FRENCH, FRANCE AND JESUS: THE UPDATE.

I'm sure this has kept you up at night. You've been tossing and turning wondering, "What did she get on her French final?"

Or you didn't even know I was taking French! That's another very likely possibility.

I wrote about it in this post (and included some very favorite photos from The Paris Market in Downtown Savannah!) but basically, my grade sucked. And yes, we all get bad grades from time to time, save a select few of academic angels. But for some reason, this grade was especially disappointing to me, and I was probably a bit salty about the fact that I didn't fall into the academic angel category probably. At any rate, French was my least favorite topic. Yet the one I needed to study most for.

One day as I was studying (sort of) (mostly just dozing off) I had a weird thought "What if I actually get an A? If I do, I'll buy myself a nice lipstick." The thought was mildly motivating and kept me awake for another solid study session. But still, an A? That seemed pretty far fetched.

The thought of a lipstick at the end of the road was enough to motivate me slightly. But also I knew it wasn't a reality, so I wouldn't have to spend money on it at the end of the day. Kind of a win-win! Except a lipstick (and an A) would have been cool.

Directly after my exam I came home for bible study. I knew I had done okay on the test, but also knew I messed up a lot as well. We prayed, talked, potentially cried but I can't remember, watched the bachelor and I checked my grade.

For some perspective, the last test I got a 73.
Yet somehow on the final, I ended up with a 114. Bringing my grade from a C to an A! Also bringing my jaw to the floor.

(photos from paris in 2014)

My point in writing this post isn't to publicly celebrate my grade of flaunt my Phoenix abilities. I'd been discouraged about this class for months. I had mentally accepted the final B or C. Life would go on. God would still be in control. Really, it would all be fine.

But then God said, "Wait, I have something better in mind."

The beauty of this situation, and the life lesson I hope to learn and remember, is that God always waits till the right time to work. If he had given me a great grade from the get-go, I probably wouldn't have prayed as much. Had I started off with a higher standing in the class, I wouldn't have been humbly driven to my knees. He held out on me, until I was fully sold out for Him.

God want's our best days and our worst days. He loves us through bad grades and good grades and He will bless us when HE knows we are ready for it. Not when we think we deserve it.

This is just a small situation in life, but one where I saw God moving and working so clearly. And on that note, I know it won't be the last time God waits to bless me, even when it seems like its too late. It wont be the last time I see Him moving and working in my life. And while I've already forgotten every word of French, my hope is that I never forget what Christ has shown me through this situation.

Now obviously it's not really practical to put up a pillar of stones in my bedroom, but hey! This lipstick is my proverbial pillar of stones. So naturally, I had to go all out.

I ended up picking out a YSL lipstick. I mean, after passing french, a French lipstick brand seemed only fitting. After spending 14 years in Sephora going back and forth (cute or practical? Fun or extra wearable?) I settled on Smoking Plum, a rich purple with a glossy finish that I truly love/want to wear everyday. 

It sits on my vanity now. For one, the packaging is ridiculously pretty. And secondly, the price tag is high enough to quality this as not only a lipstick but also a piece of decor. And thirdly, every time I pass it or use it-the lipstick seems to say, "Hey, remember the time that God to bless you and you passed French? And not because you deserved it either, but because He is the epitome of goodness itself."

So yeah, I guess you could say it's my proverbial pillar of stones. In all honestly, it's a way better reminder of God's love than stones would be. I use lipstick everyday! And what else do I need daily?

To be reminded that God is in control and He will move when He is ready, not when it's easiest or most convenient for me. 

Such is life, Such is FRE2

I really should be studying for my French 2 final right now...but instead I'm posting about the Paris Market in Savanah! That's the same thing right? And since we are here and I'm avoiding my homework like the plague, let's chat about French 2. Grab yourself a café au lait, we might be here awhile.

I've wanted to take French since the dawn of time (or really, ever since my mom started saying  Ne touchez pas to us when we were kids.) French 1 was fine and dandy and FRE2 has been anything but that. Which honestly, isn't a huge deal. A perfect grade isn't necessary for my degree and at the end of the day, its fine. 

But at the same time, it's not. Because eight year old Kryn wanted to learn French, just like her mom. And twelve year old Kryn was obsessed with everything Parisian. When sixteen year old Kryn went to Paris, it was if the stars had truly aligned. And when seventeen year old Kryn lived in Paris for a month (!!!), French felt like my destiny.

So you can imagine that when I'm sitting in room 220 at the community college and confusing the passé compose conjugations of etre, it feels like I'm letting each of them down just a little bit. 

But you know what they say,  "c'est la vie" (and FRE2)

Isn't this place just the cutest? And while it didn't inspire me to study my verbs or vocabulary list, it did remind me why I love Paris, and France and French food in general. Even though FRE2 wasn't exactly the whimsical experience I had envisioned since I was a little girl, it's been a good learning experience. 

And if I ever go back to France one day, at least I'll know how to ask where the bathrooms are. It's the important stuff kids.

While our trip to the Paris Market might have been more successful than my midterm, I still have hope that a.) I'll pass b.) I'll go back to France and actually use said French one day and 3.) that someone will invent gluten free croissants.

But in the mean time, back to the flash cards I go.
Like I said before,
C'EST LA VIE.

