Ping Pong

Top Shot

With alot of creativity from my dad and mom, a group of family members and a course in our backyard, Top Shot was recreated. Guns, bows and arrows, blow darts and water balloons, hay-bales and the zipline were used to reach targets and attack enemies. This was a fun filled event and hopefully one that we will do again.

First Grandchild to be engaged

My oldest nephew, Daniel, became engaged over Christmas vacation. He is the first grandchild in the Norris family to get engaged. He asked his fiance Wendy Stephens to marry him while on a sleigh ride in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Daniel and Wendy arrived in Hemet on Tuesday. We really enjoyed getting to know Wendy and see the two of them interact. They seem to be a great match and we look forward to the wedding in September 2012.

Holiday Bowl

For the past six years, we have gone to the Holiday Bowl with Guy and Sharalee Boyer. This year the Texas Longhorns defeated the Cal Bears. This has become a fun tradition. We always get to San Diego early so Sharalee and I can get in a little shopping and then we head to the stadium for the game.

Christmas 2011

We celebrated Christmas Eve with the Baker side of the family. In traditional fashion, the kids dressed up and acted out the story of Christ's birth. We then opened gifts, ate a delicious meal, went to the Christmas Eve service at EV Free church where the kids participated in the program with Jeanne. We concluded the evening with Pictionary. On Christmas Day, we went to church, then came home, opened gifts, ate another delicious meal and enjoyed the company of family. A highlight of the day was having Mr. Poore spend the afternoon with us. The Norris' have been here since the 23rd. Unfortunately on both days, my camara battery was not charged. Thankfully Jeanne sent me some picures to share.
Favorite gifts this year:
Dallas: a metal detector, Paper Jamz guitar and monitor, tool set
Brayden: Paper Jamz guitar and monitor, spy gear, remote control car
Providence: a kitty cat that senses motion and meows, roller blades, suspenders,
Selah: a kitty cat like Provi's, baby doll, Boz Christmas book and roller-skates

The greatest gift was God sending His Son Jesus. I am continually grateful for Jesus and the salvation that he sacrificially gives to anyone who chooses to accept Him and make Him Lord of their life.

Koinonia Christmas Party

Last night we had our home school group over for a Christmas Party. Each family brough 5 dozen cookies for a cookie exchange. While the mom's were doing the cookie exchange, the kids and dads went on the zipline. We had a potluck dinner, played pingpong and finished the evening with a hayride.

Riley's Farm: A Christmas Carol

On Friday evening we went to Riley's Farm with the Hixson family. This is the second year that we have gone there for a Christmas themed event. This year we spent the evening in a large barn, with a buffet syle meal. Throughout the evening, four scenes from "The Christmas Carol" were acted out. The highlight of the night was dancing. The kids had dance partners and went to town on the dance floor.

Jeep Fun!

Be a Santa to a Senior!

Today marked our 7th year of the HISC Be a Santa A Santa To A Senior Wrapping Pary . Over 900 gifts were purchased for orphaned senior citizens who live in Hemet/San Jacinto and Banning. The gifts were wrapped today at the wrapping party in under 2 hours. It is amazing how generous people are with their time and money. Jason, Paul and all of the HISC staff always do an amazing job of putting this program and event together. Home Instead Senior Care is now using our singing group, Testify, as a ministry minded marketing team. During the program, we sang and the kids danced and sang. Many restaurant vendors donated food for the event and other organizations donated door prizes. It is truly a community event.

Dancing and Singing at Desert Hills

Today the kids had an opportunity to dance and sing at an Alzheimer's Senior Care Facility. The girls have been taking tap, ballet and gymnastics at Shine Performing Arts Studio. They are on a Ministry Performance Team and get the opportunity to be a "Light to the World" at different venues. The boys also sang as well as our singing group, "Testify". The older people absolutely love seeing the kids and the kids develop a love and respect for the elderly.

The Christ of Christmas is Right Here

There has been pain this year and sadness too
As we have felt and seen all that our friends & family have gone through
Many around us are without jobs, home or even food
Ignored by the crowds that tend to be snobbish and rude.

The joy of the holidays can appear so hollow
If we forget about Jesus, the manger and all that followed.
The gifts and the candy, the turkey and pie
Are just not so important and we’d rather pass them by

The heart may ache and the body is oh so weary
As we watch so many appear way too cheery!
However the season and reason we celebrate is what gives us hope
It is what makes us go on and joyfully cope.

If Christ had not come one starry night
There would be no reason for the tree, the presents or the beautiful lights
There would be no hope in the midst of our pain
There would be no peace that we could claim.

May I encourage you our loved ones and friends so dear
That the Christ of Christmas is right here.
He knows your sadness, your fear and despair
He knows because He too has been there.

