This is my life

This is my life. I wake up each day reminding myself that! Trying not to take a moment of this adventure for granted. And most days I think I do an okay job of it. I explore, i branch out, i take risks, and on some days i speak french (even though its horrible).

This week came with a few lows and a few highs!! Not a bad way to end week two here in the great country of France! I now have a bank account, I still do not have a working phone (although my current phone situation is not that bad), I started work, I learned a few more french phrases, learned the bus system, still do not have a metro pass (and won't till the end of the month) and made a few new friends.

Today my friend Lisa and I decided to spend the day in Paris, but with no plans. I have this book about Paris that I bought at Half Price books a year or so ago, just to learn more about the city and the monuments, etc and it has become my go-to for everything. I would recommend everyone visiting Paris pick up a copy of this book, although I'm sure there is a new version. Anyways, with this book in hand we made our way into Paris. We stopped at Galeries Lafayette as my host mom told me they have a gourmet grocery store that sometimes has imported items and I am determined to find a Dr. Pepper in this city, so Lisa and I stopped there first. No such luck, but we did both score some lunch and decided to go sit and enjoy it on the steps of l'Opera which was only a block or two away. Then we decided that there is a well known flower market on Ile-de-la-Cite that I had read about and was interested in going to. Um, don't go!!! It was small and very not worth while. The only upside to going to this market (which i'm not even sure that it can be considered a market) was that Notre Dame was not even a block away and while we did not go in, it was pretty to walk by, around and take pictures infront of.  It was a very interesting day of walking around and getting lost in the amazingness of Paris. I felt very carefree to not have a plan or a schedule. We walked to the Ile-Saint Louis and found an amazing ice cream place which is also very expensive and sat down by the Seine with a view of Notre Dame while the sun started to set. We crossed a few bridges and read in my tourist book about them. I am very interested in the bridges of Paris as some of them are quite famous. All in all, we enjoyed each others company, and that was the best part of the day. We also talked about our host families, friends back home, and what things we want to do while we are here in France. We both agree that we want to visit every Metro stop by the end of the year, go to Disneyland Paris (which is on the same RER line that we live off of, just the opposite end, and a few other things).

On the way home, I was on the RER back to Saint Germain and I heard a family of three talking in English with British accents and I started talking to them. They were very kind and engaged in conversation with me for a little bit. They moved to St. Germain a little over a year ago and speak little French. The mom said she was taking French class at the same place as me so hopefully I will run into her there at some point and she also gave me a few other pointers about the area which was very kind of her. Then I was at my bus stop waiting for the bus to go back to Chambourcy and after being there for about 15 minutes minding my own business, a girl that was within a group of girls, poked me on the shoulder and started talking to me. I eventually learned that she and all the other girls are Au Pairs in either Chambourcy or Saint German. One of the girls who is an au pair in Chambourcy recognized seeing me walk my kids to school and so they decided to talk to me. Good thing they did as now I know three au pairs in my town and 2 others in the neighboring town. We exchanged numbers and names and hopefully will meet up tomorrow!!!

In one day I went from having a very small group of friends to possibly having many!! The Lord works in HIS timing as I am constantly reminded. What an awesome God He is! I am very excited about this next year as I found many avenues of places to get involved, met quite a few exciting people and have a rocking familiy!!! It hasn't even been three weeks yet and during the rough times I feel as though I should have everything in order but on days like today when things go great or even better than great, I am reminded ten fold just how Loved I am by the One I serve. I can not have everything together and be just fine! It's ok!!!

I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!!! I am sad to miss an American holiday but know that I celebrated in my own way...enjoying Paris!!! lol.

HAPPY 5th wedding anniversary to my closest and dearest friends, Stephany and Alex!!!

And here are some pictures THANKS to Lisa who let me use her camera more than once today!!

Love, Me

bummer of a flower market

lunch on the steps of l'Opera

Met a cow at Notre Dame :-)

Love the guy in this picture, lol, Lisa and I were doing this at l'Opera earlier in the day. 

Street entertainement

more street entertainment. 

Notre Dame, different view.

And this was earlier in the week but here I am being very French holding (and eating) a baguette. This was in Saint Germain when I met Lisa and we walked around the city centre.