Letters

My kids are keeping summer journals. I love the opportunity it gives them to write and express themselves, and I must admit, I get many giggles over their sweet and honest responses to the questions or assignments I pose for them daily.

Today they were a bit tired of my "When I am a grown-up, I..., I feel proud when..., If I could ask God one question I would ask Him..." type questions and so we decided on something a little more tangible (and darn cute I must admit). The assignment was: "A letter to our new brother..." They were excited (as excited as they can be with "summer work....aarrgghh")!

Here are the treasures that are etched on their pages:
"Dear Baby Brother,
Our house is the prfikct (perfect) house for you. And the dog is vareey (very) nice. My name is Maggie Wolf. Barrett is the wun (one) hoo (who) likes to read. And Maryn is the wun (one) hoo (who) likes pepoll (people) to read to her. We are all wateeing (waiting) for you.
Love,
ur sister Maggie"
(age 6)

"Dear Baby Brother,
I know you would like it here Baby brother. You will sleep in my room. It will be fun having you. I will want to read to you and play trains with you. It will be fun having you play with me and my baby sisters. We have a puppy named Zizou. By name is Barrett Wolf and my sisters names are Maryn (the crazy one) and Maggie (the one who likes to write). Our favorite things to do are go to Disneyland and California Adventure. I love you brother.
From,
Barrett"
(age 7)

Now, honestly...how can I not LOVE these? They will be treasured forever and hopefully read in person to a dear little soul soon. I asked Barrett if he really already loved his new brother--I just thought this could lead to some deep, tender conversation about how we will work hard to help our new brother feel loved and comfortable, that the transition will be hard, etc. But I couldn't go to those places for the tears welling up in my eyes at his honest response:, "Yeah Mom, I love him TONS. And I miss him too."

Treasures.

Wise words

My kids amaze me. They are so wise. Our conversations this past week have me still thinking...still chewing on the deep wisdom of a 3, 6, and 7 year old.

My 3 year old told me that God and Jesus don't want her to lose any more privileges (which I am sure it true!) and that God and Jesus are "invisible...but I can see them very good in my dreams".

My 6 year old can preach about any number of Old Testament stories from our One Year Bible for Children--tonight she recounted in perfect detail Elijah's encounter with God at Mt. Sinai after his 40 day journey from the desert: "God was not in the wind, fire, or earthquake...God came to Elijah in a gentle whisper Mom, just a whisper". (Her life-size self portrait is amazing isn't it?--see left--it hung on our kitchen wall for a few days!)

And my 7 year old is tossing around some ideas about laws and rules he'd like to change. This conversation started when he learned that in our city, you are not allowed to ride your bicycle on the sidewalks in town. This does not make sense to B. "It's obviously safer to be on the sidewalk than the street Mom, why would they make a law like that?" He came up with the idea that pets should be free for people who don't have much money. And he is certain that if everyone "just gave their pennies to the poor, there wouldn't be any more poor people". But as we talked later that evening, he came up with what was for sure my favorite very wise and mature comment of the day: "Mom, you know what I think is totally ridiculous?...It is totally ridiculous that you have to PAY to adopt a child. People should have to pay for their passports, plane tickets, hotels, and THAT IS IT. Really, it is just ridiculous that you have to pay to adopt. Why can't people just bring kids home that need a home? For free?" Ahhh the wise words of a 7 year old.

This also gives me a chance to comment on a few questions I have received in response to our announcement that fund-raising from the bracelets, etc. has brought in over $10,000 now: A few people have asked what we will do with the "extra" money? Are we making a "big profit" on this operation? Oh friends, we are still a far cry from the money needed for our adoption. Our final bill will total around $35,000-$40,000!!! (It is actually frightening to even type those numbers.) B's original goal with the bracelets was simply to pay for his own plane ticket to Russia. But now he will pay for his ticket, his new brother's ticket, some gifts to the orphanage, possibly Mommy and Daddy's tickets, some of our food and hotel while in Russia, and various other expenses related to our adoption. What we have realized is that this is about God. We boldly asked (and continue to ask) God to provide a way for us to adopt...to do what He has called us to do. He is answering...and we are amazed! In the last few days we have gotten orders for over 40 more bracelets...God is STILL making a way for us.

So now B's comments make a lot more sense about adoption being free...perhaps he envisions raising the full amount for our adoption through his ever-growing bracelet crusade! That would be A LOT of bracelets!