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!