Wolski kids have passports!!

We can officially leave the country as a family of 4! That excites me beyond belief. So thankful we have all of the documents now to begin our VISA application. It will be a little while before we can actually apply. We must reach a certain point in our funding before we can actually apply. We know God is in control of this so we aren't stressing. Just thankful to be to the place in the process we are at at this exact moment. Please continue to pray for the financial provisions we need in order to move and serve the people of Belgium. Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Thanksgiving!

I originally wrote this post on Monday, but we had a pretty eventful week so I am just now posting. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We are so thankful to be able to spend the holidays with family this year. I(Cassi) was able to take both kids down to West, TN a few days early so we were able to spend a full week with family. We split our time between my mom's house and Bryan's mom's. They are always great host and make us feel so comfortable. We are spending as much extra time as we can since we may not be there next year during the holidays.

We had three delicious dinners and Bryan was able to golf a couple of the days we were there(his Uncle owns the golf course). I went black Friday shopping and got the deals I wanted to get to save some extra money this year. We had lots of relax time. It was just what we needed.

As we ate each meal I couldn't help but think of all of the families here in the US and all over the world who probably were hoping for anything to eat or a family to share it with. I can honestly say that I have not had one Thanksgiving where I didn't have multiple meals with family and an abundance of food at each one. I am so very thankful for every blessing I have. God has truly blessed me. I want to reach others for his glory. I want to make a difference with what God has given me. I do not come from a wealthy family, but when you look at the big picture there are ways for all of us to dig in and help. We all have been blessed with individual talents and personalities and I am guilty of not using mine like I should. The scripture below has been on my mind a lot lately and as we all prepare for the Christmas season let us remember the true reason for the season, the birth of our Savior. Let's remember to love others like Jesus does. We should not overlook the opportunity to give of ourselves and help others It may not be easy or convenient and the timing may be horrible, but God doesn't promise us that following him will be a bed of roses. Loving others where they are at and encouraging them in a time of need is what it is all about. I know the Holidays are so very busy, but I challenge each of you to take time out and look at your surroundings and see if there is one life you can make a difference in this Christmas.

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

Passports

We have officially ordered the kids passports! What a praise! As an adoptive parent I cannot express the excitement I feel inside to be able to go and get passports for my children. I know it probably sounds silly, but when you are fostering for a long time and there are restrictions on your travel it is a really nice feeling to be free and know that these are YOUR children. God has really blessed us in a HUGE way.

Now that we have their passports ordered we can start collecting documents for our VISA. I cannot believe we are finally to this phase. Two years into the process it is nice to know we are getting so much closer. It is hard to describe how you feel when you are in preparation/transition for so long. We aren't in our own home right now so it is a little different with the Holidays and how we would normally celebrate putting up the tree and opening up gifts. Also since we are working diligently to get moved we will have to cut back how we spend at Christmas time this year. Right now every holiday and family dinner is extra special because it may be the last one you attend for a while. Currently our entire family is sharing a Master bedroom and bathroom. It is very cramped! All that being said. This is another way God has provided for our family. We are happy and thankful to be here. It is helping us in a big way to get to where we are being led. I will not sugar coat it. I will be thankful to get settled into an apartment in Belgium that we can make our own again. With everything being so unsettled for the past two years I am so ready to get moved and dig in to the ministry there full force.

I have posted the kids passport pictures below. I must say I think they are pretty cute. :)

Provisions

Every single step of our journey to Belgium continues to blow me away. With every exciting moment or hardship along the way I have learned to lean on and praise God no matter the outcome. Times when I least expect it God shows up with a provision at just the right time. I know God is with me ALL of the time. I am never alone and I know that, but I am also thankful for those moments of weakness when God shows up in a big way!

Support raising can be a bit stressful for me, but also an exciting opportunity to partner with friends and family for a God driven mission. I read on a friends blog recently that "it is againt our nature to ask for support" and that really hit home with me. I was raised in a family where we are to be strong and independent and work hard for everything we have. That being said it is also biblical to partner with other believers to do the Lords work. Being a faithful servant is what we are so passionate about. We want desperately to share the gospel with those who have not been fortunate enough to grow up in an area where there are active growing churches on every corner. In Belgium there are many cathedrals, but they are all being used for tourism and some are even being turned into clubs or Mosques. When I stood in those breathtakingly beautiful cathedrals and saw where the wood was worn at the confessional booths it really broke my heart to know that all of those people turned from God at some point. You can tell that they use to be visited frequently and now they are empty and cold. I was so full of sadness I cannot put it into words. I knew long before that trip we were being called to Belgium, but at that moment I felt a new sense of urgency. We have to be willing to do whatever it takes to do what the Lord is leading us to do no matter what. Even if that means moving to a different country and raising support to work and plant a church in an area that needs to hear the love of Christ desperately. Since we have begun this process of support raising it has grown new friendships. We have felt love and support from others like never before. It truly is a partnership. We could not do this without those that God is choosing for us to partner with. We hope that those of you who partner with us through being part of our prayer team or financially supporting us will visit us once we move to Belgium. We would love for you to get your feet on the ground there and see what is going on first hand. We would also love to fellowship with you. We mean it! It is a team effort and we thank you.



