Paris Life

Something Sad

Today was just one of those days.  Tears and lots of them.  First of all, we have been working super hard to find a new place to live (only two weeks till we have to be out of here) and the competition is crazy for an apartment.  The demand is definitely higher than the supply when it comes to apartments in France AND we are competing against French couples, which makes it that much more hard.  I know in my heart that it is only God that will get us an apartment, which is so true, but it is still hard to remember.  So I was reading a devotional book that someone gave me last Christmas and it was talking about a missionary in Africa that had to move six times in three months due to things like her house burning down.  Wow, puts things into perspective, eh? I just…

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BEWARE! A graphic and possibly offensive post!

After a lot of prayer and then confirmation (from our landlord telling us he can’t lower the rent to a reasonable amount), Justin and I have decided to continue our search for a new apartment in the city.  Some of the areas we are wanting to live would be considered pretty sketchy.  Today we looked at an AMAZING apartment.  This place was literally my dream apartment.  It was basically like a huge studio with beams showing, huge windows that reached to the extra high ceilings and two bedrooms off the main room.  It was almost as if someone made a warehouse into an apartment.  Very artsy!  The building is from the 17th century and has a narrow staircase that does not have a lift.  It is only on the second floor, so I feel as though I could manage a baby up and down.  So on to the interesting part…

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To Move or Not to Move… That is the Question

Here we are back in Paris, France.  It is nice to be back in our home.  Everything always seems so smaller when we get back.  I was shocked once again at the size of our living room, especially compared to the homes we have been in in the last four weeks.  But nonetheless, it is nice to be back.  As you may (or may not) know, we put in our notice for our apartment a couple months ago and have to be moved out by October 6th.  We have been looking forward to this move for several reasons.  Some of them being: 1. We will pay a significantly less amount of rent2. We will move into a neighborhood that fits who we are (younger crowd, more diverse)3. More opportunities to serve the homeless and possibly even prostitutes I was also hoping that in the move, I would gain a balcony…

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I’m feeling HOT HOT HOT!

I never thought the words would come out of my mouth, but I have to admit it.  I wish it were cooler.  I think I may actually be looking forward to winter.  YIKES!  I know in January I will think back to when these thoughts crossed my mind and think I was crazy for saying them, but for now, it is true.  It is so hot here!  I talk to my friends and family in the states and they are dealing with weather over 100 degrees and here I am at nearly 100 degrees, complaining.  But let me tell you a little difference between heat in Europe and heat in the States.  Two words… air conditioning.  There is none here.  Well, of course there is in the grocery store!  Believe me, I find reason to go there, if of course I can pull my melted body off the chair and…

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A good day

A few of us here in Paris have started a new thing called Street Lunch.  We get together and make really yummy sandwiches and then pass them out (along with a water) to our homeless neighbors.  We do it on Sunday morning, when most Christians in the States would be in a church service.  I have found that this has been one of my most favorite ways to worship God on a Sunday morning.  It is such a simple way to really love and serve someone that I may normally pass by on a daily basis.  Life is so good right now.  Today we hung out with our friend Bjorn.  He just hung out at our flat with us, watched a bit of the Tour de France, took a nap on the leather chair, then we all went to dinner at the delicious Mexican restaurant.  Bjorn is one of my…

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“Shame on you”

I have a big mouth sometimes.  As we were walking home from a fun dinner out with a bunch of friends, we all spotted someone tagging (writing in marker) all over a beautiful building.  It is so weird to see in Paris and I am sure will be cleaned up by tomorrow sometime, but I hate to see people make ugly something so beautiful.  Anyways, as he proudly walked away I said, “Shame on you.”  Yes, I did.  I said it lightly, sort of joking, thinking he would probably not understand.  Well….he understood.  He responded with some F-bombs saying something about how he dislikes the government here.  Oops.  Double oops because we were SUPER CLOSE to our apartment when I said this and he was with about five other people!  So of course they all have to stop RIGHT by our apartment to go into the little store downstairs from…

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I actually blogged about SPORTS (ew)

France is a funny place.  The people are so proper and for the most part, serious.  Not tonight.  As the France football (soccer) team JUST beat Brazil, people are celebrating throughout the streets in France.  Paris has exploded with horns honking, people screaming, people cheering as they drive by in their car waving the French flag, people climbing historical statues, lighting fireworks and well, you get my point.  Tonight Paris will party like it’s nineteen ninety nine.  Tomorrow things will go back to "normal" and once again, I will see the same people who were smiling and cheering at me while walking down the street tonight, not even glance my way, unless it is to see what shoes I am wearing.  Interesting, huh?

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