Back to Work!

Je m'excuse . . . (I apologize) I know that you all love to read my blog posts, and this past week I really let you down. If it's any consolation, I had a great time with my friends visiting! I don't think I went to bed before 1 am the entire week, because we were playing games and watching movies every night. During the day we toured this area, including the Atlantic coast (cold, windy and wet), a nearby castle (one of the best I've seen), wine country (we drank water), and downtown Bordeaux itself (the public park is pictured below).

As I mentioned, my "bosses" were here also this past week, on Wednesday. I met them at my office, where I toured them around our new facilities and translated a few meetings for them with the French AG missions leadership and my own colleagues. Then I took them to an excellent restaurant near the train station before they left. The Europe regional director and I both had beef slow-cooked in beer, which sounds awful, but tastes delicious. The alcohol obviously cooks out, but it leaves the meat so tender. I figured if he could order it, so could I! Plus, my area director recommended it since he's eaten it before in Belgium.

More important than our menu choices was the discussion we had about my future choices. I can't go into great detail obviously, but one of my goals for that meeting was just to be honest and open with these two men. I didn't want to be afraid of telling them what I really think and how I really feel, yet I didn't want to go overboard either. I had really been praying about exactly how to say what I needed to express. But they were so supportive. They understood not only what I said, but what was unsaid as well (I could tell by their insightful questions). They gave me some freedom for the future, which really lifted a weight off my shoulders! I came away feeling confident about their leadership and their support for the decisions I have upcoming. Thanks for your prayers me for me in this regard.

Today it was back to work; since I had most of last week off to play, that just means I've got piles of work to catch up on! If it makes you feel any better, posting this blog for my dedicated readers was at the top of the list!