fall 2010 - came and went!

What a fabulous fall it has been! God has blessed me in more ways that I can describe over the last few months. My blog hasn't gotten much love as I've been busy with work, life and learning to press more in to God! I've had two awesome interns for the semester - Sarah and Lydia - who have helped me in more ways than they'll ever know.

September was busy with new groups starting and the joy of seeing old friends as students made their way back to Marseille.

October went by like a flash! Meeting with students, developing the outreach to women and looking for lots of new friends!

November began with a quick trip to Germany for a meeting - then I had the joy of hosting my mom and brother in Marseille for a few days, then joining them for a few days in London. Thanksgivings kept us busy after that. Wow - November was eventful!

December has begun like the others - I was shocked when it arrived and we haven't slowed down at all! While many are busy studying for exams I've been finding new ways to keep myself busy - enjoying physical therapy for my back, beginning to train for my next half-marathon, trying to develop some ways to serve within the city, and spending the last few moments with the interns before they leave on the 14th.

It has been a splendid semester! It is hard to believe that in just a little over 4 months, I'll be back in the States, seeing family and searching for a job yet again. I'm praying that God's grace would continue to cover me and prepare me for all that is next!

Christmas plans - a very cold trip to Central Asia - we'll see how I do (o:

spain - la deuxième fois

In an attempt to catch up on the events of the summer I need to back up about a month and take you to Spain. We had a company meeting in Madrid and then I was able to stay with some wonderful friends in Barcelona for a few days and see the city!

Madrid: I had a wonderful time! The night of our arrival in the city was the World Cup finals so a group of us went to the center of town and watched it the way any true Spaniard would have - in the streets with 1 million of our closest friends on one of 5 giant screens! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Madrid also served as a time to connect with colleagues, learn about how to be more effective at our jobs, and just spend time with each other - laughing - mostly! I was able to do a little walking around the city one afternoon and even saw the location of the Spanish Inquisition, a palace, point zero, and ate at Taco Bell and TGI Fridays! Great visit!

Barcelona: What a fabulous time we had in Barcelona! I stayed with a great couple there who have a son that I know from church in the States. They graciously welcomed me into their home and were fabulous hosts! Galen was also in Barcelona, so we met up during the day to see the sights! And wow, were there some sights to see! We enjoyed a self-guided tour of the city via metro and bus to see the architectural works of Antoni Gaudi - where we get the word gaudy! We saw the arc de triomphe in the city, a park that Gaudi designed, a very old hospital with amazing architecture, a main street with "human statues" (people who dress up and stand very still - just like a statue - incredible to watch). I went with the couple I stayed with to a Greek theater and we saw a very interesting dance and musical performance - very thought provoking! Galen and I also went to a castle on top of a hill overlooking the city. It was built in the 1800's and until recently still used to house military and supplies - it is now a museum. It was nice - just much younger than we anticipated. The last day I enjoyed a beautiful afternoon on the beach! The beaches are sandy and much wider than in Marseille - it was a great trip!

what is love

I think it is easy in our culture today to find different definitions of what love is. I've heard some say it is "never having to say you're sorry" or that "love is friendship set on fire." Even popular authors of the last two centuries chime in on what love is.

"Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired." - Mark Twain

So what do you say that love is?

In my scripture reading this morning I ran across a verse that really struck me. I've read other passages in the Bible about what love is - "God is love" - or vice versa - love is God. This is true. Indeed He is the author of love. Today's verse sort of expands on this idea in a way that is applicable to our lives.

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."

2 John 1:6

While this explanation may seem to be vastly different than 1 John 4:16 "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him," I would argue that not only is it not different, but it is remarkably the same. As we walk with God - grow closer to him through our study of scripture, prayer, and fellowship with others who also believe - we are being transformed into His likeness. If His likeness is love, then will we not be transformed into a way of life that is motivated by love?

