And this may be the best part of our trip . . . our visit with the Walters (pronounced Val - tare).
When Randi was just 14 years old, we had a French exchange student visit us in the U.S. Her name is Emilie Walter. A few months later, Randi visited with Emilie's family in France. I believe it was a life-changing experience for all of us and we have kept in touch all these years. Emilie even returned to the U.S. for another visit with us a few years later.
And now, after more than 10 years, we finally got the chance to meet her wonderful parents - Jean-Paul and Anne Marie Walter. I knew they must be very nice people because Emilie is very special, but I had no idea they would be some of the nicest people we've ever met!
They took us out for dinner the first night of our visit.
Emilie, David (Emilie's husband), Jean-Paul, Anne Marie, Ross, Jim, and me.
The following morning, Emilie took us to the Marché de Noël in the historic town of Colmar.
And then we had lunch at Jean-Paul and Anne Marie's home where they have lived for over 35 years and raised their 3 children - Emilie and her 2 brothers, Dominique & Benoit. Jean-Paul and Anne Marie grew up in the same small town they still live in today.
Anne Marie cooked her specialty of pork and sauerkraut. Plus some wonderful (all homemade) desserts! It was all delicious and very special.
Ross, Emilie, Anne Marie, Benoit, Jean-Paul, and Jim
I took these pictures of their home for Randi so she might recall her visit many years ago.
And the eventual good-bye . . . until we meet again. Soon we hope - as we plan another visit when Randi, Josh and Frazier come to see us and we'll also get to meet the baby Emilie and David are expecting in May!
Yep, I'd say that was definitely the best part of our trip.
That is so neat!
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