Normandy, Part 2: The Pictures

Like I said in my last post, our trip to Normandy for the 66th anniversary of D-Day was the trip of a lifetime for me! I'm a big history buff, (perhaps a little unknown fact to some of you), especially military history. It's no wonder I married someone in the Army! When we moved to Germany, I told Buck that there were two places I absolutely had to see while we were here: Normandy and Rome. Now, I've crossed them both of my list!

We spent 3 days in Normandy, which is a region in France, not a city. It was amazing! The tiny little coastal towns that were the sights of the invasion, like Saint Marie du Mont, Vierville, Saint Mere Eglise, Carentan...have changed very little in the last 66 years. It was like stepping back in time.

There were "re-enactor" dressed in period uniforms everywhere, military vehicles driving down the roads, and American flags flying side-by-side the French flag, waving proudly from nearly every window.

I was expecting to see more of the veterans who fought their way through those streets and towns, but I suppose that the trip is becoming to much for most of them, who now are most likely in their 80's. We did however see a few, and I couldn't help but to stare and wonder what their eyes had seen.

That's enough rambling I suppose. Here are some of my favorite pic's from the trip...

It was a long drive, 8.5 hours, split into 2 days, and it didn't take long for B to rack out.
As usual, Noah was all grins...pretty much the entire trip. Both of our boys are awesome little travelers.

This was in our hotel room in Reims, our half-way stopping point. We had to pull out my computer for B to watch Little Einsteins (thank heavens for iTunes), since all of the programming was in French and had no cartoons! And, after seeing this picture, there's no denying that those two are brothers!

Some of the British vets who fought in Saint Mere Eglise. We saw more of these guys than American vets. I suppose it's a much easier trip for them. I loved these guys! They were the same 20 year olds who fought through those streets 66 years before, only trapped in an 80 year old body! Aren't they adorable?!?

One of the actual jeeps used by American forces. It's been restored, obviously.

This was one of the actual planes that dropped American paratroopers in on D-Day. It also pulled a glider plane in on the 7th.

Utah beach. In the background is the museum. And, of course that's B, running after his daddy, in the foreground.

Stay tuned for pics of Point-du-Hoc and Omaha beach.

Normandy, Part 1

Step back in time with me if you will.

June 6, 1944. D-Day. The coastline of France has transformed into hell on earth.

The sounds of machine gun fire, mortars, and the biggest guns you can imagine exploding on the shore next to you are deafening. Paralyzing. Almost as loud as the cries for help coming from your buddy, your best friend, who is dying right before your eyes.

The smell is of fear, death, metal and smoke from blazing guns.

The water through which you wade is littered with bodies, red with the blood of your brothers.

You wonder if you will make it through this day, or even survive the next seconds, let alone minutes or hours. You wish you could jump back in the boat or on the plane, turn around and go home.

Even though you're surrounded by thousands, you've never felt so alone.

Fast forward 66 years.

That same coastline, peaceful, tranquil, quiet, breathtakingly beautiful.

Families now lie on the beach soaking up the sun and enjoying a picnic.

Kids splash in the water.

The only sounds are those of laughter, gulls and peaceful waves washing ashore.

I wonder why anyone is allowed to splash in that water. It seems to me that this place should be a silent memorial to the men who died in that sand.

I feel frustrated with their seemingly short memory, angered by their disrespect and overwhelmed by the sacrifice of the greatest generation all at the same time. Tears fill my eyes.

I realize more than ever that life is short. I'm more thankful than ever that by God's grace I'm an American child and that my children are too.

I want to go back in time and kiss my grandfathers face and thank him (all of them really) for the sacrifice he made 66 years ago to keep this world free.

Then I realize something else. That if those men who fought there and died there were standing next to me they'd probably say, "Let them play. Let them laugh. The louder the better." After all, that's what they fought for. To liberate a continent from tyranny, evil. For freedom. The freedom to play and to laugh and to enjoy all that life has to offer.

They really were the Greatest Generation, you know?

After walking those beaches, and getting a feel for what they faced on that day, to what must seem just a few years ago to them, I am humbled and honored to have traced their footsteps.

It was an experience that I will never forget. A lifelong dream fulfilled. #1 on my bucket list now crossed off.

I only wish that my boys could have understood. But, I'll be sure that one day they do.

No...Freedom, isn't free.

This flag flies overlooking the shore at Utah Beach.

A Hobby With Rewards!

So. By now you know that I do a lot of digital scrapbooking. Over the last few weeks, I began uploading my LO's (layouts) to a digital scrap gallery. Much to my surprise, one night, I had a message from one of the designers asking me to apply for her CT (creative team). ***On a side note, I'm learning that digital scrapbooking has as many acronyms as the Army!*** I did, and two days later I was on her team!

I'm thrilled about this new venture! Not only is it nice to be recognized for doing something you REALLY enjoy, but it's even awesomer (I know that's not really a word. I'm just in a quirky mood. :)) when you get to do it with and for some FANTASTIC other women!

I'm designing for Stolen Moments Designs. When you digi-scrappers get a chance head over to her store at Scrap Matters. You'll find lots of amazing goodies!

