going back to Sicily

In two weeks we'll be on planes headed for Sicily. Bob is a little worried because, as we got our tickets in two different ways, we will not be traveling together. He is concerned that I will not feel well and he won't be there to take care of me. He's been so great during this whole situation that he'll worry until he sees me safe in Sicily.

We're so much looking forward to seeing all our friends. I can hardly wait. I'm already planning a cookout with our Italian friends. Hamburgers, baked beans, potato salad....all those American cookout things.

And trying to find gifts for friends, both American and Italian. There are so many people we miss and/or want to show our appreciation to for all the help they've been while we've been away. keeping our dog, watching out for the house, going over to start the car...even paying our rent for us. So many wonderful friends.

Then, only four more weeks until we leave Sicily forever. I can't imagine our going back though I would love to. There will be to many new things to do here and new adventures for our lives. Maybe we'll go on a cruise.

Well, what do you know.....I'm back

The doctors say I can go back to Sicily to finish out the school year so on May 8 we will be boarding an airplane to go "home." I have truly missed that place, the countryside, the towns and villages, the wonderful Italian friends, the American friends from the base.

I am really getting excited.

However, in the meantime, we've been staying with our daughter, Jessica and her family, in a little suburb of Grand Rapids, Michigan, called Rockford. If you ever want to get away for a weekend, I would suggest Michigan. Beautiful beaches, little towns (like Rockford) with main streets that play jazz over an speaker system and local shops with a great variety of products. Not the big department stores and franchize shops we're used to in the midwest but the shops that invite you to come and browse through. (The shops remind me of Meg Ryan's little book store in "You've got mail") In Rockford's main street we have an herb shop, yarn shop, vintage and hand made clothing and accessories, basket/home accessory shop, toy store, ice cream parlor, candy shop, hot dog stands, and a store that sells articles made by women rescued from "trafficking" in India, Pakistan, northern countries of Africa, etc. What a great place, not just Rockford but all of western Michigan.

I'm not going to start a blog of our adventures here but we are having some really good times with the Jessica and the boys. Just this morning I was sitting doing my Bible study in Psalms and heard the boys laughing (Grant, 5, and Charlie, 7 months). The thought went through my head that if someone had told me I could hear that sound every day but would have to put up with cancer as a choice, I might just think it was worth it. I'm not glad I have cancer but I'm truly thankful for the opportunity to get to hear the boys laughter and spend time with my daughter.

God does work in mysterious ways.