Sunday, October 19, 2014

RAINY DAYS AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS

A glimpse of the beauty surrounding me here...





You guys.  That mist. 








Apollos being adorable... he found a snail.













Last Friday, the Eastmans and I took the day to explore.  Our windy hour and forty minute drive along the narrow French roads to St. Jean Pied de Port was stunning and simply lovely [minus carsickness in the back... that's another story.  Lets just say tweren't purty.]  The town itself was super old, quaint, and very Basque feeling.  Uniform cream colored houses, sticking out with their red roofs and red shutters, dot the mountain sides and cluster together forming villages and towns.  Unfortunately our time in the city was cut short due to some showers... we've quickly learned to always expect rain [despite the weather predictions] and be surprised if it doesn't. 

















Mountain top pit stops.  This is as close to heaven as it gets, kids.  


I could get used to this.




We took a different route home, this time through the heart of the mountain country.  Taking the risk of getting lost, stuck, or worse, we drove up a mountain in our huge and top-heavy nine-passenger-van.  Worth it.  It was by far the coolest drive I've ever taken in my life.  I've never seen such breath-taking beauty in all my days.  [Six thousand seven hundred and twelve to be exact.]  What an amazing God we serve.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would get an opportunity like this.  I not only get to serve my Savior, I get to do it on the other side of earth.  Best of both worlds, people.

















In the three weeks I've been here, I've stood in awe over and over at the simple beauty everywhere. God's creativity... golly!  You guys, I can't even put it into words.  Let's just say this small town Michigan girl's eyes have been opened, and a deeper love for the Creator has taken root in my heart.

xo,
colette


//Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.// [Psalm 148:1-10]

//You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.// [Isaiah 55:12]