So, it's been a long since I've blogged. But, as satisfying as journaling is, I felt I wanted to share my France thoughts a little more.

First off - France is BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, BREATH TAKING, really I could go on and on. This country is so much more than I could ever have expected. Anything you have ever heard about France is nothing but an understatement. Pictures can't communicate the beauty that I've seen here!

Starting off my summer abroad in Paris was the best thing ever! I could never have imagined that Paris would be what I experienced! We packed so many things into one week! The Louvre, The Luxembourg Gardens, Musee Rodin, Musee D'Orsay (my favorite of all the museums!), Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle, L'Opera Garnier, the list goes on and on! Let me just say - my bottle of Aleve was empty by the end of that week, but man do I love the metro!

Living in Lyon - life has slowed down a lot! I have the most amazing host family! However, I've really been realizing that I'm easily pushed off track! This summer I had a lot of goals and things I wanted to work on! I wanted to become fluent in French and thought that within the first two weeks I would easily have that down! Well I was sure wrong about that! Trying to communicate is not only the hardest, but the most exhausting thing I've ever done! By 8:00 (or 20:00 here) I'm ready for bed! But, it's good. Every day I get a little better and hope that the people answering me in English each day will finally start responding in French (FINGERS CROSSED! I guess my blond hair and blue eyes are a clear give away among the see of tall, thin, brunettes!).

Before this summer - I thought I would fly off to France and have the most amazing growth of my life. I would get away from the distractions of my life and walk closer with the Lord like I had been working on. I would be able to remove the things that had been stopping me from surrendering when I was back in the States. It amazes me how foolish I always am! Nothing is ever that simple! Of course there are always going to be distractions and things stopping me from surrendering completely (it's never going to be an easy step). Moving to a new country in and of itself is something that has been a distraction. Being homesick and feeling like an outsider 24/7 can often create a negative attitude. It's easy to complain regardless of the fact that I'm surrounded by bread, cheese, and the most beautiful country on earth.

However, after about a week of complaining about the bad waitresses and the lack of Targets - I'M DONE! I only get to spend 7 weeks here and who knows when I'll be back again! It's just silly of my to waste a single minute of that time complaining about what's not the same as the US instead of enjoying what is different! It's time for me to change my attitude and get a new view on life here in France!

And where do I start?!?! Improving my relationship with the Lord! That is what this summer was always about for me! I came here, yes to improve my French, but more than anythings, to grow! So, let's start growing! Spending time in the word and in fellowship in the morning shouldn't be something that I do if I wake up with extra time - it should be something I wake up with time to do every morning! A think a key part of the attitude change and the growth is being conscious of who I spend my time with. There are a handful of believers on this trip and it's so important that I'm spending time in fellowship with them! The Lord never called us to walk alone, so why would I want to be here on my own? These girls deeply love the Lord and I have a lot to learn from them! The time I spend with them is the time I feel the most positive and the most joyful! There is no need for negativity in my life! Ever! Especially while I'm enjoying my amazing time here in France!