Celebrating Italian Holidays

Our first month here, the Bishop told us if we didn't adopt the pace and rhythm of life in la bella paese, we would have a difficult time being truly happy in Italy. Trying always to live the spirit of that counsel, as often as we can, we stop to celebrate Saint Days alongside our Italian friends....

June 29th is a combined festival for Saints Peter and Paul who guided the early Christian church out here in the Mediterranean. Both men carried on the work of the Savior for 30 years after his death and died as martyrs in their 60’s.

Peter was crucified upside down in the courtyard just to the left of St Peter’s Basilica. Paul was beheaded in a place between Rome and the sea, now called Tre Fontane (Italian for three fountains: the legend states that the three springs in the spot mark the three places where Paul’s head bounced after being beheaded).

Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 relates "Five times I have been given the thirty-nine lashes by the Jews; three times I have been beaten with sticks; once I was stoned; three times I have been shipwrecked, and once I have been in the open sea for a day and a night; I have worked with unsparing energy, for many nights without sleep; I have been hungry and thirsty, and often altogether without food or drink; I have been cold and lacked clothing."

So to honor these two great men, who were beaten and starved, we went out to....well, remember them the way Italians do by... EATING. The food and the culture here are intertwined, and by tasting their dishes you can't help but fall in love with the country but more especially-- the people. They thrive on the simple pleasures from the earth. Well, eat we did in typical Roman style for 2 1/2 hours until 10:30 at night... after the antipasti of supli (a fried tomatoe based rice ball with cheese inside) and eggplant wrapped meats, and cantaloupe with prosciutto cotto.... I was piena (FULL)! But the conversation flows like the food, and the primi (first pasta dishes) enveloped the table with spinach filled ravioli and risotto (creamy rice dish) and pasta tagliata with pepe (peppers) and pasta all'amatriciana (Roman red sauce with pork jowl and sweet sausage). By the time the Secondi (second course) came out with roasted chicken and pork and rabbit, I couldn't eat another thing but watched my friends eat and talk with their hands and expressive faces in a language so smooth it's like silk passing over the skin. And amidst the foreignness was the growing tendrils of a feeling of "belonging" and happiness in a place and time so far from where I was planted long ago.

As I sat there and mused, I realized we were celebrating these early martyrs in our own way. My friend Silvia has been having steady contractions for over a week and she was hoping to go into labor while we were at the restaurant. She like Paul, has been "lacking clothes." She told me she no longer fits into anything at 40 weeks.

The guys, surprisingly were still in good spirits after receiving their painful "39 lashes" ... the bill of 39 Euro per person (ouch, $50 dollars a plate) they had to pay for dinner at La Mangiata (which means "the good meal")

And this magnifico bunch of woman from Canada, UT, ID, UAE, Tuscany and Rome "work with unsparing energy," like Peter and Paul, week after week at church, home and community.

(I am a bit teary eyed in this picture as Silvia told me they are naming their baby Olivia Katherine.) A Chinese poet said that to recreate something in words is like being ALIVE TWICE. Writing about this time and place makes me feel like I have been planted twice. My roots and stalk still grow in the States but my transplanted cutting, that I set in soil here, has taken hold and grows as well.

Let it not be said that I take for granted the early saints who left their old lives and families and worked for a greater cause. I see their work played out in these wonderful people, modern saints who have carried on the work despite their own trials and hardships. Surrounded by such reminders, the heart resounds: It's good to be alive!

Gone but not Forgotten

It'sa been 17 years since Sicily's most distinguished anti-Mafia crusader Giovanni Falcone was murdered when his car was blown up by a bomb. The U.S. and Italy still stop and remember his sacrifice.
Steve made a special trip down to Sicily with the previous FBI Director Louis Freeh to remember Judge Falcone, a single man, standing up against a mighty mob.

The bomb was planted underneath this road that leads to the Palermo Airport and a memorial was erected in honor of him.

The Carabinieri led a car brigade for the FBI. They have this paddle (a modern day magic wand) that they hang out the window which makes all traffic come to a stop while they honored Judge Falcone.

The FBI and Falcone have strong ties. Falcone realized that cooperation with American authorities was very important, since the Mafia is an international organization. Before Falcone's efforts, little progress had been made in prosecuting Sicilian Mafiosi who moved about in the United States, particularly in the New York area, without being traced by Italian authorities or identified by American ones. Later, the success of the "Pizza Connection" trial in the United States owed much to Falcone's efforts in Italy.

