Simple. Simplify. Simplified.

Many people feel so pressured by the expectations of others that it causes them to be frustrated, miserable and confused about what they should do. But there is a way to live a simple, joy-filled, peaceful life, and the key is learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit, not the traditions or expectations of man. ~Joyce Meyer

So, remember that last blog? All that talk about His plan? I didn’t even have a clue! Hahaha I mean, I knew He had something good up His sleeve for me, but I had no idea it would be like this! Of course, it was NOTHING like I thought it was, or what I ‘thought’ was His plan. I thought that I would be staying home this year, taking some time, etc. Oh no, He knew that was not what I needed. I needed a slight career change for sure; I needed to be with my ‘core’ and my sweet girl. He knew and He provided. I have been blessed to return to elementary school, teaching 5^th grade science; leaving the Special Education world behind. I get to work with some of my best friends every day AND my sweet girl is there with me too! I could not be happier, my kids are precious and I absolutely adore them (some are a little bit easier to adore than others ;) But there is not one thing about this transition that I would change.

Build traditions of family vacations and trips and outings. These memories will never be forgotten by your children. ~Ezra Taft Benson

This brings us to the holiday season around here and the REAL reason for this blog. We’ve pretty much always done things a little ‘different’ in our house. We’ve tried to raise our kids to be thankful on a daily basis and to live a life of service to others. So we have never really made a HUGE deal about Thanksgiving, Christmas, or their birthdays. Actually, we stopped ‘doing’ Christmas years ago (long-time readers already know this ;) and started ‘Giving Away Christmas’. Santa has continued to bring them each a stocking, but otherwise all of our efforts have been towards making, creating, or purchasing gifts for others. For the first time in many years they received gifts last year, with each receiving a pair of boots. In the past they would always spend weekends making little ornaments and gifts to give away. However, this year we are changing things up a bit as they get older. We really feel that they can take a more active part in serving others, and choosing whom to serve.

To that end we have started several new family traditions at the Norton house. This Thanksgiving we had a simple family meal and everyone made a part. We had a turkey of course, but then Savy made sweet potatoes (topped ½ with marshmallows and ½ with pecans), Justice made mashed potatoes (like Mom-mom used to make), I made green bean casserole (by request of Savy), and Jay made rolls, homemade gravy, dessert, (and the turkey).

Tomorrow we have plans to go to Marbles Children’s Museum and to watch the Lemur movie at the iMax. Then we are going to an Angel Tree so the kids can pick out a child to buy presents for. Saturday we are going to the Duke Lemur Center and shopping for their Angel child. We have also talked to them about this Christmas, as we are planning on doing the 4 Gifts:

Something they Want

Something they Need

Something to Wear

Something to Read

We had a talk the other day about how this time of year can be hard for many people, and difficult for them because of how we do things differently. We talked about how they may feel when other people are talking about getting lots of ‘stuff’ or expensive things. We also talked about things to say, how they truly do not go without anything they need, and how they get many things throughout the year so getting a bunch more ‘stuff’ on one day really isn’t necessary. I know our kids are NOT perfect. But conversations like this just warm my heart. They get it. They truly understand that there is a difference between wants and needs. They understand that sometimes, actually more often than not…we have to wait for wants. Sometimes we have to wait a very long time. They get this; they really get this now at 8 and 12. I hope they are still getting it at 12 and 16, and then still at 16 and 20 because if so their transition into adulthood will be so much smoother.

As always, Blessed to be the Nortons4

One of the characteristics of North American culture is that you can always start again. You can always move forward, cross a border of a state or a city or a county, and move West, most of the time West. You leave behind guilt, past traditions, memories. ~Isabel Allende

Diamonds ARE this girl's best friend...

I see great things in baseball. It's our game — the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman

I have been so blessed by baseball. I love sports. If you know me…this is NOT a news flash. My insane love for sports (normal, popular sports like baseball and football) is one of the only things that my awesome cousin and I do not share. Now, the uncommon ones…curling, biathlon, etc…we DO share a love of those ;) But there is just something about baseball…

I may have met my love, my better half, the amazing man who is my rock…at a bowling alley, but I fell in love with him on the baseball diamond. When I met him he was coaching a Little League team of 11/12 year olds, 5^th and 6^th graders…the EXACT level/age that Justice is now. He was blessed to coach those boys on that team, and then coach many of them again on a high school football team. I fell in love with who he was as a coach, how he coached and how he cared…was just different. I have been around coaches, been the Coach’s wife for a LONG time and he is unique. There are few coaches or people even, which see what he sees…understand what he understands. I can think of one, maybe two others. And he has this ability on a football field, a softball field, anywhere he goes…but no place quite like he does on the baseball diamond, or in the backyard…because he has created two amazing little players for Team Norton. 

Justice has played a few years, not many really. His social skills and ability to interact with teammates has always been a struggle, so for team sports we have always focused on basketball through Upward Sports. He is actually only in his 3rd season of baseball. He is becoming more and more comfortable in a variety of positions…and I think the WEB GEM catch he made tonight will definitely boost his confidence in the outfield.

