Thursday, November 18, 2010

Gifts.......

 So guess what we got for our family gifts this year for Christmas?  What it's too early for that? 
 Oh- you forgot we don't do traditional traditions...he he he.....yeah that's how we roll here at the Wright home.  So one- was our new kitty Rascal (and yes he lives up to his name!!)
 The second is a video game.  I am usually NOT for video games just so you know.  I actually loathe them for the most part.  But the thought of getting up, playing some friendly fun family games together, encouraging each other, being active together, and learning more about being a good sport.........liked this idea.....
 And so do our children.  So we got a Wii* and it is FUN!!!  We have laughed, had fun, interacted a lot, reminded each other how to lose gracefully, and learned fine motor control......together! 
 For those of you who don't know our family Christmas traditions do not revolve around gifts on Christmas Day, but family activities that we do together throughout the season.  As reminders that our family is important!  We typically buy family games, books, etc.  For Christmas- but not really at Christmas....if that makes sense.  Well, you know we are not a typical family :)  he he he....that is an understatement!!!
 Ok so I actually "stole" this idea from another blogger and here is our version of it- a Thankful Wreath!  Yeah, well we had to make it a bit bigger - he he he- ok a LOT bigger.  What can I say- lots of people, lots of thankfulness, and it takes up lots of space :)

 And YES you are ALL included!!!!!!  Some other things included- clean water, family, God, sharing Jesus, clothes, fun rides at theme parks, health, Wii*, all our pets by name of course, birth families, and much much much more....
 OK so my last post was me feeling a bit depressed about things.....and yet God gave us 2 wonderful people who are going to be driving hours out of their way to visit us on Joanna's Adoption Day next Monday!!!!  Kati & Vicky who are friends of our bloggy friends (whom we have gotten to visit with a couple of times) are coming to help us celebrate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't even say how much this means to us......when I first read the e-mail tears poured down.  
 The Lord heard my cries, and has given us friends- to help us celebrate!!!!  And this is how we feel about it!
And just because this is a really cute girl- here is another cute pic!!!!!

The only thing that leaves me sad is that there are too many of "us" out there!  Why???  And all I can say is thank God for Blogland!!!!  Thank you all for lifting us in prayers, for loving us, for caring enough to support us on this crazy journey, for knowing and "getting it" :)  It means more than you will ever know!

I also want to add that I am Thankful for this precious gift of life that God has given.  For the road no matter how hard it seems sometimes.  For all the road blocks, ups, and downs......because without it all we would not be who we are, and we would not have our family! 

**Prayer request- this weekend as in starting tomorrow we have several campers coming jr/sr high weekend camp!!!!  Praying hearts will be CHANGED!!!!!!!!

16 comments:

  1. Fun times! Love the thankful wreath.

    I also DO NOT like video games. But, we were given a Wii last Christmas. So fun. We have the Toy Story Game- super fun.

    (sidenote: thanks for your post a few weeks back about reading through the Bible. I'm reading with a friend...)

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  2. I love the pics of you and Joanna. So sweet! I will be thinking about you guys on Monday. I know it will be an extra special day. I would still love to meet up with you sometime. Maybe after the first of the year.

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  3. It's so great that you've got friends coming for Joanna's Adoption Day!! Yay!! Hope you have a wonderful day! And I love all the photos, especially the ones of you and Joanna - so cute!

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  4. LOve love love your thankful wreath! Too cool!!

    I like doing things in an untraditional way too! Christmas was always such a burden- that's not what it is supposed to be. We are making it joyful!

    Adorable pics of you and Joanna- you are just as cute and young as can be!! Oh yes- Joanna is too!

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  5. So excited to meet you guys on Monday!!!

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  6. Oh the pictures of Miss Joanna are DARLING!!! Just want you to know what an inspiration you and your family is to me! I dont know you really or hardly ever leave a comment but I read your blog and follow you on fb...I really appreciate all the advice and honesty! May God bless each member of your precious family!

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  7. Yaaaay! What an answer to prayer. So happy for you that friends will be there for you! God is good! And He hears the groanings of our hearts. We are His children by adoption and He loves to give good things to us. I am with you in spirit for the adoption celebration! Can't wait to see the pictures!

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  8. oh my goodness - she is just yummy!! Praying for you all this weekend

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  9. Like Jean said, you and Joanna look so young and beautiful in your pic. :-D Looooooove the wreath. It's beautiful!!!! Will be doing one as soon as our girls come home. So excited!

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  10. I love your non-traditional traditions! I might have to steal some.
    Your family is awesome!

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  11. so glad that God heard your cries and that you wont be alone. (FYI: I just browsed and found out that Mother Goose adoptions is in Florida. hmmmmm. Very interesting.....)

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  12. Hey Dawn~ Was just reading this and your last post. Oh, on a small scale I totally feel your pain. We have 2 bio kids and everyone made a big to-do. When we brought Grace home, people were excited but it was different. One thing I noticed that really made me sad....most people gave her some kind of hand-me-down gift. In fact, I'm tearing up as I write that. When I gave birth, no one gave my children a used gift. Are adopted children not worthy?? I don't want to sound ungrateful because I really did appreciate the things people did, but they just treated her differently and that made me sad.

    Oh, and the Wii - we got one last Christmas and the family tournaments are FUN!!

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  13. I think the wii sounds like a great gift! And I love the thanksgiving wreath (I may use that next year if I remember). So wonderful that God is sending you people to celebrate. I know we were so grateful to a couple of friends who came to our boys' adoption...especially since it didn't suit any of our siblings.

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  14. I hope Guatemala finds a way to get the adoption process figured out while we are here. They have so many corrupt political structures inhibiting children with real needs NOW! It's very sad.

    I appreciate your joyful, blessed approach to life. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. I am big into family traditions and especially like the ones that are a bit different from the norm! The pictures of your family always make me smile--

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  16. Sometimes we have friends over to play Wii sport games. It's so much fun when you get a whole group together to play.

    I LOOOOVE the last picture in this post. Baby kisses are the best! So cute!

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