I am stunned and shocked by the events in Paris on Friday night. I am not French, but I love our adopted country and feel so very privileged to be able to live here.
It is so hard to explain all of this to the children, how do you tell a 9 year old exactly what happened? But tell them we must and we did. We hugged them and held them tight. A silent sadness hung over the village today, a feeling of utter disbelief. We stayed at home, a family together, no one felt like going anywhere.
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Paris and their families.
Our French Oasis 
I am saying and sending a prayer for all. Stay safe, know the world is watching over all of you, with Love Marian
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Thank you Marian, taking the time to comment, showing your support for everyone in France is truly wonderful
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Very moving. Just awful.
Hi MC, thank you. Truly awful, feel rather numb actually. Hope we get to see you again before too long x
Even over here in the USA the feeling of sadness hangs over us too. I suppose much like it did in Europe after 911. I will show solidarity by continuing with my plans to visit Nice and Paris in the spring
Good for you Bonnie, don’t give up on this beautiful country. We all stand together
Thank-you for your posting today Susan. It is good that we can share our thoughts, prayers & solidarity together at this time of such sorrow.
Hi Petrina, Thank you for taking the time to comment, we shall all stick together
We are grieving for France and for all humanity. En solidarité avec la France, et de tout coeur avec vous, Leslie
Thank you Leslie, it’s a problem the world over and as you say we must all stick together
I was so happy to receive your post. I thought about you & your family last evening & so hoped you were fine. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of France.
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Thank you Minor, we are about four hours drive away and safe here in the South West. Like you my thoughts are with those in Paris
We too felt devastated by the terrible events in Paris, thinking of you all from UK xx
Thank you Yvonne and Neil, it was all such a shock, too awful for words.xxx
We are here in Provence and will return to The States in the next few days. We offer prayers for all who have lost lives and the injured who will experience trauma forever. When I turned on my phone early Saturday morning and received 25 texts/emails from family and friends concerned for our wellfare, I knew we were truly blessed.
Hi GB, you are truly blessed. Our daughter in the UK was woken yesterday morning by, like you, hundreds of messages asking if her family were safe. We are truly blessed to have so many people care so much. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Paris today as they come to terms with this latest horror.
Astrapi has a great segment today on how to discuss these tragic events with children. If you have not seen it, it is well worth reading; even for adults.
Thank you Nadia, our eldest daughter emailed me the same article. It is very well written and very good, it is so accurate, that’s what young children say, “will they come here”, our two youngest did just that last night, they were scared and so they slept together.
Our thoughts and prayers of love peace and hope are with all of humanity and ,especially, with all of France during this horrible time.
Thank you Ed, your comment is much appreciated and so very true, we need to pray for all humanity the world over
Thinking of you and your adopted nation–and especially the city of Paris. Sadly, the World has always been, and will continue to be, threatened by extremism which thrives in dark places and dark hearts. Prayers abound.
Thank you Mary, it’s a very sad world and as Ed, a previous commenter said, we must pray for all humanity
HORRIFIC.
I just do not UNDERSTAND WHY!
I know, I am still in a state of shock. Everywhere was very quiet today, the roads were empty compared to a normal sunny warm Sunday, people stayed at home, families stayed together. I can’t stop thinking about it, it is so very very sad
Hope the kids dont have nightmares. Such a heavy thing to work through.
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Thank you, they are ok. The two youngest were pretty scared on Saturday night and so they slept together, comfort in each other. But they are fine, we have talked it through and they know they are safe. Thank you for your concern, it is so hard for little ones to understand such horrors and such hatred
It’s hard to understand why people do the things they do, we may never understand. However, what amazed me is how France’s first responders and police force and France’s citizen kicked into HERO mode to help and provide the services they did. I am amazed at how this all came together and how many people’s lives were rescued and saved. Rescuing people amidst chaos is never easy, but they showed the most bravest of souls. I have the utmost respect for those who risk their lives to save others. I would like to HONOR those who braved the elements of this horrible evening. They are TRUE HEROES! I am glad you and your family are OK.
Hi Alice, I am in total agreement with you, the unsung heroes who save lives. There are so many incredible people in this world. We are all fine, thank you, but still feeling a little numb and very sad.
I am loving all the positive stories that are coming out of this – which show what a strong people the French are. They picked on the wrong enemy here!
I totally agree with you, there are so many positive people. The French are remarkable and upbeat and very brave.
Merci
Thank you 🙂