Thankfulness Day 7 - Thankful for our Landlords

Today I am thankful for our landlords! They have been exceedingly kind, gracious, and hospitable from the moment we met them. Some people would have reservations about living in a duplex with their landlords above them, but really I love it! They are right there if we have any questions or needs, house related or otherwise, and when Troy can't be around (and let's be honest, in the military that often means, not much) I have no fear for my safety in a strange house in a foreign land when I can hear the bustle of feet and the clang of pans above me. I am never alone for one of them is always home. (likewise we don’t worry about our house when we leave because, they are always here!)

Last night the woman brought me an all vegetable soup (in accordance with my diet of course), all of the veggies of which they grew themselves.

They let us garden on their land and asked our son to call them nono and nona (grandma and grandpa) and they dote on him as if he were their own, knitting him socks and blankets, kidnapping him to show off to the neighbors, and watching after him when I need a break.

They involve us in their Italian lifestyle in every way they can, from teaching us their words to their way of life. The woman has offered to teach me how to cook Italian food. (How many people do you know who get personal one-on-one Italian cooking lessons, for free at one's own home!?) Upon our last lesson she taught me how she makes Minestrone, and shared with me the Italian cooking mishaps of her former American tenants. (Some didn’t sound like mishaps to me, but they laughed and shook their heads, so I made mental notes not to repeat such actions)

When it was time to harvest the wine from their vineyard they showed us how to make wine. They kill their own chickens and turkeys for meat and the woman cans their fruit and veggies as well. They are kind souls and a wealth of knowledge on subjects Italian and beyond.

We have had a few trying moments, like the time after putting the baby to bed, I decided to take a shower. While lathering my hair, I heard a strange voice. I come out of the shower and in my hall I find the landlady. She had let herself in and even though I stood there, dripping in my towel, how could I be mad with someone who had just brought down a hot Italian meal? They can be rather bold, they often stop me to converse when I'm running late for some occasion, and sometimes they forget to wear all their clothes... But I love them and it is such a pleasure to have them here and a part of our lives. I am very thankful for our landlords!

Below are pictures of the day in mid September when we harvested the grapes from the vineyard to make wine. 

They had a large truck load of grapes

 

Some hunk helped them bucket the grapes out of the truck... and you can bet I invited him to dinner that night ;)

 

and into this machine

The machine separated the grapes from the vine

 

The grapes were then pumped into a large vat

 

Sooo many grapes!

Our Little One observed the entire process with us. I hope he's taking notes!

 

Care to help squish the grapes son?

 

Successfully removed all the grapes!

And here are the Landlord's themselves! He's 82 and she is 76 and they still garden and farm daily. Lovely people!

Thankfulness Day 6 - Thankful for PWOC

Today I am most thankful for PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) and the ladies in it! Every week we meet for bible studies and fellowship, and the very large group is composed of fabulous ladies! Even before my cancer, they were a wonderful source of support, friendship, and Christian encouragement and growth, and PWOC is something that I get to look forward to weekly.

Sometimes military life can be difficult. And there can be a lot of drama between spouses, particularly here overseas where spouses aren’t permitted to work in the economy, their men are gone frequently, and there are few English speakers to socialize with beyond the bubble of the base.

There are also some rules in the military about whom one should and should not socialize with. Enlisted versus Officers, the various ranks in each of those categories, and then the stereotypes that come with assigned jobs/careers can all add challenges to relationships. One isn’t supposed to socialize with people too far above or below your position, etc. And despite those rules being for the military members themselves, it most definitely affects the spouses and their relationships as well.

PWOC is rather like an escape from all of that. We’re not there for military purposes, we are there for God. We’re there to grow, fellowship, and learn more from the Word and it does not matter whom you are or whom you are married to. It is also a drama free zone as it is composed of people with a different focus and priorities.

The bible studies and discussions have been amazing and excellent opportunities for growth in both wisdom and spirit. And now with my cancer, the women of PWOC have all truly blessed my family and I in ways we couldn't have expected.

