“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Bonjour from France! I’m Jen, the crazy person who made it to France the day before all shops and restaurants closed, and two days before the country went on full lock-down as the government amped up the fight against Coronavirus. Elissa and I are currently sequestered away in a tiny hilltop medieval town in the Loire Valley, surrounded by breathtaking views and acres upon acres of vineyards.
Our lovely apartment is 400 years old and includes 4-inch-long iron keys! The grocery store at the bottom of the hill is calm, orderly, and well-stocked with French food. If we take our pass with us (!), we’re allowed to walk alone through the empty village streets and vineyards for exercise. Elissa is very pleased that the village cats aren’t on lock-down and often come out for a visit.
Saying bonjour to Minette.
Frolicking through empty streets.
Week One of lock-down is in the books. I’m forever thankful that I brought our homeschooling supplies with us, so we’re able to do our normal math/reading/writing routine. The Osmo program for Kindle is our new best friend and has made learning much more fun and interactive. The week was full of balmy days with such abundant sunshine that we were compelled to throw the windows open and have dance parties. All our language classes have been cancelled per social distancing, so we’re doing our best to learn French via Skype and Duolingo. As a surprise bonus we’ve even met several English-speaking saints in this obscure little French town, and have found creative ways to visit between the streets and each other’s windows.
Elissa and her doll, Poinsettia, hard at work.
Next week predicts chilly, overcast weather. We’re getting tired of walking past closed cheese shops, bakeries, and Michelin-starred restaurants. We were chastised by police when our “exercise” took us too far from our apartment! We’ve read our books, played our games and now the cabin fever is sinking in.
An abandoned fromagerie.
Only the pharmacie is open!
What a weird, crazy, unforgettable time to be in France. I’ve thought a lot about all the events that led us to this place, where we don’t speak much of the language and are an ocean away from our family and friends. Was it a colossal mistake to move out of our house, put all our belongings in storage, and move to Europe for six months at the precise moment that the world shut down to battle this virus? Obviously, no one could have seen this coming during the many weeks and months that I spent preparing for this next chapter of our journey. And at any point I could pull the plug on our adventure, spend hours being screened in airports, and find an Airbnb in Maryland to self-isolate in along with everyone else in my community. But, as I’ve sought the Lord about why we’re right here, right now, I’ve felt that there was no mistake about us coming at this exact time. We’re staying in a lovely, spacious apartment with everything we need, down to blackout curtains that helped us recover from jet-lag. We have more than enough food, opportunities for exercise and fresh air, and technology that miraculously connects us to friends around the globe and endless opportunities for learning.
It can certainly be unnerving to dwell on the fact that we are technically homeless and, like countless others around the world right now, every single one of our plans is up in the air. What a good reminder that our true citizenship is in heaven, and though we will encounter trouble in this world, we can take heart because He has overcome the world (Philippians 3:20, John 16:33). During this time of uncertainty, I’ll do my part to deluge you with photos of la belle (et tranquille!) France. I hope to post regularly with updates, pictures, and ways that we’re making the most of this unplanned staycation. I also want to hear from each of you - how are you, and what are some of your favorite ways to stave off cabin fever?
Lots of love from France!
Jen et Elissa
My sunshine when skies are gray <3