Thousand gathered at this church for the Falcone memorial. In everyone's hands were long stemmed roses.

They held these roses over their heads the whole service. A long stemmed rose means "I will remember you always," and it signifies a love that runs deep and is long lasting--- fitting sentiments from the Sicilian people still plagued by Mafia.

The "unconnected" citizens regard Falcone, the Palermitan, as a folk hero because he continued his fight against the Mafia despite threats and several attempts to end his life. Even with languishing government support, Falcone and his staff continued their work with American authorities and the the Anti-Mafia Pool headquartered in Rome.

Here is Steve at a meeting where the city of Palermo and it's children came and honored the deceased judge.

Afterwards they went in another motor cade to visit a close friend of Judge Falcone, Paolo Borsellino. This magistrate was also killed in a bomb attack a few months after Falcone.

In recognition of their efforts in the anti-mafia trials, their memory was honored with the Italian "Medaglia d'oro al valor civile" (Golden medal for civil valor). Falcone and Borsellino were named as heroes of the last 60 years in the November 2006 issue of Time Magazine.

Sicily is a beautiful island. Steve fell in love with it when he served in Palermo on his mission.

He still loves the people and continues doing his part in helping stop the mafia.

It is an uphill battle but one worth digging in deep and fighting for to protect Italy and America.

Even when things look dark, there is always a glimmer of hope-- especially when there is one law man willing to give up the comforts of home and life of ease to remain and stand up against a continuing evil.

Bye-bye books & buddies

The last week of school is a happy and sad time.... goodbye to piles of homework and tests but also goodbye to buddies who move away.

It's good to have guys that watch your back and it's tough losing a wingman.

It's also tough losing your phone and ipod. Trevor played at High School graduation and someone stole his new and prized possessions he saved up for for a year. He wasn't a happy camper! Things get stolen all the time at school, and everywhere here if you aren't careful. These are hard lessons to learn.

After the tests were done and grades out, the last week of school was filled with award ceremonies.

Trevor got an award in Music, AP European History, and Italian. He also got the President's award: a signed certificate from President Obama for Trevor completing another year of all A's.

Trevor's history teacher said if he could open up Trevor's brain, he was sure he would find circuits, wires and a computer inside.

Natalie also had her day in the sun...she got a P.E. award.

And another one for writer's workshop...a girl after my own heart.

Brendan also had to say arreverderci to some good friends

He also shared the stage to receive some awards.

Later they had the 8th grade promotion

and Brendan received a completion of middle school with honors from Dr. Pfannl the headmistress and Mr. Connely the principal. He also made all A's the whole year.

I've decided I'm going to promote and give my own end of summer certificates to the kids: Straight A's in Peacemaking & Compromise, Bedmaking and Creative Cooking, Uncomplaining Instrument Practice and the hightest award - "The Just say SURE Award" (sure mom I'd love to fold the clothes, sure mom I'd love to wash the car, sure I'd love to take the stinky garbage to the dumpster) Schools been out a week and so far no ones getting any of these awards...but heat and hope spring eternal.

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly....

The end of the school year goes hand in hand with the end of Boy Scouts activities for the summer, and their Court of Honor. Senior Patrol leader Trevor got to do the grilling honors before the ceremony. His friend Sydney, on the right, was here visiting from the states.

After everyone ate, the Scout Master Les deGraffenried (who was moving two days later to Mexico City, so his Scout shirt was already packed) presented the awards earned for the year. Les is the fun and games man and the boys love him.

Asst. Scout Master Matt Montavon is the backbone who follows through with the essentials, that Les forgets about, and the boys admire and emulate Matt.

I am the Boy Scout Advancement Chair and I basically am the "mother" of the troop: reminding everyone what requirements they need to finish to get rank advancements and merit badges, holding Boards of Reviews and filling out mounds of paperwork and ordering/preparing all the awards.

I was scurrying around before the ceremony making sure all the scouts' books had been signed (Les forgets to do this) and that their blue merit badge cards had his John Hancock as well-- since tracking Les down in Mexico will be tough.

I layed out all the awards alphabetically for Les, but he decided last minute it would be more fun to have the ceremony down by the pool. So the awards got messed up and one dropped off the table unnoticed when we carried them downstairs for the ceremony. Steve had to rush around and look for the missing award, which thankfully he found!

The scouts were very kind and gave me a framed photo of them as a "thank you."

Trevor called the unformal scout troop together for the Court of Honor.

