Families, holy and homely

Wonderful thing:

When we came here almost a year ago, we moved into the same cute, tiny apartment in which the former missionary couple - the Tonons - had lived.  Right next door lived Ornela, a young woman who had joined the church through their efforts.  

It was easy, and a joy, to come to know Ornela.  We made efforts to get to know the rest of the family, too; we invited them over for dinner after we'd been there for a few weeks:  mom, dad, brother, brother's fiancee.  Her dad had thought the Tonons a tad on the stern side.  He found out that the Hydes are ... not.  We had a delightful evening.

Of course we weren't in that apartment long, but we've still had occasion to see Ornela's parents every now and then.  They were here for a party around the holidays; they've come here to pick her up after family home evening on a Sunday - one time, her mom had car trouble, and Blaine and her dad worked on it together.

A couple of nights ago, Ornela invited us for dinner for last night.  It was her mother's 50th birthday, and they wanted to share it with us, and with the sister missionaries, who now live in that cute, tiny apartment next door.  

We had another delightful evening.  It feels really, really good to build these warm relationships with such fine people.  It's just indicative of how every day since we came on this mission has carried with it its own gifts.  Every single day.

Fun thing:

Michelangelo's Holy Family, the one with little John the Baptist off to the right, dressed even as a child in his coarse garb, smacks you with vibrancy and delight, even hundreds of years after he painted it.  I want to meet that guy some day, he must be a dynamo!  Michelangelo, that is.  John the Baptist is beyond dynamo.

Yes, we did the Uffizzi.

Didn't make note of who painted this - it's a "zingarella" - a gypsy, I think.  I like it.