Don't Let It Be Forgot, That Once There Was A Spot......

 

 

Scotty Corbin

took this ordinary group of friends,along with the help of Sam Crabtree

and Effie Rosbert

and created this

and this

and this,

And even the least of us, felt valuable.

Independence Day Weekend 2013

The July 4th celebrations here in Franklin got moved to the 6th because of rain.  We continued our tradition of playing at the Factory most of the day, occasionally walking down to the Rec Park to check out things there.  Although the crowds were a bit small, the fireworks were as great as usual.

We celebrated Jerry's mom's birthday with them, in Gatlinburg, on the 5th.

While we were there, Jerry's sister, Julie, and her husband ,Scott, gave the kids a little fishing lesson.  Jed helped me put the worm on the hook (my first time).

A Saturday Afternoon in the Spring

Expectations. A wise man once said that they are the enemy of gratefulness.  I have been trying for many years to lay them aside and choose gratefulness. I had another opportunity today.

Our first 9 kids played every sport in season. Swim team in summer was followed by soccer and basketball and baseball. We watched all of their games which must have numbered in the thousands. They also took music lessons (violin, piano, flute), played in an orchestra and took dancing lessons (Camila danced with a company in SC that toured Israel). But the biggest focus was always on sports.

I was not sad to have to those sports watching days over. I said many times that if I had it to do over again, I would focus a lot more on the music lessons and a lot less on the sports.  Of course, I never expected to get the opportunity to do it again. And when I did it was with Asian children.  I fully expected hours listening to classical music and expanding from violin to cello lessons.

I certainly never expected to spend my afternoons at a soccer field again. Or a baseball field.  Or a gymnastics studio.

But that is where we spent this afternoon. (Jed scored 2 goals and Dominic and Simon 1 each. Their team won. Ric's team lost. We took flipflops to Peyton and Cydni's birthday at the gymnastics studio, instead of presents, to send to Haiti.)

So. I am grateful for a beautiful sunshiny day and kids who love sports.    Tomorrow I will be back at the field, grateful again.

 

Chickens

When Dominic asked why everyone we knew was getting baby chicks I thought he might have an ulterior motive.  Because everyone we know is certainly Not getting baby chicks.  Jerry wasn't home or that might have been the end of the conversation.   I asked if anyone in our family wanted to take care of baby chicks.  I explained that there would be a lot of work involved.  I asked for a show of hands.  Five raised hands.  Andy looked around, and apparently feeling like he got the answer wrong, began to raise his.  I assured him that it was not a bad choice to keep his hand down.

After lunch we went to visit Ric's mom's baby chicks.  Andy asked if he could change his mind.  The tractor supply store was on the way home.  They each got to choose two baby chicks.  If there is a rule about holding babies too much they have broken it.  The next four hours were spent holding/ training the chicks.  Simon began training his to jump.  Andy noticed that they didn't seem to understand the word 'jump'.  When I explained that they didn't speak English because they are chickens, Simon said, 'Oh.  Yah.'  He is 12.  I guess he can relate to not understanding English.

I think we got another little glimpse into Simon's past later that day.  He told Ariel that when he grew up he was going to buy two dogs and train them to fight each other.  She assured him that he would then go to jail charged with animal cruelty.  He said, 'What about chickens?'  "No, you would go to jail for having chicken fights, too."   Simon thanked her for telling him.     It is definitely a different world and they are working hard at figuring it out.   So different, in fact, that chickens understanding English doesn't seem like such a stretch.

Normaltown Community Church

Normaltown Community Church in Athens, Georgia reopened on Easter Sunday, on the 106th anniversary of it's founding.  While I was taking pictures of the 7 little kids in front of the church, their older brother and sister decided to jump into the pictures.   Ryan (our eldest son) is the pastor of Normaltown Community  Church and Camila (our eldest daughter) made the drive from Atlanta to be with us to celebrate Easter and the church's opening.

Actually 11 of our kids were with us - more or less- for this celebration.  I say, more or less, because, while we had a really fun visit with Everett, Kathryn, Aria, and Matthew on Easter Eve they missed Ryan's great sermon because they were at the hospital with Aria who came down with a really nasty virus.  She is on the mend, but they missed all the picture taking, which was supposed to include Aria's Easter bonnet. Ryan and Julia hosted a great lunch afterwards and we got to talk a bit about the fall arrival of our newest grandchild. A very Blessed Day !

Guess What Day This Is

If you guessed St Patricks Day you are right ! We are always Wright.  (Rosie made her dress at Joyce's Keepers of the home class.)

Chinese New Year

   Ric's dad, Wen, hosted Chinese New Year at our house again this year and everyone had a great time.

He came the day before and directed the hanging of lanterns and posting of signs.  I knew, after last year, to empty my living room and clear the walls for the many red paper decorations he would be bringing.   He had given me instructions regarding the red envelopes, as well, so we were all ready on that count.

He prepared all the food, which was, of course, wonderful.  This year he didn't bring any typical Chinese specialties with eyeballs, which was okay with me !

The men, mostly, sat at the table together, which is as it would be in China,  although I don't remember seeing any of the women waiting on them.  At least, I didn't. :/

He brought a dozen or more paper cannons, like the ones he gave us for Everett and Kathryn's wedding.  We set a clock ahead, so that at 7:00 it changed to midnight and we rang bells, shot off the cannons, covered up the gold dragon and uncovered the golden snake.  We will have tiny pieces of paper on our grass for some time to come. 

 The highlight for the children, no doubt, was the passing out of the red envelopes, containing varying amounts of money. 

In His great wisdom, God has chosen to weave the children from the Wright, Jiang, and Gray families together. And we are all so much richer for His intervention.

Snow 2013

We have been waiting for two years to get a good enough snow to play in.   This one wasn't too great for sledding but it was great for making snowmen !

Church was cancelled today and I was planning to sleep nice and late, but when I heard the basement door slam beneath my bedroom (at 8:30, a time I don't like to see very often), I struggled out of bed to make sure the kids were properly dressed.

We live in the most beautiful place in the world.

Ric and Camila share a birthday

This year Ric turned 8 and Camila turned - well she probably isn't counting anymore.  I tell our kids that it isn't polite to ask a woman how old she is.  I certainly am not telling anymore.

They shared an Angry Birds cake.

The glass chess set was a big hit and Ric  gave Camila a pretty good game.

Everett was the judge of the lego building competition.  Ric won !

Their birthday pose.