That Sweet Man of Mine

David and Me

   Today is my husband's birthday!!!  Happy Birthday David!

I'm dedicating this post to my sweet husband because he's an amazing gift from God.

   David was born and raised right here in Wichita, Kansas.  His parents are Charley and Joan Wright - Wonderful parents. Charley is with the Lord now. David has one very sweet sister, Susan.

   David and I met in 1989 at a Bible Study geared toward college students.  We also attended the same church and Sunday School class.  I was able to watch this guy, listen to the way he interacted with people and spoke of his relationship with Jesus. He willingly served people without seeking recognition.  I had respect for David early on, even before our first date.  He was gentle and kind.  He thought before he spoke.  He didn't need to be the center of attention like so many other young men.  He was also really cute, an added bonus!

   David asked me out and we dated off and on for a few months.  It took me a while to feel secure in our relationship but David was patient and proved to be trustworthy.  One night when I sought God's direction for my life, He very specifically put David's name on my mind.  It was very clear!  David and I went for a walk and talked for a long time.  Soon after, we became engaged.  I married my best friend on March 23, 1991!

   We have 4 terrific kids, all teens now.  We've walked some bumpy roads along the way but we've follow Jesus and He's faithfully led us and matured us.  He's always provided for all He's called us to do.  We put our full trust in Him for the future of our family.  We are now in the process of adopting 2 older children from Ethiopia!  We've never had our ducks in a row and we are not picture perfect from any angle but we are willing to trust and obey.  We thank God for everything (good and hard)He allows to enter our lives and He gives us great joy!  He has lavished His love on us and filled us up to overflowing.

   David is a hard worker and very good at what he does.  He is Vice President of his architecture firm, Health Facilities Group.  He seeks to understand, encourage and challenge his employees and they respect him.  He leads by example and he leads with integrity.

 In addition, David is an awesome dad.   He is intentional about connecting with and encouraging each one of our children.  He challenges them to work hard and live lives that honor God.  They have no question that they are loved and "liked" by their Dad.  He has been very involved in their lives and always will be.

   I am so blessed to have David as my husband.  He is my sounding board and confidante.  He is the perfect balance for me.  He sees the glass half full where I tend to see it half empty (I'm learning from his example I'm glad to report).  He always believes the best about people, giving them the benefit of the doubt.  I tend to question people's motives.  He is linear, I am random. He's self-disciplined and I fly by the seat of my pants. It makes me smile because we compliment each other's personalities so well.  God always knows what He's doing and He does it so well!  I have no doubt that David loves and accepts me. He's done such a great job of telling me and showing me.  When he proposed to me 22 years ago, he asked me for the opportunity to try to love me as Christ loves the church.  Kinda sappy, huh?  But he's doing it!  He's not perfect but he intentionally makes the effort to know me and love me in ways that I truly feel loved.  He leads us well and I am so proud that he is my husband!

   That's enough mushiness for now but you know I could go on and on!  I'm so blessed by David!

More

To arrive at my blog I have to click on More.  More is a word that I am experiencing in life, in my relationship with Jesus, in other relationships.

More GRACE.
More JOY.
More peace.
More fun.
More understanding.
More confidence.
More depth in relationships.

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;  I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full!"

More from God = Full, Abundant Life

God has full, abundant life for all who call Him Father.  For all of us who believe in His Son Jesus, He has amazing gifts that He generously and lavishly pours out on us.

These gifts may come in disguise - hard eucharisteos.  There are hard things that He allows into our lives to get us to the point of dependence and the ability to receive.  Things that force our independent eyes off ourselves (our strength and abilities) to look at Him.  He is our Master, our Creator.  The One who made us LOVES us and has the very best plans for our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you."

He alone is Wise and Able and All Good.

Hard Eucharisteos.  Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts, has brought about transformation in my life.  I should say that the work God is doing in my heart through His message in her book is bringing about transformation in my life.  Ann talks about Eucharisteo - thanksgiving.  It is easy to be open-handed to gifts that we want.  It is difficult to receive the hard gifts that we would never ask for.  But He gives us the grace to live even through the hard.  When we return thanks for whatever He allows to come in to teach us, stretch us and grow us - He gives us JOY.  Full, abundant JOY!  This is where real living takes place.  This is how we can get filled up by Him.  So full that we overflow onto those around us.  Letting His light shine through us because we can't contain it.
That is His design.

Saying YES to Jesus is never a foolish risk!

