After Thanksgiving

Well, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our family. We went to my cousin's and enjoyed the holiday with my family. We really had a nice relaxing day. The only thing that wasn't real fun was that Josie has been sick. She has had this congestion thing going on and coughing. She has been getting better in the last day, but it has wore us out since she gets up in the middle of the night and comes to our room and we have to give her her medicine to help her stop coughing. She has had a fever on top of it and Thank God for Motrin (it has really helped:)). Josie has been a little grumpy while she has been sick. It has been funny though, because when I tell people when I am talking to them on the phone, that she is getting better, she will look at me and say, "I am not well." I just laugh, it sounds so cute to hear her say that. We are relearning what it is like to have a sick 4 year old in the house again:) Steven is 9 and so it has been 5 years since a 4 year old has been living here (Thomas was 7 when he came home). I am very thankful that Josie seems to be getting better. I know that this climate change is very hard on the body, it has been on mine and I have lived here all of my life:). But, we had a nice holiday and I was so thankful for my family and the fact that we were able to be together and eat together. I also got a call from my oldest:) sister on Thanksgiving(I know she will love that I said that). She usually calls us to tell us Happy Holidays. She got to talking to me, she said something to me that really meant a lot to me. I am not going to say exactly what she said b/c I kind of like to keep that between us, but she knows what she said and it really meant a lot to me. Thanks Sandy, your a great person too, thanks for all of your support, you will never know what it has meant to me. God has given me a wonderful family!

Thanksgivings Past, Present and Future

Well, Thanksgiving is one week away. I sit and think about everything that I have to be thankful for and words could not even begin to describe everything that I am thankful for. I have a God who loves me even when I am not lovable and believes in me. I have a wonderful husband who loves me and lives this crazy life with me:) I have 3 beautiful children that God has blessed us with, even when I feel more like a referee, they are still a wonderful blessing that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. I had wonderful parents who did everything in the world to raise each one of us right, and they gave and did without so that we could have. I have brothers and sisters that I love and extended family that I also love. I have friends that have been there for me and my family and that I enjoy being there for them. I have a church (actually 2 churches that have people that are wonderful and supportive). I could go on and on (our home, car, job, etc.). I am very grateful for my health and the health of my family and I thank God for that.
I have also been thinking of Thanksgivings past and how much I loved Thanksgiving. All of my brothers and sisters would be by at some point in the day and with them with be their children. Since our mother and my family lived in the same house we got to see everyone, and I loved it. The cooking would start a couple of days in advance. About a week before, Mike and I would be sent on a search to find the biggest turkey we could find, per mom. Then a few loaves of bread would be bought to make the dressing along with a lot of other food. Usually the night before we would tear the bread and let it set overnight to dry and the turkey would usually go in about 4 to 5 a.m. and about 8 our house smelled wonderful!! We would get up and help mom cook and get the house ready for everyone to come over. Usually my sister and her family would be the first to arrive then, then my oldest brother and his family would soon follow and usually before dinner (most of the time:)) our other brother and his family would show up. There would be homemade noodles, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, turkey, homemade dressing, rolls, pumpkin pies, and cakes. Our house not only smelled wonderful, but the whole atmosphere of the house was wonderful. All of us siblings and kids would fill the house and table to spend Thanksgiving together! Mom would usually wait until everyone was done eating to take her place at the table. She would say that she just enjoyed sitting and watching all of us enjoy each other and the food. I know that my sister is laughing while reading this b/c she knows exactly how it was! Even if we tried to force mom to sit at the table when everyone else did, she said no, she would wait, that was mom wanting to make sure everyone was taken care of first. Then after the dishes were done and everyone rested a bit, it was time for seconds and then we would play some cards. We just all relaxed and enjoyed each other. Other family members would drift in and out as the day went on.
Well, times have changed, mom is no longer here, our sister and her family have moved to Florida, my nieces and nephews are growing up and we don't have those type of Thanksgivings anymore. I would have wanted my children to experience those types of Thanksgivings. Steven has, but it has been 3 years and I know memories are fading for him. But, with the saddness of missing those types of holidays, comes joy of experiencing new ones with my growing family. I know that we will have to make our own traditions and memories for our chidren. We will be going to my cousin's this year and I look forward to that. With me being the youngest of 5 children and pretty much the youngest on my mom's side of the family, my children are the youngest in the family. Mike's family is pretty much the same as my side. Loved ones have gone on, including his dad. His brother lives further away, so his mother will be going with us this year. I am excited to go to my cousin's with my family and for us to celebrate our first Thanksgiving as a family of 5! I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for those past Thanksgivings and the ones ahead. I miss my mom and my all of my siblings being together, but I know that life changes whether you want it to or not, like they say, that's life. I say that because I also want to remind you all never to take for granted the time you have together with your family. I know it is a lot to get stuff ready for the holidays and sometimes it can be very stressful, but it is sad sometimes when things change and people move to other places, people pass on, children grow up and circumstances change and everyone isn't together anymore. So, don't worry if everything isn't perfect, but being together is what it is all about. That's what you miss when you don't have it anymore. It can change quicker than you think. Cherish each memory and make more for yourself and your family. I look forward to the many new memories we will making with our children. I have learned so much from them and from my adventures with them and their father! With Thanksgiving being a week away, think about what you do have and about what memories you want to make with your family! I now know of many children in an orphanage in Africa who would just like to have that, a family.

