We love Saturday

Ten reasons we love Saturday:

1. we can sleep in 

{at least until 7:10 when Benjamin's eyes usually pop open. This morning he comes in to our room and announces: Good morrrrning everyone, it's time to go to the party! -referring to the birthday party he is invited to LATER}

2. Leasurely breakfast {as opposed to shoving down the pancake and stumbling out the door on weekdays}

3. Scott usually takes Benjamin out exploring at some point which means I get some alone time {and I always need That}

4. some guiltless book and blog reading {non-Italian} 

5. Afternoon nap

6. passeggiata {leasurely evening walk in town}

7. hang out and cuddle with Ben while watching Peppa Pig together

8. baking day {I'm thinking cherry scones for today}

9. journaling

10. getting some new {and really cheap} fashion, home and garden magazines 

Well, Bettina, our landlady stopped by today for a few things. She is leaving tomorrow for Germany to visit her daughter and her first grandbaby! :) Congratulations Nicola and Bettina!! Hip hip hurray!

Scott has been doing taxes for the last few days and he has been pulling his hair out. Why do they make it so complicated and change the system every year?? I really appreciate him doing it, I dont know what I would do if I had to do it. What really cracked me up though, he was singing old country songs while filling out the documents...apparently it lessened his stress.

:)

He is so American sometimes. 

I love it!

Then it was time to take a break so I sent them outside.

I wonder what they were talking about. Probably lizards, spiders, worms or some such things. Ew.

Then it was time to go to the Birthday party. It was held at the mall. Francesca, the mom of the birthday girl did a really nice job organizing it. The munchies were yummy and the kids had lots of fun. 

The cake was out of this world GOOD! Mmm...I would have gone for seconds if I wasn't too ashamed of myself. Anyways.

Upon leaving the kids even got a balloon animal and a few tokens to ride the go-karts!

Benjamin was super excited about that. "That's my dream coming true" he admitted.

Benjamin was all goofy and excited about going to the party. 

About my promise to myself yesterday, that I would chat with the other mammas at the party... Well, I wouldn't exactly say I was chatting away with everybody, but I did sit with them, and I did listen to their conversations, and I did nod and smile and I was part of the group. {I actually did talk to one mamma for a few minutes}

But hey! It's not too shabby for a first step. 

At some point Scott and I walked over to Globo, a cool store with clothes, shoes and BAAAAAGS.

He needs new shoes soon and he was pricing things out. Meanwhile I was browsing.

Oh, the things one finds...

These shoes looked so ridiculous...there is just no way anybody can walk in these!

I met Wilson too! So cool!! :)

Scenic view on the way home

P.S. I might or might not have spotted my dream handbag at Globo today.

It might or might not have been navy blue with golden studs.

I might or might not be saving my euro cents already.

Just sayin'.

Epic failure

So it is Friday...my favorite day of the week. Why? Because both my lovely boys are gone for the whole morning for school. 

Which means: 

4 whole hours of blissful solitude for me!  
 Hha!

(Disclaimer: I am always super excited for their return later)

Anyhoo

I was agonizing  over whether to go out to the supermarket quick for some fresh bread and prosciutto. If I go out, I lose some of my precious alone time AT HOME. If I don't go out, I might have to wait till 5PM to get bread and ham, because of siesta. 

(Siesta hours: 1-5 pm. All shops are closed)

I decided to run out quick on my bike. I also wanted to snap a few pictures of the market, because its market day, but when I got there, I couldn't find a spot where I could have parked for a moment to snap a couple, the vendors were kinda looking at me, smiling, inviting me to view their merchandise...I couldn't just smile back and snap a photo of them. Especially that I had my big camera with me for which I was kicking myself.... So anyway, I went to get bread and prosciutto and on my way back I passed the market again, and I managed to get a couple shots, but they didn't turn out too good, and the wind was blowing so hard, all my hair was in my face, and covering the camera lense,

then I realized that I could have gone to the vegetable market this morning to see Laura, a vendor whom I acquainted months ago, and I could have used the time to practice Italian with her, 

then I realized that i should also have set up a meeting with Antonella, my other Italian-Canadian friend to go to the market together. That would have been a great opportunity to practice and build relationships as well!

Blah!

Messed up!

