloom next year.
There's an interesting little paradox in that as well. Part of the plant dies, so another part can grow and feed it for another season. Feeling a bit like that bulb today. Waiting for those leaves to grow further, after the withered part of me (of last year and some of this sch. yr.), to take in the sun and feed me both now and for another season.
The stomach part of me is now starting to take over the contemplitive/ introspective part of me and tell me to eat some lunch and quit this blog. Thank goodness there are different parts of us with different needs otherwise, this blog would get really long- much more than the 5 min. destined for you to skim it!
Have a good, partly cloudy, but also partly SUNNY day!
Haven't been on in a couple days, was a good but busy weekend. Al posted photos I promised you of our Spring balcony flowers (includes activities of this weekend)on his facebook, as he joked that they wouldn't be on my blog for another 2 years. True, as I don't know how to post them yet!
Feeling a bit strange this morning. Fatigue from some late nights and long days have coupled with a very grey and cool morning to produce a meloncholic, sleepy and introspective morning. Have found out about myself lately that I don't just like having music on, but very often I NEED music on to work, clean, organize, eat. Music for me is like the wind that moves the clouds of life across the sky of my days.
Often I have to choose my music carefully because if I pick an album too close to my mood, esp. one like today, it can drive me even further into myself and my introspection and meloncholicness. Put on Rich Mullins "Songs" CD this morning to help me get going. Meaty lyrics that are introspecive but also so ordinary, like the things of our days, and borderline meloncholic but seasoned deeply with the hope and grace of Christ. Good stuff.
Found myself wanting to know more than the little I did about this modern-day poet and prophet. Checked out a 6 part video clip on "The Homeless Man" on youtubes about Rich Mullins' life, songs and legacy. Friends said he was desperately afraid of being lonely so he surrounded himself with community. He turned his weaknesses into something positive to serve others as well as himself. Something to learn from.
Aside from Fuzz the guinea pig, I am the only one home so far today (8:45am-1:30pm). Al is out at a meeting, the older 2 kids eat lunch at school today, and the youngest one is eating at a friends' home (as I will be busy with kids' extra-curric. activities this evening and tomorrow). I might be getting a lot done this morning, but instead I am experiencing this loneliness (amplified thanks to the above mood mentioned and seeing all before me to do and trying to decide where to start). Relizing both the blessing and irony of being placed in a big city. It is very difficult, maybe even impossible to go out of my door and down the stairs just to the entry of the apt. building without crossing someone who might say hi to me. Isolation is rather a choice here. I need people contact, yet too much wears me out. It can both energize and drain me. A perplexing paradox.
Even the weather this Spring day is a paradox, the sky is very grey and menacing then 15 min. later, the wind moves the clouds out and sun boldly blazes through the windows. Another 15 min. and the same wind blows the clouds back across the sky.
Stood out on our wonderful little "loggia" (mostly enclosed balcony) watching this process, getting some distant people contant from observing and listening to hear if I could make out sounds of our youngest returning to school with our friends.
Noticed the pot with the amarylis bulb bought from kid's school. First it pushed up 2 stocks with cheerful, red flowers then, one at a time the stocks withered and fell off to the side. Emma noted this and said, "Oh, how sad. The flowers are dead now." Seeing some tips of leaves pushing up in the midst of the dying stocks I told her that it was ok because the leaves would now grow up and feed and recharge the bulb so it would be stronger and have energy to bloom next year.
There's an interesting little paradox in that as well. Part of the plant dies, so another part can grow and feed it for another season. Feeling a bit like that bulb today. Waiting for those leaves to grow further, after the withered part of me (of last year and some of this sch. yr.), to take in the sun and feed me both now and for another season.
The stomach part of me is now starting to take over the contemplitive/ introspective part of me and tell me to eat some lunch and quit this blog. Thank goodness there are different parts of us with different needs otherwise, this blog would get really long- much more than the 5 min. destined for you to skim it!
Have a good, partly cloudy, but also partly SUNNY day!
jeudi 25 mars 2010
A great party, a wiped-out Wed., & a rainy Thurs.
Hey there Friends,
Tuesday evening Moms' international buffet supper "A Taste de Chez Vous" went WONDERFULLY WELL! We were 10 moms from 6 different countries and many different regions of France represented. The buffet was a bit of a surprise as to who was bringing what, but it all worked out great, and tasty!
We had olives from Portugal, Ranch dip from the states with chips as appetizers. For the main course we feasted on homemade sushi (Japan), blue cheese/spinach quiche (France), fish cresents (Portugal), (not croissants!), my chili, a vegetable salad (Poland), and a simple green salad because we ladies love our salads! The salad also went with bread and 3 different kinds of cheese brought by a Marocan friend! (Can't seem to spell tonight, and can't seem to figure out spellcheck-help!)
