New Friends?

So, I went to a Bible Study today at the "largest" Baptist Church.  Wow-it made me realize how ridiculously huge the Chapel really is because it was tiny.  But it was WONDERFUL.  It was just like being at Open Door except  there were ladies in my small group from SC, Indonesia, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Congo!!  I just loved the different perspectives!!  But it is so encouraging that we all love Jesus and totally connect on that.  We are studying the prophets and this week was Samuel.  I also met a girl who is good friends with some of our best friends from St. Louis, Doc and Katie; they were with us in Vegas this year.  I told her that she is going to have to be my friend!  LOL  I am sure I totally freaked her out but nothing like trying to just put yourself out there!

Addy came home from school today and said it was "great."  I could have cried with happiness.  I guess a bunch of older kids took to her on the playground and were intrigued she could speak English.  She has 1 little friend in her class who we think is Romanian but of course, Addy doesn't even know her name. She doesn't speak French or English!  But she waits for Addy every morning and they hold hands and Addy told me today that she kisses her cheek and will lay her head on Addy's hand.  They are so cute and I think Addy was an answer to her prayer as well.  They even protected each other during recess at the port a potty.  I guess there is no lock and Addy was terrified to use it.  I told her to have her friend guard the door and she actually listened to me and somehow was able to communicate it to her friend.  She felt such success today just being able to go to the bathroom!  

Need My Head Lifted (Ps 3:3)

So I am sitting with Jon in this cafe tears continually streaming down my face.  I just cannot stop crying and right now our 6 hour time difference is the worst because I need to see your faces.  My amazing chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) and almond croissant help a little as do the 4 encouragement cards I have already read.  It is going to be like a 10 encouragement card day!

Just dropped my two precious children off at their new French speaking school, Le Jardin D'Elsie-Elsie Garden School.  Last week we were turned down by 2 different schools and the rejection was horrible. One school already had 26 kids per class with 1 teacher.  But from the moment we walked into this beautiful city school we were overwhelmed by God's provision.  Both secretaries spoke choppy English but hugged my kids and kissed their heads.  This school has an inclusion program with a teacher who will help with Addy with her French.  They even teach a little religion and we had 6 different religions to choose from...of course we chose Islam.  I haven't lost my sense of humor yet

Jax cried the 20 min. before we got there but did ok at drop off.  When we walked in with him crying the Directriss of the school wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the head.  I can feel God's love for us even in this hard time.  Jax is more mad than anything and on the advice of his teacher, Madame Christal we will pick him up this week at 12:00 instead of 3:30.  She speaks excellent English and was really sweet to him.  He already has a field trip into the Grand Place tomorrow!

Addy's teachers, Monsieur Gael (guy) and Madame Caroline are both ridiculously good looking. Monsieur Gael is really young and adorable and speaks excellent English.  I could tell Addy was into him as he sweetly told her "eveything is going to be great."  We met her French tutor Madame Ruth and her Dutch tutor, Monseiur Guiseppe; he is this adorable little Italian guy who also speaks excellent English.  She will have Dutch 2 hours a week and her French tutor 3 hours a week.  Way to totally overwhelm my kids and I Belgian school system.  Addy will also have swimming 2 times a month at the local pool!  Addy clung to us and cried.  It was gut wrenching.  Her Dutch tutor took her by the hand and led her over to her class line.  I tried not to look behind me but thankfully when I did she was holding Madame Carolines hand and I couldn't see her tear streaked face.

I cried unashamedly the entire block to the tram, on the tram, and at this little like Tropical smoothie cafe when the really sweet cashier asked me how I was.  LOL  I still will spill my guts to anyone who will listen in any language!!  As I type this I cry and I really can't imagine the tears stopping today but I keep trying to hold it together for the kids.  Please pray for my precious ones today and especially tomorrow-I think it will be harder.

Jon and I will look at 2 other apartments at 11:00 today but I think we have landed on the one that has the huge terrace.  It brings such happiness to my kids and I want them to feel like they had a say in where we live.  It is small but I keep reminding myself that there is no perfect place and that I am so blessed to even have somewhere to live when I look around this city and everyone who goes without.  I feel like the school and the way we have been treated there is another confirmation of this apartment.  In our current "home" we have to commute 45 min. by bus and then tram to get the kids to school.

I can't wait to start a real "home" and get a television, and a bed, and a washer and dryer, and hopefully some better sleep.

The "Perfect" Place?

I woke up this morning on the verge of tears.  This process of finding an apartment is so overwhelming and slow.  Every place we like is taken within like a day so there is this overwhelming pressure to act fast.

Yesterday we found one that we loved everything about except it is a 2 bedroom.  And not just 2 bedrooms but 2 very small bedrooms.  Oh why did I even look at a 2 bedroom?!!!  It is in an amazing location, is brand new and beautiful, it has a HUGE terrace and even a shared common garden with green grass for the kids to play on which is super rare to find.  But the 2 bedrooms just haunted me as I tried to fall asleep last night.  How are we ever going to fit anything in this apartment?  How are we ever going to be able to have guests?  It is also much cheaper than we have budgeted which makes it interesting too.  I know we could afford bigger but will it be as nice?  This has everything including light fixtures already in place and tracts for curtains already installed.  It has a washer and dryer and dishwasher...Oh what to do?!  Our neighbor Randy said he feels like finding an apartment is like finding love...there will be some things that are not perfect but there is no perfect place.  But do I concede the 3 bedrooms?

Today we are going to go look at the schools in the area and I am desperate to feel some leading from the Lord.  Please pray for wisdom for us today.

1. City Life Rocks Because...

amazing wine and chocolate is just 10 steps away.

After an entire day of walking to only see 3 apartments all I wanted was some wine and chocolate but we didn't have any at the flat.  If I were sitting in my home in VA I would have had to either go without or...
1. look decent
2. get in my car
3. drive up to Farm Fresh
4. go into Farm Fresh where I would have most definitely been stopped by someone to talk and experience tells me I probably would not even know their name
5. walk all the way to the back of the store
6. wait in line
7. get back in my car
8. drive home.
TIME: Never less than 25-30 min.

Tonight I...
1. opened my door
2. took 10 steps to the right to this adorable Indian man run convenience store
3. bought my wine and chocolate for under 10 euro
4. walked 10 steps back
TIME:  Literally less than 5 min and my hair was a total disaster

More on the apartment hunt tomorrow...

First Breakdown

Good evening...or for me good middle of the freaking night!  I had my first breakdown as I lay for 2 hours AGAIN not able to fall asleep.  I just laid there and cried silently to myself desperately missing my air conditioned house, soft mattress and high thread count Marshalls sheets that I got at a ridiculously low price!  I finally got up and walked down the 15 loud death stairs and now decided that this blog is the only good thing to come from all of this.  However, there is nothing like a perfectionist trying to start something she has never done before at 2:38 in the morning.  I am now going to attempt to climb back up those horrible steps and try and fall asleep because we have a meeting with the bank in the morning.  And I am trying not to hate Jon who has had no problems falling asleep at all.

Prayer Request #1:  SLEEP!