je suis la

I am back!!! Not that I was really gone that long, but it feels like a while that I was without my computer.

Anyways, a lot, as usual, has been going on in my life over here.

The weather has completely changed and its is so beautiful here. 60's and 70's F and in the sun even warmer. The awesome thing about Paris weather is that its never really THAT hot. All you have to do it duck under a tree and its cool again. I am sitting here writing with my windows open, listening to the sounds of nature and using all the natural light that will pour into my itty bitty room. I rarely use lamps or lights anymore. If anything, the sun is so bright that most afternoons I have to pull down my shutters so my room doesn't burn down.

This weather has also given me a chance to recover from my horrible, no good, very bad week which was how I would describe last week for me. There was not one main thing that happened, just a series of frustrating events, my mind playing mean tricks on me and just uninspired moods. But with this awesome weather has brought some awesome moods which lead to me being productive, positive and living for today, as opposed to sleeping the day away.

I just got back from taking Antoine to foot (soccer) and I was thinking and walking and looking around and it hit me, I realized that THIS is exactly why I love where I am. France in general, but Paris, is just a beautiful place. I know I live in the suburbs which at times can be even more beautiful because there is more green and nature surrounding me, but when it hits spring, the flowers bloom, the trees bloom. DUH Kara. But seriously, being from Houston and then living in Dallas, not much stays alive for too long. There is so much concrete and not much greenery, and if there is, it struggles to stay alive. Here, the grass is green, the flowers are in full bloom, and its just absolutely beautiful. It makes the fact that I have to walk up a steep hill everyday worth it.

Next week I have a week off and I have decided to stay in Paris and in my town. At first I was a little bummed by this decision because its the first GOOD holiday weather since I've been here and I'm staying HERE. WHy not travel? I mean, I traveled when it was snowing outside for Christmas, then I traveled to Italy when it was raining constantly and semi-cold, and now the weather is incredible and I'm not traveling? But you know, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I am going to enjoy spending time in my town without anyone at home to bother me or having to worry about picking up kids or going to French class. I am going to enjoy spending time in Paris uninterrupted without having to worry about finding someone to stay with at night. And I am going to take advantage of this beautiful weather and take day trips. Where you might ask? Oh, just some of the most beautiful places around... I will be returning to Versailles, of coarse. So close and yes, so beautiful! And FREE! (for me) I hope to take a bike with me and explore the gardens that way. And then last fall I took a trip to Giverny to see Monet's Gardens and unfortunately it was already after the weather had changed to fall and the flowers were no longer beautiful, so I am hoping to make a return trip there. Other than that, spring has given me and i am sure the rest of Paris, the motivation and inspiration to get up out of our beds, away from our tv's and computers and go explore and sit at the parks and read books under trees and walk down the Seine, and eat on the patios. Hmm, this is making my mouth water just thinking about it.
So after all, I am no longer down or bummed about not leaving Paris. Actually, I am the complete opposite...looking forward to my wonderful week of bliss ahead!!!

Anyways, later today or tomorrow I plan on taking pictures of the amazing trees and flowers that are blooming all around. It would only be right for me to do this since I have shown you the different seasons as they have come since I have been here. It's incredible to see the changes in seasons since I have never before experienced that. Wow! All I have to say is that God is one incredible God who sends us gifts in the form of beautiful nature constantly. Just take a moment to look around, even in a city such as Houston, there is beautiful nature everywhere, if you take the time to notice.

Well, i miss y'all all dearly but I can't say I want to come home right now, haha. With spring here and summer approaching, I am so excited about the here and now and the upcoming...

Love, me