Rewind to...Belgium and France

The first stop on our two-part voyage overseas was in Brussels, Belgium with a weekend trip to the French countryside. Michel is the youngest of 8 (EIGHT, not a typo) children. For some of you this may explain his tendency to be the little brother and kid around. His fun-loving nature is one of the things I love best about him! We visited Michel's brother Christian and wife Khadia and their two boys Paul and Theo who live in Brussels, plus we got to see Khadia's parents, Mami and Papi Soumare. We loved seeing Michel's brother Eric in Brussels and Lille, and Tonton Guy-rene and his four beautiful daughters who live in Lille (France), and Tonton Alexis and his two awesome kids Nicolas and Olivia outside of Paris. It was my first time to Lille, where Michel spent his years from age 11-14. I am well aware of the fact that we came from different parts of the world and had such different childhoods, so I love visits with Michel's family when I get to learn more about his life back home and I can imagine him as a little boy.

I had no expectations of it being a relaxing trip, and wondered what we were thinking a few days before as we still had to pack up our apartment, move our stuff to Charlotte, and drive up to PA and then to NY to fly on our first of 4 long flights with a 9-month old! But Bentley did great and was able to sleep on most of them. Thankfully he didn't adjust to the time change in Europe so he went to bed at midnight and slept until 11am every day! I let myself sleep in with him which was amazing and exactly what we needed. For those who have youngsters who typically awake at the crack of dawn like Bentley does, go to a later time zone and enjoy late nights and late mornings!

Here are a few pictures from our trip. Unfortunately we lost our photos from the Europe part of our trip, but thankfully my brother-in-law Christian is a photographer extraordinaire so I got some from him!

All smiles on vacation!

My bro-in-law Eric, being patient with my bad French!

I had my first birthday overseas and the Lusakueno family went all out. A close family friend, Christopher, is a chef at a top restaurant in Brussels and so they had him come cook for us! This was my birthday dinner...nothing short of amazing.

Bentley clapping after we blew out my candles. The chocolate cake was delicious!

A nighttime stroll in Brussels. So fun to be able to stay out late with the little guy!

Christian and Khadia, Michel's big bro and sis-in-law...so cute!

Mami Soumare carrying Bentley African-style around the house. She was also giving him airplane rides on her legs...amazing!

Bentley loved Khadia and would choose to go to her over me! I love them laughing together!

Tonton Guy-rene's family in Lille...Bentley was in heaven with all of his girls. Can you tell which one married into the family??

Family outside of Paris...Tonton Alexis, Nicolas, Olivia and Christian with us.

Time to say goodbye :(...with Paul and Theo at the airport

A Sweet Season

In the past three months we have wrapped up our MBA work, graduated, went to the beach with friends, moved out of our apartment, spent time with my family in PA for a few days and then took Bentley on his first of what would be 8 plane rides and 4 countries to visit Michel's family in Europe and Africa! A few days later we were off to Florida for a long weekend to visit friends and go to my cousin's wedding, and then back at my parents' for the next two weeks. After Michel added closets to our house in Charlotte, we are finally "home" here and getting settled! Way too much to blog about in one post, so I will start with some reflections on this past season of life and follow up with some additional posts about our travels.

As I look back over the past two years I am in awe of all that has transpired. Our time in Chapel Hill has been all about God's provisions. We have watched him faithfully provide amidst some big question marks in our minds (especially the question of how we were going to be parents while both getting our MBAs). Our first year was an amazing time for Michel and I to do life together, to be exhilarated about all that we were learning, to meet amazing friends and couples that inspired us, and to truly enjoy each other as best friends. We realized how crucial this time was in year two as we adjusted to our new life with Bentley! The past year has been nothing short of crazy, beginning with our 10-week internships in New York and Atlanta, which spanned the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy! Then we raced to Chapel Hill and thanked God Bentley did not come in route! God was so good to give us a week back home before Bentley came 1 week late. And then 10 days after he was born we started back to classes...next thing we know it is May and we are graduating. Yes, it has been a whirlwind, but the joy that Bentley's life brings us is unspeakable.

In the midst of the chaos we've felt God's blessing and peace like never before. God gave us just what we needed to get through. Much of his provision came through the family and friends He placed in our lives. My sister Jackie got a nursing job and UNC and we spent the past 5 months together, which was a huge blessing. Friends brought meals, lent us your car (we went 3 months without one when our's broke down...some of you will be glad to know we finally got a car!), watched Bentley, lent baby gear, helped run errands, called to check in, etc. To all of you, thank you for your friendship and love. We know we have formed lifelong bonds and we are grateful that our paths crossed in Chapel Hill!

We are thankful for the short intermission to rest and enjoy each other and our family before work begins (for me in September, for Michel this past Monday) and we start the next season of life. More to come, but in the meantime here is a video of our baby-turned-boy walking! He actually took his first steps on his own in Mauritius. It was really special to be with Oliver, Audiah and baby Michel (Michel's brother, sister-in-law and nephew who is 1.5 months younger than Bentley and named after big Michel!).


First steps in Mauritius...



Walking at Grandma and Grandpa's house, with his Aunties, after we got back...