I felt so bummed when I got home... Then, the cherry on top of the cake was that someone rand the bell, I went out, this young guy started talking to me so fast that I swear I didn't understand a word! I really didnt want to deal with him at the moment, and he just kept talking... so I told him that I didn't speak Italian well and didn't understand, then he said a few more things and gave me his business card...I went inside, glad to have been "rid of the salesman"...and I realized how much I messed up AGAIN!! I could TOTALLY have "taken advantage" of the situation and learnt something from this young man! If I had asked him to speak a little slower and explain to me his business, I'm sure he would have done it. And I would have learnt a few things I'm sure! 

Gholly!!

I was so focused on having my lousy ME-TIME perfect this morning that I totally missed out on some great opportunities!

 

Did I learn something from this EPIC FAILURE MORNING ?

Yes, I did. 

1. Be more organized with every minute of the day 

2. Keep up and maintain relationships that you already have

3. Use EVERY opportunity God brings in your way to learn and practice

Barber shop, friends and death announcements

1. I expected sunny 72 degrees today. What I actually got: a cloudy 69 degrees.. 

It is okay though. I felt cold all morning, so I finally made a hot water bottle to put under my feet while studying. Scott decided to go and "sit in" at signore Nicola's shop. He is one of the local barbers/ hairdressers and one of the most popular ones might I add. He is also our landlord. 

Scott had the chance to chat with him a lot as well as the costumers. One of which spoke a little English :)

2. We rode our bikes out a little to further explore our neighborhood. There are entire streets that seem completely uninhabited during the year. Our landlady told us that when the summer season starts up people from all over Europe fill up the beaches, hotels, our town... all the vacation houses open up and life in general pick up pace big time! Most of the tourists (or summer residents) are from Italy, then from Germany, Belgium, Holland and Switzerland... but from all over, really. That will be an interesting time for us (first summer in Italy). Scott suggested it might be a good time to set up my little stand and sell my handmade products to tourists on the walking street. :)

3. Death announcements.

We have noticed that the bulletin boards, or ad poles in town are always covered with these mysterious announcements. First we didnt know what they were about, then realized that they were death announcements! The dead is very well-remembered in Italy.

Traditionally, when someone dies in a village in Italy, he is kept in an open casket at home, and friends and neighbors will visit and pay their respects. The family will often decorate the door of their house and put up notices to tell people about the death and the funeral. In the city, where people are no so intertwined, death notices are put in the newspaper. 

4. Picking up Benjamin from school 

I haven't mustered enough courage to talk to the other moms yet, but I am definitely preparing for it.

On Saturday Benjamin is invited to one of his classmate's birthday party and I am totally planning to chat and mingle. As opposed to last time, when I just sat quietly and observed the other parents while gnawing on a piece of pizza. 

Totally doing it this time. 

I think.... Oh, dear...

4. Friends

This is Martha. She is originally from Cameroon, Africa, but she has lived in Italy with her Italian husband for twenty-some years now. They have four beautiful children. Now, Martha is really sweet and helpful, we go on walks a few mornings a week and she knows everything about anything, really... what is going on in town, which vendor sells the freshest eggplants at the market, or what is the passato remoto form of the verb credere. She also gave me some miraculous elixir the other day that cleared up my eye infection in a jiffy!

And this is Antonio!! :) He is our neighbors' 14 years old son. He and Benjamin get along really well, they always hi-5 each other above the fence. Benjamin always greets him with loud CIAO! every time he leaves or comes home.

5. Beautiful flowers I spotted while walking down the street. Anybody knows what kind they are?

My doppelganger earrings, city van and crepes

It was a nice day again, 18 degrees Celsius (for Americans, that is 65 F). And tomorrow they promise 21 C!!! (70F) Yaayyyy!!!!! That is very good news because I need to pull more weeds out in the garden and I really prefer to do it in warm weather... During working my face flushes (blushes?) and sweats..which is a great way to get a nice little facial. Sweating opens up and unclogs the pores, keeping my skin looking goooood! :)

The other day all the sudden I realized that i was missing my favorite pair of earrings. I actually have been missing it for over a year!! Well, you might ask, how come I didnt discover they were missing sooner?

Simple answer: I havent been wearing jewelry all that much. Plus when we moved to Italy I had all my favorite jewelry packed up nice and tidy, and I havent thought about unpacking them for a long time. However...I did realize they were missing and decided to do something about it. 

I bought them on Etsy a few years ago for 4 dollars, can you believe it! 

