Weeks 11 & 12 in France

Happy New Year everyone.  2019 seemed to us to have come so quickly.  Yes, we stayed up until midnight watching the live TV broadcast of the New Year celebration on the Champs Elysees centered on the Arc de Triomphe.  It was really amazing, and much more interesting than watching a ball drop at Times Square in NYC.  And yes, we started the new year with a kiss (sorry, no photo provided). 



The day after Christmas we took an hour long train ride to the east side of Paris and met for lunch with Yolande Sumner, my deceased brother David's wife, her father, Michel, and her brother, Jacques.  It had been 10 years since we had gotten together with Yolande, and we had a wonderful visit.  Actually, Janet and Yolande visited in English while I visited with Michel and Jacques in French.  They are all healthy and keeping active.  Yolande's dad is 84 but doesn't look or act it. 




The Saturday before New Year's we took a bus and tram to Ikea on our date looking for salt and pepper shakers. (At our ages, it's funny what passes for a romantic date!) We happened to see the missing pieces for the stove and oven in our kitchen.  I raised the oven up off the floor to just under the stove top and installed a drawer under the oven, the way it should have been done in the first place.  I love using tools!








On New Year's Eve Tori Tahiata, a friend we serve in the temple with, invited us to Paris where she lives. She showed us around Sacre Coeur, the French National Cathedral, and Montmartre, the center of the artist community in Paris.  We were amazed at how many tourists were there, even in the middle of winter.  We climbed all the stairs in both directions, which would make Janet's former physical therapists proud.  After a wonderful Chinese buffet dinner, we said goodbye and took the train home. Trains and buses around Paris are free from 5 pm New Year's Eve until noon on New Year's Day. 

 

 

While all the statues and stained glass windows were beautiful, we especially liked the manger scene.











We still enjoyed the many Christmas decorations as we wandered.  The white manger scene was actually inside a large plastic ball, which is why you can see rain drops on front of it.

While visiting Paris, Tori took us to a wonderful sheet music store near the St. Lazare train station.  I managed to spend only 30 Euros while Janet and Tori impatiently waited.  I was surprised at how inexpensive piano sheet music was. 








At church last Sunday we were asked to write down the highlights or headlines of the past year and then write down how we intend to improve our lives spiritually in the coming year.  We were surprised when we were asked to put our list in a self addressed envelope which would then later be mailed to us.  2018 was, for us, a year of ups and downs.  That we are able to serve at the Paris France Temple is a miracle.  In the coming year, we plan to continue learning our temple responsibilities and study the New Testament regularly.  But most importantly, we plan to become more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.  As we do so, our love for each other and our friends and families will grow.  Our prayers for each of you is that you will also follow the path of happiness and peace that our Savior offers.  Happy New Year