LET ME TELL YOU A STORY
                     ONCE UPON A TIME....
                                                       

This cozy fireplace in Flanders, Belgium, is near the site of many deaths and much destruction

during two World Wars during the 20th century.  The story of the Low Countries has been

one of war, punctuated by uncertain periods of peace and remembrance of lives lost and

what "might have been."  The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1831-1832 that: "the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth....and the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations." D&C 1:35; 87:1-2.

His admonition was to study and understand "things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of nations, and the judgments which are upon the land; and a knowledge of countries and of kingdoms." D&C 88:78-79.  We find wise counsel in the Lord's words and a great need for inspired statesmanship and seasoned diplomats to steer the ship of state through the treacherous waters of today.

  

 

 

World War I

 

 

 

I call this figure in the Brussels War Memorial Museum "the watchful dead standing guard." In 2014 it will be a hundred years since the First World War began.  In the four years between 1914-1918 a
tragic loss of life occurred, and at the end of those four years about nine million troops were dead, largely from Belgium, France and Germany!  The American toll during the 19 months of United States participation in World War I was some 117,000.  At the Battle of the Somme, on July 1, 1916, the British Army suffered 60,000 dead and wounded - in one day.  For France and England this resulted in a "lost generation" of sturdy young men, who died in a war their country had not begun and in the snatching of life's hopes and dreams from their grasp.

In "To End All Wars" Adam Hochschild writes: "Gray-uniformed German troops headed for Belgium in 550 trains a day, some with "To Paris" chalked on their sides and bedecked with flowers by enthusiastic crowds. "You will be home before the leaves have fallen from the trees," the Kaiser told his soldiers.  The far smaller Belgium army, however, put up an unexpectedly stiff fight.  Just as horse-mad as the British, the Germans included in their invasion force eight cavalry divisions - each with more than 5,000 horses - the largest body of horsemen ever sent into war in Western Europe. A ring of Belgian forts surrounding Liege, near the German border, further delayed the invasion until they were finally pounded into submission by giant siege guns, each so large it required 36 horses to pull.  Explosions from their shells flung earth and masonry 1,000 feet into the air." p. 102.

The Great War, as it was called, was burned into the hearts and minds of the Belgian people like no other experience in living memory.  This commemorative program from Sunday, the 11th of April 1920, and similar annual events, must have brought a certain wistful spirit and memories of lost loved ones.  We can only imagine the pain of these fine people as empty hearts ached for a father, brother, husband, son or friends killed in the fields of Flanders.  Even today, the wearing of the symbolic poppy of Flanders on Armistice Day, marking the end of the war on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, is a strong tradition in Belgium and England... "lest we forget" they say.

This Belgian Air Force representative receives a friendly handshake in recognition of American-Belgian unity of purpose in working to bring about the conditions for peace in Europe.  We were both walking on the grounds of the restored Cathedral in Ypres, near the French border.  This town was
literally destroyed in the First World War and rebuilt by the industrious Flemish people to its old specifications and beauty.  Hochschild writes of the July 31, 1917 battle of Ypres: "The mist soon turned into almost nonstop rain, the heaviest in some 30 years.  Observation aircraft could not take to the sky, weapons jammed, and the clay soil of the watery moonscape of craters became sticky; one officer likened its consistency to cheesecake, another to porridge.  Guns could barely be moved, and mules and horses pulling ammunition wagons sank up to their stomachs and had to be dug out. Ambulances carrying wounded soldiers skidded off slippery roads.  As the battle continued, one single day saw 26,000 British casualties.  Still Haig (the British commander) pushed on." at pp. 285-287.  "Pushing on" meant sending thousands to certain death from withering machine gun fire which was described as "walking through a field of lead."

Note the poignant scene depicted on this Memorial tableau in the center of Ypres and the British lion. Winston Churchill, in a January 1919 letter to the British War Graves Commission, wrote: "I should like us to acquire the whole of the ruins of Ypres...a more sacred place for the British race does not exist in the world."  Germany was only in Ypres one day, but its defense had cost its very existence.

The River Leperlee appears peaceful today, however, it was the sight of continuous battles throughout the duration of the war.  Passchendale is nearby and was the site of terrible loss of
life. Hochshild writes: " In the end, what separated Passchendale from the great paroxysms of
bloodshed that preceded it, was one gruesome fact no one had planned for: in addition to falling
victim to German fire, thousands of British soldiers, nowhere near the sea, drowned.  It was for good reason that this corner of Europe had long been called the Low Countries; the water table is less
than two feet below ground in much of Belgium," p. 285. Poison gas, barbed wire, rapid firing
machine-guns, heavy artillery, and "over the top" charges could lead to deadly hand-to-hand combat
and the loss of thousands in an afternoon.