Our Hard Eucharisteos (to name a few):
miscarriage
asperger's syndrome
ocd
adhd
epilepsy
anxiety
depression
the loss of David's sweet dad, Charley

I can say Thank You God for each of these things now.  He has brought (or is currently bringing) healing in each of these areas.  We've given them to Him and we've said YES LORD trusting our trustworthy God to work in our lives through them.  He REDEEMS.  He HEALS. He MAKES ALL THINGS NEW.  He BRINGS JOY in the MORNING.  He gives HOPE.  He is the AUTHOR and PERFECTOR of our FAITH...

All GLORY to HIM who sits on the THRONE!  Who daily gives us manna.

Each morning I surrender my day to Him with my hands open to what He wants to give me. (I didn't get here on my own.  He has had to work hard and long on this girl). I want to receive all of the gifts He has for me, the easy ones and the hards ones.  And I give THANKS because He is good in all things.  He has proven Himself over and over.

These are the things we are currently holding out to Him to receive His work, His will: (Would you pray with us?)
Our Adoption  of one or 2 precious children from Ethiopia
ADHD & OCD
Anxiety & Irritability
Future plans to move to a home more fitting for 6 children/2 adults
A job for Tobi
Continued success for Health Facilities Group (David co-owns)

We trust God with our future because He is completely TRUSTWORTHY!

Would you let me know what you are trusting God for right now? Just leave a comment. I will pray for you.  And if you are struggling with anxiety/depression...know that I am already praying for you.  It's a silent struggle for many Christian women and I am familiar with this kind of pain.  You seek Him and He will deliver you.  Thank Him for whatever you can today...that's the beginning.

Pumpkin Patchin'

Mikaela's instagram picture of our teens on the haystacks.

Saturday was a cold and gray day but we had so much fun together at Walter's Pumpkin Patch (a few miles north of El Dorado).

Walter's is different than any other Pumpkin Patch we've been to.  We took the kids every year when they were little but we've haven't been in several years which made it even more fun.  I wasn't sure what our teens would think about going to a Pumpkin Patch but they loved it.  Their smiles and laughter blessed my soul :) They didn't even fuss at me for making them look at the camera (David's phone) multiple times!

Aaron, Natalie, Mikaela and Jordan

David and me - one of our better photos - jk!

The sibling loveness warmed me right up.

Oh my silly boys!  Jordan nearly tipped his pony  all the way forward.

We had to chuckle at these 2 who kept butting each other out of the trough.   Just being "kids."

Aaron, Natalie, Jordan (mid-air) me and Mikaela on the Bouncing Pillow.

David (normally a very attractive man) couldn't wait until  I served up the lunch I packed so...
This was taken somewhere in the Corn Maze.

This is just so stinkin' cute of Mikaela, I couldn't resist adding it.

David enjoyed holding his girls up in the air on the tractor seated teeter totter.

Our boys warming themselves by the fire.  They were the die-hards who actually  completed the Farm Scene Investigation/Corn Maze.  So proud!

Beautiful white pumpkin I found and brought home - it's on  the mantel now, looking lovely.

This was a great family road trip.  If you live anywhere near El Dorado Kansas, I highly recommend it.  It was worth the $10 each - better than a movie in my book.  Ok, there were some additional costs but still so worth it.  We'll go again.  As our time there went on I kept thinking that our Ethiopian kids will love this too.  Hoping they will be with us next Fall!

I love my family!

   I love my sweet family!  David and Jordan (19) went to visit the KU campus today.  Fun road trip for them.  It was a nice cool fall day to be there.  They talked with people in admissions and in the film department.  Jordan has finished his training for the Kansas Air National Guard and is currently working full time on base.  In the Spring he will attend Wichita State and then off to KU in the Fall.  He's so ready!  One of our pastors is starting a church in Lawrence. Knowing that Jordan will have a church there gives us peace.  God covers all the bases!

   Two of our 4 teens were sick this past week but not today.  They all made it to school today :) Well the 3 that are still in school. I did some returns and grocery shopping for my next fundraiser - a Bake Sale.  My friend and her daughter joined my girls and me for Chick-Fil-A  and then came over to our house.  The girls watched movies and Les and I baked A Lot of cookies.   and ate a few too.  Cranberry/Walnut/Oatmeal, Snickerdoodle, Pumpkin Snickerdoodle and Butterscotch/Chocolate Chip.  Oh my! It was much more fun to bake with Les than to do it all myself.  Amish proverb, "Many hands make light work."  It's so true.  Aaron just hung out with the computer because he was terribly outnumbered by girls!  Sorry Aaron.  He'll go with the guys to visit KU in the Spring since he's a Junior.  

