It was a beautiful evening as we celebrated my husband’s birthday. In and out we went as we grilled fajitas and pushed grandkids on swings through the wide-open patio doors. My mother says I charge through life, which is not surprising, as I rushed back outside to get...
A couple of friends and I were commenting on how the warm weather still hanging around was getting tiresome. It then occurred to us that in Phoenix, we do not have to worry about tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, or snow. No unexpected earthquakes send us scampering to...
I'm fascinated by stained-glass windows. However when the sun isn't shining through, they appear dark and uninteresting, but oh, when the light shines through, they're enchanting. As the sun changes angles, we see clearly the details and colors painstakingly crafted...
I remember one of our daughters sending me a photo that, at first glance, looked like a happy toddler in a car seat. Upon closer inspection, her daughter was covered in chartreuse vomit. She had colic as a baby, and her little tummy was still trying to figure out...
If there is anything I've learned over these sixty-plus years, it is this: trust Jesus. It's easy, but we tend to make it difficult. We like being in control and calling the shots. Have you ever sat down and really thought about how much power you actually have over...
Do we ever think about asking God to increase our faith? Increase my paycheck, or my bank account, but not my faith. I want to propose that asking for an increase in faith benefits us personally, collectively, and eternally. Jesus responds to the Disciples' request to...
Jesus knew we all need a mom, so He gifted us with His perfect Mother.
We arrived at the City of the Immaculata in Niepokalanow, Poland, located outside of Warsaw. It was here that Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, would begin his passionate work in the year 1927. “The City saw its original staff of...
You never know what cartoon characters you’ll encounter at the airports these days. Today, my flight had Plum Pudding, of Strawberry Shortcake fame, and Mercury Moon, from the Manga series. Really? No, they’re fictional characters. However, these mature women...
Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University, stated in his Holy Spirit podcast on Hallow, that there are 350-thousand Masses celebrated around the world each day. I had to pause and let that sink in. That’s both staggering and amazing! My little grey cells...
We are a people who are stretched to the breaking point. We carry burdens too heavy for us to bear alone. We try and try, to no avail, and are more burdened due to our delay, and the troubles compound. We need that friend named Jesus.
Was all of Phoenix at the airport today?
When I think of clusters, peanuts immediately come to mind. Those delicious crunchy chocolatey nuggets of yumminess. But I am not writing about those. Apparently, stars are born in clusters, and migraines can cluster. But I am...
Every dad has them. My dad used to make statements that both baffled and challenged me. "Hold her Newt, she's heading for the barn." I spent years wondering who Newt was. When I finally rode a horse, I understood. If I apply that to myself in real life, it translates,...
We have been married over forty-five years and counting, and it wasn't all roses and rainbows. Yet, over the years, what constitutes a loving action has changed. Initially, when we were living overseas, I enjoyed the sparkly things I could put on my fingers. I loved...
My first memory of volunteering took place in South Korea as a new bride during our initial assignment. I said yes and helped at the wives’ club events and at Church, teaching religion classes. I found it to be a great way to meet others, and it felt good to help make a difference.
What I never expected was to discover more about myself in the process. I noticed that I was pretty skilled at specific tasks that were useful to the organizations I served. The more I shared these strengths, the more they grew.
Grant me an artistic license as I step far off my normal path and recount a recent event in imaginative terms rather than its gritty reality. I daresay you will eventually get the point if you remain focused as it meanders through familiar paths, recalling perhaps...
Moms, the best thing we can do is avoid smothering our children and instead train them for battle.
"The graces of My Mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is trust." (Diary 1578) Our Pastor, referring to this quote by St. Faustina, put it into terms we could understand by saying that mercy is a bottomless well. The bucket we use to draw upon God's...
We have entered the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. These three days culminate Christ's redemptive work on our behalf and mark a new beginning for us. Sin is no longer a noose around our neck. Unless we refuse to repent and continue in our sin....
My plan was to be a nurse, and God’s plan for me was to marry. While not opposed to one another, this simultaneous endeavor was impossible to pursue in a third-world country. Years later, my next plan was to be a pastry chef. God’s plan was a series of unexpected yet...