Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Ov Ooo

I spent the evening with my best friends and their two adorable children. The little guy is almost two and is just the cutest thing. Tonight we played the Love You game. He would jump from the ottoman into my arms and then we would say "Love You" to each other. Except his words sounded more like Ov Ooo. It was a delightful game, and even though it lasted a long time, I couldn't grow tired with it.

I loved watching him stand tall and "jump" to me. Well, he didn't really jump. He just leaned forward and I picked him up and lifted him high and swooped him to me.

Sometimes it feels like we're jumping - it's scary and it's hard and it's all we can do not to just give up and stay where we are. Yet, however wide the chasm seems, the Lord's arms are going to be there to swoop us to Him. He's not waiting to catch us when we land. He's carrying us through.

So, as we draw close to Him let's proclaim Ov Ooo and hear His love in return.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

An Italian Benefit

Here are some pictures from my fundraiser!  It was a Christmas concert/art auction.  

me playing the guitar
"The First Noel"
My table decorations

The Stage

"Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!"

All by candlelight
The Concert Goers

"The Musicians"

Italian Trivia

"Angels we have heard on high"

"Go tell it on the Mountain"

"Away in the Manger"

"Silent Night"

Ben on the violin!


These are just pictures of the concert.  I also got it all on video!  I'll put pictures of the art and of the wonderful food donated later!  



Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Verona in pictures

I was hunting up info on the annual nativity display in the arena and came upon this site. I don't have a lot of info on the photographer at the moment, but she has some really good pictures and some interesting info on Verona! So check it out-
http://veronadailyphoto.blogspot.com/ It's not quite a daily photo, but very frequent. Have fun exploring! Maybe we'll meet this lady someday!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Rest

Last night was "Snuggle Night" at our house. Snuggle night has looked different through the years, but last night it meant that it was Bryan's turn to snuggle with Mama. As a result, I was relegated to his bed. In the past few weeks, I have grown increasingly dissatisfied with our waterbed and haven't rested well. Last night, in contrast, I slept as peacefully as the proverbial log and woke up rested and refreshed.

Sometimes, that's how I feel about our time in America and our upcoming time in Italy. I find myself growing more discontent here in America. I know that God is allowing this and that He is bigger than the oft accused "economy." I know that in His timing we will finally arrive in Italy and this time in America will fade like a dream upon waking. In any case, I know that once we do arrive in Italy, I will breathe a deep and restful sigh of peace.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Mumbled Thoughts

Tonight I went grocery shopping. I started out tired - really tired. And when I'm tired, my thinking abilities go somewhere between Haiti and Texas. As I'm walking along, I find myself thinking and even speaking in Creole.

This will be the test of Italian... when I go out late at night, am I thinking in Italian?