Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Happy, I am Doing What I Love

Happy I am doing what I love

Happy I am doing what I love.

Thankful I am able to do what I love.

Excited to meet the EIGHT readers of Tongue in Cheek invitation to come and stay at our place. I know I said two… but the response deserved more than two. So French Husband said, "Let's invite more and see how it goes." 

Anxious to start on the new journey of this year. French Husband and I will be working on the apartment in Paris, and when it is ready we will offer it for a few weeks to some more readers of Tongue in Cheek. 

I love meeting people, I love when people are around, I love cooking for a group, I love sharing what I know about France… and the brocante. And this year I plan on doing just that, opening my arms and enjoying the community that I have found on my blog.

"Why," a reader wrote me, "Are you doing this, what is your motive?"

That is simple and maybe hard to understand…

"Because I can."

 

Dear Winners,

There is no deadline.

The invitation is for you, when you can come, this year, next year, as long as I am alive with a roof over my head. The invitation is for you and it won't change.

Dear Readers, I will do this again, so stay tune. Think Paris this summer…..

 

What do you love to do, and are you able to do it?

Comments

53 responses to “Happy, I am Doing What I Love”

  1. Wylie Hunt

    I think it’s so awesome you are opening up your home to blogging friends. Such a kind gesture!

    Reply
  2. Chris Wittmann

    Your generous offer is fabulous Corey, I hope someday I can travel again, it’s just
    not possible right now.
    I LOVE to garden! I hope to live to be 100 and still be gardening, so far I can still rototill and push heavy wheelbarrows though I do feel pain after ward and sometimes it necessitates a trip to the chiropractor 🙂 But as long as I live and breath, I will garden

    Reply
  3. Tammy

    I so hope I get the chance to come and visit; you are such an amazing woman, wife, mother, aunt and daughter, Corey!

    Reply
  4. Diogenes

    Corey, I hope you will post pictures as you work on your place in Paris! Looking forward to seeing it.

    Reply
  5. Momof5

    I love to travel, garden, read, entertain and go antiquing. When I first started reading your blog I was most impressed by your carpe diem spirit. So in my own way I tried to follow your path. We open our home to people coming to Boston for medical care. It can be very expensive to stay in hotels. Our first ‘guests’ were from Guatemala and stayed 5 months. Since then we have met young and old from all over the USA and many countries. Being open to new experiences is what I live for. Paris at any time sounds wonderful and especially today as I recover from the flu.

    Reply
  6. Zosia

    Belated congratulations to all the winners! Looking forward to all the stories.

    Reply
  7. Ardis

    Blessings to you Corey and French Husband for your sharing and generosity. Congratulations to the fortunate winners. Enjoy every minute. What a fabulous opportunity to know France. Recently I read a comment from someone on this blog that your ministry, Corey, is an inspiration. This comment has stuck with me. I so agree. Every morning I get my Corey Fix and the day is better. Thank you.

    Reply
  8. cynthia wolff

    I’m already on my knees praying for this to happen to me.
    cause yeah, Paris would be…well just so dang cool..

    Reply
  9. Cathi

    You have such a kind heart, Corey and all of us readers so appreciate you! Congratulations to all the winners, I can’t wait to read all about their adventures with you. xxoo

    Reply
  10. Ellen

    Would love to Paris again, loved everything about the city

    Reply
  11. Bev S.

    What do I love to do? I’m like you in that I love meeting people and I love cooking for people. I also love to knit and help people–trying to help a young woman right now who is in somewhat of a desperate situation. I also love to talk to people about the Bible and that’s what I do for a living!

    Reply
  12. Dawn Fleming

    I agree with everyone about your generosity. Thank you for sharing and for inspiring us daily with your blog!

    Reply
  13. Ana Maria

    Corey, you are just an all-around awesome human being! Your love for life and your generosity come through every word you write. Congratulations to all the winners! Please keep us posted on the Paris apt. Would love to see pictures!
    Ana Maria

    Reply
  14. Kathie B

    What I love to do is translating, so that more readers can have access to works by wonderful authors whom they’d otherwise not get to read, for lack of knowing the original language.

    Reply
  15. Jill Flory

    You know, Corey, that you are making my heart beat faster with the what-ifs! Oh how I long to go to Paris!

