Summer Festivals in France

I can hardly wait to get to France. It looks as if they will find any reason to party. Here is a list of Summer Festivals from "This French Life". Plan your summer next year to come and visit and we'll go to the festival of your choice. I personally would like the Jazz festival, Phelicia would love the doll festival, but I think my boys would especially like the pig festival...

WITH August just around the corner there is sure to be any number of festivals across France that you can explore.

There will be plenty of music and dance to enjoy, as well as different foods and customs celebrating a particular village or region, here is just a selection of what's on offer.

La Pourcailhade, Trie-sur-Baise, Hautes Pyrenees
A celebration of all things pig, including a festival and pig squealing championships, as well as pigging-out eating competition for the person who can eat the most boudin. If you don't like pork you might want to stay away.
August 12

Jasmine Festival, Grasse, Riviera
Every year the town of Grasse celebrates the floral base of so many of its perfumes, jasmine. The Jasminade features floats, decorated with 150,000 flowers, which are led through the streets, perfuming the air with the heady aroma of jasmine. The festival culminates with la bataille de fleurs, when clouds of the flowers are thrown around the streets in a sort of floral punch-up. All the while, local bands, food stalls, street artists and performers are on hand to entertain the crowds.
August 3 to 5

The Thousand and One Lives of Barbie, Paris
The legendary doll will be the star of an exhibition at the Musée de la Poupée in Paris and over 200 dolls will show Barbie doing a range of activities from ballet to cooking.
From now until 30 September

Festijazz, Houlgate, Normandy
Enjoy the 11th edition of Festijazz for live music throughout the coastal village of Houlgate. Located between Deauville and Caen, this charming village will come alive with Live Jazz for two days in August, finishing with a concert on the beach at sunset on the Friday night.
August 16 and 17

Festival des Nuits Cajun et Zydeco de Saulieu
Fans of Cajun music and the sounds of the bayou should head to Saulieu, in Burgundy, for a weekend of song, music and fun. The 14th Festival des Nuits Cajun et Zydeco de Saulieu brings together musicians from around the world, alongside the music will be a cinema festival, dance sessions and musical workshops.
August 2 to 5.

Press On

There is a pastor's blog that I follow that I find to be quite inspirational. He has not written any books (that I know of), and he doesn't pastor a church of thousands, but he has a blog that is definitely worth following. He posted a blog the other day called "Press On" that I thought applied to everyone whether they were a Christian or not. It is often because we cannot see the outcome of something that causes us to quit.


It was a fog-shrouded morning, July 4, 1952, when Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island. She intended to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. Long-distance swimming was not new to her; she had been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions.

The cold water was numbing. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in following by her side. Several times sharks had to be driven away with rifle fire. She swam more than 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit. . . only one-mile from her goal.

Later she said, "I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land I might have made it."

It wasn’t the cold or fear or exhaustion that caused Florence Chadwick to quit. It was the fog that obscured the goal. Many times we too fail, because we lose sight of the goal. Maybe that’s why Paul said, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14).

Two months after her failure, Florence Chadwick walked off the same beach into the same channel and swam the distance, setting a new speed record, because she could see the land.

As an athlete I understand this woman's delimma. Even today I sit and contemplate going and running in the Master's national meet. I know I am not in my best shape, and I always consider that when I run, seeing that God has given me this talent, and I always want to honor Him with it. I think back to the Olympic Trials in '92 and what was going on in my mind a couple of weeks before the race. I had been struggling with extreme fatigue. I thought it was low iron, but now I believe it was low blood sugar. When I would go out to run and could hardly run a mile, I would walk back home praying and talking to God. He knew that my dream was to make an Olympic team, and this was the closest I had ever gotten and possibly would get. I didn't want to embarrass myself or Him. But even if I didn't finish the race, God had opened the door for me to qualify and to be there, so I would go and just trust him even if I couldn't see the end result.

So I went with the goal of just finishing the 2000m steeplechase over 36 in. barriers, and God did more than I could have ever asked or imagined... I won. (Now if your wondering how I did at the Olympics the event was just an exhibition event. They were still trying to promote it in other countries at that time, so it was not an Olympic event. In fact it has taken 16 years for it to become an Olympic event... and next year in 2008 the 3000m steeplechase will be a woman's event for the first time. Now that would be a miracle to make an Olympic team at the age of 40... so I'll just settle for Masters racing for now) :-)

Steeple Barriers, Beans, and Ramps

Check out my sweet husband's blog. A couple of nights ago he built me a steeple barrier in our backyard (I'll explain more in a blog this week), made dinner, and built the boys a bike ramp.
He was so proud of his achievements. I was very impressed.

