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momwats8
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| Posted: July 07 2008 at 8:41am | IP Logged
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First let me apologize for taking so long to tell everyone about our trip. It took a few days to recover and we are moving to Michigan a week from today so it has been very busy around here 
Thanks so much for your prayers. Without them I would not have been able to bear the travel issues. I definitely had lots of peace.
We were supposed to leave Florida and fly into Newark to meet up with the rest of Mike's (my dh's)family for the flight to Paris. When we got to the airport here in Florida our flight was delayed almost 4 hours. We knew we would not make the connecting flight so Mike got us on another flight going into Atlanta and then into Paris. From Paris we were getting on a connecting flight to Pau. We made that flight by the skin of our teeth but we made it and were now with the rest of his family. When we got into Pau my Mother-in-law had a tour type bus waiting just for our family and we took the 45 minute drive to Lourdes. On the way they showed us a movie all about Bernadette and Lourdes.
Once in Lourdes we got checked into the hotel and then settled in. I took a two hour nap and then we had dinner. That night I went to bed early. The next day was amazing in Lourdes. We went to see a movie about Bernadette and then went exploring. The first stop was the beautiful Basilica where we- my dh and I - prayed all of your intentions( I took you names off). I would pray them and then give them to him and he would pray them also. You were all well covered in prayer. Next we went and walked around and drank the water from the fountains they have set up. It is just an amazing place. While I was waiting for the the Grotto to be open to the public I went to the Reconciliation Chapel for Confession.
The Reconciliation Chapel caused a little bit of confusion. There were three priests available to hear confessions in English. Everyone would sit in lines - on benches- and wait their turn. I was in line to the last priest and it confused everyone where they should sit to wait for which priest. The priest that I was waiting for was leaving in about 15 minutes and there was a priest in front of me waiting to go - he was next. He very kindly turned to me and said, "You go. He is about to leave." Because of his kindness to me I was able to go to confession to a very wonderful priest. God Blessed me through this very much.
After confession I did a little shopping and then we had lunch. After lunch I headed back to the Grotto with all of your intentions. There I walked through and then placed your intentions there. After that I walked around and drank again from the fountains. I was not ale to do the baths due to the lines and also it was suggested that I not do it due to the cold temperatures of the water and the fact I was 20 weeks pregnant. Some of the family were able to get into the baths though which was such a blessing also.
That night we went to the candle light procession. We did not process but held our lit candles and stood atop the Basilica next to the crown of Mary. It was sooooo beautiful watching all the faithful following the statue of Mary and praying the Rosary. It was such a peaceful and prayerful time and I felt truly Blessed to be praying the Rosary there with all of the Faithful. We then went back to the hotel and got ready for our departure the next morning for Paris.
Paris was wonderful also but very busy. When we got there it was afternoon and we were tired. We had another tour bus waiting just for us thanks to my in-laws. It took us on a quick tour to the Eiffel Tour where we had a group picture taken and then to the L'Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs D'Elysee to the Place de Concorde where there was an obelisk given to the French by Egypt almost 4,000 years ago. After this we went to the hotel, ate and went to bed.
The next day was full of sight seeing and shopping for things for the kids. We started at the Louvre and spent two hours there barely making a dent. It was just amazing. We then went back to the Arc de Triomphe and had a nice lunch at a cafe. We then went all the way down the Champ D'Elysee looking at the shops. It was too expensive for us there so we went to what I call "souvenir row" where there was shop after shop of souvenirs for everyone. We enjoyed a couple of hours of shopping and headed to Notre Dame. We were blessed again as we got there just when they were opening the Cathedral to public. We walked all through the Cathedral and were just awed by its beauty. It was then time to head back to the hotel to get ready for our dinner cruise.
That night was a wonderful dinner cruise down the Seine River. There we ate, drank, relaxed, and were able to see all the sights of Paris from the boat. That was our last night in Paris and we were heading home very early the next morning.
Here again is where your prayers really payed off. We had an 8 hour flight to Newark and then a 3 hour lay over until our flight to Florida. We got on the plane at 5:00pm and were told that Air Traffic Control was having a central computer problem and that the planes had to take off using radar which meant one plane could take off every 5 minutes. We ere 20th in line. As we were waiting another announcement was made that due to thunderstorms down South Air Traffic Control had shut down the South Corridor and no planes could take off for Florida or Atlanta. We were stuck indefinitely. We ended up waiting 5 hours on the plane before being able to take off. If not for your prayers I could not have done it. I had now been 24 hours with no sleep and due to sitting for so long my legs and ankles were so swollen they just ached. I must say though that the airline did a great job letting us get up, having movies on, and feeding us. We finally we took off at 10:00pm and got home about 1:00am.
