Work ethic

Working in the fields.

We stopped by a bookstore in Carcassonne, the boys sat
down to read.

Arianna playing blocks with her brothers.

This is the last day of our kids two weeks spring break.  Oddly I think we had better weather during their winter break in February.  We had a good weekend.  I made a slight mistake last week not checking the messages on our answering maching and found out Friday that I was needed to play the piano in church on Sunday.  I practiced for several hours Saturday and did "okay" on Sunday.  I should have practised a little longer.  Last time I practiced a little too much and this time not enough, so I should know exactly now what is needed :)  The kids have been spending a lot of time inside.  Caleb did spend the night Sunday night with one of his friends.  Sunday Lilia and I went a visited with some friends.  Tuesday we got out of the house some and went shopping and playground hopping in Carcassonne.  After we got back home, I took the boys to help a friend clear out a vinyard.  It was good work for the boys.  My boys needed a few lessons in work.  They tend to complain about the size of the task at hand, and about their fellow employees, and about the pay. So this was a good occassion to explain to them about being a good worker.  We spent a couple of hours at it and by the end they had gotten a good rythym.  One of our good friends is moving this weekend and so I have been stopping by to help them out as time permits.  The big move will be on Saturday.  Bible study was good last night.  I did not go to the market this morning because of the cloudy skies and chance of rain.  I will make a trip to the dump this afternoon with some of our stuff and some from the family that is moving.  I like working, and it seems not to matter what I am working on.  I have just finished running through the tutorial of the Dreamweaver web-making software.  Intersting stuff.  Other than that, I wanted to mention that Andrew has not sucked his thumb for a good while now.  He does a little while he is sleeping but that is far better that before.  I am not sure what exactly motivated him to stop, I just explained that it probably is the reason that he is getting sick more than the rest of the family.  The rest of the family is doing well.  We still have moments of un-ending laughter, which is great.  The kids all seem to have a good sense of humour.  I always enjoyed cheering people up and getting people to laugh.  That was a tough part of moving to France, I couldn't communicate, therefore it was hard to be funny.  ThankfullyI communicating better now.  We pray that you have a good weekend.  God bless, JASON

Hand me another sack

This picture makes we smile.  Micah thought that Caleb was
keeping the rock from falling by using "the force".

At a friendly game of UNO, looks like
someone just got skipped.

Last week went well.  I helped out a friend finish up some concrete.  After we did 1,200 kilos liquid, on Saturday we finished up with 41 bags of dry mix.  I enjoyed the work and fellowship.  Last weeks had a few low points.  I invited someone to chuch on Sunday and in their reply they hinted that that would never be possible.  I hope that I didn't offend them and that I can continue to have a good friendship with him.  At the market on Friday morning  I met a couple of ladies from another church in town.  They asked what my plans were for Limoux, and after  I explained, they gave a response that I have heard before, "But there is already a pastor working in Limoux."  Even though I had heard it before I was still shocked at the response.   In a town of over 10,000, I think that there is enough work for several dozen pastors.  I always try to emphasize when I meet people from other churches in the area, that I am not in competition with anyone but Satan.  My desire is to see people come to have a relationship with Jesus, and grow in that relationship.  Last weeks was busy as well with visits, we had someone over for dinner on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night.  Wednesday was busy as well with family activites.  Thursday night was the Bible study, and Friday night Caleb had a friend over.  Saturday I helped out a  friend in the morning, while Lilia rode horses.  After lunch,  Micah rode and Andrew had a birthday party to attend.  Sunday, I led the services at the church in Carcassonne, and the boys had a basketball tournament that afternoon.  It was a busy week, but good as well.  This week will be more of a office week.  We have a doctors appointment for Arianna and Angie.  We need to go to Carcassonne to pick up Arianna's birth certificate with the correct spelling of her name.  I need to met with our house agency to find out about a key that is missing to unlock our upstairs storage.  I noticed in the news this past week that three military personel were killed by a sniper near Toulouse  over two days last week.  Angie just saw reported on the news that three jewish children were killed at a school in Toulouse, also by a sniper. I pray that they catch the person who is doing this.  God bless, JASON

We'll work

We found this large earthworm while planting roses.

Arianna and Lilia give eachother a look.

The kids playing ping pong next door.

We were blessed with another good week.  We had a few visits the beginning of the week, but most of the time was spent on paperwork.  I got our tickets for our trip to the states this summer.  I got our state-side taxes done. Wednesday, I fixed the kids bikes, again.  We also planted some roses in the flower bed and trimmed some trees.  The weather has been absolutely wonderful with it warming up into the 60's during the afternoons.   Thursday's Bible Study went well, we stayed and visited afterwards for a while.    Friday morning's market was a little better attended, but still not many people stopped by, besides the regulars.  Friday afternoon, I helped a friend put on a new porch.  I hauled 800 kg of concrete to him, over the course of the afternoon (or at least so I thought).  Saturday, while Angie was taking our neighbor to pick up some groceries, she met a friends that invited us over that afternoon.  We stayed and visited with them for a while in their new house that is not too far from ours.  In fact, the kids went on bicycles.  That evening Angie and Lilia attended the youth meeting in Carcassonne.  They had a good time and even met the parents of a new attendee who is Dutch.  Sunday afternoon, we had some visitors after church.  Lilia and Caleb watched the rugby match on TV at a neighbors house and played some ping pong as well.  France was beaten by England by 2 points.  Today I did work in the office, and received several calls.  This afternoon I helped finish putting down the concrete. We found out that they misunderstood last time and had given us only 400 kg on Friday.  So today we had the real 800 kg.  We did manage to finish before dark.  We also invitied him to eat with us afterwards and had a good long visit.  Today the kids have a dress up carnaval at school.  We will be taking several trip to see them.   This evening one of my teamates will have dinner with us along with his girlfriend.  Looking forward to this week.  God bless, JASON