Missing Grandma Jules at this celebration for Max's 29th birthday in beautiful Cassis. An update on my mom in today's story. From left to right: Jean-Marc, Ana, Jackie (reflected in the mirror) Max, and me. (If this, or any photo in this post is not showing, click on the link or somewhere in the empty square to bring it up. My blog site is experiencing issues!)
TODAY'S WORD: CONVOQUER
: to summon, to call in, to convoke
: to be asked to attend
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A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
"Leap of Faith"
Friday was set to be a joyous celebration of our son’s 29th birthday. Instead, it turned into a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between joy and worry that our family is experiencing lately.
Before we left for dinner in Cassis, Max went around the yard to his grandmother's studio in a last-ditch effort to get Jules to join us for the festivities. "What a beautiful dress," Max said, pointing to the panther robe my sister and I had gifted Mom. It was hung on the rack above the kitchen island, beside her bed, where I had begun packing her bag for the hospital.
"Would you try it on for me?" Max persisted. Beyond, two of Mom's doves, Mama and Papa, perched on the bars of her kitchen window, as if waiting for her reply. Talk about lucky ducks: six years ago, when Mom moved in with us and found them in our back yard, it was like winning the bird lottery for those hungry tourterelles! The three of them were fast friends and would sit in the garden all day long, the birds landing on Mom's head, her arms, her legs, while Mom fed them sunflower seeds. But, for the past two years, Mom has not spent much time outside, as she has been drawn to her bed, fatigued. So the birds watch over her now from afar, and hurry round the yard to my place when they need food.
Back in the studio, Mom stood beside Max, hesitant to answer his question. I could tell she was too tired for an impromptu fashion show, yet her eyes lit up. Anything for her darling grandson.
After helping Jules put the robe on over her nightgown, Max stood back in awe. "You look beautiful, Grandma! Won't you come with us tonight? We are going to the hotel in Cassis where Jackie is bartending tonight. Ana will be there, too! And we’ll have a beautiful table overlooking the sea!"
"Oh, that sounds wonderful, Max. Another time," Mom smiled, pinching his arm affectionately. She needed to rest, and the stress of waiting to know whether she would be able to go to the hospital, to undergo several exams, was beginning to take a toll.
Last month, after the doctor scheduled Mom’s four-day hospital stay for May 20th, I waited anxiously for a message from insurance alerting me that Mom’s expired medical coverage had been renewed. Each day, I checked our mailbox twice, sometimes three times. Meanwhile, I waited for the hospital to call to confirm the date.
When May rolled around and still no news from insurance, it dawned on me that, here in France, it was the month of jours fériers. With all the national holidays, would Mom’s file ever be processed? Finally, on Tuesday, a letter arrived informing me that her dossier was incomplete. But how could that be? I had carefully included each item on their checklist! What's more, they were now asking for four additional documents, all of which would be impossible for me to furnish on time (or any time for that matter!).
C’était la panique! But there was no time to clam up. Better to reach out. Ask for help!
Jean-Marc got on the phone, explaining the situation, and, miracle of miracles, le fonctionnaire on the other end admitted the setback was their fault and that our dossier was indeed complete. Only, he would now have to send it to another office for validation.
"But this could take weeks!" I cried to Jean-Marc.
"There’s nothing we can do but wait," my husband shrugged.
But we didn’t have time to wait. May 20th was only six days away!
I tried contacting the hospital to inform them of the situation, that, malheureusement, we would need to cancel (if indeed they were still expecting Mom. It seemed more likely she had fallen through the cracks, completely forgotten). I began to wonder if it was worth it to keep calling when, even if I did get through (instead of being rerouted each time and automatically disconnected), it meant losing our appointment and therefore losing contact with the hospital’s internist—in which case Mom would really be set back.
Then, on Friday, I was surprised by a brief message on my answering machine: "Vous êtes convoquée à l’hôpital lundi à 15 heures."
Wait. What? In the eleventh hour, the hospital calls to confirm? This posed yet another souci: I needed to warn them we wouldn’t be showing up! Not without insurance! As I struggled to know just what to do next, I kept hearing the nurse’s authoritative voice replay in my head:
"Vous êtes convoquée à l’hôpital lundi à 15 heures."
We were being convoked. Well, in that case, why not simply follow orders? Why complicate things? Just follow the plan and trust everything will work out. These thoughts were immediately freeing, and my anxieties began to fall away, finally.
