O Holy Sights

The faithful flock here in droves every day. St. Peter's Basilica remains one of the holiest sites in Christendom. It also stands on the very site where the apostle Peter was crucified and buried. His tomb is under the main alter and other popes have been buried there as well.
It's hard to describe the grandeur of the church. The dome was designed by Michelangelo who became the chief architect in 1546. Until recently it was the largest church in the world with the capacity to seat 60,000. Every bit of space on the walls is designed to reflect the most ornate monuments and artistry money can buy. It's also amazing to see a place that's so familiar to us thanks to television.

Earlier in the day we visited the Sistine Chapel, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. You have to crane your neck to view its renown ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. Unbelievable. I think any other art museum I visit in the states will be a huge disappointment compared to this. You could spend hours enjoying the artistry of the Sistine Chapel if you have a keen appreciation for it.

Unfortunately, a lot of this stuff is lost on me! I like to zip through the museums but Jeff likes to listen to all the audio commentary and take it all in. I'm lucky he's here to guide my way. I'm terrible at reading maps but he takes us from one place to another with ease even though he's never traveled overseas before.
Ok, time for a nap. I hope you're enjoying the beauty of your surroundings, too...wherever you are!

Re-connecting in Rome

Buon Giorno! & Grazie! are the only Italian phrases I've mastered. I say them both several times a day. Today Jeff and I had the pleasure of visiting the Catacombs--burial places for Christians who died in ancient Rome. It's quite haunting and rich with Christian symbolism, which functioned as a secret language for early Christians.
I'm learning a lot during my stay here. I love being immersed in another culture and enjoying the best life has to offer in Rome (art, beauty and history) and also seeing the underbelly of a bustling culture that thrives on tourism and allows graffiti artists to defile its architecture. It's sad to witness such ugliness in such a beautiful place.
For example, tonight I was thrilled to re-connect with old friends from Champaign...What are the chances we'd be traveling half-way around the world together, right? We met in the trendy Trastevere district in hopes of enjoying a nice meal. Well, first of all, graffiti lines the walls of this darling district. And secondly, the restaurant we chose was run by dishonest people trying to rip off tourists with mediocre meals and ridiculous charges. (If you're in Rome and see a quaint restaurant near Trastevere Square with orange tablecloths--run)! They tagged on a charge to the bill that made no sense and to Jeff's disbelief, I argued with the manager until she removed it. I mean, really...to take advantage of people--that's just low!
But it was fun to dine with friends for fun and familiarity...We're making lots of special memories together. And I think we found the perfect place to enjoy each other's company tomorrow night--the Ponte Sisto!

We stumbled a stretch of restaurants and outdoor shops under a bridge as we walked back to the bus stop. It's like a continuous fair by the water all summer long...Here's a snapshot of folks watching soccer (a national obsession) by projecting the picture on the arch of the bridge. And lastly, here's a dim photo of me and my honey winding up our third day abroad. Arrivederci!

Bella Notte

We're off to a VERY LATE start this morning! We were out late last night at the Campo de Fiorni, a mecca for restaurateurs. Naturally, I forgot that Italians like to eat very late. We tried to grab a table at a place called the "Cul de Sac" at 9 o'clock, but it was booked. We walked an hour to find a decent place that'd serve us. So we ended up eating dinner past 10pm and by the time we dragged into bed, we were so wound up from walking and sight-seeing, it took several hours for us to fall fast asleep. We're eating a lot here but walking everything off...Jeff took this picture during our nightly stroll. I have no idea if it's of any significance but I just found it breathtaking. I find myself sucking in my breath ooohhing and aaaahhhing over every structure we pass.

We eat gelato every day for a snack. It's cheap and very tasty. Why don't we have more gelato places in the states? It's creamier than ice cream and has a lot less fat! You'd think we'd catch onto that...maybe we should start a business when we return home! I had to laugh when I took this photo because Jeff's expression reminds me so much of Delaney when she smiles. We're missing the kids but it's so nice to get away for a romantic vacation! If only we could force our body clocks to cooperate with this new time zone!

When in Rome...

For art lovers, history buffs, and food aficionados, Rome is sensory overload. After sipping cappacinos and snacking on chocolate croissants, Jeff & I toured the Colosseum this morning--the greatest example of Roman engineering. Built when the Roman empire was at its peak, it represents the city at its grandest. I loved touring the ancient ruins and imagining what life must've been like when gladiators fought way back when.

I especially enjoyed touring the city today...we dragged in yesterday morning, exhausted from 24-hours of sleep deprivation. Thankfully adrenaline kicked in and we walked from our hotel to the oh-so-romantic Spanish steps, teeming with artists and lovers strolling hand-in-hand. The Trevi Fountain was pretty impressive, too...and a great place to re-fill our water bottle! Italy is a country that likes to conserve electricity...despite its blistering summer heat, you'd be hard-pressed to find an air-conditioned place (aside from your hotel room)...and drinks aren't served with ice. We're so spoiled with luxuries in the states!