Here are a few pictures of the last Thanksgiving most of us siblings spent together and the last on spent with our mother. Obviously, Thomas and Josie aren't in the pictures yet b/c we did not have them yet. I know that the picture of my mom and Steven and my two nephews isn't the best picture of her, but it is one of the last we had at Thanksgiving. Also the picture of the kids just shows how all were together playing when the holidays were here. Then there is the one of Mike at the table helping, or eating I should say:). Then, I know that my sister will kill me when she sees the one of her cooking, but that is what I enjoyed and remember, all of us in the kitchen helping mom and cooking together and laughing. That is what I will work hard to have for my children and hope that they have these type of memories when they get older.

First Winter Coat

Well, we took Josie to get her first winter coat today. We got a really good deal on it and were able to get both the boys one too, we got them each on sale. I had to show a couple of pictures of her modeling her coat! When there is a camera, you can bet the Josie will be around somewhere:). She loves to have her picture taken. I just wanted to show a couple of pictures of her modeling her coat! We found it in pink, which she just loved, she is so proud of her new coat!
I also wanted to add a picture of Thomas reading to her. He was working so hard to read to her, she wasn't listening as well as he would have liked:) I just thought it was nice that he even cared to try.

Dads and Hair

Well, remind me next time not to listen to Mike when he says anything about doing Josie's hair:). The story goes, Mike looked at Josie's hair this morning and was thinking, then a little later when I came into the kitchen, he was taking her hair out of the braids that someone had so kindly put in for us (thanks Faith). I was shocked and said, What are you doing. Where he proceeded to inform me that he was looking at her hair and he thinks that he could plat her hair. At this point some of her hair was already out of her braids and all I did was just stand there and shake my head. Now, I know how Josie is with her hair, I have been with her when braids are taken out and put in, she does not like to have her braids taken out or really put in for that fact. She tends to squirm and move around, so unless you really know what your doing, putting the braids in is difficult anyway if you really aren't used to it, let alone when a 4 year old really doesn't want to sit still for that long. I have gotten pretty good at taking her braids out. Mike on the other hand tried to take them out, and if I didn't help him, we would still be taking them out now. Well, to make a long story (or afternoon) short, I tried a couple of different things with her hair and eventually she went to sleep on my lap and this is what I ended up doing with her hair.
When the boys came in from school Thomas looked at her hair (she was still asleep) and said, "Who did Josie's hair." Then I said I did, then he looked at me and patted me on the shoulder and said, "Good job, mom." Then Steven walked in and was convinced that Faith had come over and did her hair and when I finally got him to believe that I did it, he said it looked pretty good. When Steven asked why I took her braids out, I looked at him and said, "It was your dad who started taking them out, b/c he thought he could braid it." Then, Steven just started laughing. I told Mike, "See, even our 9 year old knows not to take them out." It may not be the best, but it will do as I learn how to do it better and quicker:). Good things she was asleep! I did call Mike and have him get some beads on the way home, and he didn't complain one bit, he just drove to the store and got them (I think he knew that he owed me big time). Well, Josie seems to like her braids and her beads that are in them. She shakes her head and says, "My beads mommy." And I say yes. I guess I am learning, even though Mike kind of forced me to a little quicker than I was anticipating.
Even though I am giving Mike a hard time, don't get me wrong, he is a great dad and was just trying to help. Hey, any dad that takes an interest in at least trying with their daughter's hair is a pretty good dad to me! He just keeps looking at her hair and he says, You did a pretty good job. I just look at him and shake my head and laugh:). Those of you that know Mike, can appreciate this and I know are laughing b/c you know how he is.
So, Mike and I both learned something today. Mike learned that platting isn't as easy as it looks and I learned that I can do a little with Josie's hair when the pressure is on:). I guess these are the adventures of having 3 children and one being a little girl:)
Enjoy the pictures!

