Welcome to Vienna!!! Or as the locals write it: Wien!!!

During the last week of April I had the opportunity through work to visit Vienna in order to attend a Continuing Medical Education training seminar. It was an exciting opportunity for me to meet Dept. of State Health Unit medical providers from all around the world. I mean literally ALL over the world and even from places I couldn’t begin to place on the map let alone pronounce. I was the youngest attendee both from the literal perspective and from the experience perspective. There was one amazing woman who had begun working in Ethiopia before I was even born… Wow! She has some pretty incredible stories. And now I have many contacts to go to when I run into new and/or questionable situations through work.

However, the most exciting part of the trip was: Zeno flew up to spend a long weekend with me! We were fortunate that my trip coincided with an Italian holiday, so using low-budget airlines, Zeno was able to join up with me Thursday evening. Unfortunately, it being a business trip, I was in sessions all day through Saturday. But we still adventured out together in the evenings to explore the new city together. During the day, it was so sweet, Zeno scouted out possibilities for us in the evening so that we would waste no from my transition from class to adventure.

During the day there was a gargantuan open air market, which, unfortunately I missed, but Zeno was able to grab some snap shots and he found some wonderful spices for us… which, in fact, he’s using now as he whips us up a gourmet dinner – Yummy! My tummy can hardly wait!

On Saturday evening, we went hiking just outside the city through a small vineyard and farming area called: Grinzing. The rain threatened to catch us, but in the end, threaten is all it really managed to do. And we had a terrific hike on the: Stadtwanderweg!
























View of Vienna from a hilltop in Grinzing – you can see the Danube to the left (though, I will share with you from a first hand viewing experience: it’s not blue…)









Because of the rainy weather and damp trails, we were nearly the only hikers out and it was so serene and peaceful. However, there were a number of animals out including a little wile capriolo, a few slugs, and tons of snails!!!! I’ve never seen so many snails! You had to watch your step or you might end up accidentally stepping on an entire family. At first, I thought it was a little gross, but then, after following Zeno’s lead and taking a good look at the little guys, I found that they’re actually kinda cute!

Dancing! Dancing! Dancing!

1. Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

2. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

3.Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.

4. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

5. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

6. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 150

Recently, my good friend Shelagh and I have been learning individually and together what it means to “Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Phil. 4:4) and to “Praise His name forever” (Ps. 72:19).

There is no other meaning to the words “always” and “forever” than always and forever! This means on the days when you awake to the dawn with health in your body and joy in your heart just as on the days when you awake with a headache and dread for what the day might hold. This lesson goes right along with another lesson I’ve been learning which is that: it’s not all about me… now, I’d like to think it is sometimes! But truly, it’s all about God. Our lives are made to be a fragrance of praise and worship to and for the glory of God!

Praise Him with dancing! Say’s Psalm 150. What a beautiful way to praise the Lord with your life! I discovered this for the first time when I had the opportunity to have a dancing lesson from Elise at a the Milan Women’s Retreat this past April. Dancing felt so free and beautiful! (Granted, we didn’t have mirrors to watch ourselves, so we tried to copy Elise and imagined that we looked as lovely and graceful as her. In reality, I think it was likely closer to what my little brother Jesse once said when he came in to watch my three sisters and I following a Pilates DVD. “You guys look really silly” he said…).

Inspired by all of these various lessons along with the message that was the emphasis of our April retreat: Living Life to the Fullest; I have been looking into taking classical dancing lessons! We'll see, if I’m able to find a good school, lessons will begin this October. I’m quite excited to see what the Lord will do!

Let me introduce my dear friend Shelagh!

You probably notice that we're both wearing crowns. That's because we're sisters in Christ and daughters of the King of Kings! Shelagh is originally from South Africa and God brought our lives together here in Italy. Shelagh is the first close friend God brought into my life here in Italy and through the lessons God has taught us in the past and the ones He is teaching us now in the present, we have had a very unique opportunity to both challenge and encourage each other. Right now, Shelagh is going through a huge challenge as she walks through cancer and accompanying therapy. Her life testifies daily that though her challenge in these days is sometimes bigger than she can handle, it's not too difficult for God upon whom she depends for all her strength and hope. It will be a huge blessing to have you praying along with us as Shelagh continues through this time.

1 Year and 1/2 Anniversary!

WE'VE BEEN MARRIED AN ENTIRE YEAR AND 1/2 AS OF TODAY!!!!

In many ways it seems like we've already been married years and years... and in other ways, it seems like just yesterday we were shipping Amanda full of boxes here, home, to Italy.

To celebrate: Zeno became convalescent so we had an AWESOME opportunity to be absolutely lazy and read, talk, cook a little, laugh, watch a good lovey-dovey movie... Zeno surprised me with a vase of gorgeous and perfumed pink roses from our garden! And to top it all off: we've just finished a marvelous chocolate pudding served in long-stemed wine glasses and garnished with a crumble of the chocolate-icebox cookies we used to make our wedding cake!

I can hear you all going, "Awwwwwwww! That's just so sweet and romantic!"

And rightly so, because it certainly is ( =

But, I'll let you in on a secret. Our chocolate dessert isn't nearly as sweet as kissing Zeno! ... You can tell him I said that...

Ah, Amore is so sweet!

This is my best friend: "spot"...

In these days, something has been trying to attack in the Z&A household... What do you think? Does it look like the black plague to you? Well, whatever it is, it's been attacking Zeno this week something terrible and making him feel absolutely NOT himself. However, we are very hopeful, for, though he still retains a strong sore throat and congested head which leads to fuzzy thoughts... he is already somewhat mended compared to four days ago when the imposter first struck. Hooray!

They say it's catching... I don't know. Zeno is worried that I might get it since I can't keep from kissing him (well, what would you do in my place with such a wonderful and handsome husband! I ask you - Sink me! You've lost your senses! What!). But, so far, I've been doing just fine and haven't caught a thing. We plan to keep it that way.

Sorry we've been behind in keeping up. These past few weeks have been full, full, full! But now, we hope to check in and catch you up a bit better. For now we say: "goodnight" and "a domani"!

We send our love! ... and our warning to watch out for that black plague...

A&Z