Our Peanut is quite the ball player as well. In only her 2^nd season playing (she played when she was 4) she is already very comfortable at shortstop AND her latest position…catcher.  She even talked the coach into letting her catch the entire game, on only her second day ever catching. She’s got a swing that is ridiculously similar to Evan Gattis, and has NO FEAR behind the plate.

I have been continuously blessed by baseball. I fell in love with their daddy on that diamond. We celebrated our marriage with a honeymoon in Atlanta…watching our Braves. Justice was at the ballpark when he was 2 weeks old to watch his daddy umpire, and Savannah has literally grown up in a softball dugout. Back in the mountains, we had our Asheville Tourists…and because of them have met some great players like Corey Dickerson of the Colorado Rockies (he and Justice actually share a birthday.) And another one…Russell Wilson, who is an even better person and Christian than he is a ballplayer…baseball OR football.

Baseball continues to bless me. There is just something about that diamond, the grass, and my coach. He is ‘retired’ now, but will always be a coach in my eyes.  That diamond makes me fall in love with him all over again. Every.dang.time.

What a Difference a Year Makes...

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)

A year ago today my life was so different. I had a Mom, or she was alive at least. My Mom as I knew her had been gone for a few years, but at least a small part of her was still physically around. My dad was alive, but I didn't really have a dad. We had basically mutually given up on each other years ago, on any meaningful relationship. Years of childhood hurts, then the teen years, and even some struggles as an adult. I believe every parent does the best they can, with what they know, and with how they were taught/raised. Was my childhood difficult? At times, yes. Do I know tons of kids who have difficult lives? Yes. You still have a choice every day to rise above...

A year ago I had good friends, that I was pretty sure that I could count on for anything. And I had some great family members that I was close to, but I did not make a point to see or talk to them enough.

And then it happened. Tomorrow. 3-15-2012. The day that changed everything. The ides of March. The day she never woke up, the day she stopped fighting. It didn't surprise me or catch me off guard, I was ready. But it broke my heart nonetheless. It broke my heart to tell my babies, it broke my heart as I realized she was GONE, and for a while it broke my spirit.

But I never lost faith. And I leaned on those friends. I learned to ask for help and to reach out...which has never been easy for me. And those good friends I had last year, I count many of them as family now. Those family members...mainly my Aunt Donna (mom's twin sister) and my cousin Gene...I have seen them even more this year. I am blessed to have her as a "s'parent" I know everyone isn't as blessed. And I have cousins that are like siblings, that I've seen a couple times this year even though we live 800 miles apart. Not to mention our almost daily interactions, we are very similar and make great sounding boards for each other.

Our immediate family is so blessed. I know that Jay and I can weather ANY storm, without a doubt. And our babies have experienced so much death, yet have so much faith. Just the other day Savy said..."You know, Friday is Mom-moms birthday. Cuz the day someone dies and goes to heaven is like a birthday too!" Yeah...they get it.

Probably the biggest difference this year is that I DO have a dad now. I talk to him or text him every week. We see him almost every week. After Mom's memorial service we sprinkled her ashes in FL at the beginning of May. That was the last time I talked to my dad, and I honestly did not think I would ever speak to him again. Then, in September, out of the blue he called. Actually it wasn't out of the blue, and there is a lot to the story...but that is for another blog. Just suffice it to say that God is in charge. Like I told someone the other day...I had an AMAZING relationship with my mom, and I got 40 years with her. If God took her so that I could have a relationship with my dad, I'm ok with that, I consider myself blessed.

Yes, blessed indeed.

Happy New Year

I've got to be honest...there's a part of me that is glad that 2012 is over. It was definitely a year of tests, a year spent 'in the fire' and while part of me is glad its over...I wouldn't change any of it. Now I KNOW that some of you just read that and said..."um, Shan?..." But really, for all of the tests, heartache, loss...I wouldn't change a thing, because in the end I feel as if I have come out BLESSED beyond measure.

I have said before that I know undoubtedly that Mom having her stroke saved Jay and I...it brought us closer together, and made God our focus. I used to think that I couldn't live with out her...that I HAD to have my mom around. God showed me that I would be just fine without her...as long as I put Him first. What I finally learned this year, through many heartaches, and many losses...was that there was only ONE who I couldn't live without...God, and as long as I focused on Him, put Him first...then I would be fine.

It was a tough year, personally...professionally...mom, job issues, personal issues. They took their toll. But through them all, I put Him first...and amazing things happened. We had the opportunity to help out a family/friend. We were able to develop some friendships into very important relationships. The kids are getting older, so football season seemed a bit more manageable. And since our Sunday School class started going to the games...I even started sitting in the stands...sometimes ;) Honestly though, if it weren't for the amazing group of Coach's Wives (and a few select parents) I'm not sure how any of us would make it through...

But I digress...because my point is, I am SO Blessed. I am blessed to have all those people sit around me as a buffer in the stands. Blessed to be in a circle of Coach's Wives together, with other precious ladies who get it! Blessed to work at a place that is more a family...than a job. Blessed to have some amazing friends, who are truly family. Blessed to have some family that are some amazing friends. Blessed to have some family that I am finally learning to trust and love. Blessed that I had the amazing gift of 40 years with the best mom ever. Blessed that I have learned that forgiveness and love is so much better than pride. Blessed to spend my days with God and my Nortons4