The troop went skiing this year and everyone received the Snow Sports Merit Badge

Brendan also finished his Camping Merit Badge. Brendan recruited his friend Carlos, and he was proud to make Tenderfoot rank. He hopes to catch up to Brendan and Trevor's Life Rank.

They are a good group of boys this little international bunch from Spain, Mexico, Italy, Holland and America. We are a melting pot here as well.

Nice to know that young men all over the world can come together and learn the skills to be self-sufficent, tolerant individuals, willing to see the needs of others and serve any way they can.

Oh baby baby

Bonnie Weaver, our resident party gal, decided to throw an American baby shower for Patrizia Vacarrono.... a lady that has a bad rep at church. They call her Mt. Vesuvius behind her back as she is a "volcano waiting to erupt" and no one wants to be around to be burned by the hot lava she spews. I had helped host a shower a few weeks earlier for a co-counselor that worked in primary with me and Bonnie felt it was unfair not to do one for Bonnie as well. She is more charitable than me...I still have burn marks.

Italians are very superstitious and believe that buying ANYTHING before the baby is born is bad luck. So baby showers are very new to them but they embraced and loved this party

Patrizia has 3 boys and is now excited to have a baby girl.

This is Bonnie and the Stake President's wife Lordona. She told me when I was taking this photo Sorella Moore "do not post this picture on Facebook !" I told her she looked great (she had a baby a few years ago and says she hasn't lost the weight and so photos are a no no) and so I got the go ahead.... tho she doesn't know she's in my blog as well.

This is my counselor Norma and her husband Daniele.... couldn't seem to get him to understand that showers are only for the woman.

Natalie's Sunday school teacher Itala is on the right and Sister Gillitia from Peru on the right.

This adorable mom and daughter are Karen and Stephanie Accerson. Karen and President Accerson have been serving out here for two years as Mission President. They have a daughter on a mission in Milan, another daughter in Japan and their youngest son, Scott, just graduated a week ago and checks himself into the MTC in July. He is called to "the best mission in the world" according to Steve: Catania, Italy. Steve goes down to his old mission stomping grounds for work quite often and he will take poor starving missionary Elder Scott Accerson out to eat.

So I was in charge of games and I had them play the one if they see anyone cross their ankles or say "baby" in any language they can take the baby rattle/bottle necklace from that person. Person who ends up with the most necklaces wins a prize. It got really competitive really fast.

In the meanwhile, I had them put a balloon on their head and in 10 seconds they had to blindly draw eyes, ears, mouth, nose and hair. Patrizia got to see their creations and pick the prettiest baby... a lot of one eyed, nose connected to mouth babies were not chosen.

I also had them play the tummy girth game by having them take as much toilet paper they thought it would take to make the circumference of Patrizia's belly.

The whole time, down and dirty necklace wars were going on....

The stake president's wife ending up winning this game. She noticed everything!

When we got to our ward three years ago there were no babies and now there are a half a dozen with two on the way. Very unique in a country where no one is having babies.

Bonnie made this cute diaper cake. They were upset there wasn't a real cake until I pulled out the coconut cake I made and the smiles came out. When Italians think something tastes good they put their finger to their cheek and say "buona." They nearly licked the pan clean. One of the three guys at the shower said to me in English "God bless America...land of the best desserts in the world." They gave me a new nickname "Sorella Dolcezza" which means sister sweet (they also call me sorella bella, sorella belli capelli...)

EARLIER SHOWER for Silvia

Silvia told me she had been feeling rather large so I had all the sisters put in a "baby bump" to make Silvia feel at ease when she came to her surprise shower.

Silvia was really surprised...she thought she was coming over to make a baby quilt (she showed up two hours late!)

I had them play "pin the bottle of the baby" and "baby bingo," easy enough... but I really grossed them out when I put baby food in a diaper and had them sniff it to see what fruit or veggie they thought it was.

Some could just not get over the idea that this was just a game.

I think the green peas sent them over the top...they gave me another nickname "sorella pazza" sister crazy....yep that's me. But they all laughed tho and had a good time.

The tiara and sash were a big hit. They all wanted me to order one for them... all woman like to have a crown on now and again.

This balloon in Norma's shirt looks pretty real. She has been married a year so she could technically be the next in line to be expecting. I won't be here to see it though....we will probably be living in TX. They said they will carry on the showers after I am gone.

This sister missionary asked me not to post this until after she was off my mission.... I kept my word. Her two years are up and she left for home last week. Now her mom will think this is funny.

It's funny how things pass between countries...we love their pizza and pasta and they love our desserts and parties... Ultimately we all love each other and no boundaries exist