They say change is good; it stretches us and helps us grow.  I absolutely agree and tend to like change.  Last August when the offer to move to Paris for "at least a year but possibly longer" was given to us, I grabbed hold of it with both hands.  I didn't think about all the planning, all the paperwork, how the kids would adjust, etc.
  

We some how made it to Paris (a month behind schedule) but we made it.  Once we arrived, we had more paperwork, more hurdles to jump but I felt like we were doing so well "rolling with the punches".  We had many obstacles put in front of us yet we purposefully remained optimistic.  Grateful for the opportunity to live overseas.


Without going into too much detail; Dan's company has been through numerous changes this year.  It was been hinted, within a few months of our arrival, that they needed Dan back in Texas ASAP.  We were shocked!  What?  Didn't we just arrive?  Do you know how difficult it was to get here?  etc., etc.   Well, we have now been told that they need Dan back in Texas by August.   Yes, next month.


The children are actually thrilled to go back to school.  I am excited for them.  Dan is content with going back as well.  I am slowly coming to terms with this myself  but honestly, I am ticked!  I want to scream, "are you serious?"  This was not in my plan!   This was not what I envisioned our little adventure to turn into!  Do you know all that needs to be done to return to the United States?  In a month????  Hello, our house is being leased?  We need to find a home to lease.....in our childrens school district!  

Can you see why I need your prayers?  I am certain that I cannot do this AGAIN on my own strength.     

Or so they say.......

I find it Interesting that when I began setting up my blog last August, I entitled it "A Year of Change".  I could not have been more accurate.  We have had a lot of changes this year and another big one is coming our way.

I have not been at liberty to divulge this change but will soon be able to share with ya'll another twist in this expat life.  I am still processing everything and am not quite sure how I feel about this new change.   

I would love your prayers for patience, understanding and a positive attitude. 

We had quite a "heat wave" last week in Paris.  It was in the 90's most of the week and the french don't seem to believe in air conditioning.  We had our fans running day and night trying to cool the apartment down.  Our nights were quite lively; our neighbor above likes to serenade us from his balcony with his guitar.  We have two newborn babies in the apartments behind us and we can hear them keeping their poor parents up at all hours of the night. 

One incredibly hot day, I decided to take the kids to the Monoprix which is similar to Target.  I thought, for sure, they would have air conditioning and we could cool off a bit.  Nope, we were wrong, the store was stifling hot filled with the weary french; red faced, sweaty, and grumpy.  We came home and filled the bathtub with cool water and ate popsicles sitting on the edge while we cooled off our tootsies. 

I was shocked to hear that even Dan's office, which is a lovely new building about 25 stories tall, has no air conditioning.  What?!  Yes, this is quite common. 

Don't even ask about the metro.  Ha. 

So I ask you, what's so wrong with air conditioning?  (So happy that the weather is once again in the 70's and 80's.....smile)

There is nothing like "sprinkler action" on a hot day........

I love this little space attached to our apartment.  The red geraniums are doing splendid; they always look happy and bright.  Our windows are forever wide open now that summer has arrived.........

It's always easy to spot our apartment.........

Happy 4th of July to my American friends and family.  

Enjoy a neighborhood parade, eat a juicy wedge of watermelon, jump in the pool to get the stickies off, embrace family and friends and light a sparkler for me.


    

I came across this video and was filled with pride for our country.  It is far from perfect but still a wonderful country to call home.   I heart the USA!

Goodbye, for now, Kerfany.  You will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Dear God,
Thank you for the joy that swelled within our children..........

Thank you for the gift of peace and relaxation.........

Thank you for bright, vibrant mornings stretched out before us; full of color and birdsong.

Thank you for family dinners together every night on our patio. 

Thank you for the gift of my eyesight to see the many colors of the sun setting every evening............

Thank you for lavashing your love on me and my family as we enjoyed each other.  We are so undeserving, yet, you freely gift us with more than we could ever imagine.........Amen

Yes, I am still reliving our vacation.  It is quite fun for me and I love having it written down on this blog for the kids to enjoy one day. 

One special day was when Mom watched the kids and Dan and I spent an afternoon together exploring the surrounding area.  It has been too long and I so enjoyed spending the day with my man.