"5 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord,[a] and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.[b] 8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth." 3 John 1:5-8

Is the Bible the Complete Word of God; Part II

This is a dangerous subject. Until my words are written clearly and the message is clearly conveyed, I am going to hold off on answering this question. I did attempt to answer it but I fear it was certainly inadequate for such a huge question. Give me time. If I feel I can do a better job than what was posted I will reengage the question.

Halloween

So we really debated on celebrating this holiday and we are still unsure if we will in the future. The kids had a blast and we had fun and fellowship with friends so I am glad we chose to this year. This was Bryanna and Jacksons first year to trick or treat. Bryanna was a princess and Jackson a football player. This holiday season is extra special because it will likely be our last in the States for the next few years. I am so thankful for our family and friends. God has truly blessed us with a support system out of this world! I hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween.

Trick or Treat

Jackson our little football player

The kids playing before hand

Bryanna our little princess

Weekend of Celebration!

Cake at the Send Off Worship Service

Tonight at Lifepoint Church we will have a worship service celebrating a family on team Belgium who will be moving very soon. We are so happy to be able to serve alongside this sweet family. They have become like a second family over the past couple of years. They were the first of our Smyrna friends to meet Jackson when we brought him home from the hospital. It is so bittersweet to see them go. We are so thankful to have more of the team there, but we will miss them until we get there. Ultimately we are excited to see God's plan unfold as they continue to be obedient and join team members already there. Once they leave that will leave 3 families remaining in the states and 3 families in Belgium. We are halfway there!! Woo Hoo!!! So much work, training, and planning has gone into this. We are all so ready to be there and function as the team God designed, but we trust his perfect timing. Please pray for the "E" family as they transition to a new culture. Please pray for their four precious daughters as they make friends and learn the language so that next school year they can attend Belgian school which is completely in French. Please pray for safe travels and for them to find an apartment quickly. If you are in the Smyrna area come and love on this sweet family with us. God is faithful and we are so happy to serve HIM!

I have added a few pictures from their special day below!
Bryanna playing with Ruby E and her friend Nathan

Ebensberger family singing Revolution

Praying over the Ebensberger Family

Why Belgium? Updated post

I originally wrote this blog two years ago and so many things have changed as we have prepared to move. I wanted to repost as a reminder as to why God would lead us to Brussels, Belgium to plant a church with 5 other families. This is a place in the beginning we literally knew nothing about other than we were suppose to go. After my trips there God completely broke my heart for the Belgian people. As I rode the metro, trams, and trains I kept looking around at all of the faces and all I could think was that I hope they know how much God loves them and wants them to love him in return. I felt the urgency to return as soon as possible to tell/show them what a real relationship with a very real God looks like. I wondered if they knew how much he could change their lives and community. I wanted them to know of the sacrifices he made for them and if they opened up to him and asked him into their heart they could be saved and spend eternity with him. Below are some of the statistics from a couple of years ago from my original post so these could have changed a bit. If you have questions please feel free to message me.

In the country of Belgium 90 percent of Belgians claim Catholicism, but almost none regularly attend any kind of religious service. In fact, less than 1 percent of the people in Belgium are practicing Christians. LESS THAN 1%. The Muslim faith is the fastest growing faith in Europe. If you have watched the news recently you probably have seen European politicians begging America to not go down the same roads they did. They see us making the same mistakes. In a trip Bryan made to England and Greece in 2005, he noticed very different fashion styles. Over the next 2 years those styles crept in to pop culture in America. What happens in Europe does not stay in Europe. It eventually gets shipped to America. This goes for fashion, politics, and religion. This post-Christian society needs to hear of God’s love so that cultural and religious exports to America are once again biblically based. While in Belgium we spoke to many Belgian nationals and all used the word "lonely" to describe what life was like in Belgium. They know something is missing and they are searching for answers. We need to be there to help them find answers. We cannot save them, but we can build a church, mentor, encourage, and love on them.


Brussels, Belgium is the heart of the European Union. People are constantly coming and going in Brussels. We NEED to reach these people to help turn Europe around. They need to understand what a personal relationship with a real God looks like.This mission cannot be accomplished alone by us and the five other families that are being sent. It will take a whole community to make this possible. If you feel like God is tugging at you to join in this ministry please contact us. Several friends have joined already and we thank you guys so much! We will keep you all regularly updated.



Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Luke 10:2

Is the Bible the Complete Word of God

Now this is an interesting question. It can be answered from many angles. It also depends on "what your definition of 'is' is." I definitely can't type it out with my thumbs on this phone. I have been asking myself and others. I have been researching it. I can gave a dialogue about it. For now I just wanted to pose the question.

Peace

Things Checked off our list!

Over the past year we have accomplished some pretty big tasks that had to be completed before we could prepare for the move. From January through June we got rid of some larger furniture items in our home and got rid of lots of clutter in order to prepare for our move, and we did lots of planning. Our hands were sort of tied as to how much we could do since we had both of our children in our home and in our custody, but since the adoptions were not final we could not get their new legal documents like birth certificates, passports, and social security cards. These are all essential documents we must have for them before we could begin the VISA process and purchase plane tickets. We were beyond thrilled when our adoption attorney contacted us in June with our finalization date for both children. She contacted us in June but our actual date was July 22nd. In June we were also approached by a family interested in renting our home. After a few meetings that quickly turned into a lease/purchase agreement and we moved out of our home on August 13. God's provisions have continued to amaze us throughout this journey. A dear friend opened his home to us for the next few months until we depart. It is saving us a lot of money and we didn't have to sign a lease agreement!! We are so thankful for the support we have received from friends and family who pray for and want to serve the people of Belgium as much as we do. Since we moved into a friends home that was the perfect time to get rid of EVERYTHING we owned other than essential items we will take with us and beds(we will get rid of when we leave). Selling and giving away everything you own is very freeing, but it can also be a little stressful. It stressed me a little more even though it shouldn't have and I felt guilty for stressing. I am a woman, I am sentimental about some of the things we have collected over the 5 years we have been married. Some of our team members reminded me of a very important scripture about our earthly possessions. I find comfort in this verse and I also realize anywhere that I have God and my little family I will be at home. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:19-20

It is now October and we are working harder than ever to tie up all loose ends. We have to finish our support raising. It isn't cheap to live in Belgium and we alone cannot serve the people of Belgium. It will take a host of people stateside who believe in the cause who are willing to support us not only financially but we need a large prayer team as well. In the last couple of weeks we recieved our childrens birth certificates, ordered new ss cards and numbers, gotten new pictures taken and ordered updated prayer cards. Next on the list is ordering the kids passports and in November we will begin the long list of VISA documents. I have already begun collecting some of them. I am also going to start working on French with our 2 year old. In Belgium children start school at 2.5 as long as they are potty trained. We can use our discretion, but to help her learn the language she will be attending some of the time. We want to work to prepare her as well.

Well I am off to to work on todays list! I want to sign off with this little message. In May of 2009 following the "YES" series our church preached on this opportunity of moving overseas was put on the table. Months before the "YES" series we knew God was working in our lives in a big way. We felt our time in our home was coming to an end. We weren't content with where we were. We felt the change months in advance. We not only put our "YES" on the table to move to Belgium we put our YES on the table to follow God wherever he may take us. We want to live in his will for our lives no matter where that may take us. Over the past two years that has moved us to sell/give away everything we own, sell our home, adopt two children with no assistance from an agency, Bryan a promotion at work, friends and family supporting us and blessing us in ways we could never imagine. We have connected with Team Belgium and they have become our second family. The Lord has continued to provide and bless us at just the right time. These past two years even with all of the change and transition and even stressful times. I have felt so at peace knowing that God is in control he is leading us. This is his battle not ours and whatever he ordains he will orchestrate. We are so thankful to him and pray that ALL we are doing is glorifying HIM. Don't be afraid to completely follow HIM with your whole heart even in the stressful or hard moments HE is with you.

At the city gates


Some of our team


Our tree in Belgium :) LOL

Adoptions are FINAL!!

We have not blogged a lot in the past year. What a whirlwind it has been! Who knew when God led us down the path to move to Belgium he would also answer our prayers of having a family with not one, but two precious children. Bryanna is now 2 years old(28 months) and Jackson is 9 months old. We were able to finalize both of their adoptions on July 22nd! What an awesome day of celebration and praise that was. A day we will forever celebrate and remember how blessed we are. Who could have known that we would move overseas and take two little cutie pies with us. :) Now that the whole legal process is behind us here are some pictures from this past year.

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27


This is the first weekend we kept Bryanna in our home. She was 13 months old!


Mommy meeting and holding Jackson for the first time. He was 6lbs and 1oz(So tiny and precious)


2 Became 4


This is Mother's Day 2011. We were able to dedicate both of children at Lifepoint Church on Mother's Day. What an awesome way to spend my first one.


Brother and Sister


Adoption Day! Judge Corlew was wonderful.


GO TITANS!! SEPT 11


Love our little family!