"Leading With Chazown" Part 4

In part 4 Craig says:

I’d argue that the three most important factors in a church (or business) are:

Vision, Vision, Vision

The people you lead—staff, volunteers, church members, board members, etc.—may understand the vision today, but tomorrow, the vision generally fades or blurs ever-so-slightly. You can never over-communicate the vision.

I believe we are being blessed tremendously right now because God gave my husband a vision, and because he has done these things that Craig has talked about, and has never quit talking about the vision God had gave him.

Hem my husband, also has given up everything for this vision (money, security, position, relationships) and we are now beginning to see the fruits of our sacrifices. We are beginning to be contacted from people all over the U.S. and world wanting to know how they can join us, how they can be a part, or how they can support us financially. I thank God that we learned early on that when you put yourself under the right people and learn from them there is no limit to what God can do through you and for you. Check us out at CatalystFrance.org

We also learned about a month ago that the book Chazown is coming out in French. I think God just showed us one of the first leadership studies we will go through in France. Is that a God thing or what? It feel sort of like Moses when God lead the Israelites by a Cloud by day and fire by night. There was no question as to where He was leading.

Craig Groschel -" Leading With Chazown!" Part 2 & 3

In part 2 of Craig Groeschell's "Chazown" series he asks:

Do You Have a Vision?
Many churches (and organizations) have a vision statement. But in reality, they have no vision.
You might have an idea, but that doesn’t mean it’s a God-inspired idea. There’s a huge difference between a good idea and a God idea.

When there is no vision:

• Most ideas seem like good ideas…leading to over-programming and burnout.
• There’s nothing compelling to give toward…leading to a consumer mindset, rather than a contributing mindset.
• Organizations become inward-focused…leading to a slow, painful death.

In part 3 Craig Groeshelle said

Last year I visited Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL to speak at their Leadership Forum. (I’ll be there again in March 2008.)

In just a few years, the President, Dr. Mark Rutland, has turned this university around. As recently as ten years ago, this school was struggling to stay alive. Now it’s thriving. Why?

God is at work through a leader with a vision!

When an organization has VISION…

• people will give sacrificially (both financially and of themselves).
• people will tolerate inconveniences for the greater cause.
• people will talk. You can’t put a price tag on positive buzz.
• the organization (or ministry) takes on a life of its own.
• the options of distraction decrease.

Where there is no vision the people perish...

Craig Groeschel has written a 4 part series on vision. It is so amazing because it describes all the things God is doing in our lives and in Catalyst France...

In part 1 " The Dream, Revelation, Vision" he says:

The title of my first book, Chazown, is a Hebrew word that means a dream, a revelation, or a vision.
You can find Chazown 34 times in the Old Testament. Proverbs 29:18 is the most commonly quoted verse containing “Chazown.”
Here is the verse in three different translations. I’ve underlined the English translations for Chazown:

…Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint… (NIV)
…Where there is no vision, the people perish… (KJV)
…When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild… (NLT)

No matter how you translate it, without Chazown (vision, revelation, divine guidance), the people we lead will be confused, scattered, unfocused, and easily distracted. Unfortunately, this is where many ministries and organizations live: Chazown-less.

Vision For Catalyst France (pt 2)

My husband is posting all week this week about our vision for France and sharing what that looks like to us according to what God has put on our hearts. It is very exciting to read myself. He is really getting into the what seeing, hearing, and experiencing life-change looks like to a French person. Go to kenwitcher.com to keep up. Yesterday he posted "Vision for Catalyst France (pt2)".

We want to plant churches where French people have an opportunity to see, hear, and experience lasting life-change through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But what does that look like, sound like, and feel like?

After 2 trips to France talking to people and pastors (I know, pastors are people too), and observing people, I began to sense God showing me that these people all had similar unmet needs that He placed in them for a purpose. I observed a lack of hope, a lack of meaningful relationships, and a lack of understanding how they fit into humanity.

A year later I heard Erwin McManus talking about his book Soul Cravings. He said every human soul has a craving for intimacy, destiny, and meaning. It felt great to think that God was speaking to me the same stuff he was speaking to Erwin McManus. So what if Erwin says it better.