Dessert was a fun variety of homemade chocolate cake and orange-zest muffin-type things to store bought Portugese mini flan-type desserts, a variety of mini French dessert pasteries, a Normandy-style rice pudding with cinnamon and a box of vanilla ice cream.
The beverages were just as varied and flowed as easily as conversation does (and did!) between 10 ladies who enjoy a night out with other female friends/ acquintances.
As the title says, we were, nonetheless wiped out Wednesday after saying goodbye to the last guest a midnight then cleaning the rest up and going to bed. We all, but the sea-faring Emma, are fighting some sort of fatigue/cold/virus and layed low (read couch or beds) on Wednesday. Finally at 4pm I was one of the few of us 5 who changed out of pjs and took the well one to dance class.
Most of us are feeling some better today, but Joel's fever is gone and replaced by a very uncomfortable sore throat. Rain, seasoned with dashes of sunshine here and there followed me on 3 of the 4 school runs to Liz's school and a meeting at church. Lovely to see our daffodils and tulips (from a school fundraiser!) coloring our mostly grey day. (will try to post some photos soon)
Noticed a lovely solid wood bed frame, looked antique, at the curb for garbage pick up. Wished I had a place for it and felt it was such a shame that it was thrown away that I actually prayed someone would take it before the trash men did. Then realized that I was spending more time concerned about that bed frame today than I did about issues that really matter, i.e. with eternal value. Stopped praying for the bed frame and chose something different to pray for. :)
Have a great evening and thanks for your 5+ minutes!
Tuesday evening Moms' international buffet supper "A Taste de Chez Vous" went WONDERFULLY WELL! We were 10 moms from 6 different countries and many different regions of France represented. The buffet was a bit of a surprise as to who was bringing what, but it all worked out great, and tasty!
We had olives from Portugal, Ranch dip from the states with chips as appetizers. For the main course we feasted on homemade sushi (Japan), blue cheese/spinach quiche (France), fish cresents (Portugal), (not croissants!), my chili, a vegetable salad (Poland), and a simple green salad because we ladies love our salads! The salad also went with bread and 3 different kinds of cheese brought by a Marocan friend! (Can't seem to spell tonight, and can't seem to figure out spellcheck-help!)
Dessert was a fun variety of homemade chocolate cake and orange-zest muffin-type things to store bought Portugese mini flan-type desserts, a variety of mini French dessert pasteries, a Normandy-style rice pudding with cinnamon and a box of vanilla ice cream.
The beverages were just as varied and flowed as easily as conversation does (and did!) between 10 ladies who enjoy a night out with other female friends/ acquintances.
As the title says, we were, nonetheless wiped out Wednesday after saying goodbye to the last guest a midnight then cleaning the rest up and going to bed. We all, but the sea-faring Emma, are fighting some sort of fatigue/cold/virus and layed low (read couch or beds) on Wednesday. Finally at 4pm I was one of the few of us 5 who changed out of pjs and took the well one to dance class.
Most of us are feeling some better today, but Joel's fever is gone and replaced by a very uncomfortable sore throat. Rain, seasoned with dashes of sunshine here and there followed me on 3 of the 4 school runs to Liz's school and a meeting at church. Lovely to see our daffodils and tulips (from a school fundraiser!) coloring our mostly grey day. (will try to post some photos soon)
Noticed a lovely solid wood bed frame, looked antique, at the curb for garbage pick up. Wished I had a place for it and felt it was such a shame that it was thrown away that I actually prayed someone would take it before the trash men did. Then realized that I was spending more time concerned about that bed frame today than I did about issues that really matter, i.e. with eternal value. Stopped praying for the bed frame and chose something different to pray for. :)
Have a great evening and thanks for your 5+ minutes!
mardi 23 mars 2010
Spring is here and so are more parties !
Hello again Friends!
Thanks for according my blog another 5 minutes of your time. I am honored and wowed!
The offical first day of Spring has come and our balcony and window box tulips and daffodils are in full dress. Wonderful to see.
This morning we had 8 kids for an extra long and extra special English Club. We reviewed vocab for colors and forms, expanded some vocab for pets and added some for farm animals. Then we put many of those words to use coloring eggs for Spring and Easter. It went amazingly well, was calm and no one left colored like an egg themselves! As I try to serve some goodies from America as snack for each English Club time, today I served some Lifesaver Jellybeans and Whopper Robin's eggs (that friends Rita and Ranita brought over for us). Both sweets were a great hit!
