Neglected Sewing Machine

I actually got my sewing machine out for the first time since Alina was born. It still works. I made Alina a skirt, and as soon as we get new batteries in our camera, I'll post a picture...

Troubles in Intonation

This morning, I was reminded of the Einstein quote, "Whatever your troubles in mathematics, I assure you mine are still greater." I'm working on a Bach Partita, and this morning, I was practicing for intonation. (Aside: It must be great to play instrument where the note is always in tune, or if it's not, you just blame it on the piano tuner!) The funny thing is I spend lots of my time trying to teach my students to play in tune, but when I practice myself, I realize that my intonation still has a long way to go. Not that I'm comparing myself to Einstein. I mean, I guess I am, but that's not the point.

Anyway, I've been asked by the Protestant Museum here to play a concert for them at the end of April. I was able to convince them that they DIDN'T just want to hear the same program I played for them in September, and again somewhere else in October. So now I have the pleasure and the stress of learning something new.

It's interesting to be in a region where "protestantism" is such a fimly-established part of the cultural and historical landscape but where the Gospel is ignored. I hope that by being involved in things like this concert, I might get a chance to remind someone of the reason why their ancestors were willing to face persecution and death. It wasn't merely to leave them a cultural legacy.

A Bible or a Coffee?

Here's a Reuters article about what Thomas's old employers are up to:

Reuters, 14.01.2008
Reuters, 14.01.2008


Bible as cheap as a cup of coffee is hot seller in France January 14th, 2008, filed by Tom Heneghan

“The treasure of humanity … for the price of a coffee.” With an ad slogan like that and a price of only €1.50 ($2.20), the Bible has become a hot seller in France. In the last four months of 2007, French shoppers snapped up 200,000 copies of a new low-cost edition — as many as are usually sold in a year — in hypermarkets, a leading book chain and in religious bookshops. Another 300,000 have been bought in French-speaking Africa, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland.
The Geneva Bible Society says the new translation (only into French) is meant to be for those who’ve never read the Bible before. “The sentences are shorter and the vocabulary more understandable,” its director Jean-Pierre Bezin told the French daily Le Parisien.
But isn’t France such a secularised country? Frederic Lenoir, editor of Le Monde des Religions, said many French no longer believe in God or attend church but they could not ignore the role of Christianity in western culture. “There are many biblical references in films and books these days and they think it’s useful to know the Bible,” he said. “They wouldn’t spend €25 to buy one, but they’re tempted by €1.50.”
The translation is called Segond 21, after the 19th-century Geneva theologian and Bible translator Louis Segond. The Geneva Bible Society has put two examples of it online in PDF — the Book of Isaiah and the Epistle to the Romans.
Buying a Bible just because it’s so cheap sounds a bit odd. There are so many reasonably priced editions around that I’d think anyone who wanted one would be ready to pay for it. Would you buy a Bible only if it sold at rock-bottom prices?
Source: Reuters Blogs

Hit by a Horse-Drawn Carriage II

For those who hate suspense, the guy with the carriage admitted to hitting us and his insurance will pay for the damage to our car.

Sign Language

Shortly after Alina was born, Thomas and I decided that, when she got a little older, we would try to teach her sign language. The theory being that a baby has the desire and motor skills to communicate in signs before they are able to use words. Our good intentions lasted for about 3 weeks. I blame that short life-span on our trip to the US in May. Somehow, the excitement and different schedule put an end to our efforts.

Well, now I can definitely say that Alina has a desire to communicate that far outstrips her vocal abilities. Fortunately, she has able to overcome her parents' lack of consistency, and she has created her own signs for certain things:

Swaying back and forth means "music." As a slight variant, swaying back and forth in front of a turned-off radio while pushing the buttons and making excited noises means, "Please turn on some music."

Putting her hand up to her ear means "phone." You'd be surprised how many small electronic gadgets get equated to telephones.

Patting the seat of a chair means, "Please put me up to sit in this chair."

Sitting on Mommy's lap facing her and pushing on her shoulders means, "Lay down on the floor and play with me."

Sitting on Mommy's lap facing her and pulling on her shoulders means, "Pick me up and carry me to the place that I'll show you." (Um, this sounds a bit like God's call to Abraham...)

Wrinkling up her nose and leaning towards you means, "Please kiss my forehead."

Holding both hands up means, "Pick me up."

Holding one hand up means, "Take my hand so I can stand up and walk."

That about covers all the bases of Alina's need-based vocabulary. In case you think there's something important missing, "Mam" is still her only recognizeable word. The translation is "Yum", and the implied meaning is, "FEED ME, I'M HUNGRY!"

Hit by a Horse-Drawn Carriage

That's what happened to us today. It's a beautiful, sunny day, and we wanted to go for a walk this afternoon. We drove for awhile, and Alina slept, and then we stopped by this pond to take a walk. We got out of the car, and were getting ready to leave it when this horse-drawn carriage with three people in it came down the path. The driver, instead of stopping and asking us to move our car, or slowing down at least so he could better manoeuvre his horses, kept going full speed, missed his turn, and hit our car, scratching up the side and cracking it in one place.

