My French Home

Saturday night we headed up to Lille, France. It's funny how little pieces of home are found all over the world. Lille, France is one of those places, but not so much for the city as the people. Dominique and Claire Degrave have created such an amazing life for their family and the church in northern France. This family gives so much love, it's almost overwhelming. Elise Degrave-Duez (pictured holding Elea) and I met about 9 years ago, she was a nanny in Utah and I spent time with her Family in France. We became instant friends. Strange how certain bonds can form so quickly. Although Elise and I haven't been perfect at staying in touch, when we met again after 8 years, it was like we were never apart. She has such a wonderful life. She's married to Marc Duez (who's freakin' awesome) and they have three kids Luc, Elea, and Noe. It was incredible to spend time with her and see the life she's developed over the years. It's something I think everyone should want.
Church today was unexpected. Being surrounded by Elise and all her family (including her parents) was overwhelming. I felt of their love so strongly (I don't think they even knew they were loving me that much) and also felt the Lord telling me that he hears me and loves me no matter how confused life may seem. I don't know why I tend to be so stubborn and independent. God's tender mercies always come when you least expect it.
Jodi and I spent the evening chatting with their family until late in the night. These Frenchies have a lot of good advice. I will miss them dearly but feel that they will be in my future somehow. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
Monday morning we hoped the train to CDG airport and left my 2nd country. My heart will always have a place for France. Vive La France!!!

Watch me speak in French with Elise's son Noe!

See more pictures of me in France!

Palais de Tokyo, Fragonard, Galeries de Lafayette

So today Denver, Jodi and I decided to split up and finish Paris on our own (as we all wanted to see different things). I commenced the day with a trip to the Palais de Tokyo contemporary art museum. It was a little interesting and dark but soooo something French people would love. This a picture of giant tree scultures. Then I left the museum and went to Fragonard. It's a perfume museum near the opera. We learned the history of perfume making, what they do today and of course I bought some authentic French perfume, albeit small. The picture displayed is a perfume organ. All of the little bottles have different scents in them. When perfumers are creating a scent they combine three or so. It can take up to a year to develop one new scent. There are only 2 perfumerie schools in the world and they are both in France. Perfumers have to baby their nose which means no alcohol, coffee or even being around smoke. Sounds like a mormon!
Later in the day, Jodi and I met at the Lafayette Galeries for a fashion show. Lafayette used to be a train station I think and now it's just an enormous mall. Asiatic was the title of the show and again we see the anime theme. I guess the French really love the Japanese.

La Tour Eiffel, L'Arc de Triumph

Yup, still the same day as Giverny. So, we ended up at the Eiffel Tower which is always breath taking. Life just doesn't get much better than eating crepes near the Eiffel Tower. Shortly after, we sauntered up the Champs Elysee and ate at an outdoor cafe. Mmmm, yummy pizza. L'Arc de Triumph is just at the end of the Champs Elysee and last but not least, the enormous Sephora with MAC inside!!! It was a dream and didn't close until 2am!

Giverny Again.

Well, of course I have to do more than one post for Giverny. The Japanese bridge was just like in Monet's painting. I couldn't get over how beautiful it all was. See the comparison?? Of course I had to take a picture of myself on the bridge. Slowly, my sunglasses crept toward the back of my head until they jumped into the pond. I guess if there's a good resting place for the best pair of sunglasses I ever had, just below Monet's Japanese bridge is the perfect one.

Giverny

Ever since I went to France the first time, I've been dying to visit Giverny. It's where Monet lived and painted much of his work. Well, today was an absolute dream. It's funny how in life you think you'll never get to do something that you really, really want but if you are patient, usually the Lord blesses you with that thing and it's better than you ever imagined. I think I attempted to visit Giverny on two separate Europe vacations but for some reason it never worked out. Well, 8 years later we made it happen. We took the train and then a bus and made it to the Monet mecca. The weather was perfect and the flowers were incredible. We happened to be there until just about sunset and sun shining through the tulips illuminated them. I couldn't get over how beautiful the gardens were and how so much of what we saw really resembled his art to the T. The man in the picture was just painting by the side of the road. I imagine it's much like what Monet looked like.

A Paris!!

So, It's been about 9 years and I'm finally back to the place that holds a deep place in my heart. Paris. There's something so comforting about being here! My French has come back fairly easily and the fashion! These girls know how to dress! tight jeans and flats are all the rage!
So Jodi, Denver and I embarked on our 5 day trip in France. It's been go, go, go since the beginning but soooo worth the pace. We hopped a red-eye to Paris on the 23rd and hit the ground running on the 24th. After checking into our anime hotel (If I wasn't in France I would have thought we were in Japan, the place looked like a Japanese cartoon) we grabbed the metro to go eat in a little cafe near the Musee D'Orsay. It was called Le Cafe des Lettres. The menu was pasted in a journal and we ate outdoor in a little courtyard (pictured). The food was divine! I had chicken with this AMAZING citrus cream sauce. Oh, the French know how to cook! Not to mention the view. Incroyable!
After filling our tummies, we headed for the Musee D'Orsay. I absolutely LOVE impressionist art. Here is the mecca! We saw tons of Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, and Edgar Degas. I'm continually in awe of how magical and vibrant their art is.
Finally, we ended up in the Musee de Marmottan. It's exclusively a Monet museum. We saw "Impression Sunrise" (pictured) the painting that coined the phrase "Impressionism". It was a crazy fun day and so worth it.

The Big 3-????

Yup, another birthday came and went. It could have been so much worse but having so many people I love around made me forget that maybe I'm supposed to be sad I'm getting older. My mom and Shelly decorated the house. I even got the "You are special today plate" for birthday breakfast. Granted, it's a makeshift one. I like this version even better. Mom and I spent the day shopping and getting a makeover and then we had a friend's party that night. It was a great day. I feel so loved!

Concord/ Walden

On Saturday we saw a reenactment of the beginning of the revolutionary war in Concord. I didn't realize one of the reasons it started was because of a brawl in a tavern. After braving the traffic we ended up at Walden Pond. It was so serene, I just had to take pictures. So, It's been incredible having my parents out. They have been so generous. I feel very blessed.

Fun in Boston with the parents.

My parents are here! Yeah! Finally, they came to visit. We've had so much fun playing. I wish they could live here. On Friday we went to the Museum of Science. We saw the Lizards, Snakes, Alive exhibit. I'm surprised at how much I loved those lizards. This chameleon was so fascinating. Those opposable thumbs looked so human like and his eyes! They move independently. Then we saw an Imax movie about mummification, saw an exhibition about birds, and one of semi-precious stones. What a fun place to be.