08.19.09
Posted in home service
at 2:01 pm
I’ve been very lax in updating the blog. Being in the US for a while has made it difficult to keep up with it. But I’ve had my eyes and mind open to this reinsertion into American culture.
This is our second trip back to the US since we moved to Italy. I have been surprised at how different things have seemed to me. Mathematically speaking, I’ve only spent 1/8 of my life living in Italy, so to come back and find that what should be 7/8 familiar seems somehow strange is a little unnerving.
My eye quickly noticed how big everything is here. Soon after arriving we needed to go to the grocery store and pick up some things. We didn’t have a car yet, so we decided to walk – something we’re very used to doing in Italy. I had forgotten about the spacious streets and sidewalks nearly the entire trip from the house to the store. And we didn’t see a soul using them. Very few cars and no one walking around. I kind of wondered what happened to all the people.
We found ourselves staring and unable to make a choice regarding the huge selection of items in the store – a store so big that five or six of our Italian stores would easily fit inside.
Cars are bigger. Parking lots are bigger. People are bigger. Buildings are bigger. I’ve grown accustomed to living on a smaller scale and it was odd getting used to the “bigness.” Of course, America has 3,800,000 square miles to spread out in compared to Italy’s 116, 000 square miles. I suppose I would spread out, too!
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07.08.09
Posted in home service, travel
at 2:48 pm
We’re back in the US for home service. We’ve been traveling like crazy and I haven’t had much time to sit and write. Lots of observations about being back in America are coming…
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09.20.07
Posted in friends, home service
at 12:05 pm
I haven’t really posted about it on the blog, but I’ve started running.
Actually, I started back when we were in the US. I just realized the spare tire around my waist was growing. A friend of mine called it the furlough-15. This same friend also got me hooked on a running program that takes you from the couch, to running for 30 minutes in ten weeks. I started it, and it wasn’t too bad. Our travel schedule in the US made it harder to be consistent, but a surprising diagnosis of high blood pressure became quite the motivator to get in shape.
I’ve kept up the running, even after getting back to Italy. I found a good running partner and a convenient place to run. And today, we finished the running program. On a whim, at about the eleven minute mark we both decided that today was the day. We pushed through the big hills at our track and made it to thirty minutes of running non stop.
It probably doesn’t sound like a lot to some more experienced runners, but to me it sounds like a lot more than the two minutes that I started with!
Oh – the total weight that I have lost … 18 pounds. And Heidi thinks I’m the biggest stud ever.
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07.22.07
Posted in family, friends, home service
at 9:04 pm
We’ve hit that time in our home service when we’re doing lots of “lasts.” Last Mexican restaurant. Last Sunday at church. Last walk around our favorite walking trail.
The hardest “last” of all is the last visit to see family and friends. We went to Heidi’s dad’s house yesterday. Heidi was pretty sure she saw her dad tearing up as we drove away. This morning was our last Sunday at Central Christian Church. They’ve been such a blessing to us, and have made Rockford feel very much like home to us. Tonight we went out with some friends (at a Mexican restaurant – we killed two birds with one stone!). Tomorrow will be our last dinner in the US. Tuesday we fly to the airport.
We are incredibly ready to go home to Ancona. But this week of “lasts” has been difficult on us all. I suppose it’s all a part of being a missionary in a foreign country.
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06.17.07
Posted in church, home service, kids
at 3:37 pm
We’ve been very privileged to be a part of the Central Christian Church Vacation Bible School. Several months ago they asked us if we would be their missionaries for this year’s VBS. I was a little nervous, not really knowing what to expect. Now that it’s over I realize that I had nothing to be nervous about. Teaching about 170 kids about what it’s like to be a missionary in Italy can be a little overwhelming, but we had a blast trying. We were also blessed by an offering from the kids each night. They had a goal to raise $1,000, which they tracked each night with a little car with all of our heads sticking out navigating an Italian road. On the next-to-last night the kids had raised about $950. They were very close to the goal. Everyone was amazed when, after counting the final night’s offering, the total was over $1,900! Amazing!
We are planning on using the offering to get some kind of vehicle in Ancona. We’re not in a huge rush to get something, but we’ll have our eye open to see what God puts in our lap.
Thanks, kids, at Central! And thanks to all the workers who helped pull of an awesome VBS!
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06.12.07
Posted in home service
at 8:49 pm
Trey and I had an errand to run today and I noticed that the car was about out of gas. I pull over, put $10 in, and start the car. The gas light came on about 5 seconds after pulling out of the gas station. The great state of Illinois has been a little hard on the wallet.
Makes me miss my bus pass.
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06.05.07
Posted in church, home service
at 5:37 pm
While we are planted in one place for a while, I thought I would join the Grounds Crew at the church. An amazing older man heads up the work on the substantial lawn that surrounds the church. I stopped him after church Sunday and asked him when we were mowing this week.
“Tuesday,” he said. “Need to move it up because of the funeral.”
A three-year-old in the church passed away. He had suffered all of his life, and finally went Home last week. The funeral was scheduled for Wednesday. Mowing is normally on Thursday.
I kind of mulled over this schedule change for a while. I tried to put myself in the parents’ place, and wondered if I would even notice the state of the church lawn as I entered the building for my child’s funeral. But he wanted to make sure the church looked its best for this grieving family.
This morning as I circled the huge lot on my smallish riding lawn mower, I thought about his desire to spruce things up. Though it seemed a small thing, it was his thing. It was a tangible way for him to show his respects to this family. I think his act says something about the Body of Christ. Paul wrote to the believers in book of Colossians and said, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” My retired friend has obviously taken those words to heart.
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05.25.07
Posted in home service, kids
at 6:32 pm
I was just checking my email when Trey came up to me and asked…
“Dad, do people have to cut the skin off of penguins before they eat them?”
Uhhh… I don’t think people eat penguins. But I suppose you would have to. Wouldn’t you? Or is it like chicken?
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05.18.07
Posted in family, home service, kids
at 1:59 pm
We were very happy to have beautiful weather nearly the entire time we spent in Iowa visiting my dad. The kids were able to play outside all the time, and it was good for them to just run around and be kids.
One evening, my dad surprised Lance with a little present. He had noticed Lance taking an interest in baseball. My sister had just joined a softball team, and spent some time in the backyard practicing. Lance was somehow hooked. The kids haven’t been exposed to baseball very much – it just isn’t popular in Italy.
My dad called Lance over and placed his very old, very worn baseball glove in his hands. Lance’s eyes were huge, and the only thing he could say was a sheepish, “Thanks” and a big hug. He ran outside to go try it out.
Throughout the next few days, my dad found an old baseball bat and baseball for them to play with. He learned to toss the ball up in the air and practice hitting. And he got really good! Since we’ve been back in Rockford there hasn’t been a day where he hasn’t gone outside to practice – and so far no broken windows!
I guess it’s time to find a baseball team in Ancona.
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05.17.07
Posted in home service, kids
at 6:46 pm
Trey is currently sitting on the exam table after his checkup. The doctor is filling out paperwork. I and the other kids are sitting in the room, waiting for the doctor to finish.
Trey: Doctor…?
The doctor continues his paperwork…
Trey: Doctor…?
No response
Trey: Doctor!
Doctor: Yes?
Trey: Am I crazy?
The room chuckles
Doctor: Well that’s up to your dad!
A few moments pass…
Trey: Doctor…?
The doctor continues his paperwork…
Trey: Doctor…?
No response
Trey: Doctor!
Doctor: Yes?
Trey: I have a lot of gas.
The room erupts into uncontrollable laughter, and the kids notice that dad’s face is bright red.
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