Here's one of my favorite LO's that I've done, titled "I Love You". It was created using SMD's (Stolen Moments Designs) Into The Night Kit. And, just so you don't think I'm being biased in my choice, I created this one before I became part of the team!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

You know the song...

And so does Brady! He started singing it today for the first time. :) I grabbed the camera, he stopped, but after a little prompt, he was singing again!

Home Sweet Home

We're moving back to the states in August. Buck will be an OC (observer controller, for you non-Army speaking friends) at Fort Polk. We will be there for at least 3 years. That's the longest we will have been in one place in the 6 years we've been married. So, we decided to build a house.

Actually, we're not building it since we're still in Germany, but my mom, who is THE most amazing, wonderful, beautiful woman in the entire world, is overseeing the project for us. Because of her, when we arrive in Louisiana, we will have a beautiful, brand new house to call home. It is already proving to be quite the project since we have to communicate via email or the telephone so we can choose all that will go inside...flooring, paint colors, countertops, cabinets, fixtures, hardware, etc., etc., etc....But, she is doing it all without complaint and out of love for us. How lucky are we?!?!

The lot was purchased some time ago, but it took us a quite a while to choose just the right floor plan. We finally found one that had everything we wanted and construction began last week.

I realize that these pictures probably won't look like much to you. But, to me, they are the making of a dream. Our dream. Our little piece of the American Dream.

When I look at that dirt I see a home that will be filled with family, friends, love and laughter. I see precious memories being made and milestones being met. I see the yard in which Brady will probably learn to ride his bike and in which Noah will learn to walk. I see the smile on my boys faces and hear their laughter as they run through the sprinkler; their little cheeks red from the hot summer sun. I think that of all of the things about this house, I'm looking forward to the yard the most. Brady so loves being outside, so it's been hard here in Germany with the long, hard winters and not having a fenced yard for him to run and play in. Now, in just a few short months, he'll have plenty of room to roam!

When I look at that slab of concrete, I see the patio on which there will be many backyard barbeques for the neighborhood and where many family dinners will be enjoyed. I see the kitchen where I'll sit at the table across from my Mom or Dad and enjoy their company over a cup of coffee. I see the rooms where Brady will sleep in his big bed for the first time and where Noah will sleep in his crib for the first time. I see the place that we will bring home our third child, God willing.

For me, this is a dream that I've had for a long time. But, with moving so often, I never knew when, or if it would come true. Now that I see it finally coming together, I realize that it was well worth the wait.

Tulips and Windmills -- Mother's Day Weekend

This Mother's Day was very special indeed! Not only did I have two beautiful boys for which to be thankful, but I was able to see a beautiful part of God's creation. We spent the weekend in Noordwijk ann Zee, a wonderful little seaside town in The Netherlands.

I have always wanted to see the tulips in the spring. From all of the photographs I've ever seen it just looked like a little piece of Heaven here on Earth. And seeing it in person left me more convinced than ever that it is indeed! God's hand was evident in everything that I saw and smelled and touched.

I took many, many photographs and thought I'd share my favorites with you.

It is quite difficult to get a 2 month old and a 2 year old to look at the camera at all, let alone at the same time. This is the best we could manage. :)

This picture is a bit out of order, but I didn't want to go back and upload all of these again, so here it is...This is Keukenhof. The 2nd largest park in the world and 3rd most photographed. It's not hard to see why. There are millions of flowers here!

Not long after crossing the border into The Netherlands we started to see windmills. I know this isn't the greatest picture of one, but cut me some slack...we were driving 80 mph on the Autobahn. It's a wonder I could even get it in a frame!

Our hotel, the Hof van Holland. It sat on a beautiful, quiet street. I loved the streets there. It was like stepping back in time to the 1940's. We saw many families riding their bikes with woven baskets on the front.

The rest of the photos were taken at Keukenhof. They are simply amazing!

...And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:13

I Was Here

Today, as I was scrapbooking, I was listening to "I Was Here" by Lady Antebellum. I'm sure most of you have heard the song by now. In case you have not, here is bit of the lyrics ...

You will notice me

I'll be leaving my mark, like initials carved in an old oak tree

You wait and see

Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote

Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh

Cure the common cold

I do not know, but I'm ready to start, because I know in my heart

I want to do something that matters

Say something different

Something that sets the whole world on it's ear

I want to do something better with the time I've been given

I want to touch a few hearts in this life

And leave nothing less than something that says I was here

There was a time that I felt lost. I was searching for my purpose, wondering why God put me on this earth. I spent my days and nights asking, praying, hoping I would find my passion ... or at least a way to feel that my life meant something to someone. A few years ago, maybe I would have heard this song and wondered what I would do to leave my mark on this world, but not anymore.

I do not need to write like Twain wrote, or paint like Van Gogh. Michaelangelo's got nothing on me.

Just look at those two little faces. They are my David, my Mona Lisa, my legacy. They are my mark on this world. Because of them I have done much more than just pass through this life. Even if no one else in this world remembers my name it does not matter, they will.

When I look into their precious faces this life becomes crystal clear. They are my reason. And long after I'm gone little pieces of my heart will still be wandering this world.

There's not a day that goes by that I do not praise God for the blessing of my boys. Being their mother is the greatest honor I could ever receive.