Summer 2014 - August

The first of August we visited Canton's Trade Days.  It is the largest market in Texas, it was the first time that we had been. My parents go frequently and I was glad to have them as our tour guides because the place was huge.

The following day we left of a trip to Arkansas, were we spoke a two churches and then headed to Washington DC.  For a few days of family vacation.  We are thankful that friends hosted us in their house during this part of our travels...a true blessing, I would think it hard to invite a family of 7 into your house, but many did.  In Arkansas we took some family pictures at an old mill.

We had a great time in Washington DC.  I had visited the Smithsonian as a child and it was great seeing some of the stuff that I remembered.  I would take a week to see it all and we only have three days.  But we did get to visit the Air and Space Museum, the American History Museum, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Abraham Lincoln Memorial, White House and Capital Building (from a distance) and the best part is that it is free entry for the museums to all public.  One of the highlights for me was seeing the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner, it was larger than I had imagined, but sorry, no pictures allowed.

Gettysburg Valley

Following the trip to DC, we headed back to Texas, stopping in West Virginia, and Pennsylvania to visit churches.  We drove through some hard rain at times and saw several serious accidents.  We are thankful to God for his protection while we traveled during the summer.  We arrived back in Texas and had a couple of weeks for some brief revisits of family and friends, and as always sharing with churches.  

We had a great time in the States, and even though goodbye's are hard we were ready to get back to France and find our own bed, our friends, and the people that we care about across the sea. next picture was taken at the airport, August 26, by my parents as we left out of Dallas. Last picture is the kids waiting for our connection flight from London to Toulouse.  God bless, JASON

Summer 2014 - July

July started with Angie and I on our little trip (I say little, realize that it was about 3000 miles) to the Northwest.  We were going to visit some churches and see some sites.  We also read a couple of books together while on the road. We drove 29 hours roughly, across Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota, Idaho, and arrived at Spokane, Washington.  We visited in the services of a church there and made some good friends, and reconnected with others. The following day we drove to Walla Walla, WA, were we stayed in the home of the Emry's for the week.  We shared Wednesday in Hermington, OR, and then Thursday in Walla Walla.  We were able to help them hand out flyers for their church and also enjoyed spending July 4th with them and their family.

We really enjoyed our week with them.  We headed out Saturday to drive over to Olympia and share with a church there Sunday morning, followed by Aloha, OR that evening. Monday the 7th, we started the trip back home driving through the Columbia River Gorge, which is a beautiful drive.  We stopped just before arriving at Yellowstone National Park and spent the night.  We are thankful for the generosity of people, the whole two weeks, we only had to pay for three hotel rooms. Tuesday morning we made a rushed trip through Yellowstone, after the Grand Canyon, one of the most beautiful places in the world, at least from my point-of-view.  We stopped at a few sites and grabbed some souvenirs for the kids.  (Clothes - which is always a souvenir that I like getting for the kids because...hey, they always need clothes anyways right).  

Arianna meets a cousin for the
first time.

We left Yellowstone, headed for Denver, CO, where we stayed and had a good visit with my aunt.  The headed for the long drive back to TX.  Along the way we stopped for Wednesday night services in Abilene, where were had a God arranged visit.  We picked a church at random and ended up that one of the members attended the church that my grandfather planted in Ayer, Massachusetts.  Amazing!  We made it safely back to TX and to the kids, who were waiting with stories of how they had been spoiled by the grandparents.  The following Saturday, 12th, we had a reunion of Angie's family.  There were over fifty present.  That following Sunday we visited two churches in Austin.  Then rushed to meet my sister to pick up two of her kids and get them and Lilia back in time to head off to Teen Camp with our church.  While Lilia was gone, we spoke at at Ladies meeting in Tatum, TX and a church in Jasper, TX.  The following Sunday we visited with two churches in Shelbyville and then drove straight back to Hillsboro, where we would be leaving for church camp as a family.  Along with 30 other kids.  Angie and I drove the two church vans which was a fun experience.  

Our group.

Playing night basketball.

Caleb won third place in Chess.

After camp, things slowed down for a little bit.  We still visited in three more churches before finished out July.  We tried to give a hand and stay cool.  God bless, JASON

Over 100 degrees at 11 am.

Helping my Dad build a bunk bed.

Summer 2014 - June

Where to even start? Summer has come and gone.  Let's go through and hit the highlights.

June 1st-Carcassonne church anniversary, they had two that were baptized.  An exciting time for the church in Carcassonne.
June 4th - Our year end business meeting for the AVF.  I was officially approved as the president of the AVF, in spite of a little opposition by some who were worried about the fact that I was a pastor.
June 5th - Andrew's 8th birthday.

June 6th - Our English Camp/VBS team arrived.  Had a crash course in French and supper with them.

June 7th - Hang out with the team in the morning.  Afternoon went to a wedding where I lead the ceremony.  What a great evening.  I did the services in French and English since the husband was french and the wife was from Singapore.  Great time meeting new people, had some in depth spiritual conversations.  Owner of the castle wants to offer my services to other married couples that use the castle for marriage.  Castle was near Albi, about two hours from our house because of some roads closed for construction.  

June 8th - Didn't get home from the wedding until after 3 in the morning.  Up early to take the team to church in Carcassonne.  Afterwards had our annual lunch meeting for the basketball club.  Services in English that evening with the team in attendance.  

June 9-12 - English camp each evening.  With various activities during the day.  Camp went real good and was well attended with about 25 each night.  During the day had other activities with the team...taking baked goods to the firefighters and police men, helping the elderly with their gardening and house work.  A great week.  

June 13 - Team day off, I drove one member of the team back to the airport as he had to leave early.  Had our last Friday night bible study.

June 14 - VBS went well, 9 kids in attendance.  

June 15 - Team leaves.  Lauren takes them to the airport while we start packing.  Lilia has her last swim  competition.  She swims in 6 races and receives 4 golds, one silver and one bronze.

June 17th - Lauren takes us to the airport.  Flight back home goes well.  We spend a few days in Hillsboro and then head to Henderson.

June 21 - Family reunion for the Taylor side.  First time that we have had the whole side together since I was a child, I believe.

June 22 - We spend the service with our sending church, eating a meal afterwards and enjoying a visit from some friends from Paris.  

June 23-25 - Hanging out with friends and family.  Took a trip to the zoo with my parents.  Getting ready to hit the road.  My parents are watching the kids while Angie and I take a road trip to Washington state to visit some churches.  

I'll include the road trip on July's blog.  God bless, JASON