Meeting Lady Liberty

From one French woman to another...this was fun!
Isn't she beautiful in this lighting?

Back in NYC!

We all know who I came to visit! Thanks for having me! I did see some sights this time...pictures will follow, so enjoy! I am late at posting all this, journal wirtting is definitely not a talent of mine!

thank you, Mom and Dad

This is a long overdue post...starting a job that I don't really like but that pays and allows me to do other important things in my life is really making me realize how much my parents have always sacrificed to make my life comfortable, even easy!
Thank you, Mom and Dad, for always making us your priority : having a boring job that perhaps doesn't pay the best - even staying home - so that we could have time together as a family, serve in the Church, and build all those memories I rely on during harder times!

I guess it is another bonus in my current job: I am more grateful for my parents...even for Dad's diabetes and how it has taught us all how to eat better! I am very thankful for my healthy body!
I apologize for sometimes being ungrateful and appreciate more your sacrifices now that I have to make some for myself! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

the fat clinic

Some of you may have heard about my job...well, I am practicing as a nurse once more! I had an interview last week and was hired on the spot-without really understanding what I had signed up for other than a regular part time job Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 8pm!
I started this week...and was a lot less thrilled when I realized that I was only hired because my body mass index is within a certain range. I understand the risks of being overweight and have seen many of the consequences on the units I have worked on within hospital setting...but I disagree with some of the methods used and taught in the clinic...so, the issue is really ethical for me.
I have to say that I enjoy visiting with the clients and talking to them about what they can do to maintain their weight once they have reached their goal...after all, I can say what I want once the door is closed! I had a chubby 14- year old young man yesterday. When his mother questioned if the diet was healthy, I encouraged her to go see her family physician for his help--sure hope my employer never reads this post! The doctor saw the kid and told me to "start him up, same as usual"...wow...anyways...you can go check his website out...let me know what you think! I have decided to continue my search and really don't plan on staying long.
On the plus side, I can still enjoy my week-ends and hopefully gather enough braincells to study for my exam in July!

David and I

Don't we look cute together? Only a few more days now and we will be able to confirm we really do! David is leaving Idaho tomorrow and will be traveling to Utah, NYC, and North Carolina before I meet up with him (hopefully) in Connecticut!
He is so smart, he has been accepted to several universities he applied to...go check it out on his blog(link on the right)!















I am just making this entry in case you guys are worried about receiving news so irregularly from me...I have been busy talking to him late at night...I guess that's love!

Princess Ida

My friend Philipp Raeke and I went to see an operetta at McGill! So much fun!!! This was my first operetta ever, and I am not sure that I would be a regular...but it was HILARIOUS!!!

Princess Ida has been promised to Prince Hilarion at age one, and when the time comes for them to marry, she secludes herself in an women's university and will hear nothing of it! Hilarion and his 2 friends dress up as ladies and enter the university to win her over and woo her...

When the prince asks her father how he can win her heart, he answers this
"P'raps if you address the lady
Most politely, most politely –
Flatter and impress the lady,
Most politely, most politely, –
Humbly beg and humbly sue –
She may deign to look on you,
But your doing you must do
Most politely, most politely, most politely!"

How true today still! I met some of the cast at my job- that is how I decided it would be fun to go...and I was right! Thanks for being such good company, Philipp!

Bye-bye my loves!

I just HAD to visit with Rebecca and her adorable children before they left to spend a month in Gaspésie for Yohann to have some "out of region" practice as a pediatrician...I hope they won't have forgotten me and will still want to play with me when they get back! Estelle walked her first steps with me today!!! it's so fun being their aunt!!! Have fun in Gaspésie...enjoy the country side and come back soon! I love you!

C. S. Lewis: The critic & the christian

One thing I absolutely LOVE about being a student again is that I am blessed with the opportunity to meet people and learn from them! I found a flyer for a conference that was going to be given at lunch today... since I hadn't planned on it, it took a little bit of reorganizing...but I am a big fan of C.S. Lewis' work- so I made it happen!
We heard readings from the B.B.C. Broadcast talks which he gave between 1942-1944. C.S. Lewis was a late convert to Christianity and a reknown litterature professor at Oxford. It is from these lectures that he compiled "Mere christianity" into a book. He is most known for "The Chronicles of Narnia", a series of children's books in which " The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is the 2nd book.
C.S. Lewis explained his conversion to Christianity in very simple, respectful, non-threatening terms. To Him, knowing God and gaining a testimony of his presence and influence in our own lives is a very personal and intimate experience. He went on comparing it to receiving a package in the mail. Even if all the people in your street receive the same package, it doesn't mean that they all contain the same thing. He then went on to explain that the only way to find out about God is to open your own package :" I can't expect to open all the other packages when all I am allowed to open is my package!"
I am happy for good parents who have taught me to seek out answers and be independent in my knowledge of God. I know I am His child, here on earth. He listens to me in prayer and is trying to bless me...sometimes the packages are not exactly what I expect or wanted...sometimes, I want to have my friend's package...but I need to learn to trust in His love for me and know I will find joy in the blessings I receive from him!What a great analogy! I LOVE C.S. LEWIS!!!

Late wedding gift!

Tiare and Mithona...I am so sorry that is has taken me so long to get my act together and sew this for you!

I have been preparing it since you announced your marriage...guess you can never giveme nough notice

Now I still have to get it mailed to you- and you are moving! hahahaha!!!

To anyone hoping to get a homemade gift from me...FAT CHANCE!!! I am now going to stick to money, gift certificates and happy thoughts and wishes-- sorry, but not really!(this is only going to get to them for their 6 months anniversary at the earliest!)

Turning 12!

As a primary president, I have to honour to turn 5 of my children over to the young men's organization when they turn 12 years old this year! We had a spiritual meeting and talked with their leaders and their parents of the great honour it is to receive the Priesthood and serve others with it...
It has been very challenging to have these kids with us- but I am extremely proud of them and felt strongly during this meeting that it really was a privilege to train future leaders! Bravo P.O. et Dennis! Je vous aime et suis tellement fière de qui vous devenez! Vous allez me manquer!

(the picture shows from left to right: Benjamin Carrier, Pierre Anthian, Danilo Contreras,Dennis Contreras, Simon Bouchard, me, Dominique Weber, Pierre-Olivier De Serres, Anne-Michèle and Louis De Serres)

sacuto sisters's get together!

So good to be here and be able to spend time with my family!
I am so grateful!

we missed you, Tiare...next time, I guess!


David...we thought of you and had some Idahoan potatoes!

Yohann, thank you for always welcoming us...hope we are not too invading! Your family is so much fun! Thanks for making our sister so happy!