Signora Sheila

Where faith meets la dolce vita

Welcome to my Blog

  • Laptop displays a grid of people in a video conference, beside a humorous coffee mug and tulips on a desk in a cozy home office.

    Do We Really Even Need the Church?

    “What good is the church?” As pastors we have been asked this question, albeit in different forms. Especially since the pandemic and the lockdowns. And people gave many reasons for giving up on the church. A trend that grew during lockdowns. Even now as lockdowns are easing, some people still find in-person meetings unnecessary. It…

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  • Close-up of a large white dahlia blooming in a sunny garden, with smaller flowers, a red cottage, blue sky, and lush greenery behind it.

    Simple Living for Retirement

    Retirement anymore seems to be right around the corner for us. Yikes! And because of certain lifestyle choices we’ve made, we’re starting to think they’re going to be interesting years, to say the least. Not that we’re alone. It’s not uncommon for people to find themselves in reduced circumstances in their retirement years.  And not just with reduced…

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  • Wooden fence lines a winding country path through lush green rolling hills, creating a peaceful, inviting rural landscape under a bright sky.

    Keeping Interruptions Out

    Some years ago, when my mom and a friend visited us, I played tour guide around Italy. We went to Rome and Venice, and the usual tourist areas. They loved it all. However, as we have friends all over Italy, we also explored the smaller towns and villages. Staying in people’s homes meant that they…

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  • Cozy feet in colorful striped socks and chunky knit slippers rest near a glowing fireplace, creating a warm, relaxed winter atmosphere.

    Chestnuts Bursting on an Open Fire

    Chestnuts, an open fire, and the importance of finding joy in simple things. The fire didn’t heat better out of the fireplace. All it really did was create more smoke! Although no one would ever convince the dear, stubborn, old man of that! Yet we fondly remember those simple evenings of reading by the fire…

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  • Large earthenware storage jars stand against a weathered stone wall, filled with grain and glowing in warm, rustic sunlight.

    Like a Queen: Treating Enemies Like Royalty

    No taller than a 10-year-old, with a sly and suspicious gleam in her eye, she played the role of the proverbial evil landlady with me, but was as sweet as honey to my Hubby. The other residents, also hostile, seemed amiable by comparison. And the dark, damp apartment revealed a miserly streak as well. It rained…

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  • A clenched fist with a red-painted thumbnail extends forward outdoors, symbolizing strength, determination, and empowerment against a green park backdrop.

    7 Tools for Breaking Through Anger {Video}

    Do you know the story of The Little Engine That Could? The little train in this children’s story discovered he could do anything by first convincing himself that he could. So he went around continually repeating, “I think I can, I think I can…”  It’s a great story for teaching children to tune out discouraging voices and…

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I’m Signora Sheila.
And I am passionate about blending faith with simple, intentional living in our daily lives.

Here on my bilingual blog, I share snippets of my faith journey, my dolce vita in Italy, and my passion for simple, slow living. Join me in slowing down, living with purpose, and rediscovering what really matters in life — right here “Where faith meets la dolce vita!”

Mario and Sheila pose near a white-railed seaside overlook, with ocean, lush greenery, and coastal homes behind them in soft evening light.

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