live.connect.grow: Family Life - updates on the Wallace Clan

Well, we survived the summer! We had a great time with family and saw a lot of new places around France. Here are some highlights:

We were so exited to have Ted's parents with us for a week!

Just hanging out on an old WWII tank

Life-long dream fulfilled - Normandy Beach

On the train to MTO

Emily and Daniel were able to go to a camp just for missionary teens, called MTO. They came back so excited, telling us about all the kids they met who have to learn multiple languages and have left behind family and friends to move overseas, just like them! God really spoke to both of them in unique ways, and they can't wait to go back again next year!

They got to stay at a castle!

At Monet's garden in Giverny

We celebrated our 17th anniversary on June 20th!

Emily with some other OM ladies at a retreat

Emily is about to turn 16! It's amazing to watch how she's growing up. In addition to learning French in school, she is also learning German. She has had so many great opportunities to meet with other young ladies- in a local Bible study, friends she met this summer, even a new mentor she met at camp. Emily continues to develop her love of music, and recently wrote a worship song (maybe we can convince her to record it soon).

Daniel turned 13 in August! He has been drawing almost every day and loves creating characters for the epic story he's been working on for a few years now. Check out this amazing time-lapse video he created! He's doing better in school, working hard to learn more French. He is hilarious and asks the most profound questions about God and life. Also, we're pretty sure that he'll be taller than Emily any day now.

The boys showing off their drawings/stories

Timothy is doing great. His tongue hardly bothers him at all, for those of you who've asked. He is taking Judo classes twice a week, so he'll probably be able to throw us on the ground soon. He's doing wonderfully in school, and can understand and speak French much better. He loves to draw, sing, ride his bike, and play with friends.

Judah is becoming a little Frenchman. He can speak and understand a lot of French and daily tells us new phrases, songs, and games they play at school. He loves pretending to be superheroes and is a definite people-person like his dad!

Ted is adapting quite well in France. He even recently tried escargot (snails), although they admittedly weren't his favorite. He can speak fairly easily in French, and has been able to preach, pray, and lead worship in French with Michelle. He's also discovered a love for rugby, and is looking forward to getting to play the drums again soon!

The boys watching the Rugby World Cup

Michelle is doing better with French too. Speaking is getting easier, and she's able to read books in French and write fairly well. She's also discovered that music makes sense in any language! She's been learning to play guitar and had joined the worship team at church (great for language and courage).

With some of the singers at Hillsong Church in Paris

Overall, life in France is going pretty well. We're learning more about the language and culture every day, meeting local people, and settling into a new way of life. We're so thankful for the privilege to serve God in this country, and we can't wait to see what's around the corner!