last days of France

a river runs through it...
We are on a bridge over a river in Clisson, a pretty little Italian-style village (complete with castle ruins) not too far from Nantes. (Remember crossing that bridge with Micah on a cold, windy, rainy day in January, Meghan?) It is a Sunday afternoon, our last day together with people we have come to love very much - Vincent and his parents, Yannick and Dominique. Ron takes a picture of Vincent as Vincent takes a picture of Ron. And I think, what an amazing metaphor. Who is taking the picture of whom? And who has been blessed by whom? A river of God’s abundant grace runs beneath us all. And all we can say is: “Thanks be to God!”





a fond farewell...
We have become very fond of Nantes. Here is one of many reasons. On our last Saturday evening in France, we took the tram into town for a farewell stroll and dinner. As we expected, the city was alive with light and warm with community, even in this last weekend of October!





Happy Birthday, Caitlin!
Just two days before Caitlin’s birthday, I had this chocolate-banana crepe in her honour (at the Vieux Quimper). I did my best to enjoy it for both of us, Cait - wish you could have been there :) - anyway, a very happy quarter-century to you!





remembering...
Until coming to France a few years ago, I had never heard of “calvaires” (representations of Calvary). They are found in many villages throughout France. This very special one is found in Orvault. Do you remember it, Meghan?





remembrances of things past...
... remember the sun... remember the warmth... remember the colour... vive la France! (Here in Russia, believing in the existence of the sun is more a matter of faith than of sight!) A few days before leaving France, Ron and I walked (for about an hour) to Orvault. These flowers were part of a glorious display adorning the rond-point just in front of the village Cathedral. France is speckled with pretty little villages (yes, Nancy, they’re still there). And I don’t think we’ll ever quite get our minds around the fact that most of them seem to have their very own not-so-little cathedrals!