Remodeling

 So a little over 2 years ago we moved into our present home.  We had just bought a home about 2 1/2 years prior, but 6 months after we moved in we brought home Michael.  Now if you don't know our sweet Michael has Cerebral Palsy.  Between the fact that the home was a tri split level, the fact that our land space was so small for us (we had a 1/4 of an acre and being former camp directors for 11 prior to that our kiddos were not used to anything less than a 100 acres), and a great perk of moving was we had a horribly racist neighbor. 

 We moved to a "tucked away" property that has 3 acres, all 1 level, 1/4 mile drive, is right by a small farm, and our neighbors are wonderful!  Since then Jason has had to lay new floors in all but a couple rooms of the home (long story including leaky pipes), has redone all the trim with that floor, and repainted a few of the rooms in the home. 

 Well now he has repainted all but the kids' bathrooms, and our toy room (storage room).

This brought me to think about remodeling.  We take time to remodel our homes in various stages either through pure necessity or through a desire to make a room look nicer or have practical floors.  We put our little touches on the home with pictures and wall hangings.

I then started thinking about the remodeling that needs to be done IN ME!  Believe me there is a lot!

 These pictures are from Walk Through Bethlehem that we go to yearly.  They do a full on "town of Bethlehem" and take tours through it with thousands of people.  Telling the story of what it would have looked like, smelled like (live animals, fish, breads, etc), and a deeper look into the miracle of the birth of Christ. 

 As you walk through and meet people they tell you their thoughts on this possible Messiah that was born.  They share with you the story and in the excitement of could this be the one who has come to fulfill the prophecies? 

 The shepherds are excited to tell you all about the angels they saw and what they heard.

 Then in quiet little cave like place there He is.....a baby.  A baby that came to remodel the world!  The one who came not to be our Earthly King, but our Heavenly King!  Not to change all the bad things on Earth for us, but to change our very hearts and minds!

Remodeling our lives.  Remodeling the way I think and view things.  To change me and my sometimes very rotten attitudes.  Our home has changed a lot over the last couple of years, new floors, new trim, and new paint.  Now is the time to HEAL to remodel ME!  To help reset my heart towards HIM. 

This is from when I took the boys to see Star Wars.  I know what you are thinking- does everything she talks about revolve around Star Wars?  Ummmmm...not everything, but I do love all the analogies I see in Star Wars to my faith walk.

(Spoiler Alert, but I figured if you a fan you have seen it by now anyway.)

In this story Luke has been hidden away for a long time and no one knows where.  It ends up he is in the original Jedi temple, as I see it to restore, train, and find healing.  He left after one of his students had turned to the dark side and it must have been so painful to see that.  Especially since this Jedi that turned was his nephew!  I can't imagine that!  Of course there is a map he leaves behind to find him.

So for me I am praying specifically for God to keep me hidden in Him.  For me to be studying that map to find Him.  For me to find in him restoration, training in how to be more like Him, and to find healing!

I pray that all of us may find a remodeling of our hearts.  A renewing of our faith.  A time of restoration by our Father who loves us so very deeply!  

$100 Discount with CAC!

2016 may be the year you have always dreamed of as you have made plans already and are starting off.  I pray it is filled with much joy!

​​SLXL

In the back of your mind is there a secret dream?  The one that maybe you feel is impossible or just will not ever work out for you......

​SLXL

Have you ever thought I would really love to ask questions about adoption but just didn't know who to ask and where to start?  

​SLXL

That's where we come in. Christian Adoption Consultants can come beside you to guide you on your adoption journey. We can equip you with the education and resources you need to make your dream of adoption become a reality. Because how you achieve your goals is just as important as if you do. 

If adoption is one of your goals for 2016, Christian Adoption Consultants wants to help you get started by offering a $100 discount. 

Any new families who sign up between January 11th and 15th will receive $100 off of our full service consulting packages. (This discount does not apply to our self serve consulting package, returning families, or special needs consulting packages).

Let's make 2016 the year you open your home to a child through adoption!

Want more info on Christian Adoption Consultants?  Click here.
What if you have more questions?  Click here.

Have friends who are thinking about adoption? Make sure you share this post! 

Feel free to call me anytime 813-360-7368 or email us at wrights@christianadoptionconsultants.com for an application and information packet.  We want to help answer your questions!

