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Monday, 07 September 2009

  • Bumpy

    There's a number of things in our life right now that could be described as bumpy.

    First off, there's the job search. We've been going up and down! At the end of July, we received two calls for health and safety jobs we had responded to on the internet. One in particular seemed ideal and the recruiter seemed enthusiastic about Vincent's qualifications, especially that it would take him long to leave his current job (DHL gave him week-long contracts) and the fact that he speaks English with me! Both jobs would require moving, but we figured we had enough time before the baby to do it. However, at the end of August, we still hadn't had any word so Vincent called them back and was told "No news." Just a day or two later, he got a form email saying the answer was no. As the other job wasn't as promising, we put our moving/regular job dreams back in their box. We decided that now that it was the beginning of September, that we would plan to stay in Bordeaux until after Bump's arrival anyway.

    And then, up! Something else came along! One of the drivers at DHL actually owns his own business and has been impressed with Vincent's work ethic, initiative and organization. He talked about giving Vincent a job as a delivery driver for a little while, but DHL said that if he stole Vincent from them, he would lose their contract. Recently, however, this man found a better work with a different company and he had to fire his brother, so he called Vincent on Wednesday and asked if he could start Monday! Since it would be a long-term contract (meaning benefits like paid vacation days), for a bit better pay, with regular hours (starting at 7am each day, not 3:30am!), Vincent accepted the offer. He rode with the boss on Saturday to see what all was involved and today is his first day. We pray that this will be a better job as we continue to look for something in health and safety. Please pray for him as he learns the routes and schedules!

    The second thing that is bumpy around here, is...me! (see the pics) The Bumpster is definitely growing! We are both doing great and staying healthy. In the final week of my seventh month, I've gained about 6 kilos or 12-13 pounds, a new cup size and a bumpy butt and thighs. Though I am more emotionally than physically bumpy - my emotions have both Vincent and I guessing what will be next!! However, I am constantly reminded to count it all joy as I feel Bump happily bumping around on my tummy. It is amazing how he/she responds to music and Vincent's voice and touch!

    I guess the third item isn't as "bumpy" as it is "spotty". Vincent's seamstress grandmother bestowed on me many various fabrics for all the baby things she was sure I was making. While I am incapable of sewing clothes and things, I did find inspiration in a piece of cotton with multicolored polka dots! I first recovered the basket I plan to use as a diaper caddy. Images of all the "things" I could do with this fabric were quickly evaporated by the fact that I only had about half a yard left. However, for those of you who don't know, Jenna usually finds a way to get what she wants. ;) We found anther, slightly larger print at a store, borrowed a sewing machine from Pat at church (thanks Pat!) and I spent last week drinking tea in my pajamas while I tried to make real my imaginings. There are pictures of resulting basket, crib skirt, pillow covers, curtain and bumper pad ties!!  I am delightfully surprised with them all. Now Vincent is planning to help me paint large bright safari animals on cardboard cutouts for the walls!

    My prayer for all of you is that no matter what gets bumpy in your life, that you would know the reassurance and peace of Sovereign Lord and Savior Jesus.



Wednesday, 29 July 2009

  • Thinking about love...

    (Many of you know my interest in The Five Love Languages book by Dr. Gary Chapman. In fact, those principles are fundamental to my own book.
    A friend and I were talking lately, and she noted that God speaks to us in the love languages, and that we can respond to Him in the same manner. She talked about her language of quality time and how vital her perconal worship time was to her and to Him. I had thought about this a little - my language is acts of service and I have to constantly make sure that the reason I do things for the Lord is truly out of love for Him and not because it looks good on my resume. Yet I had never really grasped the concept of Him loving me through the many things He has done for me.)
    Then this Sunday, I heard an excellent sermon on love and unity from Ephesians 4:1-16, that led to an interesting conversation. While reading a cross refrence, I was given this receipt of the services He has rendered to me: "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."
    "Yes, I've received encouragement, comfort, fellowship, tenderness and compassion!!!"
    I was touched that He didn't reply, "Well, then pay up!" He said, "Make My joy complete."
    I eagerly reread the verses. "What does He want me to do? I'm there! I'm on it!"
    And the simple answer was, "Being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."
    "Oh man. Sorry, I can' t do that. There are some Christians who I do not see eye to eye with!"
    "The same love...in spirit and in purpose...if your purpose is the same, to honor and glorify Me, then you shouldn't ahve a problem."
    I was still a little worried about this unity thing - I'd been in a church before where Christian unity meant everyone has the same car, dresses the same, educates their kids the same adn anyone threatening to be different was disturbing the unity.
    Thankfully, the sermon was still moving along and we were in Ephesians 4 again. Being humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another...lovingly even. "Yup, I'm guilty."
    We went on to discuss one body, one spirit, one hope, one faith, one Lord, one God, one baptisim: the Father of all, who is over all, and through all in all.
     "Yeah, ok I get it already! One and all - it's the same unity thing again. You know, I've really been enjoying learning about diversity this last couple years. What about that?!"
    I'm sure the Lord and Paul were smiling at each other. "Read the next bit, Jenna."
    "But...to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it....It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, adn some to be pastors adn teachers, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
    "Oh, ok. Right. Everyone has different love languages and different spiritual gifts. And when we all start growing up, there will be unity."
    Just then, the pastor put it into words for me (it was in French, so this is not word for word, but the meaning wais still there). "When we search for love, truth and peace, unity is found."
    My mind went back to the list of service He daily does for me - I guess I tend to take them for granted, like when someone does the dishes and laundry all the time - you come to just expect it. Of course, I see them as services, though the beautiful thing is, any love language can relate. Any encouragement, any comfort from His love, any fellowship with the Spirit, any tenderness and compassion.
    "Lord, I am sorry that I have not been showing You love and giving you back what You desire. Teach me to be humble, gentle, patient, bearing in love, making every effort to keep the unity in the bond of peace. Thank you for my fellow Christians and their many different colors, flavors, gifts and language. Unite me with them in love as we all grow up in You."


