April 29, 2018

We can’t believe that it has been over a month since our last Blog!  So sorry for the delay as we have been extremely busy.  As indicated before, we have now added working every Saturday to our schedule, and by the time the week is over, all we want to do is CRASH!  Today is Sunday and we make a trip to the airport later this evening at 9:35 p.m. to pick up Sorella Pickerd.  She has been with President Pickerd at Zone Conference for both the Palermo and Catania Zones.  Her health is much improved, and she has an amazing attitude toward her bout with cancer.  She continues to be an inspiration to us all! 

Two Sundays ago, while sitting in Church enjoying the prelude music, who should walk in?  Cynthia’s biggest idol in the Church, Sherry Dew!  Church was packed that day with visitors, so we quickly rose, introduced ourselves and gave she and her accompaniment our seats and scurried to find suitable seating for ourselves.  Unfortunately, we were not able to find two chairs together but we enjoyed the service anyway.  After Church was over, we had/took the opportunity to visit with Sherry further and she asked if later in the day we could pick them up at their hotel and take them to see the Temple.  Cynthia of course seized the moment and felt privileged to have that opportunity.  The following day Cynthia took two of the group which were from Deseret News on a walking tour of Roma.  She and they enjoyed their time together immensely. 

This morning we put Sarah and Graham and their two very good friends, Peder and Randi on the airplane back home.  They came in last Saturday and spent much of the week with us.  Their trip was absolutely fantastic, and we enjoyed every minute of it.  They did spend a couple of days in Venezia and Firenze and as “predicted” in our last blog, Cynthia got permission from the President and traveled to Firenze to be with them for the day.   They saw “The David” which as reported by them was “spectacular”, the Duomo, whose origin dates back to the 7^th century and of course, “shopped until they dropped!”  Cynthia always uses the line, “I need this to help remember our mission by” as leverage to pull out the credit card.  How could you possibly consider for a moment saying no to those big, beautiful brown eyes. 

We did take off on Friday and made the trip to Pompei (Cynthia remarked that she is “Pompeied out” but Fred said, he can NEVER get enough of it!) and then spent the night in Sorrento.  As stated before, Sorrento is a lovely, picturesque Italian coastal city facing the Bay of Napoli.  This was our third time to visit Sorrento, but our first time to be able to go into the “Blue Grotto”.  The water must be relatively calm, because you are on a rowboat and you enter into an opening that is only one meter high.  Everyone, including your guide, lays down flat in the bottom of the boat until you make your way into the cavern.  From a financial outlay standpoint, it is a total rip-off, costing 14 Euros per person for a 5-minute boat trip, but from an “eye-candy” standpoint it is a must see!  The pictures below don’t do it justice, as the water is an absolutely beautiful azure blue color.  The guide sings lovely Italian romantic songs as you slowly drift around the cavern taking in the absolute beauty that surrounds.  This is definitely one of God’s remarkable pieces of handiwork.  As we disembarked, our guide, looking for a tip said, “do you have anything for a bottle of wine”?  We thought we were being generous, having just spent 28 Euros for the 5-minute trip, handing him 2 Euros.  Obviously, he thought it not satisfactory as he commented, “this is not enough for a bottle of water!”  He then looked longingly at Sarah and Graham and they said, “sorry we don’t have any money” and he retorted, “I can make change”.  Enough of that, it was delightful.  We then toured the city of Anacapri where we captured spectacular memories and pictures that will last a lifetime.  Also, not to be missed, Sarah and Randi both purchased sandals from the lovely Italian gentleman that made sandals for Jackie “O”.  Same place, same gentleman that Kathryn purchased hers from late last year.  As you can tell by the pictures, he still enjoys hugging and kissing the women at least as much as he enjoys cashing their checks! 

We then left for home and arrived around 8:00 p.m., all “pooped”, but hungry.  Peder, the master chef, made some delicious balsamic reduction and bruschetta.  Did I say DELICIOUS!  Played a few games of tenzies and went to bed.  Wonderful end to an amazing week.  They should be reuniting with their respective families in a couple of hours.  Cynthia is doing great, but we can’t lie, it is magnificent to have the visits from our children, but it is equally difficult to see them leave.  Our mission continues to be a tremendous blessing not only for the two of us, but for our entire family, even in light of the struggles we face with our separation anxiety.

The lyrics to the song, “Count your blessings” say it all:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings; name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

Count your blessings;

Name them one by one.

Count your blessings;

See what God hath done.

The Knies’ here in Italy and the Knies’ back home can’t begin to number the many blessings the Lord has so richly bestowed upon us.  No sacrifice is too great as a meager offering of thanks to Him, who has given so much, even all, that we might return to His presence as a family FOREVER!

That’s it for now.  May you feel His love, His comfort, His peace that He so freely offers.  All we need do is reach heavenward and accept. 

Remember who loves you, we do!  Have a wonderful day in the neighborhood, because it’s a wonderful life.

Love,

Anziano e Sorella Knies

On our balcony Sunday morning after Church

Mom and Daughter enjoying pizza in Firenze

Trevi Fountain

Sarah, Graham, Randi and Peder

The Duomo in Firenze

"The David"

Just like the gladiators, we came and conquered Pompei

The public bathroom in Pompei, what are these ladies doing?

Anziano and Sorella Knies

On our way into the ancient City of Pompei

Our lovely B&B in Sorrento.  What a view!

The boat ride around the Island of Capri

Mom and Daughter, which is which?

The Master Craftsman at work making Sarah's sandals

Who is more excited?  You tell me!

Who has the bigger grin?

Overlooking the harbor in Sorrento

Notice the sign, which says the 500th anniversary from 1496.  Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492.  YIKES!

Inside the Blue Gratto!

Cynthia with her idol, Sherry Dew.

Cabana Boy with his idols.