I CHOOSE US!

There are just some movies that say it for me and Family Man is one of those movies.  I have it in my DVD collection and I usually bring it out at Christmas.  If there is any chance that I have allowed doubts to enter my mind, this movie always sweeps them away.

Saturday, my husband had to work late into the evening and I sat... lonely in my big chair, while flipping through the channels. There was Family Man.

What if we could see what our life would have been like if we had chosen differently?  Jack was given that chance in this movie.  What wins at the end isn't the high paying job, the nice car or the yearly vacations, instead he is allowed to see the joy in a life where life happened.  He would have had two children and lived very modestly with a wife who adored him.  His glimpse into what could have been, allowed him to change his priorities.  He was given a second chance.

At one point in the movie, he wants to uproot the whole family for his dream job.  She finally gives in and says she would go with him anywhere!  She says, "I Choose Us."

There were many choices along our 30 years of marriage.  Many job options would have taken my husband out of town more days than in town, instead he chose to work near home.  He never missed any of our childrens' games, nor any other event in all six of their lives.  The exchange  was worth it.

As we look to our future, I can truly say, "I Choose Us!"  My husband is the real Family Man!

I guess hindsight sometimes brings us the same message that Jack learned in the movie, "Family Man,"... it isn't about things, but about relationships!!*

*caution... there are a few scenes that some eyes should be covered (we fast forward)...for me, it catches the heart of a couple in love...as she says, "they are envious of us!" Like any recommendation, use your own judgment!  This movie is in my top 10!

What are some of your favorite movies that remind you of the most precious things in life? What are some of your favorite holiday movies?

Watch What You Ask For

As November closes her doors I reflect back on how the Lord answered my prayers.  Like praying for patience and then having every occasion to learn patience, well November was a month for learning another dimension of thankfulness.  The Lord heard my prayer for a deeper level of gratitude and this month gave me more than enough reasons to offer thanks or to become frustrated and bitter.  As I close the page on this month I believe I walked through to a new level of learning "giving thanks in all things".  My excitement over what God is doing in my heart and circumstances is beyond words.

click on pictures to enlarge them

1) Our 3rd Son was rushed to the hospital because of a seizure - thanks for more understanding on the cause and questions were answered, someone was there when he turned blue, he is fine and was able to continue in college - wonderful doctors

2) Cast boy had his cast removed - healing well, brace will be off the middle of December

3)  Job provision was very low - got a bonus to pay back rent

4) Son and Daughter-in-law turned 27!!!

5) Son and Daughter-in-law healing from miscarriage - God's faithfulness and promises for the future

6) Our fourth son went through oral surgery and did well - provision given for this expense 

7)  I prepared Thanksgiving Lunch and Dessert Party by myself and more than survived - His grace and strength were wonderfully abundant - my first brine turkey turned out great!

8) My mother-in-law, age 95, traveled with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law to celebrate with us

9) We had new and old friends come for dessert, what a joy!

10) No one was hurt and there was a lot of fun at the Thanksgiving football game played by the kids and dads

11) My husband took off two days before returning to his six day a week schedule at work

12) Financial Provision was given that would pay for our Thanksgiving and take care of many future needs - this answer to pray was the most humbling and  planted deep truth in my heart - again how beautiful the Body of Christ and to feel God loves you through His body

I was able to attend the Homestead Heritage Thanksgiving Festival the day after Thanksgiving.  This is one of my joys and is so refreshing after all the company and preparation of Thanksgiving.  I love going back to the old arts and seeing how cheese, bread, candles, soap, brooms, etc. are made and how I could do some of the same. I am going to try to do cheese and soap this next year.  The craftsmanship is amazing and the animals are so enjoyable.  My son was so delighted to experience all of it.

Thank you Lord for walking me through this month.  You have more than answered my prayers for a heart of gratitude. I Thes. 5:18 - "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  Now I move into the month where I focus on His birth!

You Are Blessed - IF

The Wright Turkeys wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,

You are more blessed than the million who won't survive this week,

If you have never experienced the danger of battle,

The loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation,

You are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment,

Arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost

Three billion people in the world

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head

And a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change

In a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy

If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare,

Especially in the United States

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful,

You are blessed because a majority can, but most do not

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder,

You are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in this 

world, that cannot read anything at all

You are so blessed in ways you may never even know!

