A new year- new paint, new friends and a "new" heart!

Aaaaaahhh, finally! After many years of kid-fingerprinted, dingy white walls, we finally painted the house! We are absolutely thrilled with how much this feels like a HOME now! The kitchen, while pretty, is not really blog-worthy with its new beige tone, but here's part of the living room...

...and the kids' loft. This orange is my favorite <3.

We were so blessed to receive a visit last week from Won Kun and his family!! It was a wonderful evening, but I wish I paid more attention in French class 25 years ago! Won Kun's whole family speaks French as well as Korean. Me, I'm stuck with English only. Bo Yun did lots of translating for her mom though, so it was a really neat visit. We shared Korean soju, Michigan beer, and lots of stories about our shared "son". The visit went so well on Thursday that we got up early Saturday morning for one last hug and to see them off from their hotel. We certainly hope to see them all again in the future!

We found these Korean Michigan shirts in Ann Arbor for Kyung He and Youn Duk!

All of the Park and Sparrow kids together...

Friday night, I took Luke, Mo, and Parker to an ice skating exhibition and brought Morgan's friend, Colette, along for the fun. It was a really neat show... and free! (Dave Ramsey would approve!)

And the best news is that Parker made her first confession! She wrote a little bit about her thoughts on it when it was over: "...I was nervous but Jesus helped me get through it... my heart felt soooo white and clean!..."

Now, we have started a really crazy time and I am trying to enjoy (almost) every minute of it. Jalen started driver's ed, Morgan and Parker both started violin and basketball, Jalen and Luke have much going on with school, play practices, parties, and Life Teen and tonight the boys are attending a pro-life rally for teens- what a great way for them to spend the evening!!

John and I are thankful (even if a little tired from all the driving) for the ways they are each growing in their friendships, faith, education, and as a family. My greatest joy of the week happened last night when I had a raging headache. I was nursing my head downstairs, while listening to all of the kids and their dad in the loft. They were playing board games together and it was such a joy to hear ALL of them enjoying their time together, even if the screaming did hurt my head even a little more!

I have internet friends who were recently discussing their "word" for the year... some I remember are "simplicity", "choosing joy", and "faith". I can't pick one. I'm stealing all three of those to work on and the first two weeks of 2010 have been a pretty great start. :)

God bless,

Kelli