Yes. the good news came fall of last year! I received an email that I was granted Italian citizenship. Wow! I was over joyed with the news. This was after I got online and figured out what the email said as it was in Italian! Then I immediately called my Aunt Ruth who had same day appointment and found out yes, she too received an email from the consulate stating she too was now an Italian citizen! We are both very pleased after all the hard work that went into this process. My Aunt Judy just got recognized as well. Now you might ask “What’s next?” Now we apply for the Italian passport. Most of this will be done online and a meeting with an honary consultant in our area. Then the possibilities are endless. I could purchase property in Italy. I can now vote there. I could plan a trip there or to the 180 EU countries and stay as long as I like. I never dreamed all this could be possible. I am so grateful and thankful to God for this wonderful news and gift. I know all parents and grandparents are smiling down on us that we continued the heritage they gave to us! In the past post I shared how I was a citizen of 2 kingdoms, America and Heaven. Now I can say I am a citizen of 3 Places as I add Italy to the list. I have to be honest and say that my citizenship in heaven is my greatest gift given. Because that gift forever and forever! No one can change their mind about that citizenship! Have you considered the free gift of citizenship in heaven when you accept Jesus as your Lord and ask for forgiveness of sins ? Today is the day of salvation. We are not granted tomorrow. This gift is the best gift of citizenship available.
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In 2022 I embarked on a journey to acquire my Italian citizenship. This process was called Jure Sanguinis , commonly known as Citizenship by Descent. I had been watching a house hunter show and a woman was buying a home in Italy. She was American and talked of this process of Americans getting Dual Citizenship in Italy. I had learned that if I had an male ancestor who was born in Italy, and naturalized (became an American citizen) after their child was 21 years of age, they could pass down their citizenship to that child and so on down the line. I began researching through my mothers side of the family to see if I would qualify to do so. After getting together with my aunt, she had many documents that showed I could do this. In fact, I was eligible through my mother, then through her father, then through her grandfather.
Then the real process started of collecting documents that would show proof to the Italian consulate that yes I was eligible. I started ordering documents starting with my birth, my mother and father’s birth and death, grandfather and grandmothers birth and death, and great grandfather and great grandmothers birth and death plus marriage and any divorce documents. I had to order the naturization papers and Petition of intent of my great grandfather to show proof of dates. This was not an easy task! Several documents took over a year to receive. The most difficult task was getting my great grandparents birth and marriage certificates from Italy. Many documents required notary signatures and would take months before receiving. My aunt had found someone reputable in Italy who was able to get the Italian documents from Italy. Francesco helped me tremendously and in a reasonable amount of time, but was costly. Then my mother’s siblings decided they wanted to join in on this process for themselves and for their children and grandchildren to join in on becoming an Italian citizen! It was a joy to all be working towards this goal. This then required obtaining more documents as we didn’t all live in the same area consulate so we’d be submitting our own documents. In the meanwhile we had to get an appointment at the consulate to show all our documents. Again, this was not an easy task. I think it was over a year before 4 of us secured an appointment for two years out! My aunt and I have appointments scheduled in October 2025. Two family members still don’t have appointments. The next steps once receiving our documents were to get them translated into Italian. Each page had to be translated except the original Italian documents. Then came the task of sending each document back to the state where they were issued to be appostiled which authenticates the document. Why was I so dedicated to this goal? I started out on this journey because I knew I was eligible and having dual citizenship came with alot of perks. One was being able to buy a home in Italy. Another was I could travel and stay longer in Italy and in 180 of the EU countries without restrictions. Then I started to get to know my ancestors better and the heritage they left me and my family. Being that I am the oldest grandchild on my mothers side of the family, I came to realization that this would so benefit my younger cousins who have much more time on this earth than me. I was excited for them to have the full potential to use the passport for so much longer than I ever could. I was excited every time a document would arrive in the mail. I kept in close contact with my aunt as we now were managing three sets of documents, one for myself, one for her, and one for my uncle. The others would be able to reference us, once we obtained citizenship.
Then came the bad news in March of 2025 that the Italian government was changing the rules on how one could receive Italian citizenship. You could only be eligible if you had a parent or grandparent born in Italy. This disqualified me and my cousins. Only my aunts and uncle could obtain citizenship. Then the government set up new parameters in May 2025 that if you had an appointment prior to that March date, you could still apply. I was still eligible along with my one cousin who also had an appointment . Unfortunately all my younger cousins now will not have the opportunity to get their Italian citizenship because they didn’t have an appointment . This makes me very sad that they changed the law after we had been working for years to get things set up for our other family members.
During the time when I thought I was ineligible, I had some mixed emotions. Yes, I was disappointed during that time , but I looked at all I had gained. I gained insight to my great grandparents and their lives. They came to America for a better life . The research helped me to know them. Plus all the time with my Aunt Ruth was so valuable. We worked together for the goal and for the most part truly enjoyed the journey. We corrected many documents that had errors and set the records straight. Yet during that time, I knew our efforts were not in vain because my mom’s siblings could still get their Italian citizenship. And I certainly hope they continue the journey.
