Easter Sunday

Six o'clock came early Easter Sunday morning but we were up with the birds and off to our church's Sunrise Service shortly after waking. It was a beautiful morning...

The service wouldn't start until 7, but we had to be there at 6:30 so Sarah could participate in a final rehearsal of the children's choir. The service was held off site in a community center in a small town of St Marc Jaumengarde, about 15 minutes east of Aix. It was not your typical church setting, it reminded us of early North River days, but it was a great service and Darrin preached a wonderful sermon. The children's voices also really added something special...particularly when they sang "Oh Happy Day". As you can see, some of the kids weren't quite awake yet!

After the service, a continental breakfast was set out for everyone so we drank coffee, ate croissants, talked and sort of woke up together! Nick, Sarah and I didn't have anything special planned until the evening, so when we got home we walked into Aix to go to a special street market on the Cours Mirabeau. It was a gorgeous, warm afternoon and it was so relaxing to stroll along the street with no time schedule whatsoever. We hadn't really been a a big market like this since Christmas time. The vendors were selling just about anything Provencal you can imagine, soaps, jewelry, pottery, art, food, leather goods, lavender etc. Nick was fascinated with this honey vendor. He could have watched him filling jars forever!

Sunday night, we went to a joint birthday party for three people: our friend, Hilary, her home stay mother, Marie Francoise, and Nick! Hilary and Nick share the same birthday-April 9th and Marie Francoise's was the 7th. Hilary was turning 25 while the other two were turning 50 and 70 something! The joint party was held at Marie Francoise's house and they had a really great eclectic mix of ages and nationalities. Also, everyone showed up with a wide variety of yummy things to eat. Special cheeses, seafood pates, chocolates and more. We brought a roast leg of lamb and oven roasted potatoes which were a big hit; especially with the French guests.

Later in the evening, the furniture was pushed to the walls and the dancing began...Marie Francoise and her guests REALLY liked to dance!

This Frenchman got so into it, he danced topless!

At about 11, I took Sarah home and Nick stayed until the bitter end.....no doubt, this will be a memorable birthday for him!