them flourish and grow,” Robin said. This January, as rhythm returned after an emotional fall and hectic
holiday season, Robin and Barry received another call from Buckner. This time about a newborn baby, Joshua*, just five days old. “Braeden [15] was my last newborn, and I wasn’t that involved with
him,” Barry said, “Then [Joshua] comes, and he’s 4 pounds, 13 ounces. It looks like you’re going to break him just to pick him up.” Having a newborn in the house has certainly been an adjustment.
Joshua, who tested positive for four different drugs, does not sleep well at night and needs 24-hour attention. Robin and Barry take shifts holding and rocking him to sleep and are also trading time off work to care for him. The first few weeks, Barry stayed home with Joshua, so he and
Sarah, who usually stays with Robin’s sister during the day, have had some quality father-daughter bonding time. “We don’t get out of our pajamas,” Barry chuckled, reminiscing about their long, lazy days together. “But I got in trouble with Robin the first day I let her do that, so now we get out of our pajamas just before Mama comes home.” “It’s about to be a rude awakening, because I’m about to start
staying home with her,” Robin said. “She’ll have a lot more fun,” Barry admitted. “And she’ll be dressed,” Robin finished. Riley and Sarah love having a baby in the house. “Riley went to school and told everyone about the
baby. He has trouble learning names, but he was so proud that he knew baby Joshua’s name,” Robin said. “He told [his class] how awesome he is and how cute he is and how sweet he is.” And baby Joshua is melting hearts across the
family. Robin’s mom, who was a bit hesitant about the foster care journey, recently asked Robin about plans for Joshua’s future. “She said, ‘If that baby comes up for adoption,
you’re adopting him,’” Robin said. “I told Barry, ‘She’s on the foster love train!’ I was so excited.” Ultimately, the Wrights do not know where life will
take Riley, Sarah, Joshua or their family. That’s part of the foster care journey. But the Wrights plan to continue remodeling their
home so they can care for more children. “As long as we can, we’ll have a house full of kids,” Barry
said. “That’s why we got this big house.” As for rambunctious Riley, sweet Sarah and baby Joshua,
the Wrights pray they are able to adopt them. But even if the children are not able to stay, they will be
*Names have been changed in this story for privacy purposes. 48 BUCKNER TODAY • Spring 2016
part of the Wright family forever, just like Anna, whose photo still graces the walls of their warm East Texas home. “If the kids do not stay, I hope they know and leave with the fact
that they’re valued, and that they have a Savior who loves them,” Robin said with tears in her eyes. “And that no matter their circumstances, they can rise above.”
To learn how you can become a foster family for a child in need, visit
buckner.org.
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