Meeting our French Family

Today we arrived in Metz on time and got our rental car. Isabelle one of my French cousins met us at the train station and led us to Creutzwald. Thank goodness she was there - we had a time just driving the car - we would have never made it without her. The French country side is like pictures from a movie. Each little village we passed was perfectly manicured and covered in the most beautiful flowers. Once we arrived at the home of Roger and Louise we met everyone else-- what can I say but it was HOME. Mom the girls said it was like being at your house- full of love, laughter, and lots going on- and it was. Everyone was so nice, and we were able to communicate just fine- my cousins that are my age all speak some English and several of them speak very well- Eric, Isabelle, Colette, Sylvie, Evelyne, and Mirelle THANK YOU . Our understanding of French is getting much better and their English was super. We spent the afternoon exchanging gifts, photos, and stories about the family. It was a very special day. We ate foie gras (delicious), amazing local cheeses, coq au vin, and drank many wines from the Alsace region. We also learned a very important French custom --you must ALWAYS empty the glass completely before you get more- and NEVER mix wines, always have two glasses on the table-- Hey I think that is a great custom-- The desserts were not only delicious but also beautiful- all homemade and some with special fruits (mirabella) from Alsace. All regional food from the area of France where my family is from- I’m stopping by the store before we leave to pick up this very yummy pasta (spaetzle) that is only made in this very small region. We ate, and ate, and drank and drank-- all the while the children played and talked - everyone was Blythe and Devyn’s age- they were able to sit and talk with the use of a translator on the I-Touch and a big French dictionary (what would the Buchheit grandparents think about that :). By the end of the day they were all talking and friending each other on Facebook- (we all thought that was pretty neat). Now another generation is connected and will be able to continue this family tree. The afternoon is hard to describe, because it was so wonderful. I know our grandparents would be proud that the family is still a part of each others lives. For Patrick he felt very at home and as usual overwhelmed by all the commotion-- just like at the lake. He met a friend in Alain, Sylvie’s husband. They were so much alike- and had fun joking at the table. Jeff-- the girls said he reminds them of you- funny and the life of the party. We took the traditional family picture on the bridge in Roger’s backyard and then we then went over to Rene and Marie-Louise’s home for more wine and an amazing history lesson on the family. Rene has traced our family back to the 1500’s -- and the family has worked and lived in this one area of France for the most part. Let me just say that I have 53 pages of genealogy to bring home with me- Mom, Nancy, and MaryLavon we have lots of reading to do :) You will all be amazed at what he has done. From Adam Buchheit there have been more than 500 children, grandchildren, great grand children, great-great grand children, etc... We are quite a large family-- and so alike in so many ways. Mathilde and Alain came over for a quick visit a few more laughs and family stories-- and then it was time for us to leave so we wouldn’t get lost on our way to our hotel in the dark- Chateau de’Auberville. A castle and fort built in stages from the 1550’s to the 1750’s in the French country side-- again just incredible. We can’t wait to see it in the daylight. Thanks to Eric for working the GPS system we made it without too many U-turns :) You know American’s can’t follow directions. Tomorrow we will be meeting more family in Schweyen. The actual village where we are from- a total of 350 people and we are related in some way to almost everyone there. Today was a day that we will cherish the rest of our lives. It was the perfect day! The Danley’s