Seeking Light

Hello dear friends and family...or as they say here in Texas: 

Pecos, Texas (home of the first rodeo!)

We are sending our holiday letter to you with love and light, in the midst of what sometimes feels like a very dark world. We know that we are blessed simply to be able to hold one another at night--in good health, under a dry roof, with food on our table, amidst the joyful chaos of our daily lives. Many in our world are not so lucky.

That being said, we hope that our stories and photos from 2012 will bring a smile to your face and hope to your hearts this holiday season. We also wish you peace in 2013--the 'peace that passes understanding'--which comes in part from appreciating the gift of time with those you love. We trust that this kind of peace will help guard your hearts throughout the year (Philippians 4:7).

2012 has been full of adventure for Los Norton de Tejas. While living in Texas during an election year often made us want to pull our hair out (no, we do not want to secede), we continued to soak in the cultural and ecological diversity of this region, making sure to travel and spend lots of time outdoors. 

This year was full of hiking and running along nature trails in Austin and San Marcos. These local jaunts helped us train for our first trail race called The Wild Hare (as in, we both got one you know where, which is why we ran the damn thing in the first place!). Billy completed the 50K and I did 25K, the best part of which was crossing the finish line and sharing an amazing weekend with friends! 

Hiking near Austin, TX

Finish line at Wild Hare!

We headed to Fort Davis State Park for spring break, where we took the kids hiking, mountain biking and stargazing at the McDonald Observatory, one of the darkest places in North America (it's true what they say: the stars at night...). We also visited the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and took in the desert wildflowers that bloom so effortlessly with so little water (NOTE: I aspire to be like a desert wildflower!). 

Hiking in Ft. Davis State Park

Madrone flowers

Agarita

In July, we celebrated my 42nd birthday with a visit to Corpus Christi Beach, where we battled jellyfish and brown tide, but still managed to enjoy the water!

Sea kayaking at Corpus Christi Bay

Beach time!

Looking for dolphins with Gadie!

In August, we road-tripped to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Santa Fe in conjunction with one of my work trips.

Carlsbad Caverns: You can imagine the sound of Wendell's scream echoing off the cavern walls.

The Plaza: Santa Fe

This year, I made it home to Indiana (via a work trip to Chicago) to see my 96 year old grandfather and my dad's family. We also spent time in NYC, first for my cousin's book launch for his novel "A Walk Across the Sun" (www.corbanaddison.com), then for Billy's "Sibling's Weekend" (where he and his sister's stayed at the Trump SoHo), and finally on my layover back from Prague! While we love visiting family, we love having family come here even more!  My dad and his wife, Elizabeth, came several times, as did Billy's parents. We also went to my niece's baptism in Dallas over Thanksgiving (I am her godmother!) and the whole Norton family made their way to Austin for 'Christmas at the Compound!' :) The kids had so much fun with their cousins and it was a special time for us all to be together from TX, NYC and NC!

In the midst of all these trips and visits were the simple adventures that we find practically in our backyard...whether playing hide and seek in a field of wildflowers, enjoying bluegrass at Old Settler's (http://oldsettlersmusicfest.org/), our annual Easter winery picnic, live music in Lukenbach or Gruene Hall, fun on South Congress, local swimming holes, and the like, we are thankful for the relative ease of our lives here in Central Texas...y'all come on down for a visit anytime!

Spring wildflowers!

Swimming at Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve

I don't know about you, but these kinds of family adventures keep us close and help us let go of some of our day to day stresses! When we're all together in new places, we hold on to one another tighter and appreciate the present moment more deeply. If I could bottle this magic and stir it into my morning coffee during the average day before we head off to work and the kids head off to school, we'd all be better off...and take each other for granted less.

Speaking of work...I am in my 5th year on the tenure track at the School of Social Work at Texas State University-San Marcos. This year has probably been the toughest in terms of my workload--teaching, publishing, writing grants and presenting at conferences to prepare my vita for tenure review next year. However, I continue to learn from and be inspired by my students, and generally feel that I am doing good work. I stay active with the foster care program I helped develop through several grants (FACES: Foster Care Alumni Creating Educational Success), which provides a campus-wide community and support network for college students who were in the foster care system. I also maintain my adventure therapy and eco-social work research to promote alternative approaches to counseling and psychotherapy. I serve as one of the US delegates to the Adventure Therapy International Congress, and my travels took me to the Czech Republic where I presented at a conference in September. I fell in love with Prague and am amazed at the people around the world I get to call colleagues and friends.

John Lennon Wall: Prague

Climbing in Czech Paradise

FACES high ropes day at U-Camp!

