Out with the Old, In with the New

With today being the last day of 2010, I thought that it would be appropriate to re-cap 2010 and all of the beautiful ways that God has blessed us this year. A year ago yesterday, we were taking Lesley to the airport to head back to Alabama after she graciously drove the 2,000 mile journey with me. I started 2010 as a brand new resident of Las Vegas! I spent an incredible year playing outdoors, and being in love with Gavin! I climbed out at Red Rocks, I went on some incredible hikes, I took thousands of pictures, and Gavin and I learned how to slackline. We also got engaged in July and married in November... a beautifully short engagement (which made me very happy) that my mom will not soon forgive me for! We were showered with love from our friends and families, and even from people we had never met. It was so humbling to open box after box, and envelope after envelope from people sending gifts, best wishes and prayers for our future together. I knew that we were loved, but I was blown away by the graciousness of others. Thank you to everyone who played a part in celebrating with us. We ask that you continue to pray for our marriage, health, and happiness. We took a nice long honeymoon in Europe (pictures will be up soon). We also spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together as a new family. I think that it is important to spend time counting our blessings because it reveals just how much God is moving in our lives when we may not take the time to stop and truly be grateful. Thank you Lord for an incredible 2010!

The chiming of the clock at midnight brings us a new year, and with that comes the traditional resolutions. Gavin and I made a quick list (well, I made a quick list because he doesn't make resolutions) this morning of things that we wanted to accomplish in the new year. It wasn't your typical list of things we waned to "do better" about. Our combined list looks like so:

• Win a National Championship- the Auburn Family
  
• Walk a highline {slackline}- G
  
• Learn more about my camera- K
• Pass my test and get a job- K
• Visit Moab, Yosimite, and Tahoe- K&G
• Learn to surf- K&G
• Sail on Lake Mead and then to Catalina Island- K&G
• Try to see the Northern Lights
• Strive to be healthier individuals (and get rid of my hives)- K&G
  
• Strive to always be a light to others and a devoted follower of Christ-K&G

So there you have the Kidd's 2011 list! What is on your list?

To totally change gears, we are still working on the finishing details of our home. As I said in a post earlier, I don't think that decorating is a chore that you really ever "complete," so much as it is a work in progress. I made my first "Honey Do" list complete with only two tasks. Gavin thought that this was funny since my two tasks involved our ipods and our cars. We have a few projects that we want here in the next week. I will be adding posts with pictures so that you can see what our place looks like and so that I can document the changes that we make.

I pray that God will bless you in 2011 with health and happiness! Also, be looking for our wedding pictures soon... they just came in the mail as I have been writing this post!

What's in a name?

So, today is day number 54! I love today more than yesterday, and I anticipate the same feeling tomorrow! I do regret to inform you, however, that my name is still legally Katharine Reynolds Ireland. I was so excited to receive our marriage certificate in the mail, and I went straight to the Social Security Administration office and changed my name with them in five minutes flat! And it was free!! Easiest government experience of my life, right? Well, that should have been my first clue that something would go wrong. Two days later, I get to the DMV bright and early with my venti Starbucks coffee to comfort me in that early hour (8am). So I am waiting in a line to get a number to wait in another line, all the while praying for patience and kindness and sipping my latte. Once I am finally helped I explain that, "Well, I have recently lost my former driver license, moved, and been married, so I need a new license to cover all that jazz." He looks confusingly (if that is a word) at all of the paper work I hand him, and doesn't say anything. I re-explain, "I just want to change my name to Katharine IReland Kidd, and update my address." He looks down and replies, "Oh, you can't do that, that is illegal in the state of Nevada." To which I laugh thinking he is joking, and say, "Excuse me? Illegal?" He goes on to explain that it is illegal to change your name in the fashion that I had requested. I was still praying for patience, but trying to understand what he kept using the work "illegal" as if I were harming someone by choosing to keep my maiden name. He said that my only options were to a) keep my name as it was, b) hyphenate Ireland-Kidd, or c) drop my maiden name and be Katharine Reynolds Kidd. I inquired about Nevada state law versus other state laws explaining that I am from the south and that it is commonplace to keep your maiden name. He just handed me my paperwork, explained that the best I could do is get a license with and said "I am only responsible for Nevada state law, your request is ILLEGAL, and perhaps your southern states have not caught up with the law." UGHHHHH! I smiled my meanest smile, took my number, and had a seat!