The lowly birth, the poverty and rejection were all part of His life
He was spit on, reviled and saw sadness and strife.
Never forget that He understands your pain and your grief
He hung on the cross and found no relief!

He felt alone when God turned His back as our sins He did bare
All so that His home in Heaven He could offer to share.
A perfect example of what we can do this Christmas time
Let’s share what we have, be friendly, generous and kind.

Let’s look around for someone who is sad or alone
Joyfully invite them to your humble home
Give of yourself, reach out and care
Let them know that Jesus is right there!

Ruthy Norris
Nov. 28, 2011

Random Acts of Kindness Day

Our homeschool group worked together to create a list of ideas for our first annual "Random Acts of Kindness Day". The idea came from a blog that Val and I follow. A lady did 36 random acts of kindness on her 36th birthday. She said it was her best birthday ever. We started our day at the Fire Station. We delivered Cranberry Pumpkin Bread and a card for the firemen. Next, we donated cans of food to the Leslie Food Pantry. The Leslie's are a family that have recently joined our homeschool group. They have a food pantry in their garage. Each Thursday, they have families in need, come to their home from 2-4pm to receive groceries. We then proceeded to the Cayot home. Deb Cayot has been battling cancer for 4 years and is not doing well. This was a difficult one for me as I saw how much pain she was in. She has been a wonderful friend and role model throughout the last several years. What a blessing it was to all surround her in her bedroom and sing Silent Night. I will never forget that moment. She has been such a wonderful example of "suffering well" and keeping an eternal focus through her long battle. We then delivered muffins and thank you cards to the Hemet Police Department and the San Jacinto Police Department. Both departments greeted us warmly and gave us a tour of their department. The kids also received sherriff badge stickers. Lastly, we brought bread and cards to our FBC office staff. It truly was a wonderful day. I hope the kids remember how much "more blessed it is to give than to receive."

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Dallas' Lastest Creation

Dallas has amazing creativity. He has always enjoyed building things. With the help of Madi and Hunter, he created this log cabin. The branches that they carried and arranged were very large and they worked hard but they persevered to create their very own cabin.

My Sister Tami

My mom had arthroscopic surgery on her knee last week. She had some loose cartilage and was in alot of discomfort. Tami came out for 5 days to help my mom after her procedure. It is always great to be able to spend time with her. She is so sweet to my kids and allowed the girls to paint her toes. Yes I say her toes as more paint went on the toes than the toenails.

Hemet Christmas Parade

It is always fun to be part of the Hemet Christmas Parade. This is the 5th year that Home Instead has had a float. Usually our kids ride in the Jeep with us but this year we let Brayden, Providence and Selah walk with Shine Performing Arts Studio. Brayden played his saxophone and the girls danced.

PJ Day at COOP!

Our final day of coop before Christmas break was quite casual. In fact, the kids and mothers wore their comfy pj's for the day. It was alot of fun. It is wonderful to be a part of a group of families that love the Lord. We are truly blessed to have a well structured day with enough balance and flexibility to allow for fun and interuptions.

Love is in the Air!

Cinderella, our miniature pot-bellied pig is extremely fat right now. Her belly is almost touching the ground. Hopefully, love is in the air and we will have little piglets soon. Last year I thought the same thing and Jason about damaged himself lifting her and putting her into another pen. Unfortunately, my prediction was WRONG and she was just fat.

Thanksgiving in Shaver Lake

We left last Wednesday to spend the holiday weekend with the Baker/Gault/Hartman Family. Jason's aunt and uncle live in Shaver Lake, a wonderful town in the western Sierra's. We stayed in a cabin with the Hartman's and Rachel. There was snow on the ground so each day was filled with snowball fights and building snow forts. We went on a couple of hikes, relaxed and ate till our tummy's were too full. It was a great weekend.

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Lost Tooth and "the sickies"

Provi lost another tooth yesterday. She woke up and it was in her mouth unattached. (kindof scary) Both Provi and Brayden have the flu. Hopefully, they will get over it soon and nobody else will get it.

School on Sunday Evening!

The beauty of home-schooling is that I don't have to do school within any particular hours. Now, I typically do teach during the traditional times however it doesn't always work out that way, and it doesn't matter.

By God's Grace We Celebrate!

The title of this post was the theme for Madi's party. She is 10 years old and 5 years in remission from cancer. Jeanne put together a DVD of the two years that she battled the disease. It was difficult to revisit that time yet important to remember God's grace and mercy in her life. Matt and Val both stated that they wouldn't change that time except for the pain that Madi experienced. Through the valley of pain and hardship they learned to truly trust God. They are thankful for each and everyday of life and they have learned the blessings that come through "rain".