Following my Heart to Italy

In the early days of January I asked God if he would show me something new this year. Like a new insight or a new way of looking at where I’ve been. 

But I didn't really expect the answer that came.

Over the holidays I registered for an online course called Becoming: The Unfolding of You, hosted by Jeanne Oliver, an artist I discovered along the way of my blogging journey. 

More than 5,000 women signed up to be inspired by the stories of women in this series who listen for the ways God speaks to their hearts. 

Last week I listened to Laura McCollough’s story. She’s an artist in southern California who hosts creative retreats through France and Italy. 

She said she had planned to launch a faith aspect with her art retreat in 2016, but she felt like God didn’t want her to wait and she should do it this year. 

So this was the year she was combining faith with art on her retreat in July to Lake Como, Italy, and she couldn’t wait to see who God nudged to come along. 

My head jerked up at her words and my heart skipped a beat. 

I wasn’t even sure why I was interested. 

I’m not an artist and I was dreaming of a return trip to Paris, not Italy. 

But all weekend I couldn’t get the trip out of my mind so I emailed Laura. Her warm and welcoming words in reply to my questions, along with my prayers confirmed it. This trip was for me. 

I’m following my heart to Italy this summer. 

This will be exciting, making art and experiencing Italy, the land of my heritage. 

I grew up eating pasta and listening to the stories of my father’s Italian family, always seasoned liberally with drama. 

Since my dad’s mother died when he was young, the family folklore was that his mother was the quiet, completely reasonable one, compared to her slightly crazy sisters. 

I was always a little afraid of his boisterous aunts since my mother had once witnessed them yell and slap each other after arguing, then in the next breath calmly continue their conversation as if nothing had happened at all. 

Since my mother is not Italian, I feel certain I have only half the tendencies toward the dramatic that I could have inherited {although if you ask my sister, she may say I have a little more}. 

But that's who I am.

I’m going to see if I can recognize myself among the Italians I meet this summer. I want to listen to their stories and look into their eyes. 

And I wonder if I could learn just enough Italian to send you a word of the day from my heart to yours.

Just in case I had any doubts that this trip was for me, I’m also spending two days in Milan, which just happens to be the fashion capital of the world. 

Hello Italy! I can’t wait to meet you.

I'm linking up with my friends at Holley Gerth's place at Coffee for Your Heart and with Bonnie Gray at the Faith Barista. Come on over and pour yourself a cup of coffee while you read more inspiring blog posts!