I was hoping that I would be able to speak to a woman who could understand what I was trying to do, I mean, maybe the man I spoke with was confused. I hardly understood why my request was so difficult. I could change my name at the Social Security office with no trouble, so what was Nevada's problem? Luckily I got a women, but all that that got me was an understanding empathetic look. "Yes" she said, "unfortunately keeping your maiden name as your middle name was considered illegal," and that I would need to petition for a legal name change in family court. Heaven help me! Family court?

So off I go to Family Court (saddest place I have ever been), and stood in line to get a number to stand in line. I was helped my a nice old lady who was very understanding. She said that I cold purchase the paperwork to represent myself in court, but that the DMV was mistaken in sending me to family court because I would have to file the paperwork downtown at the court house. I was relieved that I only had to spend $5 to buy this nonsense paperwork, but then she informed me that, "But I hate to tell you sweetie, but it costs $270 to file the paperwork and another $80 to run your name in the paper for 3 weeks in a row." I wanted to cry. I just want my husband's last name!!!!

Gavin and I decided on a different approach for changing my name in the state of Nevada. We went to the post office and picked up the information for a new passport. It turned out that all I had to send them was a certified copy of our marriage certificate, and a check. I got my new passport with my new name (katharine Ireland Kidd) in the mail last week. So, I am still not sure how I can change my name (hassle-free) with the agency that is responsible for the accuracy of my identity as it pertains to the USA and to foreign countries, but the Silver State wants me to petition this change for consideration in front of a judge.

I am going to the DMV on Monday morning with my new passport and my new social security card to try my luck at a license again! I will let you know how all of that goes!

(Sorry if this was long and detailed. I omitted a good portion of the story, but for me the quotes were to frustrating to leave out.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:14

I love the Christmas season... the lights, candlelight church services, family, tradition, good food, and God's amazing love, joy, and peace. I love our family Christmas tradition. Sassy spends the night on Christmas eve and we eat a a wonderful meal after our church service. We wake up in the morning, drink coffee, open gifts, and my favorite part: the stocking. Judy is an elf genius at stuffing our stockings!! From there we pile into the car and head to Birmingham to have the Ireland Christmas... all 30 of us! It is an amazing day!

But sadly, this year I am in Las Vegas far away from the traditions that I am used to. As sad as I am about not being with my family on Christmas Day, I am so happy to be starting new traditions in my new family of two! Gavin has to work both tonight and tomorrow night (Christmas night) so going home was not an option. We have our tree all nicely decorated (with discounted ornaments from Lowe's... I don't care who knows it!) and the house is clean ready for a visit from Santa and a day spent relaxing together and reflecting on the reason for this blessed season.

We have been church hunting the past month or so, and that is a tall order during the Christmas season. We are praying for God's direction, but we were able to find a place we liked well enough to return for their Christmas Eve service. The service was focused on "Immanuel- God is With Us." It was a beautiful service focused on the gift He came to give... His perfect peace. Las Vegas is a bleeding city in this economy. Gavin and I have become more and more aware of this as we began searching for a house to rent. The foreclosures have left normal families homeless and forced to either leave the city or to rent in an unsafe area. The homelessness is on every corner. I thought the message the pastor brought tonight was perfect for the people of Las Vegas. And also perfect for me. What kind of person would I be if I truly handed over my struggles, my anxiety, my fears? What would my life look like if I disciplined myself to continually be in his favor so that He might bless me with his heavenly peace as it says in Luke 2:14? I realize that this hasn't been my focus, and what could be more important that living my life to please Him? It may be a continual struggle, but He has promised peace! What joy He has for us!

