NOTE: This site contains no information about the work I do, if interested in recieveing my update letters and prayer requests please e-mail me at: bethanylovesparis@hotmail.com

the kitchen...yes that is our washing machine beside the oven, one might say it makes it convienent to do dishes and laundry at the same time, but we all know that this is really the only place we had room for such a big appliance :) We enjoy this room, mostly b/c you can see the Eiffel Tower out the widow

just in case you are wondering, it is very common in France to have a seperate room for the toilet...here is ours after I added some much needed color :)

our shower / sink room...it is one of the strangest I have seen, the "tub" is about waist high and has a big step inside, which forces you to hurdle to get in and out...but we have gotten used to it

this is my room...let's just say that when I got here there was a matress on the floor in the corner-- one visit from a handy man, and a trip to IKEA later-- it is a cozy retreat! Yes that is a fire place in the corner, but unfortunately it does not work. Also, the guitar belongs to the team and is stored here...so I figured it makes me look artsy to leave it out, maybe some day I will learn to play.

I got to have dinner with Kayla and David this week...so fun to have friends visit and hear news from home!

Rachel Supercinski and me at the tower...after this pic was taken a French man said he was jealous and asked if I would take one with him...I kindly refused :)

I imagine millions of people have posed like this but we just could not resist..I love that Thomas!

The Kiss

"The Gates of Hell", it was neat to see this and realize that most of his major works all appear here as well. Since this work is based on Dante's Inferno, the famous "Thinker" sitting above the two doors is said to be Dante pondering what he had written and what a terrible place Hell is.

timeless works of art, I loved seeing it in person

CHEZ MOI -- my house! JK This is actually the Rodin museum that I visited with the Supercinskis before they left. Rodin actually lived in the house the last 9 years of his life. It and the gardens now display his beautiful work here in the middle of Paris.

This is Madame Desbordes, she is in her mid 80's and lives across the rue from me. She is going to help us practice conversational French. It was her birthday so we had a party for her last Saturday. She is a very interesting lady. I already heard how she studied art at the Louvre when she was young and about the day that the American soldiers came in and liberated them from Germany...crazy!

On almost every block here in Paris there is a Boulangerie (bakery) where you can buy bread and pastries. The most common bread product is the baguette. I learned when I moved here that a baguette is only good for one day, which seems to be the reason that so many stores can stay in business- everyone must buy it fresh each day. This has reminded me of how Jesus told us to pray "give us this day our daily bread". We must go to Him on a daily basis for filling or what I have to offer others will only be stale leftovers. I am now reminded of this truth each time I go out for our daily bread.

me & Rachel ouside a corner cafe just off rue Mouffetard. After dinner we walked around and a French man, in a low husky voice, bid me a "bonsoir" and then proceeded to hit on me. I share this not to seem arrogant, but to let you know that this has become an almost daily occurence here...I am not really sure what the French men are looking for in a lady, but apparently I have got it :)

Two of my favorite people are now one!! I shared some fondue (cheese & chocolate) with the Supercinskis last night and though I missed the wedding feel so blessed to have them honeymooning in my city :)

This is Ginny Mac...shortly after this photo was taken a kid remarked "hey, you have on too much lipstick"...we all knew it was true but when you recieve and Extreme Makeover you must be a good sport even if you think you look like a First Lady-- which you don't Ginny, I promise! Love you friend :)

"these are a few of my favorite things"--a sunset over mountains reflected in the ocean. God is so good to let us experience His creation and see a glimpse of His beauty.

Since this was my third trip to Turkey...I can now say that I have been to all the seas that surround the country: the Black Sea '00, the Agean Sea '01, the Mediteranean Sea '05

Around the town of Antalya

Sandy loves dolphins...since we did not see any to pet in the ocean...this was the next best thing :)

"Reunited and it feels so good..."

I started the New Year by taking a trip to Antalya Turkey for a meeting. Our hotel was on the Mediteranean sea with a view of snow capped mountains in the distance. It was a great time of being refreshed both by God's creation and by like-minded friends. This picture shows a glimpse of how the beautiful mountains line the sea.