Jewels from Jan: October 2013

Sunday, October 27, 2013

What are you passionate about?

10/27/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

Not so long ago, my Horticulture Major daughter, Ms. Emerald, propagated a lovely little plant that she gave to me...

Even though I don't have the greenest of thumbs, the plant is doing fairly well.

Usually when Ms. Emerald shares a plant with me, I cannot "for the life of me" remember the name of it, but this plant's name, I don't seem to forget...

It's a Passion Plant!

And, I'm pretty passionate about seeing what we might get next Spring or Summer from this little plant. Hopefully, it produces Flowers like this...

Isn't that the coolest flower? These are the flowers that this Passion Plant produces, and I hope I get to enjoy some of these in my backyard next year.

This got me to thinking about what I'm passionate about, or what I want to be most passionate about...

Today, I'm thinking of this verse from Deuteronomy 6:5...

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your strength."

Now this is something to be passionate about!

Have a Blessed Day!

Jan

Friday, October 25, 2013

We missed Dinner, but it was worth it!

10/25/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

My friend, RuthAnn, has a really adventurous spirit! She likes to "Stop and Smell the Roses"...And, get the most out of every moment. I love these things about her! I tend to be more controlled about my time, and schedule things, but...

The older I get, the more I like RuthAnn's style! It's so nice to really enjoy life, and enjoy the neat things that are out there. I certainly got to spend a whole year doing that in France. Being back in the U.S...back to all the responsibilities, and time constraints, and expectations...

It doesn't leave a lot of time for "stopping to smell the Roses"!

Thankfully, we have our Photos and our Memories!

That's why I'm sharing the magnificence of Château de Chambord today.

After a very full afternoon with our friends, Kirk and RuthAnn, one day in June, we just had to show them one more Château...because it's HUGE and MAGNIFICENT...and they couldn't leave France without atleast getting a glimpse of the outside.

I'm pretty sure RuthAnn took most of these pictures. Isn't she a fantastic photographer?

The only drawback of stopping to "smell the roses", was that we missed getting some dinner. We were out in the Country, and on Sundays in France, there is precious little open. We were close to two hours drive from our home in Orléans, and had many small Villages to drive through to get back.

We were getting hungry, but weren't these views worth a few hunger pangs?

Don't worry, we really didn't miss out on dinner completely....we stopped for pizza when we got to the big city! It just wasn't our idea of a nice French Meal to serve our friends, but hey, it was fun to have Pizza the French Way! I hope you get to "stop and smell the Roses" this weekend!

And...I'm wishing you a "Jewel" of a weekend!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Jan

Thursday, October 24, 2013

College Essay Challenge...

10/24/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

If I had to do it all over again...which...I'm not saying I want to...but, if I HAD to...

I don't think I'd be dreading writing those College Essays as much as High School kids do today! I think I've matured. I think I can carry a few paragraphs to a level of moderate interest, and I think I have much better subject material to work with nowadays...

courtesy of google images

I happen to have a son who is a Senior in High School right now. He's slowly plugging away at his College Applications, and more importantly, the Essays. I was convinced that one of the Essays would be a "piece of cake" for him!

Listen to this Topic...
"Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?"

Okay, we just lived in France for a year. We moved there with very little French "under our belts". We discovered a whole culture different from our own, and not only survived it, but embraced it, miss it, truly adored every new discovery, learned from each of our bloopers, and we thoroughly enjoyed the new friends we got to make! Jewelius was such a trooper, and he truly embraced life in France as we did.
So...doesn't it sound like the question was made for him?

I mean, if I had to write this Essay, I'd have plenty of material. If you've been reading along with me for a while, you may or may not remember...

-When I described my struggles to go to the grocery store for the first time by myself in France...

-I named off for you, all the things in the U.S. that I missed...

-You saw me whip up new Recipes without a mixer, or a crockpot...

-You saw me coping with driving in Paris...

-I told you about studying with the Rosetta Stone Program...

-You heard about me going up to complete strangers to ask for help...

-You read about my bravery to barter in French at the Brocantes...

My goodness!

-You even read about my "run-in" with the French Police when I couldn't turn off my bright lights...

I could go on and on...

courtesy of google images

Yes, I have much I could write about. I will never forget the wonderful experience of being indoctrinated into another Culture. I have a deeper understanding for Missionaries who go off to foreign lands. And though each and every culture has social and accepted differences, I think I've learned that I can cope, and enjoy the experience!

Jewelius was right there with us. He has plenty of material to share. I just don't know how he can write an Essay about France and keep it to a few paragraphs? He could write a book!

You can do it, Jewelius! You're almost there!

But this is the easy part...

courtesy of google images

After all, his biggest issue is coming next Fall, when those University classes start, and the REAL studying begins!

Please tell me I'm not the only parent out there in the process of ~~guilting~~ encouraging my child to complete those Applications/Essays "SO THEY CAN GET INTO A GOOD UNIVERSITY"? Thanks for ~~listening~~ sympathizing...

Have a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan

***UPDATE: Jewelius has this Essay "licked" now! On the other hand, Topic C has him stumped...about his future Goals! Yikes!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Visitors bearing Gifts...

10/22/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

We had cause to celebrate...

My Son has new Employment...

So, the Diamond Duo came to visit on Sunday...

They only live an hours drive away, but we always enjoy having them around...

Their pooch, Mugen, comes, too!

But, Mugen's not allowed on the Wood Floors, so he's peaking through the window. Can you see him?

First, we enjoyed a little of my moist Chocolate Chip Banana Bread for breakfast! I shared this recipe with you while I was living in France. You can click HERE if you want the recipe, but let me tell you, IT IS GOOD!

We all piled into the Van, and off to Church we went, to Worship together! We heard an awesome Sermon from I John 4 about loving one another.

"We love because He first loved us." I John 4:19

Afterward, my Son really wanted to celebrate with Sushi. His Mom (aka ME!) wasn't so sure about this, but agreed... to keep the peace AND make my Diamond Son happy. We went to a nice, little Restaurant, Shiro Sushi...very tranquil, with beautiful food, and great Service...

And, guess what? The food was great too! I decided I do like Sushi! And on top of that, my Son paid the bill! What a nice treat! So nice that he's got a paycheck again...and not just so he'll take his Parents out for lunch!

When we got back home, the Diamond Duo announced it was "Present Time"! It's not Christmas!?! It wasn't anybody's Birthday!?!

However, the Diamond Duo came bearing Gifts!

Dr. J received a six pack of his favorite Beer!

I received the most adorable Fall Decoration...

Owls are still really "in" this year. Check out a Post I did earlier in the year that kicked off my family's little obsession with teasing me about Owls, by clicking HERE.

He's awfully cute, isn't he?

Finally, Jewelius got his Gift! Let me preface the gift by telling you that my kids are really into Games. When they are together, they always want to play Board Games, Video Games...you name it!

SO, my Diamond Son worked faithfully for a year to put together a Game for Jewelius, and one other (as yet to be named) person (Shhh! It's a surprise!)! Here it is...it's a Munchkin Game crossed with Pokemon...very clever, and very creative!

Jewelius knew his brother was working on this, so he was pretty "psyched" to receive the completed Game. My Son did a real professional job. He designed 150 cards, and sent out to have them professionally made!

The family played it together Sunday afternoon.

And, then, we clinked glasses together and enjoyed a little Hard Cider Brew that our Son made himself.

Such a pleasant day with these two. Thank you for all the Fun, Lunch and Presents, Diamond Duo!

And you, my friends, I hope you get to have special Family Moments like this together, too! It doesn't have to be Christmas, or someone's Birthday! Celebrate the every day things...like a New Job!

Have a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan