When a picture tells the entire story...

In the news media there's always the habit to try to capture the attention of the reader in various ways. Several news papers have the tendency to use capitalized, front page, short phrases that summarize what the topic might be about.
Other newspapers place in front page a snap shot, or a series of pictures that explain what the article is about more than any words can do. Some photographers are so good that they receive world recognition. Others might end up taking pictures for tabloids and become the infamous "paparazzi".

In our case, no human hand took this picture but I feel that if there was an Oscar for best photo or for a picture that tells the story...this would be worthy of recognition.

The date: June 01, 2009. The place: Walt Disney World Aerosmith Rock and Roller Coaster. The cast: Giovanni, Robert, Pino...all avid roller coaster riders! Judi and Brian...first time in a triple loop, upside down, inside roller coaster.

The wait wasn't too long. Brian was unaware of what was going to happen and so was Judi. She had partial understanding of how the coaster rock and rolled (in the real sense!). Judi was a just about to give up but finally she decided- mostly for Brian- to stay on board.

The ride was amazing, the music was incredibly loud and we all made it safe! I don't think Brian and Judi realized what they had just done but, proudly, they can say that they conquered their fear of roller coaster...or did they?

See the picture below and I feel that tells the entire story.....

Cost of vacation in Florida: a lot of money; Cost of food inside the parks: probably more; Looking at Judi's and Brian's expression while riding this coaster- building a memory lasting forever: PRICELESS!

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go visiting teaching. It is something that I really enjoy. My companion and I go to visit 3 amazing women. One of them is your typical grandmother. She goes to the elementary school to help out once a week, she travels around to visit her kids and grand kids, and babysits whenever she can. She adores her family and is just a very sweet woman. I really love her a lot. The second sister we visit has four children, one just graduated from high school with Robert and the other 3 are in high school and junior high. She is a seamstress and sews costumes for the local theatre company around here. She has an amazing talent and what a joy that she can do what she loves and get paid for it as well. The third sister we visit is the mother of 7, her oldest married and moved away. She too has a daughter who just graduated with Robert and they are good friends. I feel blessed to be able to visit these women each month. And even though we are to take a message to them I am the one who feels like I've been blessed because of them.

I would like to tell about the visit that I had with Sister #3 yesterday. She also happens to be on the America's Freedom Festival Committee for Provo, and this year she is the president. It was fun to talk to her about the festival and all that goes into planning the events, and meetings they have, etc. She made the comment that it is hard to not have religion come into the middle of their meetings because of the fact that a lot of what we believe as Latter Day Saints also has to do with freedom.

As we were talking I thought back to a time when I did not live in the United States when Giovanni and I were first married. For 4 years we lived in Italy and I had already been there for 1 1/2 years previously. I would wake up early in the morning to watch Dan Rather and the CBS Evening News because it would be in English and it was a way for me to know what was going on back here in the USA. I would get tears in my eyes watching the news...now that I look back I think how odd that was. No wonder Gio thought I was crazy some days, crying over the news!

Also, in 1990 it was the World Cup for soccer, and the different teams would have their flags out and the national anthems would be played. Every time the Star Spangled Banner would play I would sing and really get choked up. Gio would ask me why I was crying and I would tell him that he was something that he couldn't understand, but that I was proud to be an American and that I loved my country. I was right, he didn't understand. But that is okay.

Even now when we go to events where there is the flag and we pledge allegiance, or sing some song referring to the USA I get emotional. I am proud to be an American. And now, Gio does understand and I think that he feels the same way. He will always be an Italian and is proud of his heritage and his country and we make sure that our children are as well, however...he now calls the USA home and he understands that pride of living in this great country!

We lived here for almost 10 years before he decided to become a citizen. He thought long and hard about it because it was a big step for him to pledge allegiance to this country. But now when he wears his USA tie to church I see that he wears it with pride. He also has one that has the Italian and American flags on it....:) He's been a citizen since 2004 and I don't think he regrets it one bit! (Here are a few pics of that special day!)




You wonder I'm sure what does being an American and visiting teaching have to do with one another....well, the lesson was on sincere prayer. That got us talking about religion and freedoms and how lucky we are to live in this country. I have thought about that a lot in the past 24 hours.

I do feel so blessed to live in the United States of America. I'm thankful for soldiers who put their selves out there every day for us. I don't always understand or agree with things that our government has done or does, but I support my president and most of all I support the men and women in the military. I pray for them and their families, for their safety and safe return, and that their families will be blessed and watched over while they are apart.