   Tomorrow morning we will take a mini road trip to the El Dorado area - Walter's Pumpkin Patch here we come!  Expect too many pictures on my next post!  

   Thanks for stopping by! 

Crisp, Cool, Beautiful Fall!

   Welcome to my blog.  I love Fall!  It is my favorite season.  The leaves turning that crimson red, vibrant orange, warm yellow and still some bright green.   I like them so much that we've decorated our home in those colors. I can enjoy a rainy day but the cool, sunny days with bright blue skies....Lovely! Pumpkins of all sizes on porches, big, full chrysanthemums, fall wreaths hanging on doors.  I love the sound of crunching crisp leaves under my feet and I'm opening myself up to enjoying a little football - the announcer's voices, the cheers of faithful fans.  The aroma of pumpkin, cranberries and cinnamon, ooooooooo.  And, of course, the flavors that go along with those scents.  I can now pull on jeans and long sleeved shirts.  I love to sit on my back porch swing with a blanket and a good book or The Good Book.  All of it brightens my spirit!  I'm so thankful for this season.

   Our adoption has been on my mind so much lately.  Fundraising  brings out different emotions - feeling awkward to ask for help in raising money but feeling so grateful for all the support and encouragement we've been given. So amazed to see how God is providing.  I know adoption is about more than the family adopting and the children being adopted.  God brings so many people into the process to give, pray, teach, encourage, help and talk to.  He's brought kindred spirits into my life through adoption blogs.  We're adopting children who are 4-7yrs 11mo. old.  In the adoption world they are considered as "older."  I read blogs about families who are raising adopted children who have issues somewhat unique to this age range.  Our experiences in foster parenting have also contributed to the learning process.  I believe that God draws this team together to help prepare us and change us but also to do great things in the hearts of our support team.  He doesn't do anything without having a good purpose, whether we are in the giving or in the receiving.  Each gives us the priviledge of being a part of His plans, His movement, His body, His kingdom!

   Our Ethiopian children are also on my mind, all the time.  We are praying that God will bind our hearts together even now.  We don't have referrals yet so we haven't seen their faces and we don't know the details of their lives.  We ask God to heal their hearts, provide for all their physical needs, and to love them through their caregivers and little friends.  Asking Him to let them know they have a family.  God knows who they are and when they will join us.  He knows their future and He has great plans for them.  All of this gives me hope and such peace.  He may give us children that challenge our parenting skills like never before but hasn't He always given all we need for each challenge He allows us to face.  Hasn't He grown all of us in and through the struggles?  He is faithful, period.  That won't change.  That won't change!

   I'm excited about these children becoming a part of our family.  I'm reminded by young children that come into our home through foster care what joy their perspectives on life can bring.  How they simplify things and make a big deal out of the small, seemingly unimportant stuff of life.  In spite of hard times they laugh so full and so often.  It all makes me back up and take it all in.  They seem to take life at a slower pace and notice details and joys I tend to overlook like bugs, sticks, mud, long time swinging and hopping and touching everything.  You know I'm a kid person, always have been.  God's given me this gift to help me see and experience Him more.  It's about them and it's about what He wants to give me and teach me.  I know our Ethiopian kids are delightful too and I can't wait to meet them!!!  His timing is perfect, His timing is perfect, His timing is perfect... My timing is not.  I'd take them today but we still have so much to learn :)

Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll come back.  God bless, Tobi

We are Winners!

Yay!  We won the $500 grant from Ordinary Hero!!!  We sold over $1600 in merchandise which gave us $653 in commission.  Together that makes $1,153 for our adoption.  OH will send a check to America World and it will be put into an account for us!  I am so thankful for God's provision once again and for Ordinary Hero for their huge gift!
Brenda Fleming is the winner of the Starbuck's Gift Card drawing!!!
A BIG THANKS to all of you who prayed or purchased or shared our posts on Facebook!  You have greatly blessed us!
We will continue to keep the Ordinary Hero fundraising going so go shop again if you'd like :)  We are so please with the quality of our shirts.  It will be fun seeing you and your kids wearing OH t-shirts!  :)

I also want to say thanks to Candace Allenbach and Darlene Seibert who've recently donated children's clothing (very nice clothing too) for foster children and our Ethiopian kids!  THANK YOU!

Whew!  Now I need to focus some time on my house!  Do I have a witness?

Our handsome boys, Aaron and Jordan, modeling their new Ordinary Hero  T-Shirts.