One of my friends organized meals for us so that twice a week one of the ladies will bring us a meal, and let me tell you, those meals have been very helpful! My treatments can be time consuming (at least six hours daily), and my new diet means that I have to prepare diet specific meals for myself aside from my hubby and son (who has recently started eating solids). So that’s three different meals three times a day. No joke, the first week my new diet and treatments were in place, I fed my husband Brats for dinner 4 nights of that week. And just Brats, nothing else. He threw some mustard on them and didn’t complain, but it was easy to see how his diet was going to go downhill the following months.

Don’t get me wrong, my husband can fend for himself fairly decently, but after work he only has five hours of free time, which is stretched between working out (in order to keep up military physical standards), as well as his online college classes (which he couldn’t drop), as well as helping me with some of my treatments much less spending quality time with our LO. The meals have been a huge blessing because that guarantees that he’ll have good food at least twice a week, and it saves us a vast amount of time not having to plan, shop, prep, cook, and clean up.

These women have also been on board with me from the start and have been nothing but supportive and helpful during this journey. They provide me with continued encouragement and growth, verses and prayers, and many of my kind friends have taken my LO for a couple hours so I can attempt to catch up on life amidst this craziness. My family and I have been reaping the benefits of their servant's hearts and we are so very thankful for them!

Thankfulness Day 5 - Thankful for my Little One

This post is an easy one, and I’m sure you, dear reader, could have easily guessed this one would have been coming soon. How could I not dedicate a post to one of my favorite companions? The smallest sized blessing in my life is definitely one of my biggest. I am so thankful for our son! This little ray of sunshine brings me countless joys every day.

It is an honor to be his mother and to watch him grow and discover every day. Nothing can make one light up as much as to watch him scan a room of people, friends, and toys, expressionless, until he sets eyes on either my husband or myself and suddenly he’s squealing with joy.

Everyone wants to be wanted, everyone wants to be needed, and everyone wants to be loved. Children fulfill all these categories to the highest degree. My little one wants to be with me every moment possible (whether waking or sleeping!), I am an indispensable person in his life, and I know he loves me dearly. What more could one ask for!?

This kid always has a smile. Even when he is sick and miserable with sicky tears streaming down his face, he will still be smiling. He gives the best bear hugs a tiny person ever could and the house is always filled with his laughter. (Seriously though, he even laughs when he’s choking or if someone sneezes. Everything is funny)

"OHMYGOSH SWINGS ARE AWESOME!"

People tell me he is a most peaceful and calm child (and as I have no other children to compare him to I must take their word on that), and I never have a trouble leaving him to be watched because he is so well behaved. (Though I assure you, this is nothing of our doing. I think God knew we couldn’t handle a wild child during this period in our lives, and instead gave us a peaceful and joyful child instead. Thank heavens for that! )

Together we adventure and explore the world. He is my little pal and rarely leaves my side. 

Meeting the local cows. (At a safe distance though, as that second one looks like he wants a taste...)

This stroller picture is from one of our walks. Few others are so patient as I practice my photography, but this guy will sit and watch as I shoot and will even model for me from time to time. ;) Aside from his outstanding character and big heart, he gives me something to boast of should the occasion arise, provides me a valid excuse every time I’m running behind schedule, and allows me ample opportunities to practice my patience and love. (This child is making me more holy by the day folks! What a gift!)  

I don’t know what we did to deserve this angelic child, 
but I am very thankful God let us have him.

He's a snuggle bug this one <3

“The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow, For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow. So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep. I’m rocking my baby, and babies don’t keep.”

I may frame the above excerpt for the nursery. And that’s where likely I’ll be if you can’t find me. If you ever wonder where I am, you can bet I’m hanging with my Adam. <3

"Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him."