I suppose that is part of the reason they do what they do....so that I do have the freedom to pray for them.

I hope that this July 4th (an always) that my prayers can be more sincere and that I will really think about the freedoms that I do have, that each one of us have, and remember to thank my Father in Heaven for his guidance to our founding fathers and for their courage and sacrifices for each one of us.

God Bless the USA!!

WHAT WARMS MY HEART

Over the past few days I've been thinking a lot about all the technology that we have around us and how amazing it is that I can live in Utah, yet find friends on the other side or the world that I haven't talked to in years, thanks to a website called Facebook or through a blog on line.
It has been a blessing for me, even though my family says I'm addicted. I have found or been found by so many people from my previous life, when I was Judi Clifton, and it has brought back so many wonderful memories and feelings.
I have been in touch with people that I grew up with in California, or people that I served my mission with in Italy, or people that I knew in the MTC before departing for Italy. I am so thankful for all those wonderful experiences that I had and to talk with all these newfound friends again. It really has been wonderful.
I have felt those same feelings all over again that I experienced in the mission field. Feelings of love and gratitude for my Father in Heaven for the opportunity that I had to serve a mission and for the people that I met while in Italy.
I've also relived some of my high shcool years. Those are not always good, but those years also helped to make me what I am today.
I'm also thankful to have a blog where I can write down my feelings and share my thoughts. I'm not the best at keeping a journal, but in a way, this is my journal. It is just an open book for other's to read, and that is okay. It just makes me think more about what I'm going to write and who is going to read it.
When I look at Brian, my almost 11 year old, and I see how comfortable he is on the computer I realize how far technology has come since I was a child. I remember having a word processor. Am I showing my age yet? I thought that thing was high tech, but now Brian sits down stairs on a laptop and watches movies and makes plans with his friends with the push of a few keys.
Robert on the other hand is all into text messaging. Though he is slowly appreciating facebook even more now that he is graduated. His big addiction right now is poker with his buddies on line. He'll win big someday..even if it is in his virtual dream!
I was chatting with an old friend from the MTC who I haven't talked to in 20 years and it was so nice to catch up with her for a few minutes. The feelings that I felt while talking to her made me feel so good inside. Thanks Julie for finding me tonight! It brought tears to my eyes and warmed my soul for a few short minutes.
Some may say that computers aren't always the best and that we can waste a lot of time on them. I know that I do need to be better at organizing my time, but I can say this...if the feelings that I felt tonight are what technology is all about, then I'm grateful!
Not being able to go to church right now because of work has made me realize how much I miss it and want to be there, so if this key board, monitor, and mouse are a way for me to feel the spirit for a few moments, then I'll take it.
Don't get me wrong...I don't just blog or facebook, I go to the church websites and there are other places where I visit as well...but real people are what warms my heart!

FATHER'S DAY 2009

I wanted to do this amazing blog dedicated to father's, with pictures of Giovanni's dad, Onofrio, and of my father, Norman, along with pictures of Gio and the boys. But alas time has slipped by and father's day has come and is almost gone and we haven't scanned in pictures of Gio's dad yet, but I didn't want the day to pass without writing something about each one of these amazing men.

Let me start with Nonno Onofrio. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, however from the stories that Gio has told me he was a wonderful father who loved his son. Onofrio was 62 years old when Gio was born. He loved his son so very much and spent a lot of time playing with him and being a wonderful father for the few short years that they had together. Gio tells stories of playing "barber" with his father and pretending like he was washing his hair or giving him a shave. He also tells of how he and his father would go for walks and some people would ask if he was out with his grandson, and he would say "no!, this is my son!", and very proud of it. Onofrio passed away when Gio was only 6 years old, so his memories of his father are vague and distant, but he knows that his father loved him very much. He only wishes that he could remember his father's voice. Someday they will have the chance to sit down and talk again, and when he does hear that voice it will be like sweet music to his ears.