I've found this to be true - when I spend time with God by reading the scriptures and praying - my thoughts, motivations, and actions are founded in His love and strength rather than mine. So, to "walk in love" I must 'walk' with Him - I must do what His Word says. If I am obedient to His Word - how can I help but "walk in love."

cinqe terre, italy

This is a bit late in being posted - as we went to Cinqe Terre, Italy back at the beginning of June, however, the pictures are so beautiful that I can't neglect to post them in this space. Galen and his brother kindly invited me to join them on their trip (I'd planned to go a few weeks later, but plans had changed and I wouldn't be going)! We rented a car and drove the 5 hours to La Speza, Italy where we parked the car and trained to the first of the five tiny towns along the western Italian cost.

We had dinner at a cute little restaurant and I ordered the gnocchi with pesto sauce. Incredible!!! I was able to secure a bed in a hostel the first night and before I went to sleep my hostel-mates arrived - all of which currently attend Texas A&M. It was quite a humorous situation - my burnt orange blood surrounded by the maroon and white - but I had a great time getting to know the students and swiftly falling asleep!

The next morning we hiked for a number of hours - up and down hills - up and down stairs - in and out of wooded area and coastal views - it was magnificent! The guys were walking pretty fast, but I look every opportunity to snap some photos and enjoy the incredible view! We stopped for breakfast at a little cafe - had some amazing Italian coffee and this awesome buttery flat bread! Yumm! We arrived in Vernazza around lunch time - checked in to the hostel and then enjoyed some amazing pizza and time on the beach! I think I also had 3 portions of gelato that day - simply amazing - one of my favorite parts of the trip for sure!

The last day we got up and began walking pretty early. We ate fruit on the way. The hike was quite difficult with all the up and down - but the trail on some parts was very tiny and we were passing lots of hikers going the other way. It was risky to pass each other as there was often a small cliff or stream on one side of you and a wall of rock on the other - but it was doable and kinda fun! We made it to the last town before lunch and enjoyed some good pizza before hoping the train back to La Speza to pick up the car. Our drive back was a little long and included a detour and lots of rain.

I will say - one of my favorite things about driving in Italy are the tunnels! Instead of super winding roads they just cut straight through the mountain! It is quite an experience - passing through hundreds in just a few hours of driving.

So - highlights of the trip: pizza, gelato, hiking, beautiful views, cute towns, and great company!

allez le filles!!

Our season is over, but our friendships aren't! I've had a really awesome opportunity to get to know some awesome people and brush up on my softball skills this past spring. I've been playing for a local women's softball team called the Medley's. We play against 2 other teams in our region and we've participated in a few tournaments. I make a point of bringing brownies to share at games and enjoy watching the frenchies eat there fancy pasta salad or other gourmet food item for lunch between games. We recently went to Italy for a tournament and I was able to have my very first taste of Italian pizza...and my first taste of two full days of softball after two nights of sharing a very small two-person tent with my friend Julie! We had a great time!

I've really enjoyed my time with these fine ladies - come fall I'll be joining them in a co-ed league. Should be fun! (I might want to improve my batting skills by then!)

spring time hiking fun!

Spring in Marseille has brought with it sunshine, warmer temperatures, fresh green leaves, happy faces on the locals, beautiful blooms, and a LOT of pollen! While my allergic reactions are par for the course this time of year, the beauty and splendor of spring time in southern France is unbeatable! With the Calanque (the mountains that surround Marseille) so close, I can't help but frequently find friends and head up for a hike! Depending on where you go you'll see views of the city, the sea, tiny villages, and nature! I've really discovered that I have a passion for hiking and enjoying God's creation! There's something about that feeling I get when surrounded by raw beauty...it takes my breath away. I was reminded during last weeks discussion group that "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John 1:3. How thankful I am during these amazing months of renewal and new life, to be experiencing the the handiwork of God - the Creator of all things! I am truly blessed!

tamales...in france?

Tiffany and I had the honor of learning the time old tradition of Mexican tamale making...in France! Our friend Carolina invited us over for a day of tamale making! From the boiling of half a pig's head to wrapping them in banana leaves (corn husks are hard to come by), it was a wonderful adventure! We had a great time mixing English, French and Spanish and getting to know some really fabulous people! Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed making and eating these yummy treats!!! Oh - and let me not forget to add that we had the most amazing fresh guacamole I've ever tasted! Such a fun day!