And I've got to add that the Pantheon is mighty impressive, too. We briefly toured the doomed temple complete with marble statues and elegant paintings before heading off for the best pasta dinner of our lives. The bruchetta here is pretty pricey (2 Euro for one slice) but it's so savory. The olive oil is lighter and tastier here and in every dish you can taste toasted garlic. Yum! I just ate pizza but dreaming of last night's dinner is making me hungry again...Ok, I've gotta wake my husband up from his nap. He's softly snoring in the background but there's so much more to see...Ciao for now!

Bedtime with the Bible

Every once in a while I'll look at Jeff and wonder, "How on earth did I get such a great guy?" Don't get me wrong--no one could send me to the loony bin faster than my husband. And it's safe to say I drive him equally nuts! But he's just so darn sweet. And such a good daddy. Every night before the kids go to bed--it doesn't matter if it's a weekend or school night--he sits them down to read Bible stories and say their prayers.
Of course, last night when Jeff announced to the kids, "Since we're going on vacation you won't be getting bedtime devotionals for a while," they shouted, "YAY!" But I really think the seeds Jeff is planting in their hearts night after night with his ritual of sharing Bible stories with them and talking to the Lord together will pay off hugely in their adult lives.

Meet the Teacher Night

Tonight was "Meet the Teacher Night" at Max and Delaney's school. But for my husband, it was more like "Reunion with Childhood Teachers Night." Max inherited Jeff's first-grade teacher! Isn't that wild? Now here they are...thirty years later. Mrs. Seaton exclaimed, "Jeff! I remember you being so much shorter!" I just HAD to get a picture to commemorate the moment.
It was nice to get a tour of the kids' classrooms and to meet their teachers. Jeff has peace of mind that they're in great hands. Mrs. Seaton did such a great job instructing Jeff the first time around, I'm sure she'll do just fine with Max, who's like Jeff's "mini-me."

Special friends

I've got to tell you about the special friends I made today! My heart is brimming with joy just thinking about them. I had the absolute privilege of helping keep score at a bowling competition for the Special Olympics today. Judith is pictured with me here--she's one of the top bowlers in her division and quick to point out that I was initially getting everything wrong! By the time the second game rolled around she exclaimed, "Ms. Volunteer, you're finally getting the hang of it!"

I was especially proud of my special friend, Mary, who exclaimed with glee every time she hit the pins. She even bowled a spare! I can't even do that on the bowling edition of the Nintendo Wii. Mary was ever excited whenever she or one of her competitors scored well...and never complained of being tired even though I was tempted to at one point because my feet ached from standing for hours. But I wanted to keep to my feet to encourage my friends and cheer them on.
I'm no athlete by any stretch of the imagination...but the joy of being involved in the Special Olympics is infectious! I simply can't wait to volunteer again. If you're looking for a meaningful service experience to enrich your life, I promise this will bring you such pleasure! The athletes have amazing stories and they'll stretch your heart. One girl broke my heart when she said her parents don't visit her anymore (she's placed in a special home) but she always has the Special Olympics to look forward to. Now I do, too!

Happy Anniversary!

As of today, my mother and father-in-law have been married 38 years! Last night we enjoyed a dinner party in their honor to celebrate this blessing. Their love of the Lord, each other and their family has left a lasting legacy of faith, family loyalty, and fun!
I'm always blown away at how my in-laws raised four such exceptional men who attracted equally exceptional women. They say it's hard to find a good guy and boy do I believe that's true! But my husband and his three brothers are all incredible men of faith, consistent character and devotion...and they're all great-looking to boot! They were raised as a by-product of their parents' love and devotion to one another and that security has seen them through a lot of life's uncertainties.
I can honestly attribute all of my husband's wonderful qualities to his parents. I never question whether Jeff will be faithful to me because he was raised to do the honorable thing at all costs and honor the Lord with his marriage covenant. That's why Jeff was especially heartbroken when his ex-wife left...He was raised to believe divorce is never an option.
His parents are an incredible example to us of how a Christ-centered marriage works and we're both grateful to benefit from the blessing of their union. Happy Anniversary!

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for Max & Delaney. Aren't they cute in their new outfits? (Thanks to my mother-in-law for taking them back-to-school shopping).
Delaney couldn't understand why I couldn't leave the morning show early and send them off to school. Well, their father did a fabulous job as always in making sure they had everything together for their first day of school.
I find it hilarious that Max will have the same second grade teacher that Jeff had about 30 years ago. I believe it's Mrs. Seaton. Max was like, "How can she still be alive if she taught you?!" I was scratching my head on that one, too.

