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.

 

Lunch

I usually get my camera out for big affairs, like birthday parties, wedding showers or shows.  However, on occassion, I remember to get it out to record our ordinary daily life.  We are blessed that Jerry is able to join us in the middle of the day so we clear away the school books for an hour or so and this is what we look like most afternoons.

Thanksgiving Tree

I didn't remember to put up our Thanksgiving tree until just a few days before Thanksgiving day.  It was created from items on hand (think paperbags and construction paper) so it was a little crude, but by the time the kids (big and little) finished decorating it, it was lovely.  I was thrilled with their enthusiasm and their grateful hearts.