Ten Sisterchicks in San Antonio

On Thursday morning, my alarm went off at 5:00 AM. I showered, gathered my suitcase and purse, and kissed my sleeping daughters and drowsy husband good-bye as my friend Jenn's van pulled into our driveway. We boarded a plane to Dallas with seven other girls. One girl had taken an earlier flight; another would leave later that night. Jenn's 10-week-old daughter Zoe slept through my most of the flight, and we were able to chat over airplane cups of orange juice. Four days of girlish pampering and fellowship awaited us in San Antonio!

When the plane landed in Dallas, we discovered our connecting flight had been canceled. They had dispersed our group over three later flights, but with a bit of finagling and a lot of God's gracious intervention, we all landed in San Antonio - only three hours late. My friend Dancy's parents picked us up at the airport and drove us forty-five minutes to the riverfront resort they run as a business. We stowed our bags and explored the beautiful grounds. Chef Neals brought out plates of wontons and Dancy's mom poured chilled white wine for the non-pregnant ladies. Dinner was served - chef salads, cold blueberry soup, croissants, and decadent chocolate mousse. When we finished our opulent meal, we loaded back into the cars and headed out for evening pedicures. Ooh La La! Back at the house, we grabbed our unfinished desserts and headed down to the dock to enjoy the cool night.

In the morning, I awoke early (along with Dancy and Becca). Devotions outside in the early morning breeze, listening to the chatter of birds, a swim in the pool, and then breakfast poolside, still in our swimsuits. After eating our fill of eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, fried potatoes and Mexican pastires, we all headed to a nearby outlet mall. Some of the girls were on a shopping mission, while a few of us (the ones who get overwhelmed by places like Walmart, Target and malls) wandered slowly and made only a few purchases. We met for lunch and then dispersed again. When we arrived home, we swam for an hour, showered, and then dressed "up" for a night on the San Antonio riverwalk. A babysitter arrived for Blythe's six-month-old son Cade, and baby Zoe was again tucked in her carseat for a catnap. We parked downtown, walked to the famed Alamo, then took a street trolley to the Mexican market for dinner. All ten of us ordered the same green chile enchiladas, much to the amusement of our waiter. A mariachhi band serendaded us and we tried our best to sing along. With full tummies, we wandered back to the riverwalk and explored the touristy area of San Antonio. When the heat and crowds grew too much, we entered an air-conditioned restaurant for sopapillas and ice water.

The next morning, I again rose early and found a bench swing to sit and read my Bible while the day awakened. It was so warm and peaceful and still.... Breakfast was served poolside again - made-to-order omelets, cinnamon rolls, and fruit. We spent the morning lounging on the dock and swimming in the bathwater warm Guadelupe River. The ski boat wasn't working, so we just swam and floated and basked in the heat until Neals summoned us for lunch back up at the house. As I ate cold Thai noodles and chicken salad, followed by puff-pastries filled with strawberries and custard, I noticed a bouquet of roses on the table with my name on them! Erik had sent me flowers! I was feeling ridiculously pampered and spoiled, and a little bit guilty for this lavishness.... and then I remembered that "every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of heavenly lights." We bless our Father most when we simply recieve his precious gifts with grateful hearts. So I opened my heart, breathed deeply, and received His gifts.

By early evening, the boat was working, and we took turns water-skiing and wake-boarding on the smooth river. It was so fun! I had not skiied for three years, but I amazingly remembered how! :) It was awesome to see the two girls who had not skiied before get up on two skis.

Dinner was brought to us on the dock - an amazing Texas feast. Salad, coleslaw, texas toast, corn casserole, baked potatoes, green beans, ribs, and pecan pie -- all of this after appetizers of shrimp and chips with homemade guacamole, wine, cocktails and soda. We took one last putter downriver in the dark, and returned to the house for showers and bed.

Sunday morning, after quiet time by the pool, we were served another decadent meal of creme brulee french toast, eggs benedict, and fruit salad. We skiied until about 11:00, then returned to pack and head to the airport.

