Palatine Hill and Roman Forum

You can see the Vatican City in the background.
Looking over the forum and playing with color settings.
I loved this. I love a certain amount of symetery and yet the differences make it interesting.
Forum overview.
Everything was so grand. It was almost unthinkable to envision people walking in and around these enormous structures. Did they think it was grand?

Coloseum and Palatine Hill

Check out the background. We were still excited about skipping the line, thanks to Rick Steve.
Not your usual Coloseum shot.
Usual Coloseum shot.
Ditto.Only in Rome, did this ancient piece of finely carved stone (probably marble) on the ground look "normal". In the scheme of things it was nothing special. But I liked it.

So, um here's our baby...

We're pregnant! I didn't think I'd be one of those people who had to keep everyone on the interweb posted on every little latest and greatest development of our pregnancy...and I still don't think I will, but hey, here he/she is in black and white.

It's real.

It's actually happening.

It looks like a teddy graham.

Back to Italy pictures soon, I promise. Probably a more condensed version though as it takes a while to add and organize photos on here.

Day 2 in Rome

Since it takes a long time to upload the pictures for our trip on blogspot, I've decided to just show you the highlights from each day. (They are all on my facebook profile though, if you have an account.) This picture is from inside the Vatican Museum courtyard.

Greek busts.

Tapestry
Ceiling of the Vatican Museum
St. Peter's
Windy Gap shirt in the Sistine Chapel!

Tiber River at night

First Day in Rome

Capital Hill

Rome Courtyard Scene
Trevi Fountain
Behind Chris at Dinner
Trevi at NightPiazza Navona

From the Steps of the Pantheon

Stillwell Wedding

On Sat. night, Chris and I went to a beautiful wedding. Our friends Nick and Sara were married outdoors on a gorgeous day. It stormed that afternoon, but cleared up to be the perfect temperature for the ceremony and reception.

I loved this "S" and the peonies.


I tried to put this picture at the end, but for some reason I can't do that. Anyway, the wedding/party-starters Jane and Shaunna.

This was behind the ceremony.

Karl Troyer, ladies and gentlemen.
Chris was practicing taking pictures for our trip with the new camera, making Karl feel a little uncomfortable.


Leigh, Brad, Kyle, and Jen--some my first friends in Asheville.

My handsome husband and one of his best friends Kyle.

Very artistic cake shot :)

Robin needed to sit a spell because of the backache her baby is giving her. So, true to form she chatted up this old man.

Sara and Robin looking lovely.

Congratulations Nick & Sara!

Leaving on a jet plane

Chris and I are heading out on Monday for Italia. SO excited. Want to be there now. Do not want to use subjects.


We got a new camera for the adventure though, so here are so goofy ones of us trying out the thing...

Chris watering our garden.

Garden close up.

Squash.

Plant labels.

Front yard landscaping.

A boy and his dog.

Playing around before the Wii Party with our jr. high friends at chuch.

My husbands white feet from teaching class outside.

Church parking lot. Just liked this picture.

Action shot of me playing Wii baseball.

Action shot of Chris playing Wii golf...of course.

Asher hamming it up at Windy Gap

Just plain cute! Asher Sloan imitating his daddy...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFk-H3AlAXs&eurl=http://ashevillesloan.blogspot.com/

Hello

Hi Everyone! I always want to write more, share more, post more pictures than I do. I think, "if I write more, then I'll write more." How can I accomplish this?

I'll try to start and just write what's on my mind...where to start? I just got back from a bbq hosted for my friend Sarah Spooner. Her birthday is tomorrow. This time last year she lived with Chris and me. What a great friend she is to me now. And was then too...it was just one of those friendships that you have no idea what will happen to. I'm so glad she's in Asheville and we are still friends. Happy Birthday Spooner! (you have to call her by her last name, because, well it's obvious.)

We will be on day 3 of summer camp at Windy Gap tomorrow. I'm exhausted and super excited at the same time. I feel like I have a lot of adrenaline running through my veins these days. I've had a clear mind to remember the things that need to happen during this precious training time. I'm training an intern who has never run the sippie (snack bar) before, training the crafts girl who will be running that part of camp for the next month, and new this year, I'm ordering, restocking, and collecting money for the 7 vending machines at camp. Yep, I have an interesting job. One day it's milkshakes and restocking the vending machines, the next day I'm picking t-shirts to sell in the store and learning how to make earrings so that I can teach someone else how to do it. It does keep me on my toes and keep things interesting. There are so many days that I literally thank the Lord that I don't sit behind a desk anymore...well, at least I have the option.

Please pray that I can continue to think clearly and communicate well to the summer staff and interns and care for them well as they begin a hard month. Camp is hard. It's that good hard though. It's demanding of you in every way--physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally. It is also relationship overload. I really battle this come third session and I've said goodbye to two groups of volunteers already and I'm welcoming and training new ones...and yes, tomorrow is day 3...

These days I've picked up the popular book Eat, Pray, Love. It's a little whacked out theologically, but still interesting and keeps me reading.

Okay, so I think we're off to a good start me and you. What's going on in your world?