Social Media is Overwhelming

So I have at least been posting on Facebook, but some of my friends don't do Facebook.  I ought to spend more time on this blog...but I haven't been...Please forgive me.  I know I can manage my time better.

We are almost at the halfway mark of our mission.  I marvel to write that; I know in no time at all I'll be shaking my head over the passage of the entire 18 months.  Every day we have marvelous experiences sharing our faith and listening to the experiences and feelings of others.  Every day our testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ deepens, clarifies, strengthens, marvels.

These photos reflect just a small part of all this, but enjoy!

  On the left is just a corner of the  temple, but not too many photos are taken of the chapel/stake center that is also on the temple site.  The whole square is so welcoming and peaceful.

I selected these photos randomly; we love romanesco and artichokes - but right now both are out of season.

This and the next two photos are from the Jewish ghetto, in existence from the 1500s.  Today, it's a happenin' place.  Life is ... ironic.

One of many fun encounters we have at the Visitors Center.  I didn't recognize this sweet lady at first, but when upon hearing I grew up in Hailey, Idaho, she exclaimed "I'm from Carey!"  I knew immediately that she is a Murdock - though her name now is Peggy Merrell.  Our families were friends, and her dad and mine were in the stake presidency together.  Love it!

The next few photos help you conceptualize one of the reasons the temple site is so peaceful and welcoming.  Sometimes when I walk around it, it seems as if even the birds and the bees feel it.

Blaine carries his iPad around all the time - it has a wealth of information and pictures to share.  He also wears a hat outside to protect his face from the sun, having had several small cancers removed.  So some of the sisters went to the Lego store and made a Lego Anziano Hyde, and attached it to our locker in the break room.

In June we had a wonderful visit from my brother Steve and his wife Young Ju.  Here we are waiting for the metro, Rome's subway.

I think he had never had a birthday cake quite like this one!  Yum!

This is one of the best connections yet!  I was leaving the VC and two Asian brothers walked in.  We exchanged greetings and info.  When they told me they were from South Korea, I told them my sister-in-law was also from there.  Same city!  Wow, that's interesting.  Upshot:  they're dear friends!  Boise, Idaho and Taegu, South Korea, meet at the Rome temple!!!

The Italy Rome West zone, last zone conference for our wonderful President couple the Pickerds.  We've know them for two missions.  Welcome to the Smiths, just as wonderful!

On to a couple of fun Blaine photos:  

 his favorite:  pizza cappriciosa

This is how you rinse the shower after cleaning.

When the sister missionaries arrive before we do, they have to wait because we have the keys to the breakroom.

  In July our granddaughter Abbey and her friend Aitana came from Barcelona for a visit.  Too short!  But fun, and such a joy to have her here.

One of the four olive trees on the main piazza.  They are 400-500 years old.  They were transplanted from northern Italy, but there are olive trees around the perimeter of the grounds that are native to the site, and are 150-200 years old.

Children enjoying the puddles after a storm

My pack mule!

We got so tired of waiting for the bus that this is our new mode of transportation to and from

 the Visitors Center!

 

Aidan, Abbey's younger brother, came for a visit this month.  Boy did we have fun!

Celebrating a baptism (third person on the left).  Our friend Valter has come to the VC almost every day for three months.  We all feel a part of his conversion process.

Dynamos, dynamic, dynamite. Look out! Out of small things...

Wonderful thing for Tuesday, 3 February:

Sometimes when I make these entries, I ask myself, how can I limit it to just one wonderful thing?  But I'm committed to keeping it short, so, let's see... Institute in Pisa.

It was our second trip to the Institute class.  Sorella di Ruscio, the instructor, may I just say, is a dynamo.  I love meeting vibrant, fun, committed people, who know what's what and who are wholly invested.  She knows what it's like to give your best effort to preparing the lesson, only to see one or two show up; however, her  enthusiasm is not curbed, one or two is as good as a dozen.  Her lessons are fast-paced, insightful, doctrinal.  It's a pleasure to be there.

Yesterday her one student, an excellent young returned missionary, brought his fiancée, an excellent young returned missionary from the Montevarchi branch.  Also in attendance were the Perez family, who have the responsibility for the GANS of Pisa. They are also excellent people:  they met on his mission to Brazil, so she is Brazilian.  They are American military.  She understands Italian, he can speak it!  They have a sweet six-year-old, Mellany.

We had an in-depth discussion of part of D&C 76.  I feel more committed to set my sights on il Regno Celeste, and more grateful for the principles in Moroni 10:32-33.

And we are so blessed and privileged to know these people.


Fun thing:

We went with the sisters to lunch at the Pascuzzo's.  The sisters were on "scambio", which means in this case that one of our sisters was in Siena, and one of the Siena sisters was here.  She has only been in the mission for three months, but speaks Italian like a pro, and with a great accent.  All missionaries who  "go foreign" receive a portion of the gift of tongues, but some already have it as a natural gift.  She is another dynamo.  We all had a fun time and, of course, great food.  Gotta get that recipe for risotto con zucca.