After lunch, most of my family got a short nap in as we're either recovering from or are fighting some sort of "bug". Today Joel came down with the high fever/ fatigue "bug" that Emma had on Discovery Class. He sat down on the couch to rest and zonked out about 30 minutes ago. Please pray we all get well soon!
I'm taking a quick pause in the picking-up-and-cleaning-up frenzy while my dear Hubby vacuums. We're having a Mom's night tonight in our home with 6-10 neighborhood moms coming for an international buffet. Each is invited to bring a dish and dance/song from their country/region to share. I'm planning on getting past the cleaning/hidding the junk stage to the making it look pretty for women stage soon. Making my mom's homemade chili, ranch dip and chips, icecream and maybe rootbeer if it's still good (pop does store well, doesn't it?). Hoping and praying all will turn out and be a blessing to these moms/ friends, and that as many as possible can come.
Al and the kids will be cloistered in the back, aiming at bedtime while I dust off the mascara tube, fancy myself and welcome the moms, without their kids. Have had the crazy song in my head, "Well it's ladies' night, and the feelings right. Yes it's ladies' night, oh what a night..." in my head lately! Anyway, on with the day.
Well, there it is. The rest of our day's plan. Hope you have a great rest of your day and thanks for reading!
Thanks for according my blog another 5 minutes of your time. I am honored and wowed!
The offical first day of Spring has come and our balcony and window box tulips and daffodils are in full dress. Wonderful to see.
This morning we had 8 kids for an extra long and extra special English Club. We reviewed vocab for colors and forms, expanded some vocab for pets and added some for farm animals. Then we put many of those words to use coloring eggs for Spring and Easter. It went amazingly well, was calm and no one left colored like an egg themselves! As I try to serve some goodies from America as snack for each English Club time, today I served some Lifesaver Jellybeans and Whopper Robin's eggs (that friends Rita and Ranita brought over for us). Both sweets were a great hit!
After lunch, most of my family got a short nap in as we're either recovering from or are fighting some sort of "bug". Today Joel came down with the high fever/ fatigue "bug" that Emma had on Discovery Class. He sat down on the couch to rest and zonked out about 30 minutes ago. Please pray we all get well soon!
I'm taking a quick pause in the picking-up-and-cleaning-up frenzy while my dear Hubby vacuums. We're having a Mom's night tonight in our home with 6-10 neighborhood moms coming for an international buffet. Each is invited to bring a dish and dance/song from their country/region to share. I'm planning on getting past the cleaning/hidding the junk stage to the making it look pretty for women stage soon. Making my mom's homemade chili, ranch dip and chips, icecream and maybe rootbeer if it's still good (pop does store well, doesn't it?). Hoping and praying all will turn out and be a blessing to these moms/ friends, and that as many as possible can come.
Al and the kids will be cloistered in the back, aiming at bedtime while I dust off the mascara tube, fancy myself and welcome the moms, without their kids. Have had the crazy song in my head, "Well it's ladies' night, and the feelings right. Yes it's ladies' night, oh what a night..." in my head lately! Anyway, on with the day.
Well, there it is. The rest of our day's plan. Hope you have a great rest of your day and thanks for reading!
samedi 20 mars 2010
Updates on the Discovery Class by the Sea
Here's a brief update on Emma and her class by the sea. Up until Wednesday evening, things had been going great for our 6yr. old daughter and her class by the sea. They've visited fish markets, built sand castles, collected creatures and other "treasures" from the beach and the sea, and had class time drawing and learning more about all they have seen and discovered !
However, that evening we got a call from her teacher saying that Emma had a rather high fever (103.4 F) and sore throat. The teacher gave her some medicine and said in a later phone call that the fever seemed to be lower than before and would continue checking on her during rounds up until 1am.
Here is the finally report in the saga of "Emma at the sea" ! (pardon for not emailing yesterday, I have got a head cold and couldn't last anymore).
She returned safely back to school yesterday evening around 6:30pm. She and the rest of the 2 classes and teachers, were all tired but unscathed!
We then retrieved her suitcase, plodded home and celebrated her return with homemade pizza and brownies, 2 of her favorite foods.
Thursday afternoon and evening we received word from her teacher that Emma had slept well, woke with a less intense fever, but had a big enough appetite to down
2 pieces of bread and jam as well as 2 glasses of freshly pressed OJ. Not bad at all! She had more medicine to bring down the fever and was checked out by
a doctor also. Apparently she has a viral sore throat with fever. However she seemed to have quickly recovered and was able to participate in the activities of
their last day at the sea! The teacher also texted me at night to say the fever had not returned. Friday evening she said that just her throat was hurting her, but went to sleep easily.