Well, all of this to say Merry Christmas to you all from Las Vegas, but mostly I pray that you will be be surrounded by God's perfect consuming peace!

Forgive Me... it's been forever!

Hey friend(s)... I have been so busy, and I haven't made any time for blogging in my life. Well, I am back and vowing (maybe as an early new year's resolution?) to be better at updating! I really enjoy reading other people's blogs, especially the ones that are updated often because I feel like I am "in the know" about their lives. I feel like I should extend the same courtesy to anyone out there who might want to be keeping up with us in that same manner.

Well, I got married... only 45 days ago, but who is counting!?!?! It was the most amazing day of my life- hands down!!! Gavin is truly the love of my life, and I am blessed beyond measure to have him as my husband! We had an amazing honeymoon (I will post pictures and share more in a post later on), and we have been settling into our new home (again, more on this later). It has all been so new and exciting... everything and more that I hoped it all would be! My only complaint has been health related. I have been getting hives every day since the beginning of July. No, they are not caused by stress. The doctors are at a loss as to what is causing them. Ny dermatologist says that they are idiopathic, meaning that there is no cause. He says that I have nothing to worry about, but that is much easier said than done! Couple that with a headache each day for about 2 months, and you have yourself a very worried newly wed. I have an appointment with a neurologist on Wednesday (tomorrow) morning. I am praying hard that they are able to find some results (some not-so-scary results) so that I can get to the bottom of it. Any prayers would be greatly appreciated!

Anywho... no more about bad stuff. I am in love with life married to Gavin! Gad has truly blessed me! Thank you to all of you who have been praying and supporting us throughout the engagement and wedding! It was friends like you all who made this time in our lives so much more special. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

Good night to all of you!

Engagement and other updates...

Hey Friend(s) who might be checking this... I am sorry that I have not written for so long. Life has been very exciting lately. Only July 9th, gavin proposed and we have set the wedding date for this upcoming November 6th. Here are some pictures that we took right after he asked the big question. Please forgive our appearance as it was 5 a.m. and we had been awake for about 3 hours.

Gavin works from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m., and after work that night he called to wake me up and told me to get dressed. He had somewhere that he wanted to take me, and to be ready. We are always doing really fun things, so I didn't know what was about to happen. We went over the Hoover Dam into Arizona and kept driving for about 2 more hours. We drove down miles of dirt road, and there was not another soul in sight. We watched the sun rise with the top down in the car. Gavin waited for the right moment and then asked me to marry him. AH! It was so wonderful! I couldn't wait to get back into civilization so that I could call my mom and tell her the good news. Of course once I did, she didn't answer. So I called Dad instead. He was very excited for me. After I talked to Mom, we needed some sleep before we could make any more phone calls to share the good news. I was in a bit of a time crunch because one of my best friends Holly was on a flight to come and see me that night. This was perfect except I needed almost a week to talk to everyone about my exciting life news! I did the best I could, and then I was off to the airport to pick up Holly. It was so perfect because I hadn't seen her precious face in exactly 1 year! I met her at baggage claim and we immediately started catching up... I wanted to see how long it would take her to notice my ring! I made it about 45 minutes before I had to tell her, and she cried as predicted! I was so happy to have her there to celebrate with me!

Holly!

Holly wanted to see what life in Vegas was like for Gavin and I,

so we took her to the park to slackline.

She got the hang of it pretty quickly!

Then she wanted to climb and repel. This is Gavin telling her what to do.

Pretty smiles! I love these people!

I can't tell you how happy I am that she came to visit!

Organizing the equipment.

Pretty crazy about this boy...

So fun!

Vegas night-life! We lost a whole 6 dollars.

Getting married!

Beautiful friend!

I have a lot of other things to post about to be up-to-date on my blogging, but I am too tired to write more at this time. Let's just say that wedding planning is more exhausting and not exactly what I had expected. With such a short engagement, Mom and I have had to do some fast learning in the wedding planning world. Some days I wish that we had more time to plan, but most of the time I just wish that we were getting married next week. I will create another post really soon about the planning so far, and wedding dress shopping.

