Learning to Pray.

In these last few days, I have been praying quite a bit. I have two prayer journals going right now: the one that accompanies my current study in Romans, and whenever I finish that it will stay with my Bible for some one-on-one time and 'serious praying.' These are those prayers where you are just wiped; where you come at it with no organization of thought and you just lay everything out for the Lord. For me, this is usually in the morning and before bed. Also when I get some down time during the day.

Then, there is my on-the-fly prayer journal. I pray here when I am out and about, when I just say "God, Please Help. Help, Help, Help." In fact, this one calls me to meditate on His word and fix my eyes on His ways [Psalms 119 15-16]. I tend to pray in written form because I am really very easily distracted, and writing helps to keep my focused. Unless all of a sudden someone decides that a ridiculous distraction is in order, it usually works.

So here I am at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, a wonderful backdrop for trying to meditate and keep my eyes fixed; I am asking for guidance and for His light to shine in me. Not five minutes later some ridiculous french man sits next to me and with a flourish of his guitar and what I am sure he thinks is a charming "Enchante," he starts asking me questions. Well, folks - I am in the middle of some me-and-the-Father time here. Naturally, I try to be patient and gently tell this man in so many ways that I am not interested in anything he has to offer. Not conversation, not music, not anything. He is respectful enough to go away, so I continue in my thought process and literally the thing I prayed about next was that I would exemplify Christ in everything. AND THEN - WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?! Another self-righteous charmer comes and sits down next to me. Blech. He started talking to me [I had my iPod on, which usually gives the 'I'm otherwise occupied' vibe] and again, I tried to be patient. He asked what I was doing, so I told him: "I am trying to pray to God. Unfortunately, I keep getting interrupted by distracting conversations. So I asked Him to make you go away." Finally he did.

And then I realized that even though these guys' intentions definitely were not Christlike, that I was also just given two unique opportunities to exemplify the Lord, and didn't do so well. Lesson learned - I guess I will keep working on that one!

Some First Occurences.

Today had a lot of firsts. It began with the first morning I slept through the night and didn't feel like trash at my 7:30am alarm. Thank you, Tylenol PM. I should have brought more of that stuff, because tonight I am on my own.

I thought I beat jet lag. I bragged about beating jet lag. I apparently lied to you and to myself about that. Bummer.

Somewhere in the middle, I had the first time alone going to the park with Sebastian, helping Sebastian to feed the swans and trying not to feed Sebastian TO the swans. Today was the first pressure's-on driving situation, and the first time I took Sebastian to school. This outing culminated with the first time I couldn't fit into a French-sized parallel parking space. I am very sure it won't be the last.

The best part: today was the first time I rode the French metro. To PARIS. I took the RER (train #1) to the #6 at Charles de Gaulle - Etoile (which is totally the train station under the Arc de Triomphe!) and popped up a block away from the Eiffel Tower. Another first: lounging in the grassy park at the base of Le Tour Eiffel. Oh, and the uncanny first time of randomly being asked to share a picnic with some friends there. Let's hope that happens again. These two women from Puerto Rico, and their new french friends, apparently decided it was high time I didn't sit alone and read anymore. So, I got a couple of non-self-taken quintessential pictures of me with the Eiffel Tower in the background (to be posted to FBook shortly) and some free crackers and stanky cheese. It might be blasphemy, but I think I like the American versions of French cheeses better, so far. Some things are just not meant to be green and funky.

I decided to toodle around until I found another train stop somewhere (Mom - don't stress, I had a map in case) and in the process got to see a tiny tiny man with three very very large dogs, the Palais de Chaillot (which apparently used to house the World's Fair, and now maintains multiple museums), as well as some of the prettiest architecture and apartment buildings that I have ever seen.

Tonight will be the first night I really blog, it has been the first night the kids have been chill, and it was the first time in a long while that I have had such an adventure.

Hoping you're well!

Preparing to Au Pair.

Title credit: HMW.

Bonjour!

So, travel here was a beast. We'll just say that I hate Houston Intercontinental as much as Houston highway drivers.

But, now the good stuff: I have beaten jet lag! The food is fabulous! I live with and work for a sweet family with two rambunctious, mostly happy kiddos. I am in Paris! I got all 23 pairs of shoes here safely! I made a friend today! Did I mention I live in Paris?

Today was my first real day to figure a few things out, buy quiches for lunch with new au pair friends, and walk to the neigborhood french ducks that say "coin coin". [Pronounced kwan kwan.]

I promise to have more stories, encounters, and pictures post-exploration tomorrow, so stay tuned.