Two days after Thanksgiving

ola familia!
Thought you might like to see a few pictures from our annual shopping extravaganza with sisters
and cousins. It was a fun time for all.

love,
les

Nolans Halloween costume

Uncle Chuck update

The following is a copy of a recent email update from Les Clark re: Uncle Chuck Cozza and his journey toward recovery. She sent some great pictures, so I thought I should just duplicate her email since she did such a good job of it.


Robert Gillis -Great Grandpa Bob and Les's grandson Nolan (Julie and Mike's baby)and Ann (Cozza) Gillis - Great Grandma Ann and Debby and Mike's grandson Bodie (Karli and Nil's baby)

Dear family,
As you can see, Uncle Johnny and Aunt Sally have come for a visit to
Colorado. We were all at my mom and dad's house. Kim and the boys brought Chuckie over too. He is still making improvements. Uncle Johnny was talking to him almost the whole time we were all together and it was like medicine to Chuckie. He whispered to him and in this picture they were pretending to arm wrestle.
Kim said that this week is the week that Craig Rehab comes to evaluate Chuckie to see if he will be able to get into the center or not. Chuckie IS getting stronger. He DOES understand us. When Uncle Johnny asked him to blink his eyes, he did, when he asked him to close his left eye he did. He squeezed his hand and more. He really needs this rehab place to get him working on the strength in his left side. He does move it but it is very weak. I thought you might
enjoy these pictures to see how far Chuckie has come. We are all hopeful for his continued improvements. Today he told me he loved me in a quiet whisper. It did my heart good! I LOVE MY UNCLE CHUCKIE!
love to all,
les

The Colorado cousins

Thanks to Kate Clark for emailing this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdPXGxFsXx4

Everyone Had a Lovely Time. . .

Summer Picnic

The Cousins (to me) Bob Gillis, Karen, Les and Debbie - arranged a picnic at Uncle Bob and Auntie Ann Gillis' house last weekend. For several of us, it had been over a year since we'd seen each other - so Thank you, Thank you so much cousins for making it happen. Except oops! No group photo. Uncle Bob used to make sure there was always a big group picture - and we let it slip by. There back yard was still gorgeous; there were 2 new babies to ooh and ahh at.

Cousin Chuck came, girls home from college, married girls, working girls, golfing boys, and neighbors came. Who'd I miss. Pardon me for generically calling everyone "cousins".


I missed the baby announcement for Karli's baby boy -Bodie, so insert info here if you have it.

Julie's Nolan is now 4 months old and truely is at the life of the party age.
As always I'm tempted to try to list everybody, but I'll just muck it up. So, how about a few pictures, and maybe a slide show to come? It's late, so that will have to do.

Thanks again organizers! You did a fabulous job, and and was great to see everyone.

Cody Gillis holding Bodie Erickson. Lori Clark holding Nolan Miller.

.

May 11, 1954 - Anniversary Letter from Rev.WBG

Auntie Jan (Gillis) Hansen sent me this letter for the archieves! I'm trying to think how I can make it large enough to read - perhaps I should revive my old website and link it. (Just thinking outloud.) So, who was born in 1954 to Bob and Ann - that Grandma Katheryn McCrery Gillis was out visiting?

Roberta's Rock

We Centennial Gillis's got the chance to sneak up and congratulate Roberta (Scheper) Gillis. Mom was on the Board of Southsuburan for years (decades?) and is the reason Decovand Park and Goodson recreation center are as wonderful as they are today. The Rock, with a plaque recognizing Roberta, overlooks a large open space just north of Goodson. There is even a park bench in case you want to sit and contemplate on the rock. We'll get the kids out there with their crayons some day to make a rubbing of the plaque to add to this post.

"Happy Birthday to you, Cha cha cha!"

Today is W Bruce Gillis Jr.'s 84th birthday. (born in 1923) It occurs to me that I should type in what was put in the GF Chronicles, and then update it as a way of getting started. Maybe this weekend. Of course, who's birthday is next, and how quickly will I get behind . . . hmm. Well, I know dad spent a quiet day at home, had Mexican food (his long time favorite) with friends, and will celebrate a joint birthday/easter with us (the Dobsons) on Sunday.

Will and Debbie Gillis

My appologies to Will and Debbie for taking so long to get this blog updated. Will was good enough to send this information along, the first of hopefully many - keep in touch, get to know your extended family- postings:

Written January 8, 2007

Dear Colleen & Family & Friends,

Where to start?

I am Willis (Will) Arthur son of Harry Arthur grandson of Clifford Arthur Gillis. Deborah (Debbie) and I were married March 3, 2002. Even though we have been “legal” for almost five years, we’ve been together 22 years prior to that. When Debbie was unable to have children after her only child a daughter. I knew then and even now I thank God every day for finding my soul mate, and then being allowed to marry her. I have a beautiful stepdaughter Dana Diane who will be 37 years of age this fall. I regret nothing.

Our regular jobs are, I am a civil servant field agent with the Census Bureau, and Debbie works with a state funded disabled adult center. We are both self employed with myself an Accounting/Tax practice, and Debbie her Landscaping Design company.

We’re both heavily involved with our Nazarene Church with my myself the Treasurer, Usher, Sunday School Teacher for young adults, and this will be my 4^th year doing pro bono work with the IRS through our church doing free tax service for the elderly, low income, military, etc. Debbie works with the children in the Arts department.

Lastly, we own property just inside the Arizona state line by the Colorado River that separates CA & AZ. This is were we plan to retire in 10 years for health reasons, unless our health reasons force us to retire there sooner. This updates our blog of the Gillis Family Genealogy and Chronicles. A BIG thank you to Colleen for initiating this blog for updates, and a heartfelt mention to Aunt Lois Shore, who we’re honored to have shared many a long conversation with regarding the Gillis Family Genealogy and Chronicles.

Thank you for listening and we both look forward to meeting many of our relatives!
Sincerely, Will & Debbie Gillis

(Thank you Will and Debbie!)

Nolan Garrett Miller!

Nolan was born March 10^th, 2007 11:18 p.m.
7 pounds 6.5oz, 21 3/8 inches to Happy Parents Julia and Mike Miller.

Proud Grandma Leslie (Gillis) Clark and Grandpa Gary Clark.

Congratulations!

Pictures from Pat

Here are the pictures that didn't make it yesterday of Allison Teresa Baur, our newest clan member and her "Big Sister" Bryana. Also proud grandma when she visited early in January

Pictures

Newest Gillis Clan member Alison Baur and her "Big Sister" Bryana taken early Jan while Grandma Pat was visiting./Users/pattillotson/Pictures/Kodak Pictures/01-17-2007/100_2879.JPG