These soul cravings are so obvious in France. When people enter into a relationship with Jesus, they find relationships, they find hope for a better life, and they begin to understand their purpose and how there life matters for something.

For people to experience it, we must first live it in front of them and communicate it in a way that makes sense to them.

I will talk more tomorrow about seeing it.

Cancer's Unexpected Blessings

If you have kept up with my blog for a while you will have read sporatically about people who really know what it is like to suffer.

Melissa Bernard a 34 year old mother of 4 (the youngest being 3) who lost her 8 month battle with cancer last week.

Baby Isaac - a 5 month old baby with HLHS ( a defective heart condition) who has fought off death 3 times, but is coming once again to the end of what doctors can do for him.

Dan Knudsen - an 18 year old 6 ft good looking athlete who loved the Lord, broke his neck on a missions trip this spring and is now a complete parapalegic with many other issues extending from the paralysis.

And there are many others...

As my heart has broken and ached and my eyes have shed many tears for these families, an article in Christianity Today had a great article on Tony Snow (White House Press Secretary that is currently battling cancer) that really put all these things in perspective for me.

When you enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change.

Tony Snow | posted 7/20/2007 02:30PM

To read click here:

Vision for Catalyst France

My husband is going to spend some time this week sharing more specifically about our vision for France. Go to his blog to read more.

A bad report for Baby Isaac. Please pray today!

As I mentioned a few days ago, Baby Isaac went into the hospital for sever sodium imbalance because of dehydration. Because his O2 levels were staying very low, the doctor did an echocardiogram which brought really bad news. His heart is not functioning very well (read more about it on the Leino blog). We have all known that it did not function as a normal heart which would require the three surgeries, but things are alot worse now and basically unless God intervenes he only has a month or two left to live.

Lord, we lift up Baby Isaac to you. It's all You now. No doctor or parent or person in this world can heal him or correct his problem. So we come to the Creator himself and ask you to intervene. We know you can Lord, and we ask that you will. Strengthen his body for the next upcoming surgery or for a transplant. We thank you for letting us have him for these past five months, but I just believe that you want to give him more years. Hear our prayers today Father and do a miracle in the life of Isaac Leino.

Le Tour for the Common Folk

This French Life had a great post called "The hell of l’Étape du Tour"

IF you have watched a stage of the Tour de France in the past few days and thought "I could do that", well you can but be warned.

Each year one of the stages is opened up to cyclists for l’Étape du Tour giving mere mortals the chance to experience the climbs and descents of one of the mountain legs.

Earlier this week around 8,000 people faced up to the challenge of tackling five mountains on the route from Foix to Loundenville in the Pyrenees, a distance of 196km that took some around 12 hours to complete and which will be attacked by the pros this Monday.

The stage is set up exactly as the Tour cyclists experience with the gendarmerie out in force to guide people through, food stops and medical help for those struggling, fans lining the route and even a bus to collect the stragglers who are not going to make it.

And you can get a taste of the pain and agony that the cyclists have put themselves through by taking a look around the internet, here is a quick selection:

Back from the Etape - Wascally Weasel

I passed lots of riders who had cracked - more vomiting, lying by the roadside than on the previous climb even, the ambulances seemed to be doing more work too.

Pain and Suffering and Sweat - Martin Dugard

I established a rhythm of riding seated in my easiest gear for a few kilometres, standing up in the pedals for a few kilometres, and then walking a hundred yards. Everyone was doing it. We were no longer cyclists, but refugees.

L'Etape Du Tour, one hell of a day - Alex Murray of the BBC

About 100 metres from the top "The game is won, victory is yours. It is well deserved." rang out from one group of locals bringing a tear of joy to my eye.

So if you still fancy your chances of having a crack at one of next year's stages I'd get on the bike now and start racking up some miles.

Another update on Baby Isaac

Praise the Lord for Isaac's irregular levels! The doctor was able to find out that he was dehydrated, and his heart had been working over time and was enlarged. He even had a small seizure at the hospital because of his dehydration. This could have been a serious issue, but since they found it out early, they can now change his meds to deal with the issues and prepare him for his upcoming surgery. God's timing sometimes confuses us, but if we will just hang on and trust that He knows even better what we need, time will show that His ways are always better than our ways or plans.

Read more specifically on babyleino.blogspot.com.

Melissa Bernard - 34, wife, mother of 4, follower of Christ, woman who loved life...

