Our livelihood and ministry are financed in part by Jesus-followers in the Western United-States. We are deeply grateful. Part of my responsibility to these friends is to keep them updated on the State of the Family, ie what's up with the French Finleys. They want to know how we are doing as people so that they can pray intellegently for us. We would invite you to pray for us too.
The big news is we are expecting a 3rd BOY. Yes, it's another boy. We call him Petit-Pois or Petit-Poid. He will show his face at the end of February. This happy event is an answer to prayer in many ways. Some of you will remember that Karen nearly died at Samuel's birth and has struggled with hypertension ever since. The miracle is that Karen's blood pressure has been normal since March allowing us to conceive this precious little life last Spring in California. Please pray for good health for mother and child throughout this pregnancy.
Karen continues to work as a kindergarten teacher. While we were in California last year she was disappointed to give up her tenured position at an elementary school in a neighboring Parisian suburb just 10 minutes from our house. But God had a plan for that too. This year the French national school system transferred Karen to the school in the town where we live, our boy's school, that is only about 200 meters from the OIKOS house. Two of our neighbors' children are in her class. Her official position in town has opened relational opportunities for us that we never would have had otherwise. Of course, with the pregnancy, she will not finish out the school year. She expects to start her 6 month pregnancy leave at the end of November. However, this too is a tenured position. It's hers as long as she wants it. She expects to work half-time at L'Ecole du Village (the Village School) beginning Fall 08. The fact that the school is so close has really simplified our family logistics.
Samuel will turn 7 years old on November 22nd. His year at a Palo Alto, California prep school has put him ahead of the curve. His maturity, scholastic excellence, and capacity to work autonomously has encouraged Samuel's teachers to place him in a 3rd grade class. Needless to say, he is the only 6 year old in the class. We are very proud of him. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, he has begun to train with a track and field club in our town. We bought him a mountain bike as an early gift for his 7th birthday so he can ride in the forest with his Papa...a gift for Papa too. Samuel continues "to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people." (1 Sam 2:26)
Michael will turn 4 years old on December 10th. This is his first year of French school. He is certainly more comfortable than Karen with the idea that his mommy is one of the teachers in his school. Both are learning about the different roles that we play in life. Michael, our warrior angel, is VERY energetic about everything that he does and says. We all laugh (and sometimes cry) with him. If you've seen the animated film The Incredibles, Mikey is in cartoon dimensions very much like the character "Flash". He certainly keeps us alert.
I will turn 40 years old on December 3rd. On September 17th, I celebrated 10 years in France, a quarter of my life. I have lived on this same street in the Paris suburbs longer than any other address anywhere. I am grateful to God for his design for a life I never could have conceived on my own. This California boy would never have guessed that God intended to establish me so durably in France, to bless me here, that he had a French wife in mind for me, that my 3 boys would all be born in the same Paris hospital, or that I myself would one day carry the privileges and the responsibilities of both an American and a European passport. I have learned to relish this hyphenated existence: bi-cultural, bi-lingual, bi-national. It is wonderful to turn 40 with the deep satisfaction that God has me right where he wants me for his mission in his world. The Lord has seen fit that this California boy flourish in France. His grace never ceases to astound me.
"You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21
Yay! We can't wait to meet the 3rd Finley boy... Karen, I'll be praying for you and am so happy that your blood pressure has been normal. Maybe sometime you can post a photo of the lovely pregnant mama... :)
Posted by: sarah Livesay | 10/21/2007 at 03:34