Christmas Day!

Well, here are a few pictures of Christmas day. It was nice, last night we went to my brother's house and had Christmas with him and my other brother. The kids enjoys exchanging gifts and we just enjoyed visiting with each other. There is a couple of pictures from the time with my nieces.
Today was so fun to experience with the kids. They liked their gifts and kept saying thank for everything. It was so funny to see all of this through Josie's eyes. She was given a gift from the boys last night and she smiled at them and just looked at it and rubbed the paper, she wasn't sure of what to do with it, she didn't know how to unwrap it. It kind of broke my heart that she didn't00 understand that it was her gift and she didn't know how to unwrap it. She was so excited once the boys showed her how to unwrap it. Well, this morning Santa brought her a kitchen set. She just looked at it and wasn't real sure what to think, she just stood there and looked at it, I don't think she was sure that it was completely her's (she was also still waking up). But, once the boys started opening their's and saying things like thank you and this is just what I wanted, she started smiling and saying,"Thank you, this is what I wanted". She would just smile with each present and seem amazed that the gifts were for her. She played with her dolls all day long. She truly loved each thing that she received. Thomas just kept saying thank you, you guys are the best parents. Steven was just smiling b/c he got his Star Wars people that he wanted so bad.
I later stood and looked at her and Thomas playing together and thought to myself what their life was like 2 years ago. Josie was still with her birthfamily and Thomas was at the Children's Home. I know that they didn't get any gifts b/c that is just not something that is able to be bought, there food is much more important. I think that especially Thomas was probably wondering if he would ever get a home. I am sure that Josie may have been thinking the same thing last year. I see that they have hope for a future now and they are safe and have food. I think of how our life has changed for the better and how I love the busyness of our house filled with little voices playing and talking. I treasure these memories because I know that one day they will grow up and I will wish for these "busy" times back!
I know that I have posted quite a few pictures but it was so hard to pick.
The pictures are of a couple of my nieces (I didn't get a good picture of one of my other nieces). Then, my brothers Jim and Chris. Then the others are of Thomas getting his DS which he has asked for forever, Steven getting his Star Wars, and Josie with her new dolls and Josie hugging Mike.
Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus!

Merry Christmas

Well, Christmas day is almost here! Josie really has no idea about all of the presents or how we celebrate Christmas day here in America. Thomas asked me if we could wake up in the morning and open gifts, he said,"You know mom, like we did last year." He had no idea that we do that every year, he thought that it was a once in a life time thing. I did explain that we do that every year. Steven, he just loves to group that presents into everyone's pile, we do talk about the fact of why we are really celebrating Christmas. We read the Christmas story about every night or every other night. Steven has been asking a lot of questions about it (ex. tonight he said, how old is Jesus. Or, was Mary and Joseph traveling on this night all of those years ago? Believe me when I say, Steven can ask a lot of questions, but awhile later, I thought he knows that this is true, that it isn't just a story, I know that he knows and I thank God for that b/c so many don't even know about Jesus and His birth).
I think about where I have been this year and how far we have come from last year. Mike was holding Josie and I looked at him and said,"I bet last year at this time you would have never guessed that we would have another child this year." Well, needless to say Mike shook his head that he didn't think that we would. I love those little surprises that God has in store for us. People have asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said that we are putting a ribbon around Josie and putting her under our tree with a sticker that says To: Mom and Dad and Family.:) We laugh and say we couldn't think of a better gift to get! There is no better gift that we could have gotten this year. We laugh and say that Thomas was our gift last year and Josie is our gift this year. We continue to laugh and wonder what next year will hold. Mike smiles and says, "What happened to getting socks and a tie". For those of you who know Mike, appreciate his sense of humor.
But seriously, after being in Liberia and seeing some of the sights that I seen there, I truly don't want any material gifts this year. I can honestly that I don't want or need a thing for me this year, I have more than I will ever need. When I see things or people on TV and see what they spend, it truly makes me sick when I see what they spend and what people do without in our country and in the other countries around. I think of all of the children and families that could be helped if some of these people could do without the designer purse or the designer carrying bag for their dog, their expensive watches, or their 6 digit cars, or multi-million dollar homes when people are homeless and truly have no hope, when kids have no food or are sick and need $20 treatment for malaria or a $6 malaria net. I am so thankful that my children understand compassion and know that suffering is real and they want to help others. Thomas asked me this week he said, "Mom, could we sell some of our stuff and save our money so that we could adopted more children." I thought to myself, he wants to help others and he knows what it is like to be there and not have a family to call his own or food to eat. Oh, Thomas, how I wish we had enough $ to help them all, or at least more.

