by Barbara | May 31, 2023
Immediately you may balk at this title. Isn't surrendering for cowards? Not necessarily. If you are stressed, anxious, confused, or even frustrated with feelings of helplessness, I invite you to read on. Have you dreamed of an abiding peace that seems only to evade...
by Barbara | May 22, 2023
What memory, if any, do you have of a time you felt completely loved? Not the mushy fleeting feelings of giddiness and butterflies. Rather, a deep abiding love not dependent on conditions. A love given exclusively for your own good. No strings attached. Parental love...
by Barbara | Apr 30, 2023
Retirement, that perplexing magical state of being, twirled in my head for months. I assumed I would have to wait until December when I reached the official number, which makes me eligible for Medicare. I remember sitting in Church a few months back when a somewhat...
by Barbara | Apr 15, 2023
Pt 4/4 The world will change when we get love right, and it must begin first and foremost in marriage and family life. Marriage is not “fifty-fifty.” Divorce is. Love requires a one hundred percent gift from the spouses. Listen to the words of the vows, “in sickness...
by Barbara | Apr 12, 2023
Pt.3 /4 The previous articles covered what the Catechism and Sacred Scripture teach us about marriage and love. This week we will look at what makes a marriage sacramental. God provided all that was necessary to thrive for our first parents in the Garden of Eden;...
by Barbara | Apr 3, 2023
Part 2/4 "Selfishness is the enemy of love," writes Ven. Fulton J Sheen. It is a strong statement of truth that cannot be denied. Let's talk about love, the greatly misunderstood four-letter word, and what it demands of married couples. Spoiler alert-men and women are...
by Barbara | Mar 27, 2023
part 1/4 In this series of articles, I seek to offer you dear reader, a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Matrimony. I hope to inspire, educate, enlighten, strengthen, and encourage couples and those who are contemplating married life. What is marriage in God’s...
by Barbara | Jan 31, 2023
Crap happens in more ways than one, metaphorically speaking. Perchance, you remember the popular bumper sticker a few years back that explicitly proclaimed that very thing. So why are we so surprised when it does? We can tend to live life deluding ourselves that...
by Barbara | Aug 28, 2022
I had the pleasure of attending a meeting with young moms a few evenings ago. I've been honored to call many of them friend. Their dedication to marriage and motherhood is heroic. I would include my own daughters and daughters-in-law in this category. I am a mother...
by Barbara | Jul 19, 2022
I began the Bible in a Year podcast with Fr Mike Schmitz late last year. I have been plugging away (binging at times) and am pleased to report that I have reached day 278. Yeah me! I know it is still far off, but God’s timing is always perfect. I love that Fr Mike has...
by Barbara | May 8, 2022
I have been enthralled of late with reworking desserts that do not turn out as I hoped. They may have been baked too long, failed to deliver the recipe's promised taste sensation, or were disappointing. I fear I have become my own worst enemy in this area. I am sadly...
by Barbara | May 6, 2022
I have been enthralled of late with reworking desserts that do not turn out as I hoped. They may have been baked too long, failed to deliver the recipe's promised taste sensation, or were disappointing. I fear I have become my own worst enemy in this area. I am sadly...
by Barbara | Apr 23, 2022
In my line of work, I attend a lot of weddings. After all, my job involves preparing couples for the Sacrament of Matrimony. Each engaged couple is unique in their story. How they met, their family of origin, past relationships, and the baggage acquired thus far play...
by Barbara | Feb 14, 2022
"Then God said: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth. God created mankind in his image; in the...
by Barbara | Feb 5, 2022
"Hold fast to the word I preached to you" 1 Cor 15. Have you ever asked yourself, how do I "hold fast" to the Gospel that I hear at Mass? It sounds easy enough on paper. However, as each of us knows, remaining faithful 24/7 is a full-time job. It takes deliberate,...
by Barbara | Jan 28, 2022
There is a vast misunderstanding of the four-letter word St Paul writes about in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 13:4-8). He chooses to give the reader concrete examples to understand better. What is authentic love, and what does it require? The brilliant...
by Barbara | Nov 10, 2021
A month ago, I was introduced to the Surrender Novena. In practice, I realize the importance of surrendering everything to God, and letting God be God. What prevents me from abandoning myself to the Omnipotent Father when I know He can do everything well? This...
by Barbara | Sep 27, 2021
Have you ever had one of those days (or years) when it feels like your worst nightmares are being played out? Or perhaps a supporting actor in some "B movie" that just can't catch a break and the brunt of everyone's pitiful whispers? Maybe your respites are...
by Barbara | Aug 8, 2021
Most of my articles used humorous family tales to connect with my readers when I first started writing. I missed the lighter side and thought it was time to put the "fun-sucker" in time-out and bring out some humor again. My current senior state of being is an...
by Barbara | Jul 24, 2021
I rather like that we mothers are surprisingly adept at reading our brood. Age does nothing to deter us. I’m sixty-two and my mom is still working her magic on me. We have a knack for being annoyingly effective in getting necessary information and reminders into their...
by Barbara | Jul 1, 2021
Over the years with the continual alteration of the English language, we realized for a short time that sick was cool, the latest rendition of dope means neither dense nor drugs, and “spilling the tea” has nothing to do with the common drink. “Rotten” however, still...