Final Phase Complete

Just a quick post to tell you that we received all of our Permessi di Soggiorno (permits to stay) this morning. It was a quick retrieval from the Questura, thanks again to our inside man. A huge sigh of relief was breathed when all the information was printed correctly too. We praise the Lord that we don't have to begin the renewal process for 2 more years!!

Kids Say the Funniest Things

I've been trying my best this fall to keep a journal of the funny things the kids do or say. Here is a collection of some of the things I've journaled. Enjoy!

• I was in my bedroom ironing curtains for the center. Luca was on the bed looking at books. In an instant as I had my back away from the ironing board to fold something he walked right in to the blazing hot iron. I thought pretty sure he burned himself as I only saw him out of the corner of my eye, but he didn’t really react as such. He just kind of swatted at his ear like a fly was bothering him. I immediately asked if he burned himself and looked to see for myself and sure enough a huge burn line was across the entire length of his ear. There was an indentation where he was seared but he didn’t shed one tear or complain one bit. He only lasted for about 3 minutes under the cool water from the bade before wanting to go off and play. He never once complained about it even though my stomach would churn each time I looked at it for the following 2 weeks as it healed.

• While giving Emma a bath, Jonathan was asking Emma why she liked frogs so much. She kept saying “because I do.” When pushed to give a reason she turned the question on Jonathan and asked “why do you like wedding pillows so much?” “What do you mean, wedding pillows?” She said, “you know the pillows with the earrings on it.” (I think we recently watched the wedding video of Uncle Cody and Aunt Michelle's wedding)

• After watching “Eight Below” Samuel asked "why does leprosy growl?" I came to understand that he was referring to the “Leopard Seal” that was in the movie.

• During Bible story time we were reading and discussing the story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah and Jonathan started to talk about the complications of marrying two women. He asked the kids “what if Dada married 2, 3 or 4 women?” Samuel replied “Then you would go to jail!” Jonathan then told the kids how Solomon in the Bible had 1,000 wives. Samuel replied “Ohhh, that’s kinda too many!”

• On our walk home from school Samuel seemed confused about what he learned in his English class that day. They were learning colors and he kept saying he learned the color “white blue” I tried to explain that he probably misheard the teacher as it is supposed to be “light blue.” I had to go through the explanation of the contrast between dark and light and finally got him to say “light” instead of “white.” Then he came out and said, “Mamma, I am not a dark person.” I was thinking did he mean evil or his skin tone? I did not understand what he meant so had to do some digging. He said, “You know, like you are not a creepy crawly bug person. I am not a dark person.” Oh, like you are scared of the dark? “Yes, I am not a dark person."

• After Luca finished watching a Pluto short and the closing credits came up, he said “A-MEN!” I think that’s what he thinks you say instead of “The End.” Since then I have noticed him say "A-MEN!" at the end of all movies.

• After Luca had a morning of being a big pest to his sick siblings, he finally was sitting nicely on the couch next to Samuel watching a movie. Samuel told him “You are my friend now, Luca . I don’t like it when you are a little sinner.”

• Bible story time: Jonathan was reading and discussing the story of Nicodemus and what it means to be born again. Samuel asked “when you are born again, do you stay the same size?” Jonathan explained that it was not a physical rebirth but a spiritual one in which God gives us a new mind. Samuel’s response was “so when you are born again you’re out of your mind?”

• Luca is enamored with technology. He knows how to navigate around on the computer, download stuff and getting around without creating unfixable problems—like he really knows what he is doing. He loves to have control of the TV and DVD remotes. Every button he pushes is referred to as the “play” or “menu” button. He’ll say “Mamma, I push menu” when turning off my kitchen timer. “Mamma, I push play” to start the dishwasher. When Jonathan is on his cell phone, Luca will dictate to him “Dadda, push menu!”

One Year Ago

Today marks one year since Samuel had his ablation. Read here if you want to remember along with us (you'll have to then peruse through all the November 2008 postings to catch the full story). That one week in ICU seems so very long ago. Samuel still remembers his experience well and it is a good time of year to help him remember to give thanks to God for His perfect timing, protection, provision and healing of his heart.

When I reflect on the heart problem Samuel had and the health care available to us, I can't help but think of the countless children in Iraq who are living with a heart condition that threatens their young lives and to be without hope of receiving a life-saving surgery like Samuel was so able to receive. My brother Cody and his wife, Michelle are laboring to help save the lives of these children through the work of the Preemptive Love Coalition. Check out the following video of Mohammad's surgery just a couple of weeks ago. I encourage you to pray, give and spread the word about PLC. We have so much to be thankful for!

A PEAK BEHIND THE SCENES INTO MOHAMMAD STAR’S SURGERY from Preemptive Love on Vimeo.