William Boyd, author of  "Waiting for Sunrise" has written: 'I think this is the key behind the enduring obsession with that war.  To our modern sensibilities it defies credulity that for more than four years European armies faced one another in a 500-mile line of trenches, stretching from the Belgium coast to the border of Switzerland.... It was a deadly war of attrition in which millions  of soldiers on both sides slogged through the mud on no man's land to meet their deaths in withering blasts of machine-gun fire and artillery.  And at the end of four years and with about nine million dead, the two opposing forces were essentially where they were when they started...."There is a deeper, perhaps more profound reason the war continues to preoccupy us.  It was a conflict between 19th-century armies equipped with 20th-century weapons - hence the unprecedented carnage.  No society today would accept such a horrendous casualty count. After the First World War, nothing in the world would ever be the same." IHT, 23.01.13

 

 

 

In Flanders Fields

 

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow 

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place: and in the sky

The larks still bravely singing fly

scarce heard amid the guns below."

 

"We are the dead: short days ago,

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunsets glow,

Loved and were loved: and now we lie

In Flanders fields!"

 

"Take up our quarrel with the foe

To you, from friendly hands, we throw

The torch: be yours to hold it high.

If ye break the faith with us who die,

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields."

 

Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915

during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium

by Lt. Colonel John McCrae

United Kingdom

 

 

 

 

 

Today, a quiet tree-lined lane in the heart of Belgium reminds us of the price paid

by past generations for the gift of freedom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Near Ambiorix Square -  Brussels, Belgium 

 

 

 

 

World War II 

 

General John Pershing of World War I fame, in the final days of the war, said: "if we don't go on to Berlin we will just have to do it again."  The war ended with an Armistice but not unconditional surrender of the German forces.  The rise of Adoph Hitler on the promise to restore German might and respectability in the world foretold a second round of aggression aimed at world domination.

His diabolical use of sophisticated propaganda, Jewish extermination, and pre-emptive invasions of neighboring countries, "while England slept", made the threat of a Second World War inevitable if the cherished freedoms preserved earlier were to be taken seriously.

 

The Allied invasion of Europe on June 6th 1944, under the Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower, was the beginning of the end of the Nazi Third Reich.  More blood and treasure by Americans was freely spent in the great eternal cause of Liberty and Freedom for the salvation of Europe. The crucial Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne, Belgium was a tipping point in the war.  German soldiers and tanks took up an aggressive Winter offensive to gain control of the seaport of Antwerp, through which Allied supplies and equipment passed to sustain our war efforts. Their attack route lead through the rugged Ardennes forests and the town of Bastogne. The American efforts at Bastogne were herculean yet the German army was poised to win the battle and surrounded our embattled troops ordering unconditional surrender in 24-hours. Our Commander, General Anthony McAuliffe,  the 101st Airborne, with General George Patton and the Third Army on the way, gave the Germans the famous answer that lives in history: "NUTS" he wrote in a message to our adversaries.

 

On December 15, 2012 the boys joined me in a trip to Bastogne for the annual "Nuts Festival" where

patriotic Belgians join in the most heart-felt tributes imaginable to "the Americans" whom they love! Part of the festivities involves throwing Walnuts from the upper stories to the streets below in joyful recognition of what America  means to them. They have not forgotten!  Here, John, Taylor and I are in the center of the town square where a Pershing tank is permanently displayed. I have never seen a more genuine love for the United States of America anywhere else in the world!

 

     

 

 

 

 

  The town tradition is for the Belgians to put on authentic World War II uniforms,

drive around in period jeeps, troop carriers and anything else of that vintage that will move under its own power. Here I am on the main street between "General Eisenhower" and my son, Taylor Peterson, enjoying the cold Winter day and the festive activities in anticipation of the parade that is coming down the street.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

In the background is the "Hotel de Ville" (or City Hall) where we attended a ceremony and

Battle of Bastogne veterans, now in their 90's, were honored by the United States Ambassador.

 

 

 

 

 

The sidewalks were filled with "troops" of all descriptions! 

 

 

 

"NUTS"!!! 

  

 

 

 

An American Hero - General Anthony McAuliffe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A warm "thank you" was extended the  military officer who conducted the annual wreath

laying ceremony at the Bastogne central square.

