The Christmas rush got the best of me this year, so this
letter is coming to you all a bit late. As I type, we are careening across I-10
at 85 mph towards El Paso. We’re on our way to spend New Year’s Eve with
friends in Santa Fe, feeling happy and at home on the open road. After spending Christmas in Texas for the third year in a row, the kids demanded SNOW. So, thanks to dear friends in New Mexico, we were able to deliver.
 |
| Relaxing in the deep snow after a day of skiing in Santa Fe! |
|
|
|
If you’ve been following the Norton exploits over the years
(or have had us show up to sleep on your couch) you know that we are a
road-tripping family. We headed up to Colorado for Spring Break this year to
see friends and family, ski, and play in the snow. As you can see, we are missing one little Wendell Jane, who has not yet made it to the slopes (we would like to enjoy ourselves rather than injure our lower backs guiding a three year old down the mountain).
 |
| Family skiing at Loveland! |
This summer we took a six-week family road trip that took us
from Texas to the Hamptons and back, stopping for a Lynn family reunion in
Indiana where we celebrated my grandfather’s life at 97 years young as well as
my dad’s 70th birthday. This was the first time my side of the family has come together like this since my grandmother died, and it was so heartwarming to gather, eat, drink, laugh, and connect with each other and our blessings.
 |
| Lynn Family Reunion Dinner and JAL's 70th B-day Celebration! |
 |
| With my 97 year old granddad and my beautiful cousin Abigail! I love this guy! |
We also spent a week with Billy’s family in LBI, followed by
a Lorenzo family reunion at FDR State Park in New York in remembrance of Billy’s
Abuelita. Seeing family and
friends all over the Mid-West and East Coast was a treat and reminded us of how
blessed we are to know such amazing people! As Desmond Tutu said, "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."
 |
| The Norton's at LBI |
2013 has been a FULL year. It seems as if we don’t ever stop
moving, which is another reason this letter is coming late…because writing this
letter means sitting still and reflecting, which is hard to come by in the
midst of our mostly ‘joyful chaos.’ In reading back over the last few holiday letters, I realized that this is my 'go to' term for the blessed busyness
that is life with two full time working parents, three active children, one
Gadie (my mom!) and one very fat black lab. On a side note, sometimes it is not joyful, it is just chaos. Still, I am
grateful, especially for these three little monkeys.
 |
| Enjoying ice-cream at Rhea's |
So let’s start with Billy’s year…he continues to teach
sophomore English at Jack C. Hays High School. He artfully facilitates the
process of helping youth connect their lives and the world around them to the
text in front of them (easy to do these days with Orwell’s 1984). He also helps
inspire a sense of community through his Teen Leadership class that breaks down
barriers and stereotypes and gets kids working together through experiential
activities. Billy enjoys hucking the disc every Tuesday after school with
whoever shows up, and he also moderates the GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) at
Hays, providing a safe space for all young people in a big, Texas public high
school (no small order).
 |
| The ultimate frisbee 'coach' |
Billy still reads and writes prolifically. He goes through those little black
moleskin journals in a flash, and though I can’t read his handwriting, I know
they carry within them profound, irreverent and humorous insights about the
world. While we are are waiting on Billy to write the next great American novel
(or at least publish a short story), he and Mahalia are brainstorming ideas for
a young adult fiction series. To be continued...
In his spare time, Billy has become an ultra runner. He
would kill me for writing that, but it’s true. He’s joined Tejas Trails, a
local trail running group, and is training for a 50 MILE race in February (you
heard me!). He visited a dear
friend in Boulder this fall, and got to do a training run in the mountains.
 |
| A Zen running mantra...words to live by: “Try not to fight the trail.