When I wasn't working, I tried to nurture (key word: tried) a sense of work-life balance with triathlons, trail running, book club, but most of all through a solo trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. There is nothing quite like paddling away from all you know with everything you need to survive, and then getting lost on a big lake or blown about by a raging headwind or being swarmed by mosquitoes and having to keep your shit together. It must be the wilderness therapist in me, but I just kept asking myself, how is this like your life? :)

 

Billy continues to teach sophomore English at Hays High School about a mile from our house. He has now made an art of using literature to challenge students to think critically about the world beyond Kyle, Texas. He also teaches Teen Leadership, using experiential education to engage diverse students and build community across race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation--something that is critical at a school where the mascot is still the "Rebel" and the school song is still "Dixie." Along with teaching, Billy continued to develop his writing with a trip to the University of Iowa Summer Writer's Workshop. He also presented on his creative use of public speaking in the classroom at the 40th Association for Experiential Education Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. We traveled there together, reconnected with old friends, and shared the magic that is an AEE conference. :)

Madison Children's Museum

Billy is also officially an ultra trail runner. Seriously, anyone who goes out and runs 30+ miles is hardcore in my book. Those of you who know Billy know that underneath his mellow exterior lies a fierce competitor. For those in doubt, here he is captured in an intense trail finish in which he (and I quote) "refused to let this chic beat him." 

Run, Billy, Run!

Did I also mention that he is dad 'extraordinairre?' Proof of which can be found here in this photo of him taking all three of our children trick or treating while I was out of town for work.

Halloween in Plum Creek: Elmo (with Obama pin--because who says you can't campaign and trick-or-treat at the same time), alien, teddy bear

Mahalia has had a big year...she hit double digits and grew about 5 inches! She would definitely give you a run for your money on "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader" and she values the double whammy of wit and sarcasm as much as any Lynn/Norton. Mahalia loves playing Chopped and Cupcake Wars as a family, reading, sewing and designing doll clothes and houses. She also loves going out riding with my mom! She is active in Girl Scouts, dance and theater and landed a part as an orphan (and the apple seller) in Annie, Jr. at Zach Scott Theater in Austin. When she got the part, she replied, "I know, I know, mom...there are no small parts, only...REALLY, REALLY small parts!" (See above wit/sarcasm.) The play ran every Saturday in December and we had so much fun taking friends and family to see it!

Growing up!

Riding during Gadie's birthday weekend!

You're never fully dressed without a smile!

Will turned 8 this year, and got a bike AND a trampoline for his birthday! Pair this with the 'war games' he plays running around with the neighborhood boys and his nerf guns, and you get the idea of how little he sits still (unless technology is involved.) Will now has his blue belt in Tae Kwon Do and he is getting scrappier on the court every year, much to the delight of his Hoosier hardwood hysterical grandfather! Despite his energy, Will is a sweet and sensitive boy, and a doting big brother. He helps take good care of Wendell and teaches her all kinds of things like potty words, silly songs, and how to pump her legs when swinging! Will is also an avid reader, and loves reading with Billy. They read the Hobbit this summer, followed by seeing the new movie together, and now they are tackling Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy each night. (Did I mention Will is a little bird nerd like his dad too?)

Blue Belt!

Hoopster!

Big brother!

Wendell Jane turned two this year! She is hilarious and has a well-developed sense of humor that keeps us all laughing. She loves being outside, and can often be found on Will's trampoline! When I wake up in the morning, it is to the sound of Wendell singing her sister's songs from Annie (imagine a scratchy voiced little two year old screaming "It's a Hard Knock Life" at the top of her lungs while jumping up and down in her crib!). Wendell attends a local daycare in the neighborhood two days a week, and my mom watches her the remainder of the time. Gadie, who's alter ego is "Ms. Hokey" teaches her letters, numbers, counting, colors, etc. Billy and I know how blessed we are to have my mom helping us raise our kiddos. As we've said in prior holiday letters, everyone needs a Gadie! :)

Fourth of July Parade!

Bubbles!

Christmas Joy!

Gadie and Wendell!

Speaking of Gadie, my mom turned 65 this year, and we celebrated with a big weekend of trail riding and whisky drinking around the campfire! For those of you who know my mom, that sounds about right, eh?

Taking the grandkids for a ride!

Birthday Girl!

 So despite the much anticipated apocalyptic predictions of 2012, as James Taylor sang, "This old world must still be spinning round, 'cuz I still love YOU." Truly. We love YOU. We got to see a lot of you in 2012, and every laugh, cry, robust debate, heartfelt discussion--heck, even FB posts and chats--brought light into our lives (see that's you--the light--in our 'family picture.')

As close to a family portrait as the Norton's will come!

So whatever 2013 brings, let's promise to stick together and bring light to one another in this dark world.

A belated Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a VERY Happy 2013 from our hearts to yours.

xoxo 
Los Nortons

P.S. Billy just commented after reading this letter that 3 shirtless photos is some kind of record for him. Next year, he vows to go pantless. Something to look forward to for 2013!