Residents

'My mind is full of cotton'....that's how it felt for the first 24 hours.  It was jet lag of course, but it felt more intense this time.  

So here we are!  We are residents of America!  

I'm still getting a few emails from 'work'....I don't think some people realize we left!  Our landlord wrote to say that if feels 'empty' without us there.  I took a picture of our metro stop 'Euclide' just for memory sake.  

We had to wake at 4am.  When the shuttle took us to the airport, Tom left his backpack on the bus.  He knew immediately that he had to run after the bus....he said he hadn't run that fast and that far since high school football.  Just as the bus shut the doors and was headed out, Tom caught up and the driver saw him running.  He got his backpack.  Happy Day!!!  Then our flight was late so with our connection in Paris we had to run to catch our flight.  Again we were blessed and we made it.  Happy Day again!  I thought I would cry when we left Italy.  I didn't. I did a little bit later but now it's out of my system I think.   Guess I am ready for the next adventure.

Suzanne, that dear woman, picked us up.  We unloaded at her house and took a tiny nap.  We went to Stouts to meet Juliette (beautiful baby!) and to have a 'welcome home' delicious dinner.  Colie even made Gram's blue ribbon strawberry pie!  We had to leave promptly b/c we were fading fast.

After a night's rest, we went to Suzanne's ward for sacrament and then we had to head out for the airport...off to Monterey.

So here we are in Monterey.  Tom works and I 'play'...except I have been tasked with a list from our builder so I have plenty of homework to accomplish.  Happy July 24th everyone.

Euclide metro stop.  We were sure smart to move half way through our mission.  I made ALL the difference!  I will never forget our experiences in Rome.  All in all?  Wonderful!

Landed in SLC with 4 bags, all at exactly 50 lbs, 2 roller boards that were full of books and jam- packed backpack and purse.  Not bad considering we have been gone for 18 months and that's all we owned in the world.

Gram's Blue Ribbon Strawberry pie.  'Welcome to America' from Nicole.

Cora was happy to see us.  Juliette is beautiful and it was perfectly wonderful to meet her and hold her!

Now a week in Monterey.  I get to enjoy the scenery while Tom works.  Yeah, it's the good life!

In Three Days we will be 'Living in the USA'

I get the feeling it will all seem like a dream.  Like it never happened.  Sure, there are pictures, and there are memories, and I have my journal.  Still.  I always think this is how a person must feel when they know their earthly life has run it's course.  Basically it's a feeling of incredulousness.  How did it go so fast?  Did I savor the moments?  Did I appreciate each day like I should have?  Is it really coming to a close?  And then the most important question and what keeps you going....What is ahead?
But for today, I want to focus on the past 18 months.  Living in Rome is living a dream for both Tom and I.  We love this city.  We worked here, served here, made friends here, appreciated the history and the sites, and assisted in a portion of their history.  We also came to love some 'unknown to us' places in Northern Italy, and made friends and served there as well.  It's been an awesome experience.  It's hard to put into words the feelings and emotions that accompany a major change such as this.
Everyone must struggle with change to some degree or another.  You grow to love where you are.  You are uncertain what the future will bring.  You trust in God, it's as simple as that.  And your heart overflows with gratitude for His blessings in letting you experience life in such a beautiful setting.  A few photos from the past couple of days.

Lasagna lunch again with Sanchez as the chef and the District doing all the cooking and clean-up.  

Temple work day with the Ladispoli Elders and Sisters.  We assembled chandeliers.  Tom and I got to work on the lights in a very special room.  More details after the temple dedication!  (Elder Huntsman joined us this day)

We wore hardhats because it's still a construction area!

Back to Appia Antica.  We love the feeling of that area.  Went to visit Villa Maxentius.

We took bus #118 out here and we were too early to get in.  So we ate breakfast at a little cafe and then waited outside of the Villa Maxentius until it opened.

Villa Maxentius.  There is a villa, a circus which was amazingly preserved with the starting gates, the stands, the Emperors box, and the spina.  

David and Carolyn Fenn.  David is one of the main builders of the temple and Carolyn is the historian.  Tom is showing David our Heber house....maybe he can do the outside?  Anyway, it's been fun to have a few nights out with different friends that we have made over the course of our sojourn here.

My eyes are puffy and red because I have been crying!  The RS Pres, Louize (on the far R) surprised us with a farewell party.  She made these cute popsicles out of watermelon.  She had also prepared a video from our friends in Brussels as well as our friends in Rome.  She got the videos from Brussels because her daughter, Emanuela, was our RS Pres in Brussels!  Thus the tears started to flow as people we love were wishing us well and saying 'good-bye'

Me, Louize, and Hanim...

Guess we are coming back:  We tossed in our coins just to be sure

Pantheon in the early morning before the crowds

The turtle fountain

Theater of Marcelus and the Jewish quarter

The center of Rome,  the Capitoline Hill or the Campidoglio.  The design inspiration for the Rome Temple

At the top of the steps in front of the church on the Capitoline Hill.  We were sitting here just thinking and enjoying the view, watching all the people coming and going.  Made us think of the famous writing of William Shakespeare:  "All the world's a stage, and we but players, who strut and fret our hour, and are gone."

Ah Roma, every turn you are beautiful

These little golden plaques in the cement are in the Jewish quarter and are placed in the stones in front of the houses of the Jews that lived in the homes and were taken to concentration camps.

The baths of Agrippa....of course you built a home in the middle of them.  This is on a street behind the pantheon.  

Two Short Days at the End of Jake's Family European Visit

Borghese Park has these fun bikes that you can rent for only 5 euro/hour.  So we loaded up and had a blast.  The best part is flying down a hillside, and the worst part is pushing them back up the hill!  Jake let Lily drive and he sat in the passenger seat which we thought was brave HOWEVER he let Kate drive all by herself!  He said that was much scarier....and indeed she was driving like a maniac!

These two rented their own bikes.  We had an entire hour and since it was so hot, we were pretty exhausted even after 1/2 hour had passed, but we kept going for the full hour.

The second day, and their last day in Rome, and indeed their last day in Europe, we took the day and drove to a gorgeous beach called Sperlonga.  No photos of the beach but imagine flour white sand that goes out forever in a shallow immersion of the clear clear water.  It was a glorious day.  We were hurrying to get home in time for the World Cup game between Belgium and England.  Belgium won 1 to 0, but both teams moved to the next level.  Jake and family left early the next morning back to PA and we left as well on a trip to Northern Italy.  Again, thanks for the visit Jake and family.  We loved having you!!!  And guess what, it's REALLY hot now, so you came just in time!