It's a little bit of a strange blog night...

After posting to pray for Baby Isaac, another person I had mentioned a while back, Melissa Bernard, a 34 yr. old mother of 4 young children, who had been fighting stage 4 colon cancer for 8 months died monday.

My heart is so broken for her family and her 4 children, the youngest one 3 years old. She sounds like an amazing lady, and for those of us who follow Christ, we will get to meet her someday, but that does not make the journey for her family and friends any easier. If you want to read more about her amazing life and see how you can pray for her family, go to her blog.

Update On Baby Isaac

Things have been going great for 5 month old Baby Isaac, even to the point that his parents were going to take a short much needed vacation. Well just before they were ready to walk out the door, they got a phone call regarding some routine lab tests. There blog said:

During yesterday's pediatrician appointment, labs were drawn to check his electrolyte levels since adjusting some of his meds. Results came back with sodium & chloride in dangerously low ranges to the point of putting him at risk for seizure activities. This shocked us as he's been amazing over the past few days. So instead of the beach, we're back in Chapel Hill awaiting a PICU bed to open up. We're not sure why his levels are so out of whack & are praying for wisdom in discerning the root of the problem. Jordan & I are praying for a quick resolution to Isaac's condition without additional complications.

Please pray for this family. They are such a blessing to so many people, and they are so young dealing with such a challenging and scary issue. Isaac was suppose to go back to the hospital within the next couple of months for the second of his three or four surgeries to rebuild his heart. He needs to be strong and having no complications for the surgery to take place. Please keep this family in your prayers.

To read more or to keep up with this family you can go to their blog: babyleino.blogspot.com.

Velib Self-Service Bicycle

"This French Life" said that THIS weekend saw the launch of the Velib self-service bicycle hire system in Paris, which aims to have 200,000 people using the bikes on the capital's streets by the end of the year.

The system allows people to hire the bikes for a period of time to get across town and then drop them off at bike stations that check them for road worthiness in time for the next person.

The bikes are sturdy, utilitarian machines designed for heavy use on the streets of Paris and it is hoped they will be used for regular trips, not sight-seeing, to cut back on road traffic.

Read more about this here:

I wonder if they have bicycles with trailers? :-) ... or a bicycle for 3 (one adult & 2 children) with two additional baby seats?

Building Walls Or Bridges

My husband had a great blog called, "Building Walls or Bridges". It said:

All press is not necessarily good press when it comes to the church. When the S. Baptists boycotted Disney it hurt the perception that people had of them. I heard it over and over. It turned into "Southern Baptists hate Mickey Mouse." How can a church hate Mickey Mouse? How cruel! How can you hate a childhood hero? It doesn't matter what the real motivations were behind it, it was bad press.

In the internet world information is fast, free and editorialized. Everything we do and every decision we make affects how the unchurched view church. We must be very careful to differentiate between what is important and what is personal preference. If people don't share our faith it is likely that they won't share our preferences. If we want to change people's view of the church then we must begin to focus our efforts on beginning a conversation with those far from God rather than condemning a world without God for acting unGodly.

For more on why we want to go to France go to kenwitcher.com or catalystfrance.org.

The Competitive Spirit

Can I just say it is killing me not to be able to watch Le Tour de France. For those of you who don't know we got rid of our cable a couple of months ago... and I can live with just about everything, but I love competition!!

When the Olympics were on a couple of winters ago, Ken was in Paris, I had all four kids by myself, so we just holed up in our house and I recorded (with our DVR) every event that was shown on T.V. If I had to walk out of the room to tend to a child, I would just pause it. A couple of times I got 2 days behind and would not watch regular T.V. for fear I would find out the final result before I watched it. Yes I watched everything from every second of the opening ceremonies to curling to downhill snowboarding to couples ice dance to long distance skiing to the speed skating... but my all-time favorite was the bi-athalon where they ski and shoot. I can say it was one of the most fun times I have ever had in my life... it was right up there with getting to compete in U.S. Nationals myself. Pretty crazy huh?

So knowing all this about me now you know why it is killing me not to get to watch Le Tour de France. So I am searaching the internet to find out all I can about LeTour and also get updates from This French Life. Today This French Life also has a great post on what goes on when Le Tour de France Circus comes to town. If you have any more interest search the web. I have been able to watch small pieces of it here and there... but it is just not the same. :-) Maybe next year I can have a front row seat in Paris.

