Normandy Post - Part 2 of 2

Normandy Post #2
After Kelly & Natalie got on their train - we were waiting for Mimi & Honey to arrive.  It is such an exciting experience to wait for someone and peek through all the people trying to find the faces you are looking for.  We had experienced that with Kelly & Natalie & now with the grandparents.  To see a sea of faces of unknown people and then all of a sudden to see something familiar is quite special.  We had sent them a train time & that train had come and gone.  Before leaving the station, we decided to wait for the next train coming in 30 minutes just in case.  The kids and I walked down to a little train station cafe and got a chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) and a cappuccino for myself.  We went back and manned our posts to watch the 3 different doors in the room so we wouldn't miss them.  Truly there was not a way we could miss them if they came through the doors, but it gave each of the kids such purpose to watch a specific door for the grandparents.  We waited, we saw the second train come and then leave, no sign of them.... then - who do we see out of door #3, Mimi & Honey coming around the corner.  So exciting to see them there & have them experience our Normandy life.

I took the boys in one car & Honey & Mimi took the girls in another car & off we went to pick up Chris from the university.  After picking him up, we went to the grocery store to pick up a few things for lunch & Ryan wanted to walk around the toy aisle with Honey & Mimi to see if there was anything he wanted for his birthday.  He was about a foot off the ground checking out at the front with two new lego sets for his birthday.

We headed home and recreated our favorite sandwich from Bayeux.  A warm baguette with eggs, ham, gouda cheese, lettuce, tomato, and dijonaise.  Quite delicious!  At this point in the day - mom had called to check in with dad to tell him that she had arrived.  He had just heard that his brother had died literally almost simultaneously with her skype call.   (see the post - a time for everything for more info).  As an update to this moment, we were so sad to be here and not at the funeral yesterday.  My older brother, Shaun, kindly connected us via skype and sat with his phone facing the front of the chapel so we could be there.  Thank you, Shaun!  That was so special to feel like we got to be there.  We even got to see my Aunt Judy & tell her how much we love her and as best we could give her hugs & kisses through the computer.

We spent most of Monday at the manoir just adjusting their time clocks to France time.  Mom & I ran into town quickly to check out a kitchen store.  We had broken a couple of things in the kitchen & we wanted to see if we could find a replacement.  I was amazed in my final days there - how much I had learned and the ability to drive into Caen and find a store.  Now, to Jeannette's credit - she helped me every step of the way - but was still fun to at least be able to do it without fear on the roads. 

On Tuesday, we celebrated Ryan's 11th birthday!!!  I wish I could pull some photos on here to show you our growing boy who, just like everyone always says, is growing up way to fast.  We are so proud of the boy that he is growing up to be and desire to be there for him to help shepherd him into the young man that God desires.    I just have one question?  How did he go from this little guy to the boy he is today?  Zooming doesn't even describe how fast it has gone... :)  We love you, Ryan, we are so thankful for you!!

We took everyone for our Normandy grand finale and his birthday to Mont St. Michel.  In the absence of pictures - google it!  And even after googling it - it still does not do it justice.  It is AMAZING!!!

We parked and walked to a shuttle that takes you up to the abby.  The narrow streets, the stone, the flowers, the shops, and majesty of the big cathedral.  Truly amazing.  At one point I couldn't stand it - I had to played some music from my phone to have some worshipful sounds echoing through the walls of a small chapel.  One of the songs played was of sweet Rebekah singing a French Christmas carol that Mrs. Bezerra had taught their class.  It has been one of my favorites this year.   Here are the translated lyrics -

Noel Nouvelet
Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!
Glory to God! Now let your praises swell!
Sing we Noel for Christ, the newborn King, Noel!
Sing we Noel for Christ, the newborn King.
Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!

Angels did say, "O shepherds come and see,
Born in Bethlehem, a blessed Lamb for thee."

In the manger bed, the shepherds found the Child;
Joseph was there, and Mother Mary mild.

Soon came the kings from following the star,
Bearing costly gifts from Eastern lands afar.

Brought to Him gold and incense of great price,
Then the stable bare resembled Paradise.

Here is a version of the song that I found on YouTube.

It was pouring down rain on what we affectionately called the castle.  At the end of the tour - you make your way around the outside of the castle.  There are just no words to the dousing - but we loved every minute of it.  I loved watching Mimi & Honey taking pictures even in the midst of the pouring rain.  We were so glad they were up for one of our adventures & seeing all that Mont St Michel had to explore.  Since it was Ryan's birthday, we let him choose the restaurant for lunch after the tour.  He wanted a steak and chose a cozy restaurant off the main street.  We all ordered different things, steak, chicken, crepes, hamburgers, or club sandwiches with french fries.  All were a tasty treat and satisfied the belly of a growing 11 year old boy.  

We made our way to the bus and had a new adventure all on its own.  It was in the 30s or maybe low 40s, raining, windy, and trying to walk our big crew back to the shuttle.  We had missed a bus by a few minutes and then Chris said the next bus driver must of taken a coffee break because it was at least 10 minutes before we saw another one coming our way.  At this point it was whoever got to the door first with a large tour group standing there with us.  As much as I am all for letting others go before you, today was different.  All 8 of us beelined it for the bus and made it on this shuttle.  After getting on the bus we realized it wasn't going to take us back to the car but about a 15 minute walk from the car.  Chris offered to run back and get one of the cars so we could pile in to go get the other one.  After 15 minutes of waiting for him, we realized he probably wouldn't be able to make it down where we were waiting for him with the car.  We started walking outside and we saw him running our direction.  He said the car was parked a little ways away and we could all get in and get to the other car.  Even writing it doesn't do it justice.  Just picture 4 kids running through freezing rain, two parents, and two grandparents all making our way into a 5 passenger vehicle.  It was quite a sight to see.  We made it to the other car & off to the manoir.  Jeannette & Pierre had been super helpful and made 99% of what we did so much simpler than reading a map and trying to highlight a route.  However, I think they got a little feisty that night because they routed us off the highway and on unlit back roads for the last 10 minutes of the trip home.  We had never gone that way the whole time we were there - so it was a leap of faith to see that they would get us home & they did. We got home & had anything we had leftover in the kitchen for dinner. Including a bunch of cookies with whipped cream & chocolate candies for a birthday cake!  :)

To end our Normandy post I would like to say we all truly LOVED our time there & were so sad to see the time go.  We were so thankful for our gracious French hosts and their lovely home that became home for us for 3 weeks.  We have seen so much and experienced so much while being there.  We are thankful for the slower pace of life and enjoying just hanging out as a family and enjoying the quiet and beauty of Normandy. :)