The Invasion Of Normandy.....

An early wake up call, set bags outside our doors, and we were off on day two of our journey.

This was a much more secular part of our voyage and I believe the part the drew most of the men to sign up for the trip.

Today the band of 43 pilgrims invaded Normandy.

We again drove by bus through beautiful French countryside, passing fields of "Norman" cows grazing and men harvesting field corn and sugar beets.

We arrived at the Caen Museum, the most complete Museum depicting the Invasion of the Norman beaches by the Americans in June, 1944.

The tour was amazing in the reality that was within the corridors gave you a real sense of how difficult it was for the soldiers during this battle.

We were off next to the actual beaches of the invasion from Omaha to Utah.

The small town was very serene and there seemed to be a sense of awe and respect as everyone walked through the streets.

It is hard to believe that so much beauty was restored after so much 

destruction 60 years ago.

Th wall at the entrance of the American Cemetery and Memorial depicts the paths of arrival and movement on the many beaches of Normandy. Considering the large amounts of equipment and mass number of troops that took part in the first battle in 1944, the logistics of planning this was immense.

Looking out over the 1987 markers at the cemetery was indescribable.  

The silence was defining as we all try to absorb the enormity of death during this battle.

Jimmy was moved in a way that I have never seen.

Being a military family and knowing how many lives were lost crossing the very sand he was standing on was surreal to him.

It was worth every mile we traveled to see him so absorbed in the reality of this costly invasion.

The enormity of the craters ....so very many and so close together were signs of the reality of how intense the bombing of the area was.

We climbed into anti aircraft and ammunition bunkers where walls were two meters of solid concrete to protect the Germans attacking as the Americans landed and came up the hills.

Powerful barely describes the feelings we had.

Our "surprise" on the way to our next stop was a detour to visit the Biscuiterie

where we were all introduced to the locals favorite cookies and what would become our constant friend on the remainder of the journey:

Mont-St-Michel's Calvados!

This very strong apple brandy would later be renamed 

"Saint Calvados"

and was the drink of choice each evening as we relaxed and reminisced over the days events!

Tomorrow takes us up to the majestic Mont-St-Michel.
The view from our hotel at night is amazing.  
Anticipation is making it hard to go to sleep!!

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before you and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:3

We Are Pilgrims........

One thing I ask of the Lord:

this I seek:

To dwell in the Lord's house all the days of my life,

To gaze on the Lords' beauty,

to visit his temple.

Psalm 27:4

 And so on Monday October 6, 2014 began a pilgrimage of a lifetime in France.

Little did I know when we signed up for this trip what I was going to experience.

For the next nine days I am going to try to recapture each individual day, though I know that it will be impossible.  There are not adequate words to describe our journey together.

Forty three church friends....and I say that because though many of us began as strangers, we ended as friends forever, knowing that only as part of this group can you remember the experiences we shared that will forever bond us.

After a very long 10 hour overnight flight we boarded a bus and began our visit in Rouen.

 We walked the beautiful streets, visited amazing cathedrals, photographed and learned from our tour guide and our pastor the history of this small, quaint town that held so much religious significance.

 Such amazing beauty every step of the way.  We were blessed with Veronica, our Catholic tour guide, who via head set that we all had described in detail everything we passed.  We not only admired the beauty, we knew the history and meaning of each and every thing.
To say I was in awe is an understatement.  Everything I imagined it might be was there in triplicate.

 This Cathedral of Notre Dame in Rouen know for it's famous butter tower was the subject of many famous paintings by Claude Monet, and holds the heart of Richard the Lionhearted in it's interior.
It was magnificent and was only the beginning of the incredible architecture that would be part of this  trip.

 Our next stop was Lisieux, home of St. Therese, the Little Flower of Jesus.
Tyhe Saints I had only heard and read about were coming to life as we visited their homes and convents.

 In her home in this bed, Therese had a vision of the Virgin Mary.

 Therese lived in this home with her father and three sisters until she entered the convent at the age of 15. She remained her devoted to the service of Christ until her death at the age of 24.
Her short and very painful life brought her to canonization and sainthood and this small town honors her in all it's structures.

 Together we walked the narrow streets and arrived at this beautiful Basilica dedicated to St. Therese.