What I do wish for is for each of the children at the children's home to have a home, for my sweet Esau and Tracy to have food and good health (which is no guarentee there),education and a mosquito net (which I know that have now:)), for my good friends Robert and Chris and Emmanuel to get an education and be able to spend time with their family. For both of my children's Liberian families to be safe and well. When I think of it, many in Liberia will only get the gift of their own life for Christmas and it is true. Believe me, I heard of one case this week of a boy who had malaria, but there was no way they could take him to the hospital b/c without $ there, a hospital will NOT take you and they don't have to (unlike here where you may not have the best care in the world, but a hospital still has to take you and treat you).
But most importantly for all of them to know that no matter what, God sent His son so that no matter how bad it is, there is hope and that one day we will all be together in Heaven where there will be no suffering.
I am just thankful this year to God for my health, home, and family. I am also thankful that God opened my eyes up to the fact that there is a world out there that needs help, needs God, and He wants to use us to help spread His word and love. But, most of all, I am thankful that so many years ago, God loved me enough to send his son even though He knew what would have to happen eventually, He still sent Him anyway.

Merry Christmas or Merry Christma(as my children say:))(some of you know what I mean:))!

Baking for Jesus!

Well, Josie and I spent the day baking for Christmas. We baked cookies and buckeyes. First I put on my apron and when she seen me in it, she just looked at me and touched the apron. Then I explained what I used it for and she began to understand it a little more. I also explained when we were cutting out the cookies that we were baking these for Jesus' birthday. She got very excited about that. I explained about the star was used to guide the wisemen to Jesus, so she kept making star cookies and said she was making them for Jesus. She would use the rolling pin and just love rolling out the dough. She would just laugh and smile while baking. Then she used a sleigh cookie cutter to cut one out and then she said, "Look it is Jesus on the cross." I had to laugh, because I have no idea how she thought that looked like Jesus on the cross, but if that is what her little mind wanted to see, that was fine. When the boys came home from school, they seen the cookies and started eating them. Josie got mad at them and said, "No eat them, they are for Jesus." Then, when my cousin came over she showed her the star and said, "We cooked Jesus." So, by evening the star cookie was called Jesus according to her. Well, she has lightened up a little on eating the cookies, because I have seen her a couple of times tonight with a cookie in her hand:) Thomas approved of them, b/c after eating them, he informed me that when he asks for me to bake cookies again these are the ones he wants me to make:). So, we had a nice mother/daughter baking day. It was one of those moments that I will treasure and look forward to each year. She may not understand everything that comes along with Christmas here in America, but she knows that we were "Baking for Jesus!", and that Christmas is truly celebrating, the birth of Jesus (and that is the important part:)).

Best Friends

Well, I wanted to tell you a little bit about one of my best friends. This person is so sweet, makes me feel good about myself, builds my confidence, reminds me to be youthful and accepts me for who I am. I have learned a lot from this "best friend". I have learned how to accept others, trust even when life hasn't dealt you the best hand, to laugh loudly and often. I have also learned from my "best friend" how to accept love and give love to perfect strangers. I've learned how to enjoy the basics of life through my "best friend" and being happy with what I have. I have learned how to be exceptionally brave and go with the flow when you have no control over what is going on. My "best friend" taught me to sing God's praise and to know His word. I have also learned patience, all the words that giving a hug can say without actually "saying" a word at all. This "best friend" taught me to never give up even when everything seems hopeless, because by not giving up she found out that hope was just around the corner. She taught me that things are never as bad as they seemed, because someone, somewhere in the world has it a heck of a lot worse. I've also learned how much love can be shown in just a gentle touch. She even taught me how to be cute even while "not being well". This best friend is amazing and I couldn't and wouldn't want to think about my life without her in it. When I think of everything that my "best friend" has taught me and given me, my eyes tear up (which they did while I wrote and reread this) and my heart grows. I haven't actually been with this friend for a long time, but when I think about it, this "best friend" has been in my heart forever, right along with her brothers. Yes, you guessed it, my "best friend" is my daughter Josephine Ann Wolfe. The reason I say she is one of my "best friends" is because while I was working on the computer today, she quietly came up beside me and wrapped her arms around my arm and looked at me and smiled and said,"You are my best friend", then she squeezed my arm. I don't know if I will ever forget that moment, I hope I never do. It was just the way she looked at me with such a sweatness about her and her little voice that I know to her I am her best friend right now. Each of those things I listed above are truly things that I have learned from my little "best friend". She may forget that moment, but I know I will not, and I will keep it hidden in my heart in a very special place, just for "Best Friends".

