dog chips & the floodzone

Today is the big day for Zelda and Gracie - they get their ID microchips. I'm sure they would be excited if they knew what it was all about...as it is they are snoozing away peacefully because it has been raining here for what SEEMS like FOREVER! I was wondering if I needed to start building an ark in the backyard. There has never been so much water in the yard before. Too bad it wasn't a blizzard - that would have been much better - maybe we would have had another day off!

Brad is settling in somewhat, although he is still running on US time. Last night he was awake at 3am. But he has been sleeping well at least. He sent me many pictures of Catania - and Mount Etna. Here are a few of my favorites so far...Mount Etna and the orange groves... If you click on the pictures you can see the full size!

he made it!

The good news is that Brad has safely arrived in Sicily. He said it was so beautiful flying in - they went right by the volcano and there are green hills and he just said it looked like paradise.

Here's the funny thing - I tried all day yesterday to help him find a way to get his luggage from Rome to Catania - only to find out this morning that they never left Ft. Lauderdale!!!

He thought he had to go right out to buy something to wear, but the good news is that I had put extra clothes in his carry on - he could shower right away!! It was wonderful to hear him and I could hear Scott and Lorraine in the background. They had picked him up and he was at their house, getting ready to drink some expresso. It sounded like a wonderful welcome celebration - God is SO good.

Many people were praying for his safe arrival and I had a lot of messages on the answering machine last night from our friends that were thinking of us and praying for us. Wow it is so incredible to have brothers and sisters in Christ who love and care for us - it is beautiful. We are so grateful for all that the Lord is doing in our lives. We have a beautiful family and we have met so many awesome people here in Tennessee - I cannot express properly the joy and gratitude that I feel right now.

Brad is on his way to Philly right now from Ft. Lauderdale. Of course, when he checked in this morning, the large suitcase that I packed for him was WAY overweight - 79 lbs!! So it cost $50. They were nice and did not charge him for the other bag even though it weighed 50 lbs. (Yes, I can really pack some suitcases!) He has some changes of clothes with him in the carry on just in case the luggage does not get to Catania at the same time he does which is a distinct possibility with all the different airlines.

The next hurdle is that he only has an hour for his connection in Rome and they did not check him all the way through to Catania. According to the travel office here, there is a baggage agreement between US Airways and Alitalia and he should have tickets and baggage claim all the way through.

After speaking with every airline and the travel office, the only option appears to be that he try to get another Alitalia flight from Rome. We do not yet know if USAirways can do it in Philadelphia or if he has to try to make it happen in Rome. Prayers are desperately needed for a smooth transition.

Josh rode with me to the airport this morning - I was really glad that he decided to come along. It is always hard for those two to say goodbye since they have done it for so long - but it has not happened since Josh moved in with us in Virginia. They are really close. I know it was hard to say goodbye for them, but we agree that this is the right thing and that God is in charge.

I decided to search for some scriptures on saying goodbye. Instead I found this lovely write up: http://crookedshore.typepad.com/crookedshore/2006/08/little_deaths_t.html

Arrivederci...

Tomorrow morning Brad leaves for Italy. He flies to Ft. Lauderdale, Philly, Rome, then Catania. So when he finally arrives in Sicily, it will be Friday morning.

We have someone coming to look at the house on Friday morning as well. It would be such a blessing to sell the house right away - please pray for us that we get a buyer soon. Brad will starve without me - haha! Just kidding... Not in Italy he won't!! Seriously, we are both sad that we are going to be apart and we want it to go by as quickly as the Lord allows!

The two corgis - Gracie and Zelda - need to get their ID chips and rabies shots. Then all 3 dogs just need the health certificates from the vet in Italian and they will be ready to fly in 30 days. So, it is all coming together perfectly.

God has a way of working things out that we could not have planned for no matter how hard we tried!

Ephesians 3:20-25 says "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

2007 - Getting Ready for Sicily

Happy New Year!
We are preparing to start a new chapter of our lives.
We are moving to Sicily and for the first time, Brad will be the sole source of income for our family. I will be able to dedicate my life to being a wife, homemaker, Gigi - even though I will be a far away Gigi for a little while :-( - and first and foremost a servant of the God Most High.
We do not have any fear of this move, the huge reduction in income or anything else because God is making a way before us.
He has delivered us from so many things that we had been praying about. But just like He delivered the Israelites from Egypt - He has delivered us! We are almost debt free now. When we sell our house, we will be 100% debt free. It is all thanks to the Word of God. We took a Crown Financial class given at our church and learned all of the scriptures associated with wealth, borrowing, lending, and more. In a little over a year we paid off a TON of debt! (I am NOT putting a number on here!!)
He has done exceeding abundantly more than we prayed for...more than we could have ever even dreamed of.
My grandfather was born in Sicily in a city called Ventimiglia outside of Palermo. It thrills my heart to know that I will be able to go and see where he was born and lived for the first 10 years of his life. I hope I can find his house!
Thank you Father for loving us and taking care of us. No matter what, we know that you are making a way, you are walking beside us and best of all that you love us. I pray that you will allow us to serve you, and that our lives may in some way glorify Your Holy Name!
Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice to save us, heal us and change us. Our lives have never been better since You called us on March 28, 2004...almost 3 years ago!