Anger

 One thing that takes root in our lives and then reeks havoc everywhere is anger.  It sneaks into corners and like a cobweb can be hidden to us for months or even years.  Unfortunately at some point we run smack in the middle of that cobweb and are confronted with it. 

 (Yes this is from December in Florida). 

We try to escape the cobweb of anger, but the more we try get loose from the cobweb the more it wraps around us.  There are even remains of anger long after we thought we had given it to God.  I lingers there stuck to our shirt.  Once we have gotten it all out of our hair, off our clothes, and we think we have gotten away from it- BAM there it is again another cobweb. 

 The problem is that it keeps popping up.  Here is a definition of anger that I really like and it hits very close to home. 

Anger- is the process of trying to control something we can't control!  

UFFDA (as my Norweign heritage says). 

I want to control my children's behaviors, I want them to obey every rule, I want my husband to do what I want him to - now please, I want to receive healing immediately, I want the weather to cooperate, I want to feel rested in the midst of busy chaos, I want others to recognize my hard work, I want......

I WANT!  I WANT!  I WANT!

 I want control! 

 Now whether you love Star Wars or not (I may think you are wrong), but you have the right to your opinion.  My children are going to mess up or find their own way, my husband is going to say something or do something offensive.  That close friend may say something on FB you just can't believe they would say.  There will be conflict at work and the project you spent hours on no one notices.  There will be endless days when no one says thank you for anything you do. 

One thing I love about Star Wars is that there is a dark side.  No I don't like the dark side, but it shows that those who believe in the force also know this to be true.  The heros fight the dark side.  But when we allow anger and hate to overcome us in other words the need to control everything we cross over to the dark side.  We lose the ability to even tell that we are on the wrong side! 

Annikin was a sweet innocent boy who gave freely to help others.  He trained for years, but in the end he wanted to control the fact that he knew his wife would die in child birth.  So he decides to "try out the dark side" so he can save his wife from death.  He wanted to control the situation. 

Who could blame him?  However.... this lead him to become the villan instead of the hero. 



I want to seek God to break free from the cycle of anger- the need to control the situations around me.  It is hard.  I am going to have to lay it down at God's feet every day!  To trust Him fully with everything.  I am going to have to spend time in the word, in prayer, and walking in the Spirit to ward off that feeling of needing control. 

Who else is with me? 

Healing!

 I know many people who ask God to help them focus their spiritual life in the New Year and give them a word to help with that focus.  To say that the last several years have been hard, up hill climb, and draining would be so very true.  Probably why I let it get to me and last year blogged about once a month. 

I have just gone through some hard things mentally which has affected my spiritual walk.  It took it's toll on me and I became different.  I can't really describe it. 

 There have been plenty of times in the last several years that have been AMAZING!!  Times where I see God clearly at work and just stand in AWE!  Lots of growth and changes for the good for me and our family. 

 But this year as I absolutely love new beginnings I started dreaming about what this new year would hold.  I started reflecting on 2015 and all my issues.  I have a lot!  I definitely have the sense that God will take my brokeness and HEAL! 

 It isn't a magic genie approach or make a wish before you blow out the candles type of thing.  It is something I long for.  I desire to grow closer to God to draw near to Him this year in a way that is new to me.  I believe God wants this as well and will grant healing because He too wants us to have healing.  I have a lot of work to do to put myself back into a place of seeking Him. 

 I know many think it is silly to have resolutions or even a "word" for the year.  That's fine, but for me I am seeking Healing.  Seeking to have a personal revival. 

2Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

 Hardest part about healing is there is guaranteed to be tears shed, old ways that have to die, and I have to get myself aligned with Christ.  So there are 4 things I am going to continue to remind myself of this next year to help me.  Yes, I have it written down in a few places and laminated for my pocket version ;).

 These came from another blog I read- so sorry I can not remember the name or even title, but it was on New Year's resolutions which were simple and real.

Be Still!  I plan to get still before God and seek His face.  Read His words to me and pray for guidance.

Be Love!  This one is hard.  When you are a broken person you hurt others.  So we have to really work at loving even when we don't feel loved.  

 Be Joy!  Now if you are not still before the Lord there is no real way to have joy or even experience it fully.  I am going to try to live in that place of looking for joy though.  Seeking it out. 

Be Kind!  Some may say this is the same as love, but really it is more than that because I love my family, but I am not always kind to them.  Oh man that is a whole new level to try to keep kindness up front in my mind and life. 