Happy Birthday Ken! July 15

Today is my hubby's birthday! I will not tell you how old he is because my birthday is coming up and I know he will do the same for me. :-)

God created you in your mother's womb before you were born with your specific personality and gifts and talents to fulfill His plan for His Kingdom. You so often can't see the awesome things God created in you... but I can... that's why I married you. It's an honor to follow you in life.

I pray you have many more. We (I and the kids) love you!

July 14 Bastille Day!!

Today is Bastille Day!! ...the French version of July 4th.

Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of Louis the 16th's Ancient Regime. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king's power was no longer absolute: power should be based on the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers.

Although the Bastille only held seven prisoners at the time of its capture, the storming of the prison was a symbol of liberty and the fight against oppression for all French citizens; like the Tricolore flag, it symbolized the Republic's three ideals: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity for all French citizens. It marked the end of absolute monarchy, the birth of the sovereign Nation, and, eventually, the creation of the (First) Republic, in 1792.

Many cities hold fireworks during the night. Many dancing parties are organised (bals du 14 juillet) and it is customary that firefighters organise them (bals des pompiers). Those celebrations take place from 13 July at night to 14 July.

Military parades, called Défilés du 14 juillet, are held on the morning of 14 July, the largest of which takes place on the Champs-Élysées avenue in Paris in front of the President of the Republic.

The parade opens with cadets from certain schools, then other infantry troops, then motorised troops; while aviation of the Patrouille de France flies above. In recent times, it has become customary to invite units from France's close allies into the parade; for instance, in 2004, British troops led the Bastille Day parade in Paris for the first time, with the Red Arrows flying overhead.

Read more about it here, or on Wikipedia.

Bastille Day also falls during the running of the Tour de France, and is traditionally the day upon which French riders will make a special effort to take a stage victory for France.

An excerpt from "This French Life" describes how some outside of Paris will celebrate this holiday.

We are going to celebrate by having crepes for breakfast, spending the day out with the family, and ironically my parents have invited us to a symphony in the park for kids tonight. As much as I am going to enjoy our time out today, I can hardly wait to celebrate this holiday in France next year!

A Surrendered Life

I was very convicted by this blog from a friend of mine (Jane) who shares her blog with her husband (Mike). Their blog is called a surrendered life, and every time I read it God refreshes me (or convicts me) with a word from Him. I really blew it here recently at a family gathering (families have a way of doing that) :-) , and when I read this I realized it began in my mind... in my thoughts.

Here is a short excerpt from that blog:

Proverbs 23:7-19
Leaders understand the importance of their minds to the future of their organizations. Consider some of the timeless principles offered in Proverbs 23 about our minds and a godly vision for tomorrow:
1. Your thoughts determine your character (v. 7)
2. Be careful of your thoughts; they may break into words at any time (v. 7)
3. Don't waste your thoughts on those who don't hunger for them (v. 9)
4. The first person you lead is you, and the first organ you master is your mind (v. 12)
5. Don't let your mind drift away from God's truth and into vain envy (v. 17)
6. Stay confident that your vision will come to pass (v. 18)
7. Discipline your thoughts to remain steadfast in what you know is right (v. 19)

I then read today's daily devotional from Harvest Online and God continued to gently convict and teach me.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
—Hebrews 12:1–2

Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom once said, "Look within and be depressed. Look without and be distressed. Look at Jesus and be at rest." Looking without, she had reason to be distressed. She lived in a concentration camp. She saw her sister and father die. She saw others die. Looking within, she felt depressed as she saw the darkness of her own heart. But seeing the example of her godly sister Betsy, who saw the bright side of everything and was always trusting God, she concluded, "Look at Jesus and be at rest."

Hebrews 12:1–2 urges us to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."

As we walk with God, people will let us down. People will disappoint us. Circumstances will be hard. The enemy will hassle us. This is when we need to remember why we started to walk with God in the first place. It was because of Jesus. So keep your eyes fixed on Him. That will keep you moving forward, because the only way we will make it as Christians is by keeping our eyes on Jesus Christ.

Thank you God for showing these things to me, You are so kind in your rebuke; much more so than I am with those who hurt me. And thank you Jane for sharing from your heart. And even though I have only known you a short time, and we hardly ever see each other, you have affected my life in ways you don't even know. I truly love you and your family.

Anniversary Night Out & Running Shoes

Check out my hubby's blog on our anniversary. If any guys read it they cannot say I am a woman that is hard to please.

