Ciao! (Italian for Hej Hej!) (Danish for Hello!)

I made chocolate chip cookies this morning...with Nestle's chocolate chips!  Mary was so cute when she came....she unloaded her suitcase, and among other things was this gigantic bag of chocolate chips.....I didn't know they came this big.  72 ounces or 9 cups!  And the cookies were well-received tonight.

Monia, my Italian friend came to the center and showed me once again how to make lasagne.  She has such a gentle and peaceful way about her.  She didn't seem rushed or stressed....she just kind of worked away, explaining how she was doing things.  This time I wrote everything down.

The key will be finding the secret ingredient (bechamel sauce).  It is basically a white sauce with the slightest hint of nutmeg....yes, really.  Here, you just buy it in a little carton or bottle and spoon out what you need.  Every time I tell her about ricotta cheese she giggles in mock horror.  Then she states in no uncertain terms, "No, we don't use that!"

The meal was quite lovely.  She put together a green salad that not only was very pretty, but very tasty.  The salad dressing was simply olive oil and Italian seasoning.  Sliced french bread completed the menu.

It was fun to work with her.  She is returning to Italy at the end of May and she is very much looking forward to it.  She has left the church she has been a part of for 20 years or so, and she will get an apartment and find a job in Italy.  I can tell she is happy and excited about the future.  She is making some positive changes.

I asked her if she is a Christian....she said no.  I asked if she was raised Catholic.  She said yes.  But she added that she has never believed in Jesus Christ.  I have an Italian Book of Mormon that I will give to her in two weeks when she comes to cook again.  I have enjoyed my association with her, and I enjoy her....I love her accent.

Institute class was uplifting.  Jens taught....in English so that we didn't have to get mired down in translating.  So many YSAs can and are willing to translate, but if we get more than a couple of different people translating, the noise gets too distracting.  Jens taught about section 132...the section on marriage.  He did a marvelous mob of teaching.  He asks questions that make you think.

He brought a treat for everyone....Dunkin Donuts!  It just opened at the central train station (about a 10 minute walk from here) and has had long long lines of people wanting to try the newest import.  I can't imagine why on earth anyone would open a Dunkin Donuts in the land that reigns supreme when it comes to pastries.  Later, after class, I served the cookies....SK thought they tasted far better than the 3 donuts he had!!!!

I had some wonderful discussions with YSAs.  They seem so much smarter than I ever did at that age!

Our Erin broke her foot Sunday.  She was in Primary and was hurrying to catch a small runaway from his class who was headed for the busy road outside the church.  One misstep and she fell.  The pain was intense, so Ethan took her immediately to an Urgent Care.  An xray showed that she had perhaps broken a bone.  The little boy fortunately got himself back into the church and into class.

The next day and a doctor's appointment confirmed that she had broken a bone....two bones to be precise.  The day after, she went for a cat scan and found out that she had broken 5 bones and one of them was broken into 20 pieces!  She has gone for second opinions....her foot  has swollen....she had an appointment today with the surgeon.  He wants to operate tomorrow.

That is not only a terrible inconvenience.....but it is painful, frustrating and a little worrisome.  We hope the upshot of all this will be that her foot will be back to normal.  But foot problems don't always work out perfectly.  SK and I will be fasting and praying for her tomorrow.

This is one of those times when I want for all the world to be in Gilbert.