Thursday, February 28, 2013

7

My great friend Melanie recommended the book "7" to me. Oh boy, was it inspiring. Jen Hatmaker's previous book, "Interrupted", was also really interesting and challenging. A couple of friends have either read or in the process of reading "7" as well. If you're looking for a super friendly book (no guilt, no false theology of you-have-to-suffer-to-follow-God's-will-for-your-life. I'm looking straight at you, book) and a challenge, get this book.

God has been working in me for a couple of years now. I feel I need to do more. Or rather I need to give up more, donate more, be more compassionate. "7" was the perfect book for me. Have I done anything since? Um. Nope! But I'm praying and really really wanting to change and be closer to what God and Jesus want from humanity: that we take the burden of those who have less -less money, less justice, less opportunities-, make them our own, and reduce impunity to zero.

I'm working on it. I'm inspired by people like Jen Hatmaker. I'm inspired by my friends who are so godly and humble (I love my friends!). In this season of Lent, I need to be challenged to do more. And I need to be held accountable -so I'm relying on you to call my BS and remind me that buying a Venti latte a day is not quite the way to go!!

Anyway... Read "7!"

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The luxury of giving up

It's Lent. I love Lent! It's like new year's resolution but with a purpose. It's a time of reflection and change. And it's only 40 days -ha! I am not giving up anything this year. I just want to be more mindful of others and others' needs. And that begins by realizing the luxury of what we have here. We can give up so many things: Starbucks, Facebook, sugar, eating out, meat, reality TV, etc. This season let's just pause and think of all that we have. Let's do this not to feel guilty but to increase our compassion and awareness of all that we could give up for others.

Happy Lent!

Friday, February 8, 2013

8 years!

8 years ago today I left France and moved to the US.

I left a country that I love for a man I love even more. I left a family I love more than words can express to create a family of my own. I left my culture, my food (bread and butter - what), my habits, and my friends to find a culture quite similar but not quite, food I have grown to love too much, and friends who are now another family. I was so joyous to be able to live with Joe -and, holding a fiancee visa, to marry him (within 3 months, as the visa required!). But oh, how it hurt to leave. I cried every day for months thinking of that day, mainly because the thought of leaving my family, in particular my mom, who had a really hard time dealing with my departure, was a bit hard to bear. But right when I arrived I busied myself with the wedding preparations and was really happy about that!

I love my life here. LOVE it. I love how friendly most people are, how easy it is to switch careers, how easy we have it (except for, oh, maternity leave and health insurance and America's love of guns). How easy *I* have it. Really I am so thankful for my life, here in the US. But I also miss my family, some friends, bread, pastries (oh the pastries...), talking about politics at any given dinner, Paris and Normandie.Sometimes I dream of going back, even for a few years. Seeing Léo at school with other French kids would be so fun. But we have jobs here and a good life. Moving to France without a plan would be scary -especially because I'm a person who doesn't deal well with change. Maybe one day, though...

So today I celebrate 8 years of joys and quirkiness, of new life (lives!) and surprises... and I rejoice at my trip to France in a few months!

And if by chance you are a French reader and know of an opening for an development worker position in Paris, let me know. I'd move back home in a heartbeat!!