Venice- March 6-7th

Everyone's first experience of Europe should be flying into Venice and then immediately boarding a water taxi through the water canals of Venice right up to your hotel private water dock.   It was breathtaking to say the least. 

Touring in Italy with John and Pauline is not for the weak of heart, or feet.   We sat down our bags in our hotel rooms and were off immediately touring the city of Venice taking photo opts along the way.    We came back for a nice dinner at the Hotel and then to bed!    

  Bright and early the next morning our tour guide had us on a water taxi to tour a glass making factory.  These pictures don't do it justice but it was fascinating to watch the man take some sand, heat it up and then mold it into amazing pieces of glass art.

There are 7 working glass factory in Venice so when our tour guide discovered we were from Utah and told us how his factory  made all the chandeliers and stained glass in the Rome temple and visitor center we felt pretty lucky to have toured this particular factory.    I splurged and bought a glass dish that I fell in love with and will always remember it's made from the same place as the glass in the Rome Temple.  Bart also found a horse he liked that was similar to the example one the artist had made so we bought that too.

 After docking back at our Hotel we met up with a local and very informative tour guide who led us on a tour through Doge's Palace.    Some things I learned about Venice on this tour. 

• Venice was once a swampy Lagoon uninhabitable until the Barbarians came to destroy the Roman's and the Roman's to escape boarded ships because they were seaman and the Barbarians were not.  They came to a muddy Lagoon and built an infrastructure of wood and then lime stone and other stuff on top to be able to support buildings and in doing became Venetians.  
• Venice was not part of Italy until Italy became a country in the late 1800's.
• Venice continues to hold the record for the longest body of power due to it's location and it was the discovery of America that was the befall of its power.   It easily became the middle man for  importing goods.   Venice was a Republic and A Doge was the Chief Magistrate of Venice and once sustained was called for life.  Thus they often voted really old men to be the Doge.   This palace was a place that the senate would meet and decide laws.  Very wealthy people inhabited Venice as they were merchants and was often seen as heathens by the Catholic Church because they loved their money more than anything.   Our tour guide said that once the Catholic Church excommunicated the entire body of Venice.   Venice was committed to not having a king.  In one of the rooms are paintings of all the Doge's except one who decided he wanted to start a rebellion against the Republic so they painted over him with a black flag.  

• The art is a little different here than in other cities in Italy.    Because of it's location to the Venice was known for  material so most of the paints have clothes and they often put there efforts into making the Robes very life like.  

• Because of it's location in the middle of a sea Fresca's could not last so they painted on Canvas.  This painting below was on a massive canvas which being Venice made large Canvas' for ship sails it was no surprise they could produce this.   

• From the courtroom in the palace we took a walk across an indoor bridge/tunnel into the jailhouse.  They called this your final walk of freedom or something like this.  Here is one of the only small windows the prisoners could look through before being locked up often for life.  Venetians may have been slightly shorter than Bart don't you think?

• We then walked through St. Mark's Basilica.  Interesting fact is originally St. Theodore was the patron Saint for Venice but then it was decided they didn't want a b lister Saint so some Venetians went and stole or like Italians like to say "brought back a souvenir" of the remains of St. Mark and buried them under this Cathedral.  Or they built the Cathedral over it.  I can't remember which came first.  

 

• Sometimes when the ocean is at High tide during the winter St. Mark's square will flood.  So the city puts down planks and people go about their business. Such as this picture.  

•  These shoes in a museum were interesting.  Not sure if they were for decoration or maybe the ancient people used them on flood days?  

• I was fascinated with the clocktower bell.  Mainly because these statues continue to move to ring it on the hour.   

 After our tours were over we ate lunch at a pizzeria we toured around Venice again for a while.  I came across this sign.   One thing is for sure I could live in Europe just for their shoes.  I'm a little obsessed with cute comfy shoes (harder to find than you think) and they are all over the place.  I guess it is to be expected considering Europeans walk so much and I tend to only buy European brand shoes.    So when I saw this sign I thought it was fitting!

• I  was all about going on a Gondola ride.  I was extremely surprised that John and Pauline had never done this before.    Before going to Venice I knew little about Venice except seeing Gondola rides in the movies and I wanted to partake.    It was everything I expected.  So enchanting.   Our Gondola driver was hilarious.  He had earned his license just three months prior. He practiced for seven years, through the canals of his home island, to gain the skill to qualify for his license. There are over 400 gondolas for rent around Venice and each is decorated differently.  Starting price for a Gondola is 30 Euros and up depending on the decor.  Prices are set by the city so there is no need to barter.  He was hilarious as we boated through the canals telling us that if he sang to us it would rain.    

