melted smoosh

i always cry at graduations. high school, college, a family member's, a friend's -- i'm an equal opportunity crier. (and heaven help me at Greta's preschool graduation this Saturday!) the past few weeks at the NAC have been like one rolling graduation ceremony, as one by one, our deacons (the fourth year seminarians) are ordained priests. some of them are ordained here in Rome, while the vast majority fly back to the US to be ordained in their home diocese, and then return to Rome to take their final exams. some of them finish exams first, and then fly home for ordination and immediately embark on their first priestly assignment. and the ordinations continue throughout the entire month of June. of course, it's not a surprise that this day would come. it's the entire point of seminary for these men with a true vocation to the priesthood, the ultimate act of obedience to God's call. like a wedding day, it's an end and a beginning. and it is incredibl...

with Greta in school five mornings (and two afternoons) a week, Cecilia and i have lots of quality time to spend together! i have to admit that most days after school drop-off, we just head back to the house and daily life continues until it's time to pick up Greta again. but every once in a while, we head out for an adventure! on this particular day in March, the Palazzo Barberini museum was free to the public. the palace was built for the Barberini family (from whose illustrious stock came Pope Urban VIII), and it now houses the National Gallery of Ancient Art. the palace itself is a gem, built by Bernini and Borromini in the seventeenth century. the two masters each added their own special touches, most notably their two external staircases vying for architectural prowess. walking past the Spanish Steps to get to the Palazzo Barberini. i think the Spanish Steps are the most overrated tourist site in Rome, but i still have to take a picture every time i go past! La Colon...