by Barbara | Sep 25, 2012
I had the opportunity to get away from the heat and step into the mountain air for a few days. There is just something about pines, aspen, and the crisp anticipation of fall…even if it is only an interlude. Colored leaves, cool mornings and fresh breezes that propose...
by Barbara | Sep 20, 2012
By: Barbara Lishko I got the rare chance the other night to watch the Food Network show, Chopped. I have seen the show maybe two or three times. It's an interesting premise. Professional chefs challenge each other to create something delectable and wildly authentic...
by Barbara | Sep 16, 2012
After 11 years in youth ministry, I have officially retired and have set my face in the direction of marriage preparation. I must say it feels good. Good in the sense that God helped set things in motion and I listened. But not only me, the young man who he called to...
by Barbara | Jan 20, 2012
I am attempting to stay up-to-date with the latest advances in bathroom technology, but every time I use the ladies room it is a whole new learning curve. What do I mean exactly? Some places have automatic faucets that turn on when your hands line up within the...
by Barbara | Jan 1, 2012
A glorious day awaits.... although every breath is a new beginning we make quite the deal of the new calendar year as human beings. I guess any day is as good as the next to begin anew in trying to improve ourselves. My mantra is all about accomplishing so much. I...
by Barbara | Dec 24, 2011
Hard to believe that today is the eve of Christmas. Without a deliberate intention of reminding myself frequently I can easily lapse into the "everyday" mode of life. It is so easy for me to get caught up in that. Stuff to do, more stuff to catch up on, people to...
by Barbara | Sep 25, 2011
I love giving myself as a gift. I feel God has abundantly blessed me and while I joke about NOT being born with the "NO" gene, I do say yes a lot! Friday, my day off...NOT. I said yes to bake in Flagstaff for the NAU Newman Parents weekend. I loved it. Was blessed to...
by Barbara | Sep 2, 2011
By Barbara Lishko “Our hearts are restless Lord, until they rest in thee.” St Augustine knew well what he was writing about, having spent part of his life filling the void with everything but God. It is difficult to watch people you care about “fill their voids”...
by Barbara | Aug 28, 2011
I often recall when I come upon certain situations a statement my father used to say all the time when we were growing up: something, something blah blah blah"...were you born in a barn?" You could actually add any statement to proceed the infamous born in a barn...
by Barbara | Aug 12, 2011
Life rolls on ready or not, prepared or not. How can we take the turmoil that hits us between the eyes, the unexpected twist, the drab routine at times...and turn it into a prayer, an offering, a means of salvation? "Blessed be God" in every situation. "Jesus trust in...
by Barbara | Aug 2, 2011
It’s that time of the year in Phoenix, when we really do question why we live here. Could it be because it only gets down to ninety degrees at night, or perhaps because massive dust storms hit without warning? I would suggest that it is something more fundamental than...
by Barbara | Jul 1, 2011
“What can I do to help?” These words echoed again and again as news of my surgery rang through our Church, neighborhood, friends and family. It is awkward being on this end of needing. I like being the giver. I am a Martha, and we like to be the do-ers. What I wanted...
by Barbara | May 7, 2011
May 6th, 2011 by Barbara Lishko It’s a boy!! Five long years of infertility had come to an end. It took a miracle at Lourdes, a lot of prayers, and a hope that never died. I think because I desired to be a mother for such a long time, I find such humor and joy in...
by Barbara | Apr 21, 2011
Today marks the end of Lent and the beginning of the Church's holiest 3 days. Tonight, Pope Benedict reminds us, that "God doesn't want to trample on us, but kneels down before us to exalt us. The mystery of the greatness of God is seen precisely in the fact that he...
by Barbara | Apr 9, 2011
All of us, I dare say, played in the sand at one point or another in our childhood. In fact we still head towards the sand as adults; it is just usually with a swim suit on and umbrella drink in hand. As children there was much to learn in the sandbox. They were a...
by Barbara | Mar 27, 2011
Twenty six years of kids will leave you with a lot of accumulated junk. Lost and forgotten treasures lurk within every box, stuffed in long forgotten tubs and drawers, all for the unsuspecting mommy to go through when the brood flies the coop. They seem to only take...
by Barbara | Mar 20, 2011
Pope Benedict says that when the disciples through the Transfiguration "experienced ahead of time something that will constitute the happiness of paradise" These "brief experiences that God grants on occasions, especially in anticipation of harsh trials." God knows...
by Barbara | Mar 12, 2011
“Give me a J, give me an E, give me a S-U-S, what’s that spell? Go-oooo Jesus!” That’s me at times, a real cheerleader for the Lord. As a mother and youth minister I have opportunities galore to get out the pom poms and give the rally cry for Christ. No, I don’t...
by Barbara | Feb 2, 2011
“You just don’t understand.” she told me in exasperation. “No”, I sighed. “I guess I don’t.” We had just finished this amazing day and a small inconsequential occurrence, that any other time would have been easily dismissed, caused her to rethink everything as the day...
by Barbara | Dec 12, 2010
As a fellow human being on the road to hopeful salvation, I can at times let myself be overcome with the load of my own cross. Like anything else in my life the more I make of my burdens the heavier they can become from the bothersome weight of pity that I needlessly...
by Barbara | Nov 30, 2010
While at work the other day I got a text from one of my sons, “where is the video camera?” After spending five minutes making sure I had each word spelled correctly and had properly punctuated, I texted him back. Ten seconds later his response indicated that he had...