Well, it's summer again, and I haven't posted on this space in a long time...
Over the last 8-9 months we have taken on new opportunities (no, Steve didn't get another job but I did! Coaching high school girls basketball), weathered storms of anxiety and sickness, been challenged more in parenting (thanks to pre-terrible twos), enjoyed Sammy's ever expanding vocabulary and silly antics, and started preparing for baby Norris #2 (due early November). It's been a lot, and it's been a mix of hard and fun. God is good though. All the time. I'm tired and still don't have much energy to blog. Rather than feeling guilty for neglecting the blog and vowing to post current photos and stories, I'm just going to declare an official and indefinite hiatus. For pictures of Sammy and the rest of the fam, follow me on Instagram: @helenenorris Really creative name, huh?
Blog, I'll be back at some point. It's still fun to be a Norris :)
This blog is a peek into our adventure of life as young, married people living in the great city of Richmond with our sweet little girl and two big goofy dogs. We love to have fun and share our life with others, so enjoy the stories, photos, updates and random thoughts!
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Friday, November 13, 2015
Your heart
First, photos are coming soon! Promise.
Next, consider these words. I did not write them, but I was challenged and encouraged by them...
Do Not Harden Your Heart
"So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:19)
Even though the people of Israel saw the waters of the Red Sea divide and they walked over on dry ground, the moment they got thirsty, their hearts were hard against God and they did not trust him to take care of them. They cried out against him and said that life in Egypt was better. That is what this verse is written to prevent. O how many professing Christians make a start with God. They hear that their sins can be forgiven and that they can escape hell and go to heaven. And they say: “What have I got to lose? I'll believe.”
But then in a week or a month or a year or ten years, the test comes — a season of no water in the wilderness. A weariness with manna, and subtly a growing craving for the fleeting pleasures of Egypt, as Numbers 11:5–6 says, “We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”
This is a terrifying condition to be in — to find yourself no longer interested in Christ and his Word and prayer and worship and missions and living for the glory of God. And to find all fleeting pleasures of this world more attractive than the things of the Spirit.
If that is your situation, I plead with you to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking in this text. Give heed to the Word of God. Do not harden your heart. Wake up to the deceitfulness of sin. Consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our great confession, and hold fast to your confidence and hope in him.
And if you have never even made a start with God, then put your hope in him. Turn from sin and from self-reliance and put your confidence in a great Savior. These things are written that you might believe and endure, and have life.
Next, consider these words. I did not write them, but I was challenged and encouraged by them...
Do Not Harden Your Heart
"So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:19)
Even though the people of Israel saw the waters of the Red Sea divide and they walked over on dry ground, the moment they got thirsty, their hearts were hard against God and they did not trust him to take care of them. They cried out against him and said that life in Egypt was better. That is what this verse is written to prevent. O how many professing Christians make a start with God. They hear that their sins can be forgiven and that they can escape hell and go to heaven. And they say: “What have I got to lose? I'll believe.”
But then in a week or a month or a year or ten years, the test comes — a season of no water in the wilderness. A weariness with manna, and subtly a growing craving for the fleeting pleasures of Egypt, as Numbers 11:5–6 says, “We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”
This is a terrifying condition to be in — to find yourself no longer interested in Christ and his Word and prayer and worship and missions and living for the glory of God. And to find all fleeting pleasures of this world more attractive than the things of the Spirit.
If that is your situation, I plead with you to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking in this text. Give heed to the Word of God. Do not harden your heart. Wake up to the deceitfulness of sin. Consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our great confession, and hold fast to your confidence and hope in him.
And if you have never even made a start with God, then put your hope in him. Turn from sin and from self-reliance and put your confidence in a great Savior. These things are written that you might believe and endure, and have life.
Monday, November 9, 2015
Inconsistency
I'm learning that inconsistency is a consistent theme in motherhood... and life to be real. It applies to every area: exercising, cooking, showering, praying, blogging, and more. Just a few posts ago I used the title Months behind. And here I am again. Months behind.
We've been having fun though. And trudging through at times. Every day, in flourishing and floundering, relying on grace because... inconsistency and weakness. Hello.
Instead of trying to catch up all of you on Norris happenings, I'm just going to photo dump pictures of sweet Sam. She's a toddler now, eeek! A beautiful little girl walking around, exerting her will at times, reminding me we're both sinful, and also reminding me of the sweet gift she is, the sweet gift parenting is.
What you will surely not see in the pictures are the hard things: sickness, diarrhea, insecurity, frustration, etc. etc. etc. Just know there is that too. Ha! Life... full of smiles, joy, tears, poop, and failure, but here's to the smiles and the grace that covers us!
We've been having fun though. And trudging through at times. Every day, in flourishing and floundering, relying on grace because... inconsistency and weakness. Hello.
Instead of trying to catch up all of you on Norris happenings, I'm just going to photo dump pictures of sweet Sam. She's a toddler now, eeek! A beautiful little girl walking around, exerting her will at times, reminding me we're both sinful, and also reminding me of the sweet gift she is, the sweet gift parenting is.
