Today Parker Reid turned 4 years old. It seems like he has been 3 forever. I don't know why but we have always thought he was older than he really was. He is so smart and funny. He is one tough little boy who has had lots of bumps and bruises but always gets up and tries again. He did not talk until he was a little over 2 years old but boy when he did, he just immediately started talking in complete sentences making good sense. He rode a bike with no training wheels at the age of 3. He is now playing baseball. I am so proud of Parker Reid. He is my favorite 4 year old. I love you, Parker Reid!! Happy Birthday.

A Message from Maddux

As you all know yesterday was a very hard day for our family. My heart, as I am sure all of yours as well, was breaking for Summer and Josh. I am a DOER(nice word for OC) - I wanted so much to be able to fix it, say something comforting, do something that would ease the pain. After work I decided to drive over to check on her and just to give her a hug. She was in bed resting and as I tried to find words to say or think of something to do I couldn't help but notice Maddux. He was right there on the bed with her. He just kept trying to get as close to her as he could. He didn't say a word... he just kept licking her tears away. So many times we as humans feel the need to say something we think will comfort, console or advise someone. We struggle to come up with words but sometimes there are no words.

All this week my devotionals have been about-Being still and meditating on God's Word. A couple of weeks ago I got a book by Beth Moore entitled Be Still and Know that I am God. In it it talks about Lectio Divina which is Latin for "divine reading". It sounded a little deep for me at first but it has really been good for me. It has a short devotional/thought provoking passage and then you have a passage from the Bible to read aloud four times, pausing after each time to think about what God is saying through His Word. It has been amazing! I would like to share with you part of the reading from Day 3 "What does it mean to "Be still and know that I am God?" First, He's asking me to be, not do. We are a do society, (well the writer of this book could have just said Mary Jo Norman right then and there because it sure sounded like she knew all about my business, anyway)and God has called us to be. Stillness is not just something physical. It is spiritual and emotional. Secondly, Know what? - "know" means to believe to the utmost. If I am being still and knowing that He is God, I can rest in the fact that "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" Psalm 91:1". Most of the time I am doing all the talking, not giving Him an opportunity to get His word in edge wise. I am so busy giving Him my "to do list" that I don't take time to be still and meditate on His word but when I do, He is right there with just the words I need!!!!!! Thanks be to God for his Words. Thanks for letting me share this with you. I love you all and apppreciate your prayers for us.

My Aunt Sarah

Yesterday was my Aunt Sarah's birthday!! I tried to call several times but she has a very busy social calendar. She is always doing something for someone. If I told you how old she was you would not believe me anyway. She is amazing!!! She has always been very special to me and even though we did not live close to one another when I was growing up she was always very much a part of my life. Every summer my cousin, Cheri and I would go to St Petersburg to visit her. We would stay in the Sea Castle, play shuffle board and when we got older we would find the love of our lives(we thought). She always made our visits extra special. At Christmas she was very generous in her Christmasy envelopes from the bank. I am so thankful she lives next door to my mom and dad now so every time I go down there, I get a double visit. She loves my children and my grandchildren and they love her as well. She keeps them supplied with popsicles and treats. She is a very special lady and I love her very much. Happy Birthday, Aunt Sarah!!!!

For All Young Mothers

Winter is almost over and I know you cannot wait for warmer days where the children can get outside and play, where the noses will finally stop running and you can have a day where you are not locked in the house with 1, 2, 4 or maybe even 6 screaming, fighting, whining kids yelling MOMMA!!!!!!!!!!!! As spring begins to show its little signs of buttercups and daffodils let me give you a few words of hope and encouragement. Just as winter turns into spring, these long days of child-rearing will turn into adulthood. Your little ones will be grown-some married, some in college, some working, etc. And all the hard work and perseverance of long days kooped up in the house changing diapers, making lunches, telling stories, breaking up fights, washing clothes, making cookies, doing homework, giving baths, saying prayings and getting that last glass of water before bed will have paid off and you will be so blessed to be able to share special times together with your adult children. You can have dinner with your daughters and lunch with your sons. Your sons will bring you flowers and buy you gifts. Your daughters will do your shopping, listen to your thoughts and help you through the times. Your cup will overflow with love, joy and pride. So "Let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

Thank you Sara, Ryan, Summer, Josh, Luke, and Samuel for blessing me in so many, many ways. I love you all. MOM

My new Elliptical Machine

Well everyone has been wanting me to post about my new play pretty-my Elliptical Machine!!! It is wonderful. It does heart rate, pulse, revolutions per minute, time and calories. It has weight loss programs, aerobic programs, heart programs and even competitive programs (who knows I might compete in the summer Olympics in Elliptical Workouts, although I have never heard of that before, must be something new). It also has a place for an MP3 plug in, a fan and even a water bottle holder. The only thing it does not have is a little elf to drag me out of bed every morning, strap me to the machine and move the peddles for me. Seriously, Norman and I both are enjoying using it. We have it upstairs so the noise won't bother our house guest downstairs that can hear even a tiny pin drop. Luke surprised me with a beautiful iPod Shuffle completely loaded with songs(even 2 renditions of Rocky Top-good workout music). I had talked about getting one and before I had a chance he had already bought it and loaded the songs. So the first time I got on I programed my little machine for a little 20 minute weight loss workout. I thought I would start out slow since it had been a while since I had worked out (high school, maybe) I thought I would plug in my little iPod and sing away while I worked off some extra pounds. HA!!!!!!!! I did good to even finish the 20 minute workout with breath to breathe and could not have even yelled for help must less sang a note! Whew!!! It really gives a good workout-I was even sweating-can't remember when I did that last either(except when I mow the yard). So now when anyone decides to come visit the Norman household we now offer not only 2 gourmet cooks (I am not talking about Norman or myself) but a weight room to work off all the calories you intake from the delicious food the chefs prepare as well. Come see us and give it a try. You will love it!! And oh yeah, for all of you over 50 people who are having trouble sleeping at night, I highly recommend this machine. I have only worked out 3 times and I am now sleeping in a deep sleep -some thing I have not done for quite some time. Thanks, Summer for encouraging me to step out on a limb, I mean an elliptical, and start exercising!!! Thanks, too, to Ryan and Sara for hauling it upstairs and putting it together. You guys are GREAT!! Oh and can't forget Samuel for giving his approval (and no Samuel, it did not cost as much as a new car, it was on sale!!!!)(You know you read my blog everyday).