After a month-long haitus, Christopher and I are back in action, blogging from our warm little apartment in Mishawaka, Indiana. We hope you all had a blessed Christmas and that your New Year has been full of joy!
The last month has taken us from Rome to Amsterdam to Chicago to South Bend to Mishawaka to Livonia, Michigan... and back to Mishawaka once more. We felt God's provision through every leg of our journey; in fact, our flight into the States was so well-timed that had we arrived a mere day later, weather-related delays would have almost certainly kept us from spending the holidays with my family. As it was, we made it into Livonia and pulled into my parents' driveway as the first flakes fell and watched the inches accumulate from inside their cozy house. God is good!
We spent the next two weeks recovering and transitioning back into every facet of American life and culture -- the time zone, the temperature, SNOW (and driving in it), Walmart, being able to communicate with the general population in our native language, etc. Christopher's transition was near seamless, as he expected; mine, however, was slightly less so. In any case, it's hard to express just how wonderful it was to be taken care of for those first days back and what a blessing it was to be able to re-adjust without having to worry about things like decorating, planning, unpacking, grocery shopping, cooking, or cleaning. Thank you, Mom and Dad N!!!
Now that we're back in Mishawaka, it's time to settle back into our apartment and the grad school routine. There are still a few boxes here and there, but we're mostly unpacked and moving onto the big things like classes and homework (Christopher) and finding a job (Katie). We're also enjoying the chance to see friends again and get back to our church family at CCM.
Stay tuned! In the coming weeks, we'll keep using the blog to share some post-Rome thoughts and photos that never made it up. Until next time, stay warm!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
I'll be Home for Christmas...
Buona sera!
Well, Christopher wrapped up his semester with a review of his last project on Wednesday and a review of some of his collected drawings yesterday morning. In the afternoon we were taken on a short tour of Palazzo Farnese (designed by Michaelangelo and now home to the French Embassy) as a last-hurrah before bidding farewell to professors and fellow students.
We won't head out until Monday morning (6am our time!), but Christopher has to turn in his studio keys today. No keys means no internet and that means no blog posts. Boo. But if I'm honest, I'll be happy to devote our last hours in Roma to walking around the Eternal City with my husband, gelato in hand.
Please join us in thanking God for meeting all of our needs and praying that He will grant us a safe journey back to the United States. We are looking forward to seeing many of you again soon, Lord-willing!
Ciao!
Well, Christopher wrapped up his semester with a review of his last project on Wednesday and a review of some of his collected drawings yesterday morning. In the afternoon we were taken on a short tour of Palazzo Farnese (designed by Michaelangelo and now home to the French Embassy) as a last-hurrah before bidding farewell to professors and fellow students.
We won't head out until Monday morning (6am our time!), but Christopher has to turn in his studio keys today. No keys means no internet and that means no blog posts. Boo. But if I'm honest, I'll be happy to devote our last hours in Roma to walking around the Eternal City with my husband, gelato in hand.
Please join us in thanking God for meeting all of our needs and praying that He will grant us a safe journey back to the United States. We are looking forward to seeing many of you again soon, Lord-willing!
Ciao!
Greetings from Rome Baptist Church!
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| From Roma |
We've been blessed by our church family here in Rome and are thankful that the Lord provided us with a congregation we could fellowship with. Despite our hectic travel schedule earlier in the semester, we were able to start attending a married couples' group for Bible Study and fellowship over the past month, where we've gotten to know some wonderful people from all over the globe, including the Philippines and Australia!
A couple of weeks ago, we also went out to lunch with Pastor Dave and his wife, Cathy, to share what the Lord has been doing in our lives and reflect on our time here in Rome. Their responsiveness to God's leading in their lives is a great example for us as we look ahead to a yet-unknown future.
As we prepare to attend our last Sunday at RBC and say goodbye to several new (but dear) friends, I'm reminded of the way God has surrounded us with His people so faithfully. Although we're sad to leave Rome and the RBC congregation, it encourages us to know that we will be welcomed home by our beloved family at Christ's Church in Michiana. I suppose if it weren't for the sadness of goodbyes, we couldn't have the sweetness of reunions.
Thank you, Lord, for the time You've given us in Rome and for ministering to us through the believers of Rome Baptist Church. We praise You for the awesome things You are doing in and through RBC! Please encourage Pastor Dave and Cathy, bless their ministry and continue to influence and draw people to Yourself, for Your glory, through the impact of Rome Baptist Church.
We pray these things in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Roman Holidays
Just a few highlights of the wonderful time we had with our visitors!