 

  

 

Another American Hero -  General George Patton 

 

 

 

 

This photograph of General George Patton, and his aides, is a classic. You can barely see his pearl handled revolver, but "Willie" his bull-terrier is front and center. Who said there is a striking match between the dog we love and our inner self! General Patton saw Victory in Europe and became the American governor in the South of Germany after the war. Having survived the war, he died of

injuries in an automobile accident with a truck driven by an American PFC. His last wish was carried out and he is buried with his troops in Luxembourg.

 

 

 

The Battle of the Bulge 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The VE Day victory celebrations in PARIS brought joyous throngs to the streets!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

" God bless America, land that I love,

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans white with foam,

God bless America,

My home sweet home."

 

Irving Berlin 

                                            

 

  

David A. Peterson

June 7, 2013

    Brussels, Belgium 

 

 

 

                 

                  SPECIAL MEMORIES OF
                   BEAUTIFUL EVENINGS

      These stately guards welcomed us as we arrived at the

     Concert Noble Hall for the Hungarian Ball, which was 

    touted in the magazines as the "Best Ball in Europe"!  

                       THE CONCERT NOBLE HALL

You may remember from one of our previous blogs regarding the Honorable Ambassador of Macedonia, whom we met when he sat

down by us while attending an event at this Concert Nobel Hall.  Several weeks later, Ambassador Lepocov and his lovely wife were guests at our residence for dinner.  These five gorgeous chandeliers in this venue are absolutely magnificent!!!  It truly is one of the most beautiful Halls in Bruxelles!!          

 

 

 President Janos Ader of Hungary,  and also  the Ambassador of Hungary,  said a few words at the beginning of the program.  Hearing that difficult Magyar language brought back a flood of memories. We enjoyed a nice converation with President Ader, and told him of our love for the Hungarian people, which we gained while living there from 2000-2003 as the mission president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

It has been so very interesting to meet many heads of state and government,  ambassadors,  and officials of the European Union, who want to know more about the Church and the Brigham Young University which we represent.  We have seen great growth in these kinds of relationships, and the beginning of many new friendships!

The traditional Hungarian dances.....the costumes..... the music, all brought back sweet memories of a special time when we served there.  The traditional opening of the Hungarian Ball at the Concert Noble brought a spirited response from everyone, since there is nothing else quite like the fire and enthusiasm of the Hungarian people, when their gypsy violinists launch into the "Hungarian Dances" by Strauss.

The elegance of Old Europe  provided a fine prelude to the first dance of the evening, which was fittingly everyone's favorite waltz "The Beautiful Blue Danube."  The dashing men in formal tuxedos, and beautiful ladies in festive finery made the room take on an air of magical charm and enchantment. A description we

recently came across captures this feeling:

 

 "It was in 1873, under the sponsorship of King Leopold II, that the Societe du Concert built these meeting rooms in the Leopold neighborhood, where the Belgian nobility tended to have their urban residences. The architect Hendrik Beyaert came up with a unique concept: he created a set of rooms that gradually increased in size, from the gallery to the impressive ballroom, all in a majestic fashion.  The eye is drawn to a series of tapestries and a grand portrait of King Leopold II and Queen Marie-Louise, along with furniture mainly from the Directoire style (1795-99)." Secret Brussels" (2008).

These folks added a bit of Hungarian charm in the gallery outside the ballroom. The food was Hungarian of course,  and hearing the language again, and seeing the costumes, brought back such wonderful memories of Hungary, and the special three years that David served as President of the Hungary Budapest Mission.

 

This cute little French lady, who spoke no English, indicated through her husband that she wanted to have her picture taken with me.   She communicated that she loved my dress, and all she could say was...."Linda Evans, Linda Evans"!  Apparently she was a fan of the old "Dallas" series!!  I told her I loved her hat, so she wanted to come and see me at my home, so she could give it to me as a gift!!!  She was adorable, and I learned through her friend that her daughter was a top model in Belgium!!  She showed me several digital photos of her and she was gorgeous!!!!!!!!! You never know who you might meet and where it might lead.

                As we departed, the Hungarian guards bid us "FAREWELL,"  "BONSOIR" and  "ADIEU", and posed with us for one last photo....  and then we were off into the dark and foggy Brussels night.  It was truly an enchanting and lovely evening!