Instead, try to feel the natural rhythm, the flow… and rather than
attempting to conquer it, practice becoming one with it." |
This must’ve helped, because Billy ran the Wild Hare 50K
trail race in November and came in 5th to win a trophy! He is logging about 40-50 miles a week, and seems to relish his time
away from the, um, joyful chaos.
 |
| Road runner trophy! |
Though not an ultra-runner by any means, Billy has
definitely inspired me to get out and run too! I ran two 1/2 marathons this
year, and I got back on my bike and did a hilly 50 mile race, as well as a
sprint triathlon! I must confess that I am the portrait of the motto ‘train to
race, race to train.’ Seriously, if I didn’t sign up for these events, I’d
never work out and consequently go a little crazy. :)
I’d like to think that getting out running or biking, along
with practicing Bikram yoga, helps me manage my stress…that and copious amounts
of red wine.
 |
| At the finish line of the Austin Livestrong 1/2 Marathon: This one was extra special because I ran it in honor of my friend Ben Blat who died of cancer, and for his wife and my dear friend, Amy. It was more than just a race, it was a tribute. |
 |
| The finish line of the Chosen 1/2 Marathon |
These pictures give me pause. Of course, they are proud reminders of challenges I faced and overcame, but they are also especially poignant in light of the Boston marathon bombing that happened this year. When I cross the finish line of a race, all I want is to hug my family and friends and grab a cold beer. Many people did not have that chance this year, and whenever I run, I run for them too.
I am in my 6
th year as an Assistant Professor in
the School of Social Work at Texas State University, which means, as those of
you in academia know, that I submitted my tenure and promotion materials for
review (hence, the stress!). I found out this fall that I received preliminary
approval from my department and director, which is a good sign.
I am continuing my work on campus with
FACES (Foster Care Alumni Creating Educational Success), and I am thrilled to
report that thanks to the support we provide these students, they have higher
retention and graduation rates than traditional Texas State students.
 |
| With our new promotional materials...if you build it, they will come! |
My work with students who have been in foster care has led
me to develop an interest in trauma, and I was the first professor ever at
Texas State to receive a Hogg Foundation Mental Health Grant to study the
impact of trauma-informed adventure therapy on children and families who have
experienced physical and sexual abuse. Here is a great clip that was on the San
Antonio news about this research:
Adventure therapy helps abused kids heal
This study is part of my research agenda as a Research
Scientist for the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Cooperative. I am privileged to work with six other
researchers around the country to study best practices and outcomes in
adventure therapy. This work has become incredibly meaningful to me as a
researcher, a practitioner and as an educator. I created and taught a graduate
social work elective on adventure therapy this year, and I also became the
Chair of the Association for Experiential Education Therapeutic Adventure
Professional Group to promote adventure therapy as a viable alternative for
those struggling with mental health issues.
 |
| Goofing around with one of my AT students this fall! |
Though I did not get the Fulbright Scholarship I applied for
this year, I scored a sweet trip to Panama to do a site visit at Kalu Yala, an
internship and study abroad program focused on sustainability. I spent time in
Casco Viejo in Panama City, witnessed the amazing engineering feat that is the
Panama Canal, hiked into the jungle, went spear-fishing, and ate fresh
tamarinds off the trees. I may have even checked Manuel Noriega’s grandson’s
head for lice, but that’s a whole other story. Let’s just say this trip
satisfied my need for adventure.
 |
| Looking like a dorky tourist at the Panama Canal! |
My other work-related travels took me to Prescott, Arizona,
The Berkshires, Baltimore/Washington, DC and Boulder and Denver again! Not a bad
line-up! And so many great opportunities to connect with many of YOU!
 |
| Hike up Thumb Butte in Prescott, AZ |
 |
| Hiking in Boulder Canyon with dear friends (aka Mom's Adventure Therapy!) |
Mahalia is 11 and in 6th grade (middle
school—gulp!). She is very focused on academics, and is taking Advanced Math
and a special pre-engineering program at her school called Gateway to
Technology. So, yeah, basically only Billy can help her with her homework at
this point!
She loves math and science and was awarded the Outstanding Science Student
Award at the end of 5th grade.