These past three weeks have been especially nerve-racking, with Mom getting worse by the day. Apart from making her as comfortable as possible, I feel so helpless. I burst into tears at the most unexpected times and in inappropriate places—much like a friend of ours who lost her son, only the loved one I’m grieving is still with me. But for how long? How serious is Mom’s condition? It began with a sharp pain behind her eye, which eventually was diagnosed as inflammation…uveitis. But there was something beneath even this, the doctor explained, suspecting some sort of autoimmune issue.
Watching Mom grow more and more tired by the day, and after the disheartening news from insurance, I could not wait one more minute for word from insurance confirming her coverage. I called my sister Heidi and it was easily decided: Mom would go into the hospital on Monday! We would stick to the plan. She would undergo testing, with or without l’assurance française! From here on out we would depend on the holy assurance from above and from within: the conviction that if Mom needed to go to the hospital, she would go!
Now that our decision has been made, I feel relief mixed with fear. But more relief than fear. This is a leap of faith and, come what may, we will continue to trust that everything will work out. Sometimes, all we can do is trust in the process and hold on to hope. Tout va bien se passer. And, with all hope, Mom will be feeling better soon. Given her positive, grateful, and faithful attitude, she is halfway there! Now, let’s get her all of the way through this with a collective prayer: if each person reading this would pause and take a moment to think of Jules, to wish her all good health and healing, I am certain this unified prière will begin to work inside every cell in her precious body. And before long, we’ll have a second chance to dine in Cassis, with Mom in that smashing panther robe. I can already feel the sea breeze!
Update: We checked Mom in to the hospital on May 20th. She is undergoing testing through Monday or Tuesday of next week. Thanks for keeping Jules in your prayers. If you like, leave her a message below. Merci!
COMMENTS
To leave a comment or an encouraging note to Mom, click here. I will read her your messages.
REMERCIEMENTS
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FRENCH VOCABULARY
Click here to listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French and English vocabulary
convoquer = to summon
l’anniversaire (m) = birthday
la tourterelle = dove
la panique = panic
le souci = worry, concern
Vous êtes convoquée à l’hôpital lundi à 15 heures = You are summoned to the hospital on Monday at 3 PM
malheureusement = unfortunately
le/la fonctionnaire = the bureaucrat
l’assurance française = French insurance
Tout va bien se passer = Everything will be alright
la prière = prayer
An exciting surprise awaited Jean-Marc on his return from New Zealand to La Ciotat: A municipal poster, currently showing in town, features his wooden boat!
PROVENCE WINE TOURS
Jean-Marc is back and ready to begin his Provence Wine Tours. Contact him for more information at jm.espinasse@gmail.com
I've added some color to this snapshot (taken on the way home from the hospital in Marseille. Good to see these old signs are still up).
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Oh, Earl! My heart goes out to you for the loss of your daughter, and in these circumstances. I am so sorry. Sending sincere condolences and love.
Dear Jules and Kristi, sending you love and prayers all the way from Dubai. With God’s will, tout ira bien 🙏
Lots of love to you both.
Jules, I am holding you in my heart and thoughts and prayers. I pray for calm, for strength, for finding times of laughter and joy while you work your way through the process. I pray for caring, capable, and clear sighted medical professionals to walk with you and support you. I pray gratitude for the loving family you have to lift you up and encourage you.
Jack and I lived in France (Gulf War time) and I have reveled in the glimpses Kristi has given me of her life and the family. At 80 I have a sense of the thoughts and fears and blessings one can find, even when going through health issues. I’m on your team, and wish you the very best.
Carolyn
hello from the palos verdes peninsula in los angeles, jules! as i’ve been one of kristy’s readers for probably over 15 years now, i’ve always been humbled by your strength, beauty and love of life…..i know that those traits are going to keep you safe during your bump-in-the-road health journey…..you have such a lovely, massively supportive family, and that will be your bedrock…. you’ll be great ! just wait, take a deep breath and all will be bueno ! xo, lisa
Dear Jules (and Kristi and JM) we are sending you bunches of hugs and kisses and LOTS of love and prayers for a speedy and complete recovery. Having dealt with medical issues her whole life Maureen and I understand completely the frustration and anxiety encountered when dealing with hospital and insurance people.
It is the wonderful memories of our time in Provence, many with you, that keeps us going.
