Packers in Paris Blog 80
– Sept 16th – Sept 23rd, 2019
FAMILY
VISITORS FROM UTAH
Forgive all the stories and photos from our two sets of visitors this past
week! It has been heartwarming to have Steve’s sister and her husband, Anita
and Tom Herway visit last Tuesday, and then our daughter, Becca, who we spent
time with us this past week.
TOM
AND ANITA HERWAY'S 24 HOURS VISIT
Steve’s
sister and her husband came last Tuesday at noon and we were able to spend the
rest of the day with them. With it being our PDay, we were able to visit a few
areas and just relax and enjoy talking. It has been since February of 2017
since we saw them last at their missionary farewell to Rome, Italy. They had
previously lived in Brussels, Belgium for 29 years and now reside in Heber, Utah.
They have been in Paris many, many times before, so their ability to just relax
with us was a sweet gift!
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| Tom and Anita Herway visiting for 24 hours! They'll be back during Conference! |
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| Tom and Anita Herway in our center |
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| Tom and Anita Herway in the church courtyard |
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| Tom and Anita Herway and us at Buttes-Chaumont Park |
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| Buttes-Chaumont Park |
BECCA PACKER
NEWLY ENGAGED AND HAPPY IN PARIS FOR 6 DAYS
I personally know that it’s not easy
to leave your fiancé to come to Paris, but for Becca 6 days wasn’t so bad,
especially since they talked daily!
I too left my fiancé, Steve, over 41
years ago just after our engagement for 6 months while living in Paris.
Then, harder than ever, was when my
father left his wife, my mother and 1.5 children for Paris for 2.5 years for his mission. And, we
left again for Paris for 23 months, leaving our family. We seem to
have a theme here of leaving our loved ones for Paris! In most of these
cases there have been immense blessings that have come from service no matter where you serve!
We were grateful to welcome Becca in
our little apartment for this past week and show her the sites and to have this
precious time with her prior to her getting married.
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| Our youngest, Becca Packer |
ARC DE
TRIOMPHE, CHAMPS ELYSÉES & THE LOUVRE
We
started her right off by taking her to the Arc De Triomphe! It was a lovely day!
Then we walked the Champs Elysées all the way to the Louvre. She was getting
tired, so we then met Steve at our favorite Asian restaurant and headed home.
She slept well!
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| Arc de Triomphe |
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| The 284 steps going up to the top of Arc de Triomphe! |
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| The view from the top of Arc de Triomphe |
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| Macaron heaven on Champs Elysées in the famous L'Occitane |
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| The Louvre courtyard |
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| The Louvre courtyard |
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| Winged Victory of Samothrace at the Louvre |
THURSDAY –
VERSAILLES CHATEAUX, ERINNE LAURIN, GARDENS AND PARIS TEMPLE
Becca
and I enjoyed a trip to Versailles Chateaux and gardens. On our way to the Marie
Antoinette Village, we met a woman from Montreal, Canada, Erinne, who was
traveling on her own for a couple of weeks. She was on the last leg of her trip
and we invited her to walk around the rest of the village and Marie Antoinette’s
Petite and Grand Trianon. As we visited with her, we found some fun connections
with music (she is an opera singer and her family is very musical as well). Much
more to this story, but we are now connected with her and found in her such a
genuine and kind person who has such a good heart!
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| Versailles with Becca |
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| Versailles painting, cropped close to this image! |
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| Hall of Mirrors at Versailles with Becca |
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| Gardens at Versailles |
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| L'Orangerie Gardens at Versailles |
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| Marie Antoinette Village at Versailles |
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| Erinne (our new found friend) and Becca at Marie Antoinette Village at Versailles |
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| Marie Antoinette Village at Versailles - Erinne bought us fresh squeezed juice! It was amazingly sweet! Thanks so much Erinne! |
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| Becca at Marie Antoinette Village at Versailles in the farm area! She's inlove! |
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| Becca and I at Marie Antoinette Village at Versailles |
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| Becca at Marie Antoinette Grand Trianon outside hall at Versailles |
Afterwards
Becca and I went to the Paris Temple and were grateful to do initiatory work!
