We're off!

Nick and I are sitting on the plane from DC ready to depart for Addis. Although we have been so excited for our trip for quite some time, we are leaving with heavy hearts as just about 24 hours ago my grandfather passed away. We are leaving as planned at our family's encouragement. We appreciate prayers as this will be a difficult time to be away. We know God will carry us through, however, and we are so excited to be seeing our Ethiopian friends soon.

We already have a good story about our trip and we haven't even left US soil. No time now, though. Will update soon we hope!

Thankful November : Day 26

Today I'm thankful for your grace. Grace that I missed a thankful post yesterday, and that I'm likely to miss the rest of them. Because well, I'm leaving for Ethiopia on Thursday. And I'm working up until the minute I leave. Hopefully I'll have a chance to post before we leave. If not, we'll be doing some blogging from Ethiopia. See you then! 

Thankful November : Day 24

I am thankful today for having a strong husband! We went to cut our Christmas tree down in our typical family tradition fashion. We drive about two hours up into the woods and buy a permit to cut a tree down. This is the third time in 36 years there has not been snow at this time up there. We had a really mild winter last year so everyone had been anticipating a snowier winter this year, but so far, no dice. Anyways, back to my strong husband...

There were a lot more people around than in year's past and it was a bit of a bummer. No worries, Nick and I trekked farther into the woods, up a huge hill, down a huge hill, along a dirt road, and there was nobody in sight. For good reason. Except this is where we found our perfect Christmas tree! It was on the side of a really steep mountain, all by itself. Nick was a trooper and didn't give it a second thought. Well, he might have, but he didn't say anything to me about it. He drug the tree up the entire mountain and then loaded it on his shoulders to carry it the rest of the way.

It's now up in our living room. Tomorrow is decorating day, but it's probably the most full tree from the forest we've ever had. It's a good one. Strong work, Nick.

 

Thankful November : Day 23

Can you believe I've made it 23 days? Me neither. It is beginning to feel a little like the time I did a Fantasy Football league. It all sounded so exciting in the beginning, and then it just kept going. And going. But hey, I'm almost there considering we leave for Ethiopia in six. days. Yes, less than one week.

Today, I've had the blessing of shop and wrap gifts for our very precious Ethiopian friends. Christmas is coming to Ethiopia early this year!

Thankful November : Day 22

I am so grateful for the ability to cook and enjoy lots of great food in a warm house. I know too many who don't have this blessing and I hope I never take it for granted.

Thankful November : Day 21

I'm so excited for Thanksgiving! I really love celebrating holidays at home and Nick and I are excited for a day devoted to relaxing, being thankful for all our blessings and enjoying some of our favorite yummy foods.

Thankful November : Day 20

Today is a day for being thankful for modern medicine.

Thankful November : Day 19

I did a little babysitting (if you could call it that...I went over after the kids were in bed and watched t.v.) next door tonight while our neighbor helped Nick work on a project we've been trying to finish up for a number of months now. I've been saying I wanted to have it finished by the holidays and well, they are upon us. I'm hoping I'll be able to "reveal" the big project soon! Thankful for having neighbors who are not only helpful, but also good friends.

Thankful November : Day 18

After work today, Nick and I went to see the movie Lincoln. It's actually a surprise I didn't see it on opening day, but I'm only a few days late to the party. And what a party it was. If you know me, you know I love me some Lincoln. I seriously respect what he did as a president and I have a hard time wrapping my head around the place our country was in at that time. I am grateful for how far we've come, but I do believe there is so much farther to go to be in a place where all people are respected, appreciated and valued for who they are, not just in our country, but in the world. Daniel Day-Lewis does an amazing job playing Lincoln. I'd highly recommend checking it out.

Thankful November : Day 17

Today (which is really yesterday), I had so much fun celebrating Friendsgiving. While Nick and I appreciate our really quiet holidays together with no agenda for the most part, it was fun to get together with 13 other people to eat way too much turkey with all the fixins' this weekend. My corn pudding was a hit, too.

Thankful November : Day 16

Nick and I are watching Star Wars tonight. I've never seen it, and I was told while in Disneyland in line to ride Star Tours that apparently that's just not acceptable. Although I'm not sure it's quite my cup of tea, relaxing on the couch has been a nice break from the busy evenings we've had this week!

Thankful November : Day 15

Thankful for a warm, snuggly dog to come home to!

Thankful November : Day 14

Ready for some appreciation for the little things in life? Nick accompanied me to the grocery store tonight for a few staples and a few things getting ready for Thanksgiving. What is usually a mundane task that I rush through ended up being much more enjoyable. Oh, and one of Nick's favorite things about Christmas is apparently now out. He calls it "Christmas spirit:"

 

Thankful November : Day 13

I am so thankful it's BASKETBALL SEASON! Tonight marks the first meeting in 11 years of Duke and UK in basketball and although we only got to catch the last 15 minutes of the game, it was exciting! Nick and I are by no means sore losers and we know UK is a great basketball team, but we're pretty pumped Duke came out with the win. GO DUKE!

36 hour campout to be entered into the lottery for a season basketball ticket. i'm under the blue blanket :)

coach k for life

cameron crazies!