Our trip home was unenventful. We were all eager to see our little ones and husbands. What a delightful, blessed trip with some awesome and godly ladies. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong! Let's make it an annual excursion. :)



Our dinner buffet on the dock

The house and grounds

Jenn Green skiing with Dancy at the helm

Jessie doing yoga

Becca, Dancy and Jessie

At the Alamo -- me, Jessie, Janie, Jennifer, Blythe, Jen B, Dancy, Becca, Jenn G.(and baby Zoe), and Heidi

Brave Little Ethan

I know that many of you already check the Perciantes' blog and pray often for their valiant son Ethan. Please pray for him tomorrow! You can read Valerie's words on their blog, but precious Ethan is undergoing open heart surgery tomorrow that is likely to last 10-12 hours. Our Heavenly Father has taken such perfect care of this miracle baby... please pray for the surgeons to have wisdom and stamina and skill... and for Valerie and Craig's hearts as they wait and pray tomorrow and in the days to come. Thanks!

Another Blessing

We are so excited to share with you that we are anticipating the joy of another baby! Wachob blessing #3 is due to arrive in early March, and Erik and I (and the girls) are thrilled. Even as we hold lightly to this precious gift, we are thankful to the Lord that He has again allowed us to partner with Him in the creation of a life, a soul, a voice to praise His name. Elisa and Sadie both love to hug and kiss my yet un-rounded belly and talk to the baby. They think it will be a third girl, and so does Erik. I think it will be a boy. However, that information will remain blissfully in God's keeping until our son or daughter makes his or her appearance sometime around the fourth of March. :)

A Month Later

My sister sent me a capitalized email a few days ago - demanding a blog update. I felt a little sheepish as I realized how long it had been. I know some of you check often! (Emily, Amy, Melissa... sorry, guys!) For some reason, I have had had a hard time keeping up with chores and daily tasks lately, much less the weeding and reading and letter-writing, and, yes, blogging. Elisa's naps have been fewer lately, and it is hard to keep her "down" during prescribed rest times. Sometimes it takes two hours to get her to sleep, and then the day is gone! :) Any other mommys of almost-four-year-olds out there who can identify with this glitch in their daily quiet time? :)

We have been so blessed to have Michelle return for a month... working at my dad's orthopedic office here in town. It is fun to have my sweet sister occupying our guest room. The girls adore her, and I think that most of the time she adores them, too. :) We will miss her when she leaves in a week and a half.

I have been working a few weekend shifts a month on the OB unit at the local hospital... to maintain nursing skills and keep my license current. It has been fun and challenging... Erik has had some fun Saturdays with the girls!

Working a bit has also somewhat cramped our summer style, so that there has been less hiking, camping, canoeing and adventuring this year. We have squeezed in a few wonderful, warm days together. In mid-July, we camped by the Gros Ventre River with friends from church. John and Erik decided a four-wheeling exploration was in order, so we piled into our big-wheeled man-cars and took to some barely navigatable dirt trails. We forded rivers, crossed a rickety wooden bridge, and scaled steep, narrow, moutain paths. I think that if either of the couples had been alone, the adventure would not have happened, but there was an element of, "If Heather will let John do this, then I can let Erik...." :) Heather and John have four children. Their youngest is about six months older than Elisa. They are a fun, godly couple, and it was fun to share a campfire with them. We took Erik's two-man tent instead of our big family one, and it worked so much better. The girls were warm, squished and unable to move. They slept like two little rocks. I even slept better than usual because the sleeping pads were crammed so close together that no pebbles or hard earth poked my hips during the night. We are looking forward to another camping trip at the end of August -- this time in Steamboat Springs, CO while we attend a friend's wedding.



Around the campfire

Sharing cocoa

Crossing the river (John and Heather's Suburban)


Colder weather and a falling snowline seem to be heralding the end of summer. Erik and I both love fall above any other season, so we are excited for cool air, changing leaves, simmering soup, sweaters and school books. However, we would love a few more warm summer days, too.

God Loves A Cheerful Giver

Tonight we served dinner at the local mission with our small group. As I was packing trays of enchiladas into coolers to take with us, Elisa asked why I had made so much food. I explained that God had blessed us with an abundance, and that tonight, we were going to share with others who don't have enough food to eat. She thought for a moment, and then said, "Mommy, I would like to share, too." So she grabbed another cooler, and wandered around the kitchen filling it with her favorite foods: a package of mac and cheese, a handful of fruit leathers, Ziploc bags stuffed with crackers. Then she said, "We should share a soda. Grown-ups like soda." So in went one of Uncle Forrest's Mountain Dews. "Do you think that's enough, Mom?" She surveyed the bounty and added, "I'm learning to think of other people, Mommy. That makes God happy."

