Across the miles,
and memories, and dear friendships, from our home to yours, greetings of Advent
Peace from the Norris Family! As 2011
comes to a close, we can all say this sure has been an interesting year. Read on, for a brief overview of what we have
been up to in the past 12 months.
A Junior and a Senior
As if life was not
rushing headlong faster than any of us could imagine, Kelly is now a Junior at
DePaul University in Chicago, and Heather is a Senior at Flintridge Sacred
Heart Academy. Kelly is looking forward
to her last 18 months of college instruction (after spending the past three
months with us here, as she finished some general ed classes in Southern
California), and to being fully certified as an elementary level teacher upon
graduation. From there, only God knows
what comes next, but the current plan is teaching someplace overseas for a few
years. She is quite used to world
travel, having almost spent last Christmas in London, close to being snowed in
on her way home from Livingstone, Zambia.
Heathrow in disarray, stranded in London, without luggage, and wearing
only sweats and Tom’s shoes, she spent the next 72 hours improvising a new wardrobe,
planning travel home, but also enjoying the snowy sights of London at
Christmastide! She made it home, via
Houston to Los Angeles, on the 21st; it was the best Christmas present of the
year for our family. Her smile on our doorstep will not quickly be forgotten.
Meanwhile, Heather’s
life is never a dull moment, with present plans for 15 (yes, count them)
separate college applications. Thus far
two acceptances, 13 more to go. We are
all so proud of Heather’s hard work, and Dad is just overjoyed he did not have
to write an application check to USC.
Stayed tuned for more news. The
fall presented a surprise, as Heather’s grace and poise (characteristics having
nothing at all to do with her Dad) propelled her to the final 30 young ladies to
be considered for the Tournament of Roses Royal Court. Alas, royalty was not to be, but Heather is
quite happy with her life as a commoner, and another year on Varsity softball. We love this girl.
Intramucosal Carcinoma of the Colon
Just a few words,
but the gravity they contain can be life changing. With those medical reference words, our lives
together as a family took a summer detour we did not expect. We don’t have a story of how our majestic and
exemplary faith made this experience entirely free of questions or worry. We learned deep lessons of love, commitment
and friendship from so many during this time.
Surgery was required, and the result: no evidence of ongoing serious cancer. In fact, what had previously looked likely
cancerous was in fact, benign. One more
related surgery is scheduled for later this month; a purely preventative
procedure. Nancy is back to full and
complete health, and we are all deeply and profoundly thankful. Words simply will not do. A word of prayer for one more short hospital
visit for Nancy would be a gift to us. The
doctors want to keep a close eye on her in the years to come, but for now, the
way ahead is clear. Suffice it to say,
we have a different understanding of the concept of the gift of each new day. And in thanks, and as a celebration, we will
be giving a financial gift this year in your names to the City of Hope (www.cityofhope.org), where Nancy received truly
remarkable and compassionate care. This
was a summer we will never forget.
More Modest and Thankfully Dull Adventures
As for me, the
balding guy who is the oldest around here, this has certainly been a year. From emails to and from Zambia, sitting in the
City of Hope hospital waiting room wondering about the future, to awaiting a
Rose Court announcement; it never, ever, got boring. This included a business trip to Alaska last
year just before Christmas (spotted several moose on major streets in
Anchorage, high temperature +15 degrees), a conference in Washington DC in
November, with a day to enjoy the nation’s capital. The year was filled with some wonderful musical
interludes with good friends, the Watkins Family hour at the Coronet, Alison
Kraus and Union Station under the stars at the Greek, The Civil Wars at the
Wiltern, and fall evenings at Disney Hall with good friends. A week at the beach at the close of summer,
complete with rooftop sunset dinners full of the kids and their friends and
much laughter. Summer evening barbeque
dinners on the back deck with friends old and new. Bruin games at Pauley with friends new. Life is rich and full, each day. Thankfulness abounds.
And so, in this past
year, as Kelly traveled to Livingstone, via London and Los Angeles, I wondered about
what seems to be the only event that can unite the people of these distant and
disparate cities. An event that occurred in obscurity more than two hundred
centuries ago, in a dusty village in the middle of, well, nowhere.
At the point of a single birth, everything changed. Time was carved in two. For everyone, forever. For countless thousands alone, with their thoughts on Los Angeles freeways, for the masses riding the London tube, and for the dusty streets of Livingstone. And even for you too, standing in your kitchen reading this Christmas letter. All these places, all us people, given a chance again. Given hope. Christmas hope. Christmas love. Across continents, and time zones, and time itself. This is what Christmas is all about.
Merry
Christmas from Steve, Nancy, Kelly, and Heather