    Reply
  16. kelleyn

    How fun and what an adventure! How is annie??? You haven’t mentioned her lately.

    Reply
  17. Lorrie

    I love making a home, being a wife, a mother (although all the children live away from home), and a Nana. I love gardening, sewing, embroidering, cooking, laughing til I have to run to the bathroom, jumping on the bed, and eating dark chocolate. I love teaching French and watching eyes light up when something new is learned. I love teaching English literature and seeing students grow to love reading. I love looking for beauty and creating beauty. I love helping people. I love my life. And I love reading your blog!

    Reply
  18. Dawn Edmonson

    Truly it is because you have a beautiful heart precious Corey…a loving, beautiful heart.

    Reply
  19. vida

    I will be there in June/July 2013 Corey and I can’t wait to see you! x x x

    Reply
  20. vida

    Didn’t mean to say I was staying but meaning to say I will be in France in June/July and I would love to meet you if you had the time… x x x

    Reply
  21. 24/7 in France

    I love living in France and writing – so am happy to have just finished my book, “Solitary Desire”, about my French journey. Book trailer video link: http://twentyfourseveninfrance.com/2013/01/19/book-trailer-video-solitary-desire/
    I love walking along the seafront, taking in the Mediterranean sunshine with my French husband, sharing my life with readers, and working on new projects too. Bonne continuation pour votre blog!

    Reply
  22. labergerebasque

    I love being real and sharing the authencity of the Basque region in which I am soooo lucky to live. Finding great products (some from the farm) and cooking for guests is high on my list of things I LOVE to do. Your enthusiasm is truly infectious. LOVE your blog 🙂

    Reply
  23. Cheryl Miller

    You are very generous. I love painting and creating and am lucky enough to be able to do it after many years of working in another field. I would love to visit some of my favorite paintings in Paris.

    Reply
  24. mary

    Congratulations to the winners. You and Yann are a beautiful couple …the world would be a better place if we had more like you 🙂
    Thanks for being you

    Reply
  25. jend’isère

    Creating and sharing

    Reply
  26. Lauren

    I am SO EXCITED that you are thinking of letting people stay in the apartment in Paris! Thank you, Corey! This time I need to get more of my girlfriends to pray for me!! 😉

    Reply
  27. double d

    You are so very generous and kind. I have always wanted to live in Boston and now I do. I am an artist. I love to paint and create artists books. I agree w d., can’t wait to see the work on the apt. Please let us follow along.

    Reply
  28. Stacy

    Corey, I love to start my day by reading your blog because the way you approach life – with so much love and openess – is always an inspiration to me. I also love to create art and have dreamed of traveling to beautiful places and creating paintings that express the unique essence and flavor of the places I visit. In this dream I am shown around by a local resident or someone who is very familiar with my destination. So who knows, maybe someday our lives will cross and I will travel to France and create paintings and sketches and drawings of all the places you love. What a wonderful thought! Thank you for leaving me inspired again.

    Reply
  29. Cynthia Rieth

    Oh Corey I am literally drooling at the possibility of a trip to Paris…

    Reply
  30. Carolyn

    You are an amazingly warm, trusting, generous and gregarious person! I enjoy your blog and just how really honest and straightforward you seem. Tampons in your nose???!!!
    I am not doing what I love. I am a sales manager at a newspaper. I hope to do what I love, which seems a lot like what you love, going to garage sales, finding cool stuff. You are able to move it (sell it)on your website which is fantastic for you (room for more) and fantastic for the buyer, neat, amazing purchase. My husband, unfortunately, has to live with it until I decide to take it to Goodwill or another thrift shot. I need to open my own little shop of goodies.
    Again, love your blog and just how warm and friendly you are!

    Reply
  31. TEXAS FRANCOPHILE

    Well I have to repeat the obvious! YOU ARE SO GENEROUS! After all that’s what it’s all about Alphie. Relationships, life, love, sharing, giving, creating. I start my morning with you, cup of coffee, and a SMILE!