We had such a wonderful and Blessed time and I feel so privileged to have been able to pray for all of you in such a special way in Lourdes.  thanks for your prayers and bearing with my LONG post.
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Mary- Wife to Mike and Mother to Austin(92), Mikey(95), R.J.(97), Benedict(98), Kolbe(00), Ignatius(02), Christian(03), Margaret(05),&4 angels in heaven
http://www.momwats8.blogspot.com
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: July 07 2008 at 9:36am | IP Logged
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I'm green with envy! 
No, really, I am so happy for you! It sounds so wonderful, except maybe hanging around on an airplane for hours.
Good luck with your move.
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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At_His_Feet
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| Posted: July 07 2008 at 10:50pm | IP Logged
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How wonderful Mary! Unfortunatly I didn't know you were going or you would have had an extra prayer intention!
Since our eldest was 5,I have been saving to take my two eldest boys to Lourdes etc. Only 5 years to go!! 
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Tricia
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aussieannie
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| Posted: July 07 2008 at 11:11pm | IP Logged
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Mary, thank you for sharing that long post, I enjoyed it immensely!
I cannot thank you enough once again for taking all those intentions...for me personally, one of the people on my list passed away around the time you would have arrived at Lourdes, it was lovely to be able to tell his widow that his name was close to Our Lady's heart over there in Lourdes and for one of my uncle's who is very sick, it was a blessing to tell him, his name and intentions were placed there.
Many, many thanks again Mary!! 
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momwats8
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| Posted: July 07 2008 at 11:27pm | IP Logged
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I am just grateful I was able to do it and humbled. You are all so special.
I am also impressed you had enough stamina to read that super long post. After I posted I realized how long it truly is
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Mary- Wife to Mike and Mother to Austin(92), Mikey(95), R.J.(97), Benedict(98), Kolbe(00), Ignatius(02), Christian(03), Margaret(05),&4 angels in heaven
http://www.momwats8.blogspot.com
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Bridget
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| Posted: July 08 2008 at 7:55am | IP Logged
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It was a great post! How lovely, generous and moving that you got to make this trip! See you soon, I hope!
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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KC in TX
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| Posted: July 08 2008 at 8:29am | IP Logged
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Reading it brought tears to my eyes, Mary. Thank you!
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KC,
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Helen
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| Posted: July 08 2008 at 8:45am | IP Logged
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Thanks for the update Mary
Were you able to bring all your children?
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Ave Maria!
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momwats8
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"Were you able to bring all your children?"
Helen - we were not. It was an adults only trip. I must say I am grateful since it was a very jam packed trip. I think that my older kids would have loved it but I feel my younger ones would have been miserable. it is definitely a trip I would love to do again with my older children. &nb sp; &nb sp;
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Mary- Wife to Mike and Mother to Austin(92), Mikey(95), R.J.(97), Benedict(98), Kolbe(00), Ignatius(02), Christian(03), Margaret(05),&4 angels in heaven
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Helen
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| Posted: July 08 2008 at 10:11am | IP Logged
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momwats8 wrote:
"Were you able to bring all your children?"
Helen - we were not. It was an adults only trip. I must say I am grateful since it was a very jam packed trip. |
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I was wondering how all those little ones would have been able to handle the long delays.
Sounds like you've had a wonderful, spiritually refreshing visit with Our Lady and Lord.
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Ave Maria!
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 08 2008 at 11:47am | IP Logged
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Mary,
I was so glad to read of your trip and to hear of your safe arrival back home. What a beautiful time you had!
I'm so grateful that you took our intentions with you! Thank you again - it is a consolation!
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Jen Mackintosh
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SeaStar
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| Posted: July 08 2008 at 7:53pm | IP Logged
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Thank you, Mary, for remembering us on your trip. I'm so glad it went well!
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amethyst
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My 14yodd prays to go to Lourdes, Mary - your beautiful post has inspired her even more!
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Ruth
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I'm so happy for you, Mary. What an incredible blessing to have been able to go. Thank you for all your prayers.
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Ruth
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Angie Mc
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Mary, if you hadn't posted at length, I would have bothered you for details so thank you very much for taking the time to share! And thank you for bring our intentions .
Love,
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Angie Mc
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4Real Forums : Hidden Treasure
Topic: Our Trip to Lourdes/Paris
