Paige Barnes

In the recent past, I have been active in teaching and leading youth at the church we were previously at. As I would teach, I would often remind the students that, as Christians, we are to constantly be a light that shines for Jesus to others. This has been an easy subject for me to reach the kids with, as the Bible says a lot about being a light to others. As I write this, I am reminded of a story that I have heard several times before. When Robert Louis Stevenson, an author famous for his classic children's tales, was a child he was getting ready to go to bed one evening. His nanny came in to check on him and found him out of bed and staring out the window. She walked over and looked out the window to see the lamplighter going down the street lighting the streetlights. The nanny asked, "Robert what are you looking at?" The little boy, while never taking his gaze off of the window, exclaimed, "Look! I am watching the man put holes in the darkness!" On o...

In the spirit of Thanksgiving I feel that it is only fitting that today's post be about giving thanks. In a world so filled with greed and selfishness and "me, me, me", it is often that we forget to give thanks for what we have. So, I will take the next few lines to give thanks for just a few of the many wonderful things God has given to me and my family this year. ~ The hubbs job. One that keeps him moving upward and that he enjoys. For a boss who understands the boy's diabetes and is very flexible and understanding. ~For a "no cancer" report for my mom after two years! ~For two preemie babies who fought their way into this world. One is struggling now, but I am giving thanks that he is fighting and that God is taking care of him. ~For a new niece and nephew born healthy and who are growing and glowing everyday! ~For three and a half years of the blessed opportunity to serve in youth ministry at a church and the people and youth there who forever touch...

Yesterday was fun. Went to the Native American Heritage Festival with the boy and the hubbs. The boy was enamored at the "Indians" and their tools. He especially liked when the Indian chief started fire with just a couple of sticks. He even liked the dancing! This is one of the coolest parts about homeschooling - being able to just pick up and go to an event whenever and wherever you want. Today, I will hopefully be very productive at getting some projects done. I am working on a dress for my niece that I hope to have done in time for Christmas. It's not a Christmas dress, but it's pattern is similar to this one. I have encountered problem after problem but I will persevere! First it was something about the lining that I couldn't get quite the way that I want it, and today the sewing machine is giving me fits. May have to break down and hand sew it. Also been working on some hair bows. I made a few back when my niece was first born and now I am working ...

A few days ago I witnessed some of the best of humanity. Single mom taking care of two chronically ill and bedridden children for some time. There's more to the story that makes it amazing, but out of respect, I won't write it. This was probably one of the strongest moms I've ever seen. She's been on this journey for several years and you know that times have to be tough in more ways than one for this sweet lady and her kids. It got me to thinking. Am I giving my all as a mom? I don't mean the cooking and the cleaning, but the nurture and the teaching and the molding and shaping. Do I allow trivial things to get in the way of a moment of opportunity for teaching and shaping? Yesterday, the boy and I spent a wonderful time on the couch reading scripture and discussing what it means to become a Christian. We read one of his favorite Bible stories and talked about Paul's missionary journeys. It was a precious, blessed time. I am a blessed mom to get to...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. -- C. S. Lewis As I read this quote this morning, it really made an impact on me. All too often, I have known the bondage that can come with carrying around past sins and failures that I wouldn't let go of. Women, especially, can take this heart. We try to be the best wife and mother and many times we are working. Then there are the social and church events that we or our kids are involved in and before you know it we are almost in a constant state of feeling "I'm a bad mother or not the mother I should be" or "I just can't seem to get everything just right the way my husband wants or deserves" (you know, like the cooking or cleaning). Beth Moore in her bible study "Believing God" discusses the "Cycle of Defeat". I like to call it the cycle of bondage. For me a lot of times here lately it goes like this: Major blow-up with homeschooling and the boy begs to go back...

Here is a picture of the boy cheesin' with his brand-new glasses. Oh, yeah, and that's my poor foot in a cast.

Yesterday was Veteran's Day. We give thanks to all of our men and women who are now and who have in the past stood up for our freedoms. I can't even begin to imagine, but I am thankful. I know most businesses don't close on this day, but my hubbs gets off. We enjoyed a nice day together. Well....at least until lunchtime. The hubbs went to pick us up some BBQ for lunch and the boy and I decided to rake the millions of leaves that are piling up in our yard. We were just raking away until I stepped into a hole in the yard with my right foot and turned it sideways. It's important that you know that I did the same thing to this same foot almost 6 months ago and it's still very weak. The pain this time was way worse than before, and I honestly thought that I had torn the ligaments or tendons or something because it hurt so bad. First, I almost passed out and then I almost threw up. And then, crying like a baby, I had to try to help my 6-year old help me. Luckily...