    Reply
  32. La Contessa

    OKAY< so it was FRENCH Husbands idea to invite more!!!!!!That is so my ITALIAN HUSBAND TOO!!!!!!!!!!! They are so a like in so many ways. Paris!I just received a blog yesterday with PARIS cemetaries and I thought to myself my ITALIAN husband will think me nuts but I must go to study headstones etc..........so he can make darn certain I have what I want when the time comes!So,of course, I need a place to stay in "TOWN".I'm pinning for the stay in PARIS..........BUT DOESNT CHELSEA NEED IT?I promise I will be quiet as a mouse and I donot do late nights!I will even cook for her!Does she enjoy pasta!??

    Reply
  33. Suzanna

    Hey Corey aww, I didn’t realize I could comment here today! So sent a personal email! So wonderful both of you are and your sweet family! I am without a family now and your blog inspires me so much the love of having others of love around too! So happy when I read your blog and again, Congrats to the winners! So sweet of both of you to wish you could invite more!! XO Merci! I love art art art, What isn’t ART! ;-)) lol

    Reply
  34. Debra

    It’s amazing what a gift to all of us this blog is. You are inspiring and amazing (hope you are not sick of these adjectives). My day would have a huge whole in it without you. I am a different person, wife, mother, and friend because of what you share each day.
    Paris would be a dream as would Provence.
    Thanks for keeping my dreams alive!

    Reply
  35. Marilyn Radzat

    Dear Corey, I am still reveling that my name was drawn. How do these miracles happen? What I love to do is to create art…creating ….everyday if I can. I feel so blessed that I came upon my passion when I was in my 20’s and now 40 years later I am still passionate about this flow of self expression. I’m actually addicted to it now. It is my meditation and my connection. I just wrote on my blog about winning this gift of staying with you, Corey. I am so grateful. Still in awe. Wow!
    http://tinyurl.com/b78qdgq

    Reply
  36. Ann

    I missed all the fun in your latest posts. People coming to visit you…I’m surprised you didn’t pick Brother Matthew…he deserves it don’t you think?
    I am one of those who thinks everthing is interesting so I love and have many interests. I love Christmas for it’s true meaning and for the lovely decorations I indulge in. I love cooking and baking…so many lovely recipes and we extend it to international dishes,it gets very creative around here. I love reading especially about the saints and their lives and how they help me understand God and his love and mercy. I love my antique business. I love gardening. I love exploring to new places and meeting new people. I love to think I can sew…I love watching movies esp classics and foreign film. I love my family and friends. Long list I’m sure there is more but these are the highlights.

    Reply
  37. peggy braswell

    Congratulations to all the lucky winners. You & FH’s genorsity is beyond the beyond. Thank you god for letting me do what I love.Greetings from LA. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

    Reply
  38. The Pliers

    I quite admire your response, “Because I can!”
    That is an honest and vivacious answer. You have demonstrated many times that you are curious, interested, involved, engaged person and you are able, you can, invite people to share in your life and you do. That is fantastic. Many people could and don’t. Bravo for you, Yann, Chelsea, and Sasha!

    Reply
  39. Karen Carson

    Like you, I am a photographer and love taking or making pictures every day. I dream about it. I take a camera every place I go. And all I can say is ‘Wow!” Congratulations to the winners…your generous spirit is amazing Corey!

    Reply
  40. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    What jend’isere said is wonderfully simple, and wonderfully complete: “creating and sharing”.

    Reply
  41. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    This probably sounds silly and inane, but in my regular, non-traveling life (since I also love to travel but one can’t do it ALL the time!) I love to paint dots. And dots-on-dots. And best of all, dots-on-dots-on-dots. In VERY BRIGHT colors.
    Have just finished painted a couple of mirror frames for a fund-raiser auction, and now I’m working on dotting-up a small 1950’s wooden sewing basket: quiet greens on purple outside, and a BLAST of bright colors — lots of golds and yellows but other colors too — on the inside. Because it’s a fairy dust box, all full of magic and whimsy and some of the fairy dust is trickling out to the outside.
    I love to do things that create or enjoy magic and whimsy.

