Appetite 4 Life - Camilla's Blog

This one's about me

Why does busyness always come in great big chunks? I guess it's a way to stretch us, and teach us to still maintain equilibrium and work from rest... oh, yes. I might have written that blog last month, but the concept still haunts me. In a positive way, I hasten to add. 

In a way I knew that having my parents here would add to the busyness, but I also greatly appreciate the value of two extra pairs of hands, and figured everything would balance out. What I didn't count on was a sudden explosion on the 'to-do' section of my calendar. Which now is on the wall, by the way. Crazy as it may sound to all my hyper-tech friends and former colleagues, trying to keep everyone's schedules visible to everyone in the family requires old-fashioned pen and paper.

Sometimes...

When did I have time to hold down a more-than full-time job? I mean really... come on. One sweet and lovely toddler can surely not outmaneuver the schedule I had before. But yes, I realize there are other things to consider too, and perhaps I was getting a little too used to having days with no entries on them. 

My official big work stint of this month came and went. The time to prep seemed more than the actual work. Last year I was asked to keep the entire week free for this project. But after numerous tries, I finally managed to find out that only two days of my time was required. My former efficient Finnish corporate me was a bit annoyed: what if I actually had cleared an entire week from a busy schedule for this? But then, I took one look at this swelling belly, and realized that as usual God knows best: maybe two days in week 33 of this pregnancy is really the best thing for me. So I changed my inner tune, and amazingly everything worked out for the absolute best, and now I actually have some time to breathe as I go through the rest of the week. 

I'm a big girl now...

 

No more sitting on my own in a high chair at mealtimes now, I've moved on to a booster seat so I can sit at the table like all the grown-ups do. 

It was about time too. I mean, after all, I'm the one that instigates all the toasting around here (chin chin), and who else would prompt Mamma and Pappa to pray for the meal, and I always close the prayer with my Amen too!

You can go now, mamma.

I was putting Sofia down after the usual bedtime routine of stories by her pappa, new diaper, a somewhat unwilling tooth-brushing exercise and then the joy of climbing into her own crib with the familiar snuggle cloths.

Tonight was no exception, and as I put her down she was happy to start rubbing and feeling her snuggle cloths, but she remained seated on her knees, not ready to lie down on her pillow just yet. So I seized the moment and sang a goodnight prayer to her, while stroking her back gently.

Having finished the prayer I absentmindedly continued to stroke her back while my mind started wandering to other things. A minute or so later, Sofia turned her attention from the snugglies and looked straight at me, waved her hand at me and said “Bye”.

Dismissed. Just like that. Independence is here.

In the footsteps of Jesus - literally

On the ancient Via Appia leading out to some of the wellknown catacombs stands a small church by the roadside. It is called Domine Quo Vadis, which literally means 'Lord, where are you going'.

The apostle Peter allegedly  encountered Jesus there while fleeing persecution in Rome (this would be some years after the ascention, so quite supernatural if so), and asked him that question. Typical impulsive Peter, right? Jesus supposedly answered 'To Rome, to be crucified anew'.

And with that Peter knew he should turn around and face his persecutors in Rome, and eventually (after having become a bishop there, and by catholics around the world hailed as the first pope because of that) he was crucified.

Upsidedown, which is what the painting in second photo depicts. A scene that I actually never had seen painted before, so I took a picture as well. 

So what about the actual footprints. Supposedly, they were miraculously left by Jesus on the spot where they encountered (by the location of today's little church), and while the original slab is in a nearby basilica - the quo vadis church has a replica. 

Quite a powerful feeling putting my foot on that footprint, I tell you. And not without a sense of commitment ...

Good morning Sunshine

If this was the smile that met you every morning, wouldn't you also be thanking the Lord for His wonderful gift of precious life?

Dedicated with a cry

On Saturday October 2nd, we had our dedication service for Sofia at our church Fonte di Vita here in Livorno. Sofia is one of four baby girls born within three months of each other this spring, and three of the four girls were up on stage at the same time. Guess who started crying?

   
She was tired and fidgety even before we got up on stage, so I thought - great we will be going first as Sofia is the oldest! Not so, she was the last one. By the time pastor Dante took her to hold her up for prayer, she took one look at us, realized that she was not with either of us, and started wailing. This is our usually calm little Sofia in her pretty limegreen dress showing some temper in her first public appearance.

Jeff held a short speech in Italian, and I shared a bible verse that I came across before she was born, and it became my prayer for her (James 3:17).  Her name means wisdom in Greek. 

Between the three families we had baked and cooked for about 110 people, and my very Scandinavian contribution was the cake 'il dolce'. It is called Britatårta in our family, and I had made four sheet cakes. Fortunately it was a flavor that worked quite well for the discerning Italian palate. And really, what's not to like when bursts of merengue, fresh peaches, whipped cream and chocolate come together?