Home

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I went home for about 9 days, and I am just getting settled back into things here in Vegas. I had a great time being home... it was the first time since December 26! I had my camera with me throughout the duration of my trip, but I took very few pictures. Here is what I did take...

I left out on a Sunday evening, and I got lucky enough to see Gavin in action at work.

He was working on the plane that I was about to fly out on.

On my first day home, Mom and I drove to Birmingham to shop around and to visit my grandmother, Faybaby. We were able to grab a bite to eat with Dad and John Jr as well. The following day, I headed to Auburn to catch up with some friends. I had such a great day seeing people I hadn't seen in nearly 6 months!!! I really wish that I had thought to take out my camera and get a few pictures. The rest of the week was spent at home with Mom, Dad, and Sassy! It was great to spend some time with Sassy because I hadn't seen her since Christmas. Lesley graduated on Friday, but she was gracious enough to not require my attendance for the ceremony. Thank you Lord (and Lesley). She graduated cum laude in exactly 4 years, I am so proud of her!

Les and me.

Faybaby and I at Lesley's graduation party at the lake.

Mary Margaret came and spent the weekend with me at the lake. She brought her baby, Beasley. It was so great to spend time with the both of them!

I went back to Peachtree City, where we did some slacklining. And as usual, we drew a crowd.

It was so great to be home for a few days. I already miss everybody. I am open to visitors any time!!!! Okay, I am sorry to give you a play-by-play, so thank you for reading if you made it this far!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there! Today is your special day! Although I am not yet a mom, I do know that it is one of the most important jobs in the world. The older I get, the more I realize how important a mother's role is in her children's lives. I also learned that everyone else was missing out because my siblings and I were the only 3 people lucky enough to have my mom all to themselves. I mean, I always knew she was great, but the more people that I met in college the more I realized how lucky I really was.

The list of why Judy is so wonderful is far too long to list here, but I would like to touch on some of the things that I most appreciate. She has managed the most wonderful balance between being my biggest fan and putting me in my place (kindly and gently, of course). I have met some mothers who believe that their children can do no wrong, and Jude isn't one of those... and I appreciate that. I love our honest relationship. Also, since we live so close to Auburn, she was very much the mother to all of my friends and sorority sisters. And, she lets me vent! That may be my favorite thing! I can scream, kick, and cry, and she will just let me! Amazing! Okay, that was a random short list, but those are the things that came to mind. I am sorry I am not being very poetic, but its late, so this is the best that I can do! Basically, my mom is the most amazing mom there is, and I am so thankful that God sent her to me (or me to her)... He really knows what He is doing!

Not only do I have an amazing mom, but I was also blessed with other amazing moms throughout my life. There are many people who have played a role in rearing me, and I wanted to say thank you, and wish you all a Happy Mother's Day. Here are some pictures that I wanted to share with you all.

Random picture of mom and child in Africa (had to throw it in, it was too cute!)

So cute!

My beautiful mom with her daughters.

In Hawaii.

I have a mom that will stay up late after graduation to help me make brownies despite the fact I am 24 and can do it myself.

Jude and MM in the kitchen. My mom shares family recipes with her "other daughters" and then teaches them how to bake them. These two love each other.

Sassy, my precious grandma.

Faybaby. She is one of my favorite people in the world.

Amie. She was my babysitter when I was growing up. She was like a stand-in mom on at times. She actually lived with us when Judy broke her arm! She now has 3 BEAUTIFUL babies of her own. Happy Mom's Day, Amie!

This is Mrs. Rose, Jennifer's mom! She was my other mom, as I lived at their house in elementary school! We did family vacations and a million other things together. Mrs. Rose treated me just like I was part of the family. She was one of those close family friends who was allowed to discipline me without it being weird or her over-stepping! Like I said, I was her other daughter. I love this woman- Happy Mother's Day!

