Things Are Not Always What They Seem

Doctors sometimes ask their patients, especially older patients, to take cognitive tests. Or a patient who is concerned about his or her own memory, may even ask to take the test. An inability to remember facts or solve problems could indicate memory loss or dementia. When things are not as they seem This was theContinueContinue reading “Things Are Not Always What They Seem”

Spring Cleaning? Time to Declutter!

Our current house is half the size of the previous place we had up north, and at first I struggled to fit everything in. So I began to see the need to declutter. Life here in our peaceful valley is also slow and simple. It has helped me to rethink my values and priorities. It’sContinueContinue reading “Spring Cleaning? Time to Declutter!”

For When you Feel Marooned

When you first move overseas, nothing seems to be where it should be. Offices, appointments, and waiting in line may not work the same way. Stores don’t always sell what you expect. When we first moved to Italy, we spent weeks trying to find matches for our stove. Who would have thought you could only buy matchesContinueContinue reading “For When you Feel Marooned”

Seven Tips for Sharing Your Faith

Italy’s public health system is a great blessing for us! Without it we would have gone without medical care at times. We appreciate having quality care and treatment at no or low out-of-pocket costs. But it’s always been our family dottori (doctors) that we value the most.  Even though we often seem to amuse them withContinueContinue reading “Seven Tips for Sharing Your Faith”

My Hard Times Cookbooks

Before we left for the mission field, we had to downsize our belongings. But I decided to bring along three essential books. A medical book and what I call my hard times cookbooks. These cookbooks, especially during our first few years here, were lifesavers for me! Reading recipes in Italian was beyond me until IContinueContinue reading “My Hard Times Cookbooks”

The Much of Little

We don’t travel by train much anymore, but I remember the long train rides of our early carless years in Italy. When my husband had to ride an old moped 12 miles to work – even in the rain and snow. There are areas of Italy where you can live without a car thanks toContinueContinue reading “The Much of Little”