As for Grandpa (my father)...there are so many fond memories that I have of him. I remember his buying us mountain bikes (motorcycles) to ride up at our cabin and one day we rode down to the river and on the way up and got to close to the edge and dad freaked out because he thought I was going to fall over the side of the mountain. We still talk about that and I don't think I was as close as he thought I was. Another memory that I have is us going to Hawaii when I was young. We climbed up to where there was a live volcano to look inside it and I remember the mountain side being black and when we got to the top everyone was talking about the red running lava and I couldn't see it. Dad lifted me up on his shoulders and leaned over so that I could see and I began to kick and scream for him to put me down. I was so afraid....I just knew that he was going to sacrifice me to the Hawaiian Gods! (I think that is where my fear of heights came from).
My father was also very loving with my mother. I don't remember them ever fighting, but always laughing and having a good time. Towards the end of my mother's life I realized how much my father did love and cherish my mother because of how he cared for her. That is something that I will never forget. I realized at that time what I hoped my marriage would be like after almost 56 years of marriage.

Last but not least in the father of my children, Giovanni. What can I say about him that I haven't already written. He is the man of my dreams. As a young girl I remember saying that I wanted to marry someone like my dad. Well, in some ways they are very different, however in other ways they are so much alike. Gio is quiet and doesn't like to be the center of attention. He is reserved, yet can let loose when he wants to. He loves to play with our children and is such an amazing father! He cares about our boys and makes sure that they know how much he loves them. He provides for our family and makes sure that we have the things that we need. Sometimes he will tell us that we have to do without, but that is so that we can have something better later.
I respect him so much for the man that he is and for the sacrifices that he has made for our family and for our sons so that their lives will be better.

Thank you Onofrio, Norman, and Giovanni for the men that you were and are! You have helped our family to be what it is!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO EACH OF YOU!!!

with love,
Judi

A presto...See you later big Bro

Well...like everything else in life, even my brother Pino visit in Utah had to end. Today Pino left for a long flight home- Torino, Italy. We spent together almost 30 fun days. Orlando, Vegas, The Grand Canyon were all great but, to be honest, I have to say that just the presence of my brother at home, playing with us, having fun with the kids was the best! I already miss him and I hope God will keep him safe and healthy until I will have a chance to hug him again (hopefully JetBlue benefits will help :-)

I see my kids interacting with each other like Tom and Jerry (the typical older to younger brother relationship) and I tell them to treasure the love and friendship between each other forever, because - after all- family ties are forever. I hope one day Robert will realize how important is the influence he has on his younger brother.

My brother has been for me not just a brother - but also a father. He is the one who raised me and had a great influence on who I am am as a person. I don't know if he really understands how much he has done for me and how much I love him.

Anyway here you can find some recent pics of our time spent together. Love you Bro!

Ho scritto in inglese prima ma tutte le parole sopra non riescono a fare esprimere quanto ti voglio bene, fratellino mio Pino! Ci vediamo presto e prego che Dio continui a proteggerti e mantenerti in buona saluta fino a quando ci riabbracceremo nuovamente! (Speriamo ora che JetBlue ci aiuti..il goal sara' entro 1 anno o meno). Qui puoi vedere delle foto che ti faranno ricordare momenti divertenti!

La "Nostra" Limo... "Our" limo...



Il "Nostro" Elicottero... "Our" Chopper



Il Gran Canion- Grand Canyon



Lo Zio ed I due fratelli...How you doing??? :-)

SOMEONE WHO NEEDS ME

What a week full of different emotions!

Robert was gone to Lake Powell from Sunday evening until last night and I sure did miss him! I realized that I'm glad he will be living at home for one more year! He has become a friend and I love having him around. (How will I ever survive when he goes on his mission???) I don't think I'm ready for him to grow up, so I better start working on that one, because it is going to happen, ready or not!

Brian got his cast off on Tuesday and now wears a brace when he plays, but while in the house he leaves it off to strengthen his arm. He was gone for two nights in a row at sleepovers with his friends and I really missed him too! I realized that he will be just like Robert, a social butterfly, but I'll be ready by the time he grows up, (Maybe!) Though, when he is home he still wants to cuddle and wants for me to be the "baby" so he can take care of me! I'm glad that he still needs me!

I had to go to the doctor on Tuesday because the swelling in my legs and feet didn't go down from our trip. (You should have seen them, they looked like watermelons!) My doctor had me go do an ultrasound on both legs to make sure that I didn't have blood clots, then he ran some other tests. Everything turned out fine, and so he just increased my blood pressure meds and it is much better now. I had all these visions of blood thinners, etc and it wasn't fun! I need to work on loosing some weight and get healthy again! I did that a few years ago and felt good, but didn't stick to it too well. I really need to do better this time, because like back then, I have a family who needs me.