Modern Day Wells

My husband had a couple of great blogs the last couple of days. One was called "Modern Day Wells". If you are a Starbucks fan, it might just motivate you to come visit us in France or just outright join us. You'll be on the front end a movement we believe is going to happen in Europe.


I have heard Mark Batterson talk often about how coffee houses are our modern day wells. In Old and New Testament times, wells were a place where people could meet others and talk. It was a place where people went to get refreshed with water for themselves and their animals. While their animals were drinking or they just got off of their feet for a few minutes they would talk with others doing the same. This is how Abraham's servant found a wife for Isaac and how Jacob met his wife.

Coffee houses are very similar to these old wells. They are places where sales reps work, students study, employers have interviews, church planters study and people just go to take a break. I always meet folks in these places. I sometimes avoid the local Starbucks when I have a lot of work to get done because I know I will end up in conversations with people.

In France, the same is very true. In a culture where people don't talk much to strangers, the coffee house creates a common experience where defenses are down just a bit. We don't plan on going to France and just putting up a sign or sending out an Easter mailer about our cool new church. We know that relationships are key. We know that most people will attend church for the first time because of a relationship. So we will be intentional about developing relationships (I may talk more about that later). Going to coffee shops will not just be a way to to take a break, for our team they will be part of a job description. Want an application?

If you love Starbucks, notice the stores in Paris in the picture. But you may quickly forget the mermaid when you sample the local espresso.

Check out Catalyst France.

Coaching, Cat, Moving, Chicago, Masters Championship

I have seen alot of pastors and friends that I follow do something called a "brain dump", so because so much is happening in our life right now and I want to blog about it all, but I don't have many spare minutes... so here goes:

Runners Camp- I spent a week last week doing one of the things I love to do the most... coaching. I coached at a runners camp held here in our area put on by a local church. I have been involved in this camp 7 out of the last 9 years. The exciting thing about this camp was that my 4 year old (almost 5) was allowed to participate and he was the youngest and the smallest. They have a track meet on the last day and he ran the hurdles (placed 6th), the 800 (2nd), and the 200 (5th). It was exhausting and a blast. I was so proud of Austin, though (He is the one in the red shorts). Because he is so little and stopped a few times in the 800 but kept on going and finished, he became the crowd favorite.

Our Cat must have 9 lives.
Thursday of that week my 6 year old tied our cat to a tree and didn't tell his daddy until they had been gone from the house couple of hours. He has seen people walk their dogs and wanted to walk the cat and keep him from running off. It almost killed him; we found him very twisted up with the strap extremely tight around his neck from trying to get loose, and bleeding from trying to chew through the strap, but he is fine, and I think Levi learned his lesson.

God sold our house!
For the past few years as we began this journey preparing to move to France, I continually prayed that at the right time God would just send someone across our path who would ask to buy our house without us ever putting it on the market. Well, Thursday of last week that happened, Friday they come over to see the house, and Monday made us an offer. I am a little in shock and not really prepared to move, but I really believe this is God saying, "Okay, get ready... here we go."

So we have one month to get out of the house and find a new place to put 4 kids, 2 parents, and a cat.

This month though just happens to be the busiest month of the summer. In the next 4 weeks we will be doing these 4 things:

French Party
We are hosting French party for all our friends in the area to say goodbye.

Chicago
We are taking a trip to Chicago to meet a couple who may go to France with us who are on staff at CCC (Christian Community Church) a main church in the New Thing Network. We will be meeting with some of their pastors to learn more about what they are doing and hopefully partner up with them in some way for the future.

USA Track & Field Masters
I will be going to Maine to compete in the USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor Championship. Yes, I am officially old. At first I would not even talk about it, but when I realized there is a whole new running world out there in the Masters division, I decided I would celebrate turning 40. I will still be competing in the 35-39 year old group, but the funny thing is I will turn 40 the day after I race. What a way to leave your 30's.

Moving
And we will be packing up all our belongings to move somewhere by August 12, we're not sure yet, but we know God has that all figured out and we are ecstatic about how God is working.

Tour de France Begins in London! 7/7/07

The Tour de France began today in London! Of any of you are sports fans or competitive like me and like to watch almost any competitive event, then you understand how my heart beats when there is competition in the air.

