France

As you may know from previous posts we had the privilege of being able to travel to the beautiful Vendee region of France for two weeks during the summer. It was our first 2 week family holiday in 17 years!

I had pondered many times leading up to the holiday, was it worth the cost? It was so incredibly expensive, and yet we weren't exactly living in luxury and had taken our own vehicle across the Channel on a ferry. But I can honestly say that although the cost concerned me, the rest received was well worth it.

We had some issues, which I shall explain in another post, but I have to say that the Vendee region (half way down the West Coast of France) is beautiful. We had deliciously warm weather, and because they are an hour ahead of us, light until around 9 - 9.30pm every evening.

Normally on a one week holiday you unpack, enjoy a few days of rushing about trying to see the local area or do some activity or another, then think about packing again. With two weeks I'd forgotten how much you completely get to unwind.

Here are a few of the things we got to enjoy:

Grapes larger than a thumb and enormous Swiss chocolate bars!

Such an array of cheese, cured meats and pate!

Pastries from the bakery, cakes from McDonalds (yes McDs in France has a cake stand!!) and addictively yummy biccies

We were treated to a glorious sunset over the local town every evening

 

We ate out a few times, but have to admit the golden arches of McDonalds' did call to the children, and out of curiosity we succumbed. But in France you are waitress served (all self serve in the UK), have a far wider selection of sandwiches and salads, and there is even a cake stand (selling my favourite, mini macaroons, as well as a choice of other cakes, cookies and pies!).

The food and vegetable options in the supermarkets were phenomenal, but in fairness the weather in that region is incredibly dry and warm, with little humidity and mild winters. Also we found driving 450+ miles south from Cherbourg the road links in France are amazing.

Mostly we relaxed as a family, either at the shared pool or at one of the many glorious beaches. We played games together and even our eldest son who really likes his own company and is very reluctant to join in with anything at home, asked to join in!

Gloriously sandy beach - this beach had a warm lagoon that we swam in!

Walking along a boardwalk in the sunshine, just before purchasing ice creams

The black dot is a mad family member body boarding in the great surf

One day when walking along the boardwalk above, enjoying ice creams, listening to a band play in one of the many bars we saw some people coming towards us:

Please excuse the circling, that was my daughter editing the photo she sneaked of them as they passed. You certainly don't expect to meet members of the army when walking along a beach front.

It made us painfully aware of how the people of France have been suffering with terrorist attacks, that it is deemed necessary to have the army patrol anywhere that is full of people enjoying themselves. As adults, and parents, we were shocked. Thankfully my youngest and most sensitive son was simply thrilled to have seen an automatic weapon up close. But we do think more of how the French have also been suffering at the hands of terrorists.

We took the holiday half way through our school summer holidays, but with the children involved in a holiday club, our eldest doing a four week citizenship course (which essentially involves them learning how to live off a budget, learn to cook, have fun and raise money for charity, all government funded - it's called NCS), continued health appointments and work, the summer has flown by and we are now feeling the nip of Autumn very much in the air.

I apologise for the lack of posts. With a Facebook page now set up (if I can figure out how to use it from my mobile I'll be ecstatic!) I should be able to do short posts much more regularly. But I can honestly say, yet again, that I have never had such a time in my life where so much is going on at once, all of which seems so out of my hands. So I am glad for the holiday - we needed it, to re-connect as a family and as a couple. Who knows when we shall have another? And I finally found some decent time for God - He even started me dreaming again and began nudging dreams long laid aside in hope deferred (see Proverbs 13:12).

I hope and pray your summer was blessed and that God starts whispering to your heart of dreams that may be long forgotten. For He is the God of the impossible.

And in my prayers I remember those who have suffered so much in France, and also those now suffering so much in Syria. Has there ever been such a time of this? But perhaps that is why God brought us here, to our positions, for such a time as this (see Esther 4: 14)? Perhaps your dream is just what the world needs right now?

The rest that came with the holiday may have passed, but I pray that we all may be able to walk forward in the rest that comes from God (see Hebrews 4:9 - 11 and also Joyce Meyer's article on God's rest: https://www.joycemeyer.org/articles/ea.aspx?article=living_in_Gods_rest ).

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With blessings, as always : )