Thursday, January 31, 2008

Driver’s License.


The FINAL Italian document has now been officially and successfully obtained…that is at least for Jonathan. Yesterday he passed the practical part of the driving exam, with MUCH relief! Thanks to everyone who was praying for him. Just to give you an idea and understanding of why we have reason to celebrate and shout from the rooftop, here is a brief snapshot of what it took to get his Italian driver’s license.

Last July he enrolled in the Driving School and went to class twice a week in preparation to take the theory part of the exam. He was given the clearance to take the written exam in January and thankfully passed on his first attempt. The 6 month process for him was very quick, as on average it takes up to 9 months. One is given 3 attempts on the written exam and 2 attempts on the driving. If you fail more than this allotment you have to re-register and go through the whole course again, including paying for all the fees again and retaking both parts of the exam. Pressure? You betcha! When Jonathan took the written exam there was a guy who failed for the 6th time, thus having to re-register for the 3rd time.

The cost of the process is a killer! You have a registration fee, doctor’s exam fee, fee to take the written exam (for every attempt), fee to have some driving lessons with an instructor(28euros/hr), fee to take the driving exam (55euros) and I’m sure I am missing some more costs. We’d have to add it up but you can say he spent about 600euros ($1000) to get his license. There was a poor girl yesterday that failed her driving exam, even after having 17 hours of driving instruction…476 euros just shot down the tube!

As Jonathan was recounting his experience to me yesterday there were a couple of things that I just have to share. It is SO ITALIAN!

His instructor drove him to the meeting point where he was to take the driving exam and they were running behind schedule. They took the back roads that are barely wide enough for one car and he was flying down them, going around 120 Km/Hr. Jonathan was trying not to appear uncomfortable as he was wondering if he was going to live to take his own exam. Driving through the city was no better and he probably broke a zillion laws and rules of driving. This totally makes me crack up because there are driving school signs plastered all over the vehicle. The old saying: “Do as I tell you, not as I do” certainly applies with them. Of course when they arrived the examiner was not there. When he did finally pull up he himself parked illegally and then decided he wanted to go to the bar to get a coffee and smoke a cigarette before getting started.

So even though one receives their license by successfully complying with all the rules and regulations of driving, once that license is in hand everything goes out the window. I have gotten so used to the crazy driving here that when Jonathan was practicing driving “correctly” I was even more scared. Driving right will get you in to trouble.

I will begin my journey to obtaining my driver’s license in September. I can hardly wait! (ya, right!)

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

For my big sister...

Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary Miguel & Jennie!

Wishing you both the most wonderful of days as you reflect on the first amazing year of life God has given you together as husband and wife. We love you guys so much and are so proud of the work you are doing in the Dominican Republic. May your love for each other grow stronger with each new day as you keep Him the center of your lives. We are praying for you and can't wait to share in your joy of welcoming God's precious little gift in May.

P.S. Don't compare your stomach to a year ago...you're even more beautiful today! :0)

Monday, January 28, 2008

Our View of God's Creation...




From the highest of heights
To the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of Fall
To the fragrance of Spring
Every creature unique
And the song that it sings
All exclaiming...

Indescribable, uncontainable
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name
You are amazing, God
All powerful, untamable
Awestruck, we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing, God

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Time Flies.

Okay, so I almost went in to shock today when I was reading a notice at Samuel's school about a Masquerade Party they are having on January 31 to celebrate Carnivale. I wasn't shocked by the notice of the party but by the fact that when I looked at my calendar the 31st is already next week. Mamma mia, this year is flying!

We'll have to go get a costume for Samuel as this will be his first real celebration of Carnivale. Thankfully, all the costumes are cute and kid appropriate unlike their selection for Halloween. We'll be sure to post pics of the costume he chooses.

I wanted to give you a brief update and let you know that Jonathan DID pass the theory part of his driving exam last week. He just missed 1 and my perfectionist of a husband was very pleased and giddy the rest of the day! Now the practical part of the exam is scheduled for Wednesday. He will have 3 practice drives with an instructor before the official exam, but he should be just fine if he can adjust to driving a teeny-tiny car. Thanks for praying!

Healthwise...do you even want to go there? Last week we noticed Luca had some nasty goopy excretion coming out of his left ear. We called our on-call nurse (A.K.A. Grandma K.) and the pediatrician and were advised to watch it for a couple of days until we could get in to see the doctor. Luca did not have a fever nor was in any kind of pain so that was a blessing. He was put on antibiotics to clear things up but the ear drum most likely ruptured so we'll have to do a follow-up visit in a week or so. Other than that....we are doing well and have no other major issues at this time.

