Author Archives: Barbara

As we enter the Thanksgiving season I’m reminded of an old sampler in my grandmother’s house with the following words: Count your blessings instead of your crosses. Count your gains instead of your losses. Count your smiles instead of your … Continue reading →

Being a writer makes one conscious of words and idioms. I’m actually fascinated by phrase origins and love the fact that so many of the common phrases we use everyday originate with the Bible or God. Here are a just … Continue reading →

A few weeks ago I spoke at a women’s retreat at the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama. This picture shows the presenters. I’m the second one from the left – the cute one. 🙂 This has sort of become … Continue reading →

  Although I’ve lived in California for around twenty years, I will always be a Cardinals fan!  And watching them win the World Series tonight had me jumping up and down as much as those fans in my home town, … Continue reading →

I just watched a great old Jimmy Stewart movie on television the other night. Shenandoah takes place during the mid 1800s. Charlie Anderson, played by Jimmy Stewart, is a widowed farmer and family patriarch who promised his dead wife he … Continue reading →

We miss the mark by thinking God’s love for us depends on how we are or what we do. We think we must change for God to love us. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Believe it or not, … Continue reading →

We just returned from a trip to visit Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon and I must admit the whole trip was…well…what’s the word I’m looking for???? Oh yes, GRAND! Hoover Dam is considered one of the seven manmade wonders … Continue reading →

Once Jesus asked his disciples, “Whom do men say that I am?” Some said he was John the Baptist, some said Elias, some said a prophet and so on. Jesus was no doubt curious. When he asked Peter he replied, … Continue reading →

When we were kids if asked what we wanted to be when we grew up the answers varied. For the very young the possibilities were endless – singers, movie stars, astronauts, ballerinas, architects, professional athletes, and so on. As we … Continue reading →

The Bible is full of examples of one person changing the course of history. Daniel was instrumental in influencing King Nebuchadnezzar and Queen Esther saved her people from destruction by risking her life to go before the king. Of course, … Continue reading →