New baby ~ Poggio, Italy ~ Surprise Guests

January 29, 2010

Our happiest news this week is the birth of our 14th grandchild

~ Logan Byram Burt ~

8lb 2oz ~ 21 inches (born on his due date)

to Nathaniel and Laurie Beth.

Beautiful mommy ~ beautiful baby

Between English Classes at Bocchingnano we went to Vaccarono's for lunch. As soon as I entered their home, I went to their laptop and said, "posso?" Which means, "may I?" I quickly got on line and looked for an email from Nathaniel and there was one!

It said, "Were in the hospital, the baby will come soon!" Of course I did the happy, screaming dance in the Vaccarono kitchen and then waited anxiously for the next update which came an hour later with these beautiful photos and the news that baby and mom were doing well.

These words in his email brought tears to my eyes, "We are so thankful and feel so very blessed. We can already feel the blessings from having mom and dad serving faithfully on a mission. We love our new son."

It is hard not to be there to help and hold that precious child fresh from heaven. A story told in church today was helpful - it was called Jenny's Necklace (I'm sure you can find in on the internet).
How can we serve a mission for two years and give up our pearls? These pearls are real and they are called "grandchildren". But we place them in God's hands and know that God is good and will return our sacrifice with blessings that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

Sisters' Swenson and Zeller walking in the town of Poggio

inviting people to the evening English class.

I'd love to know why there is a monument to this dead soldier.

What's wrong with this photo? Who picks oranges in a winter coat?

Outdoor market in Poggio, Italy ~ Italians LOVE the color purple!
Purple clothes for children.
Teenager in purple pants.
The following photos are taken off our balcony. This is how Italians park.


Surprise guests for lunch ~ Travis and Laurie Black
At church today, this couple introduced themselves to us and asked if we were from Silverdale, WA! Though we hadn't known them, we looked familiar to them. Plus, they are now living in the very ward we did in Stafford, Virginia so we knew people they knew in two different Stakes. They are in Rome for 6 days for their 20th wedding anniversary. We invited them to come home for lunch and enjoyed their visit very much.

As we reminisced about people we knew, they shared that the Gillespie family cleaned out their barn on Christmas day. Good deeds have a ripple effect that never end!