Italian pics (3rd installment)

I really liked these little stained glass pieces in one of the churches in Lucca.

Going across part of the wall in Lucca. It was huge and had beautiful little areas to play and sit in the shade of the amazing huge trees.

On the wall again.

Fun for the boys.

Crazy women truly enjoying Lucca.

The front of one of the huge churches in Lucca. The stained glass above is from this church.

The back of that same church. The organ is amazing.

The Plaza or Piaza. It was circular and really quite nice. Of course we stopped for some gelato.

This is another large church in the city. We could not get into this one. But I thought the top statue of Arch Angel Michael was cool.

The above mentioned church. Amazing that they could build them so well back then and now most of the churches don't have even a fourth of this splendor.

The second day that we were in Italy we headed for Lucca, Piza, and Viareggio. This post is about Lucca which is a beautiful ancient walled city. It was so cool to see the old Roman aquaducts coming into the city. The wall is so thick that there is a bike path with huge trees on both sides (pictured above). Lucca is where the best olive oil in the world comes from and where my great grandmother was from. It was very cool to be able to see the city where some of my roots originated. However, there was no easy way to find more information on my great grandmother because her name was as common as Smith.

It was quite hot that day, so Sam is the handsome stud without the shirt.

Somehow the vehicles just don't fit in.

I loved the fact that laundry (no matter what type) hung outside of windows and homes everywhere.

Can you tell he was tired of having his picture taken!

Italy (installment number 2)

A small update on our adoption. We have sent quite a bit of paperwork to the agency. If it all looks good they will send it on to Taiwan and then we may know a bit more about timelines, and children available. We still appreciate your prayers as we move forward and our hearts switch gears.

Blessings,

Laurie

These are a few pictures from our first day in Tuscany. The city in the pictures below is San Gimignano. This is the ancient city that we could see from our swimming pool.

Enjoying a gilato!

Somewhere out there is the house we stayed in.

Besides the huge flock of tourists in the bottom of the pic... this pic could have been taken many, many years back.

I just liked this one.

First Installment of Italy pics

Just thought I would get some pictures up from our Italy trip... There will be more to come, this one is just a preview. Tuscany was absolutely gorgeous. We had a great time with the whole family. Andreas' parents, his brother Johan and his family and the three of us all went. Mom and dad gave the trip to us for their 40th anniversary and mom's 60th birthday. We are very appreciative for there kindness and really enjoyed being with the family. There will be more to come in the next days...... so stay tuned.

Laurie

Andreas took this pic. Found it interesting that you could buy any god you wanted in San Gimignano. Not to mention art scultpures that happen to be in France. I guess if it sells it will be there.

The first day we were there, Sunday we went into the old stone city that we could see from the backyard of the house. This is a picture of one of the nine towers in San Gimignano.

Samuel adores his cousin Viktor!

This is the house that mom and dad rented for the week, Casa Renio. We had the first floor and the owners lived on the second floor. I would highly recommend this house, it was beautiful with an amazing view and a wonderful pool. It was about 40 minutes outside of Florence, but a great location to do day trips to many cities.

A pool with a view and a little boy that became a fish that week. Samuel has been taking swimming lessons for two terms now. In Italy, he finally took off his waterwings and swam by himself. By the end of the week he was swimming the whole length of the pool, jumping and diving (belly flopping) in and trying to sit on the bottom of the shallow end. This was the best part of the vacation for Sam.
More to come!

13 Years and Counting

(just pretend there is a huge drumrole before you read this).... Yesterday was our 13th anniversary!!!! I can't believe it has been that long. Of course over the years we have changed, but all of it has been there to deepen our relationship with Christ and each other. I thank God for this man and look forward to many more years of this adventure we call marriage and family.

I wish I had a recent picture of the two of us to share, but it always ends up being one of us with Sam. Even all the pics I have from Italy are only one of us in each pic. Hopefully the family have some of us together. Yes, you read that right, I have been to Tuscany and loved it. I will begin sharing those pictures soon. I took over 800 pictures, but don't worry I won't share them all.

