Week Number Two: Paris, Venette & Snow!

This week was so awesome! Awesome is actually an understatement. The time I spent with my french family was refreshing, comfortable, and very welcoming. I am beyond grateful to have had the ability to stay with a fully french family, to be taken in as a daughter, sister, and friend. My family hosted Mathilde about two years ago for three weeks during the summer for an exchange program. We hosted french students almost every year, but have yet to host a student as warm, kind, and fun as Mathilde. She bonded with my family right away and seemed to enjoy herself as much as we enjoyed having her. When I arrived at the Burki household, Theophil (Mathilde's younger brother) and Jeanne (Mathilde's younger sister) were shy and kept to themselves for the most part. But as time went on... dance parties, cookie making projects, family dinner, and snack time seemed to break the ice. I have truly found some loving and fun little siblings. I enjoyed every giggle, every random dance party, and all the (french) conversations I did not understand at the dinner table. 


Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks. 
Boy, this book was a page-turner. If you have not read it, I would recommend it for everyone. Mostly women actually cause its basically a chick flick, but regardless. After reading this book, I started wondering why women have such an idealistic view of what relationships should look like. Romance novels, romantic comedies, and modern media has brainwashed society to think that there is a perfect guy for every perfect girl. This perception women have seemed to throw me. Why do women believe this? Why are women always so disappointed with their "less than perfect" relationships? What does love really mean in a love-marriage society? All of these questions seemed to roam my mind and linger in my thought pattern this week. A mentor of mine bought me a book called, "Passion and Purity" which has started to open my mind to the purpose that Christ had for love. I've always believed that love was a choice as well as a feeling. Unconditional love is one that is portrayed in many families; no matter what you've done or continue to do, they will still love you. This isn't shown in every family, but for the majority of what I've seen in my own life, this seems to be the case. When the question crossed my mind, "What is perfect love?"a couple verses came to me, 

"God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God..."
 -1 John 4:16

This explains a lot.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
-1 John 4:18

Ok, so perfect love casts out all fear. And God is love, so God casts out all fear. That makes sense. 

"The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
-Romans 5:5

The love of God is in our hearts, given to us by the Holy Spirit. Alrighty. 

"You love is like fire that burns for all to see, my only desire, to worship at your feet, so let this fire consume my life. 

Let your love take me deeper, draw me closer to where you are, cause all I want is more of you." 

-Hillsong, Love Like Fire

The Holy Spirit can speak to you in many different ways, as long as you are patient and listen intently. These verses, as well as this song opened my mind and heart to the purpose and plan God had for love here on earth. Love is not about the humans needs and wants, love is about the unconditional, sacrificial, and perfect act Christ showed us. When God sent his son to earth, he gave us love, in human form. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was perfect love; and that is the love that casts out all fear, that draws us to his feet, that dwells in our hearts. Truly an amazing gift. The conclusion I came to this week was that the love society searches for here on earth is not the same love God created. Perfect love is displayed in many ways on earth, but only through and in Christ. 


Anyway.. SNOW! It snowed a bunch here! The kids and I went out to play in the snow for at least an hour for the three days it snowed. Definitely a fun time. I forgot how fulfilling it is to throw snowballs at peoples faces. Sounds harsh, but the enjoyment was mutual among my french siblings. The snow seems to bring out the child in everyone; the idea of having no school is probably the most exciting thing that could happen.


So excited for the new adventure which begins tomorrow on move in-day! Nervous? slightly. Excited? Heck yes!


 Colossians 3:2 "Set your minds on things above, not on earlthy things."

NO SCHOOL! :)

We decided to walk to town in the freezing snow. Not the best idea, but sure was fun.

My little french sister, Jeanne

crepes night. Theo ate at least 10 nutella crepes. So proud.

Vegan Creamed Kale

There are times in a woman's life (month) where she needs creamy goodness. In those times, she (I) retreat to creamy nuts like cashews, macadamias and pine nuts. This recipe is a staple in my home and can very easily become a staple in yours. Very versatile and in my opinion quite easy. 