(PARIS POSTS ANYONE? First time at Laduree. Proof that the Paris Market is legit. Day at Versailles and the First day of Summer in Paris.)

LIZZY BENNET REPORTING FROM PEMBERLY

(translation: Kryn reporting from Versailles.)

Okay can we talk about the sad fact that life doesn't have a soundtrack? I for one know that my life would be infinitely more impressive it was accompanied by background music. Maybe the dishes wouldn't seem so boring and taking out the trash would be elevated FOR SURE.

All that to say, Versailles has background music. At the entrance of the gardens we were greeted by booming opera music which WAS AMAZING. Normally I'm more of a Nicki Manaj gal but when you're at a palace, opera is a good second choice. Exploring the gardens with classical music in the background made me feel like the main character in a Jane Austen movie....Minus the hot men. And the fancy dresses. And the servants!

But besides that, I was basically Elizabeth Bennet for 3 hours.

Here's the proof!

Dead ringer for Lizzy or no? Please say yes!

HAPPY THROWBACK. I've been back a whole month and haven't even finished Paris posts or began the London ones. At this rate, I'll be back in Paris before I finish.

Moral of the story? If you want to feel like Lizzy Bennet, tour a fancy palace and listen to opera music. Preferably at the same time! If not, you can live vicariously through this post. It's what I'll be doing 20 years from now.

Hotel de Ville

One day I stopped sneezing long enough to walk across the river to Hotel De Ville.

Not much more than a pretty place to take photos but hey, sometimes that's all a girl needs.

(that and like 20 boxes of tissues and 3 bottles of nyquil and an adequate supply of pillows.)

But other than that!

12:01 AM, JUNE 21ST 2015

THE CLOCK STRUCK MIDNIGHT AND SUDDENLY,
 IT WAS SUMMER.

It wasn't a total Cinderella moment. Jeans and Sandals could hardly compete with a gown and glass slippers! We forgot a wine opener and cups but only managed to borrow one of the necessary items.

But then again.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be spending the first moments of summer with rose in hand and the shimmering Eiffel Tower before me.

YES YOU GUYS THE WINE WAS GOOD!!  No I didn't get drunk, though I was convinced the 5 sips I took were enough. And Don't worry (mom and grandma and baptist friends), I won't be sneaking wine here in America but when you're in a grocery store in Paris and you find a 2.99 bottle and you consider buying it... your answer should always be,  HECK YES.

THE FRENCH SUMMER OF MY SOUL

There's a reason bliss and baguette begin with the same letter....

Cheers to summer days in France!

When in Paris....

As a blog connoisseur and Pinterest pro (self-proclaimed, but that's besides the point.) I know my way around a macaroon. Besides the fact that they are incredibly photogenic (exhibit a HERE.), they come in a variety of colors, which obviously is they way to a girls heart. And any good girl knows that the best Macaroons come from Paris and the best macaroons in Paris come from Laduree. So to Laduree we went!

▲▲ For future reference (hopefully this information will be handy to you or I one day!) skip the Champs-Élysées  Laduree (Don't skip Champs-Elysees! Its nice to hear some English while in Paris and that's the place to get your fix) and go to the Rue Royale shop for a bit calmer (and brighter?) macaroon experience!

▲▲ The best part about Paris was all the stupid things I did for photos! Seriously, I didn't even eat a macaroon till we got HOME, in order to make sure I had a "just right" photo. Still cracks me up, but hey! You only get Laduree once. Wink.

Can we all agree that macaroons are the prettiest? Yes? Amen. 

TO PARIS, FOR A MOMENT.

It's a funny thing, the whole song-nostalgia deal. The night before Paris, the night before the most incredible few days of my life, was a flurry of scarfs, tights and accordion music. I was dancing around my room, twirling in my new hat and dreaming of macaroons with music from Paris (ahem, youtube) as my soundtrack.

I had forgotten about my little escape until a month or so after Paris, and I remembered in Walmart (of all places!) Whilst searching for a birthday card (a fruitless search, as far as cards are related) I of course had to test every musical card ever created. But I found one, one with a Louis Armstrong song, a song I listened to the night before Paris, a song I heard multiple times while in Paris. And all those macaroon dreams and Paris butterflies came right back in an instant.

Thus, a play list! Because I read somewhere, that Paris is a state of mind! And nothing could be better than some nostalgic and perfectly Parisian music. So let's go to Paris for a moment, shall we?

FRENCH PLAYLIST HERE.

Louvre and Mona Pizza and all that jazz.

 

Our visit to the Louvre probably would have been far more impressive had we not just been to the National Gallery. In there alone you could easily see enough private body parts and demon possessed babies to last a lifetime (a year at least.) On the other hand, the Louvre itself was INCREDIBLY beautiful. Those French sure were doing something right back then...although these days, one may wonder! Anyway, let's Louvre it up, shall we?

▲▲ In which, I saw the Mona Lisa. (The Mona Pizza, if you are feeling fancy.) It was surprisingly small and equally unimpressive. But still, it's a great work of art, and now I've seen it! And that is very satisfactory.

Regardless, it was an amazing experience! Still can't believe I was actually IN Paris, ya know?!? Dreams do come true!