Wednesday, 15 July 2009

  • What?! It's July?!

    Yes, time flies! As usual, it's easier to tell you about the goings-on through pictures - though I'm sorry to say that I didn't always get good pictures. The titles/comments explain a bit.

    We are doing well and settling down, after having done quite traveling. As you'll see in the pictures, my mom and sister Faith came to visit the first week of June and then I went with them to Paris and London, arriving home the 23rd of June. Then that weekend, my sister Melissa came to visit and Vincent went with her to Burkina Faso, Africa to visit the little girl that Mel and I have supported through Compassion Intl. for the last 3 years. Also, we took a little weekend trip to the beach with Clément and Caroline, and I took a day trip to the beautiful Biarritz with friends from church (sadly without the camera, though on reflection, it would have gotten all wet when a wave surprised us by jumping over the stone wall we were standing on - google pictures and you'll see what it looks like.)

    At almost 24 weeks along, I, the baby and my tummy have certainly grown! Gone are all the regular clothes and illusions of being able to sleep on my stomach. I'm feeling well, eating great and even exercising (yes, there are miracles). Vincent takes good care of me - encouraging, rubbing, making dinner, putting me down for naps (yes, this means he gets a nap too ;). Unofficially named Bump, baby does just that - he/she especially likes to go "bump bump" in the evenings when daddy's there. We haven't cracked and don't know if it's a boy or a girl, and are still muddling through the jungle of names - the weird, the old and the just plain unpronounceable.

    No news on job stuff, other than we have really been hitting the research hard. We are grateful that DHL continues to keep Vincent with steady hours.

    In May, I went back to the grind stone and started revising my book again after some very helpful critques. That phase is just about finished and I'm looking forward to sending it out in its new form to a competition in England in August as well as to various other editors. My belief in cinderella stories is beginning to wear thin, however!

    Hoping everyone is doing well - we'd love a line from anybody!

Thursday, 21 May 2009

  • New photos

    I added new photos of different events with friends from my language school, the DEFLE!! What mixed feelings to be relieved to be finished and sadness to have a bunch of friends leaving to go home around the world!! (Though I've been assured there will be couches waiting for me if I want to visit. Hmmm, that world tour is becoming more of a possibilty...)

Monday, 11 May 2009

  • Here and there and everywhere!

    Hey! Whew! Have we been going places and having fun! The good news is that means you guys can look up the new pics! They're of our weekend at Tante Chantal and Claude's house in Mesignac (though there aren't any photos of all the marvelous food we ate, the funny local theater evening to which we were treated or the naps we enjoyed) and also of weekend with Delphne and Pierre (Delphine is an old scouting buddy of Vincent's) in Belfort and our day trip into Alsace with them.

    There aren't pictures of the weekend in early April that we spent with Vincent's parents, also seeing several scouting buddies (who are headed off on a bicycle trip across Europe and China to India) but we had fun there too. We also have no pictures of the lovely Easter lunch of lamb we had with Thomas and Carole. Then there's not enough pictures to describe the fun we had with Yves (yes, another scouting buddy, and the only one I had never met) and Thomas - they made us the most yummy dinner and dessert crêpes! We also don't have any pictures of the lovely evening and scrumptious dinner we had at Kaitlin's apartment (a buddy from school). I'd love to show you all photos of the fun Rachelle, Joseph (our pastor's teens) and I have doing ball room dance lessons here on Tuesdays, but I value Rachelle's friendship too much to post them ;) We also don't seem to have any pictures of the Sunday lunch we had with some young folk from church at a kebab stand under the rain (but it was wicked good!)

    Other than all the running around fun we've been having, we continue to research and receive no's on job offers. I continue to try to eat well and still seem to be gorwing in the mid-section (Vincent lovingly called me his "montgolfier" i.e. hot air balloon). It was funny last weekend with Delphine and Pierre - everyone was very sweet and took great care of me - I was a pretty special pregnant lady!! "Sit Jenna over there out of the wind" "Serve Jenna first" "Do you need more water?" "Do you need to go to the bathroom?" - it's a sort of attention I am learning to accept graciously! At 14 weeks I think a little bit of a baby bump kept reminding them!

    So...we hope everyone is doing well!! I think of ya'll all the time. Enjoy the pictures!!

ATaleofTwo

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    • Name: Jenna & Vincent
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  • FavoriteUncleRay
    Thank you Jenna for writing this to Cris. It brought tears of joy to me. I said out loud this morning alone in the car, 'I still love you Cris. I miss your hand, I miss your smile, I miss your loving ways...'. Then I found this in my email and it carried my heart even further in remembering. L