Little Brown and Pink High Tops

  There's an extra little pair of brown and pink high tops in our shoe basket today.  We've had several kiddos come to stay with us for a few days at a time recently.  When school starts up teachers and school staff identify children who are victims of neglect and abuse.  They report it because they care and because it's required by law.  I'm thankful for people who make that call.  It gets precious children out of harm's way.  It gets police and social workers into gear to work out a better plan for protecting and providing for them.
   My heart is heavy.  Stories of the children who have come in and out of our homes (forever in our hearts) have left such an ache inside of me.  They are innocent, precious, loved deeply by God - children who deserve to be nurtured and snuggled and cared for.
   If you feel God nudging you to look into foster care please do.  I'd be glad to answer any questions and point you in the right direction.  Pray for God's leading.  He will provide all you need to minister to them.  We have been so blessed by being a foster family.  It's hard but good.  A little time with each one is an opportunity to pray for them, tell them about Jesus and His perfect love for them, and to show them they are so very special.  Foster parenting isn't something everyone should do.  God calls us to different things.  But if you think He's putting this on your heart I encourage you to pray.

Ordinary Hero Grant Giveaway!

Natalie, Mikaela and Tobi - Wright Family Ordinary Hero Models

Hi Friends!  We have just kicked off our Adoption Fundraising with Ordinary Hero T-shirts.  This afternoon I created a fundraising event on my Facebook page.  While I was working on that, Natalie went to pick up our mail.  She came back in the house wearing her new OH t-shirt!  She sneaked into our backyard and slipped it on before coming inside.  I squealed loudly to say the least :)  We ordered one for all 6 of us and I hope to get a picture of the guys in their very cool manly shirts by tomorrow evening.

Ordinary Hero Grant Giveaway!!!  Today I received an email from Ordinary Hero, the organization we chose to become affiliates with for fundraising.  We chose them because of their heart for orphans and because the merchandise is fabulous!  Anyhoo...OH is giving a grant of $1,000 to the family who sells the most merchandise between 9/21 and 9/30.  For every sale, 40% of the total is added to our adoption fund with our agency.  Please consider helping us raise money to cover our adoption expenses by checking out http://ordinaryherostore.org/.  Receiving the 1st place grant of $1,000 would be such a blessing. (2nd place is $500 and 3rd place gets $300). There are many great items to choose from.

IMPORTANT DETAIL:  When you go to checkout please click on Tobi Wright in the drop down list.  Ordinary Hero will send 40% of each sale to an account set up for us with our adoption agency, America World Adoption Associates. By clicking on my name you move us closer to winning the grant!
Let me know that you have placed an order (9/21 - 9/30) by leaving a comment here on our blog.  I will enter your name in a drawing for a Starbuck's Gift Card.  The winner's name will be posted here and on my FB page on October 1st!

We will keep the Ordinary Hero Fundraising opportunity open for 3 months (or more).  Each month I will do another drawing, each month a different prize :)  But this month your order will help us win $1,000 for our adoption!!!

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.  God is providing for these children to become a part of our family!  The adoption experience has been so good.  We are learning a lot through books, webinars, friends who have adopted and new blog friends who've also adopted.  We will keep you posted!

I wrote 2 posts today but I decided to delete them.  The Holy Spirit reminded me that we signed a form when we became foster parents saying that we would not share info about the children in our care.  I didn't  give their names but I felt like I walked too closely to the line.  It's our job to protect their privacy.  I feel bad about it and I apologize to anyone who read my posts. I can write in general about our experiences in foster parenting but not when it is so fresh.  Sincerely, Tobi

Our family at River Commuity Church

Sunday we went to River Commuity Church like we always do on Sundays.  It was our last time to worship there since RCCs church plant, West Ridge Community Church, launches next Sunday, Sept. 2nd. We are following God's direction for our family and joining what He is doing in and through WRCC. Jordan will continue going to RCC for worship and Christian Challenge.  We enjoyed our worship experience and we were intentional about finding and hugging our friends that we usually only see on Sundays at RCC.  Saying hello to WRCC means saying goodbye to RCC.  But not completely.  We've worshipped with RCC for 22 years and we've developed close relationships that we hope will last a lifetime.  We have so many great memories of our years at River.  I was a little surprised at my tears and how hard it was to stop them.  I'm not really a cryer.  I guess that shows how deep the love goes :)  Thank you to all our friends at RCC who have loved us so well!