The Tour will cover 2,120 miles and feature six mountain hikes, three summit finishes and two individual time trials. In the prologue, with riders setting off one by one, the field whirred past classic London landmarks and through Hyde Park. Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara won the prologue Saturday as the sport's premier event began amid heavy security and with a distinct British accent.

The overall favorites include Kloeden, teammate Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, Levi Leipheimer of the U.S., Cadel Evans of Australia, Denis Menchov of Russia, Christophe Moreau of France and Spanish riders Alejandro Valverde, Oscar Pereiro and Carlos Sastre.

The last time the Tour went through Britain was in 1994, when an estimated 2 million people crowded the route. Thousands turned out this year, many in support of local favorites.

You can read more at the MSN Sports page.

France, Freedom, & Religion

My hubby posted a blog called "France, Freedom, & Religion". It's a great blog on understanding what we will be dealing with when we go to France; some good and bad outcomes to a socialist society, how every man longs to have freedom, and then how to leverage these concepts as catalysts to reach them.

I Love The 4th of July!

I love the 4th of July! I love it almost as much as Christmas. I guess fireworks express so much of my personality. I love excitement. I am a helpless romantic. I love the summer and the nighttime summer air. I got to experience the 4th of July on the Lawn in front of the Capital building in Washington, DC when I was in high school with my family. (Well, I actually saw it from the parking lot where our motorhome vehicle was parked because I was in trouble - but it was still exciting). I love watermelon and cookouts. I love firework shows where there are lots of people because I love meeting people I don't know. I love sitting out on a lawn somewhere sitting on a blanket drinking a cold soda and and kids running around before the fireworks show. I love running road races on the fourth and then going to an all afternoon fun in the park activity and waiting for fireworks.

Okay, here's the humorous part. I got married on the third of July because I thought it would be a fun time to get married and I would get to see fireworks on my honeymoon... and then we went to Cancun. It never occurred to me that they wouldn't celebrate the 4th of July in Mexico. My first child has some sensory issues, and fireworks are incredibly overwhelming to him so that he screams like he is having an autistic meltdown. My other three kids have seen their brother respond like this and have a fear of fireworks because there must be something scary if Levi is that scared. So even if our neighbors shoot off fireworks and they are puny home firworks my kids are crying and won't even sleep in their beds.

So there you have it, I have gotten to enjoy a fireworks show maybe 2 times in the past 9 years. Pretty humorous huh. Oh well, I guess when I'm 70 and my kids are out of the house, I can go and watch as many fireworks as I want. I hope I'll be able to see them. :-)

Why I Would Rather Die Than Not Follow God

This blog by Perry Noble really says perfectly what I was trying to say about my brother in my "Thomas & Nikki"and "Thomas & Nikki cont." This is why I love God so much and would rather die than not follow Him.

God continues to blow my mind through this parenting thing–and this past Sunday He taught me another lesson about His love.

Let me ask a quick question–have you ever felt far from God? Or, to put it a better way–has there ever been a time that you were closer to God than you are right now?

I think we’ve all been there–everyone of us. Maybe we just stopped having personal time with Him…or maybe we chose to bathe in sin for awhile, damaging the fellowship we had with Him. Whatever the circumstances I know that many people who ARE followers of Jesus often times feel distant from Him.

AND…for whatever reason…when this happens we often begin to think, “God is mad at you; in fact, He is so ill with you that if you did come back–He probably wouldn’t want anything to do with you! After all, you did (fill in the blank)–and no one could ever do something like that and then be loved by God!”

So Sunday the service was over and the first thing I thought of was, “I want to get home to see my little girl.” Please understand–I wanted fellowship with her–but I initiated it. I put forth an all out effort to get to her!!! In fact, I think I may have “fractured” the speed limit trying to get home.

Folks–get that–I went all out in an effort to make it to her–that’s just what a loving father does!

We see the same situation in Luke 15:11-32, many know this as the story of the prodigal son. Here we see, for many of us, OUR story…

• The son leaves the fellowship of the father (Luke 15:13)
• The son made a series of dumb decisions that completely dishonored His father. (Luke 15:13-14)
• The son wound up in a situation that could only be described as rock bottom. (Luke 15:15-16)
• The son thought, “Dad would never take me back as a son…but I could work for Him!” We think the same thing many times–that we have to work off all of our bad stuff. (Luke 15:17-19)
• The father was looking for the son!!! (Luke 15:20)
• The father RAN TO THE SON!!! (Luke 15:20)
• The father restored the fellowship with the son! (Luke 15:20)
• The father did not punish the son!
• In fact, when we see in Luke 15:20 that the father threw his arms around him…that is POWERFUL because, according to the Law, this son had dishonored his father and deserved to die! The traditional way was stoning…and so when the father threw his arms around the son he was saying, “I will take the punishment intended for him!” That’s exactly what God did for us through Jesus–took our punishment!