Ingredients:

-1 cup raw Cashews  (soaked an hour or two in water)
-1 cup water 
-2 or 3 cloves of garlic 
-1 tbsp Italian seasoning/herbs
-pinch of red chili pepper flakes
-pinch of sea salt 
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional) 

& KALE 

• Blend all ingredients (except kale) in a high powered blender until smooth and creamy. Add more water if necessary/to thin. 

• Steam one bunch of organic kale, then add cream sauce and kale to a bowl and mix until kale is evenly covered. 

• Optional: Top with raw "parmesan:" 1 cup raw walnuts & 1 cup nutritional yeast & pinch of salt. (pulse in food processor until well ground)  Add to top of creamed kale.

Venette, Compaigne, Paris, Mers-de-bains, Amiens

This week has been such a crazy and wonderful experience. Departing the United States and arriving in France was just the beginning. I arrived in France (Paris) on Sunday at 6:30 am. Mathilde and her father picked me up from the airport and we drove back to their home. It was about 40 minutes north from the airport in Paris. On the car ride back, I could not stop smiling. The excitement of traveling seems to get to me in the funniest ways. Due to the fact that I did not sleep but about 30 minutes on the plane (because I was watching season 9 of friends...) I was exhausted. The amount of fatigue is quite incredible, but I managed to get to their humble abode, meet and greet the family, then sleep for about 5 hours. Wonderful sleep. Almost drug like.

13:00 Sunday afternoon I hear the voice of a small girl. "Julia, we eat now!" Jeanne, Mathilde's 11 year old sister comes in my room to wake me for lunch. I was told before I came to France that meals were very important. Still waking up, I staggered down the stairs. Placemats, forks, knives, spoons, plates, and cups all set neatly on the table. Mathilde's mom was finishing cooking while the children and father gathered in the kitchen. We ate a cooked tomato vegetable medley with rice, and haddock. The mother served us all and once everyone was served we ate. There were six people at the table. Six pieces of fish, a medium bowl of rice, and a medium bowl of vegetables. Just enough food to have only a little left over once served. The food was fresh, and in my opinion, the whole atmosphere was quite refreshing. The family would talk, laugh and eat for almost an hour including dinner, after dinner cheese and bread, and dessert. Every meal they eat fresh bread with cheese. And after that, they have dessert, which is usually soy pudding, a piece of fruit, fruit purée or yogurt. The French lifestyle is completely different than the American lifestyle. Eating to enjoy, not to stuff. Enjoying the simple pleasures in life, and taking time to rest and relax. So far I am enjoying it.

17:00 Sunday afternoon, we all gathered in the living room for snack time. There is a French pastry called galette, which is a flakey pastry with almond sugar paste in the center. This is very popular in France only during the month of January (not sure why). 11 small plates, 11 small forks, apple cider, and clementines all come out onto the table in the living room. Mathilde's cousins, aunt and uncle came over to visit. We all sat in the living room, ate a triangle of the pastry, drank cider, and conversed. In America, this is foreign. The children were respectful, compliant, and well behaved. They sat with the adults for the two hours they came over to visit.

The week came and went by very fast. I knew that coming to France would mean missing my family, friends and boyfriend, but I thanks to modern day technology, I was able to keep in close touch with everyone. This week I had to learn to truly lean on God and to give him my worries, anxieties, and fear. At the mark of exactly one week in France I had a minor breakdown. Feeling uncomfortable, tired, and a little bit lonely at times throughout the week hit all in one day. I learned so much in just one week; culture, food, God, and myself.

Christ calls his children to call on his name in distress and in times of joy as well. I feel so lucky to have the faith I do, with the ability to converse with my creator whenever I want without having to do anything to earn his love. This week, while not having the ability to understand the language of the people around me I spent a lot of time praying for the people who mean a lot to me. My family, old friends, new friends, my boyfriend, and my new French family. I am definitely excited to see what God has for me in my time spent abroad. I'm praying that he will use me, prune me, and strengthen me to better glorify him and further his kingdom.

A wonderful blessing of a week! More to come!

"RebePrime" Mathilde's fathers produce distribution company!