It is hard to believe we are starting our last year in France. When I think back to Henry's first day of school, I am in awe of all he has accomplished in French. We are so proud of him and all of the American children here who work so hard!
Henry with some of his buddies
One of my ways of transport lately when I don't want to ride the bus
One of our favorite things here is getting to meet the new people who arrive every fall. Henry is playing with a new friend who just came in August from Greenville.
We were out of town for Henry's actual birthday so we celebrated a bit late at an indoor go-cart track. The boys had a great time.
They get to wear these beautiful hair nets under their helmets!
One day after school. Henry looks so grown up to me here!
Here is a beautiful fall arrangement at the produce stand. I will certainly miss these displays!
We went on our annual pilgrimage for chestnuts and it struck me that next fall, I will not be collecting chestnuts. I will be doing other things that I am sure I will love, but there are things that are unique to our time here that are coming to mean more and more to me as the time passes!
A local photographer took this shot of Clermont. I had to "borrow" it for the blog. What a gorgeous picture of the streets around the cathedral.
As with most things, as they come to an end, nostalgia sets in. Beginning our last year in France, I am full of bittersweet feelings about returning home. I certainly can't wait to be in close proximity to all of our lovely friends and family! There are certainly many conveniences I am longing to enjoy! But we have treasured so many things about being here and living such a simple existence ( besides the French language stuff which is not simple at all!) We are so grateful God knew what we needed more than we did, and bringing us here has been a gift beyond our expectations. I was very short-sighted in what I imagined being away would mean and at times was only able to focus on the things we would lose. I did not anticipate all we would gain and learn. We are forever humbled by His goodness and faithfulness to us.
"God always gives us what we would have asked for if we knew everything He knows."
