c'era una volta...

So, Alex and I really like our new ward. We tried the family one for a couple of weeks but the strange Jerusalem high tech travelogue otherwise known as Sunday School was a bit too much for us. We decided instead upon the married student ward. It's great, it's on top of things, I had a visiting teaching assignment before we were even officially in the ward. But it's odd. A "married student ward" is an odd concept at times. Like, if you're not cuddly enough in Sacrament Meeting the member of the Stake Presidency might get up and tell everyone that they need to go home, look their spouse in the eyes, and tell them the reasons they love them. Or if you don't hold hands walking to or from the chapel, chances are people will give you funny looks. Unless you have a baby preventing you, which is likely. (Alex thought you got kicked out of these wards once you had kids...he was very wrong) We have a good time analyzing clothing styles. I complain about the fac...

So, I've been told that since I'm married I really need a blog. That and I haven't updated my blog since I came home from my mission in December. It's been a while. So, basically, I'm MARRIED!!! Here's the scoop: Alex and I met in early 2007, our freshman year at BYU. I was in the Cougareat one Friday after Music 101 with Alison and the boys from our ward who were also in Music 101, and our friend Tracy was sitting a few tables away with this really good-looking boy . Naturally, I was curious, and I walked over to find out who in the world this boy was. I sat at their table and talked to them for about five minutes and then it was time for people to head to class. Next run-in: Tracy was avoiding Alex's roommate who was coming to visit her during visiting hours and so I went with her to visit Alex, because obviously his roommate would never expect her to be there. Well, Alex had the book The Three Musketeers on his shelf. Which obviously meant he must...

Oh mamma, I don't even know what to write about, it's been a whole new week but I don't think I am capable yet of comprehending that this is the last day. Okay, so I am, but I still feel like everything is normal and that I'm going to be here forever except that everytime that I see people I make them cry. miiii I still hope that by some miracle the camera or at least the memory cards are still returned to me, but there are so many more important things that I just can't be sad about it forever. Luckily I have been blessed with lots of companions who take lots of pictures. By the way, that's really funny that Tommy is in Anziano Grigg's ward and has been forever. When I met Anz Grigg he said to ask Tommy if he knew his family because he lives in his mission, and I forgot to ever ask. Oops. So let's see what has happened this week... On Wednesday we went to the Vittoriano. WOW. It has a terrace, and you have to pay 7 euro to take the elevator up there...

Also, the Area Presidency asked us to share "spiritual success stories" with each other a few weeks ago. This is what I wrote. I have never seen a baptism. But I have seen so many miracles. I have seen so many people come so close and make so many changes in their lives that it is absolutely incredible. I have talked to hundreds of people on the street, I have gotten many phone numbers to call, I have taught many lessons, I have met the most beautiful people that exist. The Lord has given me so many opportunities to learn and to grow and to serve Him. Although I have never been present when a person I taught was baptized, I have seen a lot of success in my mission. One of the biggest spiritual successes I have had is in myself. When I began my mission I had no idea that I was capable of stopping a stranger on the street, telling them that I am a representative of Jesus Christ, and teaching them the Gospel. I had no idea I could take control of a lesson and keep it going on t...

Hello family! Well, heartbreak of the week so I can just get it over with...my camera got stolen on Sunday. And for some reason it had all of my memory cards in its case so there went everything. At least I assume it got stolen since it was no longer in my bag, although it was shoved in there pretty good and I never felt a thing and I always feel when somebody touches my bag. It was just weird. Anyway, I cried for about 3 hours straight and it's still extremely depressing but I can't do anything about it so I guess I just have to get over it. Don't ask me to see my pictures though, thank you. Oh dear. The rest of the week was pretty great. We went to the Galleria Borghese on Wednesday. It is incredible. Mamma mia, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was my favorite sculptor before and now he definitely is. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. All of the detail and all of the movement. Apollo chasing Dafne while she's turning into a tree and in only a second more he'll crash into her and sh...

Mamma mia che settimnana lunghissima...uou. So it's been another good one. We're definitely busy. I have a question for you--what is my homecoming talk on??? I have to write it before I get home because I don't think that even with going back in time a day that I'm going to do it the day I get back so somebody needs to let me know please. Thank you. So, let's see, Thursday was Thanksgiving, which of course is a day just like any other here in Italy--some of the people who use internet occasionally read that it was a holiday in the USA but they don't really know what that means. So in the morning we tried to go visit Rosanna, the woman who lives in the house that's more than 1000 years old but she never answered her phone so we just ended up doing some finding work. We also had to make a copy of the key to our water heater cabinet, because the one that was in there was ridiculously old and it broke. They didn't even have to make a copy, they just have t...

Mamma mia, che settimana! But can I please start with today, because today was way cool. Actually, I'll just say the CRAZIEST part of today. So, we were in the Vatican, looking at St. Peter's after having walked up the the cupola and stuff but I'll talk about that later. And I was taking a picture and somebody says "hi Sister" and I looked to see who it was expecting to see some member from the USA because we see them every p-day, and I looked and the face looked very familiar and she said "I'm Sister Beck." !!! Wow. What are the chances. And then she talked to me for a minute--her husband served a mission in Italy 40 years ago (and he speaks Italian VERY well still) and her son-in-law served in Milan about 15 years ago so they were visiting. So cool. She told me to tell my parents thank you for letting me come on a mission. So THANK YOU. What are the chances, going to the Vatican and meeting a general authority who's just on vacation. So awesom...