Home At Last!

Well, we finally made it! It was definitely a journey I will not forget anytime soon! I have learned many things on this trip, many things about others and about myself. First of all, I learned that I can do anything with God in front of me and even when He is carrying me. I would have never thought a year or two ago that I would have went to Africa without anyone physically with me. I know that on the way there I spoke to different people that when they would ask where I was going and I told them Liberia, West Africa, they could not believe that I would go there without anyone else with me. They would say, do you know how dangerous it is there. I would say, well that is the only way this little girl is getting home and God will be with me. It gave me a chance to share my story and what God had done for us. When I got there, there were a whole lot of emotions. I was with people that I did not know or who did not know me, they had just seen a picture of me. Then when I got to the compound I met another man that was adopting a little boy (he had been there for 3 weeks and was leaving on Wed.), but Neil was very helpful and I am so grateful that he was there when he was. Then, before I knew it a little girl walked around the corner and from that time on we have not been apart to much. Was I nervous? Yes. Did I miss my family at this point? More than you will ever know. Just knowing that I couldn't get back to them quickly and it would be awhile before I could see them again was hard. Just knowing they were on the other side of the world at times broke my heart. But, I looked at this little girl and knew, I was what she had to depend on. We have learned many things about each other. We have seen each other happy and sad. We have seen the most beautiful things in the world together, but we have also see a place together that I can't imagine my children growing up in. I have met people along the way that I will probably forget about, then there are ones that I pray to God that I will see again one day that I could never imagine forgetting. People that I know God put in my path not only to help them, but they will never know how they helped me.
Just a couple of them:
First and Foremost God: Without you, I would have never done this or got through it! You sent me there for a reason, some I know and some I may never know this side of Heaven. Thank you my Father for leading me and sometimes carrying me! We made it! I give you glory for ALL of this!
Chris and Robert: "My Buddies" I don't know what I would have done without these guys. They showed me around the area, they helped get me "many" phone cards, bananas, helped me to take out Josephine's braids, took me to the beach (even if Robert doesn't like the water to well), and they made me laugh. These are two young men who live at the compound and go to school. They know how important it is to go to school and how it is not a given in Liberia. They work hard and they are very respectful. I learned many things from them. I learned how to value an education, how to be grateful for what I had and how to make the best of a situation. They also helped to "tote" Josephine on the very hot days when I had "toted" her enough:). I also got to share America with them. Whether through pictures or through movies I brought. They couldn't believe we had "current"(electricity) all day:). I was also told that I talk to fast, then I laughed and told them that was funny I was just thinking the same things about them. Well, I sure miss you guys and wish you could come to America, you could sure teach some of the teenagers here a few lessons in how to work hard and value an education. By the way, I hope that you guys got some new "slippers". Robert, leave Chris' slippers alone.:)
Rocking Joe: I thought rush hour traffic was bad to drive in here. I don't know how you do it man! There were many times I just closed my eyes and prayed that we would make it to where we were going:). We did not get into an accident the whole time I was there and we got into place that I still don't know how we got throught without stratching another car or person for that fact:) Your Good! You could drive anywhere here in America my friend! You earn every penny you get! By the way, I hope you got the van fixed, sorry I didn't get to say goodbye to you, even though we didn't talk much, I enjoyed meeting you and riding with you!! By the end, I knew we would get to where we needed to go as long as you were driving! Thanks for helping get me to the airport!
Menz: What can I say! You seen the best and worst! Thanks for everything from just listening to me when I got homesick, to taking me to the market, travel agency and finally to the airport. You are one that truly knew how much my family means to me and you respected that! Thanks for calling Mike to let him know I left and for calling me at home to make sure Josephine and I got home! I know you won't forget me!
Amos: Well, I guess you are part of the family now:) Just know that I won't be coming there to pick you up, you will have to be escorted:). Thanks for letting me us your computer. One day you will get that MP3 player. Just let me know when you want to Skype Mike and I, I will also tell Jean-Paul:). Josephine still says "I have a friend named Josephine":) You are one of a kind.
Francis: Thanks for putting up with me! Hope that you may have learned a little from me too, I enjoyed the tours and learning about Liberia and seeing the beauty that is hidden!
Williette: Thanks for everything! I know things were crazy for you at this time, but I enjoyed meeting your family and thanks for sharing them with me. Hope you all are doing better.
Emma: You were so kind. I enjoyed talking to you, you are a beautiful person inside and out! Keep rocking those babies, they need you and need your mothering until there new moms come!
Saturday: I wish I could have brought you home with me too, so did Mike! Thanks for everything you did. I never seen one spider the whole time I was there, thanks! Thanks for the good food too. Thank Pa Peter for me!
Tracy and Esau: Where do I even begin! What would I have even done without you two? I feel like you are two of our kids! I miss you two so much. I think of you very often and pray for you too. You seen me very happy and you also seen a few tears and you knew why. When I left you at the airport, my heart way breaking. I was so happy to be going home, but so sad to be leaving you two. You both have something that God has given you. You are very special people, look to God because He has a plan for you two, just keep your eyes on Him. Be safe! Take care of each other. I will be in touch with you both to check in on you and I have a couple of other people who will be checking in on you too:). I enjoyed telling you guys about America (and what American Idol was, and what a curling iron was) The look on your faces when I curled my hair was priceless:). You two will always be in my heart and Josephine's. Sometimes I think that besides getting Josephine, you two were the reason God sent me. Not only to meet you and spend time with you, but also to learn a thing or two from you. Miss you guys!
Mike: WOW! You were there for me so many miles away. You listened when I know you felt like you were missing out, and you also listened when the tears were falling and homesickness set in. You tried to get me home earlier, but that wasn't God's plan. I never want to be that far away for that long again. I learned that without you, a big part of me is missing (my best friend). I learned just how much I can miss you. Believe me, we won't be apart like that again for a very long time if ever again! Thanks for believing in me, you will never know how much it meant. No more long trips without you! Just like the song says, I was surrounded my a million people but I still feel alone (that is without you and our family). Thanks for being there and listening and loving me. Your my heart! God truly designed you for me! Thanks for always being there for me and for our family! I will be so proud if our sons grow up to be a husband and father just like you! Thanks for holding things down here while I was gone, I know it is not an easy task!
Thomas and Steven: Thanks for letting mommy experience this and not making it hard on me. Thanks for the phone calls and for helping mommy. I love you boys more than you will ever know and now your sister too.
Thanks to all who prayed for me and sent words of encouragement! The prayers were felt!
Well, I will be blogging in the days ahead of the different things I experienced and learned along the way, but I need to thank these people. Did I change the world while I was there? No. Did I expect to? No. Did I change a little? Yes. Did I see why my children will have a better life here? You can guarentee that. I loved it, but it also broke my heart to think that my children would have had to live their life there if God hadn't of brought us together. I understand why their birth parents did what they did and one day my children will too. I want to say thank you to them too. Even though they will probably never read this, I still need to thank them for being selfless and loving these kids as much as we do!
The pictures are of my friends Chris and Robert.
Then Tracy, Esau, Josphine and me.
Then when we got home from the airport.

