hello again

ciao my friends.  i have so much to catch up on, and i apologize for my long leave of absence. internet connection these days is "scarce to say the least," and with such spotty connection, uploading pictures is all but impossible (and what good is a blog post from italy without pictures?)  so, recent efforts to post anything have been in vain.  but you better bet i'll keep trying!

today though, i wanted to stop in and make a small request..  

my thirteen-year-old brother will has been in and out of the hospital for the past few weeks now.  will was born with kidney problems, but has grown up healthily and happy with one kidney.  but what started as a painful slam on the soccer field last month has resulted in a lot of nights in the hospital and a whole lot of missed school lately.   he had surgery on saturday and though he kept high spirits for the first few weeks of this ordeal, being deprived of normal food and friends and sports and having oxygen tubes up his nose has found him in a miserable place.  but gratefully, he will be ok... life just isn't fun for him right now.

and with the four other kids at home and my dad in miami right now (my mom was supposed to be there with him but was luckily able to turn right back around and come home upon will's most recent unexpected hospital stay), the voices i've spoken to lately from home have sounded so tired and stressed. 

could i ask any of you that fancy praying to send up a little prayer in his/their behalf? being so far away, i feel a little bit helpless.  i know things will be fine, but i also know that prayer really does help.  always.  in one way or another.

i hope things are going well for all of you lovely people.  i'll be back soon with some updates from italy! ...even if it is just one photo at a time :) 

grazie, ti amo, ciao!  <3