Much love and many prayers ,
Lee and Maureen
Jules – keeping you in my prayers for full and speedy recovery. I love the picture of you and Max – adoring his beautiful Grandmother. ♥
You are blessed to have each other for support and love. Jules is where she needs to be and faith needs to replace worry. Please keep us updated on her progress and healing.
Wow-That’s a lot of messages to read to dear Jules!!! Can you tell how popular you are Jules? You are a star in so many ways. Not only are you gorgeous, spunky, witty, wise, clever, compassionate -you are an inspiration for all who happily follow your life with your wonderful family.
The photo of you and Kristi on the hospital bed shows your glorious beauty-inside and out. Your spirit shines and am sure that you will rise above this life challenge, as you have many others!
Sending you my best thoughts for a good outcome and a speedy recovery.
I hope you know how many of Kristi’s readers world-wide are holding you close in their hearts!
Bisous,
Jackie from California
Our dear Kristi ,beautiful Jules,and wonderful family,
Your faith ,love ,courage and strength are beyond an inspiration to all of us who have had the good fortune to be included in your lives( and gifted writings) for all these years.
Please know our prayers are nonstop and unending,and our arms are tight around all of you( with special birthday hugs to Max!)
Asking God to wrap you in His comfort and give you His unceasing courage and strength.
Love
Natalia xo
Dear Jules,
Prayers and hugs for the very best outcome and complete resolution!
Jules: Holding you in my thoughts and prayers as your medical journey unfolds and is resolved. You are in good hands as this whole community wraps you in its loving and caring arms, praying in their own individual way for your comfort and good health.
Best of luck for an easy time in hospital that gives solid answers and a road to good health. You’re in my prayers!
Dear Jules and Kristi
I am sending you hugs and prayers as you go through this difficult time. You have always be a
warrior.
Keep the faith. We are all thinking of you.
Janine
Hi Jules!
Hope you feel better soon!
Big hugs from Norway
In Norwegian:
God bedring❤️🫶🏻
Chère Jules, Je prie pour toi et I hope that my prayers and the prayers of everyone else will lift you up and carry you through. “Jesus I surrender myself to you, please take care of everything!”
You and all your family are in my prayers – sending you much love and healing light. Lisa said it all. Hugs and love from around the world indeed. Poking and prodding is not fun, neither is the food BUT then you and your doctor make a plan to heal whatever this is and you will be back enjoying walks, birthday parties and those sweet doves.
Prayers for you all! ✨🌞✨
“ Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. “
Psalms 73: 23
Chère Kristi, Je prends vingt minutes chaque jour pour la prière de consentement. Tu et ta famille sont toujours inclus. Je te conseille à lire le Verbe Jacques 5: 13-16. J’espère que ça te sentiras beaucoup plus mieux.
Amitiés, Joanne
Bonjour Madame, my name is Jeff Norman. Our connection is that my wife Ann and I are friends with Lyn and Lynn Frandsen. Our son, Chris, is 36 and his very best friend since preschool is Erik. They are like 2 brothers from different mothers. Chris lives in Germany and is married to a German physician. They have 2 beautiful children, age 3 and 9 months. Our families and other friends will be together in in late June and will all go to a Seattle Mariners Baseball game. We have met Heidi and her son and daughter when they have visited at Frandsen’s. I read Kristi’s Blog every month and it would be wonderful to connect with all of you sometime in France. I am praying for your good health, and I hope you are feeling well soon.
Dear Jules,
sending you hugs and prayers as you go through this difficult time.
Dear Jules,
In spite of maybe not feeling your best, you look marvelous! You are in the good hands of your family, and prayers that you are in good hands of the best doctors! I don’t know you personally, but I feel like I do, because of your sweet daughter. You will be in my prayers, and I love your positive attitude . 🙏
Linda from Portland, Oregon
Jules and Kristi, the love and support that both of you give each other and the love and support that comes from both sides of your family will definitely carry you through this tough time. Jules, know that you are in my prayers every day and I look forward to reading about the day you return to your beautiful little suite and your turtledoves.
Sandra
You are encircled by a human rosary of your adoring fans around the globe, and the love is palpable! May your health improve rapidly! ❤️
All best wishes from Florida
I have had the true pleasure of watching you and the family since the beginning. You are a beautiful force of beauty and nature and look who you produced. !!! I suspect we are around he same age.