The beauty of these structures cannot be captured in a photograph.

They have maintained the cathedrals  and grounds in a way that I do not believe we see here in the United States.  It is so moving to witness the devotion that the people in France feel toward what has been created in their country.

 Our last stop of the day was a Mass celebrated in this amazing crypt chapel by Father Timothy.

Beautiful is not even appropriate.  This is not paint.  These are mosaic tiles that create a space where God truly is present.  I am not sure I have ever felt closer to heaven.  

To say that tears flowed freely is an understatement.  It was the most spiritual experience of my lifetime.  To share this with your husband and 43 parish friends is indescribable.

We will forever know the true meaning of celebration in a true community of believers.

Off to a great dinner and an evening of sharing thoughts on day one at our first hotel in Cabourg.

Wine and conversation and exhaustion for all of us....but what a beautiful start to our journey.

We are blessed.

We're Off.......

Nine months of waiting and planning and anticipating....

and finally today we are off!!!!

What I have read about and seen in pictures will be a reality.

I am not sure I can believe it.

As I sat in church last night I could not do much but be thankful.  I was surrounded by many people that will be our trip mates.  Some of these people I know well, and some will become friends as we spend the next 10 days together touring castles, shrines, and cathedrals in France.

I love our church.

I love that we have been given this opportunity and the means to take advantage of it.

I love that because I have an awesome family I can go and know that I do not have to worry.

Children and dogs will be taken care of and I can actually tour worry free.

I need that.

We need time for us....it is a rarity in our house.

Today, like most days I am grateful....

AND EXCITED!!!!!!

More to follow..in 10 days!!!

Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and joy are in his holy place.
1 Chronicles 16:27

Celebrating FIVE!!!!......

 What a beautiful day to celebrate 5, with pajamas and pancakes and real fall weather.

Sadly, I cannot believe it is five years already.

Gone from newborn to a young lady with a vivid imagination and a bright inquisitive mind overnight.

 I have soaked up every minute I can with this little girl, knowing full well that moments with Gramma will become less and less important.  

Last weekend she chose a sleepover with her cousin over a sleepover with me :(

and I knew that day was coming.  

 So now I have to hang on to every single minute with her sister before she gets too big for me too.

 Daddy-o was sadly absent from Brooklynn's #5 birthday as he was from her first birthday celebration.  The military does not take time outs for important dates....

but in about six weeks all of that will change and there won't be anymore parties or holidays minus the head of the family.

Happy Birthday precious Brooklynn.

Five is so big.

I am so grateful that your mom created a family party with pancakes this morning so we could all celebrate together.  I will miss being with you on your real birthday day.  

You mean the world to me and Gramps.

Your bright smile when you run through our backdoor brings sunshine with it all of the time.

You are my "special".

October 1st........

Hello October!

Hello one of my two favorite times of the year!

Hello all things pumpkin flavored, sweatshirts, football, and fires in our outdoor fireplace!

Hello so many good things on the horizon!

Yes, sadly the days of swimming and sunning are almost over....but we can still dangle our feet in the pool and remember how much fun we had learning to swim, dive, and just play in the water!

Great conversations thinking how far we came in our skills over just a few short months...and planning for even greater strides next summer!

October is the time to do a little fall crafting... pumpkins and colorful leaves.

We have Halloween and Thanksgiving on the horizon.

You simply have to embrace all things seasonal, because as we know we will be replacing all of this with Christmas trees and wrapped presents soon.

October 1st means I am finally packing.  It has been nine months of anticipation waiting to actually get out the suitcases and load them for our trip to France.  It is here!

The excitement of the holidays ahead is always reason to be joyful, but the thought of climbing on a plane with 40 church friends and spending 10 days touring amazing sites....well there just are no words!

And last but not least...just six weeks and Tim will be home for good.  

What a year this has been for all of us.  I will say that we have endured and learned much from this lengthy absence about what can and cannot be done and about what is important in life.  Mandy, Tim, Brooklynn, and Finley have been superstars.  

So as I look at what lies ahead of this first day of October I see good.....NO GREAT!

Things do not always happen as our mind and heart would like...sometimes they happen and they are even better that what we wished for!

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were indeed called in one body.  And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15