This is a picture taken last year at the start of school. My how time flies. I forget how fast the kids are growing until I compare their pictures from years past. Gosh, they seemed so tiny then. I'm proud that they're growing up to be interesting, kind-hearted and intelligent people who are fun to be around. It's kind of sad to say goodbye to summer and hello to another season of life...But it's all about embracing change and looking forward to the future.

Good-bye Jessie!

Nothing says I love you, thank you for being a part of our lives, and farewell like a picnic and football, right? Yesterday I joined my small group in saying good-bye to Jessie, an amazing young woman with an equally amazing story. She came to America from China not long ago to earn her master's degree and intern at Caterpillar. She learned the language, immersed herself in our culture, and became a Christ-follower during her time here. We were just celebrating her baptism, so it seems sudden to be saying farewell to her so soon. She's returning to China to work for CAT--she's so smart that even during this recession, she found a job working for CAT in her homeland. She taught us all a lot about embracing differences, working hard to achieve your goals, and following Christ no matter the cost. We will miss her greatly and wish her the very best. God-speed, Jessie!
ps--For those of you who listened to the morning show when I solicited advice for a good-bye gift, we decided on a matted picture of our small group so that we could all sign the matting with messages...and a devotional book to encourage her daily walk with Christ.

Walk on the Wild Side

My church rented out the Peoria Zoo's Africa exhibit to kick off the start of a new season for our Women 2 Women ministry. Watching the animals roam once the sun set was an awesome experience. They're much more frisky when they're out of the hot summer sun. I was really impressed with the Africa exhibit. I've only gone to the zoo when it nothing more than a petting zoo...they did a terrific job with landscaping and you really feel like you're in an African desert.

What made the W2W event special was not only being a voyeur to the exotic creatures...but really getting a chance to fellowship with women I only see in passing at a Sunday service. And I so appreciated hearing the real, authentic hearts of the women who spoke (one of whom was my dear friend, Jada). More and more, I think women are searching for relationships with other women that's the real deal--none of this fake, superficial, sugar-coated exchange of niceties that passes for fellowship. I love that our church is moving in the direction of what I believe is the true heart of the Lord.

Special Olympics

The world lost an incredible woman this week in Eunice Kennedy Shriver. She not only mothered five fantastic children who went on to dedicate their lives to public service, but she herself dedicated her life to serve those most overlooked in society. I could only hope to be a tenth of the woman she was! Her legacy lives on with the Special Olympics, which infinitely enriches the lives of the intellectually challenged.
Jeff & I are excited to participate in a Special Olympics Bowling Meet for the Heartland Area on August 22--next weekend. It's happening right in Peoria at the Landmark Lanes. I just spoke with the woman in charge of the event and she said there's a desperate need for more volunteers to help man each lane the bowlers will be playing on. They'd love to provide a positive and safe experience for all participants and without enough volunteers they just can't pull it off!
If you'd like more information on volunteering you can contact Katie Herriott at 888-2551. Lunch and T-shirts will be provided. Hope to see you there!

Hoosiers

Last night we promised the kids popcorn and a movie, so we cruised through the aisles of Family Video and the kids kept grabbing films like "the Sandlot" and "Bridge to Terabithia," but Jeff wanted to resurrect his childhood and insisted we either see "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "Hoosiers." So...Hoosiers it was. To the kids, watching a black and white flick is like Chinese water torture!
Hoosiers is an old (I mean, my husband saw it when he was a kid) basketball film but I actually enjoyed it. It's really a story of second chances, defying odds, and the value of teamwork. And I really enjoyed the cinematography of the Midwest. It actually made it look...well...beautiful. And it's rated PG, so it makes for a good family-friendly film.

Cookie Monster

After a rough start to the week, I needed a scoop of heaven to rev up my engine. Since we had Max all to ourselves tonight (with Delaney at a friend's house for a sleepover), it was a great excuse to do something special with him. Jeff voted in favor of taking the family to Cheddar's for a "Cookie Monster" dessert. If you've never had one, you've gotta try it! A made-to-order chocolate chip cookie skillet with scoops of french vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and whip cream. Yum!
Chedder's has sentimental significance for me. The first time I laid eyes on Jeff interacting with his kids was when I peeked into the restaurant with my then-work crew to get a seat and a co-worker pointed to a guy in the corner with two darling kids, eating a "Cookie Monster" dessert. Jeff was a single dad at the time...and every time I bumped into him from then on out, he was always tending to his kids...bending down to tie their shoelaces, taking them to swim lessons, making crock pot dinners. I was very taken with this very tender-hearted man and thought whoever left him was crazy! Now that I'm married to Jeff I'm even more enthralled with what a fabulous father he is and now I get to experience his sweet heart--and sweet tooth--firsthand.