Recently I was asked how Andreas and I met, so I will share a short version. In January of 1996 I was beginning the last semester of my college career and Andreas was coming to the States to experience an American college. He ended up (the very last minute, literally) in my Volleyball and Soccer class (the last P.E. credit I needed). We flirted, well he flirted with all the girls.... but we initially became friends. He would actually talk to me about the other girls he liked. However, he would also talk to me about Christ. Even though he had grown up in the church he had never experienced a commitment to Christ.

One night Jesus put him on my heart. So I prayed for him. The next day in class I told him that

I had been praying for him the night before. He was quite surprise and asked me how I knew. I was quite confused by the question, but he later explained that it was the first night that he had actually felt the presence of Christ with him at a dorm prayer meeting.

We continued to hang out as friends and talk about Christ. One evening in March after we had gone to Nicholasville to eat, I was driving back into Wilmore when he asked if we could go somewhere quite and dark. My answer, "absolutely not!" Quite surprised at my answer he tried to explain why he asked that. He wanted to give his life to Christ. At that request I drove to the parking lot of the then Wilmore elementary school (now the early learning village). It was a beautiful evening as he prayed to Jesus and gave his life to him.

We continued to hang out as friends and I took him to my Junior/Senior banquet where he embarrassed me greatly by giving a toast in my honor (but it was really sweet). We of course had the conversation of "let's just stay friends" because we lived in different countries and I was leaving for Jamaica after graduation. However, in the end of April we started dating and the rest in history. On June 16, 1997 I became his wife. (of course there are a lot more details, but a little hard to write them all here). In all of our dating time we were apart for 3/4 of it. I think I will tell Sam we dated for years before getting married....just kidding. It is not recommended, but we knew that Lord had given us each a gift with the other.

In a time when so many marriages are struggling, we pray that you all hold fast. Marriage is worth holding onto!

Blessings,

Laurie

Helping Fishermen Families

This entry was sent to me by a very good friend and I can vouch for the genuinous of this! The oil spill is not only ruining the ocean and land, but many families and lives that survivied off of the ocean and coastline. Please pray about helping some of these families and continue to pray for the end to this disaster.

Blessings,

Laurie

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

We need you to help feed a fisherman's family!

My Big Blue Planet is asking that YOU donate non-perishable food items and backpacks. Our volunteers are filling backpacks with food items for these families.

The U.S. government has not declared the Gulf Coast a disaster area. Therefore, Federal Aid is not available to these families. These families are hurting financially and emotionally. They need your help. Won't you help feed the fishermen's children?

TO DROP OFF:

To drop off food items, please contact Kim Haney at 662-871-0085.

WHO CAN RECEIVE THE BACKPACKS OF FOOD?

To receive items you must show two things. One is a tax form showing occupation as a fishing related career (shrimper, deckhand, charter boat captain, etc) and second is you must show proof of residency in a coastal county in AL, MS, or LA.

TO BECOME A DROP OFF LOCATION: Please contact Kim Haney at 662-871-0085.

Please forward this email to everyone you can. We need to help our neighbors and today is the day!

Thank you and May God Bless You,

Kim M Haney

Ordination pictures

Ok, these are some pictures from Andreas's ordination ceremony. In short, this means that he is now an ordained elder in the worldwide United Methodist church, licensed to preach, teach and serve.

First off is the historical test, a series of vows written down by John Wesley, Methodism's founder some approx. 300 years ago. Every Methodist pastor in history (more or less) has answered these questions and deeply pondered their impact on their lives.

This is the second ceremony, or the actual ordination. The ordination service was a joint service with two other denominations, i.e. the guys and gals in black. Andreas is the guy in white and the bishop is asking him in he believes that God has called him to being a pastor.

This is the moment of ordination. The bishop places his hands on Andreas, along with superintendents and a sponsor/another elder, and prays for God's wisdom and power to enable him to do his task of spreading God's kingdom on earth.

"The gang" - everybody is ordained and turned around to meet the 3000 people's applause and approval. A very special moment!

