a week ago today they were predicting a little snow and as i was already scheduled to go away for a day to an agriturismo 35 minutes just outside the city of Bologna, i asked david if he thought it would be ok to go, and he assured me it would be fine. the overnight stay was for a 24 hour period of prayer required by TEAM at least once a year, and as it has been a heck of a last 2 1/2 months, david and i decided it would be great if i could physically get away from the city for a day. so i went.

which was no small feat for me to begin with. i drove. by myself. to an unknown destination. on ridiculous italian streets. did i mention, BY MYSELF!! well- with a little help from Dora (the explorer- our GPS, so aptly named by my mom in law) that is.

i made it, but on the way it began to snow harder, with a light dusting on the road. after a little slipping on said ridiculous roads, i arrived with little other misfortune, and decided i would NOT worry about the drive tomorrow, tonight. so i checked in with the owner, and told him i was here for a little relaxation and refreshment, and he assured me that there would be no shortage of that as i was the only occupant for the next 2 days!

the room was perfect. tiny, with a REAL double bed (NOT 2 twins pushed together!), a fluffy white duvet, 2 ample pillows, a HUGE (by italian standards anyway!) shower and more than ample heat! which, again, is no small feat here in the winter. because electricity is so expensive, hotel rooms in the winter can be pretty chilly!! anyway- and at the foot of the bed was a giant window with THE MOST breathtaking view of the bologna hills- and with snow coming down! i couldn’t have asked for more, for my 24 hours with the Lord!

anyway- to make a long story short- i woke the next morning to almost 2 feet of snow, and no possible way to get down off the beautiful hill that brought so much peace the night before! i called david, who called our friend Mark (who was sick with a cold!) who in turn, put chains on his car and trekked up the hill to come get me. 4 hours and a set of broken tire chains on OUR car later- we were forced to abandon our car in a kind italian gentleman’s driveway and return home WITHOUT said vehicle!

a week later- we are STILL without a vehicle, and it has snowed on and off for the greater part of the last week. there are almost 3 feet of snow on the ground. it hasn’t been above freezing in OVER a week. cars are trapped in garages, and driveways, and parking spots...........and OURS- remains trapped in some kind gentleman’s driveway 35 minutes outside the city!

to stay we’re a little stir crazy might be the understatement of the year! ruby love is ASKING to go back to school now!

but it IS beautiful, and it is more snow than i have seen EVER- in my lifetime! and in some ways- i am grateful to have seen it!

in other news- because i have been incredibly unfaithful to my blog- mom is doing better! every day brings a little healing, both mentally as well as physically! shortly after i arrived back in Italy, after spending 9 days helping with my mom back home, i got a phone call from my dad that the nurse practitioner treating mom’s hypertension had discovered thyroid cancer!!!! i think it was a few seconds before i breathed again! BUT, alas- God has been beautifully faithful to sustain her, and after surgery to remove her thyroid on the 29th of december, she is finally able to take a much wanted respite from dr’s offices! she is healing slowly, both from the surgery as well as the stroke! but she is healing none the less!

i want to say thank you to those who have emailed, called, asked and prayed for us all! i am certain none of us would be standing BUT for these precious prayers. especially when, i hadn’t the words myself! i am profoundly grateful to all of you!