Special Visitors

As many of you may know, our daughter and son-in-law came for a visit last week. It was so wonderful to be together in person, we have missed them immensely. We have frequent video chats, and communicate via WhatsApp at least several times per week, but being together, in person, was so special.

theTravelsketcher and I shared our love of travel with Alexis starting when she was quite young. We brought her to Europe for the first time when she was just eight years old, again several times when she was a teenager, and the last time after she graduated college. Thankfully, both she and Joe enjoy traveling as much as we do.

Joe has also visited France before, but this was their first trip here together. As an added bonus, Alexis got to spend her birthday in Paris. Neither Alexis or Joe had been to Normandie, so it was a treat for them, and us, to share our little corner of France with them. We visited many of our favorite places here including Château de Domfront, Le Mont-Saint-Michel, The Bayeux Tapestry, and Omaha Beach.

After several days here, we headed to Paris together where we visited Sainte Chapelle, La Conciergerie, Shakespeare and Company, had a fantastic dinner at Le Procope, the oldest restaurant in Paris, and enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Siene, and much more; whew!

The last vacation we took together was pre-COVID, when we went to Tokyo for the wedding of a young woman who lived with us as an exchange student when she and Alexis were in high school. So we were overdue for a trip together. You can read about our time in Tokyo in these posts:

The Wedding

Tokyo, Big City, Intensity and Bright Lights

On a personal note, early in our marriage after dealing with the heartbreak and crushing disappointment of infertility, I gave up on my wish to become a parent. I figured I would enjoy my step-sons, my two nieces (at that time) and the other children in my life. However, not long after that, I found out I was pregnant. We welcomed our beautiful daughter into our family and are blessed by her daily. Terry’s oldest son, normally very quiet and reserved, sent us a letter shortly after she was born, thanking us for giving him a sister. I grieve for so many couples who deal with infertility and do not have a happy ending, it’s just so sad.

It was just so great to spend time together. We heard from them just a few hours ago; they arrived home safely, and surprisingly on time given the historical snow storm that hit Oregon and Washington a few days ago. We arrived home yesterday to a quiet, cold house. Neville wonders where his other favorite people have gone, and we continue to adjust to being so far from home and away from loved ones.

All the best,

Tricia