One Step At A Time

Well, it was a long weekend. I am finally feeling better, I started on Saturday night getting the flu, and it lasted until Sunday evening. The only bad thing is that Mike is not feeling so good now (I know exactly how he feels). Well, it has been another interesting week in the Wolfe household. It was cold and I wasn't feeling well, so we just stayed in this past weekend. It was nice to just stay in and enjoy being home (or enjoy my couch). Josie is doing well, even though she says that she is not well (I think she loves the attention that she has gotten when she was sick--b/c she has been playing just fine, it is just when I tell people she is feeling better from when she was sick, then she looks at me still with an almost mad look and says--I am not well).
God has really been working in my life and those around me. Something very exciting happened today. To start with, when I was in Liberia I spent a lot of time in the nursery rocking the babies that were there (the nursery was at the compound where I stayed). I got attached to two little ones that are about 2 years old. I knew the one had a home that he was going to b/c I had been in contact with his new parents. The little girl didn't have a home and she also had a sister that was friends with Josie. It bothered me for some time when I got back that they didn't have a home. I knew that anyone that got them would be very lucky. Well, today I found out that they got a home. I was so happy and really felt that God was smiling to, He put something in my heart to truly care about where these girls went and to talk to their new parents when I found out who they were and tell them how lucky they are. I am just thrilled beyond words that they are getting wonderful parents that truly love them and want them. God has truly been at work in the lives of these two little girls. I am so happy for them and the families.
Something that I tend to do sometimes is look at the whole thing first instead of taking and enjoying each step along the way. I look and think of all of these orphans in the world and think WOW, if only I had more money and a bigger place then I could help more of them and open our home. (Even though Steven and Thomas have things mapped out in the house as to where other children could sleep as they ask numerous times for more brothers and sisters). Then as I was talking to someone today I said, well at least we have two less children right now in Africa that aren't going hungry and living their life in an orphanage. And it kind of hit me. I have to admit, I really don't like to hear people say, when I talk about adoption, "well you can't save the world". I don't know why but I just don't like it, b/c I think that no I can't save the world, but God can and he is using our family to help Him do that, so who are we to say, "Sorry God but this is it, no more so don't even think of asking", when He asks us himself. Now, I am not saying go adopt as many as possible. You obviously have to be able to take care of the children you have and they have to feel your love and attention and each family is called (God already knows the number) to have a certain number of children (God knows your limit). But, if God asks you to do something who are we to say, No God it isn't a good time for me right now. Don't you think that God knows when it is a good time and when it isn't. He truly isn't going to ask you to do something if He knows it is not good for you or those involved. I know that when we first started the adoption process with Josie, we didn't have the first clue about where we would even get the $ for everything. All of the "what-ifs" came to mind and almost flooded us to think about not doing it, but when we looked to God and truly asked Him what He wanted for us to do, He made it clear that this little girl was to be ours, and He would take care of the rest(I will tell the complete story one day). Well, obviously as always God kept His promise and this little girl is home with us right where she is supposed to be. I told Mike the other night after all of the kids were in bed, I said, "I love her so much and she is so happy here, she was truly meant to be with us." Mike just shook his head yes and smiled. What if we would have given in to fear and not gone through with what God had wanted/asked us to do, we would have missed out on another of His amazing gifts due to lack of trust. I have learned to trust God and what He asks. He has a plan for each of us. He has told us he will be with us. Trust me, it was pretty hard sometimes figuring out where we would get the money, but it was always there when we needed it (we learned that God has a wonderful sense of humor, and even takes things down to the wire sometimes--I think that is when His glory just shines through). The boys did great while I was gone, everything worked out with my job, numerous people have been changed by the love that Josie gives and her cheery personality, and through this we have had the opportunity to share adoption, Liberia and most importantly God with others. Just like our boys, I can't and wouldn't want to imagine life without her. I also want to thank Mike for stepping out on faith with me. Many times it was difficult to know exactly what to do, but he held my hand and we did it together and learned to trust God. So, I have learned to take things each step instead of getting overwhelmed with the whole picture. God will show you His path for you when you seek it, even if you stumble with a few of those steps He helps you back up and helps you back on that path again, and before you know it you look behind to see just how far you have come.

Andrea
Oh, here is the picture I have told some of you that I would show of our whole family. Thanks Chris (the professional photographer (LOL)), they are beautiful pictures! I also couldn't help but put the picture of our silly boys on there to, the picture truly shows their personalities. With each picture it reminds me of what we would have missed out on if we let fear take over. Thank you God for overcoming!

