By Plane, Ferry and Train!

Hello All from Italia!
We made it here after about 31 hours of traveling by car, plane, plane, car, ferry, car, ferry, car (in that order)!  We only had one small breakdown by Sallie as she tried to wake up after being up for about 24 hours and then only sleeping for about 1 1/2 hours!  Can you blame her?  Here are some pictures we took along the way:

Sunrise in Amsterdam

Sallie at sunrise in Amsterdam

Timothy at sunrise in Amsterdam!

Me and Sallie and Timothy - the first Gelato for the kids (that Timothy and Sallie remember!)

Timothy on the Ferry from Civitavecchia to Sardegna

Sallie being cute!

Cynthia and Reno are wonderful!  They seem to be doing great and are very busy here with life in LaMaddelena.  I had forgotten (not really) how beautiful it is here.  We went strolling through the town and had cappuccino and gelato!  The kids were in heaven.  We only have 3 days here and leave for a short 2 day stay in Rome tomorrow (Sunday).  We plan on seeing the Vatican, Colosseum, the Forum and what ever else we can.  We have been there several times and Trevor has too, but he would like to see it now from an almost adult's eyes and not those of a 3 year old!  I can't blame him.

Lela, Me and Theresa at sunset at the Cabin

Nick, Timothy, Sallie, Anya, Tia and Xavian

A wonderful Italian dinner

Jim, Timothy, Trevor, Me and Sallie at the cabin

Reno cooking Pancetta and Salsicce

We went to the beach yesterday and we are like bright shining lights compared to the dark skinned Italians, but no one laughed at us (at least not out loud)!  Minimal burning was had due to the copious amounts of sunscreen applied.  Here are a few pictures:

Jim and Trevor trying to get some color on those white bodies!

Sallie and Dad

Nick, Timothy and Sallie (Nick is a new friend who lives in Michigan!)

We plan on packing up today (oh joy!) and heading to another ferry to take us to a car to take us to a ferry to take us to a train to take us to Rome tomorrow.  It should be fun.  We tried to travel light on our way to Michigan, but we have had to pack bags inside of bags as we will be loaded down on our return to Kenya!  We have one computer with us and were scheduled to have 2 returning, but just in the last week things have changed and we will now have 4 returning!  Jim is a computer buying nut!   It's a good thing there are 5 of us traveling and most are now pretty useful as baggage carriers!

We will be back in Michigan on Wed afternoon.  We depart from Rome at 6:00 am and arrive in Michigan at 1:00 in the afternoon.  How does that happen with a 2 1/2 hour trip to Amsterdam and another 8 hour trip to Detroit?  Jet lag should not be as bad as if we were coming from Nairobi.

Trevor has decided he wants to learn Italian and is working on an angle to come back and stay with Cynthia and Reno for a time!  I think he would enjoy that!

Being here in a land of plenty, we are so reminded of the stark contrast with Kenya.  People here have sidewalks, they adore their kids (and show it), they have cars and can eat gelato.  Sometimes when there is enough, people tend to forget where all of those blessings come from.  Please don't forget!

 

Please keep us in your prayers as we travel home to see family and friends.  We are looking forward to it!

In His Hands,

Jullie T.