I loved sharing this with her as our last time perhaps in the temple prior to
her getting married.
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| Paris Temple |
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| Becca and I at the Paris Temple |
FRIDAY – L’ORANGERIE,
MUSÉE D’ORSAY AND EIFFEL TOWER
Having
gone to Monet’s Gardens a few weeks ago, I knew that I wanted to go to Musée de
L’Orangerie, where Monet’s Water Lilies were in large splendor. Part of the
museum was closed for repair and so we mainly saw the two large oval rooms, where
the paintings of Monet’s Water Lilies were displayed! It was so magnificent! At
first when viewing the curved paintings they seemed so elusive, but as soon as
I pointed my phone camera to the large canvases, it became very apparent and
magnificent! We were in awe!
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| There were two oval rooms like this with four large canvas paintings of Claude Monet's Water Lilies! |
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| Small portion Canvas paintings of Claude Monet's Water Lilies that I got from my phone |
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| Small portion Canvas paintings of Claude Monet's Water Lilies |
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| Small portion Canvas paintings of Claude Monet's Water Lilies |
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| Small portion Canvas paintings of Claude Monet's Water Lilies |
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| Small portion of the side of the Canvas paintings of Claude Monet's Water Lilies |
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| Small portion of the side of the Canvas paintings of Claude Monet's Water Lilies |
Afterwards Becca and I went to Musée D’Orsay and the Eiffel Tower (while
Steve went to manage the Center)!
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| Pierre Auguste-Renoir - Young Girls at the Piano - one of our families' favorite! |
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| Claude Monet's Water Lily - Green Harmony |
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| Large clock that is seen from outside! |
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| Eiffel Tower excitement! |
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| Eiffel Tower |
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| Becca walked half way down the stairs and I walked from the lower level of the Eiffel Tower |
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| Eiffel Tower landscapes |
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| Eiffel Tower |
SATURDAY – VAN
GOGH ATELIER DES LUMIERES, SAINTE CHAPELLE, REST AND EVENING WALK
This
was my second time attending this inspiring expedition, but Steve and Becca
were now able to enjoy it as well.
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| Van Gogh |
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| Van Gogh's Starry Night Over the Rhone |
Afterwards,
Becca and I went to visit Sainte Chappelle. As we got close to paying, we found
out that it was free for everyone this day and on Sunday (some kind of holiday).
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| Sainte Chapelle |
SABBATH
BLESSINGS – CONNECTIONS, AND FREE DAY AT PALAIS DE JUSTICE
Becca
began to have a sore throat and was scheduled to sing a solo in our French
meeting. She felt it would be best to not sing the solo. I quickly contacted
the missionaries Saturday night to get together Sunday morning for a rehearsal.
Becca and I both were both able to sing with our District.
Becca
also joined us for our English Visitor’s meeting. Steve gave a beautiful
message after the sacrament was passed. Becca directed the music for us. During
that meeting Becca found out that there were two other Layton Lancers (from
Layton High School) who were in the meeting. One of them shared her testimony
and her amazing story of how her testimony was strengthened in coming back to
church stronger than ever!
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| Becca with a girl from Layton High she knew! |
After
church, our dear Chinese friends in the ward had prepared a Chinese meal and
had saved a plate for Steve, Becca and I back in the kitchen. We were so grateful
to have food but even more grateful for their love and thoughtful gesture! We do
feel loved!
On
our way back from church, Becca and I were walking past Palais de Justice and I
remembered that it was a free day on Saturday and Sunday. I begged her to come
in with me! The Palais de Justice is where Marie Antoinette was beheaded. It was
a small section to visit, but quite interesting!
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| Jail cell where Marie Antoinette was waiting for her fateful day of beheading! |
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| Marie Antoinette marching towards her death painting |
MONDAY – SACRÉ
COEUR, MONTMARTRE, PARC MONCEAU, JARDIN LUXEMBOURG, VISIT TO THE CENTER, HEIDI’S
RETURN, FAVORITE PARIS RESTAURANT!