 

Later that night we set off in search of a restaurant John had eaten at before.  It was my first taste of Italian orange Fanta.  I would have drunk it for all my meals if my stomach could tolerated C02 better and it wasn't like 4 Euro for a normal sized can.  On the way home we tasted our first Gelato of the trip. 

#fastforward

On social media I often see posts with people posting cute pictures of their kids or doing fun things together with hashtags like #wishIcouldstoptime.

If I posted on social media (which I seldom do) I would have taken a few pictures of  miserable me with the hashtag #wishIcouldfastforwardtime.     Even more than that I wished I had a life remote with a fast forward button that really worked.

It all started as a pretty typical Saturday morning.   Jane had a super early soccer game that I went to then we came home and she got ready for her last basketball game.  My stomach, which has been bothering me for well over a year was hurting like usual.    As Jane and I were loading up to head to her game it became especially painful and I told her I didn't have it in me to go to her game and that her dad would have to take her.     We switched places and I went in to go to bed.   Just as I was laying down an excruciating pain shot through my stomach and up to my left shoulder.    I have never felt pain like that!   I sat up and for about 10-15 minutes I attempted to move around to ease the pain without any relief.     All I could think about was getting rid of the pain.  I think if  I had access to some sort of hard core drug to ease the pain I would have gladly O.D'ed on it.  Finally I couldn't take it anymore and texted Bart.  You've got to come home and take me to the ER.  I think I might be dying.   In a few minutes Bart was back and we headed to the ER.     I completely expected them to tell me it was all in my head like the GI doctor basically told me in November when he did an upper G.I. scope and didn't find anything to be worried about.   At this point I didn't care what they diagnosed me with I just knew the ER would give me pain drugs to ease my pain and that is all I wanted. 

To my surprise after the CAT scan the ER doctor came in and told me, mostly Bart, I was almost out of it, although still in a lot of pain, that an ulcer had perforated my stomach lining.  So basically I had a big hole in my stomach which was letting everything in my stomach out.    I remember him telling me that they were going to have to transfer me to St. Marks for an emergency surgery and all I said was good can you sedate me now?   I think he responded with something like sorry but I'm not an anesthesiologist.   I was whisked off to a painful ambulance ride and a few hours later I woke up in a hospital bed to Bart next to me and a bunch of tubes sticking out of me.

The next week or so was one of the most trying I have had.  Although most of the stomach pain was gone I still felt miserable and was spiking a temperature occasionally.  I hated just sitting and lying around knowing there was nothing I could do to change my situation.   I had to be readmitted to watch some abnormal fluid pooling under my left lung to see if it was infected.   Luckily it never got infected.  So recovery was slower than I wanted and my patience once again was stretched.  But through it all I've gained a greater understanding of the plan of salvation and an appreciation for health.  I read this meme a few weeks ago and it helped me through this experience. 

I often get caught up wanting everything to go smoothly.  But this isn't how we grow.  This life is a time to be tested and tried we just need to be patient with the process and look to the Lord for help.


I've also been incredibly humbled by so many acts of service especially from my ward family.  I felt so much love towards them like they really are my family.  I'm usually pretty quiet about my struggles but when I came too and realized I had a YW presidency meeting with the 1st counselor of the Bishop scheduled for 7AM the next day I had to tell Bart to let them know I wasn't going to make it.   In true Eastridge 1st ward fashion before I knew it my ministering sister,   R.S. president and many other amazing women in my ward came to the rescue in a hurry.  I had meals set up for the following week,  rides for my kids to go to their activities, offers to take my kids and so many texts and calls.  Ali the R.S. president called to check on me and when I mentioned that I was on a strict liquid diet and only jello and popsicles sound good.   Almost immediately not just one but a few ladies stopped by with Jello and popsicles.   I had a neighbor beg to do something for me so I sent her to Walmart to pick up an online grocery order I had placed.  She shows up with her arm in a sling and was amazed that she would offer to help despite not feeling so great.    About 9 days after my surgery another couple of neighbors showed up with their daughters and between them and my girls they gave my house an amazing deep clean that lifted my spirits so much.    I also received some flowers and gifts from groups at work and the YW which brought me a lot of happiness.  And of course Pauline came to the rescue a few times.