Which leads up to my next thought:
My brother and his wife are getting a divorce (or so it seems). I am so sad about this! I just don't understand how after being married for 21 years you can just say that you love someone, but you can't live with them or want to be married any longer.
I know that there are two sides to every story and I know that I don't know all the sides, but I just don't get it.
My brother has changed over the past few years and says that he is finding himself and is happy (or wants to be happy). I know that my sister in law has had some medical issues, some very serious and life threatening that have affected her, but I think that in the end it comes down to communication, humility, Christlike love, and unselfishness. Four things that I know I need to work on!
I am helping my sister in law out some, not because I'm choosing sides, but because she has no family here and really needs some help.
I can only hope and pray that her and Dave can work things out. Like I said to my brother, don't just look at what you're running towards, but look at what you are running away from as well.

I suppose the reason that I share this is because I'm so very thankful for my wonderful husband, Giovanni! I can't imagine what my life would be like without him. We will be married for 20 years in January and in some respects it feels like a lifetime, and in other ways we were just married yesterday. He is my best friend, my confidant, my everything. Without him I wouldn't know how to go on! And also thanks to him we have two wonderful sons that I'm not ready to let go of yet!
Most importantly I'm thankful for our temple marriage. That doesn't mean that all the work is done, but it gives us something to strive towards and work for together.
If I don't like being without him for a few days how could I ever be with out him for eternity?!

Yesterday driving in the car we saw a double rainbow, and it was BEAUTIFUL! The amazing thing was, one of the rainbows was a complete one! You could see the start and the end and the colors were so vibrant! It made me feel so good inside because it gave me hope.

Hope for a better tomorrow and a better eternity! It gave me something to look forward to and to work towards! Thank you Heavenly Father for that small gift! I really needed it this week!

FLORIDA

WOW!!! What a fun week we have had, but I do agree with Dorothy when she said, "there's no place like home". It is good to be back!

(Sorry this will be a long post, but mainly pictures!)

Last week after the all night graduation party Gio, Pino, and the boys left for Florida! They got to the resort by early Sunday morning (1 AMish).

On Sunday they went to Kennedy Space Center near Coco Beach (remember "I Dream of Jeanie"?) They said that it was an amazing experience. Gio's dream came true of seeing a real space shuttle and doing some of the things that astronauts do. I don't think that it is something he will forget for a long time to come. They boys too were amazed by all of it and I heard a lot of stories about it. I wish that I could have been there with them.



On Sunday night I took the red eye and met up with all of them and on Monday we went to Disney Hollywood. It was a fun day with fun rides. Brian and I overcame our fear of roller coasters and went on one that had 3 upside down loops. I don't know if we'll do it again for a while, but it was fun. What a great day!






On Tuesday we went to Epcot! How fun was that? They have some amazing exhibits there and it was neat to visit all the different "countries" and we went on some fun rides. We ate lunch in France...it was an experience. We saw Ratatouille while eating...the hostess brought him around. It was so cute and Brian loved it.




Wednesday we went to Universal Studios Orlando and that was great! There are two theme parks there and so much to see. I wish that we could have spent two days there, but we didn't have the time. Robert, Pino, and Gio went on The Hulk! It is a huge roller coster and they said it was amazing, but for sure not a mom ride. Brian wasn't able to go on it because of his cast, so we walked around. There is a cool simulated Spiderman Ride there that is really cool and the Mummy ride was great too.
We did a water ride on the "rapids" and they don't lie when they say you get wet...we walked away looking like we had just came out of the shower.





Thursday was Animal Kingdom. Very cute shows and the animals were amazing. A much more relaxed day. We got home just in time because then a huge rain storm hit and we were lucky that we didn't get caught in it! The wind blew and it poured! Our condo had a sunroof and the rain was so hard that we all made the comment that it would be very unlucky if the sunroof cracked or leaked.



Friday morning we went to Magic Kingdom for a few hours before our plane left. Space Mountain was closed and so were some of the other rides that we wanted to do, but it was fun to go and walk around and have the "typical" Disneyland feel.

It was a wonderful trip and a great way to celebrate Robert's graduation. He is now in Lake Powell for a week with "the guys" as he calls them. Hopefully he'll take some good pics that we can share.

It has been a fun time with Pino being here and we're glad that we have been able to share this exciting time with him.