Wearin' it all

Luca has been in this kick for a couple of weeks now where he dresses himself in multiple layers. We are not just talking layering two shirts, but up to 8 shirts at one time and as many as 5 pairs of pants, then wearing them all day. As mentioned before Luca is very quiet during his nap and bedtimes, however, sometimes I have to wonder how much time he actually spends playing before dozing off. He will raid his closet and drawers and put on the most outrageous number of clothes. I don't even try to de-layer him before bedtime because he will re-layer himself regardless. I just don't see how he can think it is enjoyable being so stiff bodied and hot as usually he is also wearing his superman slippers when sleeping. The only reason we can figure for this phase is that he just likes all his clothes and wants to wear them all at one time. I guess I won't have to pack a suitcase for him anymore--I'll just let him wear his whole wardrobe!



I feel like just putting a pair of hockey skates on him and letting him go at it with all his padding.

Who is this girl?

The other day I was curling my hair and Emma came in and asked what I was doing.  I told her I was curling my hair so I could look like her.  She gazed at me for a few seconds and then said "Mamma, I don't like you with curly hair!"  I asked her why not and she said, "Because God made you with straight hair!"

So this morning, I was a little surprised when she asked if I could make her hair straight.  I asked her why she would want to do that when God made it curly and she just said, "Because I want straight hair today."  And she wanted two pig tails like another girl in her class, but I didn't have any more time to spend on her hair this morning.  So this is the end result and let me tell you it SO does not look like our little Emma.  Her hair is crazy long, huh?!

She was growing self conscious when I took this picture and was hiding her face from the camera when I tried to get a face shot.  I don't think she knew quite what to do with it as she had to keep flipping it behind her shoulders.  Her hair has yet to be flipped back over the shoulders when it is curly.  She is so funny.  Sundays are the only days she wants a braid in her hair.  I don't know why, maybe for the same reason she doesn't like to wear a dress apart from Sundays.  Here is another shot of her running away from the camera after she asked for two braids a few weeks back.  She is so not an attention seeker with her shy personality.

Celebration Pt. 2

Emma had the joy of celebrating her birthday all over again this past Sunday.  She was super excited for her party and we are always thankful we can share special times like these with dear friends.  Celebrating birthdays are exhausting for me (maybe one day I'll choose a cake that doesn't take 2 days to make!) However, I would take my aching back any day just to see the smiles on the kids' faces!

Emma's Princess Frog Cake

 

 

 

Tanti Auguri Emma!

 

Danilo's birthday was on the 7th so we added him to the celebration as well.

 

 

Diego and Luca playing in the toy box

Celebration Pt. 1

What would make a 5 year old melancholy about her birthday??  A FEVER!!  We got a call from Emma's teacher yesterday afternoon around 3pm that she had a fever and needed to be picked up.  Well, no wonder she was out of sorts yesterday morning being on the verge of illness!  Poor thing!  She did at least eat her cake earlier that morning and said she really liked it, sprinkles included.  I thought maybe there might be some left over for Samuel and Luca to enjoy but there was nothing but a clean tray returned.  I guess they will have to wait for cake #2 for the second half of Emma's birthday festivities on Sunday.

Here are some pictures of Emma opening her gifts.  Sorry, if there are a lot but I know everyone wants to see her opening their gifts that they sent.

Emma's teacher, Patrizia, gave her a little stuffed tiger.  They also gave her a card/certificate along with her #5 necklace she is wearing.  She has great teachers!

 

Thank you Papa & Nano for my Loop 'n Loom!  I already made 1 potholder.

 

Froggy stuff...oh yeah! Thank you Munga & Gramma!

 

It's Frogalina!

 

My Little Pony dress up from Great Grandpa & Grandma

 

Family fun at Old McDonalds

 

Everyone with new PJs from Munga & Gramma and Triceratops from Dada, Mamma & boys

 

So not in the mood for anymore pictures, but I just love her curls after a bath.

Birthday Girl

Happy 5th Birthday Emma!

What a joy our sweet Emma is to have in our lives!  Five just seems so old to me that I can hardly believe it's true.  Emma was very melancholy this morning and we can't figure out if she is just tired, not feeling well or is trying to hide in her little shell because of all the special attention.  She does not like to be the center of attention but hopefully her enthusiasm will increase as the day goes on.  I made her a chocolate cake to celebrate with her classmates at school.  Thankfully I was able to snap a few pictures before heading off to school this morning because we are not permitted to enter the school grounds during class hours.  I'm sure her teachers will pass along the photos they take of her with her cake at school.  This afternoon she will open some presents, have dinner at McDonalds and then we will celebrate again with some friends on Sunday afternoon.