"Government Organization"

This is one of my favorite oxymorons.  This weeks has been spent mainly dealing with the government.  Tuesday morning we made our trip to Marseille, a pretty place by the way.  Everything went good, we had a little trouble finding the Embassy and it took a while to get throught security, but finally we handed off our paperwork and in a few months, Arianna will have an American birth certificate, social security number, and her passport.  We then decided to swing back by the immigration office in Montpellier because we never got the appointment for Angie and we can't reach them by phone.  (turns out they said they don't answer the phone while they are there - frustrating to say the least)  We had to act French a little.  They said that we should have already received the letter for the meeting and that since it was passed there was nothing they could do, Angie would have to return to the states. We were not going to take that as an answer.  We had to show signs of being real upset and explain that it was their fault, they didn't notive her paperwork in the folder with mine, they sayed they would mail the letter for a meeting for her.  We complained enought that they said we could see the boss.  After the boss arrived, they said they could do the medical visit and interview right away.  Sometimes you have to throw a fake fit (learned that from my dad :)  Angie started waiting for the interview and I had to buy the government stamps to pay.  They are usually sold in Tobaco stores.  The fifth store had some and so Arianna and I returned and we finally finished up there.  Thursday we had one couple come for the bible study, he had just got in from work so we just visited a few minutes, shared some prayer requests and dismissed.  Friday morning we prepared the paperwork for the next step in our visa process.  We took a pause to watch some dances that Micah's class put on.  Arianna had a doctors appointment as well, which is why I didn't go to the market.  Her doctors appointment ended up being cancelled.  We turned on the paperwork that afternoon, found out all that we were missing and will finish it up, hopefully, on Monday.  It is frustrating at times all the paperwork and getting all that they want and need, but that is part of life living in any foreign country.  Picture is of Andrew putting together a puzzle, feels liks what we have done this week.  God bless, JASON

Résumé

I noticed that once again it has been over a week since I last wrote and update.  Let me do a résumé of last week.  Monday I finished up preparations to go to Marseille, which was complicated by the fact that our internet was down.  I actually had to go to McDonalds to get online for a little.  Monday night, however, Angie had fever and Micah woke up sick to his stomach, so we postponed the trip to Marseille.  It worked out well because we didn't have everything prepared.  Wednesday, Lilia was invited to a birthday party of some new friends we made, we joined her afterwards and enjoyed an aperatif together.  Lilia had a wonderful time and was able to meet a lot of girls her age.  She will have some extra friends when she gets into Jr High next year.  Later that evening she asked when she could have a cell phone and her own facebook page.  Thursday, we had the Bible study at another couples house in Magrie because Angie was still not feeling good and Arianna had come down with it as well.  Friday, I went to the market for an hour and a half, there were not many people out, most likely because it was 26 degrees.   I lasted for an hour and a half, but when my toes stopped tingling, I decided it would be a good idea to head back to the house.  I did make a contact in the form of a hitchhiker that I picked up twice last week.  Basketball practice is going well.  I was told there will be another game on Saturday that I will be able to attend.  I had a couple of doctor appointments last week as well.  I had a lump checked out and it turns out that it is just a cyst.  The weekend past well and we are looking forward to getting the trip to Marseille done tomorrow.  I made the final preparations for the trip.  I had to have a tire patched on the car, it had a large screw in it.  Andrew also had a Doctors appointment this evening, that think he has exzema, they had thought it was ringworm.  Also if you would like to listen to that audio of my Christmas sermon at the church in Carcassonne, you can find it by clicking here.  God bless, JASON

Several contacts

Andrew is excited that he will not longer be the only one
who has hand to his mouth.

Arianna wearing her new hat from my parents.



Lilia had been wanting her hair cut like this
for a couple of years.



Arianna sleeping next to me just now while Angie takes a walk.

There were two present for the Bible Study, thursday night.   One couple was out because of surgery, and another person had a guest.  Friday was a really interesting day.  The Bible stand at the market went well.  I first met a lady who attends the Assembly of God church in town.  After hearing who I was and why I was there, her reply was, "But there is already a church here".  After that point the conversation improved, as I assured her that I was not in competition, I just wanted to see people starting and building a relationship with Jesus.  A middle aged man stopped and got a Bible, he said that he had been looking for one since he heard some things and the books of Timothy and Revelation.  As always I encouraged him to read it and return with questions for me.  Friday afternoon, Angie had a friend that she made at the community meeting last Sunday visit with us.  The converstation was great.  I hope that we have the chance to get to know them better.  Our plumbing was stopped up that afternoon.  I worked on it a little, to no avail, and called the landlord.  After a couple of hours the city worker came by and had us up and running.  While I was picking the kids up from school, Angie got a telephone call from a man who had received one of my cards in a Bible Calender that I had handed out.  It seems he thought that we were Jehovah Witnesses and wanted to give us a piece of his mind.  Finding out that we were not really surprised him.  He ended by saying that he most likely will not come to the Bible Study.  Saturday the package that we had been waiting for these past few weeks came in.  The kids were sooooo excited!  They enjoyed playing with all their Christmas toys from my parents.  Also Saturday, Angie and Lilia got their hair cut. Lilia is turning into a young lady so quickly.  Today we have a few calls to the states planned.  This next week will be a little different because of our appointment in Marseille to get Arianna's birth certificate, passport, and social security number.  I hope that you enjoy the rest of this day.  God bless, JASON

