Life is full, full indeed

Last day at sea..

One night at dinner!

honeymooners!

Love this man.. :)

About to head to COZUMEL! We had so much fun shopping and walking around downtown.

Progreso! We were tired.. but enjoyed never-ending Coronas and the beach!

overlooking the big boat, catching some rays!

My sweet husband, my best friend

Enjoying the windy deck.

About to head to our first dinner on the big boat! So happy to be away...



Well, I know that I have a daily reader, or at least someone who checks to see if I have updated daily.. so Daddy, I am going to be more motivated to update! Not that we don't talk every day anyway... After all, I am so blessed to have parents who are also my best friends.

Blogging really helps me to process life's events and gives me a place to look back on to see all that has changed.

Matthew and I had a great honeymoon. Time seemed to move at a different pace than it does at home where we have bills, jobs, a dog and chores. My incredible parents took care of Vegas while we were gone. My daddy stayed with her and kept her company and we didn't worry about her one second while we were gone!

The week we got home, PaPa was not doing very well. He was ready to go and be with his Jesus. I am so thankful that Matt and I were able to be with the family during his final hours. I couldn't help but put my self in B's position and think about how I would feel if it were my father. I am certainly not ready for that day, however, my husband already prays for my heart. When you lose someone you love, it is an ache that you really can't explain. It is so final and irreversible.

But when you know where they will spend eternity, it is easier to say goodbye, see you soon.

I am really enjoying teaching at the Chinese school. I love teaching elementary-aged students. I am thankful to be working because I think if I wasn't I would spend too much of my day waiting for Matt to get home. This month we will be hunting for a house to rent. We have plans in place that should allow us to buy our first home late next year.

Life is so good and I am so thankful for where we are in life. I am enjoying being Matt's wife and learning so much about myself and him. I often catch glimpses of the woman I want to be, and I know that surrendering to Christ in every way is the only way I will get there. It really does take three. I say that truly believing it, but I'm not sure that my life always reflects that. One day at a time, Lord please use me even in my weakness and immaturity.

Side note: My little brother is playing the World Series of Poker Main Event in Vegas!! I am so impressed by the man that he is becoming. I would not be the woman I am without my brother and I am so thankful for his friendship and the inspiration he brings to so many.

How sweet it is to be Lindsi Norris. the people in my life are amazing..

OH!!!!! and I am 25 now. Cait treated me to a fabulous birthday lunch at Gloria's! So fun! We shopped a little and then Vegas and I enjoyed a birthday nap while we waited for Matthew to get home. Then, so many of our wonderful friends came over and celebrated with me! Today I have birthday enchiladas with my mom & dad, Matty and my Grams.

Okay, if I sit here any longer I will think of more things to update about... So, off to sleep. Chinese school in the morning!

Love,
L. Norris

hello ocean blue

My mind and heart have felt heavy lately. I am not satisfied with some of my actions lately.. I feel like I am short and impatient, and I take things too seriously when I wish that I could just laugh and move on. I want to be hard to offend so that I can be light-hearted when the battle doesn't really matter and save my energy for the battles that do matter.

My husband has worked so hard this week. Of course, he doesn't complain and he still finds the energy to spend quality time with me, take Vegas for a walk and play softball with our friends. Today he really impressed me... He took the time to talk with me about a little misunderstanding so that we could both understand the other better. I felt so lucky to have a husband who thought that it was important to talk and clear the air.

This week I have been off work. It has been excellent to have time to clean, organize, pack for our trip and get some other things done. However, I am very much looking forward to going back to work on the 21st. I am finding myself looking forward to Matt getting home... I will do better when I am doing something.

Life is strange sometimes.. I am okay with that.

Love,
L. Norris

God did a cool thing

This morning I had an appointment to get my 2 front tires replaced... I brought my Thank-you notes to work on while I waited, but the Lord had another plan. Lately I have been thinking about how much I wish Matt & I had an older couple in our lives who had been married for a while and walking with the Lord for a while. It was so cold inside the Discount Tire and the smell is awful so I decided to grab a chair outside.

I sat next to a woman who I recognized and later figure out that she is the mom to a friend of mine's husband! We chatted for about 30 minutes and I knew she was a believer. She was honest and sincere and I felt like I could really talk to her about being newly married and myself. Sitting with her really met a need I had today.

God, You are so good and You meet me just where I am. I want to grow closer to You, but I need Your help. Please show me how.

Love,
L. Norris

a needed post

I am finding myself to be so challenged lately. I am doing a lot of reflecting and examining of who I am, who I want to be and who I am not. I have so many goals, but most times I find that they are my plans and not the Lord's. I just finished school in Decemeber and I have been blessed with a good job thanks to that education. So why can't I slow down and appreciate the life I have instead of looking for the next academic commitment. I try to tell myself that that is just who I am.. but I think my motives are off. I want time to be the wife that my husband deserves and the friend I've always wanted to be and now I am hungering to follow passionately after my Jesus.

Matt & I visited the Church on Rush Creek this morning with Mer, Justin, David and Britt. The message was similar to others I have heard, the music was familiar and the early greeting is always the same. However, I felt more relaxed, I felt like I could hear Him better. My friend Sarah is in the middle of a soul cleaning by cleaning out the clutter from her home and life. I feel in need of this. Because in the last year and half Matt and I have joined all of our possessions, moved and gotten married, we have so much STUFF. We have a room full of stuff and garage full of stuff. Sometimes I close the door to that room just so I don't have to look at all of that stuff that is hardly being used.. but rather "stored."

I will be off this week and then Matt and I will be headed on our much anticipated honeymoon. When I come home I will be working part time with Chai Hui and also preparing for the coming school year. I would really love it if I could get myself to do just a little bit a day until the clutter is gone. I need to rid myself of a few things, actually way more than just a few.

This morning the pastor was mainly speaking to the men in the congregation. (Next week he will be speaking to the women and we will be gone! At least we can hear the message online.) He told the men "you do know that your family and your marriage and your wives are all under attack, don't you?" Sometimes thoughts will come into my mind and I can't help but think "this feels like an attack from the enemy to steal my joy and my peace." The Lord knows that we are under attack, and He has given us tools to block the fiery arrows. He gives us the armor... we need the full armor of God. We have His word, we have His Spirit. When the attacks come, I want to pray, I want to trust, and usually I want to melt into Matthew and hear that everything is okay.

I have been given such an amazing husband to be my partner throughout my life. I want to pray for his heart and know that he will be under attack. The enemy wants to either destroy our marriage or keep it mediocre. The Lord wants us to experience a joy and a love that will blow us away.. I choose the latter. I will choose Matthew.. every time. I will be his girl and his partner and teammate.

I need a concrete step that I can take. My flesh is battling me even as I type this post. Right now I am going to publish this post and go sit with my husband. I have so enjoyed spending so much time with him this weekend. It feels like a honeymoon preview! We can't wait and I will be sure to post photos.

Love,
L. Norris