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Ashley Update


For those of you who have been waiting for an Ashley update, we spoke briefly yesterday morning, and she's doing very well overall. She does miss home, though. She told me she cried three times because she's so homesick. I remember those feelings from when I was young. I just wanted to jump into the phone line and hug her (and bring her back with me!). But she was at the pool with her American cousins when we spoke, and she was very positive and upbeat, which felt good.

I have to say, my heart just melted when I heard her sweet, pixie voice exclaim, "MOMMY!!" as I picked up the phone and said, "Hello." You could totally hear the deep sense of comfort and joy she felt just upon hearing my voice. She sounded like this sweet, innocent little girl instead of the teenager I deal with on a day to day basis :)

She did say that the l-0-n-g letter I gave her (see this post) helped "A LOT." Did I doubt even for one minute that it would help? Um ... I have to say that yes, I did, so it was reassuring to hear it from her. (oh, me of great faith!--not!!)

She also said she has learned A LOT of Italian (I knew she would--she takes after her mommy!), so I'm excited that we'll be able to speak together when she comes back.
Note: My Italian is actually the worst of the languages I speak. I speak like a three-year-old. I kid you not! But I do pick it up quickly, so that helps quite a bit. For those of you who are curious, I speak French and Spanish fluently.

And that's about it! Our conversations are brief for obvious reasons ;)

Oh, how is Mommy doing? Mommy is having a wonderful time in "Denial Land." Mommy tries to not think about it. And when Mommy starts to miss her, she quickly fixates her thoughts on something more pleasant, like the dishes that need doing, or the gunk that needs to be cleaned from the refrigerater shelves ... you know, nice stuff like that. So, I'm doing fine :-D

Comments

Anonymous said…
I'm glad she is having a good time and picking up the language! Good for her!! What a beautiful picture you used with this post!! She is growing up too fast!! We miss you guys!!
Debbie said…
Wow Carmella, I learn more and more about you as you blog. Quite the linguist!! I'm jealous of people who can do that. Growing up in the midwest we only had English - southern English - ya'll know what I talkin' 'bout!!
DonnaG said…
Oh Carmela, I love to hear your talk about other languages. Why in the world did we not have an apartment together in France? That would have been sooooo great. And you know what?? I miss Ashley too.
Anonymous said…
thanks donna! i missed you also! i miss you while your away camping and getting bit by annoying mosquitoes and stuff. LOL ;) i miss you donna!!! - *ashley*

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