Merry Christmas from the Barnes

Merry Christmas 2014 from the Barnes!

Every Christmas I depart from the usual blog-fare to share from my personal life. Here’s the latest installment.

Those of you who know the Barnes family know that our normally full lives have been crammed with even more activity this past year. We’ll let the kids describe the action from their own perspective.

Leah:  I have a good group of friends I work with in the accounting department at AIM. I have learned to file and do data entry. Every day I come home in the afternoon and take care of the house, Asha and our two cats. During the week I go to Bible study on Wednesdays, bowling on Thursdays, and Sunday School. I loved watching my sister Emily get married in June and my brother Seth get married in November!

Emily & Phil: Philip and I have been enjoying married life and living in Atlanta! Philip is working for our church in Decatur where he wears many hats including worship pastor, family discipleship teacher, coordinator and he even preaches occasionally. We enjoy being so involved and have just started leading a local life group. I’ve recently started coaching private acting lessons at a studio and have officially retired from nannying, at long last. We are increasing our devotion to my acting career with new fervor in 2015, we are praying for momentum and long term direction. God is good!

Talia & Joe & Marston: The theme of this year has been one of adventure. Joe and I decided in January that I would quit my job to help him run our online businesses. And if that wasn’t enough of a change we decided to give up our apartment and spend the rest of the year traveling. We spent two months in Paris (with an additional couple weeks in Italy celebrating Joe’s Grandma’s birthday). Joe wrote/is writing a book (in the process of writing and publishing) on our adventures while we were there. You can read more about it at goodbyeparisbook.com.

After returning from Europe we popped over to spend a couple of months in Santa Barbara with Joe’s parents. Joe’s been working on an another book out here as well. After being here for a month we found out we’d be expecting our second son next April. As I write this we’re doing last minute preparations for Christmas and getting ready to move to Atlanta (and hopefully stay put for awhile) in the New Year. Hope you are all well.

Estie: After completing the World Race I moved to Atlanta and began working at a children’s hospital in Atlanta in the emergency department. By early spring I learned I was accepted into Emory Universities MSN program where I am now studying to become a Nurse Practitioner. I have successfully completed my first semester and have three more to go!

This next year I’m excited for my whole family to be living within one hour of each other! I am presently in California celebrating an early Christmas with my sister, her husband, her in-laws and of course my adorable nephew, Marston (he calls me “E-E”). I feel blessed to have had such an amazing year getting to celebrate in two of my siblings weddings, celebrating the news of a new nephew, starting grad school, life is good. I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!

Seth Jr & Christina: Christina and I are settling into our new home together and enjoying our second month of marriage. As we look over the year, there is a lot to celebrate! Christina recruited a team to run her department with her, launched her first women’s team and hosted several retreats leading hundreds of women in inner healing. I led the Center for Global Action through a large transition. This week we just graduated a fall class that was thrilled with their experience with us. It’s been a great year!

Karen & Seth:  Karen was immersed in her second year at Richmont University, studying to be a counselor. She loves the learning. We both love being in-laws and grandparents! I (Seth) am working on not being so type A all the time by playing with Marston and the dogs on the floor after work. Now well into our 50’s, we are hanging onto dear life as the ministry and family continues to grow. We love watching God work.

Asha: I’ve been holding down the house in the midst of the usual craziness. I sleep with my masters and guard the house when they’re gone.

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All of us are so thankful this Christmas season that Jesus came to earth and put on skin. Living in this world can seem overwhelming – it’s comforting to know that he knows how we feel.

With all the transition, family seems a little more precious too. We love celebrating when we get together.

Wherever you find yourself this Christmas, we pray that you are able to celebrate with those whom you love the most.