YES, going to france....:)

My kids rock, they really do.

They got together and talked, and were very enthusiastic in telling me to JUST GO.

Here's the thing...last night, I really prayed about my marriage...I know I need to put more effort into putting it first...then this morning, I was awakened by my phone beeping, ugh, I didn't mute it, and it was waaay too early...but Paul is in France...and he was texting to ask me to go to France with him next week. I immediately thought of my prayers, and really hoped this trip would work out.

Marriage takes time, and time is the one commodity we don't have enough of. When Paul comes back from a trip, he usually gets in on a Saturday evening, is quite tired and jet-lagged on Sunday, then back to work on Monday. We fit in our time for each other after all else is taken care of.

Anyhow...he bought me a ticket! I am actually going!!! He's coming home tomorrow, and we leave a week from tomorrow. (If I weren't going with him, it would be a pretty rough stretch, he's been gone way more than he's been home)

So of course I googled "how to get into shape in a week", and would you believe it doesn't work that way? Nor can you lose fifty pounds in a week, darn it. Yeah, one of my first thoughts was, ha, "I can't go to France being this fat!"

But I'm going, and I'm happy about it.

My nice sister gave me a $20 off coupon for a nice store in the dreaded mall, so this evening when the older girls went over to Emily's house, I took the small kids out and about...Jonathan, Char, Cam, and little cousin William.

They were so precious while I tried things on...Jon sat on a bench with Will, playing a video game together. Char did cartwheels, yes, in the store, and Cam hovered outside the door to comment on what I tried on. I considered going outside of my comfort zone and wearing things other than t-shirts, but it was...too outside of my comfort zone. I did get two elbow length shirts and a pair of super comfortable and almost flattering black pants, all for $30, thank you Cheryl!

I admired a really pretty sweater as I checked out, but it was so pricey...the clothes in that store are very nice, but most things are like fifty bucks...the sweater was on sale for $20, but still.

We took a really quick run into the grocery store after a detour at Dunkin Donuts in the mall...I really enjoyed my iced coffee, and the kids had iced teas. Jonathan turns 12 tomorrow, and had one request: bacon for breakfast. I also got some orange juice, celery, blueberries (my special snack tonight), and more coffee.

Home...William gets to spend the night! He's too cute. He loves hearing stories, and he's in luck, because I like telling them. The girls also told him stories on the ride home from the suburbs.

Jonathan has chosen to just have a few friends to go out to lunch with him, instead of having tons of boys over...the thought it would be too overwhelming. Evelyn is going to make him an ice cream pie (Oreos crushed up, mixed with melted butter for the crust...then partially melted ice cream, topped with crumbled cookies and hot fudge, and frozen up again...how will I not eat this? And I can't, or I won't lose that fifty pounds for France!!)

Anyway...thank you for taking the time to comment, and to encourage me to go on this trip. I do believe it will be a good thing, and honestly, somebody pinch me, I just can't believe I'm going to France. This has been the travel-y-ist segment of my life, the last half year...since last September, I've been to Washington state, then our trip across the country to California in January, a trip to Norway (and London), the Georgia/Florida trip, and to Washington D.C. again. Now to France. Of course exploring new places is my favorite, and honestly, for years and years, I didn't explore too much, having so many kids! We camped for vacations. :)