I love that the French version of "Merry Christmas" includes the word JOY. Yes, that is the essence of this season. The baby in the manger is Jesus, Emmanuel, God with  us. That changes everything. Unique regional flavors characterize Christmas celebrations everywhere. Join me for a brief tour celebrating this festive season here in the Cévennes. Santons- "little saints" in the occitan dialect Throughout the Cévennes and Provence, homes and churches set up the crèche, a nati

Our youngest daughter visited recently... quelle joie! After spending time in our home and visiting spots in the south of France, we...

Drive a short distance down the road from my little town, St. Hippolyte du Fort, and you'll find this charming scene: Welcome to Sauve, with its rich history dating back to the 11th century. Come, wander with me across the river, through narrow cobbled streets, under stone arches, and past ancient buildings. If only these walls could talk! We enter the village by Le Pont Vieux, the Old Bridge, built between the 11th and 13th centuries. These dates cause my American head to sp

In the Cévennes region, we usually have scorching heat starting in June. Not this year! Temperate weather and intermittent downpours have...

While there's never a dull moment around here, this past month has been extra eventful. Often, I feel like I'm living in a French film...

The Light Shines Through, The Huguenot Resistance Series Book 2, will be available in May. Wohoo! I can't wait to share the story with...

The first week of December here in the Cévennes, we harvest olives. Our crop this year was by far our most abundant, taking us two days...

France and outstanding cuisine are nearly synonymous. And for the most part, this is true––whether fine dining or enjoying homier local...

Oh how I love the open markets of France! As I've written before, they are a never-ending source of sights, sounds, scents just waiting...

I love open markets! The stands of wares ranging from fresh local products to artisanal items are always a delight to experience....

Our little town is uniquely blessed with not one or two, but 21 sundials. Perched here and there on various homes and buildings, they add...

In my little town, St. Hippolyte du Fort, we are blessed with lovely walking paths. I'm grateful to so easily engage with the surrounding...

My husband had a significant birthday a few years back (well, ok, more like a decade). I sent out requests for a word of encouragement, a...

Part One Madame fought back tears, but the deep well of emotion that was their cause would not be contained. "Our grandfathers… the...

When I reflect on the beauty of the seasons, I usually picture the soft bright colors of spring or the brilliant tones of autumn. Yet...

Vive les vendanges! Yay for the grape harvest! I love this time of year, and one of the very best things about it is the vendanges. Early...

Bienvenue au Château de Planque! Welcome! Come on in for a tour of the centuries-old château where we work and live. We are situated at...

A couple of weeks ago, I happened upon a shepherd leading his flock through the fields behind the houses on my path. The massive copper...

The week between Christmas and New Years' is one of my favorite times of the year. While I love the holiday season and truly enjoy...

The Château de Planque, our home and ministry center, came with an extensive terrain of 2.5 hectares (6.5 acres). Most of the land lies...