Paige Barnes

One of my favorite quotes by one of my favorite people who've ever lived: "Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work." - Mother Teresa Ponder for a moment what your graces are. How can you use those in your everyday life? How can you use those to help Haiti? You may think you don't have much to give to the relief efforts for Haiti, but God is the only one who can take a little that is given with fervent heart and make it a lot. Here's what you can do. 1. PRAY! Prayer affects everything. 2. GIVE! Every little bit helps. Click here to donate to Compassion for the Haiti Earthquake relief efforts. Your money will be used in the following ways: • $35 helps provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week. • $70 gift helps care for their needs for two weeks. • $105 helps provide relief packs filled with enou...

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...

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 ...