Weeks 41-43 in France

The weeks are flying by so fast we can hardly keep up with our blog.  We've gone to Paris twice in the past 3 weeks, we've ridden our bikes around the Versailles park, had the missionaries over for dinner, been to the ophthalmologist and got a new pair of glasses for Janet, and served in the Paris Temple 5 days each week.

The Eiffel Tower from the boat

Riding with the tourists on "fly boat" on the Seine in Paris

Views of Paris from the Ferris Wheel by the Louvre:

The Richlieu wing of the Louvre

Looking across the Tuilerie garden to the Eiffel Tower

Looking toward Sacre Coeur

Looking down on part of the Tuilerie gardens

The reason we went into Paris on July 22nd, was to see about getting a form needed to obtain a French driver's license.  However, the only form they had to offer was a French translation of my driver's license, which I had already.  They said to wait and see if the French government would accept the one I submitted before paying the Embassy $50 for a different translation.  We found the security at the embassy to be tighter than at an airport.  We were not even allowed to bring in our cell phones!

The American Embassy

We walked from the American Embassy to the Fly Boat dock, and passed a statue of a Russian soldier and his horse.  The statue was made to honor and thank the Russians for their help in some war.

This next picture shows a sign covered with locks.  There is this craze in Paris where people attach a lock to something (like a sign or a bridge railing) and then throw the key into the Seine to lock their love with someone.  It has gotten so out of hand the the city has started cutting off the locks!

On our walk, we took a few other pictures that tourists always take:

This monument was donated to France by the school children of the U.S. to thank France, and Lafayette, for their help during the American Revolution.

Riding bikes in the backwoods of the Versailles Park

Elders Prendergast and Duffin over for dinner.

I finally finished making a mosquito netting screen for our bedroom door/window so we can start taking advantage of the cool night breezes without Janet getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.

This last picture is of the 5 knitted temple pouches that Sister Wolstenhulme made for the sisters serving in the temple. She serves in the south of France, and had them delivered to Janet to pass out to the other new sisters serving in the temple.  One day, Janet was asked to attend a sealing session, but after putting on her temple clothes, she was told she would not be needed after all.  As she was going back to change, one of the sisters commented on her pretty apron.  Without thinking, Janet thanked her and told her it was a gift from her mother nearly 50 years ago.  She suddenly realized how precious that apron was now that her mom had passed away.  Now, each time she wears it, she thinks of her mother, and the precious gift she gave.  Later that day, the same sister said that someday she would like to buy a pretty white knit temple pouch like the one Janet was wearing.  Janet was thrilled that she still had one pouch left that she didn't know who to give it to.  Now she knew. We think of it as another tender mercy from the Lord.  God bless you all.