Normandy, Part 3: The Rest Of The Pictures

Here they are. The remaining pictures from our Normandy trip...Well, at least the one's I'm putting on blogger.

Day 3 was the actual D-Day anniversary. We first headed to Point du Hoc. In case you don't know the significance, this is the spot, just around the bend from Omaha beach where rangers from the 5th Ranger Regiment scaled the bluff to take out strategic German gun emplacements. In doing so they saved countless American lives. From here, the Germans had a birds-eye view of the waters and beaches littered with Allied forces. It was truly an amazing feat considering that the bluff is a vertical cliff. Before the invasion began Navy ships heavily bombed the coast line leaving enormous craters. It's hard to believe that anyone could have survived this initial bombing. Just to get an idea of the size of these things, I had Buck walk down into the bottom of one...and this one wasn't the biggest crater we saw!
Point du Hoc may have been the coolest place we saw. There were ruins of German bunkers and gun emplacements everywhere. Several of the bunkers were still in tact and we were able to go down inside of them. They were however very, very dark and even with the flash on I couldn't get a good picture inside.

Noah was just chillin'.

And Brady was playing with his "tickle" rocks...don't ask...I can't begin to understand the thinking of a two year old.

After lunch we headed over to Omaha beach. It is impossible to describe the overwhelming feeling of gratitude that flooded my emotions as I stood there on that hallowed ground.

It is so peaceful and beautiful. Impossible to fathom the carnage that once took place here, is it not?

Omaha beach was a much more difficult assault because of the bluffs that line the beach head. This picture was taken from a top a bluff. You can't really tell just how high or vertical they are unless you look closely. See those tiny black dots on the beach...well, they aren't dots, they're people. The invading troops had to make their way up those bluffs to capture the high ground and take out the German guns. It really is a miracle that they ever succeeded.

A reflective me...

And on the drive back home, I got a great preview of Paris...our next planned trip!

The Love Of A Boy

It seems that with each passing day, my precious little boys do something else to capture my heart. It may be a huge gummy grin or sweet sound from Noah when he first sees me upon waking in the morning, or an unexpected hug or kiss from Brady. But, tonight, my B did something that will forever live in my most precious memories.

Buck was dressing him for bed after his bath. I walked into the room and when he saw me, he squealed with excitement. I walked up to his changing table, and he wrapped his little arms around me. He knew that it was time for bed.

He began humming a song to me as he patted my back and rocked me. Then he began to sing the words. It took me a second to figure out what he was singing. When I realized, tears began to roll down my cheeks. Buck stood there watching with tears in his eyes too.

From the time he was born, I have rocked him and sang the same songs to him, in the same order. After I put him in bed, I sing those songs to him. The first one I sing is one that my mother sang to me as a baby and young girl. She made up the words and the melody. I have never forgotten how comforting it was to be in her warm embrace, listening to the sweet sound of her voice, singing me to sleep with these words:

Buttons and bows,
And pretty blue eyes,
Sunshine and happy times,
Flowers growing wild,
I love my little [Brady],
I love my little [boy],
Always and forever,
My baby you will be.

My sweet little boy sang every word to me, just as I have to him every night now for 29 months. He patted my back, just as I have patted his little bottom each time. It was absolutely the most poignant moment I have ever shared with him. Perhaps, the most poignant moment of my now 30 years. I was stunned. Dumbfounded. Humbled. I have never felt more loved and adored. Never more aware of how my actions, my words, are absorbed and impact the lives of my children.

It was the perfect birthday gift. He couldn't have timed it better if he had tried.

The innocent love of a child, wrapped up in one sweet song.

As I put him in bed, I began to sing the song to him. This time, he sang along with me. As I began to sing the next song, "How Great Thou Art", he again matched me word for word.

As I lay there next to him, gazing at his precious face, listening to that sweet little voice, my heart was as full as it's ever been. I didn't want to leave him. I lingered as long as I could before the cries of another precious boy called me away.

What was this morning day that I didn't want to see come (as I realize that I'm 10 years from 40 and that they're coming faster than ever), turned out to be a day that I don't ever want to forget...all because of the love of a boy.

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.