new location for 2009 G8 summit

Bet you weren't expecting that...*

So basically, Berlusconi is moving the G8 Summit from this crazy luxurious location on cruise ships in the Mediterranean to barrack formerly used to house married couples during training for a police force near L'Aquila which was damaged by an earthquake this spring.

Not all of these details are in the article below but I heard it on All Things Considered on NPR. Anyway, the point is we're talking much simpler accommodations than these guys (& gals) are used to. Like, bunkers & cafeterias. I think it awesome.

A friend of mine, who is a little bit genius & a little dreamer, used to fantasize about running a Third World simulation camp where anyone who wanted to run for public office would have to live for 2 weeks in  abject poverty.  For perspective, you know.  I love it.

So, this might be as close as we get but it's still pretty great.  Now the only question is, will Berlusconi himself, actually stay in the same place?

Politics: G8 summit to move to L'Aquila. Thursday, April 23rd 2009

The Italian government has voted to change the location of the upcoming G8 summit in July from La Maddalena island in Sardinia to L'Aquila, which was heavily damaged by the 6 April earthquake. Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has said that holding the G8 in L'Aquila would keep the world from forgetting about the earthquake-ravaged area and provide world leaders with an opportunity to see examples of the architectural and artistic heritage their contributions will help to restore.

Berlusconi also said that hosting the G8 summit in luxurious La Maddalena would send the wrong message given the present economic climate, and that the government would be saving around €220 million by moving the conference to L'Aquila.

*especially after all the girlyness that preceded. But it's my blog & I'll blog how I want to.

long overdue

I know, I know I've been neglectful. So let's begin.

Why are we so happy?

Besides the usual living-an-incredibly-blessed-newly-wedded-life-in beautiful-Northern-California way? 

Because we are moving on to something incredibly exciting & adventurous & inspiring.  We got the job. We're moving to Bethlehem Farm in West Virginia to live a crazy, prayer-filled, intentional life of service & simplicity.

So, yes, the pictures from my last post are from our trip out there. We spent 9 days in there getting to know the community members, seeing what life may be like there, & exploring what our areas our responsibility may be. And we loved it. The slogan of Bethlehem Farm is, "Welcome Home" and we felt very welcomed home. This was the end of an almost 2 year process of applying & it truly seems like a great fit, dare I say, "calling" for us.

I've been creating a website to explain this whole deal to the world at large, or perhaps just family & friends so that's part of the blogging neglect. When it's up you'll be some of the first to know.

Some logistics in the meantime, we're moving sometime in September. Right now I'm still at my job (& will be until they tell me to leave), the teens in the ministry were quite shocked & that's been difficult but it'll be OK. And... I think that's all for now. 

More later.

Much more!

Yosemite

is stunning! Here are some pictures:

The mythic Half-Dome. I say mythic because the one other time I was in Yosemite it was so rainy & foggy I couldn't even see it. Clearly, not a problem this time.  Now I want to climb it! Maybe this summer.

Lower Yosemite Falls. You can just keep climbing closer & closer so we did... and got wet. But the fall was so powerful.  I kept thinking about the waterfall we swam under in Thailand which was much smaller but still instantly drove me down to the bottom of the river. This one would have been like being hit by a cartoon piano as you walk down the street. 

Only, you know, wetter.

Rebs gets excited about snow.

Me? I've had enough snow in my life. But I like hot cocoa.

Even our shadows are in love.

tonight

I

COOKED 

DINNER!

  

for SEVEN people.

for reals.

This never happens.

But might have to happen more if I want to keep being Hostess Girl.

Can this be my superhero alter ego?

Seriously, folks.

Hui

Should probably mention- I don't know these kids but I posted this because I feel like all kids do this kind of stuff. I know I did. (Kristen, radio show in closet, Disney parodies, enough said.)