I am not a big NEW YEAR’S kinda gal. I think it is the biggest of let-down holidays. The only year I can remember it being HUGE fun was 2000 – I spent New Year’s Eve in Beijing, China and counted down to a new millennium in Tienanmen Square with my (now) Honey, my brother, sister-in-law, and a gazillion strangers. Everyone held their breath anticipating technological mayhem at midnight and trying to stop humming Prince. It was awesome.

This year I have been excited too. Not about New Year’s Eve, mind you, but about the new year. I can’t tell you why. Part of it is due to the sermon I heard in Birmingham last Sunday. Dr. Barker preached on Faith and Prayer. On the heels of a week with my brother and stories of all God is doing in distant lands, the sermon was just the exclamation mark needed to get my heart racing with hope. What am I willing to trust God with in 2010? What do I believe God is capable of? Do I believe he could work and Little could actually be potty-trained? Do I believe He has the power to work in Bubba so that melt-downs are a thing of the past? Do I believe He could change me and the habits that have been a part of my life for YEARS?

Scripture says He has the power and testimony declares He has worked in the past. I am going to trust Him for change and rejoice in what He does. It’s exciting, I tell you!!!

So after some time away today, I have landed on Prayer, Purpose, and Passion as my driving themes for the year. Oh that I would be on my knees in prayer and trust God for BIG things; things only He can do. To live with purpose; making the most of every opportunity and trusting that, whatever those opportunities look like, they came from Him. I desire that my life would be characterized by passion – zeal.

To sum up. . . Romans 12:11-12:

“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in Spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

I think I might just keep a little notebook and record what the Lord does – just like I was taught to do my freshman year of college. I’ll tell you about the things too and “make known His mighty deeds among the people”. And if you want to download Dr. Barker’s sermon and listen for yourself, go here.

Look Look!

Isn’t it wonderful? See how LONG it is? Honey can lay down completely stretched out! All three children can sit on this couch and never have to touch. It is so comfy and clean and wonderful. And we’re going to repaint the walls, and get new artwork, and and and…

Thank you for the new couch – – YOU know who you are. The Kicklighters could NOT be more grateful. Wish I could tell you to your face.

One of my mom’s dearest friends from college is Mary Louise. She reads this blog – mostly because she loves my mom. She wrote my mom before Christmas and told her that she enjoys reading the blog – especially when there are pictures of my mom and dad. So, here you go, Mary Louise! These are the Christmas pictures with my parents in them. *smile*

My kids equate visiting Memom to riding the mall carousel, so we headed out for Chick-fil-a and a ride on a reindeer. . .

As you can tell by KB’s sleeve, we ate first. . .

Christmas Day. . .Pop explained how the distribution was going to work. Memom got a scrapbook of our summer visit. Check out that multitasking! She is opening the book and listening to Brooke say something of great importance. Growing older isn’t holding my mom back!!!

Here she is talking while she opens a gift!

Check out my mouth and my mom’s mouth and my neice Abigail’s mouth! We are cut from a very similar mold!

Pop reading the great literary works of Elmo to KB.

Memom got a big box of her Christmas dishes.

The day ended with the pulling of the wish bone. Memom won. Of course this means nothing but it was cute to watch.

And there you go, Mary Louise. SO many adorable photos of my so adorable parents. Happy New Year!