Baxters First Thanksgiving

Claire-Lise, Me and Baxter, Hailey

Eva and Emmanuelle after an INCREDIBLE Thanksgiving meal at the Zumacks. We found all the traditional food that makes thanksgiving so great...the only thing that was missing was American football and the parade but you can't have it all ;o)

Fire Hazard!!!

This restaurant was SO excited that it was Debbies birthday they butsted out a pretty serious sparkler in a tube thing to put in her complimentay gourmet dessert...it scared us all at first and then shock set in and we laughed like crazy until it went out...then there was an awkward silence...then we started laughing again at the strange burnt cardboard tube sticking out of the crazy marzipan brownie assorted goodies thing...never a dull moment!

Winter Smurf

Winter this year has definately been MUCH more mild compared to last year...well, so far :o/ This is still however, how you will find me inside our great..but chilly appartment. :o)

Eva and Emmanuelle

This is Emmanuelle and Eva...They're not twins but they are sisters that moved here from The Reunion Islands, near Madigascar. We all started going to Eau Vive about the same time but it took us quite a few months to get around to meeting each other...but once we did we became pretty good friends. They've encouraged me a lot and I'm really glad to know them!

This is us the day of the India themed parade...it was out of control! Like Fiesta x10!

I Had Visitors

Jennifer and Steve Lefever were in England and came over to see me for the day...It was really great to show them around and be the one in the group who knows what's going on for a change ;o) It was good to have a little part of home here in France. Thanks guys!!!

Me and Steve (a.k.a Gigantor) at the Eiffel Tower.

Hey Steve! I have a question for you..."How did the parapelegic (no idea how to spell that) cross the road?" :O)

Apparently tthey're called 'Smooties' in Belgium...

It was funny to me that the sign was in English to begin with...then it stepped up a level when I realize they forgot the 'h'!

Good Times!

Eva, Me, Hailey, and Emmanuell. I love these girls! We took a trip to Bruxelles to celebrate Eva's birthday.

Trucker Hats Taking Over The World

Me and Hailey being cheesy in Bruxelles...seriously, who's buying blue trucker hats in Belgium?!?!

Peeing Statue

Me being cheesy....all by myself ;o)

That little tiny statue is a HUGE deal in Bruxelles...there are replicas of him all over the place with different constumes...'cowboy peeing statue' 'sailor peeing statue' I guess every city has there thing...I love them now but I was kind of weirded out at first when we (in San Antonio) put decorated fiber glass cows all over the city.

Me and the Frere family...David, Evelyne, Jean-Pierre. They live in Tournai, Belgium, Davids a good buddy and I have the privilege of working with Evelyne at Eau Vive (our French church). I can't imagine my time here without them in it!

Just another fun filled evening with the greatest youth in France.

left to right: Priss and Aurelien

Aloice, Naomi, Rebecca, Rachel (priss/aureliens daughter)

This is the last team of Americans that came...the guy in front is the fire chief who climbed onto my roof!

Baxter goes to Paris

This is my friend Eugenia with Baxter. I went with the last team that came to do construction on the church and decided to take him along...BAD IDEA! He got sick in the van all 9 of us were crammed into and threw up...he was also severely in need of a haircut. Ahh, crazy people and their crazy dogs.

Every other year the city I live in (Lille) comes up with some great theme and decorates like you wouldn't believe. Two years ago it was an enormous upside down forest. This year the theme was India. There was a GIGANTIC parade/festival thing that kicked it off a couple months ago. These lifesize elephant statues were put along the road between my house and the train station. 14 total I think. With that and the Christmas ferris wheel and decorations...my goodness it's been festive.

P.S. It all came down yesterday and I thought it would be a little sad but there's a lot more space on the streets and it's good to have the real Lille back ;o)

"Happy Lights"

The display all over the city was pretty impressive...this building as well as the entire front of the train station were covered with these gorgeous lights.