What's happening

Since the start of school, we pretty much have been running non-stop, thus explaining the silence here. Our days have been busy and full with each week over the past month picking up in intensity. After the first two weeks of partial school schedules, the third week finally put us into a regular rhythm. There was Permesso (permit to live in Italy) renewal that required two visits so far to the Questura. Mine is still processing but hopefully we will have it hand soon. Then once October hit we added in weekly karate lessons (J and kids), piano (Samuel), guitar (Jonathan) and drums lessons (Luca). Jonathan is teaching Emma the guitar at home.  In addition, Samuel will soon be starting a once a week German course after school. I too will be hitting the books soon as I register for the infamous driving school. That is after I get my Permesso in hand. (*sigh*) And this is just the family side of life.

Our weekly welcoming ministry at the local charity started back up in September after a month off in August. This is our one break all year. We also resumed our Tuesday night Bible studies with a bit smaller of a group, but it has been good to dig deeper in to the book of Genesis and continue to set a firm foundation with our mixed group of believers and seekers. Our jobs course that we began the beginning of July seems to have stretched on and on, however today was our final lesson. We still have to organise a graduation party but we'll work on that after our return from our field team retreat next weekend.

The highlight of the month was this past weekend when we had our baptismal service on top of the opportunity for Jonathan to participate in a forum/debate/discussion--whatever you want to call it--in which he represented the evangelical protestant view. Oh, AND we had visitors from the US visiting this past weekend. More on both of the events in upcoming posts!

Just wanted to let you know we are here. We are well. And we can't wait to share more in the coming days...but bear with me while I try to catch my breath. Here are some random happenings last month just for fun....

4 sets of shutters + front door all revarnished! 4 sets remain for another day.

Grape Harvest

I borrowed Melissa's juicer this year and it saved a ton of time!

All in all I made 18 jars of jelly from our grape harvest

Zucchini finally came in and we have a few lingering veggies to harvest before our first frost arrives

Painted the laundry room...

...and the taverna as well 

And just because he is the cutest thing ever!