Stuff

Lots going on this month in our home. Jackson is due to arrive anyday so we are waiting patiently. I think we are ready we have all of the essentials. I am so thankful for wonderful friends who have recently had little boys and were willing to pass on clothes and essentials. We have tried to keep our focus on B and on Belgium in the meantime.

I have been working diligently to get rid of lots of stuff that we will put in a yard sale in April or give to Goodwill. It feels so freeing to get rid of clutter and things that are collecting dust. We have turned Bryan's music room/office into a Belgium planning center. We have our Belgium maps on the wall, a huge yearly dry erase calendar(with lots of plans on it), and our personal information we send out to our partners. I like to go and open the closets and drawers now that they are clean and organized. It makes me happy(I know I am a nerd). We are planning to take our house off the market and put it up For Sale By Owner so that we can hopefully get it to move with a lower price. We are also setting aside one night per week to work on our French. This is something we are being told by teammates who are currently there that we need to continue to work on here as much as we can. They have also told us to be walking and exercising as much as we can so as soon as it warms up a bit we plan to walk every evening with the kiddos to get use to a faster pace that includes lots of walking rather than driving. I am exciting about having some quality family time at the end of the day where we focus on eachother and get some exercise.

We have another meeting with the adoption attorney tomorrow about B so hopefully we will have some good information and an idea of what that process is going to look like.

I realize this blog is all over the place, but that is our life this month. It is a little crazy but I wouldn't have it any other way. When I start feeling weak or anxious I lean on my savior and he is my strength. I can read my Bible or have some quiet time and feel better so quickly. I know the battles I feel that we are fighting are really not ours to fight and I am so thankful for a loving Father who is holding us tightly in these uncertain moments.

Thank you God for blessing me so much even when I am so undeserving!

Happy New Year!!!

Well it is officially 2011. It is a huge year in our household as we will prepare to move across the ocean to take light to a spiritually dark area. We began this process in May of 2009 and what an experience it has been so far. We are so blessed to have experienced and learned the many things we have thus far. There is still so much to be done and to prepare for. We just celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary on December 30th and God blessed me with such an amazing man to share my life with me. We have spent most New Years Day packing up our Christmas decor for a final time in the States and planning our final months here. It is crazy how emotionally attached you can become to stuff. We have heard this from friends but as I begin to pack away Christmas ornaments a little part of my heart was sad. Do not get me wrong I am so thankful God has chosen to send us and we are happy to go, but I would not be human if I wasn't a little sad about certain things. We are preparing to shed another layer during the month of January and sell and discard lots of stuff in our home. If you come by to visit you should see a big difference soon lots of stuff is leaving soon.

The sale of our home is going slower than planned so we have come up with a game plan and timeline for this process as well. If we have to rent we will but this is a last resort so please pray for the sale of our home before May 1st.

For those of you who do not know we have temporary custody of a precious 18 month old(B). We got her in July when she was only 12 months old and we are working to adopt, but only God knows the outcome. Yes it is a risk but if we were unwilling to invest and love on others because we were scared of getting hurt we could miss out on some of the best moments in life. We know that God's plans and timing are much better than our own. We know he has a divine plan in our lives and in this precious girls life and we will praise him no matter the outcome. Our prayer all along for children is that God would bring the children that he had planned for us all along into our home. In September we were contacted by another birthmom who was 5 and 1/2 months pregnant with a baby boy. She wanted us to adopt her child. After talking with her and prayer and trying to figure out if we could handle all of the responsibilites we realized that God doesn't give us more than we can handle and he had obviously opened this door for a reason. The ultimate reason may not be for us to adopt her baby but we are willing to walk through the open door and step out in faith. Baby boy is due January 24th but our BM is showing some signs of pre term labor. We plan to name him Jackson Christopher. We have to have both adoptions finalized before we can apply for our visa so prayers are appreciated in this area too. :)

Some people I am sure think we must be crazy with two adoptions going on and moving to a foreign country all in one year. I say we have crazy love for a God who is more faithful than we could ever imagine he sacrificed everything for my sins. My happiness revolves around commiting my life to him. Don't get me wrong we have moments like any normal person does where we are concerned or anxious but we find peace in knowing that these are not our battles and God is in complete control. If you let him he will blow you away. When I was a little girl I had an idea of how I wanted my life to be and my life is nothing like I had planned for myself, but there is nothing like feeling like you are walking in God's will.

This year my resolution is to be bold and intentional about everything. I know I have so much to learn about our savior, and I want to draw myself closer to him and grow my relationship with him. I feel like such an infant in my walk with God, but I do know one big thing and that is that I trust him with every ounce of me and I want to live a radical life for him.

Wishing your family a happy and healthy new year!!!
Souhaitant votre famille, une bonne et heureuse année nouvelle!

Cassi


James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Proverbs 31:8-9
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Matthew 28:16-20 (New International Version, ©2010)
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”