Thankful November : Day 12

Nick and I are starting to wrap our heads around the idea that we're leaving for Ethiopia in three short weeks. Love, love, love this. What I do not love so much is trying to make arrangements for while we're gone. I am so thankful that my work is supportive of my taking two weeks off and for PTs who are willing to cover my caseload.

One of the many, many things I am looking forward to, however, is recording my voicemail message telling people to not leave a message because I'm out of the country for two weeks. YAY. Peace out, cell phone.

Thankful November : Day 11

This is an easy one. Being Veterans Day, many people have been reflecting on the freedoms we enjoy in our nation. We are all aware we have our veterans to thank for that. I am appreciative of past and present servicemen and women and their families, who also sacrifice so much. Of course, I'm giving an extra thanks to my grandfather, father and husband who all served our country.

Nick and my dad

 

Thankful November : Day 10

It's snowing here in Colorado! The pow, as we snowboarders call it, came down pretty hard most of the day. It made me very thankful that I have a pretty short commute to two of my three jobs, so I didn't have to be on the roads more than 10-15 minutes on my way home tonight. We have had the chance to sit in the living room drinking coffee watching the snow fall tonight, although it has mostly stopped by now. Our street has some pretty big trees which always look stunning covered in snow with the street lights and our downtown area (just down the street) already has their Christmas lights up. It's beginning to look like the holidays! :)

View from our front porch this afternoon

Thankful November : Day 9

I am thankful for having a day off from work! I only got three things checked off my to-do list, but that means I've also had a little bit of down time which was really nice. I'm back at the grind tomorrow, but I still have a few hours to avoid thinking about it :)

Thankful November : Day 8

Brought to you by the hubs...

What's up people?! I get to be the thankful one tonight and I'm finding it sort of difficult to just pick one thing. What comes to mind honestly is that I'm thankful I can give thanks.... Sounds weird I know, but stick with me for a second. When I go through my day I feel like I have a running list of things I thank God for. It goes a little something like this: drive to work and see an amazing sunrise on the mountains, Thanks God! Work with amazing people all day, Thanks God! Drive home to an amazing Wife, Thanks God! So today I'm thankful for all the little awesome things I get to experience throughout my daily routine. Hey, the daily grind isn't so bad right?

Thankful November : Day 7

Today I was incredibly grateful for the very rare opportunity I had today to have lunch with my husband. Obviously during the work week quality time is fairly scarce, so I was loving every minute of it. He even came to pick me up!

Thankful November : Day 6

I am thankful for others that blog. In the struggles, triumphs and journeys of others, we can find encouragement and wisdom.

Thankful November : Day 5

I am thankful to live in a country where I am free to vote in a democratic process. It took me about three hours last night to complete my ballot after having researched all the candidates and issues, but I feel good about the choices I made. I remember one time talking to a friend in Ethiopia about how they "vote" in elections. He laughed so hard he almost cried, and said "Democracy?! KELLY, this is AFRICA!" He meant it, too. I believe the candidate that election in Ethiopia won with over 99% of the votes.

Although I'm thankful to have the opportunity for my voice to be heard, I'd also be lying if I didn't also mention that I'm pretty excited for the election to be over, so the political ads and arguments can be finished for another four years.

"I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them:
1. to vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy;
2. to speak no evil of the person they voted against; and
3. to take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side."

John Wesley, October 6, 1774

Thankful November : Day 4

I am so thankful today for the churches and people who have recognized Orphan Sunday. My world was rocked in 2009 when I traveled to Ethiopia for the first time and eyes were opened to the orphan crisis. Here are just a few of the precious faces that have changed my perspective.

Countdown is on. We're heading to Ethiopia in T-25 days.

Thankful November : Day 3

I have had some very sweet, encouraging e-mails since you all heard I was sick. I think I may be feeling a bit better, but it might also just be because I ODed on cough drops. Thanks for all the well wishes!

I had the opportunity to spend the day at the Something of Value conference at the college campus where I am an adviser for my sorority. I was so thankful to see relationships being built, women supporting other women and coming together for a common good. I really, really loved my college years and have benefited so much from my membership in my national sorority both then and now. Six of my eight bridesmaids were sorority sisters and most of my best friends are still from that time. I have amazing friends, and am so thankful for them all.

Just for fun, we'll do a throw back to some college days.

grandbaby, grandma, little

we almost physically ran into my sorority granddaughter in venice. what are the odds.

Thankful November : Day 2

Not quite feeling better, but the Fresca still seems to be hitting the spot.

Today, I'm thankful for work. I have a full time job I really love, and two other jobs that have made working towards funding our adoption possible. I have great work "families" with coworkers who are friends and who genuinely care about each other. We have made some really great Colorado friends through our jobs. We're lucky.

Thankful November : Day 1

So apparently this month in the blogging world means you blog every day about something you are thankful for. I've been meaning to get back to the blog lately but haven't had the inspiration, or energy, for that matter. This seems like a good 'excuse' to rejoin you!

Today, I'm incredibly thankful for my husband who is currently out at Walgreen's (or the like) picking me up cough drops and a Fresca. Me and my stiff neck, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, cold hands and feet self are keeping an eye out for a rash before rushing off to the ED to be tested for meningitis. Despite the fact that I've had the meningitis vaccine. And the flu shot. And the fact that I'm probably just nursing some terrible cold with crazy sudden onset.

I'll keep y'all updated tomorrow with my thankful day two post.