My top 5 favorite "French phrases" I’ve heard in the past two weeks:
5. "Brosse le dents!"
Usually shouted by a Mom to her kids. Definitely the most popular phrase I’ve heard. I literally just heard while I wrote that sentence. It’s also kinda beautiful, it is truly onomatopoeic, similar to it’s English translation—“Brush your teeth!”
4. "Doucement!"
While it means “Slowly!” it’s used in a variety of contexts. my favorite being in the Mirone household. I heard Valerie use this word a lot to Jonathan and Lucas, especially when they were emptying the dishwasher.
3. "Alors…"
Natalie murmurs this to herself when thinking of what to do next in the kitchen or when we were working on the spare apartment. She uses the soft and guttural French ‘r’ in a way I cannot come close to mimicking. This word stumps me, but it’s one of my favorite things to hear.
2. "Would you like a café?"
This phrase is wonderful. This phrase is full of expectancy and hope. I actually cannot remember being asked this in French, but I’m in France, and its definitely one of my favorite things to hear.
1. "Où est le chat?"
Silas likes cats, and so whenever there’s a cat around, Thierry will ask Silas, in an high pitched voice, “Where is the cat?” and then Silas’ big blue eyes will grow wide as he searches. It’s adorable.
I’ve been spending a lot of quality time time with people the past two weeks. I’ve had the chance to have deep conversations over delicious meals, hear life stories and joke around. This has been balanced with a lots of time reading and writing. The past two weeks have been so formational for me, even though looking at my schedule, I didn’t physically do very much. I know God has been teaching me, and revealing things to me I needed to see.
Monica described this very well yesterday (over espressos, fruit tiramisu and chocolate cake)—this internship is a time where all the normal distractions (school, friends, family) are no longer there, so we have time to examine otherthings (calling, purpose, our walk with God) with a new lens. For me, I’ve been seriously examining where I am right now, the blessings I’ve been given and what that means for the next step of my life.
I realized today while driving through the valley to Champfleuri with Thierry, whatever happens next will be scary. Graduating college is the next inevitable life step, and even the “safe” option: living and working near home, is still a risk. Nothing is for certain. Every moment is a risk, and the question I need to answer is—who/what am I taking a risk for? Myself and my personal gain or Christ and the hope I daily find in his death and glorious resurrection? The only real certainties are those found in Christ, and the promises in His word. There is no other life giving choice than to follow His lead—wherever that may take me.
Anyway, that's enough philosophizing for tonight. I’m going to squeeze some reading in tonight before I sleep— enjoy the pictures below!
Bonne Nuit!
Crazy, right?! I have never seen a more gorgeous rainbow!
I took a walk by myself on Saturday, and amazingly it was the only time that day when it was not raining.
There are tons of these little poppies everywhere, and each time I see them I think of Monet.
