Lessons and carols

I fell in love with these precious little people this semester and had the joy of leading them in DCCA's lessons and carols program.

Kick Kids First Ireland interview

Kick Kids Ireland Interview #1 from David Kicklighter on Vimeo.

Journey to Ireland Update

http://davidkicklighter.wordpress.com/2014/09/09/balance-september-2014-update/

A Little House Cleaning

I remember when blogging used to be easy and natural for me. I've been writing in journals since I was eleven. Pouring out my heart onto paper(or blog) used to be like breathing, necessary and normal. As you can tell by my long absence of actual prose ( instead of pictures, links and videos) things have changed quite a bit for me. I've been thinking about this for a while now and trying to find the root. I'm forcing myself to act now because of the future, the direction that our lives are heading.

As we try to live life normally, we are busy raising partners to head to Ireland. Knowing I won't be here in person, one day very soon, has lit a proverbial fire under the bum. This is one of the ways our culture communicates and I acknowledge the benefit of being able to write about our new lives in Ireland and that writing reaching many ( or whoever is interested) people at the same time, in one little post. We want to stay connected to our friends and family here. We want them to know that we couldn't be doing this without them, and we wouldn't want to. We want them to know how much we love them and need them in our lives.

So what's the hang-up with blogging? I've been on social media long enough to see the nasty comments and heated debates which leave at least one side damaged and/or destroyed. Because of my desire to adopt I have especially seen the destruction against adoptive bloggers. I can't imagine why we humans do and say such mean things to one another. Then I think about my Jesus and the fact that He lived a perfect life, showing us who the Father was and the way to salvation, and we crucified him.

We are all wicked and self-righteous, tearing each other down and destroying hearts and lives. Jesus frees us and gives us His righteousness. We are free to love well, free to be kind, free to destroy the strongholds of sin and death in this world and in our hearts. I know whose I am and nothing can change my standing as God's child, through Jesus. I have been declared righteous so I can accept criticism, meanness, harshness and these things will not change who I am.

So now to make my plan...my life is so busy right now but I want this to become a habit for me. I'm going to have to play around with my calendar to see what time of the day works well and even which days of the week...baby steps! I've definitely spent too long writing today and its Labor Day, which of course means a day to catch up on cleaning, laundry and such!

Have a wonderful day, friends!

Oh Ireland!

Wish I could have been there!

Journey to Ireland update

http://davidkicklighter.wordpress.com/2014/08/23/40-by-40-2/

Trinity College Dublin, The Long Room

THE ART OF CELEBRATION STORY - REND COLLECTIVE

Feldman/Bell-Tanner Engagement Shoot

The Great Discovery ( a puritan prayer)

Glorious God,

I bless thee that I know thee,

I once lived in the world, but was ignorant of its creator,

was partaker of thy providences, but knew not the provider,

was blind while enjoying the sunlight,

was deaf to all things spiritual, with voices all around me,

understood many things, but had no knowledge of thy ways,

saw the world, but did not see Jesus only.

O happy day, when in thy love's sovereingty

thou didst look on me, and call me by grace. 

Then did the dead heart begin to beat,

the darkened eye glimmer with light,

the dull ear catch thy echo,

and I turned to thee and found thee,

a God ready to hear, willing to save.

Then did I find my heart at enmity to thee, vexing thy Spirit;

Then did I fall at thy feet and hear thee thunder,

'the soul that sinneth, it must die',

But when grace made me to know thee,

and admire a God who hated sin,

thy terrible justice held my will submissive.

My thoughts were then as knives cutting my head.

Then didst thou come to me in silken robes of love,

and I saw thy Son dying that I might live,

and in that death i found my all.

My soul doth sing at the remembrance of that peace;

The gospel cornet brought a sound unknown to me before

that reached my heart- and I lived -

never to lose my hold on Christ or his hold on me.

Grant that i may always weep to the praise of mercy found,

and tell to others as long as I live,

that thou art a sin-pardoning God,

taking up the blasphemer and the ungodly,

and washing them from their deepest stain.

Journey to Ireland update

http://davidkicklighter.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/and-the-crowd-goes-wild-may-2014-update/

The Ha'penny bridge, Dublin

A Wooby's shower

My middle sister, Carey, whom I affectionately refer to as "wooby" is getting married May 31st. We had a sweet shower for her at a new bakery down the street. I am so happy for her!

Mother and Daughter

Mom and Mandy slice up the deliciousness!

Paige, Madison, Woob and Jenn

Me, Mom, Woob and Mandy

Cousin Janine

The "little" girls

The Best Friends

Family photo shoot at the Coles

I had the great privilege of taking family photos at the Coles farm. I loved all of the different groupings especially the first one below of my Dad, Mom and Step-dad ( with sister Mandy holding the sign)!