Good morning! Today is our first "Monday Mercies". Thanks to the hubbs for getting our really cool button up on the site. In the next few days you should be able to come back to the site and if you wish, put the "Monday Mercies" button on your page. Here's our first "Monday Mercies"! You Never Let Go Yesterday we had a wonderful worship experience at Crosspoint . Our pastor delivered a strong message. One that inspired someone who was with me to dig back into her Bible. She said "I used to know lots about the Bible, but I don't remember anymore". She left the worship time energized and ready to get back into the awesomeness of God's Living Word! The worship band is really awesome. I love the songs they choose each week. We sang a song by Matt Redman called "You Never Let Go". The words just washed over me as I sang. Sometimes I wonder why people are going through the things they are. Just in the last couple of ...

If you are reading this, please send up a prayer for my 24 year old sister. She was told today by her doctor that while they "couldn't tell her she has cervical cancer" they "can't rule it out for sure just yet". So Tuesday she will go for more testing. I am hoping to be able to do down there (she lives in Mississippi) to be with her during this. I am not sure if my schedule will permit it. She has a 3 month old little girl. On another note. I took the boy in today for his first real eye exam. He's had the basic one for kindergarten, but since the diabetes diagnosis everything has changed. So we have a wonderful eye doctor and Matthew did great. But he's farsighted! So he will need glasses to read. After careful consideration and much trying on of frames we settled on blue power rangers frames. The boy was pleased and he looks too cute! Tune in on Monday for "Monday Mercies" - a weekly post to help us get the week started off on...

Here are my thoughts from last night. Well, just a few of them anyway. Change is coming. I like change...sometimes. Change is good....sometimes. Or maybe I am not as comfortable with change as I think I am. But the truth is - it is time for change in this country. Change in a good way. Now, I am not going to tell you who my vote went to. That's my right and freedom. I will say that I come from grandparents who were staunch Democrats and from parents who, at least in years past, would say they are Republican. And now, at this point in my life I think I am an Independent, although I'm not registered as one! (DON'T write me about that)! It's my choice to vote for the person I think will do the best job. This year was tough. But change is coming. I hope it's for the better. Why must the United States be so divisive? I was sickened when the returns were coming in last night and they (at least on one channel) were breaking down the vote based on things lik...

While people are rushing to the polls today to get their vote in, I am sitting at home with the boy. We just had a long conversation about what we are thankful for. The stuff that most often we take for granted because (thanks be to God) we've always had it. But this is not the case for many people, children, in other parts of the world. For the past three years our family has sponsored a child through Compassion International . We've prayed for him, sent him money each month, and wrote him letters. This has been very rewarding for us in many ways. We know that God has called us to do this. But today, I feel that God is telling me that we aren't praying enough or writing enough or doing enough. Several months ago, I felt a pressing on my soul to adopt a child. My heart leaned toward Ethiopia. I prayed about it very much. The hubbs did not feel that same calling. It came to a head with me going away to a monastery for two days on a silent prayer retreat. I began ...

Good Monday morning! In the next week or so you can expect to see a few changes to the blog. Not any major design or layout changes (I think), but I will be adding some features to the site. God is challenging me to go in a certain direction with a few things. Today will start out something I'm going to be doing every Monday. Monday's are always a tough day for many of us. We have to go back to the daily grind after a weekend off. We have to go back to work instead of play and rest. Many of us who do or have worked know that Monday's usually bring more challenges and problems to solve and busyness than the other days of the work week. So, I feel God leading me to begin posting every Monday something that will encourage us to get started on the right foot. I have found that when I start my day out right - with my eyes, mind, and heart focused on Christ and His word - then the rest of my day is bearable. Not always perfect or without problems, but it's so much ...

I found the following poem by renowned author Max Lucado on this site . I was listening to Matt Chandler of The Village Church preach this sermon when I ran across it. Interesting. Also, election day is coming up. Don't forget to cover your choice and our country and new leader (whomever it will be) in prayer. You Have Our Attention, Lord A prayer by Max Lucado – written in October Our friends lost their house The co-worker lost her job The couple next door lost their retirement It seems that everyone is losing their footing This scares us. This bailout with billions. These rumblings of depression. These headlines: ominous, thunderous- “Going Broke!” “Going Down!” “Going Under!” “What Next?” What is next? We’re listening. And we’re admitting: You were right. You told us this would happen. You shot straight about loving stuff and worshipping money. Greed will break your heart, you warned. Money will love you and leave you. Don’t put your hope in riches that are so uncertai...

Halloween this year was celebrated with our friends. We had so much fun! Since this year was our first Halloween with diabetes, we weren't sure how the boy's blood sugars would run. We gave him insulin to cover him for a s'more and he so enjoyed having the experience of eating it. He said to me "Mommy, real chocolate (as opposed to something with a sugar alternative) tastes so good". Yes, son, it does. And it keeps me going most days! Anyway, he got a bag full of candy. We have decided to let him have one piece per day with a meal. Hopefully this will keep his sugars in his target range or at least very close to it. We had a great time this year and hope you did too!