Colton Takes Illinois

While Ross was in Italy leading the UCF Vision Trip and apartment hunting for us, Colton and I took a trip to visit my extended family in Illinois.  It was the first time most everyone had met Colton and the first time I had seen some of them in years!  We had a great time and wanted to post some pictures from the trip.  

DISCLAIMER: I'm terrible at taking pictures and did not get some with everyone.  I'm sorry! Whether you're pictured here or not, I loved seeing you!!!

Mor-Mor (Swedish for grandma) and Colton.

Colton reppin' Geneva, Illinois - the birthplace of his mom and "Big Poppy!"

Colton and I on our walk through Geneva - such a cute town!

Generational picture:  My grandma, dad, me, and Colton all by "our sign."  My family was one of the founding families of Geneva and used to farm lots of land there, including this land - where Moore Park now stands, named in our honor.

After spending a few days in Geneva we headed South to visit the other side of my family.

Macie, Aunt Jill, Haley, Uncle Darren, and Jake w/ Colton

Colton and Caleb - my youngest cousin.

Me and Kristen w/ our kids - the great grandkids of the family.

Megan and Colton

Colton with Aunt Susan and Uncle Bob (who, hopefully, I'll see in a few months in Italy!)

We made a special visit to introduce Colton to my Great Aunt Margaret - she turns 90 soon!

Grandma Great playing with Colton.

And, just for good measure, a naked shot of Colton.  I just love those little cheeks!

Thanks for welcoming us everyone!  We loved seeing you and miss you so much already!

Showdown at High Noon - PLEASE PRAY!!!

We just received word that the owners of the apartment we hope to rent in Florence want to "meet" with us on Thursday at noon (Eastern standard time).  Our co-worker, Michelle, will represent us in person but we are supposed to call in to answer some questions.

Please set a cell phone timer or a computer reminder to pray for this meeting!  And pray in the meantime, too!  If we are going to get this apartment it is crucial that the owners like us and are satisfied with the answers to the questions they ask.  Please pray for favor in their eyes and that God would provide THIS apartment for us!

Thank you!

Apartment in Florence: Prayer Please!!!

As most of you know, Ross has been in Italy for two weeks.  First he led UCF's vision trip and then he stayed to look for an apartment for us.  I wanted to share some prayer requests with the blogging world because, hey, more people praying never hurts! :)

To make a long story short, after a week of searching with nothing but discouragements, Ross found an awesome apartment for our family in Florence.  God totally provided the opportunity to see it at the last minute, just hours before he was leaving to come back home.  It has everything we thought "it would be nice to have...but we don't really expect to get" - like a utility room (so we don't have to do laundry in the kitchen or bathroom), 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, lots of living space, a decent sized kitchen, and even a private garden with a stone terrace!  Amazing!

All that said, Ross had to leave before a contract could be put on it for us.  We are signing the contract and faxing it back to Italy today, then the land owner has to accept it.  She has already turned down a potential renter because they own a pit-bull.  We obviously are young, with a baby, and two pets so we are praying that she will feel compelled to rent to us even though there are surely things she could object to.  

So PLEASE join us in prayer this weekend:

1) That the landowner (who lives next door to our apartment, if we get it) will want to rent to us - baby, pets, and all!

2) That she would accept a slightly lower price than what she was asking in exchange for a long-term contract.

3) That Michelle, our coworker who is helping us try to secure the apartment, will find favor in the eyes of the landowner when she meets with her on our behalf on Monday.

4) Finally, praise God for bringing this wonderful place into our path and pray that He will work everything out for us to get it!

We will hopefully know for sure early next week and, if we get it, I'll post some pictures then! :)

What a Morning...

Ug.  I've had a crazy morning!

First I'm awakened by Ross calling, "Listen carefully because I only have a couple minutes to talk."  He was calling on his cell phone from Italy and, obviously, that sucks up minutes quickly.  He told me to look for a contract for our apartment to come to me via e-mail today, to sign it, and to fax it back as soon as I can.  While this is exciting, I am stressed about it!  Will it be in Italian?  I can't read a housing contract in Italian!  How will I know what I'm signing?  Etc, etc, etc.

Second, I was refilling the dog's big water bowl when the plastic part somehow broke, spilling gallons of water all over my kitchen floor.  Great.

On top of that I was already stressed because I have to get myself and Colton ready to head to a bridal shower for a friend this morning...and I have a feeling we'll be late based on the time of morning it is.

Ok - just needed to get all that junk off my chest.  On to trying to get out the door!

Memories...

Ross and I on Vision Trip last year.  Salerno, Italy.

Today is a sad day for me.  Ross left this evening to lead UCF's vision trip - a spring break mission trip where students go to Italy in order to share the Gospel with Italian university students.  It is an awesome trip where we see lives changed, both American and Italian, in awesome ways by God - and this year I had to stay behind!

Obviously there was no way for me to go on this trip with Colton - it will be hard enough to move him to Italy when we go this spring let alone to take him on a week-long trip.  I didn't really mind missing out until I was driving Ross to the airport today.  I really am sad to miss out on all that God will do on the trip!

Besides that, I really miss Ross!  Since we basically work the same job we are never separated.  This trip will mark the longest time we've spent apart since we got married four and a half years ago.

Thinking about this trip took me back to last year.  It was such a special trip because Jenn and Nate both took a week off of work to come with us!  It was awesome to have them share the experience of ministering to students in the country we love so much with us.  Here are some fun pictures from that trip:

Ross and Nate hanging out and being weird in the Piazza del Popolo (Rome) on our first night in country.

Jenn and me looking out from the Colosseum.

Jenn and I would get cappuccini together every morning that we were there.  Mmmmm...

We love Italy!  *Can you believe that I was 12 weeks pregnant in that picture?!?*

Here is a view of the city we'll be moving to this spring - Florence!

Though I'm sad to miss out on this trip, and missing Ross (and Jenn and Nate, too), I am excited for the chance I have to take Colton to Illinois next week to visit the Moore and Hurst sides of the family!  Pictures and stories from that time to come...