   We have 2 boys in our care as of last night.  I got a call to pick one up early afternoon and then another placement in the evening.  Occasionally, we are asked to take unrelated children.  The first boy was feeling sad and I thought it would be a good idea to have another boy his age to play with.  They became instant friends.  They play together well and are a good distraction for each other.  I'm praying for their families today.  So many families lack the resources to parent well.  I am not excusing abuse, neglect or abandonment!  My heart breaks for children who are not treated with loving kindness.  I'm praying for services to be implemented to offer their families support, provisions and resources.  I'm praying for jobs and for hope.  Ultimately, they need Jesus.  Some of them know Jesus.  It's a priviledge to pray for them.  11 children went into care through the Wichita Children's Home last night by the time we had picked up these 2  boys.  I was told later that 3 more were on the way.  I don't know what the total count was for yesterday.  When school starts there are more reports.  Teachers and school staff see the signs of abuse and neglect and faithfully call to report.   To preserve the families dignity we cannot post pictures of the children but we have pictures of many of them at home.  We remember many of their names and stories and we can pray for them.  We don't know what happens in their lives after they leave our home.  God knows.  He sees them and cares and works in their behalf.  I blog about foster care with the hope that other people might pray for these children and/or look into becoming foster parents.  It's been such a good thing for our family.  If you have questions, please ask!

   It's a beautiful day here in Wichita, Kansas and we're going the park to enjoy it!

 

Short and Sweet?

   This needs to be short and sweet.  Can I do that?  I have a "walking date" with a friend.  The weather is cool this morning and Lord knows I need to get back into the routine of exercising!

   It's been a long time since I've written anything on my blog.  Life has been happening and it is worth recording so here I go...

   The big news is that we finished our Dossier and sent it to our adoption agency.  They approved it and sent it to Ethiopia!  Sooooo glad to have that done, one step closer.   We are requesting the adoption of one or two, boy(s) or girl(s) between the ages of 2 and 7 years, 11 months.  Preferably between 4 and 7y11m!  If we adopt 2 they will be siblings.   We've been praying for the children God has chosen to be in our family;  for physical and emotional healing, that they will be lovingly cared for and protected, for good and plentiful nutrition and clean water, for good friends to laugh with.  We've asked God to somehow let them know that they have a family that loves them and will come for them.  God has good plans for orphans.  I'm asking God to continue to prepare us to be a good family for them.  Now that the Dossier is done I am concentrating on fundraising.  We still have a large amount of money to raise to be able to bring these little ones home.  I am looking into an organization that helps families raise funds by selling T-shirts.  These are great shirts and I can't wait to get started.  Watch for more info on that topic...

   We've seen God's faithfulness displayed over and over in Jordan's life.  Jordan graduated from Basic Training in December and from Tech School in July.  He recently finished his seasoning here in Wichita and is taking on part time work for the Kansas Air National Guard.  He will still be able to take a couple of Gen. Ed. classes at Wichita State University in the Spring and then he plans to go to KU fall 2013. He's done most of the checking and planning himself.  He's really grown up and we are so proud of him! Most of you know Jordan and you've seen the amazing things God has done in his life.

David with Jordan in his Blues at Basic Training Graduation.

   This is Aaron's Junior year at Maize High and he is off to a great start.  He has a Game Design class - how fun is that?  He could probably teach the class.  He's already pretty good at game design.  He also has a C++ Programming class.  When he was in maybe the 5th grade he asked me to buy a C++ manual (huge) at a garage sale.  I bought it and he spent free time reading it!  I can't imagine.  He has US History and English 11 too but those don't really light his fire.  So far he's on top of the dreaded homework and he's woken up to his alarm, on his own, 2 of the 7 days of school!    I should say alarms.  He has 2 and one of them has 2 alarms so really it's 3 altogether.  We do what we have to do, Amen?

   Mikaela and Natalie are in the swing of 8th grade.  Nothing new this year except that they are among the oldest in the building.  There's something cool about that, right?  Hair is important.  Thank goodness we aren't into make-up yet. Just a little mascara for my strawberry-blonde girl. They have beautiful skin and faces.  The bus comes early, 6:40ish, but they get up, get ready for the day and make it to the bus.  I pick all 3 up after school to spare them from the foul language and grumpiness of some of the other afternoon riders. The early ride to school is typically quiet (most of them are asleep).  One perk in the morning is seeing the sunrise on the way to school :)  God is sweet!

   My hardworking husband, David, is running at full speed.  Work has been, well, consuming to say the least.  God has blessed him with a positive outlook thankfully.  He is so good at what he does - design and managing people.  He has been working on re-siding our house (with a little help from his family crew) and replacing boards on our deck.  He's just about to wrap those projects up.  That's the challenge, isn't it?  To completely finish those home projects?

Carpenter Dave - I'm so impressed Babe!

Aaron - someday you'll thank your Dad for teaching you this manly stuff!  Really!