This was the poem I copied  for our Thanksgiving a few years ago.  I framed it and placed it on the table with our Thanksgiving praise sheet. I do not remember where I found it, but the truths were so strong that I wanted to share it.               Happy Thanksgiving...see you next week!

One Year: God's Hand - Bravo God

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving, my thoughts go back to this time last year.  We returned from our Thanksgiving celebration to hear that our pastor had suffered a seizure that morning and was in the hospital.  Our thoughts stopped from our celebration to intercede for our young pastor and his family.

The news began to unfold that the seizure was the result of a brain tumor.  This past year, we have prayed and watched this man of God go through many surgeries and chemo treatments.

Today, he marched out onto the platform to preach to his body that now has multiple locations and numerous services. He has missed very few Sundays throughout this past year.  As I received the word from God  through this man, I couldn't help but offer up thanks for what God has done in his life and through his life this last year.

Today I say, "Bravo, Bravo God!" for the life of Matt Chandler and the testimony that has covered the world.

You can hear his testimony through many sources.  Just enter "Matt Chandler" in google and page after page will appear. I pray that by my sharing his testimony you will also be encouraged in your journey..I know I have been and still am.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/11/01/one-year-later-an-interview-with-matt-chandler/

Use It Or Lose It

Around the age of 45...maybe a little before that, I kept hearing these words over and over again. I am sure the over and over again is because I was starting to forget things.

Use It or Lose It

I knew these words meant I needed to focus on different areas of my life that I wasn't using...most specifically, exercising.  Like so many things, I felt I could pick it up when I desired and my abilities would be waiting there for me.

Five years down the road, well, I walk and stretch some.  I have had my back rebel a couple of times since my sixth child and his 10 pound entrance into the world...meaning I need to exercise and stretch more.

So the storms blew in and I didn't want to lose my days of walking, so I thought I would turn the television on and exercise with Gilad. Hey, I had done this in my early 30's and could more than keep up with the pace, so confidently I ventured into the exercise routine.  Surely my long forgotten body, my dancer's body would respond with very graceful movements to the counts.

Well, to my horror, the saying came flooding back to my memory!!!  USE IT OR LOSE IT!!!  

I am so glad candid camera wasn't installed and my whole house was vacant of any eyes.  If I could lose pounds by laughing that would have been the calories I lost.  It was just toooooooooooo funny!!!  I couldn't keep up with the movements, my legs went to the right, while he was going to the left.  Their kicks would go double time, while I was still on the first kick and  the wrong foot.  As they did stomach crunches  up and down, over and over again...well I collapsed...forget my stomach muscles.........I DON''T HAVE ANY!!!

At the end I was sweating....laughing by myself and I started to tell my brain that it has fooled me.  What was my brain thinking when it thought I could still keep pace and with grace, like I had done so easily years ago?

What a lesson!  Use it or lose it!  That saying works for so many things in our life.  Our spiritual walk, our relationships, our manners, our education...the list goes on and on.  I am going to pause and make me a list...which is a miracle for a non-list person, and see what abilities I have that I am not using.  Even if I have to use glasses to do some of it again. Stretching will allow my body more flexibility and other non-used abilities will stretch my brain.

I am so glad you didn't see it....but I can say, it would have given you a very good laugh or for some of you a smile!
I couldn't resist adding a clip from Lucy!!!  I have heard that laughing does burn up calories!!!

I QUIT!!!

google.com

I quit...that is it, I am finished!!!!  I am no longer going to be a MOM!!

 The confrontation had my stomach in knots and tears running down my eyes.  The words "It is just too hard"...running through my mind over and over again.  The cost is too high and I can't pay it.  Doesn't anyone know I am tired....emotionally tired?

So is the path at times of parenting.  There are days of complete overwhelming joy!  Days that the excitement of being a parent is going to cause your heart to bust from joy!  Then there are those days that you question why you ever had kids.  As Bill Cosby has said, "Now I know why some animals eat their young or I brought you into this world and I can take you out."

We have walked through many trials with our six children.  Days that I knew I could not in my own strength continue on this parenting journey.  I WAS RIGHT, I COULDN'T PARENT IN MY OWN STRENGTH.  That is when I would lay it all down and God would come and pick me up, strength my hands and knees that were weak, and together we would forge forward.

