Saturday, December 1, 2012

Guess what we had for lunch? ;)

We have had some major Internet troubles the last few days.  I hope to post more of our fun weekend soon.   ;)

Thursday we woke up & headed to Rouen.  Chris was meeting with a professor at the University of Rouen business school that he had met at a conference.  We dropped him off around 11am and then asked our Tom-Tom to take us to a restaurant nearby for lunch.  Cue panic.... As we began to take "Jeannette's" directions (the name we have given to our gps system) - she begins to lead us down non-commercial streets that did not look like a street for a mom and four children.  Now let me back up and say Jeannette has been such a lifesaver on this trip - we truly could not have done half the sight seeing without her (don't you love how we have personified her). ;)   However, this time - major fail.  We pull over in the parking lot and I wanted to burst into tears. I refrained from sharing my full internal freak out with the kids, but I'm thinking - I don't speak the language, I'm driving in France on tiny roads and have not the foggiest idea where I am to get back to Chris.  Deep breaths and I tell the kids that we were going to trust God to show us where to go.  We prayed and asked God to show us a place to go for lunch that would be peaceful for the 5 of us to have lunch.  I didn't know what to punch in the GPS system - so I put the university address back in and thought maybe we could find something around there.  As we got closer to the university, I saw a sign on the side of the road.  In my "I don't know where to go" state of mind, the sign had a huge bright light on it, for McDonald's.  Let me stop again and say that never did I think this would be a choice.  We hardly go in the states, but to go while in France, truly had zero desire except for maybe a Toblerone milkshake.  I'm just not a fan, dating back to about 1993 somewhere in New Mexico on a road trip, I did not have a good experience and haven't grazed the walls much except for fries or an occasional road trip bacon, egg & cheese.  But today, all "no thanks for McDonald's" flew out the window and we went for it and had a blast.  The kids thought is was equally awesome that their mom didn't see the happy meals and ordered them big macs, large cokes & fries.  I ordered the big macs and the sweet lady proceeded to ask, pomme de terre? Oui!  Coke? Oui!  The kids eyes were so big when they saw the order on the tray.   I think the quote as we left was " I just feel really satisfied."  Nothing like McDonald's in a foreign land to calm the nerves and satisfy some hungry tummies.  It was suprisingly really good. :)

Halle with Chicken nuggets - not a hamburger girl


 Jacob is illustrating how to enjoy a Big Mac!  :)
Way to go, kids!  I had a super fun adventure with you.

We have to get used to the fact that the name for apples and potatoes is really close.  On first inspection, we thought this packet was for apple sauce.  But upon opening, we realized it was mayonnaise for the french fries.  Uncle Stephen had showed us this trick awhile back - so we had a few kids enjoy their pommes-frites sauce.  



6 comments:

  1. Oh sweet friend, so glad that you were able to find something you knew! Hope that your next experience is much better!
    Paula

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    1. Thanks Paula! I would have never guessed how many times we have used McDonalds on this trip. The kids have loved it. :)

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  2. love it! love it! Love it! Thank God that is the ultimate GPS and gets us where we need to be. Love you Hope

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    1. SOOOOOO abundantly thankful for God's guidance and care over us as we learn so many new things. LOVE YOU FRIEND!!! :)

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  3. I'm just catching up on your adventures. Having fun reading through. So glad the Lord is keeping you safe and the kids (and parents) are having so much fun! Thanks for sharing.

    Deepa

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    1. Hello Deepa!! Thank you for your sweet note. We are indeed having fun! Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season. Love you! :)

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