You win some...

Etretat ~Normandy France

This ranked as one of my favorite all time vacations! Normandy, France September~2012!

I remember reading about WWII in school and honestly, paying not a bit of attention. My focus was on the cute boy who sat one row across from me, not on war that had taken place in the 40's...really, how did that effect me?

Fast forward oh, say 25 years and I realized exactly what that war had to do with me, and what those boys did for our country.

Since living in Europe and exploring so many of the amazing things that we have had the opportunity to explore, I have learned more then I ever did in a History class!

Normandy was so full of history. We walked the beaches of Omaha, Utah and Gold. We visited Pegasus Bridge and met a women who's family had lived in the first home liberated in Normandy. She was 6 at the time. She was still there, she told my boys the stories of the wounded being operated on in her kitchen! The walls of her cafe were covered in photos and memorabilia.

American Cemetary
Man rising from Waves

Utah Beach

Utah Beach Memorial

Point du Huc Normandy
Part of the Atlantic wall

Normandy was so full of beauty! The people were beautiful. They were so welcoming to us, and thankful for all that our countries had done to help them! The beaches were amazingly long and when the tide went out, it went out for miles. And everywhere that you went you could imagine the soldiers walking with you!

Normandy was a place of reflection. Not only for me, but my kids. This was one of those trips that they really, really enjoyed. They experienced something that I didn't sitting in that History class 25 years ago and I can only hope that it stays with them the way it has stayed with me, for a little piece of my heart is still in Normandy France.

Normandy