He knows what it is like to be a parent.  His children began rebelling in the Garden of Eden and He has seen the agony of it ever since.  His son paid the price for our sin of rebellion.

This latest trial has come to an end...the fruit, only time will tell.  God was there through every step. He had prepared my heart for weeks through prayer and the word.  He knew what was coming and what he wanted accomplished.  The child will answer to God on the decisions and we will have to step back praying that the truth that we have planted in this child will come to blossom.

Making a decision to have a child is momentous. 

It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking

outside your body. - Elizabeth Stone

If you have never been hated by your child

you have never been a parent. - Bette Davis

When you have brought up kids, there are memories you store

directly in your tear ducts. - Rober Brault

Psalm 127:3-5 ESv

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV 

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

My four-year-old wakes me up with a smile and a kiss.  I pull myself out of bed and thank God I am a mother...resting in the assurance that anything that comes across my path He will provide the strength.  He will forgive me of my sins and He will complete the work He has began.

Face Lift in BLUE!!!

After thirty years of being surrounded by family, church groups, and I must add BOYS, well what wouldn't  need of a face lift?

When we begin buying furniture as a young married couple I went for country and durable.  I wanted furniture that would stand the test of time and made you feel welcome in our home.  Of course at age 20 I couldn't have imagined that I would still have these pieces 30 years later, but I do.  So with changes in our lifestyle I have been so grateful for buying good furniture in the beginning, but now they need a face lift.

Rug - a garage sale find for $40.00 to help keep white renter carpet white! Tables in need of face lift!

To the horror of my Dad (sorry Dad) I have started to paint my honey oak tables.

I first started with staining the tops of the tables with black stain.

Pedestal was painted in a Robin Egg Blue....like my spray paint called Bahama Breeze

De-stressed through sanding and adding an oak glaze over the top.

Finished Coffee table know holds our seasonal picture books, the bread bowl from my husband's great-grandmother, filled with roses from him, and a new vase.  Updated and yet, still my 30 year old table.

My husband's only request....PLEASE DON'T PAINT THE GRAND PIANO!!! Which I never intended to do, but I will change out the seat cover!
Now this is the type of face lift I can handle!

Our Heroes in the Body of Christ

There are just times that words can't express our gratitude.  When we step back in such admiration for our loving God, we can only bow in worship, while saying, "Bravo, Bravo God!"


Watching the Body of Christ be the Body of Christ has been one of the most precious lessons our family has learned through our financial struggles.  Today, I just wanted to show you one of the many   dear friends who has blessed our family through his talent and giving heart.  This man has stood beside us more than once and this time, he took care of our precious four-year-old son.

This is Dr. L.D. Jennings, who has helped to heal our four-year-old's leg.  His talented staff reflects the wonderful, giving nature of our long-time friend.  He entered my husband's life in college, he stood as a groomsman in our wedding and has been at the end of more than one emergency call.  He always extends his talent and resources to bless our family.  He is a lifetime Texas Longhorn fan, who has given us his tickets to many games for our enjoyment.  He has blessed us with time in his lake-front condo to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary.  The list goes on and on and he has fulfilled so many scriptures as a true friend and a brother. My husband doesn't have a brother, so this man has been one in every sense of the word.

"A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

Benjamin laughing as Stacy uses her "tickle machine" to cut off his "camo" cast.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:16

Carey gently placing Ben's leg in position to take an x-ray on the "fancy camera".

"Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom, For with the same measure it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38

                                        Benjamin surrounded by his "angels". Bless them all!!
Isn't the Body of Christ beautiful?  When we all use what God has given us to bless others, then the world sees the love of our Father.  I also thank so many of you for your prayers, your emails, and unspoken gifts that have blessed us beyond measure.  My humble heart can only cry out, "Bravo, Bravo God!"

Leg brace for only one more month...God is good!!!

Just Have to Laugh!!!

My handsome, young, single, college graduate (does that sound like a mother speaking?) started to tell me this story over the phone.  

"When are you going to San Antonio?" - me

"Well,  don't know. Oh, I didn't tell you what happened to my car." - son

"No, what?" - me

Now I must tell you, this is the son who prides himself in getting us caught in one of his tricks.  He is the King of April Fools...but I did pull one off on him.  So when he started, I was already racking my brain on what the day was...joke day?? fools day?????

