8 years ago....Our sweet Kate!!!

Today we are celebrating...and every day after that. 8 years ago today...Kate entered this big world...a world that is so much sweeter with her in it!! We have been celebrating for a few days now...pedicures & lunch with a special friend on Saturday, yummy lunch & then cake & ice cream with family:) If you have had the chance to meet Kate & spent any amount of time with her, you know how precious her heart is. she loves any & everyone. she loves life. Rarely do you see Kate without a smile or that sweet little nose all scrunched up, bubbling over with laughter. This year, she was able to request what she wanted on her cake...you see, most of the time I surprise them with how it's been decorated. Her cake was an exception...how could I deny her request?! She requested weeks in advance...her wish was that Ariyat be on her cake!! Her only other wish was that Ariyat would be home for it...she even considered holding off on her party till she was home:) the love this girl has for other children is absolutely beautiful. her smile & giggle fill our home with such love & joy.

Kate. we celebrate you. today & every other. The day you came into this world, one of our wishes came true. you are my sunshine. I love you. your brothers, sister, dad & I adore you. the way you are with your friends & family makes me so proud. you radiate such happiness. you love life. I love being your mom. when you enter a room, I can't keep myself from smiling. you shine bright.  xoxo

lots of love.

This is not a topic that comes easily for me...actually, it's quite hard. The financial aspect of Adoption. Yes, there you have it. $$$. First, I want to begin by saying a big ole thank you to all of you who have played a part in bringing Ariyat home...nope, she's not home with us yet...but, it's getting close!! Whether you have helped us financially, prayerfully or with well wishes & encouragement...we thank you!! We have truly been so blessed, far more than we could have ever imagined. Let me take you back. Back to the beginning of December. I remember Kasey saying.."Kris, aren't you worried about how the funds will come in to pay for our adoption?" I replied back with a steady & firm..."no!" Truly, I wasn't. Did it come to my mind?? Of course!! Was I worried, no!! I'm sure some of you are like..."how could you possibly start another adoption without knowing where the money will come from!?" I just knew. I knew that Gods hand was all over Ariyat & the 6 of us waiting for her. Clearly, from the minute we saw her precious face, we knew that Gods plans for her involved us. We just knew. It was that feeling when you can't even question it..Gods plans are so great!!! So, I knew with us saying "yes" to God & His plan for the 7 of us...that we would all be ok. Our hearts & faith would remain strong. He would sustain us. The funds would be there. And, guess what...they have!! Ok, so going back to December...Another adoptive mom, whom up until that point I had never spoken with, she emailed me one day & wondered if we would mind if she "hosted" a blog/fb style Kindle fire giveaway with donations benefiting our adoption!! In 1 short, amazing week...a total of $5,905.00 was donated!!!! Can I get an Amen....yahoo!!!! Our total amt due at that time was I think...$4,325.00!!! He far surpassed that!! You far surpassed that!!! Thank you doesn't feel adequate. But, Thank you!!! After that, Our church held a mission movie night...once again, the way they have stepped right next to our family during this process has been amazing!! The mission movie night was a huge success....a total of about $3,000 was raised!!!! Simply Amazing!! The love that has been shown to all of us is incredible...Why is it that we sometimes doubt what God & His people will do? With Him, there are NO limits on love!! It is never-ending!!! Ok, so I'm sure you are wondering...where are you going with all of this?!! Well, first of all...I want you to know. God is faithful. And, He is good!!!

 Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

So, with all of this being said....I am asking you to join us once again. whether through prayer, encouragement or financial help!!! We are so, so close to having everything paid in full!!!! We are only $2,800 away!!! We will be having a Spring Rummage Sale May 4-5th!! If you have anything you'd like to donate to the sale, we'd appreciate it so much!! If you have any questions, feel free to message me...also, We have about 250 puzzle pieces left...if each piece was sponsored for $10/piece....we'd only have $300 left:)

                          Thanks again for loving & supporting our family. 