By the way, when Josephine saw Mike, she ran to him! She has him wrapped around her figure already:)

Almost Home

That picture of Josie is how I feel. The last 24 hours has been such a roller coaster ride. Everything went well at the US embassy yesterday and Josie's visa was issued. At that point we thought that everything was done and that I could change my flight to leave today (Wednesday) and be home on Thursday. We we started to do that, the said that I had not been issued a clearance from the Ministry of Health in Liberia to leave yet. This is something new that they just started for people who are adopting in Liberia. They tried to get that issued on Tuesday, but we unable to get that done. When I woke up this monring I was notified that the clearance had been issued and that the Visa was here and I could travel today. I called Mike at about 4 AM and started working on getting the airline tickets changed. He called the airling then the travel agent. Each of them kept telling him that he would have to call the other in order to get the ticket changed. In order to make my flight today, I had to leave here at 11:00. He was on the phone with them right up until 10:55 trying to get the ticket changed. They finally said that they could change my, but not Josephines. I guess that it was something in relationship to terrorism that they cannot issue a one-way ticket on the same day as travel to the US on an international flight. So needless to say, I have been on a roller coaster and had to pack and unpack my suitcase twice in the last 24 hours. Well I am really ready to come home, but I will make the best of the time that I have left here. It is just so boring. I am the only person at the compound and am so bored. Hopefully the next couple of days I will be able to get out and see some of the sites. We did go to the ocean yesterday. I don't think that we will have to worry about Josephine being a swimmer, she was scared to death of the water. I am also having two of the neighborhood kids spend the night. They have been with us everyday. I let them eat with us when they are here. They are so thrilled to eat the food. I also let them uses the bathroom and take a bath a couple of times. I just tell them to go in and shut the door and come out when they are done. It is such a shame that this was the first time that this boy has ever taken a bath and he is six years old. Well, please just pray for me over the next couple of days. I know that Monday will be here soon, but it justs seems like it is so far away. I just can't wait to get home and see my boys and Mike. Thank all of you for your prayers, they have been felt.

