Asher 7 months...Finally a new post

Hello dear family and friends!  I apologize that it has taken me so long to post anything new on our blog.  I have been using facebook more these days to post photos and daily comments about what is happening in our lives.  If you aren't friends with us on facebook, please send us an invitation!  We would love to know what is going on in your lives as well!

We are doing well these days, praise the Lord!  Siena got a little cold the first week of school and passed it to everyone in the family, but that's it!  The flu is going around here, but thus far we have escaped it.  We are praying that we can keep healthy for our trip to the States in one week.  We are getting really excited to see our precious family.  This will be the first time for most of our family to meet Asher, and it will be our first time to meet Frankie, Nikki's sister's new baby, and Nathan, Anthony's brother's new baby!  We can't wait to celebrate the gift of life that God has blessed us with this year.  What a wonderful year!  Three new babies were given to our family!  (I think I like exclamation points....:)

I just wanted to give you a few new photos of our little guy that will make you laugh.  He is quite the character.  He does what we call the "Ashberry".  These are raspberries that he does so enthusiastically that his entire face ends up wet with spit.  He also loves to talk and to laugh at Siena and Sammy.  He is loved by everyone and there still is not a hint of jealousy, praise the Lord!

Lots of Love,

Nikki

Asher 6 weeks

Here's our boy!  We hope that you enjoy these wonderful photos from an amateur photographer (that's me, Nikki).  Sorry about the delay.  He's our third!  It is true what they say.

Asher is such a delight.  He has already let us sleep through the night 5 times (not all in a row, but we'll take it!!!).  He is starting to smile now and is just so peaceful.  We praise the Lord for His goodness.  Siena and Sammy LOVE their new brother too!  We have yet to see any hints of jealousy.  This is another amazing praise.

We are curious as to whom you think Asher looks like.  Does he look like mom or dad, grandma or grandpa?  I think that he has the Italian coloring, but he looks just like his Papa Paul.  But, the jury is still out.  

We love you all and can't wait to introduce this little treasure to you someday soon!

This is the Asher LOOK! (Above)

Now that's the VanDruff nose, isn't it?

OK, enough already, Mom!!!

Asher's Birth

Hello beautiful family & friends!

I wanted to send you some pictures of the newest addition to our family!  Asher Benjamin Testa, born yesterday (March 23rd, his actual due date) at 20,25 after about 3-1/2 hours of labor, is sleeping peacefully.  In fact, he was born sleeping peacefully.  In fact, we don't know if he does anything else other than sleeping peacefully.  He is pure joy.

The name Asher actually means joy & fortress.  We chose the names Asher and Gioia (italian for joy) because many of you while praying over our child prayed that he/she would be a joy for us.  We took that as something special from the Spirit to our hearts.  Nehemiah 8.10 has become a prayer for us and for Ash, "the joy of the Lord is your strength."  Please pray that Asher would be a reminder to us and to the world as to just how much raw strength comes from focusing on Jesus as our primary source of joy!

To all who prayed for Mommy & Ash, we truly want to thank you.  We had asked to be able to give birth at home, during the day, with the kids present, quickly and with minimal pain & tearing, to be able to testify to the nurses (we had a chance to share our testimony & the gospel with them), that mom would regain her strength quickly and that we could do it while Nikki's mom, who is visiting, was present.  God answered each of these prayers categorically.  Siena and Sammy went to bed at 19,30 and then reemerged after the birth from their room.  They really wanted to meet there new sibling.  They were a little confused, they desired a "baby girl" and since baby girls don't have "pee pee's," as Samurai says, they think we may have gotten the wrong kid.

Please continue to pray for Nik!  She is healing nicely.  This home birth was truly remarkable.  She had tremendous care from Giovanna and Lorella, our obgyn nurses.  Additionally, she had about 3 or so strong contractions after her water broke while on the toilet, and then began to push while on the bidet.  After just two pushes, out came the head, I almost missed it as I was sending you all a brief request for prayer!

Enjoy these pictures.  We will upload these pictures to Anthony's facebook account in case you would like larger ones.    

Much grace, love & peace,

Anthony, Nikki, Siena, Sammy & Ash

Siena's and Sammy's Birthdays

Siena with her new princess dress, beautiful!

A boy and his first gun!

Siena turns 4!  Sammy is now 2?!  Anthony and Nikki are weeks away from the birth of their 3rd and they just can't get enough of being parents.

God has just hardwired His people create and help shape life.  Here are a few photos of their most recent celebrations with the kids.  Note especially the beautiful addition to Nikki's body.  It is due out on the 23rd of March.

We love you and love sharing life with you!

Matteo (Siena's friend from school)

Emma (Matteo' little sister with Nikki's dynamite chocolate cake--the kids ate the whole cake!)