National Awareness Adoption Month (A Little Late)

Well, I had intended to write something a little sooner, but with a sick 4 year old, time got away from me. I wanted to write something about November being Adoption Awareness Month. Obviously this November was a little more special because we brought home a wonderful little girl through adoption.
Adoption, what can I say that can even sum up how wonderful it is. It has blessed us with two wonderful little lives that we would not have had otherwise. There are many children in this world that do not have a home to call their own and go to bed every night praying and hoping that someone would just "choose" them. I have been to the orphanage in Liberia and my heart does ache for these children. Is adoption easy? Absolutely not. Parenting in general is the hardest job you will ever have if you do it right, then you just pray that you raised them right and have taught them well. My mom always said that parenting is the hardest job that you will ever love and she was right. Adoption is no different. The first time I seen each of my children there was a feeling that you just couldn't describe. It was no different from the feeling as when I gave birth to Steven. Each one of our three children have brought something different into our lives. Each one brought something that none of the rest had or could give to our family. Each one, we love unconditionally and would give our lives for without thinking twice. The journey for each of our children has been different but worth everything that we went through, and would do again in a heartbeat! Each struggle along the way and afterward has been worth it too! Each child is special and has their own wonderful qualities (and a couple of qualities that aren't quite so wonderful :)LOL, but hey so do I).
Is adoption for everyone? Probably not. I feel that you truly have to be called and you have to be in it for the long haul, because some days are very long, these children do come with a past (and due to no fault of their own, the past wasn't always that good). Is it worth every effort that you give? ABSOLUTELY! These children have made us laugh and given us many hugs and kisses. But, when you hear, "I love you mommy" that makes everything you have went through worth it. When you see their face light up and you see that they now have a place of their own and a family and they feel it, it overrides all of the hard times, times of waiting for them to come home, any negative comment you have received from anyone about it. When they crawl up in your lap, or lay their head on you, or look at you and know your mom and dad and you are who they have to depend on it just an awesome feeling. Not everyone understands adoption, and many don't want to understand. I think how sad it is for them. They miss out on the joy of being a part of something so wonderful, whether through adopting a child themselves or just knowing the child being adopted. Not everyone has to adopted, but there is ways to be a part of adopting whether that be by supportive words, or cards, offering a hand to hold or a shoulder to lean on, financial help, helping with a night out for the parents, welcoming the child, remembering the family in prayer, whatever the part you play, each is very important. I know we have received each one from different people and they were all needed and welcomed. I have received some wonderful words of encouragement, especially during the waiting process and it was so needed and welcomed. I tell you all of this to say that adoption is a wonderful, amazing thing. It is needed for many, many children. Children here in the U.S. and children all over the world. We believe that a child is a child no matter where they are in the world and they need a home and family. Also adoption is needed for each age group, babies, toddlers, elementary age, pre-teens and teenagers. They all have a place in the world and all have needs no matter the age. Love has no age limit. I am a believer that some people are just perfect for older kids and some are perfect for babies and some perfect for a variety of ages. God has a plan and can use each one of us, if we are willing to open our hearts and home. He has commanded us to help the widows and orphans. Notice I said command, not whenever it is conventient for us. Is it a leap of faith? Yes. Do you have to let go and trust? Yes. But, can you experience some wonderful blessings when you do trust? Absolutely. Is it always easy? NO, but God is with you and will never leave you. He sure proved that to me when He traveled with me to Liberia and back! Who would have ever thought I would go without anyone else going with me? But that is what God wanted me to do and He guided me through it.
So Happy Adoption Awareness Month! We thank God everyday for the gift of adoption! Thank you God for calling us to this ministry!

Christmas Pictures--What An Adventure! (But Aren't They Beautiful)

Well, we went to my brother's over the weekend so that he could take the kids' pictures. I was wanting him to take a couple of pictures that we could have of the kids and one of us all for our Christmas pictures. Well, as you can tell Josie was a little ham to begin with, but that did change as we went on. By the time that we were ready to take the picture of all of us and the ones with the three of them, she was done and would have no part of it. It did become stressful as I wanted a picture of the 5 of us not the 4 of us. Eventually, she did come around a little and we did get a few of the 5 of us and a couple of me and Josie (I got some of me and the boys and Mike and the boys). As you can see, Thomas had no problems getting his picture taken, he is our little model. Steven just loved being silly in front of the camera, but that is just Steven. I am posting the ones that my brother sent me tonight, it isn't all of them, but it is a few. I will post the one of all of us when I get it. The one of them in the blue outfits are their Liberian outfits, I thought they looked so good in them. Well, the pictures did turn out good, even though Josie was finished before we were done. I guess I am just relearning what it is like to have a 4 year old again:) (LOL). It has been 5 years and you do have to relearn some things:). But, Christmas is going to be so magical to see all of it through the eyes of a 4 year old and an 8 and 9 year old. I know Thomas told me last year that for Christmas when he was at the orphanage in Liberia, he got a candy cane for Christmas. Last year was so magical for him, so I know this year it will be for Josie, because I know she doesn't understand everything, she just loves to look at the "Christma Trees" as she calls them:) (It's a Liberian thing:))
Well, hope that you enjoy the pictures! I want to thank my brother for taking them. He was very patient with the kids and took his time to take them (and he did it for free so that was even better, he said that we were helping him learn how to take better pictures so he says that we were helping him). I think that they are the most beautiful kids there are, but I am a little bias:)!