memories

I (Sarah) got stuck in a bank today.

Please remember...always make memories to last a lifetime.

Ciao!

together again...

Hi, it's us...finally. The last four days have been full of excitement and lots of little ups and downs. Not only do we have to start packing for the vacation house, but also finish getting a residence permit and medical insurance. We already thought that I (Sarah) had finished the biggest job with getting the student visa to come over here for a year but now the process to get a permit is giving both of us a headache. We had to go to 3 different post offices yesterday but NO ONE had this special kit for obtaining a permit so his dad took us to downtown Naples and we finally got it...after getting a big blister on my toe from walking around all morning. (not to mention it was like 200 degrees outside) Right now, we filled out all the forms and are going to buy some insurance tomorrow and turn everything in before we take a train and leave for the vacation house on Wednesday. I have to do this all within 8 days of arriving in Italy...Mamma mia!

We had a wonderful church service today where I (Sarah) got to see a lot of people I knew and recognized from Festival last June. After church, we went back to grammy's for lunch with the whole family and took naps and tonight we are going to hang out with some friends!

Ci vediamo! (See you later!) :)

P.S. These beautiful roses were waiting for me when I arrived at grammy's...bellissimi! Grazie Antonello!

...the time has come...

Just a quick post to let you know that......I'M IN ITALY! Gotta get some more z's....ciao!

...a note from Antonello

3 months are passed!!! I can't believe it..she is almost here... one more day. I can't wait. I need to see her... The last 20 days have been very hard for my mind, I have studied like I have never done before. I took another test today, one of the hardest, but more the things are difficult, greater is the pleasure to overcome them; I need to thank God for supporting my brain, and giving me the ability to not go crazy!!! Anyway, I'm done for awhile, done with my tests and especially done with the garbage, I hope things will get better, Naples is a extraordinary city but needs to get "clean" in all the ways...soon I will see the most beautiful ever, Sarah.. Thank God for this opportunity, vacation house we are coming...

Busy...busy...busy

Man, I have been busy. I thought, after leaving my 40 hr/week job, that it would leave me more time to just sit and breathe but it has been GO GO GO since I arrived in Seattle two weeks ago! I guess this is what happens when you are getting ready to move out of the country!!!! :)

Aside from getting some last minute goodies, my mom and I traveled to Olympia to see my aunt, who I haven't seen in years. It was so good to see her beautiful face.

AND...mom and I have been very busy not only with packing but with getting the house in order and that includes the front yard as well...it was a total jungle when you walked out our front door and it took me 2.5 hours to mow the lawn but I gotter' done! My mom, on the other hand, was the trimming queen...look at how savvy she is holding that weed wacker! Did I mention the safety goggles?

I wonder what it's like to be so cool... :)

Girls Night Out!

Being away for 6 years has not diminished my love for downtown Seattle! My beautiful best friend from college for almost 10 years, Kristin, and her friend (my new friend), Jen and I all went downtown last night and had a blast laughing and talking about life. We ate delicious pizza and an "out of this world" artichoke & crab dip...I'm still excited about my upcoming Italian food though!!!

Right now, it's time for my mom and I to get on our walking shoes and travel around familiar streets and soak in my wonderful neighborhood where I grew up. I see the sun...I better go!!! Ciao!

Back to the rain!

Yesterday, I was in sunny Santa Cruz. As I write this, I am back in cloudy, drippy Seattle...but with much joy in my heart. It took 6 people at different times during the day to jam 15 boxes, 4 suitcases, 1 t.v. and many other knick-knacks into the back of a Ford Explorer..it was an amazing sight I tell you.

After meeting my beautiful friend, Yolanda, at Surf City at 6:30 a.m. for a large cup of coffee, my mom and I headed out to find I-5 which would lead us to Seattle. The trip was full of talking, singing, laughing so hard we both had tears running down our cheeks, 2 gas breaks, seeing the aftermath of a horribe accident in Oregon, driving through numerous slow-downs from road work, getting lost on a 405/I-5 interchange, and trying to just survive the last 3 hours in the pouring down rain to get home at 1:30 in the morning. I can't tell you how happy we both were to get out of the car and into our beds. I think I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.

2 weeks until Italia! I have to go through all my stuff now...CIAO!

3rd time is the charm!

I woke up at 7:45 a.m. this morning, drove to my dear friend Susan Hurley's and borrowed a more dependable car for my THIRD trip to the Italian embassy in San Francisco. I found a friendly-staffed garage to park in and walked boldly to the front door of the Italian embassy, with a stuffed folder in hand.

After waiting an hour and a half and having pleasant conversations with two women from India, who were trying to obtain visas as well, my eyes saw an answered prayer- the man who helped me during my second round of my visa process. During that visit, he shared vital information with me and truly helped me see the possibility in traveling to Italy as a student to be able to stay with Antonello for a year.

He was on his smoke break and my heart was lifted in hope as I saw him, knowing that the Lord was there with me. As I was first in line, he came up to me, smiled with his eyes, and asked me if I was ready. I walked to the window, stood before him, handed him my paperwork and waited in anticipation. He went through all of my 11 documents that are needed for obtaining a student visa, and asked me if I wanted some good news. I said yes and he gave me the nod which meant the process was complete. After a "grazie mille" (thank you very much), and a "prego" (you're welcome) with a wink from my Italian embassy angel, I danced out the door. Literally.

On June 19th, I will have my student visa. Watch out Napoli, here I come!