Unfortunately this is NOT the picture the church paints of God many times–too often we see Him as an overzealous killjoy that simply wants to ruin our lives…and that if we make Him mad–it is LIGHTS OUT!

NOT TRUE! The good news is that no matter who you are, no matter what you’ve done–right now you can turn back to God…and HE WILL RUN TO YOU!!!

One more thing…please keep in mind that the prodigal son repented of his sin! He came to the point where he realized, “This is not where I want to be…this is wrong,” and he turned from his ways! This is the decision that we need to make if we want to experience the fellowship of the Father. NOT working the sin off…but admitting, “God, this isn’t where I need to be…I want to come home.”

Has there ever been a time that you were closer to God than you are right now? If so–what are you waiting for…get out of the pig pen and head home to the Father–He’s waiting!

The Official Hug Report

If you have been following my blog about the "official manhug" here is the hysterical conlusion by Tim Stevens. You may have to go back to "How to hug Tony Morgan" to understand this blog in context.

Ever since my question about how I should greet Tony Morgan...several have asked how it all turned out. More than one of you suggested that I go the biblical route and give him a holy kiss.

Here's how it went down...I had settled in my mind to give him Option #4: Combined Handshake with Hug. But then when the anticipated moment actually happened, it was like the earth stood still and everything went in slow motion. Tony was coming down the aisle in the Union Station theater during the Buzz conference, and suddenly it was like I was viewing the Sound of Music scene on the hillside or the Elephant-top scene in Moulin Rouge. I got all disoriented and before I knew it Tony had initated Option #3: Full-Frontal Two-armed Hug.

Don't be concerned. It was all good. We were in a public location and I was told that since our bellies didn't touch and we didn't linger for more than 3 seconds that we didn't violate any pastor ethics. It was a warm and fuzzy moment and gave me the strength I needed to teach my session.

As far as I know, no one snapped a picture of the actual hug. But Kem was able to get this picture later just to prove we were actually in the same place together.

Thomals & Nikki - Cont.

I can't believe in all the chaos of a wedding I forgot to tell you the best part. Nikki has a 6 year old son, was never married to the father, but has joint custody of Jacob. Well, you'll never guess where Jacob, his father and stepmom go to church... C3!! (Cleveland Community Church)... Our church!! where mine and Thomas's oldest sister is the pastors wife.

I guess that came up when they first met along with other coincidental things like both being at ECU (East Carolina Univ.) at the same time, and Nikki student teaching with the pastors wife of my younger sisters church in Greenville. But they never met.

Well, they started coming together to C3 the week after they met and never turned back. They both rededicated their lives to the Lord, joined the church, got pre-engagement counseling with a Christian Counselor, got engaged and had a beautiful simple wedding a few months later with lots of honorary guests, including all their lost friends. (I love this part) I had a whole evening to love them for Jesus and invite all of them to church with cards and directions on a cool card. My family purposely sat me at a table with the ones they thought most people would have a hard time talking with, like a bar manager with tatoos and long hair and another friend.

If you want to know who I am, that is it. I love lost people and I love to meet the most unlikely person to ever darken the door of a church and love on them and share my God with them. God has given me a gift of talking with strangers and making them feel like someone really cares about them and their lives... and I am not saying this to brag. I don't have alot of other gifts. You don't want me to organize anything and I don't like to be in charge of alot of people. I am not administrative and I don't do details at all. I usually lose at least 2 or 3 items when I travel unless God puts me with a Type A personality who walks around behind me saying, "Gina don't forget this." And I'm talking important things like the plane ticket or my purse or an important book... Don't you love how God makes up his kingdom.

Anyway, I think the lesson of this story is... You don't have to do everything right for God to make something beautiful of your life...You can even mess up really bad and He can make it seem like that was His plan all along... and I just love that about Him.

P.S. A number of people have asked me to put up wedding photos... well, remember I told you about losing things, well I lost my camera after the rehearsal dinner and found it after the wedding reception was over on the front office table... but I will find some somewhere and post them.