Sunshine, Sprinklers & Smiles:)

Hoping you and your family had a sunny, sprinkler kind of day!!   xo Kristen

Delightful Days!!!

What a blustery day here in N.D.....50 mph winds, tornado warnings, my outdoor cushions blown away...and my new outdoor wreath...ick!! Thankfully i did capture 2 of my cushions, and well, my wreath was down the street!! However, we have a nice, warm house to cozy up in, and we are enjoying hanging out!! The last few days have been fun...we've spent alot of time with friends, went to Creative Clay, the zoo, park, and a couple DQ trips too!! Gotta love the brownie batter blizzard!! We have been busy creating a few things for the boys, as well....our friends are leaving this week for ET, to pick up their son..and they have been kind enough to take a few things to the boys..man, i wish i could see their faces when they are given their gifts...ok, not true..i wish i was just going now!!!But, our time will come, and we actually have plenty of activities and things to keep us busy, so Alicia, thanks for taking our precious boys their gifts, and for loving on them:) Just one more request...pack them up and bring them on home!!!Ha!! Enjoy a glimpse of what the boys will be receiving!! Have a happy day!! xo kristen

sweet smiles:)

So, thought you'd enjoy a couple more pix of our boys!! Oh, and by the way... Ageze is approx. 4 1/2 years old?? and Tesfa is 2 1/2-3?? And, all along we've thought his name is Tesfaye, however, we were just informed that it is actually Tesfa!! I sure hope we are pronouncing them correctly, otherwise they might wonder what is wrong with their momma!! Can't wait to kiss on those cheeks, and hold those sweet little hands!! Thanks for all of the sweet wishes, balloons, cookie cake, and horn blowing......you know who you are!! We are lucky to have such sweet friends in our lives!! Just have to share a quick bit that Grant said yesterday... He said, "Mom, i wish all of my days were as happy as yesterday(day we passed court!!)" and i said.."why buddy, arent most of your days really good?" Grant..." well, not like that one..that one was really good because i actually have two new brothers now!!" Cute, huh??   xo kristen

Home stretch push!

Dear Family and Friends,                                                                                          

Did you know it is estimated less than 10% of all orphan children are adopted into evangelical Christian families?   According to current estimates, if only 10% more Christians in America would adopt, it would be equivalent to providing homes for all the orphans in Eastern Europe (1.5 million), Latin America (400,000), and the US foster care system (150,000).

We’ve felt so clearly directed to adopt, and we also desire to give an orphan child a family that he probably won’t otherwise have.  God desires for orphans of all nations to be loved, cared for and adopted into Christian families.

The biggest challenge for us is not opening our hearts and home to another child, but it is in finding the finances to make this happen.  By God’s grace we’ve been able to fund this adoption, which still amazes us and are finally in the home stretch.

Honestly, it’s a little difficult (because of our pride), to make our needs known to the Body of Christ around us, but we also know it’s very Biblical to do so.  We appreciate your friendship very much and would like you to pray & consider helping us in our adoption.  There are two ways you can help:

1. Prayer – Please pray God would tenderly care for Ageze and Tesfa in Ethiopia until we are able to bring them home, that God would prepare Grant and Kate for the upcoming changes to our family, and that God will give us wisdom, discernment, and insight as we raise Ageze and Tesfa to know Jesus Christ. 

2.  Financial support -   Will you please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us pay the remaining $3,000 in adoption expenses, to bring Ageze and Tesfa home?

Lifesong  (www.lifesongfororphans.org) has graciously given us the ability to offer a tax deductible way for you to support Ageze and Tesfa to help bring them home.

If you would like to help us bring Ageze and Tesfa home, you can send your tax-deductible gift between now and July 9^th to the address below.  Lifesong is a trusted organization administering the funds on Ageze and Tesfa’s behalf, and will pay adoption expenses out of funds received.

1.      Please make checks payable to:  Lifesong. You may preference how the donation might be used by writing “preference Gilliss #1167 adoption” in the memo section of your check. 

(*Note:  In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong which retains full discretion and control over its use.)

2.      Mail checks to:

Lifesong for Orphans

Attn:  Gilliss #1167 adoption

PO Box 40

Gridley, IL  61744

Thank you for your support!

In Christ,

 

Kasey, Kristen, Grant & Kate

So proud!!!!

Meet our sons and brothers:)

What a day..and it's only 9:00 a.m.!!!!!!! We received our big news this morning around 8:15...put us on speakerphone, and waited to hear what we have been praying for these last 2 months!!! We Passed court today....it was our 4th time, and we are now legally the parents and brothers to these two precious children:) God is GOOD!!!! Ageze and Tesfaye, you have blessed our family more than you could possibly imagine!! We are so lucky to call you our Sons and brothers!! We love you soooo much and can't wait to have you HOME with us!! Now, off to celebrate the day with the kiddos!!! Shopping for a few things to send the boys, and swimming at the hotel...what a fun day in store!! Oh, and the sun is shining, and Kasey is off of work...sooooo, let the fun begin!!! enjoy the pics:)

Kate's Kindergarten Graduation

My little girl graduated from kindergarten.  They put on a little performance for the parents and then we celebrated with some cake and punch.  Afterwards the kids are allowed to leave with there parents if they want to go out to lunch.  Well, my Kate thought it would be better to have mom and dad eat hot lunch at the school with her and Grant.  Mmm, corn dogs, french toast sticks and fries, what a combination.

