#makerealconnections

Hiked up 521 stairs to the top of St. Peter's Basilica's Dome and overlooked all of Rome. 360 degrees. Bella  I've been here 6 weeks already! Wowsers. You know, it does feel like 6 weeks. I feel like I have fully lived each one of those days. It's wonderful to experience so many neat things. I want to write everything down, but I'm accepting that I'll live it up in the moment and if it's important, i'll write it down or remember and share it when needed. I've been continually learning so much about perspective. Working in the temple so often is a reminder of what's really important and why we are here. So when things go wrong, storms occur, life doesn't turn out as planned, It's all okay. It's probably better anyway.  A Fratello(Brother) at the temple taught and made us Ravioli! There were about 60 people and about 400 raviolis made. These noodles are just egg and flour. Stuffed with cheese and spinach.  Kami,...

This is Becky, she is from Idaho and is here studying! She knows Jeanette Leishman and Angela Blazzard from Morgan! Small world, especially in the church.  Truth be told, I could never be a blogger! haha It's not set in me to make time to be consistent with posting. I do journal regularly though. Things have been going well here in Italy. I enjoy every day, with its ups and downs. This is a beautiful life we live. It's so worth it looking at the good and focusing on the real connections. We can pray for these things too. Pray to not be deceived. Pray to realize when you are focusing too much on distractions. Pray for discernment. He really does answer and helps us see clarity. I couldn't imagine life without the gospel and Jesus Christ.  My fortune after some yummy chinese food! The man walked next door to the market to get an orange for my orange chicken. Pretty cool.  Babes in Shades!  Not everyday do you see this in the local market. Fellow...

I title these in Italian, you can look up google translate to help you know what it says. That's how I know what to write! Thank goodness for google translate. I have Italian lessons at least once or twice a week. I am really enjoying it. It's fun learning a new language, especially when I am immersed in it. Much easier to have the energy and drive to learn. It's not easy, it feels like school again a bit, but it's a good feel. My tests aren't graded either, ;) But she does give us homework! Every day I see God's love being shown to me. Everyday! Whether it's through another person, nature (wind, sunrise, sunset), an animal, a message, a smile, a hug. EVERYDAY! The other day I was overwhelmed and feeling sad. I had just gotten off of the phone with my sister and a little black dog ran up to me and climbed on my lap and just sat with me while I pet it. It is exactly something that Buckwheat would do. It was not a coincidence. I cried with gratitude after th...

One thing I love about travel and being away from my norm, is that I feel like I fully live everyday. It has already been two weeks, but I have lived everyday within those two weeks. I already feel like I've been here so long and know so many people because it is such a community. Working 5 days a week, then going to Sunday services with the same people. It's so easy to love and feel the family connection so quickly. This week has been wonderful. Our first Italian lessons were this week. I have down the ABC's! Almost 1-10. I keep forgetting how to pronounce 10. Vowels are mixed here, so you pronounce e as (a), i as (ee), u as (oo), e' as (e as in example). So it's a brain focus when trying to read or pronounce words. My brain feels like it's in school again- it kinda is I suppose. This is Sister Zilli, she teaches our Italian lessons. Her and Christina I'm a big big fan of these! It's okay if people give me them for my birthday ;)  I wil...