“We were fostering just to give children a loving, caring home. It was never to adopt, but then Sierra came in 1999,” says Paula. “When she was placed in my arms, she went straight to my heart. We worked with the biological mother with intentions of returning her.”

The little girl was adopted by the Wiltsies three years later. Shortly after her adoption, the now four-year old’s newborn biological brother was also placed with the family. In time, the family gained legal custody of little Brandin. When he was two-years old, another newborn biological brother named Robert, joined his siblings in the foster home. This little guy was born seven weeks early and with some complications. His new foster mom traveled to Buffalo to learn how to properly care for him. Over the years, he required occupational, physical and speech therapies and saw physicians who specialized in caring for his disabilities.

A year after Robert’s arrival and while Mrs. Wiltsie was busy giving him the special care he needed, his new baby brother, Alex, was welcomed into the family. Even though their family was growing rapidly, the couple continued to accept foster children. Six years after the last of the four biological babies came to live with the Wiltsies, yet another newborn baby brother was brought to them. A year after Lindon’s arrival, baby sister Trinity was placed in the home.

The Wiltsies adopted the children, one by one, as they became available. They loved and treated Brandin as their own, even though he had not been put up for adoption, but something was missing.

The Wiltsie family is pictured. Front row, from left, are Lindon, Jessica, Sierra, Paula and Trinity. Back row are Ralph, Robert, Jonathan, Andrew, Brandin and Alex. Photo by Beverly Kehe-Rowland

“When Brandin was nine-years old, while sitting at the table, he said ‘You know what I want,'” his mom shares. “I thought he would ask for a game or a toy, but he wanted the same last name and wanted to live with his brothers and sisters forever.”

Not knowing if this was achievable, the parents of the rapidly expanding family inquired of the caseworker and found they could make Brandin’s wish a reality.

Throughout these years, Mr. Wiltsie was an over the road truck driver, which was a job he continued to perform for 27 years. He was home just 2-3 days each month.

In 2016 the family’s home was destroyed by a fire.

“I didn’t want to stay in a hotel while a new house was being built. The weather was getting nice, so we purchased a small camper. We cooked on a grill and over an open fire,” says the mother of nine. “We had water and electricity provided by a neighbor and showered at Ralph’s mother’s house and did the laundry at the laundromat.”

The mother and the five youngest children slept in the camper with Mr. Wiltsie on the road most of this time. This way of life continued for nearly four months until their new home was completed in August, just before school opened.

“Through the support of our family, church family and friends, we were able to hold it together,” the mother adds.

Six months later, as life was starting to get less chaotic, Mrs. Wiltsie was told she needed a triple heart by-pass. Her husband took time off work to care for his wife and children. The company for which Wiltsie was driving closed their doors, leaving him without a job just two days before Christmas of 2022.

“Little did I know when I was praying for a job to come into his life, our God had other plans,” the wife shares. “Ralph was learning about all of the appointments for our children and the routine I had set for them.”

She began to have pain in her jaw the following April. After seeing doctors for a few months, she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, the same cancer former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly had. On November 20, 2023, Mrs. Wiltsie underwent surgery where bone was taken from her leg to replace the bone that was removed from her jaw.

“It was the first time I cooked turkey in my life,” says her husband.

Throughout this time Mr. Wiltsie kept the house going and transported his wife to 33 radiation and 7 chemotherapy treatments.

“God has a way of preparing lives. Ralph lost his job. He got to know the children’s lives and routines and then I got the cancer diagnosis,” his wife explains with a tone of gratitude. “God’s plan for our family was to bring us all together and build a stronger family of faith to get us through whatever is placed in our lives. My faith has gotten stronger.”

In August, just as life was beginning to feel closer to normal, the Wiltsies received a call that Sierra had been in a serious car accident which left her with many injuries, including a broken pelvis, femur and ankle. Her father is now taking her to Buffalo for medical appointments, but both parents are thankful they still have their daughter. Again, the young woman’s mother is very grateful for her family and her Koinonia Christian Fellowship family for their support and prayers.

Mrs. Wiltsie is still having minor oral surgical procedures. In fact, she had another last week, but rather than dwell on the past, the family is looking forward to Christmas 2024 and a new year. Luckily, all of the grown children and 11 grandchildren live nearby and try to attend the family Christmas dinner where Grandma Bev Wiltsie brings her pies.

When 12-year old Trinity thinks of Christmas, “delicious food” comes to mind, including turkey, stuffing, ham, beef on weck, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, a relish tray and Grandma’s pies. It may be the only day out of the year when fudge and cookies are accessible all day long.

The younger kids waking their parents early on Christmas morning, in order to begin opening their gifts, are part of 20-year old Robert’s memories. He also thinks of his older siblings coming home to exchange gifts and of his grandmother bringing her delicious pies.

“One year we had almost everybody in our family over,” says 13-year old Lindon. “We were all having a good time playing games and everyone was arguing over who would get the last piece of Grandma’s pie.”

The three grandchildren were asked about Christmas memories, while in three separate locations and each one mentioned those coveted pies!

Their mom added this in closing. “We raised our children to never give up on life and never say you can’t, until you have tried your hardest.”

These kids have gained much more than the security of being part of a family, feeling loved and having a sense of belonging. It may even be safe to say they realize what many people don’t think about until they are adults or after they have buried their own parents. It is not a rarity for them to stand up in church and profess how thankful they are for their parents, that they were kept together and for the opportunity of meeting four of the seven biological siblings that came later. Quite possibly the biggest blessing the Wiltsies have is that of recognizing they have been blessed. They get it!

Below are some of the family’s favorite holiday recipes. Mrs. Wiltsie’s mother made the Cranberry Mold each Thanksgiving. The very large recipe lasted throughout the Christmas season and there was still enough left to serve on New Year’s Day. The daughter thought the recipe was lost in the fire, but in time, she found it with notes in her mother’s handwriting. Snickerdoodles are a favorite cookie of the Wiltsie kids and was one of the recipes Mr. Wiltsie baked when his wife was recuperating from surgery last year.

Cranberry Mold

1 pkg cherry-flavored gelatin

1 c hot water

1 c sugar

1 T lemon juice

1 c pineapple syrup or juice

1 c ground raw cranberries

1 orange, ground

1 c drained crushed pineapple

1 c chopped apple

½ c chopped walnuts

1 c chopped grapes

1 c chopped celery

Dissolve gelatin in hot water. Add sugar and juices and then stir until sugar has dissolved. Chill until partially set. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into greased mold. Chill until firm.

Chocolate Party Mix

9 c Chex cereal

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ c peanut butter

¼ c margarine

¼ tsp vanilla

1½ c powdered sugar

Pour cereal into a large bowl. Melt chocolate, peanut butter and margarine together, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal. Let cool for a while, then pour into a bag. Add sugar. Shake the bag until all pieces are well-coated. Spread on wax paper-lined sheet. Let sit until completely cooled. Store in airtight container.

Snickerdoodles

1½ c sugar

½ c butter

½ c shortening

3 eggs

2¾ c flour

2½ tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

¼ c sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

Combine 1½ c sugar, butter, shortening and eggs in a large bowl. Mix in flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. In a small bowl, combine ¼ c sugar and cinnamon. Set aside. Roll dough into 1¼-inch balls and then roll in cinnamon mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.