                 A BEAUTIFUL EVENING WITH

            AMBASSADOR IVAN KORCOK

                            OF SLOVAKIA

 

 

                     We had long waited for an opportunity to have the Slovakian Ambassador, Ivan Korcok to dinner, which depended on his busy schedule, as the EU moved from crisis to crisis during the past year.  I have mentioned once before, that Ambassador Korcok and I met at the gym and became friends, and it has taken over a year for him to have the time in his schedule to accept our invitation.  He told me once that his work keeps him so busy, that he rarely has time for socials outside of his EU commitments.

 

Having purchased all of the flowers for the evening, now the task at hand was to arrange them, with attention to the colors, in two separate bouquets for the dinner table.  This is the point when I hold my breath just hoping that it will all come together, and that the lilies will open during the night in time for dinner the next day!  It is not easy making everything as perfect as possible!

 

 

 

 

 

    My experiences throughout  the years have taught me that for a successful event, it is an absolute must to have the flowers arranged, the table set, the dessert made and the cleaning done the day before hosting a dinner.  This leaves the event day for preparing the food, and all other last minute items.  Finally, the day arrived and with every needful thing prepared, I prayed for a wonderful evening with our friends.
 

 

 

 

 

    As I made my final run to the grocery store, not wanting to forget anything, the trees along the streets were bursting with their magnificent pink blossoms!  Spring had finally come to Bruxelles! 
We have become very "Europeanized", and I may make more than one run in a day to our neighborhood "Delhaize", to find that one special item which may have been overlooked.

 

 

 

 

 

 With the table beautifully set the day before, I was able to focus on the seating of our guests, and carefully consider where each person would sit, taking into consideration the flow of the expected conversations.  I decided to have the Ambassador sit on the side, instead at the head of the table, in order to have the conversations go both ways among the guests.  Unfortunately, because Mrs. Korcok was injured on their recent ski trip to Switzerland, she was not able to attend. When I retired for the night, I just kept praying that the sweet smelling lilies would open during the night for our dinner the next day! 

 

 

 

 

 The invited guests proved to be a good mix.  Seated to David's right is Ambassador Korcok, and to his right is our friend Jayne Hillner, who manages all three of the Bruxelles Marriott Hotels.  Her husband lives at their home in Spain, where he spends most of his time on their boat, and then commutes back and forth to Bruxelles to see Jayne. 

On the opposite side of the table were Dr. and Mrs. Adrian Sorin, who are a lovely couple who live in our building.  His career was as a nuclear scientist and engineer, and made for an interesting perspective on the risks of international politics and related military calculations by world leaders.  The Sorin's have attended our holiday open houses over the past two years, and told us that although they have lived in this building for forty years, this is the first time that someone in the building has invited them over.  They are wonderful people.
 

 

 

 

 

 We were delighted to visit with these very special guests at our Ambiorix Square residence, and will carry warm memories of that special evening with as we prepare to depart on July 1st for Virginia.

It was very interesting, but yet not surprising, that Ambassador Korcok had done his homework prior to coming, and he was knowledgeable about my husband's education, background and accomplishments.  He also wanted to know about the presence of the Church in Slovakia. 

 

 

 

                    A grand evening with our new friend from Slovakia
                                      

 

 

Here David presents Ambassador Korcok with a copy of 
"THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD" and discusses our belief that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children."

Not many weeks later, President Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said: "We live in a very dangerous world that threatens those things that are most spiritual. The family, the fundamental organization in time and eternity, is under attack from forces seen and unseen. The adversary is about.  His objective is to cause injury. If he can weaken and destroy the family, he will have succeeded." General Conference (April 2013).

 It is a great blessing to have strong supporters, like Ambassador Korcok, among the leaders of nations.
 

 

 

 

 

 I love the tradition of bringing the hostess a symbol of appreciation.  In Belgium it is always one or more of the following...... Flowers, Belgian Chocolates, or Wine.  The first two are our favorites, of course.   We accept the wine graciously, and set it aside.  And when they leave it goes on the closet shelf.   I am certain that during the evening they must wonder why we didn't open the bottle and serve the guests.  We appreciate their thoughtfulness.  This beautiful profusion of flowers made us especially happy, and grateful to our guests for their thoughtfulness.

 

 

 

 The only time that I indulge in having a dinner "helper", is when we have a guest Ambassador.  My friend, Leticia, does a beautiful job in helping facilitate the dinner, so I am not constantly jumping up and down preparing and serving the courses.  When all the guests and Leticia had gone, I went into the kitchen ready to do the "dishes and cleanup", but alas!......Leticia has left everything clean and spotless!!!  That is the best gift that any hostess could be given!!!!!    Thanks Leticia.


