Tiziano Ferro - Ti scatterò una foto lyrics (song I had promised to post LONG time ago)

Once again, I've been a slacker!!!!

Sorry for the long break, but life has been a little nuts lately. Here's a little fill in on things that have been going on lately. I started working at the CDC (Child Developmental Center) in March. I absolutely LOVE the kids. I work with infants, 8 weeks-12 months old. It's a blast...most days, lol. It's amazing to watch how each child develops at a different rate and in a different way. The way they light up when they see you, it's honestly been pretty rewarding! :) I finally started going to school again last semester and I also took an online class this summer. So far all A's, so I'm happy about that. I am going to be taking 2 classes this next semseter. I think that's about all I can handle considering they will be online (I have always thought classes are much easier when they are face to face) with working and still having a life or a little bit or free time. I will be taking Child Psychology and New Mexico history. Sounds pretty interesting to me...sure hope so! I also just started reading, The Shack. So many people have told me how awesome it is, so I have started reading that. My PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) is taking a break right now, we will start back up next month. I still meet with 5 lovely ladies at least once a month for Accountability. I feel so blessed to have such amazing sisters in Christ for my close friends! It's been a great experience and hopefully something I will be able to continue doing regardless of where the military takes us next. Anyway, back to PWOC...not sure what the bible study will be for this upcoming season just yet, but this summer we did: The Frazzled Female by Cindi Wood

I enjoyed it!!:) Now I'm looking for something that will really throw me in a bit deeper. I've got such a thirst for the Lord and I'm so excited to continue to grow more into the person he intended for me to be! I've decided that in the next 5 years I would like to have my degree, not only my degree, but to have a REAL job, a career, and I would love to go on a mission trip to a 3rd world country.

Other than that, the only other thing I can really think of is I had a birthday in June...I'm getting OLD! haha.

Jesse has had a small change with work. He enjoys it more than he did, so I'm happy about that! He is eating healthy and staying fit...I'm trying to do the same. We've both been doing a lot of running. Another something I would like to do at some point, a marathon, or at least a half-marathon! :) Jesse and I both got new cars. Not "new" new, but new to us.

We are going to be taking a cruise in September. We are sooo excited. We will be going to Denmark, Russia, Sweden, Finland, & Estonia. We'll be sure to take lots of pictures!

I'll post a few pictures from work and my birthday and any other good ones I can come across that have been taken recently.

Tiziano Ferro concert at the Greek-Roman Ampitheatre in Taormina

Tiziano Ferro is a big deal over here in Italy. He is a very famous and well-known pop-ish singer. He has an amazing voice. He's a slight combo of Josh Groban and Justin Timberlake...sorta! I used to have a live video, but was unable to get it to work, so I will attach a YouTube clip or something so you can listen for yourself.

It was sooo HOT and humid! Not the greatest picture of me, but we had a blast. AWESOME experience!

Not everyday is one blessed enough to attend

a concert at a Greek-Roman ruins site...pretty snazzy!

(I have been meaning to post this for a while now and even though I did not attend this concert recently, I figured you may enjoy looking at the pictures and listening to the music clip. :) )

Milo Wine Festival and Etna Craters

The Milo Wine Festival was a lot of fun. I got to go with one of my closest friends, Shana. She works with ITT, so she knows when all the really good trips are :) So...clearly, this was another trip that was taken with ITT. We first drove up as far as you can actually drive up Mt. Etna and looked at the craters and got a granita (iced and creamy flavored drink) at the little store up on the mountain and enjoyed walking around a bit. Of course, as you can see in the pictures below, it was beautiful. But, I must say that the favorite part of my day was in the town of Milo. Shana and I enjoyed tasting a few different wines that were made in Milo and then walked around the town a bit. It's a very small town. They had vendors set up with a variety of different foods to try and buy. We tried several different cheeses and then ate some amazing pistaccio pasta. Best pasta I have ever had in my entire life. I've had dreams about it since, haha. The noodles were homemade earlier that afternoon and then they made the sauce after we ordered....fresh and delicious! There were also a lot of tents set up along some of the side roads selling different things. They were selling a lot of jewelry, which Shana and I both bought some of. Overall, it was a great day and a good experience. Wish I had more pictures to show you all of Milo. :(

Mt. Etna:

Shana and me with squinty eyes, lol.

Stromboli

Stromboli is a small island off the north coast of Sicily, containing one of the three active volcanoes in Italy. It is one of the eight Aeolian Islands. The island has a population of between 400 and 750. The volcano has erupted many times and is constantly active with minor eruptions. I have gone on 2 ITT trips to this island and have seen the minor eruptions both times. It was very exciting and beautiful! :) Jesse was not able to go with me either time unfortunately, so I am looking forward to going again with him next summer.

Here is a short video of the minor eruption I caught on camera :

In Messina, the beginning of my 2nd trip to Stromboli with my friend, Amber.

Fisherman boats in Panarea

Panarea

Panarea

Panarea

Panarea

Stromboli

Coming up on Stomboli, you can see the black sand on the beach.

Black sand, YAY! Really neat. :)

Walking around the shops and through the streets of Stomboli.

Horse head and lighthouse.

Leaving the island at this point and waiting to see if we will get to see any eruptions!

SOOOO so very sorry to everyone that I have been slacking with our blog lately. I will try to get everything posted within the next few days. So, come back soon :)
Thanks.

Acireale Carnevale

The Carnival of Acireale, is popularly known as the most exciting, beautiful, and fun carnival in all of Sicily. It is one of the most involving and historical festivities of the island. People are running down the streets as the floats are passing by throwing confetti, shooting you with silly string, wearing masks, crazy hats and costumes. It was a wonderful experience. I was able to go with some of my closest girlfriends. Hopefully Jesse will be able to go with me next year.

A blurry picture of one of the streets

Heather, Jamie and me in our goofy hats.

Me and Shana posing with our coke and pepsi cans

My coke can is the size of a red bull can back in the states and

the pepsi is huge. We were posing in front of a movie poster that

says I love shopping, but I am blocking the first couple of letters.

haha, whoops. We love opping!

Shana posing with a mask and her silly hat

Me and Heather with our new masks

Kari and Shana after a silly string war with some Italians, sooo fun! haha

Costumes of some of the people who were in the parade

another costume =]