friends and family,

We have so much to blog about. We’ve been to Italy. We’ve travelled with some REALLY great people. We took some really great pics. So so much.

But for now, what’s more important than blogging about any of that is telling you about a new addition to our family–moving in Friday!

VERY long story short–through a series of emails that found their way to my boss, Grant and I heard about a functional orphan who needed a place to live for a year or so. Without revealing too much of his story, he’s been living with his aunt and uncle since his dad died two years ago, and the living situation has been… let’s say, less than ideal.

He LOVES the Lord, is smart with good grades, and has a grateful heart. When he could be rebellious, angry, and closed-off, he is respectful, sincere, and open. That’s what happens when Jesus steps in–our God is mighty to save. Praise the Lord. I know it will be tough at times and a bit different for me and Grant, but my goodness we’re excited about him moving in!!

We said ‘yes’ before we had met him (which was Monday) and I have to tell you: God created a whole room of love in our hearts for him. This is one of those things that you ‘think’ you’re helping someone else, but really that other person is showing you more of Jesus than you could’ve ever imagined.

We are just happy to have the opportunity to respond to this situation in obedience. This kid is AWESOME! We’re glad to share our life and love with him. You can pray for him by name–Evan. He’s moving in Friday!!!!!!!!!
[we’re a LITTLE EXCITED if you can’t tell ;)]

We’re certainly not the only ones doing this. Many of our friends are fostering kids, adopting, and making room in their homes and hearts for a new generation of God’s children. We’re just glad to be a part of a community of believers who take God at His word and react in obedience. We are surrounded by such a cloud of witness. Thanks, God. We’re certainly not celebrating the road that brought him here, but Lord, we are ECSTATIC that we are privileged enough to be in his life and create a home and family for him with us. Amen!

So. Here’s our very basic itinerary while we’re in Italy. You can follow along if you want and know what city/ what sites we’re seeing each and every day! Pics will be posted asap upon our return.

BUON VIAGGIO!

9/4
Check into Hotel
Get Roma Pass @PIT Termini
→(collection code: U43SL7UV)
Angel’s Tour—Vatican 11:00 (9/4)
Lunch
Castle de San Angelo
Dinner
Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps

9/5
Colloseo, Forum
Capitoline Hill—Lunch
Walk around—Enjoy!
Dinner

9/6
Final things in Rome
Check out by 3:00pm
Train to Florence—Explore!

9/7
Day Trip: Cinque Terre
[Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Corniglia]

9/8
Duomo, Bell Tower, Baptistry
Lunch
San Lorenzo Market (Leather Market)
Galleria del’ Accademmia (The David) 1:30pm
Hospital of the Innocents

9/9
Piazza del Republica
Loggia del Mercato Nuovo (the Boar)
Signoria Square, Pallazo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio
Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
Lunch
Uffizi Galleria (1:30pm)
Santa Croce
Dinner
Piazza crawl

9/10
Check out
Santa Maria Novella
(Other: Orsanmichelle, Medici Chapel, Brancacchi Chapel)
Train to Venice—Explore!

9/11
San Marco Square, Bell Tower
Rialto Bridge
Grand Canal Tour—water taxi
Lido Beach
Doge’s Palace/ Bridge of Sighs
Gondola
Murano (Venician glass)
Train to Rome—Explore!

9/12
Rome—Home!
Unpack, unwind, upload pictures!

Our dearly beloved… let’s call him Penji… has left his wallet at Ryan’s house.

Ok, so he’ll have to get back to Ryan’s to get his wallet…

…but Ryan is in Athens for the day… Maybe Keef will be there around 5:00 to let him in.

Ok, so Penji can wait, then get in his car and drive down to meet Keef at Ryan’s to get his wallet.

…but Penji left the keys to his car in Brody’s truck…

…and Brody left Atlanta and is now in Athens…

…so Penji picks up his phone to call his girlfriend in Athens to get his keys from Brody and bring them to him in Atlanta…

…but his phone’s dying dying dead… Where’s his phone charger? in his car–right outside–without keys he can only look at it…

…so he calls his girlfriend, gets her vm and then he checks twitter: she’s getting her hair cut… no response….

…so maybe if his girlfriend calls my phone after her hair cut but before Grant and I leave, Penji will get her to get his keys from Brody and we can take him to get his wallet with Keef from Ryan’s house and she can bring him back to get his car at our house… and then they can go to Athens.

This does not happen to normal people… except our friend Benji (oops, told on you 😉 who swears that he “is a grown up some of the time”

We love our Benji and will take him even if he’s a mess 😉

ps. Benj: this was too funny not to share. we love you very very much and hope you can stay with us as long as you want/ need to. I mentioned that you could just use our spare key… Grant said you might lose it….

Three names I go by:
1. Luce (if we’re close)
2. HunnyBunny (if you’re grant)
3. hey you 😉 (if you’re most everyone else)

Three places I’ve lived:
1. Athens, Georgia (the place of all things good 🙂
2. Antelope, Oregon–that summer was a slice of heaven!
3. Fairbanks, Alaska

Three places I’ve worked:
1. Fortson’s Clothier, Athens, Georgia
2. YoungLife Wildhorse Canyon
3. Lost Creek Ranch, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Three TV shows I love to watch:
1. Dexter
2. Weeds
3. Sex and the City
… pray for me after that list 😉

Three movies I would watch again:
1. Sherlock Holmes
2. Across the Universe
3. Inception
Marley and Me–how can I not pick a dog movie??? The Holiday–how can I not pick a date movie???

Three books I would recommend:
1. The God you can Know
2. The Agony and the Ecstasy
3. Pillars of the Earth
Crazy Love, A Light in August, Jane Eyre, Twilight, On Writing, Straight Man… the list goes on… did you really expect me to limit this to 3???

Three special places I have been:
1. The Forbidden City, Beijing, China
2. Liechtenstein
3. Frienze, Italy

Three things I love to eat:
1. Italian
2. chips.and.que.so.
3. Grant’s wings on the grill. wow.

Three things I am looking forward to:
1. ITALY!!-11 days and counting!!!!!!
2. getting pregnant (really looking forward to that whole season of life and lots of little children all around us)
3. prayer every Thursday–seriously, the icing on my week’s cake.

copy, paste, rinse, and repeat!
[I broke some rules. free yourself to do the same!]

After today, I can honestly say that my mind has been blown away with prayer.

I am completely overwhelmed–in a wonderful way–with what God has in the way of communing with us through prayer.

I still haven’t even processed it all yet, but prayer today at Grace Midtown was transformational.

praise.the.Lord.

!!!!!