Fishing

Last weekend we had wonderful weather on Saturday. We began the day by going to our friends house. Our friends, Kunal and Åsa with their two kids, Nikhil and Naomi are also an international couple and wonderful friends who have made living here much easier. They are Christians with the same values as we have. We have really enjoyed spending time with this family and we believe that Samuel may one day marry Naomi.... well at least he says that now. After our wonderful American like brunch we packed up to go fishing. Åsa's extended family has a lot of land that they keep cows on. So it was quite the adventure. I am very thankful we did not run into any bulls! (Andreas' advice if there was a bull was run! Thanks for the advice honey. I think I would have run faster than I ever thought possible while toting a kid and a dog)

We finally came to a stream, after getting one car stuck, walking through a couple of cow pastures bordered by electrical fencing, and managing to get the dog not to go after the young cows that were very curious of us. I think the most stressful part was trying to make sure Sam did not grab the electric fencing. However, we were all still alive when we got to the stream. It wasn't long before Kunal had the first catch of the day (picture below). After that is was quite slow for a while, then I caught the second and last catch of the day. Of course the kids started to get bored and found their own entertainment (pictures below). However, this was Sam's first time with his own fishing rod and he was very cute.

Overall a wonderful day! We had Åsa's dad come with the tractor to pull the car out. We made it past the cows again. No one was electricuted that day and I actually got somewhat of a tan (bonus). Then we went back to our friend's house and cooked up the pike. Lots of small bones, but overall very tasty (the kids had spaghetti). Thanks for the great weekend friends. You are a blessing to us (and may be in-laws someday!)

Laurie

Simply adorable!

Sorry Kunal, had to include this one!

Kunal's catch
The dog would love to get a hold of that catch!

!

Checking out the catch and getting up enough courage to touch it!

Samuel acting like it is more of a gun than a fishing rod (I think it's a boy thing)

When the kids became bored, they found their own entertainment..... it was quite messy, but a ton of fun. Sorry all the kids aren't in the picture after they were fully muddy, but for decency sake that wasn't available.

I love him in those jeanbibs. They use to belong to Andreas when he was a kid. Samuel looks so cute here. Looking like a pro.

So goofy.

More mud.

Be careful with this picture, my whiteness may blind you. However, I am showing off my catch of the day.

Look ma! (notice how far the kids are standing from him... they were a little unsure of the fish. Pike are not that nice, so it was probably a good idea.)

Klass Bollen (class ball)

Samuel played his first class ball in soccer this past weekend. He has no idea waht to do but he had a lot of fun and then was sooooooo excited that his team won. It was really sweet. As you look at this picture remember that he is a year younger than all of these kids. The girl in front towers over him. Pretty cute. I love this little boy.

Just Pictures

Sorry for the long time between posts, life has been busy. Just wanted to put up some pics that I have downloaded. Hopefully this weekend I can get the rest downloaded and put up pictures of my husband ordination. Yes, you read that right... last weekend we all went to a city called Örebro and watched Andreas get ordained, or as Sam likes to say, "he became a REAL pastor now". I am very proud of my husband and thankful for who he is. He is an amazing blessing to me (and I believe incredibly handsome).

A bunch of us getting together for a sunny (yet cold) barbeque. Notice the boy behind us in the window. We should have expected that one.

This is Samuel's friend Johannes. Funny how we gravitate towards people that are like us, even when we are young. Johannes is a sweet boy and these two have fun (and get in trouble) together.

Favorite lake, Tinnsjön

I love the blueberry soup smile on this one. He almost looks like the Joker. For those of you who don't know what blueberry soup is, your missing out. Very good and very good for you!

It makes a great warm drink for Sam and he will down it in an instant.

No news on adoption. Still praying, still waiting, still seeking, still riding the rollercoaster. Thank you to all of you that are praying for us. For those getting their children, I am praying for safety and a quick return. For those who are waiting for matches, I am praying patience and endurance. For those who are seeking, I am praying for answers. Jesus will meet you where you need him too. Still rooting for you all.

Blessings,

laurie

Work and Fun Weekend

Two weekends ago we went up to the ocean house to help mom and dad wallpaper, paint, and lay flooring. It was a nice get away from the norm and fun to work and see results. Of course Samuel loved being there and cried extremely hard when we left. On the Saturday we were there I snapped a few pics while on a short walk. It is still cold and the wind was really cold, but we enjoyed the sun. Enjoy the pics below.

Blessings,

Laurie