Life in Liberia

Well, I suppose you have been seeing the pictures that I have sent to Mike. It has been a little difficult to get the pictures downloaded. We are having a nice time. Everyone here is very nice and they have been treating me very good. I have been here a week and I am ready to go home now. I think that the thing is, I know how long it takes to go home. It is a day trip, but at least I will know that I am on my way home. I went to a families' home way out in the "bush" as they would say here. The family was in the process of the child being adopted and they have to have a homevisit persay. We went out and we had to go up hills and on muddy dirt roads. I thought that we were going to be stuck a couple of times. Then we had to park in the front of someone's house and after awhile, the lady came out and was getting mad at us for being there, then she came to the side of the van and seen me. I was getting a little nervous, then she smiled and shook my hand and kissed it. I felt kind of bad that she did that, I don't know what perception they have of white people. I was nothing special, but she kissed my hand and was greatful that I was there. Then we finally got up on the hill and seen some of the kids and the grandma was holding a little girl about 1 1/2 and the little girl was OK until I got out of the van and then she started to cry and was scared. I really think that she was scared b/c I was white and she honestly probably had never seen a white person before. Doesn't that sound odd. Then when we came down the hill, we seen a lot of kids and families walking up the road and selling stuff. When we stopped, they just stood and stared at me and then when I smiled, they would smile. I would take their picture then I would show it to them and they thought that was just amazing. I would shake hands with them and they would just smile. It was kind of sad. I have not seen one other white person in about 3 days. I went into the city today on our way to this place and the market was very heavy with people, Sat. is their busy day. When I say busy, I mean busy. I couldn't believe all of the people. They were just buying and selling stuff, but there were so many people! You have no idea, when I say so many people, I mean like the most crowded day at an amusement park times 10. I didn't get out, we were just driving through. I said that if I got out, I would have to hold on to one of their hands like a little kid. When I say that I was the only white person, I mean for a least as far as I could see:). I guess that it shows me what my kids have to go through sometimes. But, no one said anything mean to me, at least anyone that I could understand:) They may have been saying something, but I didn't understand it:) I just smiled and went on. It is definitely eyeopening. I thought this morning while I was eating breakfast, I looked right out at the ocean and thought about how beautiful it was if you look right at the ocean, but when you look around, it is some of the saddest things to see. It was a little ironic, looking at something so beautiful, surrounded by something so poverty stricken, kind of like the best and worst view all combined into one.
I would have emailed sooner, but I am having problems with the mouse on this computer. After awhile, it just freezes in the corner and I can't move it. So I am limited in what I send. I am ready to get home. I am praying that I may get to go home a couple of days early. Say a prayer, that would be great. The sad thing is, I will be leaving my friends. They are 3 teenage boys that live here and work, just so they can go to school. They have helped me undo Josie's hair and have sat and talked to me and mad me laugh quite a bit:). Their names are Chris, Robert and Emmanuel. I have laughed so hard with them. When I told them when I was leaving, they looked sad. When I say they work, they work very hard doing different jobs here. They live in a room under the guesthouse. They go to school during the week and after school, they work and clean up around here. I never hear them complain. It sure puts a new look on going to school and how much they value it here. It is kind of sad, something that we get for free and most take for granted, these kids leave their families and home and work just so they can go to school. They aren't late or don't complain about going. Many children here talk about wanting to go to school.

I can't wait to go home and see my guys, I sure do miss them. I just wanted to email you and let you know what was going on and that I was OK. Keep praying for me, I can always use prayers, and I have sure felt them. Josie is doing great, really attaching to mommy. Can't wait to send more pictures, it is slow here to do it. But hey, I am in Africa:)