We found a beautiful beach about 30 minutes from our beach house.  We drove through the quiet little town, it was lunchtime and everyone was sitting outside at the cafes eating there lunch.  When we stepped out of the car, we both looked at each other and remarked on how quiet it was. 

This area was more open, it felt more like the carribean.  There weren't the beautiful pine trees and rocky coastline.  The beaches were beautiful and uncrowded.

We hopped back in the car after a bit and found the sweetest little neighborhood with thatched roofs on every home. 

This little neighborhood was on a narrow street; I hopped out of the car and snapped pictures while Dan drove the car slowly behind me.  He said that every now and again he saw someone peak out of their window watching me take photo's.  I am sure I wasn't the first.

Aren't these tiny windows and doors adorable?

Our drive brought us face to face with charm and beauty with every mile.  I am forever in awe.

After a wonderful afternoon spent with Dan, we came home, looked over our little gate and saw this...........

Poof, Dan was gone and this is the next thing I saw............Dan running upstairs as fast as he could so he could change his clothes.

And play with his kids on the beach..........

A wonderful finish to a glorious day.

Paul Gauguin love this little village which has a gentle flowing river running through it.  In the late 19th century, many other painters followed him.  There are numerous galleries in the village.

We arrived in this charming village at 1pm and every store and gallery were closed.  We have noticed that in smaller villages, everything still does shut down from noon until 2pm.  Even the grocery markets. 

It was a treat to roam the streets (which were very quiet), admire the homes that are tiered along the sides of large hills as well as peak into store fronts and galleries..  The river was so peaceful and a perfect opportunity to sit or explore. 

Dan found the perfect spot to sit and relax, listening to the river behind us.  We had such an enjoyable day in Pont Aven.  I highly recommend a visit to this quiet, charming village. 

Also, the city of Quimper is not far and "for sale" in many shops in Pont Aven.   Mom and I purchased some of their beautiful pottery which skilled artisans have been making since the 17th century.  

I am always curious as to who lives behind these windows with wisteria creeping all over; the broken shudder looks like it is barely hanging on to the side of the building.  I wonder what the view is from the inside?

We saw thatched roofs here and there.  Amazing to see the craftmanship of these roofs up close.

The small seaside town of Kerfany was unique in that it has retained it's charm through the years.  There are no new mansions built along the cliffside, no condo's to enjoy the view. 

Just higgly wiggly streets, dotted with the sweetest cottages; some bigger than others.  All of them have gardens that looked like they had been there forever. 

I tell you, if I were french, I would do everything in my power to move to this little town. 

Most every home had a gate.  Some small and some large.  They were all freshly painted in a bright color.  I fell in love with them.

Let's not forget the gardens..........

I hope you were transported for a few minutes.........I was........

Our little beach outside our door was very quiet until after lunch.  Once the french had full belly's, they hit the beach. 

I thought it was interesting how the French do not eat or drink on the beach.  They grab a towel and their suntan oil and bake in the sun.  They haven't gotten the memo about skin cancer (or lung cancer for that matter).  Most are an orangy red color and glisten from oil. 

There were no large red coleman coolers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with their sandy crunch, or chips and soda.  I did not hear any music from radio's (I guess I am dating myself........remember boom boxes at the beach people?).   Everyone was so friendly and happy.  We saw the same people day after day.  

The kids learned how to capture jelly fish (yikes), they were a purple color and quite pretty.  They found crabs and played in the sand for hours.  Sophie loved getting wet and then becoming a "sugared donut" by rolling in the sand. 

"When are you getting off that boogie board?"

I will tuck all the sweet memories in my heart from our days spent on the beach.  Whether we were hunting for seashells, eating ice cream on the beach, riding on the red boat (the kids got to go for a couple rides), watching sailboat lessons in front of us, talking with Bernadette (a retired teacher who calls Kerfany her home), watching the french interact with one another, admiring the body confidence that the french seem to have (there were many shapes and sizes and no one seemed to care, they were just doing what they should be doing.....enjoying themselves).  

There was a beautiful sense of calm and freedom on this stretch of sand.