"If you build it, they will come."
We have immensely enjoyed a mid-term break this week. A quick trip out of Massy and to West France’s, Normandy has been incredibly refreshing. Our brains and bodies have caught a breather and are better able to synthesize the loads of new information we have been taking in. Moving to France nearly 2 months ago and diving into school head first has been both a huge blessing and completely exhausting. We were giddy about getting out of the classroom and into France.
We were reminded that the learning never stops while touring magnificent Mont Saint Michel.
1. Apparently Archangel Michael coined the phrase, “If you build it, they will come”, when he was instructing the bishop of Avranches to build the island abbey in A.D. 708. The sight is packed with stories of faith, war and pilgrimage. It is truly an awe-inspiring pile of stones. I guess the 80’s baseball flick Field of Dreams was inspired by the same idea.


2. Taking a stroller to this historic site is a horrible idea. As we passed people upon entering the village below the abbey I wondered why others kept giving us a little chuckle as they passed by. Normally this might be because of Oliver’s chubby cheeks, relaxed stroller pose and who knows why else. But in retrospect I am pretty sure it was because they knew something we did not....there were many, many, many STAIRS in our very near future. After about 10 flights of beep-bopping Oliver up the ancient stone steps we approached the entrance to the abbey. It was glaringly evident that this was one job that the baby jogger was not cut out for. Plan B...divide and conquer. Thanks to a borrowed car, nearby lodging and nap time we were able take turns coming and going, taking in the sites fullness sans enfant (without child).



We were reminded that the learning never stops while touring magnificent Mont Saint Michel.
1. Apparently Archangel Michael coined the phrase, “If you build it, they will come”, when he was instructing the bishop of Avranches to build the island abbey in A.D. 708. The sight is packed with stories of faith, war and pilgrimage. It is truly an awe-inspiring pile of stones. I guess the 80’s baseball flick Field of Dreams was inspired by the same idea.


2. Taking a stroller to this historic site is a horrible idea. As we passed people upon entering the village below the abbey I wondered why others kept giving us a little chuckle as they passed by. Normally this might be because of Oliver’s chubby cheeks, relaxed stroller pose and who knows why else. But in retrospect I am pretty sure it was because they knew something we did not....there were many, many, many STAIRS in our very near future. After about 10 flights of beep-bopping Oliver up the ancient stone steps we approached the entrance to the abbey. It was glaringly evident that this was one job that the baby jogger was not cut out for. Plan B...divide and conquer. Thanks to a borrowed car, nearby lodging and nap time we were able take turns coming and going, taking in the sites fullness sans enfant (without child).



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Joyeux Anniversaire
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| Joyeux Anniversaire |
La Vie à Massy
02/03/10 14:02 Filed in: France



Bonjour. Yeahhh!!!
01/18/10 17:33 Filed in: France

Back to School
Nous sommes des étudiants. Translated: we are students (however I know many of you do not need a translation since french has been coming out of the woodwork in emails to us. I look forward to the day when I can understand what you have written).
Here is a snapshot of a (week) day in our new life here in France: wake up, class, lunch, class, walk to the bakery or grocery store, eat dinner, play trains or go for a walk, homework, pass out in bed, repeat. We are 100% submerged in learning right now. Our classes are challenging and our brains are already being stretched to their limit after just 6 days of class.
We are hopeful that the seeds of learning being sown will reap benefits in our life and ministry in Madagascar and beyond. il est difficile, but also a gift to be learning French.
Here are a few pics of class, home and a school field trip down the Seine river in downtown Paris.

My superb teacher Alain teaching me to make the proper “ou” sound in French. “Mooooo like an angry cow” he says.
ouClick here to hear the live edition from class.

A beautiful and very chilly boat ride down the Seine river last Wednesday. Yep, that is the Eiffel tower in the background.

A very exciting “chooo chooo” ride for Oliver in to Paris. Our school is a 30 minute train ride from downtown Paris. We are still trying to figure out how to make public transportation + toddler ≠ chaos. Any tips?

Kitchen/living room/dining room in our petit apartment on campus. No. 1 missed comfort from home...American sized couch.


Jonathan and Oliver at home on the snowy trails in Massy.
Here is a snapshot of a (week) day in our new life here in France: wake up, class, lunch, class, walk to the bakery or grocery store, eat dinner, play trains or go for a walk, homework, pass out in bed, repeat. We are 100% submerged in learning right now. Our classes are challenging and our brains are already being stretched to their limit after just 6 days of class.
We are hopeful that the seeds of learning being sown will reap benefits in our life and ministry in Madagascar and beyond. il est difficile, but also a gift to be learning French.
Here are a few pics of class, home and a school field trip down the Seine river in downtown Paris.

My superb teacher Alain teaching me to make the proper “ou” sound in French. “Mooooo like an angry cow” he says.
ouClick here to hear the live edition from class.

A beautiful and very chilly boat ride down the Seine river last Wednesday. Yep, that is the Eiffel tower in the background.

A very exciting “chooo chooo” ride for Oliver in to Paris. Our school is a 30 minute train ride from downtown Paris. We are still trying to figure out how to make public transportation + toddler ≠ chaos. Any tips?

Kitchen/living room/dining room in our petit apartment on campus. No. 1 missed comfort from home...American sized couch.


Jonathan and Oliver at home on the snowy trails in Massy.
Christmas Album
01/06/10 20:57 Filed in: Family
Here are some of our favorite pics from Christmas with the Stuart family and onward to Paris. More to come soon of what our life looks like on this side of the world.
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| Stuart Christmas/Paris New Year |
First Impressions
01/03/10 09:22 Filed in: France

First Impressions...grocery stores are wonderful. Full of natural foods like fresh breads, enormous selections of cheese, yogurt, meats and our favorite...chocolate. Going to the store gave us the challenged and humbling experience of illiteracy. We sought out products with pictures to help guide us and ate a mystery dinner last night. Whatever it was it was good. As we think about our road ahead to Madagascar we are grateful for this foundation building time in France.
Coping in "Chaos"
12/15/09 04:52 Filed in: Madagascar | Family

Please pray for us as we take the 15 hour drive back to San Antonio this next weekend. We look forward to celebrating Christmas with family before departing for France at the end of month.
Texas Times
11/29/09 21:07 Filed in: Family

Our time in Texas was full in all the best ways. Here are a few snapshots of memorable moments...more to come later.

What's time in Texas without tractors and corn?

The cutest little monkey and lady bug in Katy. Oliver was really in to knocking on doors and taking candy from people.

Oliver was so excited to get his haircut (while driving a car and watching an Elmo video), he threw a tantrum when we had to leave.
Oliver hanging out with his friend Ian.


Sweet Reese and hanging out with the Slay family.
The End of the Road...Trip
10/30/09 18:24 Filed in: Family
After nearly 50 days of road tripping we have put the car in park for a little while and are unpacking our bags. We are in Texas for the month of November working, playing and visiting until we hit the road again after Thanksgiving. All in all it was a trip of a lifetime. We are thankful for all the hospitality we received while on the road. Good food, great company, warm showers and new, exciting toys are what kept us going. We are pretty sure we have mapped out most major playgrounds from WA to TX, along with the most indredible beaches in the US. Most importantly we have bonded as a family in new ways, learning to live very closely and work together in everything. This is probably the most valuable preparation we can have as we face many new people and places over the next couple years.