He stopped, exchanged some not-very-nice words with Thomas (I mean, HIS were not very nice, Thomas's words were just fine), threatened him with his whip, and continued on his merry way.

So much for our walk.

We just visited the local police station. We think we know the name of the guy, I mean, there can't be that many guys in that area who travel in horse-drawn buggy, so someone identified him for us. He's probably receiving a visit from the local police right now. We'll keep you posted...

I'm very thankful that none of us were hurt. If we had just been getting out of the car, instead of already out, things could have been bad. As it was, Thomas, who was right next to the car, could have been seriously hurt, but he wasn't.

Praise be to God for His protection!

This would NEVER have happened in Paris.

Public Service Announcement

Thomas will be shocked that I'm actually posting this, but, if you're a woman, you absolutely need to click here http://www.mooncup.com/ or for more complete information, http://www.mooncup.co.uk/menstrual_cup_whatisit.html It will change your life, and I'm only exaggerating slightly.

If, however, you're a man, whatever you do, don't follow these links. (And if you do, don't say I didn't warn you.)

Artistic Utopia

Pour Alice McLeod, épouse de John Coltrane, si elle avait 3 voeux, le deuxième serait:

Une colonie d'artistes, ça serait épatant!...dans un group d'immeubles,
ou dans un même quartier où les artistes, les musiciens, pourraient se retrouver, et apprendre les uns des autres. Ils pourraient montrer ce qu'ils font... Il y aurait des écrivains... eux aussi auraient le droit de venir! ...mais surtout des plasticiens et des musiciens. Il y aurait une bibliothèque, des concerts, des sessions, et des studios d'enregistrement. Les musiciens pourraient venir enregistrer... Tu vois?

For Alice McLeod, wife of John Coltrane, the second of her proverbial three wishes would be:

A colony of artists, that would be great! ... in a group of buildings or in the same neighberhood, where artists, musicians, could get together, and learn from each other. They could show what they do... There would be writers... they would have the right to come too!... but mostly visual artists and musicians. There would be a library, concerts, jam sessions, and recording studios. The musicians could come and do recordings... You see?

Frenchified Colorado girl

If you'd like to know some of the things that can happen to a Colorado girl living in France, check out this blogpost from our friend Mentanna:

http://mentanna.blogspot.com/2008/01/frenchified.html

Signs You're a Mom

Top 10 signs you're a mom:
10.
9.
8. You never complete anything you start anymore...
7. You've had a conversation with another adult about what great literature Dr. Seuss is.
6. Sweeping the kitchen floor once after every meal isn't enough.
5. Your spine is permanently curved to accomodate a baby on your hip.
4. You no longer frequent any store that is not stroller-accessible.
3. A potty chair and a roll of toilet paper live in your kitchen and you don't find that gross. Nope. Perfectly normal.
2. You haven't washed your hair in a week because you don't have the time.
1. Who needs a sign? People can tell by the smile on your face!

A Princess's Day

It's not easy being a princess. There are so many things to do!







There's helping Mommy bake a cake, then helping wash the dishes.



Then, I have to try out Daddy's hat and make sure it works OK. Yup, seems OK to me. And now on to my next task! Duty calls!

Vocabulary Lesson

DAWN: Alina, where is your nose?

ALINA: (Sticks her finger up her nose.)

DAWN: Alina, where is your mouth?

ALINA: (Sticks her finger up her nose.)

DAWN: (Holding a picture of Thomas.) Alina, where is Daddy?

ALINA: (Sticks her finger up her nose.)

It started out so well...

Amélie

A couple of days ago, we watched the movie, Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, or, Amélie Poulain's Fabulous Destiny. I think in America, they just called the movie Amélie. This film was extremely popular in France. It was also responsible for my two adult beginning students this year. The soundtrack was done by a French musician, Yann Tiersen. The violin is not extremely prominent on the soundtrack, but Thiersen is an accomplished violinist and uses violin extensively on many of his albums. I figured that I needed to see this film if it had so affected not one, but two people.

Before I go any further, let me put in a disclaimer: this is definitely a European film. Or, to put things a different way, in America, this film definitely would not have been rated G. Not even close. So, I do not endorse every aspect of the movie. Having said that, however, overall we enjoyed it a lot.

First, it was a chance to cuddle on the couch and relax. Something we maybe don't do enough. Also, it is set in Paris, so that gave us the chance to reminisce: "Remember when we used to go there? Remember when we used to to that?" All the while laughing because we don't regret leaving Paris one bit. The movie itself was quirky and fun, and the soundtrack WAS great. It was also a romance of sorts and I hope I don't spoil anything for anyone by saying that the girl gets the boy in the end.

