A lot has been going on here. A lot of the “lot” that has been going on has been going on in our heads with all the learning and observing.

Many things are done differently in Italy–take a playground for instance. We spent some time Tuesday afternoon playing at one, and the kids had a great time. I observed that the playground equipment and setup was quite different than what it would be in the litigious USA (I wasn’t bothered at all :)).

There was this teeter-totter sitting right on the hard grass and a few rocks (not on some soft/cushy playground material)–and when the kids bounced up and down hard, it whacked the ground (very much like the teeter-totters did in America when I was a kid).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw a child ride a skateboard down this slide (horrors! ;)).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I noticed this jagged, broken wrung on the ladder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, there was this interesting beam that wiggled and jiggled and bounced and tried to dump you on the ground when you walked on it (on the hard grass, mind you).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were other things that I didn’t happen to get pictures of (like the very-different baby swing with a rusting metal restraint bar), but we all enjoyed the playground–and the differences–fully. 🙂

 

And–even with the differences–much remains the same. Daniela, Nino, and Angelo still love the simplest things. They love the routine. They love the walks. They love our neighbor.

 

 

Still praying for redemptive relationships–and watching God answer prayer.

 

 

–smb