When you visit, be prepared to bring stuff!

Ok, technically, Gigi is our 1st visitor. But we have had several of our friends to see us here in France and even one family member, all associated with Michelin. They have been a great support to us and certainly we are glad to see familiar faces from time to time. We have had the pleasure of having many meals with friends who can relate to working and living in Clermont. In fact, Preston is out entertaining some of our visiting friends/Michelin people tonight. One of the great things about them coming is that they often bring us much missed goodies from the states like:

Little Debbie Honeybuns for Lauren
Carmex chapstick for Maya
Aunt Jemima syrup and Pancake mix for John
Ebony, Essence, O, Time, etc. Magazines and Twizzlers for Me
Grits, Texas Pete Hotsauce and Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce for Preston
Spree candy, Wheat Thins and Jergens Lotion for Daniele
HP Ink for our printer

Preston's cousin Shon even gave Preston his 1st haircut here back in September. Ever since, Preston has been doing it himself!



Although we have found suitable substitutes for many things, there are just somethings that there is no substitute for. Thank you Shon, Steve, Shelia and Brian for all that you have done so far. I look forward to your next assignment here and our next "package."

Our First Visitor!

Thank you so much Gigi "Trailblazer" Campbell for spending a wonderful week with us in March. It was our pleasure to host you here in Clermont and to discover parts of Paris with you as well. We spent 2 days in Paris visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Sacre Coeur and other sites. We were too excited to have a familiar face with us. Having Gigi here was like a little bit of home. She even brought us gifts from our church family in Columbia. We really miss you guys too!!! Gigi was a great guest, trying new foods, going to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and driving the countryside around Clermont with me. We had lunch with some of my friends and did a little shopping in Paris as well. See, we know how to treat guests right and we are looking forward to many more visitors, hint, hint! Here are some of the pictures from Gigi's visit to Paris.

The visit was great, but the icing on the cake was a surprise party for my 3?th birthday!
Preston is a very thoughtful husband and he enlisted one of my friends here to help him pull off the party. I wanted to have a party so I picked a date, planned a menu and wrote a guest list. But with everything going on, I decided to just have lunch with friends. Well Preston took it upon himself to throw the party for me. It was good to get together with adult friends and celebrate! I was able to spend time with people that have really helped me adjust to life here. I call them my France survival team. Kim and Paula were not able to make it to the party and were really missed! I really appreciate my new friends for their prayers, coffee talks, lunches and for those that are French, their expertise with the language! I am looking forward to many more adventures with you ladies.

Preston goes to Asia!

Preston had the opportunity to go to Asia on business last month. In fact he was in China on his birthday. He was in Shenyung, China for a week and then he travelled to Thailand for a week. He had a great time in both countries, but he really enjoyed Thailand. In fact, I wouldn't mind a visit to Thailand with in the next few years. The pictures were amazing!

Listen to me! Vacation in Thailand?!! That is certainly a new thought, but I am so grateful for the amazing opportunities that we have had in the last few months. Our horizons have been expanded and our expectations have been exceeded!!! God is so good!

China Pictures:

Thailand Pictures:

Maya is 12!

Maya had a wonderful 12th birthday sleepover. There was a total of 6 girls including Maya. Of course there was pizza for dinner (Domino's!) and the highlight was the Bon-bon cake. It was a two-tier "cake" made only of Maya's favorite candy! I ordered it from the candy store near the school. She loved it! The next morning for breakfast, Preston and I made a traditional American breakfast complete with pancakes, bacon and eggs. Thanks to Shelia, we had pancake mix and syrup from the states! Shelia comes to France every quarter for business and always brings us treats The most requested items have been honeybuns, wheat thins, pancake mix, syrup, lotion, hair products and most importantly, magazines!!!

Now one of my good friends called me crazy for having the sleepover, but honestly it was the easiest one yet. I was a little nervous because we live in an apartment on the 3rd floor. I made arrangements for John and Lauren to stay with friends, so I had 2 less to worry about. I am not sure if it is the age of the girls or what, but these girls played quietly! I guess they are used to living in close quarters and know how to play quietly. However, I have noticed that people in France are generally more quiet than people in the US. In the movie theaters, restaurants, even outside, we are the loudest every where we go! So I guess American sleepovers are louder too, because our 1st French one was not!

Maya is really maturing into a beautiful preteen. She has made some really good friends with very different backgrounds. Maya is doing a lot better with her french and is still a top student in school. We are working on getting her more outlets for her singing, but she always has a song in her heart and she continues to sing all the time. I am very excited about what God is doing in her life as I watch her grow.