Europe Part 5...

On the last leg of our trip, we flew from Rome to Paris, a flight that we almost missed. Note to self - when carrying extra baggage, arrive at the airport at least 2 hours ahead of time.

Anyway, once we arrived in Paris, grabbed a train into the city, and trekked to our hotel (only to find out we couldn't check in yet), we decided to walk around a little and find some lunch. We ate at a cute little cafe that had burgers and other "American" fare. YUM. (I know, I know...we should have searched for authentic French food - but we were hungry and this place was convenient).

After finally checking in to the hotel (which, by the way, was very close to the Louvre!!) and taking a short nap, we went to see some sights.

Ah, Notre Dame...the other side was under renovation, so we didn't get to see the cool spires and such.

But we did get to see some cool gargoyles!! 

Ze Eiffel Tour...which we decided (once again) to take the stairs to the top!

The view from Level 1 (about 300 stairs up)

From Level 2, I think...(maybe about 700 stairs up?)

Finally at the top! (a few more stairs and a quick elevator ride)

Probably my favorite picture ever!

Ze Arc de Triomphe

The way cool entrance to the Louvre! (I had NO idea how HUGE this museum is. It would take WEEKS to go through it properly. We had like 4 hours.)

Inside the Louvre

Ahh, Mona Lisa. You are not so interesting to me, but I took a picture of you anyway.

This picture was on the opposite wall from the Mona Lisa and hardly anyone was looking at it - despite it being WAY BETTER (and like, 10 times larger) than Mona. HELLO? - The Wedding at Cana, anyone? Bueller? Bueller???

La Seine...goodbye Paris!

 Thank you for bearing with me as I finished this series of posts. We had an amazing trip with many adventures and fun stories. I hope you enjoyed our pictures!

Europe Part 4...LOL

SO...yeah, I don't know how many of my readers are still looking for the rest of our Europe trip, but I thought I'd go ahead and finish telling about it anyway. HAHA.

Next up on our trip was the Vatican City and the rest of Rome.

The Vatican...we decided to climb to the top of the cupola first!

Here I am at the "rest stop" which is about 2/3 of the way up to the cupola! (500 steps or so)

The view from the top!

Hampton and I after climbing 500+ steps to the top of the Vatican! (Rome behind us)

This is a hallway in the Vatican Museum. It's not the Sistine Chapel (can't take pics in there), but it's on the way there! :)

They have wonderful interesting signage in Rome (and all of Europe for that matter, lol)!

Love the Trevi Fountain!

Hampton, making a wish and throwing his penny (or drachma or something we didn't need anymore, haha)

Next up, PARIS!!

Ask in faith...

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." ~James 1:5-8

"Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions?" ~1 Kings 18:21

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendents." ~Deuteronomy 30:19

Just as Elijah urged the people of Israel to stop wavering between two opinions and to choose God as LORD, just as Moses gave the people the choice between life and death, the blessing and curse...James tells believers to ask in faith and without doubt.

For wisdom... ask in faith, do not hesitate, choose the blessing.

For peace, mercy, comfort, love, patience... ask in faith, do not hesitate, choose the blessing.

For every good thing and perfect gift that is from above, coming down from the Father of lights... ask in faith, do not hesitate, choose the blessing.

God gives generously and without reproach. Ask in faith, do not hesitate, choose LIFE.