I lived in a Castle!

What’s every little girls dream when they are little? To be a princess, right? And live in a castle? Well, I guess my childhood dream came true this weekend. I did not exactly become a princess- though at some points I felt like Cinderella- but I did live in a castle, if just for a few nights. I just got back from one the most beautiful places I have ever been. I went with my church on a weekend trip to a small castle, on top of a hill in the French country side. Sigh with me, will you?


It was the most amazing weekend. It was hard for me to leave. I could have stayed there forever. The castle had this magical Narnia or Harry Potter feel to it. Each room was cozy with antiquated furniture and big fire places. The whole place is stone and different coats of arms are painted on the walls and ceilings. And the grounds are green and lush and marvelous. You can go up on the roof where there is the most perfect view of the little town Cevennes and where there are the perfect seats for a starry night showing. In the towers you can find old rooms, a library filled with hundred year old books and many secret passage ways perfect for playing hide and go seek. Which we did after dinner one night. It was the most fun I have ever had playing hide and go seek. It was dark by this time so it was a bit scary and there were so many good places to hide. Each game took about a half an hour if not longer and by the end we were all searching. It was a really fun time and we had many good laughs and stories by the end of it. For our meals we would all gather into the dining room where there was a fire always lit and many paintings of the Casanove family, who lives there. The castle really is like from a fairy tale, or a dream.


One of the days there we went to a museum near by. It is called the Musee du Desert. It is a museum dedicated to the Protestants who were persecuted by the Catholics about 100 years before the French revolution. It was a truly amazing experience going to this museum. There were many papers stating that the Protestants must become Catholic or be killed. One even forbade Catholics from marrying Protestants. There are also places where they would hide under cupboards and such. Because they were on the hide they thought of many inventive ways to hide their pulpits and their bibles quick. Their pulpits could fold down into a water bucket and their bibles were about two inches by one inch. Small enough to hide in a woman’s bonnet. It really was amazing to see all that they did. I had a moment of thanks to God for these people who risked their lives for their faith, and now here I am . . . free to express my faith. It really is miraculous.

This weekend was amazing. The people, the food, the place, the creation were incredible. It did not last long enough. But I can not complain too much because tomorrow I head off to Paris for a week! How I am blessed!

Chico Expereince

I have been thinking a lot about Chico lately. There are many reasons for this but the main reason is because I was visited by the Spragues! And with them came the memories and feelings of Chico, my home . . . . . Or at least one of my homes. I am finding myself falling and falling fast for Aix. It seeps into your heart without your even realizing what is happening. Until . . . suddenly . . . one day you remember your old home- Chico- and you realize that it is no longer your only home. Your heart is split and you find yourself aching for Chico but never wanting to leave Aix. It is a very difficult place to be. But then, I guess I would rather love Aix and be attached to it forever than just love it for a year and return home easily. This place is supposed to change me right? And it already has. I can not ever imagine leaving Aix. It has attached itself to me. I love this place. I mean really love it. Others tell me about all the culture shock they are going through and all there frustrations with the French but I do not have any bad feelings towards this town and the life here. The things others find frustrating I find charming. For instance it bugs many that nothing is open on Sundays but I think it is a perfect excuse to relax and really have nothing to do. The same goes for lunch time when everything except restaurants is closed for two hours. I love taking a long time at lunch. Many are fed up with how slow service is here but I am happy to try and slow down myself. We are all a bit to fast in the United States. Many are sick of speaking French but I can not get enough of it because with each word I speak I become better and better at the language. So, as you can see I seem to have been born in the wrong country. France really does speak to my soul. How could it not?

It also seems impossible for me to feel very bad about anything when I have so many people here to support me and to have fun with. I have met a bunch of great people through my program but also through my church. The people at ICCP are amazing! Part of the reason Aix has gotten to me so easily is because of these people. They are too cool for me to ever want to leave them. I am already making so many friends and so many connections and I am getting involved. It is awesome. When David and Amber Sprague came they were really impressed. They came to church with me and enjoyed that but I also brought them to my university group and they really enjoyed that too. They left telling me that I am really set up well here. And it is so true! I am still overwhelmed by all the ways I am blessed. I almost can not believe it! It seems unreal! But I am so grateful all the same.

As I said I was visited by the Spragues and it was amazing! I so enjoyed having them here. Though it made me miss home it was great to have a little peace of home here with me. They were here for three days and it was some of the most fun three days of my life! One day I took them around Aix and to my University Group to meet all my friends. Another day we found this really great park that is the closest thing I have found to home and that night I took them to hang out with some of my friends at our favorite spot . . . Pub O’Shannons. And the next day we hiked a mountain! This was really the best part. There is a mountain about a 20 minute drive outside of Aix called Mont St. Victoire. If you known any of Paul Cezanne’s work you would know this mountain. Since he lived in Aix, he painted this mountain a lot. Anyway it is about a five hour hike up and back. The hike is difficult, especially if like us you decide to take the difficult trail, but it is all worth it once you get to the top. There is a church, a cross and a spectacular view. Breathtaking really. You can see about three or four towns off in the distance including Aix and you can even see the Alps. There is also a lake with turquoise water and many vineyards. It is quite the experience.

It was interesting climbing up the mountain though. Before we went we looked at a map of all the trails you can take to get to the top and picked the one that looked like it wasn’t too difficult or too easy. Well we were about ten minutes out of town when we realized that we took the wrong bus and were heading to the opposite side of the mountain, so we decided we would take the trail wherever we were let off. So, once we got to a stop we took the first trail we found and began following the red markers. We had been hiking at a steady pace for about a half hour when we came to a rock the said “facile” and pointed one way and “difficile” and pointed another way. For those of you who don’t know that means easy and difficult. I was all for the easy trail not being very athletic but I could tell from the look on everyone else’s faces that we were going to take the difficult trail. And that is exactly what we did. It wasn’t too bad until we got to a spot were we had to rock climb a bit and after we got pas that it was like a stair master on the highest level all the way up! I didn’t think I was going to make it but I prayed and I pushed myself and . . . . well . . . I made it and it felt great. It started raining on us when we were about ten minutes from the top which made the rocks a bit slippery but really it made it that much more exhilarating. It was freezing at the top since we were all wet and the wind is like ice but again it made it more of an experience. Really it was one of the coolest things I have ever done and I was so happy to share it with the Spragues.

After our hike we went and got a warm nutella crape at the best crape place in Aix and a piece of pizza from Pizza Capri and then they headed off to Barcelona. : ( It was really great having them.