Enough talking...here are some pics I've been meaning to post for a while.






Luca's 1st haircut. Emma just had her 1st trim the week before!

1st cup of hot chocolate in a real cup thanks to Uncle Cody & Aunt Michelle

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The Dust is "Settling"

After almost a month of family visitors one could say that the dust is beginning to settle. It is always a huge adjustment to make back to our normal routine and the quietness that then insues. Well, a return to the "quietness" that one can have with three little ones. The goodbyes were easier this time knowing that we will soon see each other again the end of May. What a tremendous gift to spend some great time with family and a soon to be family member(Michelle!). Cody and Michelle left on Monday and should arrive back in Iraq today. We so enjoyed hearing all that God is doing in their lives and in the country's. Stuff you can't communicate unless in person and we were truly challenged!

The dust is settling...but we are keeping things stirred up as we now begin to heavily focus on making preparations for furlough. Plane tickets are bought (March 27-September 2), contacts with potential churches are being targeted daily, schedules are set with supporting churches, family photo yet to be taken for a new prayer card, meeting arranged with Melissa (co-worker) to discuss our presentation desires (she graciously will be designing our whole presentation) and our list is growing of things to do.

On top of the furlough focus and check lists...we also are striving to finish well with our responsibilities and ministries here. Jonathan continues his study on Isaiah 2 or 3 times a month on our Thursday night meetings. We will be meeting weekly with our friends, Raffaele and Manuela, starting this Saturday to encourage them and deepen our relationship with each other. They are unable to attend the Bible Studies due to work schedule and 2 little ones. We are so thankful for them and their friendship and that they live here in Leini'.

Noella started back up with language lessons last week and will be working hard to then attempt the language exam before we leave for furlough. Lots of work to be done...so please be praying for her! Jonathan takes his driving theory test on Thursday. Most people fail on the first try so please pray he'll pass this first attempt as we are forced into a time crunch with having to leave in March. If he doesn't pass he will have to wait a month to retake it.

Along with the desire to have Jonathan's Italian driving license in hand before we leave, we are still waiting on Noella's and the kids' permessi. It has been a month and a half since the last visit to the Questura and we hope to hear some news by the beginning of February with yet another notice that they are "completed". It is crucial we get these documents before we leave the country. We really pray they get it right this time!!

The kids are doing well and seem to be almost fully recovered from the flu and colds. We are still trying to kick some lingering symptoms and hope that we are done with illnesses for the winter!

I will have to post some more pics from the holidays too but have to sign off for now. Ciao!

Saturday, January 5, 2008

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Christmas - Part 2

Here is a quick recap of the past week: We thoroughly enjoyed the remainder of our time with Nano and Papa. It was so wonderful to see them again in person and to connect on a level that is so hard to reach through phone and webcam conversations. It is so helpful and insightful for them to now be able to visualize our home, city, friends and family life here in Italy. What an amazing gift to have them spend the holidays with us! They left on Thursday and have returned home safely plus the lingering colds they came with before their visit.

New Years was very low key. Hard to do anything with sick little ones--Luca and Emma still had fevers and were very much out of sorts. Everyone did enjoy the firework shows in the neighborhood though. It felt and sounded like a war zone as large fireworks are legal here.

Michelle arrived on-schedule last Sunday and we have really enjoyed getting to know her. She is a gem and we are so happy for both her and Cody! They will be here until the 14th of January.

In the last week we have made another 2 visits to the ER. Last Sunday, Jonathan felt the onset of an ear infection and so off to the hospital we went. Then yesterday, Emma began to complain of ear pain and her fever spiked again. She has barely eaten anything for the past two weeks and all she asked for was to go to bed and sleep. So off we went again. Emma has a double ear infection, so no wonder she was feeling miserable. The meds seemed to have kicked in last night as she ate fairly well and today it seems her appetite and energy are bouncing back a bit. You always know they are feeling better when there is an increase in sibling agitation and fighting.

You may be wondering why we have to go to the ER. Italy has a socialized health care system and since we are foreigners we have to pay an annual fee to receive care, unless we pay for a private doctor. The ER is obligated to serve you no matter what and so since we did not buy in to the system for 2007 our needs needed to be filled at the hospital ER. We are planning to buy in to the health care system for 2008 next week!! A reasonable fee will cover our whole family from prescriptions to doctor visits and anything else health related. Now watch we'll have a perfectly healthy 2008.

We will be taking a belated family Christmas photo since goopy noses, scarlet cheeks and sad looking faces would make for a horrible picture. But I'll post some pictures from the past couple of weeks for your enjoyment. We love and miss you all!!