Our summer has started off with a bang! We have so much going on I can hardly keep up.
We welcomed this young man to our home a week ago.
Roberto Fontana is from Lugano, Switzerland where he speaks Italian. He has done very well with the English language and living in our culture. He’s never been to the USA before and was amazed by simple things like the ability to buy ice at the grocery store and no payment for a shopping cart. He is a very sweet, sincere, curious 18 year old who adds a lot of fun to our family. Last night we couldn’t get a bird out of our garage. Roberto finally put some gardening gloves on, crept up on it and caught it with his bare hands allowing freedom to the bird!
We are also saying goodbye in a week to Konsti von Drachenfels. Konsti came to us last August from Germany and to be honest, I’m having a hard time letting him go. We are lucky! We talked his family into letting him stay three extra weeks and he’s going to Lake Powell with us today (we will be gone for a week). Konsti has been a huge blessing to our home. He has fit in so well with our family and we all are so glad we chose to have a foreign exchange student live with us over the past year. (Here is a photo of Konsti and Roberto hiking “my mountain,” Timpanogos).
We also had this amazing gal and her family visit us.
Becky and David Higgins have ALWAYS been so supportive of our family. They attended Kade and Taylor’s wedding reception, then spent an afternoon at our home a few days later. Their kids are so grown up and adorable!
We also got the honeymooners back and help them set up their new home. They are so cute together and enjoying life as newlyweds. Thanks for all the sweet support you’ve given them!
I’ll update you on our Lake Powell trip in a week!
Love, Lisa
Love your post. Figured y’all were off on a fabulous tropical vacation already! Becky Higgins always looks so good. You almost have the same hair color–love it.
Konsti–glad we got to meet you on here and hope you have a safe trip home. You were blessed to have been a part of the Bearnson family for a year but you also blessed them (and us) !!
Have fun at Lake Powell!!
p.s. Sage has really shot up in height lately!!!
Your life is definitely a whirlwind. I love reading your “happy” posts. They are still happy when you are having an emotional time. I think that is because there is so much love in your heart. Have a wonderful week at Lake Powell. God Bless you all.
Hoping you are having a wonderful time:) Those exchange students are super lucky to be welcomed into your home. We have had one or two for a few years now at our local highschool. I work there and it is hard to see them go. Its amazing the little things that are BIG things to them here in America!!! Looking forward to your next post!
Have a great vacation – nice that konsti can stay and enjoy a little bit longer
and nice you had time with becky
enjoy
Believe me Lisa. As a host mom, I have cried my share of tears at many goodbyes. It has never been easy. But the joy of having them with us always outweighed the goodbye grief so we keep doing it. Best wishes with your goodbye.
Dear Lisa,
Rosa (Roberto’s grandma) and I, his aunt were looking at these extraordinary photos. You have a really special and dear family, of which there is good reason to be proud. Thanks so much for having welcomed our Roberto… when we speak or message with him he shows how happy he is with you all. Look forward to have you with us in Lugano.
I am blessed to know Roberto’s family and was a part of his father’s wedding to my good friend Giulia just a few weeks ago. Now it’s amazing to see Roberto there with a family that I don’t really know, but feel like I do since I’ve been reading about you and your family through Creating Keepsakes and your blog almost since day one! I laughed out loud when I read the part about him being amazed that you can buy ice at the grocery store–I find the same things when I’m there, “You can’t buy ice at the grocery store?” Have a wonderful time! I can’t wait to follow your adventures!
Dear Lisa,
honestly we are not so good at PC matters, when faced with internet and blogs.
We tried once to leave a message, but it probably didn’t work out.
Just a second attempt to thank you from the deepest of our hearts for the great experience and affection you are giving to our grandson and nephew, Roberto.
Pio says Roby is so happy and learning so much with you.
Look forward to have you with us in Switzerland / Italy and have the possibility to give the same to you all.
Grandma Rosa ans aunt Paola