3 months to go!

So now that so many of you have this web blog, I figured we better update it more. Fear not, as soon as we are in the field we will be posting here a lot as we keep you all in the loop and use this as a major way to share the journey. So far we are just still in Calgary, and unless packing and paperwork is really your thing, we dont have much to say.

We are getting all of our stuff together and doing a lot of shopping for all the supplies we will need for the next 4 years. Niger has open air markets, but there are certain things that we really cant buy there, like 220V appliances, many toiletries, good quality clothing, medecations, certain household items and some things for our kitchen. Ive bought multiples of packs of taco seasoning, basil, ice tea crystals, and maple syrup (Paul wouldnt make it 4 years in Niger with no syrup for his satruday pancakes). Also, you cant buy baking pans, muffin tins, etc there - so ours are making the journey! Overall, I have a binder of lists that I am slowly making my way through. Overwhelming at best. The house will go up for sale sometime in the next few months or so too. We havent decided when.

I am still taking two courses and Paul and I are both still working too. I am not sure yet what our quit dates will be as there are lots of variables that we arent in control of. Our team would like us to take an Islam course and a general linguistics course in May as well. With everything we have to do, I am starting to think cloning doesnt sound to bad.

We are looking forward to Quebec. That will mean all the packing is done and the container is sent! Also we really like the team there and will really enjoy spending time with them while Paul takes classes.

During this time we are so thankful for all the support we are getting from our family and our church. You hold us up.

Here is a new family photo. Bennett just turned two last week!!

France Part 2 -Chartres

So we took off in our sporty little Renault car and headed southwest of Paris through the country. The windy little National roads are a lot of fun to drive and lead you through all these little villages and fields. Our destination for that day was Chartres, famous for its huge cathedral. Its very big and nice, though dark inside like most french churches. Its famous that one of the King Louis's got married there, and Joan of Arc was there, etc. The whole city is build around the big cathedral on the Hill






Outside the cathedral there are lots of pedestrian only streets with shops. At one intersection there was a fountain in the square. Bennett loved watching all the water jets shoot up and move and he would dance on the edge in just a little bit of water on his shoes for splashes. When we finally left we literally had to carry him away kicking and screaming. he wanted to play there all night!

The France Escapades -Part 1 in Paris

So now that I am back home and finally feeling healthy...i figured I had better update our site here with the rest of the trip! So here is the first installment of a multi part France series on that trip.

Oh yeah...and you are probably wondering if they found out what i Had over there...Dengue Fever!



On to the trip! We spent a few days in Paris on our way down to Niger, then a day there after I got out of the hospital before we rented our car.
We saw live filming of the movie "rush hour 3" and saw Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan...but I didnt have my camera. Nor did I have it when we had Bennett at the Eiffel Tower. What was I thinking?

What I was thinking..is how to do they park? And after they park like they do, how the heck do they get out? I guess their bumpers really do get bumped a lot!



We went for a night boat ride along the Seine River to see all the sites. Bennett was most excited by the birds and could care less about the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame or anything else. But we enjoyed the quiet ride and sights.

Eiffel Tower


Notre Dame



We walked around on the first days there and did some geocaching. (If you dont know what that is go to www.geocaching.com - Its adventure travel and GPS linking to find hidden logs and treasures) We spent part of the afternoon up by Sacre Coeur and in that area where all the artists hang out. Here is a shot from Place Tertre where the artists all hang out and try to draw your portraits (for a fee of course)


The last day just before we went to rent our car we wandered along the river and I took lots of neat shots of boats, the trees, the tent hotels of the homeless and these cool rings, many of which were randomly put all along the lower walkway of the Seine River.



Stay tuned for Part 2!