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...
by Barbara | Jun 13, 2021
A couple of weeks ago I posted an article about faithful Catholics feeling rather abandoned by their shepherds during this past year. My article “Flocking Mad, An Open Letter to Catholic Priests and Bishops,” was read by thousands with much feedback echoing...
by Barbara | May 26, 2021
Greetings from the pasture! I thought I would reach out and apprise you about life from your sheeple’s perspective after being devastated from every angle. Perhaps you may think you know what it is like down here in the pasture--based on vetted emails, random blogs,...
by Barbara | May 8, 2021
It is hard to fathom, frankly. Could it possibly be true? Is it as He says? I suppose for me the starting point would be in my own heart. Who do I understand God to be? Everything and nothing hinge on that very point. Everything changes if I believe despite what I...
by Barbara | Apr 5, 2021
Your plan so grand to fill the earth, with sea, and sky, sand, and dirt. Reptile, mammal, and wild beast, predator, and prey, greatest and least. Then scooped into your mighty hand, the dirt that lay across the land To form a being unlike the rest, made in your Image,...
by Barbara | Mar 30, 2021
I have been both betrayer and betrayed. When you think about it, you probably have too. Starting with Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. These are harmless examples you might think. I remember when our oldest son was nine or ten, it occurred to me that I should...
by Barbara | Mar 19, 2021
This week was an anniversary of sorts for me. Tuesday would have been my father’s eighty-fifth birthday and the sixth anniversary of my near fatal bike/car accident. The date is bittersweet. I am sad my father is gone but happy that he is home with our Lord. I am...
by Barbara | Mar 11, 2021
I got it my head to create a replica of the Crown of Thorns this Lent. You know, like the one Christ wore in His Passion and Crucifixion. Living in the desert we have lots of prickly things and thorns in abundance. I started with the trimmings from the beautiful...
by Barbara | Feb 20, 2021
Listening to Relevant Radio today, Fr Richard Simon spoke about the need to be truly repentant for our sins. Sure, we say we are sorry and might even feel bad, but he suggests substituting the word “failed” instead of “sinned.” "Bless me Father for I have failed…”...
by Barbara | Feb 13, 2021
It is a beautiful evening nearing sunset. The sky is ablaze with color, pinks and blues and greys. You can’t help but thank God for the eyes to see such beauty, and the legs to walk in freedom wherever you like. You are lost in thought as you round the corner out of...
by Barbara | Jan 30, 2021
Sometimes we can get caught in the trap of thinking that God only loves us when we do the right thing. We can assume wrongly that our sinfulness turns Him away from us until we get ourselves back on the “right” track. That would be a lie evil wants you to believe and...
by Barbara | Jan 24, 2021
Why is it Catholics go through all the hoopla each Lent starting with getting a smudge of ashes on our foreheads? We look ridiculous as the miniscule particles fall like ashen snowflakes on our nose and cheeks creating sometimes unintended comical effects. However, I...
by Barbara | Jan 18, 2021
Our lives for the last year have had to incorporate a whole new level of unanticipated online activity including gatherings, meetings, classes, weddings, funerals, and grocery shopping, to name a few. It has required that we learn a new language and crazy computer...