Coffee and Basketball

Arianna reaches out for mommy.

Arianna loves holding and chewing on her blanket.

The kids about to open a package from the grandparents.

Waking Arianna up in the morning.

Let me think about the last time I have blogged and what has happened since then.  We had a good Bible Study Thursday evening, two were present.  Friday morning I met a man at the market I have spoken with several times.  He even came to church with us one time.  I have not seen him during the Christmas break even though I tried to contact him several times. It was good to see him, we took a break and had coffee together and a good conversation.  Friday night we had basketball practice leading to our game on Saturday night.  This was the first and only game I will play in this season, because the rest was on Sunday morning.  The game was good.  We lost by thirty points, but our team was only started two years ago and the majority are new this year, like myself.  I had two rebounds and 8 points.  Coffee and basketball have proven to be good ways to build relationships.  Sunday morning services were good.  We planned on having a restful afternoon because we didn't get back home after the game until almost midnight, but we received a phone call from saying that there was a get-together the community center for the new year.  We enjoyed last years so we packed up the family and drove down the hill.  We had a good time, we were able to meet a family from town and exchange contact information.  The was one funny part for the evening where Caleb got dragged up front to dance with this lady.  He resisted and it was clear he didn't want to be there. All the rest of the family had a good laugh at his expense then Micah ran up to join in the dance.  Monday which is my day off, we shopped and I also scheduled an appointment to get Arianna's birth certificate, social securiy number, and passport.  We will have to drive three hours to Marseille to accomplish all this.  After I made the appointment on the phone, I couldn't help but tell Angie, "Angie, they spoke English!"  Wasn't really expecting that.  Today, we took Arianna for her 4 month appointment.  We will eat lunch with some friends.  After school our kids are having some classmates come over, followed by basketball practice.  God bless, JASON

Back to it.

We finally took an updated family portrait.

The New Years got started of good and busy.  Sunday services were good at Carcassonne.  We enjoyed sitting in on the members meeting afterwards.  A couple joined the church and I enjoyed hearing their testimony.  Monday the kids started school back.  Andrew is now going the whole day because I can proudly say that he is potty trained.  YEAH! Monday, Angie and I did some shopping.  Tuesday, I started catching up on some work and started my lesson.  Basketball practice went well that evening.  We have a game this Saturday that I hopefully will be able to attend.  It all depends on if my paperwork is completed.  Wednesday I took the kids swimming and Caleb to basketball practice.  We also celebrated the "fête du roi".  This is a French holiday which commemorates the arrival of the wise men to see Jesus.  On this day you eat a special pastry (usually almond flavored) that has a small toy baked in it.  The person who gets the piece with the toy gets to be the king and a paper crown is provided.  Lilia found the toy, which I believe is her first time to do so.  Bible study is this evening and I am excited about getting back into the weekly routing and seeing what this New Year brings for the work in France.  I am not much for New Year's resolutions.  I read that a "New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other". I would like to finish reading through the French bible this year and several other books.  Arianna has not been sleeping good that last few days.  Correction, she sleeps good, just not at the normal times.  Night before last, she didn't go to sleep until 2:30 am.  She is finally getting over a cold that started on New Years day.  I pray that your New Year is a blessed one.  JASON

A new year

Santa showed up at swimming class.

The kids going for a donkey ride.

Arianna gets herself trapped in bed.

She is out for the count.

I took the kids to see the movie "Tangled" or "Raiponce" here in France.  They liked it, afterwards I realized that even though it was in French, I didn't have any problems understanding it 100%.  Thursday evening we were invited to eat with our neighbors.  We had a wonderful evening with them.  The kids were well behaved and we enjoyed ourselves.  I hope that we can have further chances to build relationships like this one with our neighbors.  We celebrated the New Year as a family.  We set off seom fireworks and let the kids stay up until 10:30.  Angie and I saw the New Year in together.  Enjoy some more pictures from this month and I hope you are happy and blessed new year.  JASON