Elena & Lorenzo (Elena's son Alberto--not pictured--was at the party).  Nikki is getting to know Elena through Siena's school.

Nikki with Stephano (Matteo's little brother), Caterina (Davide & Anna's little girl) & the belly!

Cecilia is Davide & Anna's little girl.  Simply a gorgeous smile!

Leah (Nikki & Anthony's friend from Il Rifugio) with Leopoldo (the little boy she nanny's).

The Testa's go Elf

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

AMAZING Gourmet Gnocchi with Gorgonzola and Pear

Ok, so I HAVE to post this recipe that I made up because it is that AMAZING!  One of my favorite pizzas here in Italy is with Gorgonzola and Pear, so I thought, why not on pasta.  If you want to impress your company or your husband, just try this VERY EASY recipe:

Gourmet Gnocchi with Gorgonzola and Pear

(Gnocchi alla Gorgonzola e Pera)

Ingredients:

• Gnocchi (I used chicche tricolor with tomoto and spinach- little gnocchi that are colored red, green and white)
  
• 1 1/2 tbsp. butter
  
• 2 tbsp. flour
  
• 3/4 cup milk
  
• salted water to boil gnocchi
  
• 3 oz. Sweet Gorgonzola
  
• 4.5 oz. of mild cheese (I used fresh mozzerella, but a gouda would be good too)
  
• 1/4 cup grated parmeggiano reggiano
  
• 1 pear cut into small pieces (preferrably not cubed, but more like little chunks)
  
• Pepper to taste

Directions:

• Make a rue by melting the butter in a pan and adding the flour.  Once it is boiling, add 3/4 cup milk.  Warm the milk and then add your cheeses.  Keep stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce begins to thicken.  Add the chunked pear into the sauce just before serving to warm it.
• Meanwhile, boil the gnocchi in the salted water (about 2 minutes until they start to boil to the surface)
• Pour the sauce over the gnocchi and serve!
  

Easy and delicious!!!

Sammy talking 22 months

Trip to Amsterdam

Our trip to Amsterdam was a whirlwind (symbolically and physically with some crazy winter winds and snow).  We started the trip by knowingly forgetting our passports, thinking that our Italian identity cards would be sufficient to travel within the EU.  But, we found out the hard way that one should ALWAYS take their passport with them when traveling anywhere!  We drove two hours to the airport, parked our car off-sight and took a shuttle to the airport, and then had to turn around and catch the shuttle back to our car and drive back another two hours to home.  

Before we had left home, Anthony and our colleague Paul sprayed down our bedroom walls with bleach to kill the black mold that had taken over.  So, we had to kick out our roommate, Candice, to the couch and sleep in the guest room that night.  We woke up at 3:30am, woke the kids up at 4:00am and drove back to the airport another two hours to catch a 7:15am flight.  It was a nightmare!  And, not to mention, it cost us 150 euro more and Siena had a 100 degree fever the whole time.  Needless to say, we will never do that again.

Once we got to Amsterdam, we met Candy, Anthony's second cousin, and went to The Hague to visit them for the day and spend one night together.  It was a joy to be with Ken and Candy in their beautiful home.  Unfortunately, we didn't get any photos, probably from our total fatigue!  Siena continued to have a fever and was struggling to sleep because of the nightmares she was having.  Anthony got to visit the Tribune with Candy to see Ken in action during a trial at the United Nations for the Bosnian War Criminal trials.  It was quite an experience!  Then, we enjoyed a wonderful Mexican dinner and some great conversations.

The next day we ventured to Amsterdam to visit our friends.  Anthony and our friend from il Rifugio attended a conference on church planting.  It was very inspiring!!!  Nik and the kids stayed with some friends who have kids.  It was an adventure staying in their basement (Dutch stairs are CRAZY narrow).  Then, finally on the last two days we spent time with Siena's best friend, Ameli.  The first day we went to a fun indoor kids' center called TunFun.  The kids had a "ton of fun".  Then, the next day, before we left, we spent some time at their home.  It was a true gift for Siena to see Ameli again, since Ameli and her family will be returning to the States this coming May.  

Here are some fun photos from our time:

Anthony and Leo (our friend from il Rifugio)

Dinner with our dear friends who are missionaries in Amsterdam

Great Amsterdam architecture...always on a slant!

Having Tons of Fun at "TunFun"

Sammy loved climbing up and sliding down again and again

Sliding down...or should we say running down

Siena and her best friend, Ameli

Ameli's bro, Gabrien

Ameli and Siena on the trampoline

As the Wiggles always say, "That's our Sam!"

Hanging out at our friends, Todd and Lindy's, home before heading back to Turin.