One Week of French Language Under Our Belts...WHEW!

Well, just when you think learning this new language in your 30s was going to be all fun and games, the pace picks up and you start getting lots of Homework!!! So far, we are both treading water and even splashing around a little. We love our teacher. We are the only students in the class. 2:1 Now that is a GREAT student to teacher ratio. This great ratio means you can't hide! So if you don't "Get" something it's VERY obvious and the prof. won't move on until you get it. Which is GREAT! If we were in a larger class, we would possibly be left in the dust by people who are already multi-lingual without fully comprehending all that we are being taught each day. Unlike college, this is the same class all day (half day) everyday. Then you go home and put in 3, 4 or 5 more hours of French on your own. Yes, we have been faithful to do that (Mrs. Sarah - our language coach: ). We have so many assignments, all for our benefit. We get the kids to bed, clean up, and get to work on language acquisition. It has made for some really long days. Heather got pink eye like the girls, but didn't miss any school. It just made for yucky nights of sleep for her. Big Praise she is improving!

Updates- The Mommy we were suppose to have a playdate with today, canceled. Sad, but we'll keep pursuing a relationship with the family, as the Lord gives us opportunities.

-The children are vastly improved, praise the Lord for that. They'll be returning to school on Monday, and Makinna will be beginning baby preschool on Monday, as well. We found a Mini Creche that will take her. It is a daycare with 15 or less children, which is great. It's in a SUPER narrow house (row house). The top floor is for naps, and the bottom floor is for playing, eating, crafts, etc... They even have a small brick backyard for the children to play in on nicer days. That is a real luxury in Brussels. We are very greatful, that the Lord showed it to us (we found it on one of our walks). We are so thankful that they had a spot open for Makinna. We must have contacted 15 that were full. The real blessing is that she will be the one closest to home. She is near the middle of the "Big Two" and mommy and daddy. We can go grab her easily, if we needed to. Thank you all so much for your furvent prayers in this reguard. The Lord keeps answering your prayers. With those results we will continue to tell you all of our needs and prayer requests! : )

Monday should be an interesting morning. They haven't decided who will get dropped off first. One thing they do know is who will be to school last- mommy and daddy, of course!

Please keep lifting us up that we will have LOTS of dedicated time in God's Word and Prayer as a family and individually. We would like to be able to have individual time with each of our 3 children. We want them to know that they are a HUGE priority for them, and that taking care of them is not just another one of our assignments. Also that Brian and Heather will get time alone, away from studying French. It is possible to be working and learning together all day, and not really have connected on a heart level. By God's sweet grace, we are a loving couple and family. We are doing really well adjusting, thus far.

We really enjoy this new world we live in. We long to know the language well enough to share where our true joy comes from. We long to tell it to ALL the Belgians. Who said you have to have small goals, that was Josiah's goal when we got here. He told us just today, "You know somethings funny, there's a girl in my class that wears a cross necklace, maybe she knows about Jesus!" Brian explained, that would be wonderful, but as Josiah already knew, that many people like wearing crosses, and sadly don't have hearts that are changed by Jesus. Josiah knows he can use the fact that she wears a cross, as a way of mentioning the cross. He can mention why it is important to the world, and why it should be important to her. Pray that he'll get this opportunity! What a JOY that would be! We'll definitely update when it does. This will take him grasping the French language enough to communicate all of these deep things with this girl.

Things we are getting use to: There are too many to mention these are a few-

1) Riding the metro, trams and buses, instead of in cars We are both LOVING the weight loss this affords! Who knew walking miles each day would cause you to shed pounds. It seems as though I have heard that before! Hummm...

2) We love stores that have professionally babysat play places for your children that are 3 and up. Can anyone say, IKEA? Super cool! But unfortunately, IKEA is Far away from our home, and we've only been there twice. Heather really likes going, Brian really doesn't, but isn't that pretty much how shopping goes anyway!?!?

3) Buying warm unpasteurized milk in a one liter cartons, and only putting it in the fridge when you want to drink it. It's great! Our fridge is 1/4 the size of apt. fridges in the states, and you don't have a Big ole gallon of milk (which would NOT fit period- well maybe laying on it's size) taking all the room. A HUGE plus, you don't have to buy it nearly as often. You buy in bulk, and put it in your cabinet to use whenever you need it. It's actually very cool! It doesn't taste too different, and thank the Lord, all three of our children will drink it!

A Couple things we haven't quite gotten use to YET:

1) Paying 4 euros for 3.5 ounces of coffee with NO refills and no frills (caramel, whip cream etc.) Consider the price here the next time you bemone your total when you check out at Starbucks. You are actually getting a FANTASTIC deal by European standards! I am soooo not kidding about the amount of coffee you get. Brian says it is good coffee, but we've only had it once. We are way too cheap for that, when you can make a BIG mug for free at home with canned whip cream ta boot why blow the Euros?

2) Paying 30 Euros ($50 US dollars once it hit our bank in the states) for Pizza Hut- We got one pizza (Pepperoni Med size), one appetizer, and 3 drinks (you can't get free water in this country period). Going there is a very rare treat, but it tastes SOOO good!!! Just like home! If you come we'd be happy to take you there!

We truly are loving it here. The more people we meet, and have conversations with, the more we know this is exactly where the Lord has us for such a time as this for His purposes and plans to bring the gospel to this dark place.