I needed to register our car today. Two weeks ago, I went to the sous-prefecture (the government office where one does this sort of thing) to pick up the forms necessary to take care of this chore. I knew what I needed to say, and I’d practiced my lines carefully, but didn’t even get three… Continue reading Progress, I guess

I started reading 1 Samuel a couple of days ago, and so this morning I was in chapters 4-7. The Israelites are living in idolatry and immorality, evidenced by the corrupt priests, and so when they go out to war against the Philistines, they lose, badly. The solution, they suppose, is to go and grab… Continue reading Faith or testing?

For two years, when folks have asked us where in France we’ll be moving, our answer was Toulouse eventually, but Albertville first. Why Albertville? Language school. Specifically, a Christian language school that specializes in teaching missionaries working in French speaking countries how to speak French. This school came highly recommended to us by a number… Continue reading Albertville

With Brussels and Emily’s wedding now behind us, we are back on the support-raising-trail full time. I’ve sent something in the neighborhood of 20 emails today already, and that’s with Oliver busting his head open. (He’s fine, it’s just blood…) If you haven’t gotten an email from me recently it either means that A. I’m… Continue reading Support status

We’re a few days away from a month long trip to Brussels. I won’t let Donnette get the suitcases out yet, but I’ll probably lose that battle sometime tomorrow morning. What to take? How much room to leave for bringing stuff back? *1* Can I get a small keg of Trumer Pilsner in a carry-on… Continue reading Packing

We spent this past weekend with my family at the beach. It was a great time, but one that involved lots of sun and running around and very little napping. Because of this, I decided to have a house movie day yesterday, in which I unpacked our stuff and basically made no demands of the… Continue reading Advice

Our check engine light had been on in the van for almost a week. *1* This morning I finally had time to take it in, fully expecting to fork over several hundred dollars to get our van back in working shape.  I don’t know why I worry so much about that sort of thing. The… Continue reading Grace in small things

When we initially interviews with MTW, Avonlea was only 18 months old. So when they asked me if we’d discussed our plans with her, I sort of chuckled. I don’t know if there’s an 18 month child you could have that conversation with, but at that point in her life, the only words Avonlea knew… Continue reading What about the children???

So far this year, our weather has been as fickle as a teenage girl’s affections.  Warm, cold, warm, cold, warm, snowing!!! and back to warm again. Just when you’ve been ready to put away the jackets, it’s suddenly below 50 again, and the kids are shivering on their way to school. I used to love… Continue reading Spring