Merry Christmas!

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Happy Halloween!

Happy 13th Birthday Ryan!

Ryan turned 13 on October 19! Happy birthday Ryan! We love you!

Fall Festival

We have had a very busy fall so far. Grandma and Grandpa have visited and one of the things we did was go to our neighborhood fall festival. We all had a great time and Gracie ended up winning the pumpkin painting contest for her age group! Hope you enjoy the pictures!

View on the way to Church

Ever feel like you are going against all odds just to make it to church on Sunday?

Remembering Grandma...

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Happy Easter!

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Help Me Feel the Love!!!!

This dog has a serious attitude! Please help me 'feel the love'. The vet asked me her name and I had to think because normally I call her "the white dog" ...."the brat"...and a number of other names that I will not post. Don't get me wrong...she is sweet and very cute. But....she has an attitude! Poor Henry (who has been the lone ranger here for 9 years...has been gracious even when she growls at him just for wanting a little attention, like when he has to go outside to do business! She also was suppose to be 100% potty trained....NOT! She is a sneaky pooper. Even after a LONG walk, she will sneak upstairs and poo in the kids room...as if to say "I am the only child here". She also has a serious attachment disorder and literally will climb up my body crying and wimpering in high pitch tones when I walk in the door. She steals toys off of beds and eats their eyes...She is also like a cat and can jump, climb and walk on things you would never imagine! Have you noticed I said 'she'...can't even use her name in a sentence...help! I need to feel the love for this DOG!

I wonder if...

I will ever have time to write on this crazy blog
We will ever have enough milk in this house
There will ever come a day with no laundry to do
I will ever be able to take an important call and not have to hide in the garage
I will ever be able to finish in the bathroom on my own time and not because someone is walking in...saying ...MOM!
We will ever get through the month with money left over to spend..just because.
My dogs and kids will ever learn to communicate quietly
I can ever leave for a trip without putting my kids in a tail spin for days upon my return
The deer who visit my yard will let me enjoy flowers this year AT ALL!
I am a one note...only talking about the kids in my family, kids who need families, or the kids who just got families
My husband still thinks I'm pretty when I feel tired most of the time
I'm doing enough...
I truly recognize how blessed I am to be living this life~

Winter 2010

Gracie turned 5! Snow Days!

Our God is the God who HEALS!!! Welcome Home Dawit!!!

Happy New Year!

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~