Last week we had the opportunity to meet an amazing family from France whose story has inspired me so much. For the next two years Jean-Laurent and Marion are sailing with their three children, who are the same ages as my oldest three, and will be visiting places all over the world.
We were so lucky to be able to meet them & spend a few days with them during their stop here at St. Eustatius. Our children had such fun touring their boat & learning a little bit about what life is like while they’re at sea. So many things about their journey are fascinating to me…how Marion cooks on the boat, what foods they eat, how they do laundry, what places they will visit, the fact that their children only watch the occasional movie and all the other challenges they encounter living on a boat with three small children. Isn’t Marion a brave woman! 🙂
While this adventure for their family surely isn’t all roses (I don’t know many people whose lives are) just think of the incredible things they will see, the places their children will learn about & what impact this kind of experience would have on the closeness of their family relationships.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this since we said goodbye to Jean-Laurent & Marion & their children. How simplicity in life means less in so many ways, but in all the ways that count, it only means more. Thank you Marion & Jean-Laurent, for sharing your families experience with us and we wish you all safe travels!
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While Marion was here she introduced us to these lovely drawings called Mandalas (originating in the Hindu religion, a Mandala is a geometric pattern, typically circular, symoblizing the universe.) My kids have loved coloring them, in fact that’s what we’re going to do for craft day today is color mandalas. Aren’t they pretty?
If you’d like to print and color some Mandala designs of your own you can find some here, here, here, here and here.
Enjoy and have a fabulous weekend everyone!
🙂
Rebecca Cooper is a 42-year-old wife and mother of four from Alberta, Canada. As a photographer, crafter, author, and blogger, she finds joy and fulfillment in celebrating everyday moments. She loves to read and eat chocolate, and is a firm believer in afternoon naps. Rebecca shares her family’s adventures, photo tips, simple craft projects + more right here at Simple as That.
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Wow! What an amazing journey! I wish I could be so brave!
Jo-Anna
This would be a dream come true for me- but the kiddos and I just had our first sailing lesson yesterday! hubs is a sea captain- but only the motorized kind!
That’s amazing… More and more I’m hearing/reading of families who are doing things like this…
Have you seen this great book of mandala coloring sheets that are transparent so the sun can shine through? So pretty!
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/used/results.aspx?r=1&usedpagetype=usedisbn&pean=9780486441351&cm_mmc=Google%20Product%20Search-_-Q000000630-_-Mandalas%20Stained%20Glass%20Coloring%20Book-_-9780486441351
Do you know if they are keeping a blog so that we can follow their adventures?
thank you
printing now/thanks
SWEET! Hope you have a great weekend!
🙂 Shauna from:
http://www.trying2staycalm.com/
Rebecca,
I read several photography blogs. Not because I am a photographer (though, I am starting to tinker in it!:) but because I am starting to become seriously interested in it and love to look how different photographers take pictures. I have to say, yours are the most beautiful pictures I come across. Abosolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing your photography and your adventures.
Can you tell us what lens you use on your camera?
Thank you!
What amazing people and what a wonderful adventure for their family! xx
I have a friend doing exactly that – sailing for the next year as a family. She only has two kids, though. It sounds exciting, but I don’t think I could do it. But then I don’t love sailing though neither did my friend and now she’s living on a sailboat for more than a year!