Justin and Jenni's Wedding!!!

I'm belatedly behind on reporting a number of significant events. The reason is due to the fact that I don't know which  pictures to post since I have so many! So, instead of procrastinating any longer, I'm going to lay it out now and I can always add, subtract and change things later. 

May 18th, 2011

Justin and Jenni's Wedding Day! 

My doctor brother Justin and his beautiful wife Jenni are one of the most beautiful couples inside and out that I have ever known. What's more, I have reason to believe that that beauty will only improve with time :) 

Here are a few photos from their wedding. It's easy to see the joy they share as a couple as well as the joy they give to others through their covenant love for each other.

Little Fairies - Kirra, Lilli and Kelci

Bridesmaids

Emily is the enchanting bridesmaid with the yellow gerbera bouquet

  

Flower Girls - Margie and Victoria

Here comes the Bride!!!

"I do!" "I do!"

And what a kiss! 

Dr. and Mrs. Justin Kempson!!!

The Wedding Cake was a giant Red-Velvet cupcake! It was a tremendous success :) As you can see:

Kylin

Jaron

Kelci Hope

Kirra

Margie

Lilli

Jesse - I think he's pondering if having three wedding cakes is acceptable :)

The Uncles! 

Kristin and Jordan... the next in line <3 - Yes, you'll be seeing a blog about their wedding coming this September!

Emily

The Happy Couple! 

Jenni Testin her Kissing Stool - It seems to work just fine :)

Sisters all together!!!!

J + K

Joel and Christy

Wahoo! 

And we all fall down! 

Lydle and Lilli

Bouquet toss

Where is that garter?...

The launch! 

Yes, the kissing stool works just right - nice sky effects too

Em, with Toria and Margie

Mosquitoes!!!!

The clearing up was even fun - Mom and Christy

Lydle and Christy

The groomsmen????

Not knowing about tickets, I had originally thought Z and I wouldn't be able to make it to the wedding, but in the end, we found a good deal on prices and I was able to go! We kept it a surprise - only Emily knew so that she could fetch me from the airport :) So, from January, when I found the ticket, until May, Em and I had to keep our mouths sealed! Believe me, it was HARD. I was in danger quite a few times of letting the secret slip out - sometimes even on purpose simply because the anticipation was so great! 

In the end, we did our secret keeping very well and I arrived as a complete surprise :) I was jumping out of my sox in anticipation when Em picked me up at the airport. We went home and just walked into the sitting room where Dad and Lydle were watching TV.

"Hello everyone!" I said

Lydle sprung out of her sofa as if she'd been ejected! "Manda!!!!!!!" and she rushed right over to give me a hug :)

"What's this?! Amanda!!?!!" Dad said taken off guard as he fumbled with the TV remotes in his hands, "Let's turn this off!" and that's just what he did as he came over to fold me in one of his big hugs.

And then we heard "Amanda!!! It's really you!" come from the next room and Mom came dashing in. She'd actually seen Em and I walking up the path and though, "that looks a lot like 'Manda" but she dismissed the possibility and continued on her task... She joined the greeting party and we all had a good hug and exchanged many happy exclamations. I didn't know if I should be laughing or crying I was so excited as Em and I related how we'd kept the secret and how I'd come to be in their midsts. 

Em and I were both soundly reprimanded for our devious scheming, but somehow, we didn't really feel abashed at all :D


Here's a few candids of Em and I working on Jenni's "Kissing Stool" <3

Ah.... if only I could attend Mr. Potter's school for a bit and learn to disapperate... I guess I would even settle for flue powder ;) 

Lydle is Coming to Italy!

That sounds quite like it should be the title of a book :) And, perhaps it will become one! You see, my youngest sister - hence "Lydle" <3 even though she's not that little anymore, Lydia is coming to Italy for two semesters!!!! All together she's going to be here just over 8 months studying Italiano. So, as I said, it's a huge adventure for her an I wouldn't be surprised if it did turn into a really good book. Ahhhh... I hope so! 