   The antique bedroom furniture our good friends donated to us for the adoption finally sold!  A teen-aged girl talked her dad into buying it for her.  She loves antiques.  I knew the right person would come along.  We had stored the furniture in the garage along with all the siding materials.  I avoided the garage as much as I possibly could and kept the garage door closed.  My hubby, on the other hand, didn't mind allowing the neighbors a peek so there was a little tension over whether or not the garage door was open or closed!  It's kind of hard to work on those outdoor projects when your wife keeps sighing and closing the garage door!  Sorry Honey!!!

   My summer was a little rough.  I've struggled with a nagging level of depression/anxiety for several years.  It's presence has been up and down.  I finally went to see a friend of ours who is a psychologist.  Some of this is physical and some of it comes out of wrong thinking patterns.  I'm ready to get that all turned around and take this mind in the right direction.  I know truth but I have to get it ingrained into my thinking.  I hope to share what I learn with you.  I know that many of us believe lies and those lies send us into places that God never intends for us to be.  He gives us grace and freedom, that's where I want to live.  That's what I want to teach my children with conviction not just head knowledge.  We really tried hard to spend very little this summer so the entertainment was sparing.  There were definitely some great times though.

   A long time wish of mine became a reality when we put together two garden boxes early in the summer.  David built them and our kids and I helped him fill them with some magic soil mixture.  I planted cantaloupe, Dave's favorite fruit, Mikaela planted cucumbers, Natalie loves okra so that's what she poked into the ground and Aaron planted carrots (b/c that's what mom kind of forced him to do).  Wow did the garden produce!  More pics of our harvest soon.  I love it when my family works together.  I'll make farmers of us yet!

David, Mikaela and Natalie mixing it up and shoveling it in.

Nat and her okra.

Kaela planting cucumber seeds.

   Our family goes on a June fishing trip with David's mom, Joan, his sister, Susan, and her hubby, Mike.  We always go to Texoma Lake which is beautiful, especially at sunrise!  We caught our limit and had a lot of fun doing it! Now we have Striper Bass for dinner once in awhile and we all love it.

Texoma Lake early (EARLY) in the morning - Gorgeous!

Aaron, Tobi, David, Natalie, Mikaela and friend, Tori

Boys boat + Mike's mom, Kathy, who volunteered due to boys being outnumbered by girls this year!
The girls boat reached our limit first - just sayin'.

Guests of Honor! 

  I took each of our girls on a 2 day trip to talk about the all-important topic of Purity.  Mikaela and I went to Ponca City, OK.  The highlight of our time was visiting Marland Mansion, it's beautiful and we loved touring that gorgeous home. We also went to the Pioneer Woman museum. The content we covered was awkward at times but I'm so glad we had "the talk."  :)  It was a time to connect with my girls about womanhood and to communicate that I am here for them whenever they want to talk.  They are so precious to us and of such great value to God.  The curriculum emphasizes the importance of giving Jesus first priority in our lives.

Mikaela loved this place and took a lot of pictures - budding photographer!

She's glowing!

Tobi and Mikaela at home (with Avery).

   Natalie and I visited Abilene, KS and really liked the time we spent at the Seelye Mansion.  We had fun swimming together and visiting the Russell Stover factory.  Natalie is a truffle-loving girl.  I was able to buy our girls new teen girl Bibles and a pretty necklace to give them during our time away together.  I know I didn't do it all perfectly but I am so glad we spent time alone together to talk about God's perspective on purity and His gift of sex in marriage.

Natalie and the Russell Stover Chocolate Bear!

The beautiful Seelye Mansion, and my beautiful Natalie.

Me and the my chocolate dream man.

This box of truffles is for Natalie ONLY!

         Our summer wouldn't be complete without spending some family time at the Klein family pool!  My sister 's family lives on 40-some acres.  They have an amazingly fun backyard and all the cousins love to hang out there.  We have the majority of our family gatherings at the Kleins.  There's always lots of good food!

         River Community has a new church plant, West Ridge Community Church!  Our family will attend, worship, grow, love and serve from our hearts with this new body of believers!  While it is hard to leave the church we helped start 22 years ago (we'll miss so many precious friends) - we got married and had 4 children while attending RCC - we are excited about being a part of what God is going to do through WRCC.  Our opening date is September 2nd.  BTW, we have a coffee bar!  Our pastor and his wife, Dave and Heidi Mitchell, love God, love people and follow the Holy Spirit.  I can't wait to see who shows up and how God's plan unfolds.  I'll be teaching 1st - 2nd grade Super Church twice  a month :)   There's something about children at that age that I just adore!

