Bonne année! I hope you're feeling hopeful about 2020 and the beginning of a new decade. I mentioned to my oldest child that she'll be twenty years old and likely halfway through college when the next decade arrives. "Where?” She asked. I responded that perhaps she’ll be at my alma mater, Westmont College, in Santa Barbara (California). She replied that she doesn't want to live that far away. My husband and I found this amusing since she professes that she wants to live in France someday. Apparently France is more familiar to her than California, the state neighboring us here in Oregon.

For our family, the past year has been busier than ever, to the point that I took a six-month break from writing— long enough, perhaps, for many of you to forget that you signed up to receive blog updates by email. Merci de votre patience. There is always much I want to share with you—family experiences we loved in France (that you can experience as well), our bilingual family progress, our experience having an au pair for a year (such a blessing!), many book recommendations, and encouragement for intentional family living.