Life is Good.....

A day late...Happy Mother's day to all of you momma's & soon-to-be momma's!! We had a fun day yesterday...church, time spent with my family, brunch, more family...and so on!! I LOVE being a mom..there is absolutely nothing else i'd rather do... I love spending time with my children, hearing their stories, listening to their laughter, and watching them grow!! Like I said, there is nothing else I'd rather do!!! They surprised me with a cool watering can, filled with all kinds of cool things...gardening gloves, gift certificate to Plant Perfect, gardening tools..and the sweetest little home-made cards!!! I LOVE being their mom!!! Now, if it would just get nicer out, so I could put these fun things to use:) Ok, so enough about this momma....on to the mom who gave me life...she's a mom, wife, nana, aunt, daughter, daughter-in-law, and the best role-model a girl could have!! If you know her, you know she loves the Lord, she loves her family immensely, is a loyal friend, a tremendous cook, a peacekeeper, and the list goes on and on...(sorry mom, I know this probably embarrasses you!!) Anyhow, She is my Mom, and I am so lucky to have her!! Ok, so now onto our boys!! We received thee Cutest pic of them from our friend who was ET last week....they were hugging one another, and smiling ear-to-ear!! It definitely was nice to see their sweet faces, after not passing court our 3rd time..ugh!! So, we now have been rescheduled a new date, and so we'll see if we pass the 4th try...you know, I know some of you have been praying for patience for me..well, it's time to start praying that we just PASS!! HA!! We just want our boys home:) The other day I bought myself a little plaque/sign that says..." I count it a PRIVILEGE to kiss my children goodnight at the close of every day." So, thank you Lord for entrusting me with your children..it is a privilege being their mom!! Oh, and this is the last week of school..yipppeeeee!!!! Enjoy a few pics!! xo Kristen

Emotional Week

This week started off with such excitement.  Our 3rd court date was on thursday and we were so excited to introduce our boys to you.  We woke up Thursday and thought there was no way we wouldn't pass, after all we were just waiting on a letter on one of the boys.  Well, we got the call Thurs. morning at about 11am telling us we did not pass again.  It was like we had the wind knocked out of us.  I gathered myself to ask our coordinator why and then it got worse, she said that we did not pass because the letter we were waiting on had misspelled one of the boys names wrong by 2 letters. (Ugh... wish they would have made up a better reason)  This was the first time during this process that i have felt just sick to my stomach and speechless.   Then we got news that our new court date is for May 20th, yep 2 weeks to correct 2 letters on a name.  Here is were I started feeling anger and frustration.  These 2 boys are waiting for us and I feel terrible that they have to wait longer.  I think God could sense our heartache because we received 5 pictures of the boys later in the day and what better way to make you feel better than to see those faces.  The best one is of the 2 boys hugging each other, you can tell they know they will be brothers because they are together more in pictures now.   Needless to say it was an emotional roller coaster of a day and we are exhausted..

Happy May!!!

May 2nd??? Really...snow is falling from the sky, and we have very cold temps(in my opinion!!)..not what i wanted to see on this sunday morning!! But, what i have been wanting to see, came to my yahoo inbox....yep, you guessed it...new photos of our boys!!! Let me tell you, they are beautiful, and beyond precious...and yes, hopefully as of May 6th, this coming thursday, we'll be introducing them to you....i know, we've said this 2 other times, so don't hold your breath...but they will take your breath away..thats for sure:)So, please pray with us that the 3rd time we will pass, and can start planning our actual trip to ET. We have definitely been tested in the patience area...but once again, it reminds me that my plan is not always the best, and that God is right there guiding the way...it may not have been the way i thought it would go, but knowing that God is leading us..we know that it will be at a perfect time, and feel peace in trusting Him. Yesterday we delivered may day baskets to our friends and family...what a fun time!! Good thing the kids reminded me of this exciting occasion, in my mind it couldnt possibly have been May 1st..snow yesterday too!! Good thing it has been melting:) This momma loves the warm weather..like 80 degree warm weather!!! Oh, and only 2 more weeks of school for the kids..yippppeeeeee!!! I love when the kids are home, and i love summer...so that makes me happy!! Grant made me a card for my birthday and this is what it said..."Mom, i love you so much. You are the best mom ever. Even though you are crazy sometimes, which I like!!" Love Grant. I asked him what the crazy part meant...he had written it in another card also!! He said, "well, it's not a bad thing mom, it just means you like to act like a kid with us, and we like to hear you laugh!!" I thought that was pretty cute...he likes to hear my laughter as much as I like to hear theirs!! There's nothing quite like hearing your children laughing..makes me smile:) Happy "snowy" May!! xo kristen