last Thursday evening after a terrible thunder storm the clouds cleared...I love that God's beauty is revealed through nature, I can't wait to see Him face to face

In local news...

I do apologize for the lapse since I took time to share the everyday, "keep the world spinning", happenings around Paris...hmm, where to start...well it is evident that I have recently had a lot of visitors. My bedroom is officially suitcase free for the first time in over a month! Though it has been crazy, it was great to spend time with Micah, Mom & Dad, Josh, Katie, and Jacki (who is actually still here, just not sleeping at my house). It was fun to do a few tourist things I had not made time to do yet, I seem to have forgotten or have just gotten used to how romantic and picturesque the city is...and I enjoyed seeing it through fresh eyes...but as of now I will be okay if I don't see any more sites until I get to Italy!

Last night was the "Fete de la Musique" in Paris. It is one day, conveniently the longest day of the year, where there are bands set up all over the city and people can just walk from place to place, dancing and drinking, enjoying the summer weather...also a few metro lines stay open all night so you can get around. I realized when I first heard about this event that I am "old" because my first thought was that there was no way I could stay up all night and that I would hate to be stuck in the city and with all the crazies and drunks...but then my adventurous "this would make a fun story to tell someday about when I lived in Europe" side kicked in and I decided this was a worthy adventure...which proved to be true! We ended up doing a lot more walking and standing than seeing as many bands as I thought, but the company was good and I will share a few pics. Apparently "Play that Funky music white boy" is not a well known song here...and when we heard it we failed to notice that we were the only ones dancing and singing along...therefore attracting quite a crowd of men who wanted to dance in our circle, and one who even kissed two of my friends on the cheek :)

The summer heat comes and goes but this weekend it got up to 91F...which may not sound that hot to those of you who live in Texas, but when you don't have air conditioning, a breeze, you live on the 5th floor of a building, and you visit friends who serve you hot coffee and stew...it gets pretty toasty! I have been waking up every morning in a sweat, yummy. At least I am doing my part by still shaving my armpits and wearing deodorant...which is more than I can say for a lot of people on the public transit.

Friday is an important day for two reasons...1) I will be done with school!!!! Praise God for His grace to get through the foundations of French, now comes the discipline to speak and expand my vocabulary! 2) The semi-annual sales in Paris begin! Yes, here they have a government regulated times for the stores to run sales...which makes it hard to buy anything most of the year because nothing is ever a good deal, but is fun during this time because literally every store you go in has tons of stuff you need on sale...time to stock up since this won't happen again until January!!

Jacki & I, along with some other friends, stopped at Trocadero first to see how many people were out...under the tower there were so many people it looked like one giant mass moving in sync, crazy!

some of the festivities last night at the Hotel de Ville

after church on Sunday we had a neighborhood party out front...there was hip-hop dancers, accoustic guitar players, and a lot of African songs and dances...the food and fellowship was fun and I am pretty sure a good time was had by all!

July, Italy, 4 days

Yes, it is true...I have finally planned a trip to Italy! Though there is lots of work to be done here this summer, a friend and I have decided to set aside a few days for "a country of limitless opportunities. It offers a stage settings for all kinds of adventures..." -- Luigi Barzini. The plan is to take a train from Paris to Milan and from there go to Florence, Pisa, and Cinque Terra. So, this is where I need your help, since it seems that most everyone I know these days has travel experience in Italy...please share with me the insiders track on what to do, where to stay, logistic tips, cool places to eat...you get the idea. I am very very excited, yeah!!!

relaxing after our row boat adventure in the the grande canal in the gardens of versaille

Josh & I at the tower last week (...and just in case you are wondering-- Yes, i do take everyone who visits to the same place for pictures, that is why they all look similar)

Josh & I enjoying the Maroon 5 concert last night 

This weekend my parents and I took a trip to Normady, a NW region of France. We stayed in a small city, Bayeux, and spent Saturday touring the WWII D-day beaches. I have been hearing about that infamous day for most of my life, and since living here have heard numerous accounts of visiting the region, but what I did not expect was how real it would be to see it all in person, how easy it might be to picture oneself as a participant of the horrific events unfolding on that day. I have always enjoyed history and knowing meaningful stories from the past, but make a point to not see movies or read books specifically about war. I know that it exists in the world, but I find it easy to keep an emotional distance by not personally connecting with the dark parts of humanity. I think war is terrible, but also think that it is sometimes necessary. As I was walking along the beach where you look up the hill into German bunkers and guns, standing in a bomb crater on Point du Hoc where Colonel Rudder's (whoop!)rangers overtook the canons between Omaha & Utah beach, and observing the bullet holes still visibile in the walls of St. Mere Eglise where the paratroopers were dropped...I found it hard to keep my distance. These things are all too real. The young men who fought, against many many unfavorable elements, liberated France and ultimately defeat Hitler (who was in the end responsible for 50 million lives lost). I feel blessed to have experienced this piece of history and now more fully understand the costly price of freedom.  

this statue symbolizes the spirit of youth rising out of the waves of the ocean...so many young men were killed that day on the beach, it is said the sand and water were stained red with blood. 

American Cemetery just behind Omaha beach, interestingly this land (as well as Point du Hoc)was given to the U.S. by the French government so the soldiers could rest in their homeland. 

Bienvenue a Paris Mom & Dad!!  

Random Ebay item of the week

click above to see the randomest item I have yet to see for sale...and be sure to read the description and let me know what you think :)