"Well I had another blowout with a tire. The lug nut wouldn't come off again." - son

"I just told you Dad you need to go down and buy all new tires for that car. " - unmerciful mom

"Well, I decided that since I had free towing, I would call and have them tow it to Discount Tires." - son

"The tow truck got there and he started to jack up my car.  I told him that he wasn't doing it right. He told me he had been doing this for years and knew what he was doing.  Then I heard a crunch!!!" - son

"I told him to stop....he came and we looked and the jack had gone through my floor board!!" - son

"NO!" - mom...still trying to figure out if he was pulling one over on me.

Now I must say...my son bought his own car and it is his dream car!  He doesn't let any dirt get on it. He drives it with great pride...and yes, he knows the verse, "pride comes before a fall"

"I told him to put the car down! Then he went to connect the hitch to the front bumper and...he pulled the bumper off!" - son

By this time, I am sure this isn't real and I burst into laughter.... but my son isn't laughing!!

"ARE YOU FOR REAL?" - me

"YES!!  I started laughing and the tow man got mad at me!  I told him it was MY CAR!!!" - SON

"So the car is now at the dealership....not at Discount Tires....and they are trying to see what damage has been done to the car and repair it."

No, this was not for a reality show.  NO!, no one came out of the bushes and said it was a joke or they were taking his car away to fix it up...........this WAS REAL!!!

What can I say..........when something gets the best of us WRIGHTS, we LAUGH!!!  Beware the next time you call a tow truck!!   Yes, that is his picture at the top of this post.  This executive wore this Sesame Street Count Dracula costume to his clients' offices on October 29th.  He is known for having a smile on his face from the day he was born.  He hopes to get his car back soon!!

Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Matt. 6:20

"Excuse" Pest Being Exterminated!

I recently posted on our "excuse" pests needing extra-strength Raid, on my blog, while leaving a path of destruction behind, in our home and lives.
Today, I want to post an update on this convicting transformation.  I stated that I didn't want to rid our house of these pests through condemnation and that has to first begin with me.  God has so gently lead me through spraying for these pests (excuses) in my own life.  After I finished publishing my post, I walked into the garage to find this antique bug sprayer.  I started to laugh, picked it up, washed it off and put it on prominent display, as a reminder to me.

Romans 2:4 -"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"

Kindness - sensitivity and understanding
Tolerance - God's tolerance of mankind when men displays contempt or ignorance of Him
Patience - God restrains his judgment
Repentance - changing our mind regarding our condition, our actions, our sins, our needs

As God is changing my mind by gently leading me to repentance, I am ready to direct my faith toward divine provision and solutions in my life.  As He is eliminating the "excuses," I am able to see His work in my life.

This time of walking with the Lord, as He continues to convict me of my "excuses" has been very precious.  I am seeing new fruit everyday.  My son will laugh when I ask, "is that an excuse?"  He will respectfully reply back, "no, an explanation!"

May you find God's kindness in your journey.  May condemnation never knock at your door.  May this season of thankfulness expand to enable you to see all the qualities of kindness, tolerance and patience of our Lord and Saviour.

2010 Thanksgiving Notes

As we enter this wonderful season of Thanksgiving, I am so enjoying seeing how everyone celebrates.  Each tradition is different, each individual's likes and dislikes and each family building their own.  Before my son got married, I was talking with his wife-to-be about how they will find their own way of celebrating the holidays.  I would hope some of what we have done will sneek in and be a part of their traditions, but if not, that is okay also.  I just hope they enjoy building new ones for their family.

As our first one became engaged, I started looking for new traditions for our transitional family.  We began "blessings" cards.  During the month of November, everyone takes home enough cards for each person in the family.  On the individual cards they put a blessing to that person.  Sometimes it is a Bible verse or quote and sometimes it is a very personal word of encouragement for the year.  We put them in individually-marked envelopes to be given at Thanksgiving.  Even our youngest dictates his "blessings" to the older siblings.  I have been encouraged by the words that I have received, while watching one child carry her cards around throughout the year in her athletic bag.  This has allowed the younger ones to stay connected to the older ones.  I hope through the years, the cards are kept and looked back on with cherished memories.  This year I hope to find small boxes for each person to store their cards in.  