We introduced Mom and Dad Teague to Antica Osteria Ponte Sisto, a sweet little restaurant just around the corner from our apartment. I think we were there for at least two hours and ate some of the best food any of us have ever had!
The four of us checked out the Galleria Borghese and saw Bernini's David, among other famous (and beautiful) works of art!
We also spent a day wandering around the Forum with Christopher, our volunteer tour guide, pointing out important sites and architectural details.
Alanna came to visit about a month later! While Christopher worked on his project, she and I walked around Campo de Fiori together.
Yum!
We decided to leave Roma for a short weekend trip to Sorrento and Pompeii, which made Alanna really excited.
Sorrento is known for its expansive lemon groves and lemon products (lemonade, limoncello liqueur, gelato, etc). The family that owns the grove we visited had actually grafted branches of orange trees onto lemon trees so that both fruits grow on one tree!
On our way to Pompeii, we had to ride the Circumvesuviana train, known for its pickpockets. The train was nearly empty, but we had to play up the situation anyway.
We had such a fabulous time entertaining our guests and are SO glad they could come! Mom, Dad and Alanna all have way more pictures than the few I took, so check out facebook for a more complete album of their Roman travels.
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| From Mom and Dad T. in Roma! |
We introduced Mom and Dad Teague to Antica Osteria Ponte Sisto, a sweet little restaurant just around the corner from our apartment. I think we were there for at least two hours and ate some of the best food any of us have ever had!
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| From Mom and Dad T. in Roma! |
The four of us checked out the Galleria Borghese and saw Bernini's David, among other famous (and beautiful) works of art!
 |
| From Mom and Dad T. in Roma! |
We also spent a day wandering around the Forum with Christopher, our volunteer tour guide, pointing out important sites and architectural details.
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| From Alanna Visits! |
Alanna came to visit about a month later! While Christopher worked on his project, she and I walked around Campo de Fiori together.
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| From Alanna Visits! |
Yum!
 |
| From Alanna Visits! |
We decided to leave Roma for a short weekend trip to Sorrento and Pompeii, which made Alanna really excited.
 |
| From Alanna Visits! |
Sorrento is known for its expansive lemon groves and lemon products (lemonade, limoncello liqueur, gelato, etc). The family that owns the grove we visited had actually grafted branches of orange trees onto lemon trees so that both fruits grow on one tree!
 |
| From Alanna Visits! |
On our way to Pompeii, we had to ride the Circumvesuviana train, known for its pickpockets. The train was nearly empty, but we had to play up the situation anyway.
We had such a fabulous time entertaining our guests and are SO glad they could come! Mom, Dad and Alanna all have way more pictures than the few I took, so check out facebook for a more complete album of their Roman travels.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Scones, Courtesy of Pauline's Oven
Pauline (a classmate of Christopher's) and I spent a delightful afternoon together baking scones and I am near beside myself with excitement for breakfast tomorrow. Scones and tea... just like home!!!
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| From Roma |
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Abridged Update
Hey all!
Since Christopher already posted an update about our October/November travels, I thought I'd just post a quick look and link to my albums for your perusal. Christopher's albums are better, so if you haven't seen his, you should check them out!
Athens
We spent a three day weekend walking around the city and learning about Greek history from one of Christopher's professors. As Christopher said, he had an "in" with the head architect in the Parthenon restoration project, so we got an insider tour! I knew it was awesome, but the looks on Christopher's face told me we were doing something even more incredible than I had realized. Our last day in Athens, we went back to the Agora for Christopher to do some sketching and me to do some wandering. For photos from the rest of our trip, go to my album.
The Amalfi Coast
At the recommendation of Annette and Tony, Christopher and I planned a long weekend on the Amalfi Coast. We caught a train to Naples, hopped over to the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento and snagged a bus from Sorrento to Amalfi Town. The bus ride was by far the BEST part of our journey -- we looked almost straight down into the Mediterranean and clenched white knuckles as our driver navigated along the narrow road. Who needs Cedar Point?! Our weekend was full of exploring the tiny town of Amalfi and hiking like crazy up to the little towns nearby. Annette, we love Amalfi, too! I've got a few more photos in my album.
Siena
While Christopher spent a week traveling around Tuscany and Umbria with his classmates, I decided to strike out on my own for my first solo-trip EVER... to Siena! Christopher and his classmates were staying there for two nights, so I figured I'd at least get to catch up with him for a meal or two. I had a great time sipping cappuccino at a bar on Il Campo, wandering around the city and checking out the Sanctuary of St. Catherine, the Duomo and the Duomo Museum. I couldn't take pictures in some places, but there are a few in my album. After two nights in Siena, I caught a train to Florence to spend an afternoon checking out the Bargello Museum, the Duomo, its museum and (drum roll, please)... DANTE'S HOUSE!!! They have reconstructed the building to add a museum that looks at everything from Florentine history during Dante's career to works of various artists inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy. They even have an entire wall devoted to listing all of the Divine Comedy's political, religious, historical, personal references, etc. I was in Paradise!