                                                 
            "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. She is more precious than rubies: all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Her ways are aways of pleasantness, and her paths are peace."
                                       Proverbs 3:13-17


                                          AU REVOIR








 

 

    LONDON, BRUSSELS, BRUGE, KEUKENHOF, AMSTERDAM AND PARIS

    A FABULOUS SISTERS TRIP!!!

     Meeting the Eurostar Express from London

 

Lindsey                 Paige                                     Heather                    Jordan

                    
What a thrill it was for us to welcome four of our married daughters, coming from Utah and Tennessee, for a short six day visit.  We all regretted that our sweet Ashley could not make the trip, having just been here with the boys for Christmas.     WE MISSED YOU ASHLEY!!! 

We met the girls at the Midi Train Station at 10:30 p.m., having arrived after a day in London!  They were a sight for sore eyes!!!!!  We took the metro back to our Shuman stop, where Dad had parked our mini car to transport the bags, while the girls and I walked the block on the cobblestone sidewalks to our Square Ambiorix apartment.  We were all so happy to see each other, that on the metro going home, we were all very chatty and laughing about everything, as they recounted their London adventures!  We noticed that several usually stoic  passengers were enjoying our exuberance, and they couldn't hold back their smiles.  One particular fellow was from London, so he especially liked overhearing their tales of London town, and said so!!


                                       OUR FAVORITE MARRIOTT CHEF
                  

Early the next morning we took our favorite # 63 bus to downtown Bruxelles, for breakfast at the Marriott!  It is like our second home, and we are there so often that the staff all greet us warmly by name, and gives us the VIP treatment!  The girls couldn't believe it!!!  Our good friend the Chef and a fabulous omelet maker,  even took the time to leave his stove for a quick photo opt with our beautiful daughters!

We enjoyed a breakfast feast of waffles, omelets, buffet and anything our heart's desired, and then were surprised by the chef treating us to fresh fruit smoothies topped with  strawberries, that are not even on the menu!! Many happy memories will go with us.



         BRUSSELS STREET SCENE: WHAT IS MOM EXCITED ABOUT POINTING OUT?

With the Bruxelles Stock Exchange in the background, we enjoyed pointing out some of the scenes of the city!  Belgium and much of Europe has had a late Winter so we were very happy to see the sun and a glimmer of Spring in the air.

                                      

                                                           THE BRUXELLES OPERA HOUSE

                              David and I try to attend the Friday afternoon concerts here in this
                beautiful and ornate hall in the Opera House.  These performances features members
                of the Opera orchestra in duets, trios and small ensembles. It gives them a
                         chance to shine individually and display their superb musicianship.     

          This particular concert featured the piano, flute and cello.

It was beautiful, and allowed us all to sit back and enjoy the peace of the moment away
from the busy city outside. Afterwards, we struck this pose around the Steinway for a family picture and David could hardly refrain from playing his standard repertoire known so well to the family.

 

AN AFTERNOON JAUNT TO BRUGE

 

 

We spent the morning walking the streets of the Grand Place in Bruxelles, which was cold and rainy, and then departed on the train for an afternoon in quaint and charming Bruge .  Despite the cold, we opted to go on the boat tour of the old canals of this medieval city with the Captain!

 

 

 

Following a tour of the Chocolate Museum and other interesting sites, we were tired, cold

and hungry and in search of a good place to eat!  On one of the side streets, we finally came upon this small family restaurant called "Humpty Dumpty".... which turned out to be an awesome choice!!!!!!

 Good food, great company and lots of fun with the owner family.

 

 

 

 

Once again, we were having so much fun laughing and interacting with the chef, son, mom and daughter, who were all family and staffed the restaurant, that when some of the customers had finished and were leaving, they stopped to chat with us also, and told us that they were with the Jehovah Witnesses!  Notice that even the customer on the left is laughing with us!  The meal was very good, and by the time we left, Paige had hooked the son up with her daughter's Facebook, had told the daughter about Morgan, and we were showing photos of our family.  As we left, Paige and I tipped the waitress daughter five euros each, to go for the car she was saving for!   (There is no tipping in Belgium, as it is always included in the bill.)  WE HAD SO MUCH FUN there, that when we left we felt like they were "family"!   There are really some good people out there!!!  We are sending their contact info in for the missionaries to perhaps have lunch at "Humpty Dumpty's" too!

