Life goes by so quickly! I can't believe how often it seems to be Sunday--the week just flies!


I find myself pondering my boys and how they really do get bigger each day. Today in sacrament meeting I looked over at Eli sitting in his plastic chair, leaning down on the electric piano. He just looked so long to me. I was amazed that he is mine.

Right now we do a lot of fort-building, bug-collecting, game-creating, world-drawing, nature-movie-watching (Eli and Adam said that if they could meet any famous person it would be either Nigel Marvin, or David Attenborough--you can tell what they love to watch. They honestly think these are the 2 coolest people in the world. Eli asked if I could get their numbers and call them. He has many things he would like to ask them), and, of course, book-reading (The Hobbit is their new favorite book--though I have had to learn to master using my light-and-happy-voice in reading the scariest parts. This is not as easy as one might think.).

These boys are just . . . curious, little boys. I love it.

I never actually saw the movie, but one of my favorite quotes ever, is found in Finding Neverland:

Little boys should never go to sleep because

they only wake up one day older.

There is nothing more adorable than 4 sleeping boys all cozy in one room,
but it is amazing how days and nights pass, and little children grow into bigger children.

**message to self: Rebekah, enjoy today, because tomorrow is coming fast!

*FYI--In the picture with boys sitting in the window, David is in the room behind them--we do want them to live to see many tomorrows. smile.

The end of my favorite back yard ever!

I wasn't prepared.

I felt a swelling in my throat as I saw this really cool machine approaching our back yard. I knew that this time would come, and soon, but I dreaded it.

The farmer and machine workers just went about their work, anticipating the end result--the golden grain filling up the waiting truck.

I knew that for Signor Sintoni, it was the sweet result of his efforts.

The men didn't seem to care about the sad good-byes waving from the long stems.

But I noticed.

I cared.

It may sound like I am being dramatic, but honestly it was a very hard thing for me to see.
It isn't all about the Amber Waves of Grain, though truly this is my new favorite ground cover and I dream of a home in the USA that touches a wheat field (corn would be okay, too).

That grain being harvested is a reminder to me that my time here is going to come to a close. This may be the last time in my life that I have a field of grain in my own back yard. We will leave Italy in 2010, and the farmer won't likely plant winter wheat again this year.

It makes one ponder all the things to love (Title of a sweet, sweet book Jen and Jakob gave to Eli when he was born) and miss about this time of my life. Isn't it funny how the hardest things are often also the sweetest in some way (Isaac, for example) ?

To every thing there is a season . . . This has been the season of peaceful beauty, and discovering what is really important to me--what I want my kids to value . . . what I value most myself.

I have felt the power of nature--not in its ability to shake the earth, but in its ability to touch my heart and make me feel closer to our shared creator.

The wonder of empty branch, to budding branch, to blossoming branch, to branch heavy with fruit--all stages are fascinating and beautiful.

When I walk through orchards or passed fields with my boys, I easily bear testimony to them of a Divine Creator. I feel near to Him. In a time when the nearest temple is far away and I can't go as I would like, I am grateful for a peaceful, heavenly place to ponder, remember, and feel.

As I said, there is a season for everything, and after the harvesting of the grain comes many other beautiful things. The peaches and nectarines are ripe, and we can go pick them whenever we want--says Signor Sintoni . . .

the figs are getting bigger . . . the grape vines are full of sour green grapes (which Isaac seems to appreciate more than he should) . . .and the giuggioli are finally showing the tiny green dots that will be deep brown, nutty, mouth-popping fruit this fall. Promises of fig jam, grape juice, and snacking on those strange, crunchy giuggioli.

Yes, there is always something to look forward to in the next season.

Frankly, my boys cheered after the wheat was cut down because they remembered that soon Signor Sintoni will plow that field and it will become the most wonderous of wonderlands--huge clods of dirt with endless play-time possibilities.

Seasons of life, enjoy the one your in.

Our family TRADITIONS--says Eli

Eli is our golden-hearted, contemplative (with a few other adjectives) child.

The other day we had my friend Angie MacDonald over with Kenny and Bob's boys Caleb (13) and Gavin(11).

That evening, after Family Home Evening, Eli mentioned a conversation he had had with Caleb:

David wasn't home from work yet (they were all waiting for him to get home) and Caleb mentioned how his Dad got up every morning at 6:00am so that he could leave by 7:00am for work. That way he could get home earlier in the evening than Eli's dad did.

Eli said that he had told Caleb that his dad got up at 6:00am, too, but that we had "traditions" like scriptures and prayer and family hug, which we do each morning, so he doesn't leave our house as early.

Eli then looked at David and said,"Dad, Do you think that it is more important that you come home earlier, or that we do our traditions?"

David asked, "Eli, What do you think?"

Eli smiled his sweet knowledgable, face-glowing smile, and said, "I think that it is important that we keep doing our traditions."

It sounds so simple, but I was really touched by this experience, and the way my big/little boy could see the right and good in what we are trying to do with our family. We all want David home earlier in the evening, but I am so grateful for the "traditions" (don't you love his use of that word to describe our routines?) we have, and the gift of this conversation--reminding me that my children (who don't always come smiling to prayer and scripture time) may really be getting it!

Love you, Eli!

Celebrating The U.S. of A.

Yesterday we had such a great experience celebrating the 4th of July here in Italy.

I had decided a long time ago that I wanted my boys to learn patriotic songs and stories that we could share with our friends on the 4th of July.

The whole month of June we read stories, learned songs, and memorized some things that represent our country. My mom gave us a book a few years ago called The American Story (highly recommend it!) and we read stories from it every morning. The boys loved it (and so did mom).

The month of June flew by, and soon it was time to invite some of our American friends over for a little program and BBQ. I knew we would come across a bit cheesy (yah, that's just the way I am), but I figured if we backed it all up with good food, it would turn out great. This was our program:

July 4, 2009
*Flag Ceremony and Pledge: cub scouts: Eli and Adam Moss
*sing: My Country ‘Tis of Thee
*Moss boys recite The Preamble to the Constitution :We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
*sing: America the Beautiful
*Story of Uncle Sam: Gabe as Uncle Sam
*Thanking our Military/leaders
*Sing: The Star-Spangled Banner
*sing: Yankee Doodle

It ended up being such a great experience. We shared things we had learned, but we also heard from two of our guests who had served in the military and were touched by their feelings about the service they gave their country.

I read some of Uncle Ray's (my dad's uncle) autobiography--his P.O.W. experiences. We did this just before we sang the National Anthem and I was really touched by the power of that song, because of what it represents.

Next time you sing The Star Spangled Banner, really ponder the words and what they mean.

Earlier this year I taught it to my boys. As I tried to help them learn those words--not easy lyrics--I was overcome with what is happening in that first verse. My children loved the rocket's red glare and the bombs bursting in air, but they also know that those things are mentioned in the song because they helped light up the sky to reveal that the flag was still there, giving hope and courage to the men fighting for liberty!

I am so grateful to be a citizen of the United States of America--for the sacrifices many have made to get freedom and to maintain it. We are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. May we all do our part to keep it that way!