                                                    xo

Easter 2012

One of our favorite songs lately has been..."Like a Lion" by the David Crowder Band...here are a few of the lyrics..
Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To see a revolution somehow

Let love explode and bring the dead to life
A love so bold
To bring a revolution somehow

Now I'm lost in your freedom
Oh, this world I'll overcome

My God's not dead
He's surely alive
And He's living on the inside
Roaring like a lion

My God's not dead
He's surely alive
And He's living on the inside
Roaring like a lion

Let hope arise and make the darkness hide
My faith is dead
I need a resurrection somehow


After church, the kids were singing their little hearts out to this!! Love! We celebrated by going to church, had a yummy lunch at my parents & then dinner with the Gilliss family! The kids enjoyed a couple of scavenger hunts too:) 

This year we celebrated Ethiopian style....the kids have been begging to wear their ET clothes, so we thought Easter was the perfect day to do just that!!! Of course we wanted to include Ariyat in our Easter pics...here she is on Christmas wearing her beautiful Ethiopian dress!! 
          
Let Heaven roar and fire fall
Come, shake the ground
With the sound of revival

My God's not dead
He's surely alive
And He's living on the inside
Roaring like a lion.






                                                          xo

March 15th, 2012....hard, hard day.

The day we all dreaded. it was time. time to kiss & hug our girl with all of our might. promising we would be back. it was one of those times when you just need to get it over with. i could hardly stand the thought of saying "goodbye." If our two youngest would have been with us, I would've just stayed. That thought played over & over in my mind. it was a wish. not happening. so, we made our last trip to the orphanage gate...spent time with her for a few hours. we played & played. Finally, I just had to hold her. We sat on the step, her arms wrapped around mine. I can still remember her gazing at me that morning, and I couldn't imagine this day coming to a close. As the time came to leave, we had Yared explain to her that we would be leaving for awhile to America & we WOULD be back, hopefully very soon. She stood close to me, we hugged with tears in our eyes & the flood gates opened. As we said good-bye to her, I felt like I was drowning in my tears. Kate & Grant were so sad. Leaving that day was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Backing away from the orphanage, I glanced back at her & there she was...standing there wiping those big, beautiful brown eyes of her & blowing us a kiss. Soon, precious Ariyat, Soon!!!

The ride back to our hotel was miserable. And, I cannot even begin to imagine what her little heart was feeling. We spent the rest of our day packing, eating, driving through the city that held my daughter. longing to go back just one more time. what an emotional day. That evening around 8:00, we said our good-byes to our new friends at the hotel. The kids had such a hard time leaving..they begged to stay. We hauled all of our luggage to the van & off we went to the airport. Our flight left at 11:30. We were wiped.

                                                   Until next time Ethiopia!!!!

                                                                    "sisters forever"

March 14th, 2012...markets. {antica} lion zoo. Ariyat:) The Yod.

men are all the same:)

kate & elsabet!!

Sister Almaz

inside joke:) poor Yared...

sweet sisters.

                     

they spent many drives sitting this way...taking it all in.

                                               

yum...

silly guy:) joel making grant die laughing..

hand-washing.

love this place!

Our friend, Joel!

This was our last full day in Addis. We packed it full. How could we not!! We started off our day by going to the markets for a bit, followed by The Lion Zoo. One of Grant's requests was to see animals while we were in ET...so, that we did!! Their zoo is much different than here at home, but we love new experiences & that it was!! Between the gigantic lions, baboons, ducks (yes, there is a duck exhibit!) the kids were definitely in awe!! We also had lunch at a really fun outdoor restaurant, Antica!! Delicious pizza!!! After our morning & afternoon spent out & about...we headed to our girl!! The perfect way to spend our afternoon!! We finished off our last full day in ET by going to The Yod Abyssinia ( a traditional ET restaurant with dancing, singing & more!!) Knowing what the next day would hold for all of us, I didn't want to go to sleep!!!                                                  xo