What you will surely not see in the pictures are the hard things: sickness, diarrhea, insecurity, frustration, etc. etc. etc. Just know there is that too. Ha! Life... full of smiles, joy, tears, poop, and failure, but here's to the smiles and the grace that covers us!
Thursday, August 20, 2015
To the UK and back
After a humbling end to our trip, we are back home safe & sound. The night before our flight home Steve got sick. He threw up multiple times and neither of us got very much sleep. He had a fever & chills on the plane as well as nausea, fatigue, and a terribly sore throat. When we finally got back to Richmond, he was diagnosed with strep throat. Thankfully Sammy and I did not catch it! And my mom was here helping out for a few days while we all recovered from illness and jet lag. Phew!
Despite all that, we are so thankful for the trip we had! We saw God at work in so many ways. For me personally, I was affirmed in my faith through teaching the daily Bible lesson, and I was filled with joy & passion as I proclaimed that Jesus loves us. Also, I was moved by how God worked through Sam: through the way the team included her and cared for her, through the intentional conversations I was able to have because of her, through the way she shined in her own interactions with people, through the practical ways the Lord provided for us throughout the trip (like our friend Kunchen offering her house close to the church for nap time). The Lord uses the small and weak to show his glory. Wow. I was in awe as Sammy interacted with a boy in Kids Club who has special needs. She smiled, crawled right up to him, pulled up on his walker, stretched her arm out, and they held hands. Just like that. She reminded me in that sweet moment, we're all the same. All of us. Beautiful and needy. Created in God's image, immensely valuable, desperate for grace and mercy, in need of help and faith from the One "who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Despite all that, we are so thankful for the trip we had! We saw God at work in so many ways. For me personally, I was affirmed in my faith through teaching the daily Bible lesson, and I was filled with joy & passion as I proclaimed that Jesus loves us. Also, I was moved by how God worked through Sam: through the way the team included her and cared for her, through the intentional conversations I was able to have because of her, through the way she shined in her own interactions with people, through the practical ways the Lord provided for us throughout the trip (like our friend Kunchen offering her house close to the church for nap time). The Lord uses the small and weak to show his glory. Wow. I was in awe as Sammy interacted with a boy in Kids Club who has special needs. She smiled, crawled right up to him, pulled up on his walker, stretched her arm out, and they held hands. Just like that. She reminded me in that sweet moment, we're all the same. All of us. Beautiful and needy. Created in God's image, immensely valuable, desperate for grace and mercy, in need of help and faith from the One "who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
London bound
Pool, river, play dates, youth events, family picnics, beach, sun, sweat and only a few tears. That's summer in a nutshell. Photos coming soon, relax Mom ;) our next adventure: London!
We're going to Harrow, London with youth and families from our church here in RVA. We went on a similar trip 2 years ago. This time, Sammy is coming! Are we nervous? Today... No. But my fickle heart & mind may change tomorrow, so pray for us. We are needy, but we believe that God meets our needs. And that is the message we go with. Here is an email I sent out recently...
--
We're going to Harrow, London with youth and families from our church here in RVA. We went on a similar trip 2 years ago. This time, Sammy is coming! Are we nervous? Today... No. But my fickle heart & mind may change tomorrow, so pray for us. We are needy, but we believe that God meets our needs. And that is the message we go with. Here is an email I sent out recently...
--
Friends & family,
We leave for London in less than 4 days. Pray for us! We are very excited and look forward to the adventures that God has in store. To give you a glimpse into our schedule...
We'll spend the first couple days getting to know the area of Harrow as well as the church leaders and missionaries of New Life Suwarta Sangat.
On Sunday, our team will experience a very multi-cultural worship service including music in Gujarati. I bet Sam Jam will enjoy it!
Monday will consist of planning and prep for Kids Club, which runs Tuesday through Friday. During Kids Club, Steve will work with US and UK teens to lead sports & outdoor games. And I (Helene) will lead a short teaching time each day helping kids apply the daily memory verse and pointing them to Jesus. Sam will be tagging along and, no doubt, spreading joy and laughter wherever she goes. Each evening, post-Kids Club, our group will run a Teen Club for the UK volunteers and their friends. Most of the UK teens come from Hindu backgrounds yet are willing to hear and learn about Christianity. We hope our high school students will connect well with the UK teens and that God would open doors through conversation & games for his gospel to be shared.
Saturday 8/1 will be spent exploring central London and giving thanks for the week as a whole!
We thank God for you all, for your love and support! And we thank God for New Life Suwarta Sangat for so graciously receiving our team and allowing us the opportunity to partner with them. To Him be the glory this week and every week!
- Helene (for all the Norrises)
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We believe that the Lord has something for our team and our family in London. Let the adventure begin! And please God, help Sam sleep on the plane!
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Months behind
I'm only a bit behind in sharing these photos ;) You can really see the unfortunate hair transformation. Thank God hair grows back!
6 months (sweet hair, sweet smile, sweetheart)
7 months (not happy about this photo shoot)
8 months (rocking the pony tail)
9 months (the best we could do)
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