This is beautiful Sarah. If I had ever had an older sister, she would have been it. She is now the mother of her own two BEAUTIFUL babies. Happy Mother's Day to you, Sarah!

This is Momma Kim. She is Tori's mom, but my mom, too. She is my college mom to be exact. I met her and Tori my sophomore year, and I became one of her many, many daughters as soon as Tori joined Sigma Kappa. She is great with advise and always up for tailgating or a girls night (the picture above is from a concert in Huntsville where we got caught in a terrible downpour)! I love you Miss Kim.

Here is a picture of Tori and I with our moms.

This is my beautiful friend, Chelsea with her Avery. She is an amazing mom and wife, and she is one of my very best friends! I am so thankful for her!

Aunt Cindy is my mom's best friend. She is another one of my moms growing up. I love her and Uncle John, they are truly part of my family. I hope that your day is wonderful!

The only mom that I think that I am missing in Mrs. Tucker. I didn't have a picture on my laptop, but I have a million at home in Alabama. I split my time between the Davis' and the Tucker's houses. Mrs. Tucker was also a mom who treated me like part of the family. I have wonderful memories with her and her amazing family!

So, Happy Mother's Day to all of you. I hope that you know how loved you all are.

(If you thought that mother's day was long, just wait until father's day... I have a million uncles to recognize!)

More Visitors

Gavin's brother and sister-in-law (Aubrey and Meghan) came into town this past weekend, and it was such a blast. They stayed at my apartment because I have more room at my place than Gavin does. They were a lot of fun and really easy to entertain. Gavin and Aubrey have a friend that lives in Phoenix, Eddie, who came up to visit with his girlfriend Aly, so it was a full house! We went to the strip and ate at a nice restaurant, and Aubrey did some gambling. He won $325 in about three hours! It was really great getting to spend some time with them! Below are some pictures from their visit. Aubrey and Meghan are not much on being outdoors, but we were able to get them to go to Red Rocks to see where Gavin does his highline. Aubrey got a little woozy being close to the edge.

Aubrey trying to make a small climb in his sandals.

Meghan and Aubrey in the great outdoors.

The four of us at Red Rocks.

This was as close as Aubrey would get to the edge.

Gavin and I at the casino where Aubrey won all of his money.

Meghan's huge plate of nachos at Margartiville. She barely made a dent.

Gavin and Aubrey playing the ring game while we were waiting at Margaritaville.

On Unemployment and Persistent Prayer

This is me on my second graduation day this past December! I am really, really proud. Nursing school was hard. I didn't sleep very much! I cried and I whined! And Mom had to listen to me on the phone whine about why my life was so had (oh the drama)! And it was finally over without any embarrassing failures, and I have a degree that will allow me to do what I most want to do which is to help others.

On the way to the coliseum for the very long and boring graduation ceremony. It was raining really hard that day.

Me with my proud parents.

This picture was taken the night before graduation at the School of Nursing pinning ceremony. Faybaby came as a surprise to pin me!

It was really special for her to be there for my pinning. I am the first granddaughter to take after her and become a nurse. She is one of my favorite people in the world, and I know that she doesn't like to leave her house, so I was happy that she was there!

Okay, now to get to the point of the post. All of those proud pictures and hard work paid off and I got my diploma. BUT, I have to pass the state boards and I need a prospective employer. I am loving my life out here with very few responsibilities, but I am afraid that I am forgetting all of that nursing knowledge I worked so hard for. And, I really want to connect with people. I loved my time at St. Jude's Research Hospital, and I would love to have a job like that out here. I know that that is a long stretch, but I will take almost any nursing job in the meantime. God sets aside seasons in life, and I am in love with where I am right now! I would just really enjoy the chance to start my nursing career and to help others. So, I am continuing to pray for the right doors to be opened (and that I can have the perfect schedule). So, if you have time to remember me in your prayers for a job, that would be much appreciated. I miss all of you and I hope that you are all doing well! It is almost summer!