oh, what a day!

I have so many stories to tell you today. I had such a wonderful day here, perhaps the best yet. After another round of making cookies for the kids, Jeanine (the elderly neighbor), and for Laetitia's mom, I had a great English lesson with the boys. In the early evening, I took Melvil, who spent the majority of the day out on the boat with one of his friends, to his grandmother's house in Roquevaire, about 30-minutes from the house in St. Marc to join the other kids. To my complete and excited surprise, Laetitia's mother has a lucious fig tree firmly planted in her backyard, it's left half resting under the shade of an almond tree! Can you even imagine how excited I was? It was more exciting than when I opened all of my Christmas presents a few years ago only to find that I had my very own kitchen supplies-a complete kitchen-right in front of me. I munched on the most delectable figs you have ever seen while Melvil taught me how to crack the shells of almonds.

I thought it couldn't be better than that. Then, I went to Cassis. I wandered the petite streets of the petit port, situated just east of Marseille until 10:30pm, the departure time of the midnight boat ride through the calanques! (you must click on the highlighted words to see the photos!) I have never before seen such a marvelous and pristine hidden treasure. The boat had sonar lights that seemed to light up the crystal clear sky, dusted with twinkling stars and a refreshing summer breeze. I am truly speechless.

The rocks are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old and stand 10 stories above the most elegant emerald colored Mediterranean Sea. They host a variety of natural wonders, from exotic animals scurrying up and down the walls of the cliffs to the african-style flat topped piney trees growing on the side of a gigantic rock. The view was breathtaking and certainly something I can never forget. As I watched the world appear at every turn of the mast, jaw-dropped and eyes wide open, I snuck a glance at the sky above and caught a shooting star. It was then that I knew I was in the midst of my favorite night in France.

We passed by several sailboats and fellow seamen during the 1.5 hour long excursion, all of whom were quite friendly and bid us welcome with their waving hands. I wanted so badly to climb aboard their boats and ask them for sailing lessons, but I thought better of it because it was the middle of the night. So, I have decided to add one more adventure to my list of life: spend the night on a sailboat. I want to go sailing, just for 2-3 days, and spend the night on a real-life sailboat. Mark my words, I will do it one of these days. I've got flying in a hot air balloon and parachuting to do also, so I guess I should get to work.

I love being able to live a dream. I love that life, in its best and worst times, is always a dream for me. I have the most incredible opportunity to do everything I love doing. I love learning how to be patient in waiting for the right time, however frustrated I am at times. I am in the best place I could ever hope to be: right where He wants me to be.

Cheers to the good life.