It's our LAST Thursday in VERONA!

Today was a happy day in Verona.  The days that we don't have to report to the hospital are always nice, but today was especially pleasant because there was not a single, solitary raindrop.  It was even warm enough to walk without our coats in the afternoon.  It felt like the first day of Spring!
 See that sunshine?!

 

In the most exciting news of the day, it looks like we will get to meet a missionary family while we are here in Verona. Those who know me well know that I love nothing more than meeting missionaries and hearing anything they want to share. I found this family while researching ongoing mission work in Italy, and read their blog, and then e-mailed to ask where they worship. They have responded with kindest message and invited us to join them for house church on Sunday. We are so excited to go! This family served in China for 6 years before coming to Italy, and they have experience with ASL and a heart for the Deaf. How's that for the LORD showing off His goodness?!?! It just makes me smile, and it makes me itch for Sunday to get here!

As for the day's events -- we were tourists today.  We took advantage of the good weather to walk across the river to the area where the old Roman amphitheater is located.  The amphitheater was built in first century B.C. under Augustus' rule.  It was excavated beginning in 1757, but the excavation was not completed until the 1950s. It's considered one of the oldest Roman amphitheaters in the world.

At the very top of the hill you can see the castle that overlooks the Adige River from the opposite side of old Verona.

I was in need of a taste of home today -- a coke with real ice. Where do you find that?  McDonald's, of course.  We have not ventured into an American establishment since we have been in Verona, but I  I always think it's fun to see what the McDonalds in other countries have on the menu.  In China, you could get a green bean fried pie.  In Italy, you can get your burger on foccacia bread, or you can choose a wedge of cheese as your Happy Meal side.  I did not have cheese or foccacia - but I did have ice!  Anna opted for an ice cream cone.

Anna looks like a chipmunk these days.  The steriods not only make her appear puffy, but they fuel her appetite, so she eats more than usual.  The steriods are necessary to reduce the inflammation/swelling of the brain following surgery on the brainstem.  They also help the body not to reject the device.  We have begun the process to taper off the steroids, and she should be done with them in another day or so.  My nurse practitioner friend tells me that Anna's appetite and the puffiness will gradually reduce. 

Today, for the first time, Anna showed signs of wanting to go home.  She asked for Amelia and Lucy, and then she went and got her school books out.  She found her teacher's photo, and then signed her teacher's name, "Bounds."  Mrs. Bounds, watch out!  Anna is missing you!

Here are some random photos from Verona:

Why wouldn't you want to dress up a family of pig statues?  (This was taken outside a salami shop).

 

You have to really want an azalea to pay 23 Euro for a small one!

This is me trying to navigate the narrow sidewalk:

For my friend Linda H -- you love the opera, but have you seen the Opera on Ice?

 

 

For Ann - the photo I didn't get!  In a shop window it said, "Shoes are my life.  I need them.  I want them.  I live for them."  Of course, I thought of you!

For Cece - a funky clock collection.  These look Picasso's clocks!

For Amelia - Cool masks from Venice.  Your Halloween peacock costume would have been perfect!

For Lucy (okay, Melody, for you, too!) - A pink motorcycle!

Last, and definitely least, since I posted my Ode yesterday, it has come to my attention that I am not the only lousy poet in the family.  My brother, David, sent this to me in response to my post:

All about Verona

 

Where what’s for breakfast is cookies

And in Italy we’re rookies

It’s Verona

Where there is so much rain

We have to get on a train

It’s Verona

Where Papa just limps

And we don’t see much pimps

It’s Verona

(Hehe, my favorite)

Where they love Juliet and Romeo

Though they died a long time ago

It’s Verona

Where we eat lots of gelato

And haven’t seen a ghetto

It’s Verona

(I know it’s a stretch)

As Eppie loves Marner

So we thank Dr. Carner

In Verona

(Couldn’t find anything to rhyme with Carner)

Where we love our spaghetti

But so much more Dr. Colletti

It’s Verona

As for rhyming words in Italy

Amanda rhymes quite wittily

Only in Verona!

 

Signed -

David

(your brother's a poet, and you didn't even know it...)

 

Pray for David and his family!  His sister-in-law has taken suddenly ill and is hospitalized.  She is the mother of three young children.  David and Melinda have taken the children (including a baby) while his sister-in-law recovers from emergency surgery.  Pray for Melissa, her family, and David and his family.  This is a different prayer request from the request from yesterday, so keep lifting up the other family also.   

Ciao,
Amy