I let Christopher take all the pictures on our trips to Florence and our Thanksgiving holiday in the Cinque Terre -- he's got the better camera, anyway. I'm sure they'll be up as soon as he has a chance. For now, he's slaving away on his last project of the semester. I can hardly believe our time here is almost done! Until next time... arrivederci!
Since Christopher already posted an update about our October/November travels, I thought I'd just post a quick look and link to my albums for your perusal. Christopher's albums are better, so if you haven't seen his, you should check them out!
Athens
 |
| From Athens |
We spent a three day weekend walking around the city and learning about Greek history from one of Christopher's professors. As Christopher said, he had an "in" with the head architect in the Parthenon restoration project, so we got an insider tour! I knew it was awesome, but the looks on Christopher's face told me we were doing something even more incredible than I had realized. Our last day in Athens, we went back to the Agora for Christopher to do some sketching and me to do some wandering. For photos from the rest of our trip, go to my album.
The Amalfi Coast
 |
| From Amalfi Coast |
At the recommendation of Annette and Tony, Christopher and I planned a long weekend on the Amalfi Coast. We caught a train to Naples, hopped over to the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento and snagged a bus from Sorrento to Amalfi Town. The bus ride was by far the BEST part of our journey -- we looked almost straight down into the Mediterranean and clenched white knuckles as our driver navigated along the narrow road. Who needs Cedar Point?! Our weekend was full of exploring the tiny town of Amalfi and hiking like crazy up to the little towns nearby. Annette, we love Amalfi, too! I've got a few more photos in my album.
Siena
 |
| From Siena |
While Christopher spent a week traveling around Tuscany and Umbria with his classmates, I decided to strike out on my own for my first solo-trip EVER... to Siena! Christopher and his classmates were staying there for two nights, so I figured I'd at least get to catch up with him for a meal or two. I had a great time sipping cappuccino at a bar on Il Campo, wandering around the city and checking out the Sanctuary of St. Catherine, the Duomo and the Duomo Museum. I couldn't take pictures in some places, but there are a few in my album. After two nights in Siena, I caught a train to Florence to spend an afternoon checking out the Bargello Museum, the Duomo, its museum and (drum roll, please)... DANTE'S HOUSE!!! They have reconstructed the building to add a museum that looks at everything from Florentine history during Dante's career to works of various artists inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy. They even have an entire wall devoted to listing all of the Divine Comedy's political, religious, historical, personal references, etc. I was in Paradise!
I let Christopher take all the pictures on our trips to Florence and our Thanksgiving holiday in the Cinque Terre -- he's got the better camera, anyway. I'm sure they'll be up as soon as he has a chance. For now, he's slaving away on his last project of the semester. I can hardly believe our time here is almost done! Until next time... arrivederci!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Confessions of a Repentant Materialist
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| From Italian Fashion |
Lately, I might have been dealing with a little bit of jealousy.
Let's try that again.
Hi, my name is Katie and I have been dealing with jealousy. We're living in a very fashion-conscious culture here in Italy, and I've been starting to wish I could dress as well as the locals decked out in all the designers' latest trends. I don't even like all of the trends, but there's something about walking around with five layers shoved under my pilled Old Navy fleece for the fourth day in a row that makes me feel vastly inferior to all the stiletto-wearing fashionistas that crawl the streets of Rome. Even if their shoes are impractical.
Up until now, I had been fairly successful at convincing myself that I don't *want* to have to look where I'm going to keep my heels from getting caught in the cobblestones. And I maintain my distaste for spandex leggings (what are they thinking?). I even remain unimpressed by the newest styles of over-sized purses that threaten to bruise small children on the street and topple the very women carrying them. But I must admit that I've been waffling a bit in my convictions and coveting some of those beautiful clothes in shop windows.
Thankfully, the Lord gave me a gentle and much-needed reminder Sunday evening at our church couples' group. During our Bible study, we came across 1 Peter 3:3-4, which says:
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
Reading that left me feeling convicted and a little sheepish at having forgotten how unimportant my "personal style" is in the scheme of things. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that there's anything wrong with dressing nicely -- but I want my life to bring glory to Jesus, and I definitely don't need Prada to do that.
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