Our Whirlwind Trip

We decided to fly out to Ontario for my Nonna's funeral and squeeze in a trip down to Chicago by train to see my new nephew. We couldn't get a direct flight on the way out or the way back, so each trip was long and tedious (but we managed). I was glad to see that there were some very happy to help people on each leg of our trip, but for every accommodating and kind person there were probably ten rude ones. One older couple saw that they would have to sit in front of us and looked disgusted and angry, they threw their luggage in the overhead compartment while rolling their eyes, then proceeded to steal someone elses' seat. My kids did fairly well (all things considered), R threw a couple of uncharacteristic tantrums (she is usually as sweet as pie) and L cried a lot, but I couldn't blame him because I wanted to cry some of the time too. We were all beat from the stress.
My Nonna's service was lovely. It is so sad to see her gone, but I know that she got to live a very full life. She left some words for her family in a journal months before she passed which were read at the funeral service. It was in Italian, but from the parts I understood I knew that her family was everything to her and all she wanted out of life was to see them be happy and well. She was a wonderful person.
It was great that L finally got to meet his Nonno, my brother and his wife, as well as all of my aunts, uncles and cousins. It had been a long time since we had visited (R was about L's age at the time). It's too bad we don't live closer, but c'est la vie.

My nephew is an angel from heaven and I LOVED getting to meet him. He is doing so well too! What a champ! He is still in the NICU, but we are praying for him to bust out of there and go home with his mommy, who has faithfully stayed at the hospital since he was born using a program called Home Away From Home. What a good mother she is and I'd bet that her being there is why he has done so well.

   I will add another post with more trip pictures soon.

Riposi in Pace Nonna

  


My dear Nonna has passed away. She was a wonderful woman and I am so glad that I got to have her in my life. Always modest, humble, loving and willing to work to help others. When I was with her I knew that she loved me. She was a great example to this world and to me. I have nothing but fond memories and will miss her until we meet again.

Welcome to the World!

Congratulations to my little sis on the birth of her son! We are so excited to have a new nephew, especially one as cute as Benjamin. He came a bit early, and weighed 3 # 4 oz....so tiny!