Family Vacation: The Beaches

The beaches, along with there beauty, brought about a lot of emotions.  The history of pain, death, terror and war, all of which brought about victory, is settled into the sand and written across the vast, open water.  It is raw, and surreal.  It is a sacred place that has been kept, mostly, just as it was in hopes to respect the lives that were lost.  The area is rural with wide open fields, beautiful trees and flowers filling the spaces, buildings dating back far before that gruesome day in June of 1944, and some of the kindest people around.

We drove along the coast visiting the different beaches, walking along the sandy landscapes with our toes tucked in under the cold waters stretching themselves across the open spaces while watching you in all your glory having the time of your life.  We saw history and artifacts, people gathering and remembering, ate seafood, galettes and ice cream, all while enjoying our time as a family of four on our very first vacation.  One day we will go back when you are older and learn more through the museums and monuments, but this trip was so full of joy doing things that we knew made you happy.  Namely, the beach. 

The one piece of history we could not go without seeing was the cemetery where 9,368 American soldiers are buried and remembered by over a million visitors a year.  A breathtaking memorial that demands silence and almost instantly brings tears to your eyes and knots fill your stomach as you stand in awe looking out among the fields of strategically placed, perfect rows of white crosses.  Below the cliffs, is the very beach these men were faced with the reality of their worst nightmare as they fought to bring an end to the depths of the war that had made great attempts to take over this beautiful country. 

Our days on the beaches were relaxed with no real plans or agenda, and it was perfect.  You were so happy to run free and play in the sand with the water tickling your toes.  As far as we were concerned, we could have done nothing else but watch you laugh as you wandered and explored.  Experiencing life through your joyful spirit is something that humbles us daily.  You make us remember to stop and just be in the moments that seem overwhelming and stressful.  Life is good, and we were so thankful to be prancing around Normandy with our two adorable babies.