 

 

 

KEUKENHOF GARDENS OF HOLLAND

 

 

Early the next morning after another great breakfast at the Renaissance Marriott near the Parliament, we departed for a drive to Holland and the beautiful tulip fields of Keukenhof.  Because of the cold spring here, the fields were three weeks away from fully blooming, however, we did enjoy strolling through the beautiful gardens at the Visitors' Center that were groomed and planted     for the  thousands of annual visitors that come in April to see the tulips. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMSTERDAM 

 

They say you can live in Amsterdam for years without realizing that most of the streets lie below sea level.  It enjoys a maritime tradition that goes back beyond the 15th and 16th centuries when the Netherlands ruled the waves and sent out trading vessels to the four points of the compass. Its
unique canal system provides a ring of waterways resembling a spider web of mysterious looking
canals, restaurants, hotels and shops.  We loved it!


THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE

 

The Anne Frank House at No. 263 Prinsengracht is a 17th century canal house. It is  now well known as the hiding place of a young Jewish girl, Anne Frank, for 25 months during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Anne kept a diary which is now read throughout the world.  It contains many

observations through the eyes of a 14-year old, who wished for a happy life which was so cruelly

denied her. She was just fifteen when the police burst into the house and arrested her Jewish family, deporting them to the infamous Bergen-Belsen death camp in Germany, where she died of typhus in 1945. Otto Frank, her father, survived and was later given the scattered pages of her diary by a Dutch woman who retrieved them from the floor after the family was arrested.

A very interesting life-style exists for those who live on houseboats tied up all along the canals throughout the city!
 

 BACK TO BRUXELLES

 

 We are always proud to introduce our family to the wonderful members of the Bruxelles 2nd Ward.
Our members come from Russia, Armenia, Congo, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, England, Peru, Brazil, Tanzania, and the United States.

 

 

After Church, while I was at home preparing food for our Open House that evening, Dad took the girls to the Grand Place for one last visit. Here they are walking along the Galleria built
in the 19th century. It is a sunny day and "the Ambassador" is out for a stroll with his lovely daughters.

 

OPEN HOUSE
 

 

With everything beautifully arranged and prepared, we were finally ready to welcome our guest during the hours of 6:30-8:30

 

 

 

 

We have adopted our dear friend Regina and her daughter Louisa into our family!!

 

 

 

 

So glad to have a photo that includes my three dearest friends, Christina, Regina and Rebecca!!!  I love them all!  Christina is my nearby neighbor from Columbia, and my gym buddy!  She has tutored me on the fine art of surviving and thriving in Bruxelles!!  I don't know what I would have done without her!   Regina is so much fun, and loved by all who know her!  Her homeland is Zambia, and she is the friend you want to go shopping with!  And my dear Rebecca is an angel from Switzerland, and feeds me spiritually by her example of Christ like service in working with the homeless. 

                                         I will never forget these three special ladies!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a lovely evening with many friends dropping by, and we are always happy to include the missionaries

(and to send them home with the leftovers!)

 

 

 

BEAUTIFUL PARIS

 

 

 

The Fabulous Bakeries of Paris!
(I'll take one of everything!)

 

 

 

There are Bakeries and Sweet Shoppes on every street!!!!   Forget about the waistline when in Paris!!

 

 

Even with our great guide, we were often confused as to which way we should go!!!

 

 

 

Taking the famous "Red Bus Tour" in Paris is a must!!!

 

 

 

Here is a Parisian restaurant specializing in Escargot since 1832, at the same location along a fabulous side-street to which Lindsey directed us.  As she said: "the most fun is to get off the beaten track and then just get lost!"

 

 

 

 

 

No trip to Paris would be complete for the Peterson family, without having dinner at the famous  Restaurant de l'Entrecot.  The restaurant has two sittings a night, and if you want to eat there you must stand in line at least a half hour before the doors open in order to get in!! 

 

 

 

The only thing on the menu is steak with a "secret" green sauce, and Fritz!

 ....and they serve you with two helpings without asking! We have been
coming here for many years whenever we are in PARIS, and want to enjoy a good
French meal in the local style.

 

 

 

 

 

During dinner the girls let the waitress know that we were celebrating my upcoming

birthday. So when it came time for dessert, three "french maid waitresses" appeared at our table           singing Happy Birthday, before my blowing out the flaming candle!!  So Fun!!

                                                  


        
                                                   What a Fabulous two days in Paris!!!!     
                                 We bid you a fond adieu from Notre Dame and the City of Lights!