I also lived in France for over 30 years and reared my children there .I once tried to meet Kristi however we had a complication much to my disappointment. You are strong and loving and LOVED. May you heal quickly and be in the company of your doves soon.. You both light up the room. I am thinking of you daily. By the way we are wearing the same pajamas..!!!!! I have a robe with flowers and birds all over it so I will say a little incantation each night and at dawn. May the light of love embrace you and your sweet adoring family. TRUE WEALTH
Pamela Dewey Singer
Dear Jules, get well immediately, and that’s an order, young lady. 😍
Wow! If collective prayers & wishes for healing are as strong as we believe, Jules will soon feel much better. I’m so happy for you & your family that you have another very large “family” of blog readers who all wish your mom well. I join in!
Dear Jules,
What a journey you have been on! I can only pray that the doctors will be attentive and will put you on the path to complete healing. I have found that focusing on Isaiah 26:3 during times of stress helps me to focus on the one who loves me beyond reason.
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is set on you because he trust in you.”
Sending prayers and blessings,
Jenine
A votre sante, Jules! Through Kristi’s posts, I know you are a strong and vibrant woman. May that inner strength and all our well-wishes carry you through this challenge.
Jules, I am wishing you great strength through your health issues.
Sending love and prayers for your Mom and all of you. from Laura in New York
I am praying for Jules to have the stamina to get through this testing and that some helpful answers will be found. I am praying for her physicians to have wisdom and compassion as they treat her. Kristi, your faith is inspiring. Take care, Nancy
Best wishes to Jules for a speedy recovery with the care she needs.
From one artist to another:
a message of hope for a speedy resolution and recovery of your good health and a return to your artistic creativity !
Amicalement!
Andrea
I’m wishing all the best for Jules! Hang in there with all of it. Hopefully she will be feeling better soon. Keep your faith Kristin as always and take care of you as well.
Kristi and Jules,
Thinking of you and all your family, and hoping you feel better, Jules.
It’s good you can be together, especially right now. Sending prayers and virtual hugs.
Steph
Dear Kristi,
Sending your Mom my best wishes for a quick and full recovery. Having moved from the U.S. to Canada with my Montréaler husband 3+ years ago, I know how difficult it can be to navigate the national health system of a new country, especially in a different language. My wish for Jules: bon courage et tout va bien aller!
Bisous,
Kerry
Your love for each other shines through in your writing. Thinking of you all.
Dear Kristi, I just wanted to add to the prayers for Jules and add that not many can still look so beautiful and elegant on a hospital bed in PJ’s! May all of you feel the comforting presence of God and find strength in Him as you navigate this challenging time.
Chères Kristi et Jules.
You are both in my prayers for peace and for Jules healing. You prayed for my husband 11 years ago during an illness and difficult time. Knowing others care is a great comfort. I know you are surrounded by much love and are in the care of the greatest Healer of all.
Linda
Dear Jules, Sending you love, light and healing energy.
I just prayed for you two. May Our Lord give you the peace and hope only He can give, and good test results. I have a feeling that Jules will be encouraging her caregivers!
Bon courage, chère Jules! We are praying for you here in Beaune! Gros bises from Lynn and Ron
Dear Kristi and Jules, We are sending you and your family our prayers from Phoenix. We hope the hospital stay will find a solution and a return to your beautiful life in France. I hope the next time we are in France there will be a visit to see all your smiling faces. Elaine and Michael
Kristy,
I’m sending you and Jules the Prayer for Protection from Unity.
The light of God surrounds you. The love of God enfolds you. The power of God protects you. The presence of God watches over you. Wherever you are, God is. And all is well!
I often recite this prayer over and over and find its calming reassurance to be just what is needed.
May it be of comfort to you both.
Mary Catherine
Dear Jules
The memory of meeting you in person in Nice years ago with Kristi and JM, always brings a smile. You are in my heart and thoughts.Sending light and love as you regain your strength. With love, Patricia
Bon courage, Jules! Sending Love and Prayers from Texas!
Dearest Jules
Sending you light and love.
Feel better soonest!
Sue in Chicago
Dear Jules aka Kristi’s Mom,
You are in my prayers for all of the healing that you need. Be sure to do all that your Doctor asks of you and to take the medicines, too. Jesus’ sweet peace to you and to all of your family!
God bless you,
Claudia-Marie from the USA
Sending all the very best wishes we can muster from Santa Fe! Much love to you all! ❤️😘❤️😘❤️😘❤️😘❤️😘
Dear Jules, Kristi & family: Our arms aren’t long enough to give you all hugs; but, just know that you are all in our hearts! May your spirit keep being uplifted! Amicalmente, Ann Sorocki