So I decided to make its doppelganger-match! :)

(Doppelganger: look-alike, a paranormal double of a living person) I just like the word :)

I think mine look a little bit more grumpy

while the originals a little more sad...

I took this picture (below) a few days ago in our town, Petacciato. Can you see the cat sitting and chilling? I wonder if it just got lost or something... I love it!

Well, here is another interesting picture...it actually cracked me up. I tried taking a picture of it without being seen. I dont want to hurt anybody's feelings :)

So here it is, the CITY VAN! :) With a fan in the window! :) Love it!! 

When I went to pick up Benjamin today all the sudden my nose was hit by the sweet smell of waffles with strawberry jam and whipped cream. (One of my childhood favorites) So when we got home I told Benjamin I wanted to make some for him and me...just us...a special and secret snack. He got so excited about it. But it turns out he thought I meant crepes... and so I did. :)

Spring, plants and trash

It's been getting warmer and nicer here in Southern Italy. But I believe everywhere else too. 

April 2 today, finally feels like real spring. I should be putting away all our winter coats, hats and boots already. And will do! Today! :)

This morning I realized... I love mornings! I used to not like them...but something changed when we finally got our "own" home. We are renting, yea, but for the first time ever I finally have my own things in the house. My own rugs, curtains, tablecloths, plates and cups and silverware... Might not seem that big a deal to some people,but we lived in temporary rentals for the first 6 years of our marriage, Bible school dorm, missions training campus, our church's missionary home etc. where we were using other people's stuff, stuff that came with the house. And we purposefully didn't even pursue having, getting our own things because we knew we were moving oversees. 

Moving to Italy was a dream for me, (one of my 3 big dreams). And setting up our home from IKEA was another dream checked off from my list :) Can't help that IKEA was the cheapest and THE COOLEST place to get our stuff from. :) I still can't stop smiling just thinking about it....what a glorious day that was..... :)

S o  n o w  I  l o v e  t h e  m o r n i n g s.

After Benjamin leaves for school...

I open all the windows 

Wash and put away breakfast dishes

Vacuum the house

Fold and put away clean laundry

Hang fresh laundry on the clothes lines on the balcony (my fav!)

Put away stuff that is just laying around (I don't like stuff laying around)

Put out my plants and flowers on the sun-flooded balcony

I can't help it. I can only study in a tidy house. The whole thing doesn't take more than 30 minutes anyway. And it is such a joy!  :) 

Thank you Lord for allowing us to have a home! :) 

A few pics of my plants...

Husband and kid went for an exploring adventure (a walk) the other day and Benjamin brought back a ladybug for me...Aawwwww :)

I LOVE this idea that you can basically plant seeds in ANYTHING!! So cute! 

Did I mention I LOVE selective trash collecting? It's Tuesday today so it is PAPER DAY. And they actually take ALL kinds of paper, even cardboard! :) LOL

I think I would have a real hard time now if I had to throw all my trash in the same container. As I got used to the selective trash so I started really appreciating it. 

A little update

Spring is definitely coming. More and more are the number of those sunny, warmer days. This coming week promises to be beautiful. At least until Friday. They say it is gonna be low 70's and sunny Yay!! :)

I have never experienced a more mild winter before [than here in Southern Italy] but I havent been looking forward to spring this much either. 

I love how everything is coming alive again, the wonderful and "gragrancious" spring flowers are out and the morning sun full of Vitamin D. I like to sit out on our piccolo balconcino in the mornings and study. Also one of my favorite things to do in the morning is to hang clean clothes out to dry. As the breeze softly waves the fabrics, I inhale the wonderful smells of spring, and the sun is warming me up. From the outside in. :)

A tavasz hatarozottan itt van. Egyre tobb a szep, napos, kellemes nap. Jovo het gyonyorunek igerkezik. Legalabbis pentekig. 21 fokot mondanak Jaj de jo!!!! :) Soha nem volt meg ilyen enyhe telem, de ugyanakkor soha nem vartam meg a tavaszt se ilyen nagyon. Nagyon szeretem a tavaszt, ahogy monden eletre kel, a tavaszi viragok bodito illatat es az egyre melegedo nap tele van D vitaminnal! :)Nagyon szeretek kiulni delelottonkent az erkelyre tanulni, ahol melegen sut a nap. Egyik kedvenc elfoglaltsagom, hogy reggelente kirakom a vizes ruhat szaradni az erkelyen. Itt mindenki "kiteregeti a szennyeset" szo szerint! :) 

What has been happening with us since the last blogpost? (which was in February..shame on me)

Well, probably nothing very interesting according to your measure, but for us every day is an adventure, a challenge, a joy. 