    Reply
  42. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    Speaking of doing what you love, check out this program on PBS (fellow Americans) and maybe you non-Yank friends can download it online…
    I’d never heard of Wayne White before, but oh my, his whimsy and talent are astonishing.
    His last line on the trailer: “Do what you love, it’s going to lead you where you want to go.” Pretty good, eh?
    http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/beauty-is-embarrassing/

    Reply
  43. Nina

    Sign me up for the next drawing! How wonderful and generous you are. I admire your open heart and the way you share so much with us. Thank you for sharing your interesting life with us. My husband and I are planning a trip to Paris and the French countryside in 2014. I can’t wait to visit visit brocates, enjoy the food and sip the wine. Maybe it will be with you!
    Nina in Michigan

    Reply
  44. Sandra Guill

    Corey, I would love to be considered for a stay in your Paris apartment. I have a 13 year old granddaughter that I would LOVE to take to Paris. I want to show her the beautiful city but also to make her aware of other places and people. I am so inspire by how global your children are. I would love to begin this with her. Unfortunately, there has not been enough money to do this. An apartment to stay in could make this happen.
    I love your blog, love the brocante and hope someday to get to your part of France. You describe it so beautifully.

    Reply
  45. Dabney

    Dear Corey,
    I’ve been envious of the winners of your generous offer. Also, happy for them because I know for some it will be a trip of a lifetime. I had wanted to enter your contest but had a fear I would be fortunate enough to be selected! My past 5 years have evolved from a working RN to a stay at home retiree. I have degenerative back, hip and leg pain and had a hip replacement. I still take multiple pain medications. Some of my problems are due to an endocrine disorder, arthritis and consequent weight gain. I know that, although happy to have so many resources and help, I would not be able to travel and enjoy a trip to France. Sooo, your generousity of spirit has encouraged me take a plunge in weight loss and physical rehab including exercise to become more mobile. I hope in the future I will be able to travel and visit your wonderful part of the world. Thank you for your blog. It has given me many blessings.

    Reply
  46. g

    i always read the comments and am simply blown away by the generous well wishes from all the readers and i love your response BECAUSE I CAN-simple beauty –

    Reply
  47. Marilyn

    I love to travel and take pictures. Yes, sometimes I can do this and sometimes I can’t. Oh would Paris be just so wonderful. Though we are planning a trip elsewhere my heart belongs to Paris.

    Reply
  48. martina

    I love getting uexpected little notes from internet friends, playing with my puppy and how cheerful she is first thing in the morning (unlike her owner!). Listening to my best girlfriend talk about her church missions to ElSalvador and how they have enriched her life spiritually. Seeing an elderly patient who comes in to the office looking unhappy, but after I ask for permission and give them a hug-how their faces brighten up. Thanks for asking this-it has been a tough time here due to a death in the family and your question made me see a bit of sunshine.

    Reply
  49. DeeDee Clark

    On our “bucket list” is to buy Rosetta Stone French and prepare to spend 3 weeks living in Paris. I have wanted to do this forever. We spent 3 weeks in London shortly after we retired, but then we built a bed and breakfast, and we have been tied to this house since then. I hope you still own the apartment in Paris when we are ready so we can rent it.

    Reply
  50. Brenda, Walker, LA

    You are awesome and this will enrich your life!
    I always wanted my own store.
    I have always loved antiques and design. So…Voilla! Kindred Hearts Antiques and Gifts was opened while I was still teaching, now it is what I do.
    I hope to come to Paris, and will let you know as soon as I can do it! The Paris Apartment sounds devine! Sounds like you may have a book on it’s way!

    Reply
  51. peggy aplSEEDS

    i look forward to reading about your winner’s visits! i am fortunate to be able to do what i love, travel, art, be with family…

    Reply
  52. Cherry

    WOW a chance at Paris! I must say I seldom experience disappointment but when I was not one of the chosen few I was so disappointed and it lingered for a day or two. And then I get my bearings and become excited for those who do get to go. But a chance at Paris. Life is full of turns and surprises and hope does spring eternally. I pray your friend will awaken to hope for a new day, to the wonder of life, to encouragement and love.

    Reply
  53. Anne Roberts

    I am thrilled while reading this. Paris? Are you kidding me? I loved to go that place since my first time visit there. Oh Lord God, please let me the one who will get that chance to experience a trip again in Paris. It will be a big celebration on my part.

    Reply

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