This
morning on our way to Sacré Coeur, we visited the African Market with its fresh
fruits, vegetables and all types of meats! Becca loved how big some of the fruits
were! The mango we bought was the sweetest I’ve ever had!
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| Becca at the African Market eyeing the amaizng fruit! |
Sacré
Coeur is always beautiful and today the weather was equally magnificent! After walking
through the cathedral, we strolled through Montmartre, known for budding
artists and charming shops and restaurants!
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| Sacré
Coeur |
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| Sacré
Coeur |
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| Sacré
Coeur musician |
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| Sacré
Coeur chapel |
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| Painter's square! |
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| Locks of Love - leaving your heart in Paris are everywhere!!! |
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| Becca's French pastry did not dissapoint! |
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| Sacré
Coeur |
Monceau
Park is so charming and peaceful, even if there are many visitors in the park, it
just has an allure and beauty that holds your heart!
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| Becca at Monceau
Park |
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| Monceau
Park |
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| Monceau
Park |
Steve
had to leave to go and open the Center and Becca and I took off for Champs Elysées
again!
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| Arc de Triomphe - on Champs Elysées |
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| Arc de Triomphe - on Champs Elysées |
The Corner Crêpe Maker
Just
around the corner of our apartment is a restaurant, with an outside crêperie. There is a good man we see daily that makes the crêpes and
serves ice cream and baguette sandwiches! Steve and I have built a great
relationship with him (even though we've never purchased anything from him prior). We will pass by with a little conversation or a
friendly, “Bonjour!” I had promised him we would stop and have him make Becca a
crêpe before she returned home. She chose to get a savory kind of cheese and
ham. He took such great care to make a perfect crêpe for her and was so happy
we would stop by. He's looking forward to visiting us at our center.
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| Our dear friend who made this crêpe for Becca! |
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| Becca's savory crêpe |
Earlier
this week he also asked more about where our church is and what we do. As I shared
with him what we do and that we are here to serve people, he took great interest
and said he will stop by to see our center.
We
have made several friends along the path of walking to the center or the
souvenir shop owners next to our apartment. We can feel they trust us, and feel
of our genuine love for them.
After
Becca got her French crêpe, we then took off for Jardin de Luxembourg! My
favorite park in Paris!
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| Luxembourg Gardens |
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| Luxembourg Gardens |
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| Luxembourg Gardens |
Grateful for Heidi Sugden
Afterwards
we headed back to the center so that we could go out to eat! While there, we
saw Heidi Sugden, our most favorite Family History specialist from Utah. She’s now back
for three months and has accomplished much good with those who visit
the center. She also plans on training all the Ward and Stake Family History Specialists.
She is a bright light to our center!
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| Heidi Sugden is back! |
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| Becca enjoying our comfy chairs in our center! |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Becca
and I are so grateful for all that Steve did to keep things going at the
center while Becca and I had time together, even though he was able to join us at times. Steve took Becca to the airport Tuesday morning during a transportation strike
and as crazy and compressed with people as it was, gratefully they were able to
get through to the airport on time! We were so thankful and blessed to have
Becca with us for these last 6 days. We know that she and Brian have been
extremely blessed to have found one another and we are most grateful that we
will be able to return for 10 days, November 20-29th, for the
wedding.
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| Becca and Steve at the airport saying goodbuye |
We
pray that each of you are well and feel love from family and friends! We are extremely
grateful for each of you and your goodness and example in our lives. Have a wonderful
week!
Avec tout notre amour
(With all our love),
Elder et Sœur Packer
Grandpère
et Mémé Packer (Please be sure and use the last name on any mail, or
it will get returned)
Our Address:
4 quai du Marché Neuf
75004 PARIS
FRANCE
Email address:
Renée: srpacker10@gmail.com
Steve: wf-packer@hotmail.com
You may
still text or FaceTime Renée at 801-564-1332
We are 8 hours ahead of Mountain Standard
Time
Sacré
Coeur is always beautiful and today the weather was equally magnificent! After walking
through the cathedral, we strolled through Montmartre, known for budding
artists and charming shops and restaurants!
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