When we were talking about the movie afterward, Thomas said that what he liked the most was the way it shows how a person's life, or their destiny, if you will, can be completely transformed by something they have no control over, and something that may seem entirely insignificant. I thought it was great that the film more or less says the same thing as the title of our blog. I was about somebody's "Fabulous Destiny." In other words, it was about someone's everyday life. Her job, her neighbors, her parents, her cat. As the story progresses, she goes from being a loner to being involved in the lives of those around her and, yes, she falls in love. Things that happen to people all the time. A fabulous destiny or, to put it another way, an adventure.

Small Appliances

You know, when we lived in Paris, and I had no kitchen space, we survived without a toaster. And a crockpot. And a bread machine. And a waffle iron.

But we sure enjoyed our waffles this morning!

That fund-raising thing...

We've stopped counting the number of times that good people among our believing friends in the States have told us, "So, why don't you come raise support in America?" or something along those lines.

We HAVE indeed considered this option, but only to find it was not viable for us. Here are the main reasons why:

-For several reasons we won't comment here and now, most U.S. mission agencies we could have considered working with do not allow foreign nationals to be part of their staff and to raise support in America (of course, we found out later that there are always exceptions for the lucky guys who know the right persons, but that was not our case).
It would have taken several years for Thomas to get U.S. citizenship, to add to the months and often years required to complete support-raising (something you can never be sure to succeed in anyway). Right after our marriage, we felt a sense of urgency to go back to France to work alongside its churches and decided not to take this extremely long and uncertain path.

-One of the big reason why people work with mission bords is to get visas. Neither of us needs help getting a visa nor do we need language school or, for that matter, classes on cross-cultural relationships (our LIFE is a class on cross-cultural relationships, OK?)

-Realistically speaking, our network of potential donors was way too small.

-Missions to Europe don't "sell" well in American churches.
Too expensive, results are long in coming, the communities that can be created do not always reflect the values/lifestyle of the donors and besides, haven't the French had their chance already? (Authentic quote, actually heard several times.)

-Dawn comes from a Bible-Church background, Thomas from a classic French Reformed one. It would have been tough to find churches whose doctrinal statements both of us could sign in good conscience (yes, that word again...).

-It is always good to know one's strengths and weaknesses. Honestly speaking, people like us are terrible fund-raisers. We're not good at that game. Period.

-The amount of money most mission boards require you to raise is astronomical, and in some cases, indecent, especially when compared to the average income of a national pastor (when he gets one).

-We prefer sharing the same conditions as normal French people.

-Dawn is uncomfortable with the whole system, anyway. And Thomas hates when his baby is uncomfortable.

-Thomas still remembers very well this evening in Paris where a recruiter for a mission agency told him he needed to be more entrepreneurial about ministry money. Well, Thomas is a minister, not a professional or an entrepreneur (a word that he, by the way, can pronounce correctly at least). That was the final blow to the "mission agency/fund-raising" idea.


So this is the reason why, until very recently, we were bi-vocational (and, quite frankly, nothing says we won't have to go that route again).
It's not to say that "tentmaking" was easy, far from it. Actually, it's a hindrance to ministry.

But, overall, it was all too clear the mission agency/fund-raising thing was not for us and us not for it.

At least, you will not have to have our faces on your fridge...

Fewer Bare Walls

I hung some pictures today. It's true that soon we will arrive at the one-year anniversary of our move to Melle. It's taken awhile to get those pictures up. I guess that when you rent a house you pay attention to how many holes you put in the walls. Add to that some laziness and procrastination, and you have an 11-month delay in picture hanging.

I love pictures.

I love to look at them, and to be reminded of places I've been, things I've done, people I've known.

They say that Americans and the French view friendship differently. That the French tend to have fewer friends, but their friendships are deeper and last longer. That Americans have tons of friends, but their relationships tend to be shallower and more "disposable."

Of our closest friends here in Melle, one is Thomas's best friend from middle school. Another is a good friend of his from high school. Another he met when he started college. The "newcomer" to the list he's known for at least a decade. It's sometimes funny, sometimes exasperating to hear them share inside jokes that are often 20 years old. It's neat to see how comfortable they are together. You can afford to be real with someone who's seen you at your awkward, early-teenage stage and still likes you.

Maybe it's culture, maybe it's just geography, but I'm only still in touch with one person from pre-university school years. And even that contact had about a 5-year gap. If we're back in touch, we probably owe it mostly to our parents, who exchanged numbers for us. I realize that I'm slowly losing contact with my friends from college. Even with free phone calls to the US, it's still hard to find time to keep in touch. When we're back in the States, we often have such a crammed-full schedule that it's hard to share the kind of time that allows friendships to grow.

One shared dinner every two years is not enough to keep a friendship alive.

So, what do I do? I desperately want to keep in touch with the friends I love. Friends who, even if they missed out on the pimple-and-high-hair stage at least date from the confused-single-college-student stage.

I could always make a New Year's resolution to keep in touch better. But, we all know what happens to New Year's resolutions.

I could resign myself to letting people fade out of my life, one by one.

That's not an acceptable option, either.

Somewhere, somehow, there is a solution. Maybe this blog is an attempt at finding it.