A Week in Italy

So, as you may have noticed from Thad's recent post, we are in Florence, Italy for the week. Agape has an office here, and both of us are helping the team get a few things sorted out.

Thad is setting up some donations systems. As well, he is helping them with some network trouble that they have not been able to sort out. He's also checking one of their financial systems to make sure it is set-up and running properly. Basically, he's in his element and enjoying the problem solving as well as tech-talk.

As for me, I will be helping a lady learn to use some of Adobe's CS3 programs. Along with that, they are working on creating a new look for their Four Spiritual Laws, so I'm also going to take a look at their thoughts and see what advice/direction I can give. Lastly, they are trying to renovate their office and need some professional advice on a few things, so I am turning on my Interior Design brain to do some space planning and such.

Overall, it is a busy, varied week, but we are excited to help where we can and as well see this beautiful city.

I tired myself out a bit with all the walking this weekend, so if you could pray for me--both for healthy energy and knowing when to take a break. I'm still trying to get used to the whole "can't go and do as much as I used to"...which is particularly difficult when traveling. My doctor said that the tiredness should ware off soon, but I'm still battling with it. That's okay though, it just means little baby Hoskins is being taken care of...and it's just an excuse to sit down and have some yummy Gelato.

First time in Italy!

After getting up at 3:15 AM, heading to the airport, and changing in Zurich we arrived in Florence, Italy!  We met Henry at the City Center bus station.  He escorted us to  where are staying for part of the week.  Then we all ate some breakfast and drank some coffee, then Jana and I were on our own to tour Florence. 

I will give recaps later, if I can remember where we went and what we saw, but to amuse you, here is the link to our photos on our Picasa site.  There are 57 of them, but my favorite is included here.  This picture is perfect (for me, anyway!).

First Baby Gift

These cute little shoes were on my desk at the office the day after we announced we were expecting.  Our friend, Merja, who is from Finland, made them for us once she heard the news.  So sweet and preciously cute.

It was Inevitable...

When you live in an apartment with a door that locks automatically, it is inevitable that one day you will lock yourself out.

Last night, after enjoying a beautiful May Day holiday, we popped over to a friends house (practically across the street) to watch a movie. Our standard question when leaving the apartment is: "Do you have the keys?" Thad checked his pocket, heard the jingle and said "Yup, I've got 'em."

After enjoying the movie, complete with popcorn and cookies, we wandered back to our place. Thad pulled out his keys and said "oh no." I knew immediately what had happened. He had gone for a bicycle ride with Brad that afternoon, and the apartment key was sitting inside the pocket on his cycling jersey.

Oh well, we can try the balcony door...it's usually open. So, Thad climbed the wall (a little precariously, but he has had to do the same 3 times before) and went to our kitchen door. Locked. Wandered further down the balcony to our bedroom door, locked. Checked the windows, none were cracked.

Okay, well, we were pretty sure we had hidden a key somewhere on the balcony, but that was so long ago, that we couldn't remember where. Thankfully, there was a light to help Thad search while I waited below, looking up, hoping to hear a "woohoo!!". He searched and searched and searched. At this point it was pretty late, and I was worried that we were already going to have to wake someone up.

Thad continued looking for a while because the climb back down the balcony is not as easy as the climb up (he's never had to climb back down before...we usually have something open!!). Eventually, he gave up.

We wandered across the street to see if our friends lights were still on, all darkness. Thankfully, since he had his set of keys, we were able to go to our office and call around without having to wander from house to house scaring people by buzzing their door. Praise God, our first call, they were awake--nearing midnight. Phew, we had a place to sleep.

So, today, we are still waiting to hear from our Landlord--hoping to avoid calling a locksmith, they are as pricey here as they are in the States. We also have another option of trying to unlock our door with a card, since we didn't double-lock it. Praying it will work.

Oh, and to top it all off. Since we were just popping over to watch a movie, I didn't grab my purse, Thad didn't grab his wallet or jacket. So, we are reliant upon our gracious friends at the office for our 'food provisions' today. Mama Miller sent us to the office with fully tummies from Breakfast, so that was certainly appreciated. She had some fresh farm bread...soooo yummy!

All of that to say, it was inevitable. We knew it would happen one day... It just happened to be last night, unfortunately rather late.

May Day

It sounds like a distress call from a failing airplane.  In Germany, it means a day off.  We think it is the German labor day.  Unfortunately, we are not in a large city where we are told we would enjoy seeing protests.  We are not sure what they are protesting, but they are using their day off to do it.  I am sure the Internet is full of information on what May 1st is for Germany.  If you look it up, use the comments to let us know.  Mainly, I just wanted to let you know we have the day off.  We will be enjoying some beautiful weather (so far) and I may go for a ride this afternoon sometime. 

As I commented in the previous post, we had waffles this morning!!