What on earth is this?

Last week as I pulled out of the parking lot at 91.5 WCIC, I heard a weird scratching sound and saw Jeremy Tracey (from Doing Life with the Tracey's) wave wildly for my car to stop. So I did. He then motioned me to pull forward. A part of my car apparently fell off! And I have no idea what it is or whether it serves an important function. All I know is that my car is falling apart. So, if you think you have a clue about this car part, give me a call tomorrow on the morning show at 7:41 at 888-691-9150. I wonder if this is a sign that I should finally turn my car in?

Here Comes the Bride...

Last night, Jeff & I had the pleasure of watching our friends, Bryson and Danell, get hitched! For those of you who listened during the morning show on Friday I bemoaned whether to wear an oh-so-cute white dress to the party...so I'm posting a picture of myself here to show that I wore the exact opposite color--black!--so as not to detract from the bride...Not that I could've because she was so beautiful...Danell looked like a princess who stepped out of her castle in time for her big day!

You know, I'm not much of a wedding person myself, which puzzles my husband. I'm a romantic, I enjoy interacting with people, I love my friends and family...But the idea of orchestrating a huge production that's hugely expensive and only lasts a few hours but causes months of stress doesn't appeal to me! That being said, I still appreciate a beautiful wedding and this was one of them...

In fact, I learned a few things: #1. The Electric Slide. When did this dance come about? I need to brush up on my moves in time for another wedding we're attending in October. #2. The Toilet Paper Roll Contest. The bride and groom each had to unravel a toilet paper roll and whoever did it the fastest wore the pants in the family. Did I hear the bride won? :) Max collected the TP. #3. The Dollar Dance. What a great way to make some extra cash! Maybe Jeff and I will throw a party sometime and line up folks to dance with us for a dollar. Jeff gave Delaney a dollar to dance with Bryson. It was pretty cute. Didn't whip out my camera in time for that one, though!

And finally, I'm reminded yet again how darling my husband is and I wish he'd get into fashion. A couple of church friends teased me that I should hit on the cute guy in the tux. During wedding ceremony, our pastor reminded me that I need to "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ" (from 1 Peter) and give unmerited favor in a marriage that will grow by the grace of God. He challenged us that our greatest acts of grace will be words like "I love you"..."I'm sorry"..."Please forgive me"...wise words from a veteran to newlyweds whose love we pray stands the test of time.
Congratulations, Bryson and Danell!

Luau time!

On Friday night, Scott & I hosted a "luau" to thank our fabulous listeners who gave so generously during Sharathon this past spring--specifically during the Morning Show's Hawaiian hours. It was a lot of fun! A special thanks to Chef's Catering in Washington for donating all the food and even roasting an actual pig--the poor thing. Her name was Matilda and she didn't look really happy! And thank you to the 4Hope Foundation in Morton for pitching in to take care of all other expenses--you're the best!

Of course, a luau wouldn't be complete without hula dancing, right? And it was the challenge of my life to find someone in the Midwest to help entertain people! Well, I finally did. Her name is Johnette Palumbo and she teaches hula at the Twin Cities School of Dance right in Bloomington! She brought a couple of students with her and they tried to teach Scott, Donovan, and whoever wanted to some moves. You can check out a brief clip here:

Daytrippin' to St. Louis

The kids are back from camp, so Jeff & I celebrated their return with a day trip to St. Louis. Our first stop? The Magic House! It's hands-down, slam-dunk the best children's museum I've ever been to. It offers kids almost hyper-stimulation--they can construct a firehouse, climb a three-story beanstalk, try out the president's desk, analyze codes and fingerprints...

It was fun to see Max sitting on the judge's bench...The Star-Spangled Center is like a mini White House for kids. The kids were running around so much, at one point Jeff & I split up and I took Delaney while he followed Max around.

Laney loved the "Kids TV" center, which allows kids to sit at a fake anchor desk and read a newscast...and be televised! It was especially fun for me to experience that with her since I worked in television. If Laney got into broadcasting, I'd get such a kick out of that!

We ended the day on a high note by touring the St. Louis Zoo. I LOVE this zoo...especially because it's free! And the wide array of animals is really impressive. My favorite exhibit houses the puffins and penguins. I could watch them dive all day. Again, it was fun to see the kids "Oooooo" and "Aahhhh" over the animals...the pythons, komodo dragons, giraffes, and sea lions. They've never been to the St. Louis zoo before so it's always neat to experience a first time with them.
I've got to hit the hay now with my husband because after six hours of walking and five hours of riding in the car I feel like a worn out dish rag. I'll post all 70 of my photos to my Facebook page. G-night!