Mahalia is also very engaged in dance and theater. She took
classes this spring at Dance Unlimited and participated in three theater camps
this summer putting on productions of Holes, Peter Pan and What Happened After
Once Upon a Time. She also got accepted to Zach Scott’s Pre-Professional Company
and is getting excellent training in musical theater. I get to drive her to
Austin for theater practice every Thursday, and it has become quite the
mother/daughter ritual of time together in the city!
 |
| The dancer! |
|
|
 |
| Mahalia as Peter Pan |
Mahalia bridged from being a Junior to being a Cadette in
Girl Scouts. She still loves doing all the adventure camp activities, but is
less excited about selling cookies. But we’ll have at least one more year of
boxes of Girl Scout cookies in our house. Awesome (insert sarcasm here).
 |
| The Swing: Camp Champions |
 |
| Reaching the top of the climbing wall: Camp Champions |
 |
| Mahalia's last day as a Girl Scout Junior |
 |
| Bridging to Cadette |
And news in Mahalia’s moral development (hee, hee--that will
be really funny to write when she’s a teenager!)…she has become a vegetarian. We
all usually go vegetarian for Lent, but Mahalia decided to make it a lifestyle.
It’s crazy, but she won’t even eat vitamins or gummy bears with gelatin. I even
had to buy vegetarian marshmallows for her 11th birthday
camp out! This story epitomizes her. When she does something important to her, she's "all in." Her tenacity in pursuit can be seen in this climbing photo, capturing her umpteenth attempt at this overhang climb. She simply would NOT give up!
 |
| Climbing in Boulder |
On the other end of the dietary spectrum, Will could exist solely on
a diet of chicken nuggets.
However, like me, he doesn’t really eat beef or pork, so I guess he’s closer to
a green diet than I’m giving him credit for. Will is 9 and in 3rd grade. He doesn’t love
school quite as much as his big sister, but he does seem to like competing with her for grades! This is the first year that he gets
real grades, and we are happy to report that he takes pride in bringing home progress reports with 98s, 99s, and 100s. Interestingly, Will also took a stab at theater this year...again, NOT to be outdone by his big sister!
 |
| Will as Peter Pan |
Will continued his tae kwon do training this year and
achieved his first degree black belt recommended. He is also really good at using
nun chucks, and is honing his skills in the back yard with a kickboxing bag that
he got for Christmas.
 |
| Testing for his black belt |
 |
| Backyard practice |
Will also kept busy with basketball and baseball this
year, and is starting to really learn more of the nuances of each game.
 |
| Yeah, his coach is hot. |
 |
| Coach pitch little league |
Whether running or riding his bike, jumping on the trampoline, throwing the frisbee
with Billy or logging over 1200 consecutive jumps on his new pogo stick, he
really enjoys being active. But Will is also good at being still. He is
balanced like his dad in this way. He can sit and read or draw for hours, and
has gotten into drawing birds, which fits with his love of birdwatching that he
also shares with his dad.
 |
| This trampoline has been SO worth every penny! |
Though he likes to do a lot of things with his dad, Will covets our annual mother/son
camping trip. This year we went kayaking and mountain biking at South Llano
River State Park. He found a turkey feather during our paddle that he proudly
stuck in his cap! Sweet little guy…
 |
| Paddling at South Llano River State Park |
And then there’s little Wendell Jane…our three year old that
makes everyone laugh, who belts out Broadway show tunes at the top of her
lungs, who wakes up in the morning smiling and kisses the dog right on the
face. She is the most in the moment person I have ever met, and for this, I am
profoundly thankful. She can even make going to the grocery store a fun adventure! She loves to dance, jump on the trampoline, and paint and
draw. She goes to daycare two days a week and is learning her numbers and
letters. She is now the recipient of the old “Maria Magner books” that her big
siblings learned to read from, and she delights in her bedtime stories!