I'm also incredibly grateful for my dear husband Bart who picked up all the pieces without a single complaint.     How wonderful it was to feel the power of the priesthood as he blessed me to heal and told me to be patient with the process.  Through it all his calming influence helped my hysteria and impatience more than words can tell.  I never once worried about things.  I've got the most incredible independent kids who manage well without mom!

I truly believe Heavenly Father was watching out for me.     With the surgery came answers that I needed aka I'm not crazy after all.   I've suspected I had an ulcer for a while now and I'm not sure how the GI doctor missed it but I basically had a time bomb waiting to go off in my stomach.   I think of all the possibilities of when it could have happened and I can't think of a better time.  Bart was pretty much gone all of January and I'm not sure what I would have done if he wasn't home.  He told me a few days ago that the Thurs. before this happened he was contemplating taking a quick trip to L.A. because Gary informed him the Rolling Stones were in town practicing for a few days but he got a distinct impression not to go.     I'm also going to Italy in T-5 days and it horrifies me to think what would have happened if it would have perforated there.  I probably would have died.    So the timing was perfect in an imperfect situation. 

I woke up a couple a mornings ago feeling so incredibly good and grateful for good health.  Italy is going to be even more amazing with my stomach healed!  My stomach is feeling better than it has in a really long time.  My energy is mostly back although I still crash around 9 each night.     I have more compassion than ever for anyone who has to deal with chronic pain and can't express how grateful mine is gone and cross my fingers it stays away.   

Life doesn't have a magical remote that lets us fast forward through hard times but continually marches on with health and sickness,  incredible times and hard as hell times but I guess like President Hinkley says you should "thank for the Lord for letting you have the ride".

Be like Marie

A couple of years ago Allyson read the book the Art of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.  While reading she would call me about a new discovery and tip and I'm like doesn't everybody do that.  After she rehashed the book to me I had a self realization that I'm good at this area of my life and why have I not written this book myself. 

Ally's rekindled her passion as she's discovered the Netflix series Tidying up and insisted that I watch it with my girls.     So we made it through a few episodes but became bored.  Don't get me wrong I appreciate what Marie is doing for the world but I don't need the motivation of this show.   I'll admit I have my shortcomings and find there just isn't enough time in the day to keep it perfectly spotless with so many people living in my house.  I also find it a waste of energy to fold my clothes perfectly sorry Marie.

 Raquel's been watching the show and tagged Allyson with this meme

Jane my partner in organizing crime got more out of the episodes than me.  She learned the art of folding clothes perfectly and insisted that one day we clean out her drawers and reorganize them.    She did give me those your strange mom looks when I asked her if she find joy in each shirt and if she didn't then to thank it and throw it in the D.I. pile. 

Being like Marie has it's woes as well.   It's frustrating when your kids sabotage your work.  Like when I spent time perfectly organizing the crayons, markers and coloring pencils into their own baskets just to turn around the next day and discover Spencer found them and scattered them all over the house.    Allyson for years has teased me about being too organized in my email and in so doing I've deleted or can't find an email I need.   She on the other hand can search and find any email because she's never deleted one.  She even tagged me in the meme.

Occasionally I will throw away something to find I need it later on.   For instance...  Emily and her friend Chloe worked on a history day project and cut out a super large cardboard box into a temple painting in and used it for the history day fair which they did an outstanding job on.    Upon picking Emily up from school and cramming it into the Pilot using up the 2nd and 3rd row  I told Emily she did I an outstanding job on but there is nowhere to store such a huge project.   She neglected to take it out of my car so the next day I threw it away in the dumpster at school.    Emily came home the next day and said "I'm a runner up for regionals with my project and there's a huge chance I'll be taking my project to regionals".    My response "Regionals Emily?"  "You said nothing to me about there being regionals"    "I threw your project away at school today. "  After a few tears and a lot of blaming me for her woes in life I promised her that if she does make it to regionals I would help her recreate the temple.     To my relief she didn't get selected to go and I don't have to figure out how to find another giant cardboard box to cut and paint.    Hopefully Emily will forgive me but most likely she will learn to not leave her stuff where her mom can take it and throw it away.  

So if you want help or advice to tidy up I'd be glad to come to you assistance. I might not be as cute and happy as Marie or show up in my cardigan and knee high dress with tights but I'll get the job done.    In the meantime I'll be shopping on amazon for a lazy susan to increase the efficiency of my spice cupboard.   