Mi is tortent a legutobbi blog post ota? (ami februarban volt...szegyellje magat). Ha't...nem tul sok erdekes a mas merceje szerint, de nekunk minden nap kaland, megprobaltatas, orom. 

Here are some highlights: 

Ime nehany esemeny:

1. On a daily basis we are:

praying in the morning with our team, Benjamin is in kindergarten from 9 to 3:30, Scott and I are studying the Italian language and culture in every free minute of the day, I (Edina) am trying to learn more and more about the Italian cousine, learning the use of the ingredients available here, the usage of the 1000 kinds of cheeses in the deli's etc. 

Napi szinten amit csinalunk: Reggel rovid megbeszeles es imadkozas a munkatarsainkkal, Benike ovodaban van 9 es fel 4 kozott, Scottal a nap minden szabad perceben tanuljuk az olaszt, en (E.) probalok minel tobbet megtanulni az itt kaphato elelmiszerekrol, etelek elkeszitesi modjairol, az 1000-fele sajt felhasznalasi modjairol...

Sunday school for the little ones
vasarnapi iskola a picurkaknak

2. On Sundays we go to church and meet the local believers.

Vasarnaponkent imahazba megyunk es talalkozunk a helyi hivokkel

3. We said goodbye to our beloved co-worker, Emmanuelle who following God's voice went back to Germany to serve in his home church for a while until God directs him otherwise

Bucsut intettunk szeretett munkatarsunknak, Emmanuelle-nek, aki az Ur szavat kovetve visszament Nemetorszagba ahol az otthoni gyulekezeteben fog szolgalni egy ideig

(he is in the far left    o a balszelso a kepen)

4. It is a big deal for me that we have finally found the public library in Termoli. The set-up is a bit different...well..from any other library I have ever been to.... but it is probably just because I dont know the system here yet :) LOL Love it!!! :)

Szamomra nagy esemeny, hogy vegre megtalaltuk a varosi konyvtarat Termoliban. Az elrendezes egy kicsit....hogyismondjam....ma's, mint amit egy konyvtarban varna az ember...de valoszinuleg ezt csak azert erzem igy, mert meg nem ismerem jol a rendszert. :) Haha nagyon jo!!! :)

5. Benjamin is learning so much in school. He understands a lot and his teacher told me that he is speaking a lot in Italian already with his friends. Probably not on Goldoni-level, but perfectly enough for what he needs. We are very excited about this, because we just got a phone call a few days ago that Benjamin cannot do another year in kindergarten (which we originally planned on doing so that his Italian would be much more advanced by the time he starts 1st grade), he is starting 1st grade in the fall!

As intimidating as it sounds we are excited and happy for him. 

Benike nagyon sokat fejlodik az ovodaban. Mar ert nagyon sokat olaszul, es a tanito nenije elmondta nekem, hogy mar sokat beszel is olaszul a kis barataival es tanaraival. Mi nagyon orulunk ennek, kulonosen mert most hallottuk, hogy szeptembertol iskolaba kell mennie es nem maradhat meg egy evet az oviban. Eredetileg azt terveztuk, hogy nem kuldjuk elso osztalyba, amig nem beszel folyekonyan olaszul, de a kora miatt muszaj kezdenie az elsot. Ez egy kicsit ijeszto, de ugyanakkor izgalmas is. 

6. We hit the city a couple times this month again. What for? To do more paperwork of course :)

But Thank God we can see the end now. Other than a couple more things we are "all settled".

Ebben a honapban is el kellett menni ketszer Campobasso-ba hivatalos ugyben. De hala az Urnak mostmar ugy tunik, hogy hamarosan a vegere erunk a sok papirmunkanak, ugyintezesnek. :)

7. Our hearts are bleeding for millions of Italians who dont know the Lord yet. Please pray for them today!

A szivunk nagyon nehez azokert az olaszokert, akik nem ismerik az Urat. Kerlek imadkozzatok ma ertuk!

8. Carnival season is officially done. We had some fun parades in our little town too

A farsangi karnevalok ideje hivatalosan is veget ert. A mi kis varosunkban is volt par erdekes felvonulas

Ciao!