Another of our traditions is writing our thanks out on a black scrapbook page.  One year, I posted a large white piece of paper on a door so everyone would write on it as they came in the house.  It was wonderful to enjoy, but hard to keep.  So now the page sets on the table for all who enter our house to add their thanks for the year.

Happy November to you and yours!  I enjoyed sharing just part of our home and our traditions with you.

My Story in a Quilt

Linking up with Dayle for "Airing of the Quilts," I wanted to show off my quilt from my grandmother.


Throughout my Mommy Piggy Tale posts, I spoke about the clothes my mother or I made. By saving pieces of the leftover material through the years, I collected  a large memory scrap box.
During my early teen years, I would spend a week at my grandmother's farm.She would set up this massive wooden quilting frame in her small den.After a full day at her job, she would return home to show me how to quilt.When I graduated from high school and was filling my hope chest, she gathered all the scraps from my clothes and hand-pieced and hand- quilted me this memory maker.  I can remember so many of the outfits contained in this design. My life story is stitched within a quilt... lovingly sewn by the hands of my grandmother.
Her labor of love has so much more meaning today than even yesterday.I recently announced that I would be a first-time grandmother.My thoughts went to dreaming of all the things I would do with this little one.The memories we would make together.What I would make for my first grandchild.God had other plans and my first grandchild is in heaven today.We rejoiced and now we mourn, but knowing we will see that child one day is a healing balm.
Just like wrapping up in a quilt... God brings comfort.Recently my friend's mother-in-law went to be with the Lord and they draped her casket in one of the quilts she had made for her granddaughter... wrapping her in comfort.I look forward to the day I hold my grandchild and maybe, just maybe, one of my future grandchildren willsit beside me to learn from my hands.

Happy Housewife or "Retro" Housewife Day

Yes, November the 3rd is a National Holiday called Housewife Day or "Retro" Housewife Day.  There isn't a record of the origin of this holiday.  The purpose is to honor all women who have chosen to stay at home and run their households, even those without children.

As I read about this day I was startled at the fact that I am a housewife and yet I don't use that term to define myself.  I think of a housewife as my mom, June Cleaver, Olivia Walton, Carol Brady (well she did have a full time maid) and never "Desperate Housewives," as the picture of modern day housewives are portrayed on television today.  Then I saw that Housewife Day is also Roseanne Barr's birthday...surely that isn't who the originator of this holiday thought was a housewife.  Were there any positive housewife models portrayed on television during the 80's and 90's?

Oh I did find one, Annie from Seventh Heaven!!  If you remember other good housewives portrayed during the last 30 years please remind me! I think I was too busy raising children to see the shows.

I regress.  This post is to tell you all Happy Housewife Day and if I could wave my fairy wand I would give you a day off from your chores by hiring you a maid, a cook, a chafferer, a counselor, a nurse, a barber, a seamstress, a butler, a teacher, a gardener, a window washer, an interior decorator.....well you get the picture, you can't be replaced.  The going salary to replace a "housewife" runs around $120,000.00 a year!  That sure is a bargain for someone who works 24/7, 365 days out of the year!  You are doing a great job!

Enjoy your day!!! Whistle While You Work!!!
I found out yesterday I am going to be a grandmother for the first time!!!

Your Invited to Our Party

Cast boy and I would love for you to join us for his cast signing party!  We have been so honored by your prayers that we just didn't want you to miss it.  Here we go....entering our home through my newly painted door..sorry landlord, but the beige door just had to go.

I have prepared for you a fall table...take your seat, you are welcome at any spot.

I am staying with my new holiday motto K.I.S.S. - keep it simple stupid!! So our menu tonight will consist of White Chili, Rosemary Rolls cooked in my cast iron pans, and gingerbread man cookies.
I hope you enjoy!

I have combined my dishes with throw away paper plates...thank you Hobby Lobby for your 50% off sale, this is keeping in my K.I.S.S. motto and less clean up.

You may select your own cookie.  Cast boy said they had to have a frown on them since they had a cast!

Your turn...grab the orange marker and place you name right there on the camo cast!!!  It has been a long day for Cast boy.  First school and the classmates signed and now a party with all his family and you!
Thanks for stopping by...our door is always open.  Cast boy will be walking on his own in three more weeks!