Happy Fall Y'All!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALKIDAN!!!

Kalkidan is officially 6! We had a few friends over for cake and ice cream and she got her first bike which she had been really wanting. She had a great day.

Pat made it to Ethiopia in time to say good-bye to one of our Arise families who are heading home. Please pray for his time there. He met with a new orphanage today and received 5 babies who need care (one of whom is in the hospital). There is so much to be done. Please pray that God will stretch out time and go before him in all that he tries to accomplish...in HIS name and for HIS glory!

Grandma and Grandpa are HERE!!!

So...o.k., I am the worst at updating this blog. We have been BUSY, like most families. Here is what we are up to: one school trip after spring show after field day, etc. in between allergies, asthma, and other junk...(gotta love spring); Alli is graduating tomorrow from 8th grade and Grandma and Grandpa Killeen are here for 8 days. Travel and more Travel ...Alli is on her class trip to Chicago, then heading to Arizonia with Ry to visit cousins then on to Oregon to join the rest of us for a vaca...first in several years. Pat is heading to Ethiopia and we are hoping to begin working with Operation Tikvah to assist the Jewish Ethiopians in refugee camps there. We are celebrating progress in ARISE for Children with new families, traveling families, and 20 kids home!!! God is good!

Yes, he did come home!

Michael helping dad carry in the first load of Ethiopian coffee beans.

Yes, Dad did come home! We have been very busy in the past month and I haven't had the time to write about his trip. He was gone around 10 days and we all missed him very much. He had a very successful trip. He got to meet Michael and Kalkidan's cousin who will soon be coming home to an American family. He got to see a lot of kids and see Michael and Kalkidans old house. He came home and brought back a bunch of souveniers; some included Ethiopian coffee beans and music. All in all he had a great trip!

Dad is in Ethiopia!!! Please pray for him and the work God has for him to do to establish a new orphanage.

I Spy With My Little Eye...

Deer! We see these deer all the time! It is so cool to come home and see them standing right in our own front yard! We know these deer so well now. When driving around the neighborhood we can tell the difference between other deer and the deer in that hang around our house. It is so neat!

Allison~

Happy Birthday Gracie - Party #1

Gracie turned 4 this January. This was the first birthday that she actually enjoyed; whereas before she was to little to know what was happening and hated the attention. Her first celebration was at Nana and Papa's. She was all princess on her special day!

Snow Day

Snuggling in Mom and Dad's bed with no electricity.


Alli and her friend who got snowed in with us...that makes 8!


A little sugar goes a long way, especially if you are stuck inside!


Little Miss Fearless


Enjoying the golf course




Birthday girl Gracie happy to have snow on her Birthday!


She later informed us that she didn't like snow any more.


Enjoying the snow~ Allison

Walkin in a Winter Wonderland

We're O.K.!!! Our power is back and besides being a little stir crazy we are doing great! More to come!

Allison got some curlers for Christmas and we decided to try them out one day. After Allison was done Dad said "Allison! Pretty! My daughter!" Then Gracie came into the room and wanted to curl her hair too. Now, this was a shock because she hates to even put a clip in her hair, but we did it anyway. When she was done she yelled "Daddy, come here! My hair is so pretty! Now I can be your daughter too!"

Happy New Year

I know it's a little late, but Happy New Year! We brought in the New Year by playing wii and watching the ball drop. Ryan was at a sleepover, and Kalkidan, Michael, and Gracie went to bed so, it was just Dad, Allison, Mom, and Henry ringing in the New Year on the couch.

Kalkidan and her mini me!

I forgot to put this classic one in the smilebox video. When she opened it up she yelled "She's just like me!" Thanks grandma!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook