Getting Real….

Tickets are purchased for Cameroon. We leave in one month. And our visas have arrived!

Our things were delivered to JAARS in NC for shipping to Cameroon.  (Thanks Kelly!)

Chris was so happy to see his toolbox in the picture! 

We've finished school.  We've learned a lot of French!

No more of this-

Or this...

Graduation is Monday.  The kids finish school Friday (great way to celebrate Independence Day this year.)




End of the year events checked off one by one.

Friends

Holding these 2 one last time!
No, not related, just born close to the same time.

Appointements for the dentist and doctor next week.  Last shots ordered.  New glasses for Noah on their way.  Duck tape still works in the mean time….


Our car sold for July 7th.  3 out of 5 bikes spoken for.

The Longest Day - Bike ride to help end Alzheimer's disease

Still meeting with our language partners, and friends from here.

 I don't know how to relax. I have lists of things to do.  But most of it needs to wait.


We have things still to look forward to here in France: we have company coming.  Chris's sister Marie arrives Tuesday with a friend.  And a long planned trip to Spain to meet the Grants, the Parks and the Govers for a 'European meeting' our home church.


And then we leave. July 29th.
I'm not sure what to think.  Excited?  Yes?  It's finally here!  YEARS of preparation (although we will never really be prepared) and thankful for the Lord's call and blessings.  Scared?  Yes!  We've never been!  There's malaria, crazy diseases, crazy drivers, and a lot of unknowns!  Thank you for praying yet again as we transition from the beauty of the French alps and the stress of language school, to the new world of Cameroon. So thankful for your prayers and the Lord's blessings!  He is with us.

Visitors and Tests

The last month has been a whirlwind!
First my mom, sister, and niece arrived:

I Love you Mom!

Eating Crepes

Aunt Patty and Kristin knitting.

Ben and Annie

Market in Chambery with Aunt Patty, Mom, Annie, and Noah

Market

Animals at the market

Dinner!

Mother's day after church

Dinner with Patou.
She lived with us 2 summers when I was in high school as an exchange student! 

Kids' table

Mother's day in France with Patou and my mom

Decadent frech dessert

Beaufort Cheese

Lac Roseland

My favorite sister Fort de Tamié

Place de l'Europe

Geneva

Parade in Geneva

Pam came to visit to see us in Geneva too!

Our last meal together

We left my family at the hotel in Geneva and picked up my friend Jessica:

Beaufort

 I have a small fear of driving our car (stick shift) in the mountains, or really anywhere out of town.  Jessica encouraged me and up we drove all the way to the top where lac roseland is.  Afterwards she said she was glad I stayed in 2nd all the way down- she doesn't like mountain roads!

We conquered our fears!

 We made it to Annecy:

Annecy

Lac Annecy

Nearby:
Gorges du fier

Wet, cold day=  giant slugs!

Last lunch….

Conflans

Whew!  Jessica left and the next day Chris and Noah went to Paris with the Flambeaux- the jr high group from church.

Next a bike ride to the local reservoir with friends:

New game with water bottles...

 Sunset as awesome as ever…

Meanwhile we study…..

and go on field trips- much more French practiced on the field trips!

Kristin's class climbed the small mountain we look at from our living room. 

The donkey's carried our bags up.

A leaf hat- very popular here….

And for Ben's class too:

And a quick visit from Darren followed by a bike race…

Ball with the neighbors

Happy Father's Day!

And then, more studying.

We actually finished our tests today. Results tomorrow…

We paid for our tickets to Cameroon 2 days ago.  We leave July 29!  But we have been so busy… no time to write- maybe tomorrow….

Pray for all the things we need to do still.

Pray for our Cameroonian visas.  We mailed our paperwork yesterday.  

Pray for my mom.  She is tired, has little strength in her hands, aches and pains, and doesn't know why.  I know caring for my daddy took it's toll, but seeing her here. Wow.  She is, for the first time ever, feeling her age.  81.  I still hope she can visit us in Cameroon sometime.