It was a bit of a saga how she applied for an got her student visa. You see, typically, Italian bureaucracy is renowned for its rusty gears and creaky joints which result in SLLllooOOOowwWWW moving. Well, in order to assist them in their work, Mom, Lydle and I checked and double checked each jot and tittle in both English and Italian numerous times.
When we were all finally convinced Lydle's application was as thorough as we could make it Mom went to turn it into the Italian vice Consul there in Indy... only to find, she appeared to be MIA... Oops, not the most encouraging first official step. In light of this, in a whirlwind of activity and preparation, Mom and Lydle got everything together so they could make the 4+ hour drive all the way up to Detroit where our official Italian consulate presides. If I have my dates right, this was all taking place on Thursday, July 21st... also an opening night for the showing of Mr. H. Potter's final quest. 
Of course Lydle and friends went to see the midnight showing meaning Lydle crawled into bed around 3a.m. Well, when Mom came between 4-5a.m. to rouse her,
"C'mon Lydia, it's time for us to get going..."
Lydia responded matter-of-factly, "I can't go today Mom, I'm not coming".
That put a bit of a damper on things since it being Lydle's application, she's the one who had to show up in person! 
Good thing that when Mom came back a little later Lydle was ready to join the venture - pillow in hand she slept the whole ride there. Turns out, she had no recollection of Mom's first attempt to rouse her! :) 


At the Consulate, their well prepared file in hand, Mom and Lydle waited for their turn to come. They approached the window and the consular officer looked at their file,
"This won't do! You must go and prepare your documents and have them all ready and in order when you come to the window. You can go prepare them over there. Next!" 
Mom and Lydle obediently took their already organized folder of documents and re-organized and double checked again before approaching the window once again...
"What's this folder? We can't have this folder here. Here you go, take it away... that's right." and the officer began looking through the application. 
At a certain point the officer looked quizzically at Lydia,
"How old are you?"
"18"
"Mmmmmm.... And you're going to go live with this Zeno Tutino?"
The question was framed rather dubiously with emphasis on, "this Zeno Tutino"
Mom quickly seeing the confusion set things right,
"Ah, that's her brother in law. He and my other daughter are married and live there in Italy"
This was taken in and noted on the application. 


And that was it. Mom and Lydle were back on the road again in less than an hour hoping for sure that everything was in proper order. 


According to the official websites and to the consular officer we were prepared to wait up to 6 weeks before we heard the final verdict. How happy and surprised we were when Lydle received her visa the following Wednesday! Just 5 days later!!! 

All of that work paid off! CONGRATULAZIONE Lydle!!! 

I personally can't wait!!!! I'm trying to get everything all sparkling for you arrival :) Which is why I'm bummed about my sore throat today - Zeno said I shouldn't polish your bathtub because the fumes from the solvent I'll have to use will irritate my already irritated throat. Ah, well - now I just get to write about you instead!!! 

Insanity

So, I finally tried the one Insanity workout that my little sister helped me get when I was in the US last time. It was the Cardio set… Whew! Honestly, 1/2 way through I had to give in. That's a lot to work up to… Or, should I say, "that's Insanity!!!" If I get myself doing the whole thing I will be one buff bunny! 

Froggie Reflections

It's been a tough time recently and a tough day today. It seems that we make plans, but we aren't at all in power of seeing them come to fruition. That can be a cause for sorrow and depression. It's hard when you feel stuck and out of control at the whim of... well, at the whim of... that's right, it's no whim, we're under God's mercy. Isn't He the one who began this life of ours? Isn't He the One who called us to Himself? Isn't He the One who brought us to this place? 


I was just reading the quote on our blog again, I'd forgotten it:
No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourself so. If you find yourself so loaded, at least remember this: it is your own doing, not God's. He begs you to leave the future to him, and mind the present.


No wonder I'd been feeling so heavy. Perhaps I need to change my prayers from "God, change this!", "God, help!", "God, what are you doing?!?!?" and "God, get me out of this mess!" to, "God, help me to live patiently within the grace that you've provided me for this moment". 


It's one thing to realize intellectually, another completely to put in your heart and live out in your life especially when, in the course of these few lines, the situation hasn't changed... or has it? 

Psalm 37:3-5

Reflections of a Froggie - These reflections will come up in my blog at times. They are from my intimate heart directed toward God, considering His works in my life and my reaction to that work, be it accepting or resisting, rejoicing or sorrowing. In the end, He always has a plan, and in the end, He's in control, not me (though I like to pretend that I am at times...)