~Pslam 127:3

Thankfulness Day 4 - Thankful for Italy

I am so thankful for where we live! What an amazing blessing and opportunity it has been to live in Italy. Sometimes I feel like I live in a storybook. I am now living in the midst of the scenery I once saw in travel shows and picture books. This country is rich in culture and history; as such, it is common to drive along the road and see ruins of a castle or other great, old mansion. 

You can stroll through the town and as the bell tolls (because every town has a bell tower) you can see the older folk relaxing outside their houses and in front of shops, eager to socialize and converse with people. I have seen others with bread in the baskets of their bike as they make their daily bread run to get it fresh from the bakery.

I love the relaxed pace. Stores open in the later morning, close around noon, and reopen after resttime, or Riposo as they call it. Time is not so strict, and if you are asked to arrive at 9:00, it really means, arrive around 9:00; none of this crazy hustle and bustle one often finds in the states and the stress of being “the late person”.  People will get here when they get here and events will start when one feels ready to start them.

I particularly love our little place in Italy. I took the picture below after sitting in the house on a foggy autumn morning, and I heard the tinkle of little bells. I peered outside to see a flock of sheep being herded down our street by a little shepherd boy.

Please sir, wait for me whilst I change into my peasant dress and cloak!

There is never a dull moment, (but that doesn't mean it's crazy, they are relaxed, yet interesting moments) and there's always something fantastic to discover. I love living in the Italian countryside! 

Thankfulness Day 3 - Thankful for my Cancer

Today I am thankful for my cancer. That may sound like a strange thing to be thankful for, but you can bet I have thought on it much and it brings me to tears how thankful I am to have this cancer. Come with me as I explain.

            Have you ever experienced a time when you wanted to swap places with someone? I certainly have. Both good times and bad times. I can easily recall back to February of this year, when my baby was a week old and we were in a bustling Italian hospital. I wasn't entirely sure what they were testing him for as they drew blood from my screaming newborn every hour, or what they were saying to me in their foreign language. All I knew was that his blood tests hadn’t come back good and I spent most of my time in fervent prayer over him hoping it wasn’t life threatening. I remember then asking and begging God not to take him from me. We know now that although his condition could be serious, it is not life threatening and can be medically treated. (for those who missed what happened in February, check here: Adam and PKU )

How does this relate to my cancer? Well whilst doing my various treatments and feeling a bit in a slump with the drudgery, work, and unknown progress of it all , the random thought flitted across my mind and said, “Imagine how stressful this would be if little Adam had cancer”. The shock from the wake of the flitting thought hit me like a ton of bricks. Whoa. Adam dying of cancer. How dreadfully, horrible that would be! I followed that trail of thought…

My Adam, my husband, my mother, my father, my brother and sisters, family and close friends, they don’t have it. I DO! The realization was one of those moments when you fall to your knees in awe and profusely thank God. If it were possible there was an alternate reality experience in which someone I love got this cancer, I know I would be on my knees night and day praying for them and pleading with God to let me swap places and let me fight for them. I would be begging with him to spare them and take me instead. If that were the case, and such an alternative experience would have happened, I have been given my desire! It’s quite possible that this cancer was intended for me all along. But I know that if it had been intended for someone else I love, I would have wanted it for them as I pleaded for their life. And so, in a complicated way, I have what I would want if I didn’t have it. This realization has brought me a peculiar peace and incredible relief and joy.

Thus, I have concluded that this cancer, and everything that has come with it, is a blessing. I am thankful for the opportunity to take a leap of faith, thankful for the chance to see and experience just how much my family and I are loved, thankful for the reminder of how precious and short life is, thankful for the opportunity for my husband and I to team up in battle, and above all, thankful that I, and not the ones I love, have this cancer. Today and all the days that follow me, I am and will be so thankful that I have been given this cancer.

“And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...

'C'mon, baby, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
C'mon, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience, oh...'”

~Running up that Hill – by Placebo

(link to the cool song listed above: Running Up That Hill)