 |
| Fun adventure at the grocery store! |
Wendell turned 3, got her first real hair style, became potty trained AND got her 'big girl bed' this year—no
more diapers and crib for this girl! (“You included a picture of me on the toilet in the Christmas letter??!!” I
can just hear her asking indignantly years from now.)
 |
| Look, ma, I'm potty trained! |
 |
| Big girl bed! |
 |
| My first hair 'style' |
She also started taking
tap and ballet this year, and is completely enamored with tutus, tights and all
things pink! Though quite a little girly girl, Wendell has a commanding
presence, the voice of a longshoreman, and can hold her own with her siblings
quite fiercely.
Gadie (my mom) continues her work at Home Depot part-time,
and also watches Wendell three days a week (can you say godsend?). They are two
peas in a pod and I count my blessings for the role she plays in all of our
lives. She is still riding when she gets the chance, and is also doing work on
the side helping a friend curate some of her art collection and other antiques
(right up her alley!).
 |
| Slumber parties with Gadie are a favorite pastime in our house! |
So now you see what I mean about ‘joyful chaos!’ On top of
the daily madness, we were blessed to have visits from
family and friends, and we enjoyed the perks of living in Central Texas from paddling on the San Marcos river to time spent in
the wine country, to Old Settler’s Music Fest, to hiking in Central Texas and visiting the Gulf coast...all of these, attempts at finding balance
between saving the world and enjoying it!
 |
| Before our paddling trip down the San Marcos River! |
 |
| Visit with Grandpa and Abuelita in Denver |
 |
| Old Settler's |
 |
| Ladies Wine Tour #2: Goodbye party for Jenn and Brenna |
 |
| Les Miserables with Granddad and Elizabeth on Mahalia's 11th birthday! |
|
 |
| Will surfing while Mahalia and Rowan look on! |
These photos tell a story of joy, but though we try to live in the light, we are obviously aware of the darkness in the world. Billy and
I just listened to an NPR interview with Noam Chomsky by Cornell West and Tavis
Smiley, and were quite moved by how he unflinchingly articulated what is wrong with society. He said, "Beyond what's happening in the country, which is ugly enough, there are two
major dark shadows that hover over everything and they're getting more
and more serious. One is the continuing threat of nuclear war that
has not ended and it's very serious. Another is the crisis of
ecological, the environmental catastrophe which is getting more and more
serious." (Don't worry, I won't end the letter here.)
No doubt we all have different ways of explaining the flaws
of the human condition, as well as it’s remedy, but the more I consider it, the
more two things come to mind. The first is empathy. Following Jeremy Rifkin’s
advice, we must all try to extend our circles of empathy to include those
outside of our immediate families, communities and tribes to those who are
different from us, knowing and believing whole heartedly that their well-being
and our own are inextricably tied (See:
The Empathic Civilization). My work with former foster care youth has readily reinforced this idea.
The second is salvation. It dawned on me as I was lying on my
yoga mat the other day, my mind racing with worry for all of the people in my
life I know who are poor, sick and suffering, as well as Chomsky's prophetic words. I felt so overwhelmed and sad by
the reality that I cannot fix these situations or take away suffering and
pain. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest from anxiety,
when all of a sudden, I remembered what my faith teaches me: "My soul finds rest in God alone; my
salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is
my fortress, I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:1-2) In that moment, I realized that it is not up to me to fix anything, but simply to act in kindness and love in my corner of the world as best I can, and let God do the rest.
While I know the idea of salvation is a tricky one and may not resonate for everyone, as the painter Cezanne seemed to know, it is based on action. He said, "Don't be an art critic. PAINT! There lies salvation."
So let's do what we can together to make the world a better place in 2014 and paint, paint, paint!
With light and love,
Christine, Billy, Mahalia, Will, Wendell (and Pat!)
 |
| We swore we'd never have a family portrait taken. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good Groupon! |
...and the big, black dog (woof!)
 |
| Cha Cha |
