my new normal......

...is having a wire clothes rack instead of a dryer

...is going to the grocery store every 2 days on foot
(come rain, come sleet, come snow, or something like that)

...is having church in a different language
(getting used to this one)

...is having your neighbor above you wear high heels, 24/7
(Everyone knows how much I love heels, just not clicking above me)

...is the ads on YouTube being in French

...is really thinking if a question is really worth asking, and then trying to figure out how to ask it.

...is drinking your tea really quickly because you don't have a microwave
(and burning your tongue, a lot)  

...is scrambling for a converter to plug-in the dying computer
(it gets ugly sometimes)

...is looking through 3 whole aisles of yogurt
(I didn't know you could have that much of a variety.  I mean come on, it's yogurt)

...is trying to avoid the tidal wave caused by a bus going through a puddle at full speed
(It's just like in the movies, you are walking along and then you get hit by a tidal wave, it's quite pleasant.... )

is being able to express myself in two languages
(What?)

 ...is starting to talk and realize that you are speaking French
(I surprise myself sometimes)

...is realizing that my new normals in Burkina will stretch me and make me lean on God more than I can imagine

...is learning that my new normal isn't bad, it's just new

Life has a way of throwing you curve balls, and I know that nothing happens without God.  But sometimes it's just funny how life works.  

Like being "splashed" be gutter water when a bus goes by at mach 20

or dealing with things about our apartment with people that speak another language

or having a kitchen faucet that goes from being a slight dribble to a fire hydrant-like blast. 

Sometimes I can't help but laugh.  I get the giggles and can't stop, who would have thought that this would be my life??  

Since we've been here I have been consistently journaling, a new thing for me.  It has really been a great way for me to spill my guts and not feel like I'm being a whiny baby.  It's also great to chronicle some of the amazingly hilarious things that happen, one day I hope that I can look back and laugh at the things that are now my everyday life. 

Anyway, gotta run.  Wow, was that a random post but I figure something is better than nothing!!  Love you guys!

bride and a groom riding on the street// friends with cameras // the Jewish Quarter // first time trying felafels// finding real, yellow mustard for Megan(!) // book cakes // Paris has thrift stores! // motos // Paris city hall // beautiful skies // group pic // tourist-y stuff //

Une très bonne journée!

(a very good day!) 

Love,
Jana

Guess what I had for dinner the other day?  Cheval Mac-n-cheese, it was super good.  I really liked it and hope that it's a new regular!!

Love in Christ,

Jana

P.S.  Cheval is French for Horse

We are pretty sure that we have made the first sighting of the next big boy band, 2nd Direction or U-Turn. The name is concrete yet. Anyhoo there were 5 boys (not all pictures) walking around the outside of the Louvre. Wearing pant suits in crazy patterns. Of course I had to get my picture with them so I smiled in front of a beautiful old building, and of course 2nd Direction.  Most boy bands have synchronized dance routines but not 2nd Direction.  No, these guys all wear crazy pant suits. They each have their own patterns and color scheme, but together they are
2nd Direction....or was it U-turn?

P.S. It was definitely a funny little blessing to be able to see these guys. It definitely made me laugh harder than I have in a very long time. I wonder what kind of songs they will sing.

P.S.S. a I will now have bits of One Direction songs in my head all day..... ughh

P.S.S.S. If they do come out as a real band I am totally gonna be able to sell these pictures for a lot! Hey, you might want to get these pics now before they go big.

Nothin' teaches you humility like dressing up like a cow and going into a restaurant. So, because we needed some extra humility we went to Chick-fil-A, dressed like cows, but...We got free meals!! Every year on July 12th it's cow day, so if you are in an area with a Chick-fil-A swallow your pride and get free food. Because really what's better: your pride or free food?

If you ever go I can't guarantee that you will go completely unnoticed, we didn't. When we got back in the car we all agreed that everyone in the restaurant was staring at us. It might be cause we were the only ones doing it there. But hey, it was all worth it. 

So..

If the reality TV show people were super smart I think that they would start shows about families trying to learn a second language. The result would be a hysterical comedy that would probably make people that really speak French cry, either our of laughter or utter frustration.

 Learning a language is hilarious and devastating at the same time. I am so thankful for our language teacher! She is more patient and gracious than I can ever imagine being with someone who is trying to learn a language and instead is butchering it! Thankfully most days we can laugh about some silly, stupid mistake that one of us has made.

Sometimes I feel like I'm doing great and will have no problem learning French (this is normally right after a good day in class), then the next afternoon (after class) I feel like I have a tongue made of lead and a head full of feathers. Where did all those beautiful French words and phrases go that I had on the tip of my tongue just yesterday? Where is the little bit of pride I had when I was able to ask
 " Ou' est la sucre?"
(Where is the sugar?)

I am finding that in Language learning everyday brings new and unexpected challenges as well as sweet, unexpected victories! The key is relying on God to turn my tongue of lead to silver and my head full of feathers to a storehouse of knowledge!

I would like to ask you guys for prayer in continued language acquisition and having the courage to start speaking French more often. Thank you for your support and love!