Yes, sweetheart, it does. I love seeing the tender side of my little fiery girl. She makes Jesus grin, don't you think?

Pictures of July

We have been blessed to host most of our extended Norris family here over the last few weeks... a wedding celebration for Bailey and Alfred, and lots of summer fun as we explored Jackson with family. Here are a few snapshots. I will update more later!

Book Reviews!

During the past month, I have been blessed beyond measure by studying the book of Ruth through a Precepts Bible Study. I have learned so much about the Word of God and how beautifully individual books are woven together in perfect, God-inspired unity. The Bible is an amazing book, and my excitement to study it has grown exponentially in recent weeks.

I have also been thankful to read some rich Christian books and wanted to share my "book reviews" with you. I am learning to seek truth from the true source first, but I am grateful for the insights of Bible-focused Christ-followers who are wiser than I, and much further along in their journeys of faith! I have found myself veering somewhat off of my initial book list as I have grown excited about particular topics.

Because He Loves Me, by Elyse Fitzgerald. This is a wonderful book about how the truth of the Gospel should transform our daily lives. I have been reading and discussing it with my neighbor, Sera, and while we are not quite finished, I have been deeply impacted by her insights on how the Gospel is central to each moment of our lives, and how the way we think about our position as saints can transform our motives, our heart and the practicalities of our day-to-day existence. Christ wants to transform us; His sacrifice is meant not only to save us from eternal death, it is meant to give us new spiritual life!

Practicing Hospitality, by Lisa Tatlock and Pat Ennis. A very practical read about incorporating Biblical hospitality into our lives. This was a challenging and inspiring book for me. We are so blessed to live in a large and welcoming home -- I want us to glorify God in how we use it. Want to come over for dinner? :)

Heaven in the Home, by Ginger Plowman. This was a reread, and it is also wonderful! A balanced book about how to create a Christ-honoring home-life - a haven for our families with the outward focus of serving and ministering to others. She has sections on conflict managment, discipline, creating a daily schedule, keeping your home organized - you name it!

The Love Dare. I finally finished this one! It took me a while to wade through the forty days. I enjoyed reading it, and thought it was a very Christ-honoring book on loving your spouse unconditionally. It made me appreciate the beautiful romance I share with my husband. We have such a blessed marriage, and I love him more each day. I want to love him better, serve him more selflessly, and enjoy him more completely. I don't think Erik reads my blog, but honey, if you read this one, you are my Mr. Marvelous and I am grateful to pour my love into your life. :)

Set-Apart Femininity, by Leslie Ludy. This book was my favorite read in recent years. Leslie portrays a beautiful picture of Godly womanhood -- not an inward-beauty brought about by allowing "self to flash off frame and face," but a Godly beauty brought about by laying down self and allowing Christ to live through you. It is Christ that makes a woman radiant. Leslie's book challenged me and gave me a clear picture of valiant femininity. I long for God to transform my heart and love the lost through me.

The Bravehearted Gospel, by Eric Ludy. I was so inspired by Leslie's book that I decided to read her husband's recent book, as well. This is a book about the "manly stuff" of the Gospel, although he is clear that the truths presented are for men and women alike. It is the "grit" of Godliness - a return to truth and brave-hearted loyalty to Christ. We live in a society and even a church culture that is "emerging" and becoming tolerant to the point of becoming mushy - where truth is personal and "springy," where holiness is a bad word, and where the feminine aspects of allure and tenderness are more valued than the sword of truth that battles for the Kingdom of God. Eric calls for a return to bravehearted Gospel that fights for truth and sets the captives free. Amen!

Holiness, the Heart God Purifies, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. A challenging book about turning from sin and honoring God in every area of our lives. I enjoyed it so much that I invited a group of women from our church to do a book-club meeting studying it at the end of July. Anyone interested?

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes, by Robin Jones Gunn. I confess. My frivolous read in the last few months, my favorite fiction author. And I loved it.

Ask me if you want to borrow any of these great books!