Welcome to the Gastronomique !

Our Family Fun Night yesterday was a special treat for our 3 older children.  It all started this past Christmas when we got a card from my mom with some cash taped to the inside and a note that said the cash was for Kami and I to go out to eat, just the two of us!  This was a very special treat since we do not go out to eat at all here on St. Barths....the prices are way too expensive and there are no fast food places here.  Kami and I went out on Thursday and had one of the greatest evenings together.   Thanks Mom! (oh, by the way, the cash is all gone for that one meal!)

Kami and I wanted to do something special for the kids since they didn't get to experience "going out to eat".  So we created a restaurant in our living room last night for our Family Fun Night!  We called it : "The Gastronomique"....this is actually a good term for food in French, it means "High or Fancy Cuisine".  Sounds horrible in English!

The kids were welcomed in and given their menu's.   Our server spoke French as he explained the menu and greeted them at their table! (The server also introduced then to their very attractive waitress!) 

We promptly served them their salads and fresh bread with honey butter.  Josh had said last week that he was craving O'Charley's Restaurant's hot rolls and their honey butter!  So Kami made fresh rolls and we mixed up some butter and honey.

For an appetizer, the kids had to choose from either Cavier drizzled with raw eggs or Mussels sauteed in garlic and butter with St. Barths Pepper sauce.  (No we didn't really have any Caviar but we put really gross things on the menu to 'steer' the kids in the right direction to choose what we really did have!)

Then they had to choose an entree from either "Liver & Onions", "St. Barths Sea Snails", or "Seared Garlic and Butter Beef Tips".  Needless to say, they each chose the Beef Tips (basically we grilled beef stew meet and they tasted amazing!)  They were served with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans.

During the entree, they got to watch an old 1939 western we found on the internet...we love old westerns where the good guys always won!

For dessert, there were 3 choices : Morsels of Frozen Sushi topped with fresh compote,  Hand Selected Coffee Beans dipped in Chocolate and drizzled with African Wasabi sauce, or Mint Icecream infused with bits of chocolate.  They all chose the Mint Chocolate chip icecream!

Each of the kids laughed, giggled and smiled the whole night.  As mom and dad, we had so much fun serving them!  Each thanked us over & over and Joshua said this was the best meal he ever had...I think he hasn't been out to eat in a long time!

Great Bible studies for ladies...

If you read our family website/blog, you probably have read or seen Kami's blog as well.  Once a week, she is writing a small devotion for ladies on the topic called "Matters of the Heart".  This is a short devotional concerning the heart of ladies, mothers and wives.   She normally posts a new devotional on Wednesdays and she has received some very good support and comments on her study.  You can find her blog and devotional at http://www.adayinthelifeofamissionarywife.blogspot.com/   (Yes, I know it is a long name!)  At the bottom of the devotional, you will find a label titled "Heart of the Matter".  Click on this label and you will be taken to all of the short devotionals she has written.  They will not take but just a minute (or two) to read them, and I know they will speak to your heart...

More government "loop-holes"!

Well, from our last post, we learned that Kami has to travel to St. Martin for her "government obligatory physical exam". (Which is supposed to include x-rays, eye exam, blood work, mental exam, etc.) 

Yesterday, I went to the Prefecture to ask some questions about this appointment and whether or not I had to accompany her to this "government physical".  Well, I found out that after the medical exam to see if she has any contaigous diseases or is a threat to society mentally, she has to have another appointment in St. Martin as well.

 This next appointment is for an "indoctrination class"....a class to learn about France and how to "live in France".  She will meet a government official to sign the "Contract of Welcome" with the State of France, which I guess is a statement that she will abide by the laws and complete all of the requirements necessary to get her VISA validated.  This includes a 1/2 day of courses that she will have to take about France and living in France. 

Once these courses are completed, she will then be given another date to return to St. Martin to take a test of "competency" and a decision will be made as to whether she is competent in the French language and in French history......only when she passes can the next step be taken.

At each step of the process, we were told the word "obligatoire"....which means we have no choice in the matter and the cost for doing all of this falls upon us! (3 trips to St. Martin which runs right into traveling to Florida to have a baby! Yikes!)

My wife is a menace to society...well, we'll soon find out!

We are still going through the long and drawn-out process of getting Kami's VISA validated here on St. Barths.  We thought that once Kami received her VISA from the French Consulate in Miami, that we would just enter St. Barths, show it the Préfecture, say "We're here!" and that was it! 

What we didn't realize was the drawn-out process of government hoops that you must jump through in order to get the VISA official when you actually enter French soil.  After Kami arrived, we went to the Prefecture and we were told that we needed to bring in a list of things to register the VISA.  (translated birth certificates, copies of Passports, marriage license, proof of insurance from the U.S. and other items).  We were told that we would get a call back when the Carte de Sejour would be ready. (this is the actual card that she would carry to make her legal here.) 

We did get a call yesterday and the lady at the office said that she wanted Kami to come in this morning at 8:30 to talk with Kami about her "controled medical appointment" on St. Martin on Feb 29th.  We had no clue what she was talking about.  We went in this morning and sure enough, Kami has to go to St. Martin on Feb 29th to a government doctor for a complete physical. (includes bloodwork, x-rays, "personal" exam, shots if required, mental exam, eye exam, the works!)   Well, of course Kami is pregnant and can't have x-rays, "personal" exam, and shots, so we don't know how this is going to affect the medical certificate she needs to pass and receive to get the Carte de Sejour!  Not to mention, the cost of flying to St. Martin, staying in a hotel overnight, car rental, meals, and the such...yikes!  (The cost of flying to St. Martin alone will be $312!)  All this to prove that Kami is not a "menace to the French society"!  

My question is, after they drive you crazy jumping through their government hoops, do they really expect you to pass a mental exam? !!! (Like mother, like daughter!)