You may have noticed that the last month I’ve been posting a photo a day with the hashtag “beautyandgratitude.” (If not, you can check out my photos on Facebook or Instagram.) My dear friend Claire asked me yesterday why I decided to launch this project. “I didn’t want to be an angry mom anymore,” was the answer that came. Continue reading
My mind has been cluttered lately and I’ve found it difficult to be present with my kids. I don’t want to just tick off the minutes to get through till Dave gets home; I want to hear their stories, see their eyes sparkle and line up a few more (dozen) Hot Wheels.
One small thing I’ve done this past week to help bring my mind into the present is conscientiously touch my kiddos when I’m near them. With Chloe Baby it is easy because I hold her a lot but I realised often my holding is more functional than intentional. So with her, I try to open my hand and have my whole palm hold her instead of just leaning her weight on my wrist. This has especially helped me be present as I nurse her. But my favorite thing is to pat and kiss her soft baby skin- her baby legs, baby belly and baby cheeks. Continue reading
We are annual pass holders at the Porte Dorée Aquarium in Paris— and it’s only 33 euros a year for our whole family. That’s a fantastic deal. And if you ask Jackson, you can even see dinosaurs (they are actually alligators but it sounds so cute when he says it). Continue reading
We are waiting to hear if we’ve been accepted to rent an apartment we applied for. The housing market in Paris is tough. Owners often require you make 3.3 times the rent and if you know anything about rent in Paris, we don’t fit the criteria. But we’ve applied and we are waiting. Continue reading
I’ve lived in France over 12 years and I’ve never met a doughnut like the one I ate today. Dave had the day off, we needed an outing and a little bird (named Karen) told me last night she had eaten a legit doughnut in the 11th arrondissement– something about maple bacon and another with lemon and basil. I couldn’t get them out of my mind so we hopped on bus #56 this morning and we were off. Continue reading
When my mama is in town we all eat well. She cooks up delicious food and is always up for trying new restaurants or eating at “old favorites.” On Thursday night we spent our last night at le Mary Celeste– a restaurant in the Marais. I’ve eaten here a number of times over the last two years and it never disappoints. Continue reading
The idea of using cloth diapers was so chic when I was pregnant with our first little one in 2011. I picked out neutral color diapers as to be able to use them with any other babies the Lord might entrust us with. We also received the amazing gift of 15 cloth diapers from Cotton Babies as a part of their cloth diaper grant for missionaries living overseas. Seriously; what cool people! All this to say, I was sold on cloth diapers. Continue reading
I’ve joined the trend of “wearing a uniform.” It just sort of happened and I’m glad it did. For those of you new to the concept, it basically means you wear the same thing each day. Continue reading
Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider gave me the game plan for simplifying and decluttering our home. It was so therapeutic getting things pared down… but it was also a lot of work. You wouldn’t think that an 800 square foot apartment could hide away so many unneeded “treasures.” When all was said and done the back of our mini van was full of things to be donated, and we had several bags go the consignment shop (which we ended up making 80 euros from… not bad). Continue reading
The last two weeks of 2015 have been eventful: three bouts of the stomach flu, three trips to the car garage (a forth to come), a trip to the emergency room for Jack, a rotting animal (with an amazing stench) under the room we were assigned for our student New Year’s conference. So here we are, 3 P.M. on New Years Eve and Dave, Jack and I are still in our pjs with piles of laundry and a barf bucket in reach. (Chloe and Lexie managed to get dressed this morning : )). Um, and I need a shower.
BUT, we can still say at the end of this year, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 118.1). Our good friend and national campus director, Joe, said the other day that in their family they have a tradition of saying this verse after dinner. “Sometimes a good meal, sometimes a bad meal but we still say it…” We can say God is good and his loves endures forever because they don’t depend on our circumstances. His goodness is expressed most in reconciling us to himself through Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. So whether our Christmas or year was stellar or disappointing we can still say, “thanks.”
If you could be a fly on the wall of our stinky room in the conference center or of our living room as Jack starting puking last night, you’d know my first instinct wasn’t to say, “blessed be His name in all circumstances.” In the depths of my heart, it is a truth that keeps me grounded, but in the moment I respond big. Acknowledgement goes a long way for me. I want someone to look me in the eye and say, “yeah, this is just getting crazier and crazier. Can you believe it?!”But the trick is to still genuinely be able to say, “Thanks God. You are good and your love endures forever.” This next year I’d like to grow in this area … I want to laugh with the Lord and listen more for Him in the crazy.
Another thing that has helped me keep perspective is knowing that others are suffering in ways that won’t be fixed by selling a car or a quick trip to the emergency room. Yeah; that gives me perspective.
I raise my glass (of orange juice) and with tears brimming I say to You, oh Lord, “You are good. Thank You for all that 2015 has been and that You have allowed me to walk through it with You. And as the French say, “chin, chin!'”
Everyday Paris Mama 