Emma had lots to talk about yesterday evening and today and was also very proud to show the letters and cards she received during her time in Normandy.
Writing her each day was not only for her sake but for mine as well! It seemed to be a sort of therapy and way to stay connected, even if only one-sided, as phone calls to the kids were not allowed.
Today, Saturday, she and I have been refilling our "hug tanks". I have really been enjoying her spontaneous hugs through out the day and have noticed her hugging her brother, dad and sister,(a bit more as she hugs back more than brother!) during the day as well!
What a relief and joy to have her back home...safely! Thanks for thinking of her and praying for her (and me!).
Hope you have a peaceful sleep tonight as I know we will, having our 6 yr. old back safely in her bed again at home.
(This might've been more than 5 minutes tonight!)
However, that evening we got a call from her teacher saying that Emma had a rather high fever (103.4 F) and sore throat. The teacher gave her some medicine and said in a later phone call that the fever seemed to be lower than before and would continue checking on her during rounds up until 1am.
Here is the finally report in the saga of "Emma at the sea" ! (pardon for not emailing yesterday, I have got a head cold and couldn't last anymore).
She returned safely back to school yesterday evening around 6:30pm. She and the rest of the 2 classes and teachers, were all tired but unscathed!
We then retrieved her suitcase, plodded home and celebrated her return with homemade pizza and brownies, 2 of her favorite foods.
Thursday afternoon and evening we received word from her teacher that Emma had slept well, woke with a less intense fever, but had a big enough appetite to down
2 pieces of bread and jam as well as 2 glasses of freshly pressed OJ. Not bad at all! She had more medicine to bring down the fever and was checked out by
a doctor also. Apparently she has a viral sore throat with fever. However she seemed to have quickly recovered and was able to participate in the activities of
their last day at the sea! The teacher also texted me at night to say the fever had not returned. Friday evening she said that just her throat was hurting her, but went to sleep easily.
Emma had lots to talk about yesterday evening and today and was also very proud to show the letters and cards she received during her time in Normandy.
Writing her each day was not only for her sake but for mine as well! It seemed to be a sort of therapy and way to stay connected, even if only one-sided, as phone calls to the kids were not allowed.
Today, Saturday, she and I have been refilling our "hug tanks". I have really been enjoying her spontaneous hugs through out the day and have noticed her hugging her brother, dad and sister,(a bit more as she hugs back more than brother!) during the day as well!
What a relief and joy to have her back home...safely! Thanks for thinking of her and praying for her (and me!).
Hope you have a peaceful sleep tonight as I know we will, having our 6 yr. old back safely in her bed again at home.
(This might've been more than 5 minutes tonight!)
mardi 16 mars 2010
safe and sound !
Got news yesterday that our daughter and her class arrived safe and sound at the center by the beach!
Today, the principal finally found a moment to post some photos of the classes on the train, at the beach picking up "treasures" that the sea washed up, eating in the cafeteria, and having a snack of 10 baguette loaves and 2 pots of chocolate Nutella spread while sitting on another beach that is rocky. One of the kids was quoted as saying " Nutella at the sea is better than Nutella at home." Liked that !
Couldn't find our girl in any photo easily but think there was her pink coat in a photo of them walking by the center. Will be looking for more tomorrow.
Feeling relieved. Thankfully haven't felt really worried or have had a cry attack since Sunday night. Feeling peaceful, although finding that writing letters to mail each day are a comfort and sort of therapy for me !
Thanks for your 5 minutes to spare !
Going to bed now, sore, dry tickly throat and cough coming on.
Sleep well, whether by the sea, or in the city or elsewhere !
Today, the principal finally found a moment to post some photos of the classes on the train, at the beach picking up "treasures" that the sea washed up, eating in the cafeteria, and having a snack of 10 baguette loaves and 2 pots of chocolate Nutella spread while sitting on another beach that is rocky. One of the kids was quoted as saying " Nutella at the sea is better than Nutella at home." Liked that !
Couldn't find our girl in any photo easily but think there was her pink coat in a photo of them walking by the center. Will be looking for more tomorrow.
Feeling relieved. Thankfully haven't felt really worried or have had a cry attack since Sunday night. Feeling peaceful, although finding that writing letters to mail each day are a comfort and sort of therapy for me !
Thanks for your 5 minutes to spare !
Going to bed now, sore, dry tickly throat and cough coming on.
Sleep well, whether by the sea, or in the city or elsewhere !
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