   Yeah, I knew I couldn't keep it short.  But I hope it was sweet!

   Just a little peek into foster parenting this evening.  The foster care agency we work with has a wonderful service for parents called respite.  There is the regular give-foster-parents-a-break respite and there is give-the-actual-parents-a-break respite.  We gave a sweet single mama a break this weekend.  I love this service because it is so needed.  In some cases it is child abuse prevention.  I think some of us (me) take for granted the blessing of having a support system;  church community, great friends, family members.  Not everyone has a good support system in her life.  Not everyone has a sweet husband who comes home ready to help out and connect with each member of the family, who, by the hand of God, is able to provide everything his family needs.  Not everyone gets "me" time to refuel so she can be a better parent.  Not everyone has the means to put a healthy dinner on the table and dress her babies fitting for the weather each day.  Not everyone had a good example in her parents of how to gently lead her young.  Not everyone has the ability to enroll her kids in theater, music lessons or sports activities.  Not everyone has someone to turn to for encouraging words. I am so blessed!  I have often taken my blessings for granted, sometimes claiming them as rights.
  Some women are parenting their children in the best way they can with very little resources.   Loss of a job loss of a home. No safe family or trustworthy friends to take care of her kids so she have a break,  just a little break to do the wash alone, to look into getting a couch from His Helping Hands, to look for a new job, a new place to live...
   The past 2 weekends we've done respite for single moms.  Sweet, loving, hardworking moms.  It was hard for them to leave their kids in a stranger's care.  The other foster mom and I stayed and visited with them, trying to relieve their worries, asking for advice on what works best for their children, telling them we'll take good care of them.
   This time I took two darlings home.  My children played with them.  I read and sang to them, bathed and fed them.  Prayed for them.  David joked with and tickled them.  We had a great time.  Last night the tornado sirens went off  so we all went down to the basement.  This was a bad storm and the older son was afraid for his mom.  He prayed for her and asked me several times if she was safe.  She called to be sure we had a basement. The older son talked to her and said, "Please, please, please mom take care of yourself."  So concerned.  Today we picked flowers for their mom.  We met her at the agency, sweet reunion.  The other foster mom and I hung around for a little while just watching and visiting, not wanting to leave.  It's amazing how quickly you can attach to children.  I admire their mom. She is strong.  I will continue to pray for her and all her children.  I went home thinking of all the excess I have and about  how needs and wants get all mixed up and how I don't really need all that I have.  I'm asking God how He wants me to respond to this time of being face to face with someone who has need, real need.  I want to live in the abundance of following in Jesus' footsteps, not in the abundance of this world.  Jesus brings peace and joy and purpose, abundant life.  Teach me Lord, change me, make me like you.

 
 

   Welcome to the Wright Family Blog!  We are David, Tobi, Jordan, Aaron, Mikaela and Natalie Wright.  I named our blog Come and See based on  this verse:  "Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man's behalf!"  Looking back over our lives I can see over and over how God has cared for us and drawn us, taught us and shaped us.  He's stretched us and has given us rest.  He leads, provides for us and heals us.  He gives us joy and peace and purpose every single day!  Oh how He loves us, all of us!  It is so good to be His child!  This blog is one way for me to tell of His goodness and His sovereignty in our lives. He is our gentle, loving, strong and mighty Father and best friend.  He is all we need.  It occurred to me, not long ago, that I talk to people more about what I want or wish, than what I've been given. More pray requests than praise. That's just crazy because I am so abundantly blessed by God so I'm trying to change that.  


 My name is Tobi and I will be the one posting about our family and our God-given adventures.  I have to admit that this is new territory for me but I'm looking forward to recording what God is doing in our lives and  hearing from you.  These are a few of my favorite things:  reading, time with family and friends, taking pictures, trying new recipes, being outside.  And I am crazy about kids.  Love being with kids!  I taught first-graders for several years and now I fully enjoy being a stay-at-home mama.


  David is my godly, handsome, amazing husband and their gentle, fun, amazing dad.  He is Vice President of his architecture firm and has built his business on prayer, hard work, commitment, and integrity.  He has his private pilot's license (which gets him home sooner some days), loves to read and enjoys golf, hunting and fishing.  He makes a point to connect with each of us every day.  I appreciate that about him.  I have to add that God has given him a huge portion of patience!  He leads our family well.


