Gratitude for Family Visits

As we conclude the Thanksgiving month of November and reflect on God's grace, gifts and goodness extended to us throughout this past year, it is only fitting that I play catch up here on the blog to record some very special memories from 2017. 

Always sacrificing to fly business class so they can bring us extra luggage
filled with gifts and items we need. Thank you!

One huge and special highlight that we are so thankful for (and somehow had no time to write about) was a visit from Munga and Gramma in August. It had been four years since they last came to Italy and it was the first time that they stayed in our house in Caselle. It was fun to show them around our town even though it was mid-August and most shops were closed. But at least there was always one gelato store guaranteed to be open, and Munga made sure they did not lose business with so many locals away on vacation. 

It was hot, but mostly tolerable if my memory serves me correctly. Ok, maybe it was a little uncomfortable coming from "the land of AC". Their first four days involved jet lag recovery, kid sitting while Jonathan and I got away for the day on our anniversary, lunch with friends, house repair projects and most of all just loving on their grandkids. Then they left for five days to visit a good friend in Turkey before coming back to us for a week. 

Sunday lunch with friends

Closed. Closed. Everything is Closed.

The Venaria Palace was even closed, which is a big tourist attraction.

Creating their own fun

With it being August and the mass exodus from the landlocked region of Piedmont to the sea, we too left to enjoy some place more lively. Of course, that meant leaving the country and heading north to Geneva, Switzerland. People are always shocked to realize that from where we live we can get to France and Switzerland in a little over an hour. We crossed over the Alps, rather through the Mont Blanc tunnel pass into France then on to Switzerland and had a fabulous day.

We packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed eating it in the Parc des Bastions while admiring the Reformation Wall. 

A fitting location at the Reformation Wall for Jonathan to receive an email
from the South African Theological Seminary with his acceptance into
the PhD program.

World's Longest Bench (as seen on The Amazing Race)

We toured the Reformation sites associated with John Calvin and others throughout the city. [See this blog post for more Reformation details from our first visit in 2015]. 

Where John Calvin's house once stood.

We climbed up to the top of the St. Pierre Cathedral for a fantastic view of the city. 

St. Pierre Cathedral where Calvin preached.

View from the church bell tower

Taking a rest in the middle room between the two towers

A stop at Starbucks to grab something refreshing to drink along Lake Geneva before heading home made for a enjoyable conclusion to our day before heading back home.

I always love driving through the Mont Blanc pass and seeing the glacier that is it's name sake. Studying geography, as I do with Luca, is so much more fun when you have vivid images you can put in your mind.

At the Italian-French border

During their final few days with us, Munga and Gramma were able to meet more of our friends, spend the morning at our favorite coffee shop that Jonathan frequents almost daily, cool off on a shopping trip to IKEA and of course more gelato and pizza. Our studies and ministries were suspended for the month of August so it was nice to have that down time while they were here before we hit the rush of the start to school. It is always great to have visitors, but even more special when it is family. We treasure these moments together and are so thankful they were able to make the trip to visit us this year. We love you Munga and Gramma!!