Yet I still had Hope. Because I know I am a citizen of two kingdoms, the civil kingdom of this world as well as the heavenly kingdom . The one in heaven is secure because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. In Philippians 3:20a it says “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a savior , the Lord Jesus Christ”. As a citizen of that heavenly kingdom, my allegiance lies with the risen Christ to whom belongs all rule and authority and might and dominion. So already I’m a citizen of 2 kingdoms, and in October I will see if I will be a citizen of Italy.
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Our family member who was diagnosed with kidney disease received a miracle last summer 2024. The family member was about four years into the process of receiving kidney dialysis. This was very difficult as it required so much time each week. It also was very tiring to the family member. The member became very weakened over the four years. They also almost died twice, once after a seizure and then another year with a stroke from high blood pressure. Our family had many different avenues of prayer partners, which included church family prayers, family prayers, bible study prayer partners and friend prayers. Two people continually spoke about healing for this person. They both were prayer warriors for God. The family member registered to receive a kidney transplant.
They were told it takes about four years to receive and find a match. One day they got the call. There was a kidney donor they thought would work for them. It happenned! The family member recieved a donated kidney that worked . The family member is now living life again and will have more time on this earth. I don’t know if you believe in the power of prayer, but I do. Our family member received a miracle from God! I’m so thankful to God for this and to our prayer partners who never stopped praying or believing! God is faithful!
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When I was growing up, I was very lonely. I was an only child. I always wished for someone to play with , to talk to and to learn from. I had to figure things out for myself. My parents and grandparents treated me great, but I still felt alone. I remember asking my dad to play with me when I was about 8 years old. I was holding onto my stuffed bear called Mickey. He said “Play with Mickey.” Like it was yesterday, I remember saying “But Mickey doesn’t talk.”
Over the years, God has been there for me. And though He doesn’t speak audibly I know He is there and hears me. What I realize now was God was there for me that day I had the conversation with my dad. I just didn’t know God then. God has given me a husband, children, grandchildren, aunts , uncles, cousins and friends of who I am so thankful. Now if I feel lonely, I can always reach out to any of these connections and not feel so alone. But if they aren’t available, God always is.
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I read through Anne Graham Lotz prayer on preparring for the new year. This spoke so much to me. Thinking about the new year and the possibilities of hope as I pray gives me a peace. Only the everlasting God knows what is ahead and since I trust him, I should not worry. My natural nature is to worry. Yet I am reassured that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. And when I believe this and trust in his power and love to see the year through, I am comforted. May we pray for God to draw near to us, and then He will draw near to us. I don’t always know what to do, but my eyes are on you. May my prayer for 2024 be pleasing to God and may he have grace and favor over me.
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When you get to the age I am, you realize how important good friends are. I’ve been blessed by God to have many friends in my time here on earth. Recently, a very good friend of mine went home to be with the Lord. Her name was Georgia. We were friends for about 12 years. I met her through a community bible study where she was one of the leaders. She and I became very close through the years. We shared many good times together, but what I remember most was times of being in her Bible studies. She had a way of getting the message across in a way everyone understood. She was a student of the Bible and loved God with all her heart.
Georgia was about 25 years older than I, but age never mattered to us. Our times together was always full of laughter, prayers and discussions about God. The last year of her life she led a mentoring leadership class and spiritual development class of which I attended. All of us attending were being mentored by her to be successful leaders in our lives. She had a gift of teaching and administration. She had a close relationship with God the Father, Jesus the son and the Holy Spirit and it showed in her daily life. Little did we know God would call her home so quickly this past June. I miss her dearly. Yet I’m so thankful God placed her in my life and the wonderful impact she had on me.
Tomorrow we start our next season of Bible studies without our precious Georgia. We plan to carry on all she taught us and invested in us in the ways of leadership. We hope to not only make Georgia proud, but praying we make God proud as we pick up the baton and move forward.
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The beach truly brings me joy, it always has. I grew up in the San Fernando valley and my parents would take me there on the weekends. It was clear to me that my dad loved the beach too. When I was entering junior high school, we moved to Santa Monica, CA and we were 21 blocks from the beach. Through those years and all through high school, I fell in love with the beach.
What’s not to love? The warm summer days, the swimming , the gathering of friends and the feeling of freedom when you are there. I was a good swimmer, but swimming in the ocean was entirely different. There were those unexpected riptides that would take you down and spin you like clothes in a washing machine. My dad taught me how to ride those waves and he did it too. My high school was 4 blocks from the beach. After school my friends and I would walk or take the bus to another beach. Playing volleyball on the beach was a big highlight and then getting corn dogs and lemonade from the food stand. Now that I live in Oregon, the beaches are much different and I don’t swim in the ocean as it is too cold! It is not always sunny in Oregon, so the vibe is much different. Yet I certainly love walking on the beach and this still brings me joy. I’m thankful for any time I get to spend at the beach, taking in the sun, the waters, the sand and shells to be found. I find such peace when I am there. I thank God for creating the seas and my dad for sharing his love of the beach with me.
