The clouds are breaking, and it's a rainbow sky!

As always, the sky is always darkest right before the dawn. While we haven't made much progress on our visa situation (yet), something even more significant and wonderful has happened--we've secured an apartment in Lyon!

The entire situation behind this housing is truly an amazing answer to prayers. Our realtor (a distant contact made through the LDS church in Lyon), had been keeping an eye out for us for several months. Unfortunately, every promising place that he'd found was already taken by the time he was able to look at it. A couple days ago, he called us in the United States to explain that he thought it would be best to simply wait and look for something after we arrived. Amazingly, he invited us to live at his home for a short time while we searched. I am amazed, humbled, and inspired by his trusting generosity, opening his home to a family that he's never even met. We awkwardly explained that we're quite a handful with two noisy and rambunctious children, yet he politely insisted, explaining that he'd already gotten his wife's permission.

Wow. I don't think it's possible to ever repay such kindness. One can only hope to some day pay it forward.

Before hanging up, this kind man agreed to look at one more place that Jason had found on a website. Even though he didn't expect it to be a particularly good match for our family, he scheduled an appointment for the next morning.

That evening we received another phone call. He'd visited the place, and it was perfect for us. While the apartment is not large, it's light, spacious enough, and recently remodeled. It's in a great part of town, close to a park, and close to the metro. Perhaps best of all, it comes equipped with an "American" kitchen, meaning that there's a fridge, oven, and cabinets! (Many times you have to move in your own kitchen appliances in France.)

Our realtor/friend explained that he considered it a miracle that the apartment was still on the market. It becomes available the day before we are supposed to arrive. He was so impressed by the place that he wrote out a check immediately to secure it for us, trusting that we would pay him back when we arrived.

You know, someday when we actually get to France, we will smile and laugh about the hurdle of our visas. While we may rip out our fingernails trying to claw our way through the bureaucracy, some day we will pass through. And when we do, we will be oh, so very grateful to have a home to come home too. In the big scheme of things, finding a safe, happy place to live will have the greatest effect on our French experience. Even more, we are already developing deep friendships based on generosity and trust as our gospel "family" in France reaches out to embrace us, even before we arrive.

I'm learning that while Heavenly Father may not answer prayers in the moment we want, he nevertheless answers our prayers--always. In this case, our family had to sink uncomfortably deep into the dark unknown before God yanked us out at the last minute, showing once again that He is truly at the helm. Thanks be to heaven for rainbow skies.