  
Through writing, my thoughts and feelings become much clearer to me. I am not an eloquent person orally, and when I don't write, I tend to bottle up my emotions. Sometimes this has no significance, but if I find myself dwelling on pessimistic, negative and/or untrue thoughts they will eventually cause me to explode in uncontrolled emotion the result of which is carnage and disaster... yes, it's not so pretty...

My hope is that through this process of honest expression I will be able to process better and more healthily what He is doing in my life from a perspective of truth and that my relationship with the Lord will grow. And, that you, yes, you, will help to challenge me and keep me accountable. 

Trust in the LORD and do good;
     Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 
Delight yourself in the LORD;
     And He will give you the desires of your heart. 
Commit your way to the LORD,
     Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

As I walk this life, though I face challenge and dryness or joy and fullness may I grow in faithfulness, delight in the Lord alone and trust Him to lead me in the way that I should go.

Latest Sewing Project

I recently discovered this new craft blog and I've fallen in love with it! Larissa, the blog author, seems to be an amazing person as well and truly has a heart for the Lord. 

In two days I followed her tutorial on making a messenger bag and this is the result! 

I'm very chuffed about the results :) You can ask Zeno - I made him admire it completely! However, if I do it again, I think I will make a few changes - add a zipper (to keep thieving hands out), add more pockets (for all those items that tend to get lost and disorganized in the bottom of my bag) and probably shorten the outside flap (both for looks and practicality). 

However, over all, I'm very pleased especially considering it's made almost completely out of scraps and recycled fabrics (old pillow cases, table cloths, hand towels, shirts, etc). 

I find I'm really loving the time to work on a few crafts here and there :) 

Psalm 37:5

Does anyone else find that being peaceful and still is sometimes the hardest work? It sure is for me!


These past two weeks I feel like I've done a million things but then nothing at all... Conquered a "new" room in our house, junked a lot of junk, made myself a stylish messenger bag, almost adopted a pretty abandoned kitten, thought of ideas for two kids books.... and the list could go on. And yet, some of the big hurdles I see before myself haven't moved. And now, because I'm tired out and not completely myself, I feel impotent in the face of my life's goals, dreams and hopes.
As much as I want to control everything and make things turn out and proceed according to my wishes and plans; I know I just need to wait, quiet and patient and trusting - "... and He shall bring it to pass".
Amen


Goodnight all those I love! I'm so glad I have you <3

Our New Stairs :)

Check them out! They're pretty sweet :) And this makes our hallway nearly complete - just a few last finishing touches left!

BIggest Hail Storm Ever in Milano

At the beginning of June, we spent a weekend with Mum and Papa in Tuscany - gorgeous weather! Sunshine, warm, full Spring so flowers blooming everywhere. We were even picking cherries - YUM!

When we came home to Milan we found that a hail storm with golfball sized pieces of hail had destroyed our little backyard garden. As promised long ago, here are some quick pics I took of the destruction:

Tomato and Strawberry Plants

White Striped Hosta

Colorful Flowers

Green Hostas

Hydrangeas

Lavender

Most of our Window-boxes were on the ground...

The window boxes

Our Emma Flowers

More Hydrangeas

Final Hydrangeas

I'm VERY pleased to say, that now it's mid July, our flower-boxes and garden have made quite the sprightly recovery!!! Especially with the automatic watering system Z rigged up for our flower-boxes :) I'll take some updated pics soon. We even have a few tomatoes, strawberries and peppers peeping out that will be ready to harvest further into the summer. 

Tall Biking in Milan

When I was doing circles in EtaBeta, our car, trying to find my way out of the maze that is downtown I was suddenly shocked to se a man's head looking over the tops of the roofs of cars in oncoming traffic! It turned out he was riding a "Tall Bike" similar to the one I found a photo of below except a bit taller. 

I admit, I was rubber-necking to see how he managed to bike so high especially given the uneven cobblestone streets and the tramtrack lanes... from an emergency nursing perspective I envisioned disaster if he got his wheel stuck. 

And how do they stop at red lights without falling over?