Happy, Happy Birthday to our JO!

We love you and are so thankful for the sweet wife and mama that you have become as well as the sweet daughter you always have been! Have a wonderful day and year!

What better way---

to celebrate your 63rd birthday than with 8 little ones? Yummy supper, great fellowship and a delicious tiramiso made by Jeanine. Two babies missing, but aren't they cute?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy birthday to the world's best mother!
When I think of you the first 2 words that come to mind are: selfless and giving.
Thank you for being a godly example to your children and grandchildren.
Have a WONDERFUL 63rd birthday.
I hope you're royally treated on the other side of the ocean!!
Love you dearly!

Desilles Visit

We are enjoying a five day visit with Matthieu and Jeanine. With 5 kids under 5 in the house, it is not every boring :-) Tonight Hyo Soeng and her kids came for a picnic supper. We had a great time together and even enjoyed chatting after the 5 little ones were in bed. We are sleeping at Tim and Ruth's house since they are gone and our house is full. We are eager for them to get home, however. We miss them and think 3 more kids should be added to the mix :-)

In Loving Memory

Today Grandpa Morgan would have been 93 years old.
What a rich heritage he left us.

Il y a 66 ans...

Last Sunday, August 15 marked the 66 anniversary of the American paratroopers coming in to liberate Draguignan and the region. We had eaten at McDo's and a group of French soldiers came in with American flags on their sleeves. Dad went and asked why and they said it was in preparation for a reenactment of the liberation. We realized last night that we had failed to visit the American Cemetery here in Draguignan and that would have been a big mistake. So today we went over there (it is in the middle of town). It is really beautiful and so well kept. There are 861 graves; the majority with the date Aug. 15, 1944! The eagle above is a mosaic and the inscription on the statue reads "We who lie here died that other generations might live in Peace." It is so easy to forget. Made me miss Grandpa. I am sure he would have saluted!!

Our Trip to Italy

We took a little 36 hours get-a-way from here to go to Italy. We drove through Monaco-- which didn't take long! The bottom collage is of that. Almost immediately afterward you arrive in Menton. (Top collage) That was a "must" on Dad's list. He was interested to know if there was anything about Spurgeon there. There wasn't :-( But he asked, believe me :-). It is very much a tourist town. We enjoyed looking around and then eating our lunch before continuing on to Italy. I put some pictures here if you want to see Genova. I don't think we captured the beauty of the Mediterranean at all with our camera but it was breathtaking in places.

Happy Birthday, Miss Isa!!

Is that not one of the sweetest faces you've ever seen? And, she's 9 year's old!!
Happy birthday, Isabelle! You have brought so many smiles and so much joy to our family.
I can't wait to hear ALL about your special day.
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ISABELLE GRACE!

Zacharie Christian: 8 months old, first haircut

Monday our little guy turned 8 months old! He's also been needing a haircut, and so, remembering how I looked back at Micaiah's pictures and couldn't believe I had waited so long to cut my baby's hair, I decided it was time! (Although, the hair in the eyes was the biggest deal with Zacharie. With Micaiah there was no danger of hair getting in the eyes since it all stuck straight up! :) The haircut was pretty quick and simple, as he was well-entertained by a cartoon and his father. Other new landmarks are his two bottom teeth. Along with his teeth has come a new love for the pacifier, which he had positively refused before. All around, he is a very happy little boy, and is increasingly more interested in all that is going on around him. Our baby is growing up!

Pont Aquitaine in the News!

Apparently yesterday on the home front, the "gens du voyage" decided to manifest for their "rights." Over 1500 caravans were on the bridge for several hours because Bordeaux would not allow them to park where they wanted! Don't worry, Tim and fam were save and sound and knew nothing about it :-) I cannot even imagine that many trailers in on place!

Sunday Evening Concert

This afternoon we went back to the little town on Lorgues. We had gone there on Friday to the marché and noticed that they were having a Baroque Concert at the church today (bottom right). It was super. The Kammerensemble Cologne -- think that must mean the Chamber Ensemble from Cologne, Germany :-) Afterward we walked around the town again and then stopped for a light supper. As you can see, we were quite taken by the trees in town! Here is a clip of Dad's favorite piece!

Six Months Old!

The Grand Canyon of France!

Beautiful country, beautiful day. Does this bring back some memories? It sure did for us. Dad said over and over-- "oh, I remember doing this with the kids." Only thing we did not do was the paddle boats. It was mid-day and they were all in use. Too bad.

Make New Friends!

That is the name of the game here-- and the kids are all loving it. So is Papi. He has 3 new little grandkids to love. The Seelys arrived from Cameroon yesterday and we are leaving in 5 minutes, so the two young families will have time to bond while we are gone. Aren't these little guys cute?

Just couldn't resist sharing this photo of my little cutie-pie, and thought I would share a link with you as well. We just (finally!) posted some pics and a brief report here of our very busy but enjoyable visit with the Jensens.