So here I am back at life and seeking HEALING!  Wanting God to take my brokeness and use me for Him.  Nothing magical about it.  Just real.  Just honest.  Bring on the Healing God for me, for my family, for our community, and for our nation and world! 

Happy Sweet 16th Abigail!!!! (from November 8th)

 Happy Sweet 16th to our beautiful Abigail Marie Wright!  The sweetheart that made us parents.  Our sweet with a touch of sass young lady who makes us so proud every day. 

 There are a million words to describe our young lady here are 16 phrases:

 caring, positive, 

 sweet, beautiful young lady,

 compassionate,a heart for the Lord,

 genuine, artistic

 sweet, considerate,

 creative, pure,

 charming, determined

 thoughtful, & fun!  That is quite a list, but if you have ever met our Abigail you would know she is quite an amazing young lady.  We surprised her by ordering a cake made by our worship pastor.  He did a fantastic job and she loved it. 

What Abigail looked forward to the most for her 16th birthday was both sets of grandparents being here!  That is a rare thing since Jason's parents are from England and mine live in Missouri.  It was a special treat and she was so excited! 

 We also got to have my aunt Jane spend the special day with us as well.  It was so much fun with our family gathered round the table. 

 Sometimes I have to put myself in the pictures so we remember that I am actually there too. 

 My mom and I look so much alike! 

 Jason and I wanted to bless Abigail on her 16th Birthday.  Not just something we say, but something we have thought about.  In our hearts we know Abigail is really a young adult living in our home.  She may not be ready to be on her own just yet, but in most ways she is ready to be her own person.  So we wrote a special Blessing from us to her. 

 We are so thrilled that the Lord blessed us with her. 

 Miss these people every day!  Love them all so very much.  It was a great time having them all here! 

 For Abigail's birthday we talked about having some friends over, but as you can imagine in a home with 8 siblings privacy to have fun girl talk is well.....very limited.  So I asked Abigail if she wanted to go out with her friends to a concert instead.  There were several in the area, but she chose Toby Mac, Brit Nicole, & Colton Dixson!  GREAT concert! 

We got to meet and greet as well :)!!!!

 Nirva Ready who sings with Toby Mac (has done for a long time) was able to hook us up with meet and greet tickets which was great!  Thank you Nirva!!!!  She sings in our church as well and she and her husband are working on another record coming soon too!  This is from their last CD.

 Concert pictures never seem to be that great, but we had so much fun!

The best memory we all agreed was getting to see the "grandma" in front of us dance all night long!  She is our hero and all the young ladies and myself said we so want to be her when we grow up.  She loved and danced unafraid and in true worship.  I wish I could have taken a video because seriously we all want to be her!  (Lighting wouldn't allow it.)

Abigail we love you and look forward to seeing the great things the Lord will continue to do in your life!  LOVE YOU!!!!

What adoption means to me part 2

I wrote about what adoption means to me personally here.  Today I wanted to share what it means to me in our job.  Jason and I work with a local agency as well as with Christian Adoption Consultants.  It is more than a job to us because of our perssonal story of adopting 9 children it is a passion.  We live out adoption in our home daily as well as guide many families through the process of adoption every year. 

 What is that like?  It is amazing!  This small sample of amazing children and families is what fills our facebook feeds.  When the rest of the world goes crazy this seems like home to us.  It is a place where we feel God has called us to use our various gifts to share and help others. 

We know what it means to do a home study, write a home study for others, and what that is like for our clients.  We know what it means to look over a situation, pray for the birth family, work with birth families as they place children in the arms of a family asking God to bless them all.  We know what it means to check your email a million times a day waiting to be matched wanting desperately for it to be your turn! 

 That is why we feel so very blessed to work with adoptions from all sides.  From the side of the birth family, adoptive family, and being able to see God at work through it all!  It literally is miracle after miracle.  Miracles of healing and hope as the birth mother receives validation from the adoptive family that she is worthy and encouragement that her child will be loved and cherished.  That the child now has extra people who love them not less. 

Seeing the adoptive family thankful that such a gift would even be entrusted to them.  To see their family grow and include the birth family and a new gift of life.  To see the overwhelming joy in their hearts as they bring that child home. 

What does adoption mean to me?  It is the expansion of love through the bravery of birth mothers saying yes to life, and adoptive families saying yes to them in return.