Trudging through

Back living as a freshman in college in the Reeder Hall Dorm at Utah State on my fridge was a magnetic with the residents assistants name and number in case of an emergency.  Her name was January Butters.   What a name right?   It sounds more like an adjective phrase than anything to me and although it doesn't make a lot of sense I've felt like her name describes January.  Especially this one.  It butters.

This January has been a drudgery for me.   In addition to Bart's absence at Sundance he spent the week just prior to it in Vegas working and is off to Albuquerque for work all this week.  So it's been a very long month of single parenthood.

We initially tried to make it a fun month.    I took the kids ice skating.

The weather was all over the place with mostly rain/slush/snow mix but a couple of days it snowed enough to build snowmen and my kids enjoyed some time in the snow.  

I attempted to be a fun mom and got the kids out of the house on a No School Friday and took them to the Kangaroo Gym in Pleasant Grove.  Spencer was thrilled beyond measure to discover small basketball hoops with a ball in one of the blow ups.   He spend the greater part of an hour just shooting hoops by himself

It was all fun and games until I lost my footing climbing up one of the ladders and tore a bunch of ligaments in my "bad" foot.  Sarah wisely commented that I should realize I'm 40 now and it's really better to sit on the couch and watch my kids have fun.  I was afraid I might have damaged all the hardware in my toe.   After a few x-rays the Dr. told me everything looks in place and it was probably a bad sprain but there was a chance I could have torn a large ligament that would need to be surgically repaired in it doesn't heal.  She suggested I come back in a month if it still hurts and they would do a MRI.   Anxiety took hold when my toe woke me up throbbing at night with thoughts like "What if I need surgery again.   I'm way to busy and have too many people to take care of to stop my life for surgery and what about going to Italy in a month.  I have to be able to walk.  Why does this stupid foot have to continually be my nemesis".  It really got me down to put on my big black boot.    In my state of depression and anxiety I met with President Hilbig my previous Bishop and exemplary neighbor for my Temple recommend renewal from the stake presidency.  He asked like everyone else does about the boot and I told him the details and then he said.  "Like you have time for this being the YW president, mother of 4 kids and a job.  I laughed and said thanks for adding to my anxiety that I've been trying to fight off.  He then said I'm sorry I'll put your name in the temple the next time I go.   I don't know if he did but for some reason just those words calmed my troubled heart and gave me the needed extra strength and patience I've needed.

In addition Bart's lower back has been hurting him, Aaron dropped a marble rolling pin on his toe limped around for a couple of days.  After I brought out the Ace bandage it seemed to ease the hurt and he wrapped and rewrapped it around a cold pack for a couple of days.  Jane sprained her wrist slipping on the ice playing soccer at recess and is in sporting a sling this last week.  I guess I've needed a little sympathy pain. 

I hate being slowed down with a hurt foot.  It would be one thing if I was all alone.   I'd curl up on the couch for the rest of winter and do the prescribed RICE, rest, ice, compression and elevation.  I'd finish all the many episodes I have left on Dr. Quinn or perhaps start the 3rd season of "This is us" that is patiently waiting for me on my DVR.  But I have 4 kids who need a mom to keep running them from place to place as well as continually clean up my messy messy 2 year old  and have I mentioned Bart is MIA lately.  So no rest for the injured. 

On a positive note I had a nice birthday.   My mom, sisters and kids were thoughtful as ever to give me gifts.  I took my ministering sisters to a fireside about good mental health that was very calming and I didn't clean at all that day.  (I payed for the last one later  haha).  Pauline made me a yummy coconut cake for dessert the following day and Bart will soon hand over his Sundance money which makes him being gone all worth it in the end.

So I'll keep trudging along (slower than usual) awaiting the time I'm back to normal,  the sun will shine again the daylight will be longer each day and weather will be nice enough for my kids to release their energy outside.   Luckily we are on to February and there isn't much pain left in my toe so I'm almost certain I'll be back to normal soon.                   

Harry Potter (say it in your best English Accent)

Emily got the surprise of her life when she woke up on last Saturday and Bart told her that Daniel Radcliffe was in town for Sundance.   

After the girls Piano Federation Theory test and Jane's basket ball game I ran Emily up to Park City to spend the rest of the day and into the night with  her dad.   

Like usual her dad came through and she was able to get her picture taken with "Harry Potter"

She thought it was cool although she was bummed she couldn't find her Gryffindor Scarf to wear.  Later it was discovered that her dad had it with him in the car.   She did comment  "He's a shrimp like me mom"