  Jordan David is our first born.  Jordan is 18 and is in the Air National Guard.  He is currently at Tech School on an Air Force Base.  He's doing very well and he loves it.  He's the first to leave the nest and this mama is missing her boy!  Thank you Lord for Skype!  Jordan walks with Jesus and is so teachable and kind.  He has faced many challenges with courage and perseverance.  Jordan loves to read, watch movies, and work out.  Oh, and eat!  He is the healthiest 18 year old I know.  Jordan hopes to go to KU soon and have a career in the film industry.  Right now he's getting up at 4something in the morning and studying his brains out.


   Aaron Hudson is 16.  He is funny and intelligent and hates getting up in the morning.  He is the first one I call on for help on the computer.  So thankful for his skills!  He is a sophomore in High School and we both hate his homework!  Don't get me started.  He has an insatiable sweet tooth so the cookie jar is often empty.  Aaron is a talented anime' artist.  He works on each drawing until it's perfect.  He's also a good beat boxer,  makes my lips numb just listening to him practice.


   Mikaela Faith  is 13 and is in the 7th grade.  She is 4 minutes older than her twin, Natalie.  Mikaela loves being a teen.  She loves friends, her cell phone, Facebook and her hair is important to her.  She is compassionate and funny.  Mikaela is also an artist.  We have several of her canvas paintings on our dining room wall.  Mikaela enjoys choir and her voice is improving all the time.  I love hearing her sing around the house.  She enjoys people but likes her alone time.  She is responsible and enjoys working in the yard.  Yay!


   Natalie Grace  is, of course, 13 and in the 7th grade.  My only strawberry blonde.  Natalie is giving and kind. As soon as she receives her allowance she's making plans to buy something for someone else.  She is friendly and quick to forgive (the name Grace is fitting).  She loves to be with people.  Natalie enjoys gymnastics and singing. She's amazing at Just Dance (Wii). She loves to bake so we share the kitchen. On the computer she is a fashion designer and watches make-up and hair tutorials.  When all the cousins are together, Natalie is the one organizing fun activities for the younger ones.


   So David and I have been married 21 loving years and have 4 wonderful biological kids.  Our current adventure is ADOPTION!  Yes and I am so excited!  It's been on my heart for sooo long and we are finally doing it!  We hope to adopt 2 children, somewhere between 2 and 7 years old, from Ethiopia!  It's been a long, gradual, unfolding journey.  We've needed the time it's taken to get here.  We've needed the training/growing time and we know there's more of that to come.


  It all started with a little seed that God put in my heart as a new teacher.  I've always enjoyed being with children so becoming a teacher was an easy career choice.  I taught in a low-income area of town.  Many of the children moved around a lot and their home lives were challenging.  Not to say that they had bad parents, just that life is tougher for some than for others.  Coming to school with many unmet needs makes it hard to learn and relate to others well.  Some of my students came to school dirty or with an empty stomach.  They didn't always have coats or even a bed to sleep on. Sometimes Mom went jail during the night so my student  stayed at the Children's Home and missed a few days of school.   My heart broke for many of them.  There were a few I wished I could just take home and keep.  I loved on them and prayed for them and gave them snacks.


   David and I talked about adopting before we got married.  We talked about waiting until after we had biological kids.  I didn't care where the child came from.  I just knew that I wanted to give at least one child a loving family.  So we had 4 kids and the desire was still strong.  At that point it was about the timing and the avenue.  We decided to do foster care to see if that could lead to adoption.  We went through the process and became a foster family 3 years ago.  We have done long term fostering but mostly PPC, Police Protective Custody.  We have LOVED it!      I will discreetly share some of our foster family stories.  There is a great need for good foster families.  Maybe our stories will help answer some questions about foster care or light a fire in a few of you to check into it for your family.  Many, many children have come into our home and have been loved on.  We do our best to make them feel safe and welcome.  Our kids have played with the children in our care and God has stretched them and grown compassion in their hearts.  But we haven't adopted through foster care.


  The past year God has burdened my heart for orphans in Africa.The more I learn the more I find myself face down on the floor crying out to God on their behalf.  David and I have talked and prayed and prayed and talked.  We said yes to God and now we are here.  In the process of adopting!  God has always, faithfully provided all we need for each thing He has called us to and we know He will come through on this.  He loves orphans and has good plans for their lives too.  He has blessed us abundantly and asks us to bless two little ones who need a family and I am so glad!  Getting to be a part of what God is doing is always a priviledge.  We know it will be challenging to raise a child with a hard past, parenting is hard.  We know that we will have to be fully dependent on Him but that is a good place to be.  


   Oh my, how I've gone on and on.  I hope that I have made some sense. I've probably left out some  important details. I promise my posts won't always be so long.  Thank you for listening to my heart.  This was fun!