children – Susan Norris

Are you really thankful for THAT?

What comes to mind when you think of November? Do you think about Thanksgiving or are you like American retailers and immediately jump from Halloween to Christmas? Do you think of Pilgrims and Indians, turkey, or pumpkin pie? One thing I miss about teaching elementary school is the large celebrations of any and every holiday. Children will embrace them all. November was always one of my favorite times of year teaching because we talked a lot about the birth of our nation. Many people think Thanksgiving was celebrated as a time to be thankful for coming to a new land [...]

By Susan Norris|2015-11-10T08:15:26-05:00November 10th, 2015|Christ Follower, Women, Young Adult|0 Comments

This rocked my world and became a game changer.

Do you have a big family? Compared to my grandmother, who was one of ten children, I have a small family. I was one of three. I'm the middle child and the only daughter. I tell my brothers that our family is like an Oreo cookie, the best part is in the center. My husband and I have two children. They are our joy. I have loved every stage of their lives from babies to almost adulthood. I would say they are two of my best friends; however, the greater blessing is that they say the same thing about me. [...]

By Susan Norris|2015-08-05T09:17:37-04:00August 5th, 2015|Christ Follower, Human Sex Trafficking, Women, Young Adult|0 Comments

“I see the moon, the moon sees me…..”

Have you noticed the moon the past few nights? It's been beautiful. I love a full moon. It makes the night sky look so picturesque. One of my interns took the picture with the moon inside of the heart she drew on her window. It reminded me of a song I used to sing when I was a little girl, I see the moon, the moon sees me. The moon sees the one that I want to see. God bless the moon, and God bless me. God bless the one that I want to see." Are you familiar with it? [...]

By Susan Norris|2015-05-06T06:03:51-04:00May 6th, 2015|Christ Follower, Women, Young Adult|1 Comment

He can’t wait………

Do you have children? If so, are they living at home still or have you experienced the empty nest? This school year my husband, Mark, and I became empty nesters. Just yesterday I saw a meme of a bird perched on the side of an empty nest with a worm in it's mouth and it read, Now what am I supposed to do?" I can honestly say I haven't had to ask now what because the Lord has kept me occupied, but I miss my children. I miss sitting on the sofa with them for hours on end, laughing and talking through [...]

By Susan Norris|2015-02-03T06:53:49-05:00February 3rd, 2015|Christ Follower, Women, Young Adult|0 Comments

What You Need to Know About Retirement No Matter Your Age

Are you retired? When I left teaching to have my first child, I told my husband I was retiring. I had no intention of going back into the classroom to teach. I wanted to stay home with my children. Fortunately, we were on the same page. While I retired from teaching in a traditional classroom, I've never stopped teaching. My classroom just looks a little less conventional today. It may be a coffee shop with two or three students, a church gathering or a safe house where survivors of sex trafficking are living. Retirement is not found in the Word [...]

By Susan Norris|2013-11-13T08:07:32-05:00November 13th, 2013|Christ Follower, Human Sex Trafficking, Women, Young Adult|0 Comments

Is there really a choice?

What are your thoughts on pornography and prostitution? Do you believe women choose to pursue either? I'm sure you're pretty clear on my opinion on the issue after spending over three years working with survivors of sex trafficking. Shared Hope International defines sex trafficking as: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act where such an act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age." I have had countless conversations with people on the [...]

By Susan Norris|2013-10-21T08:17:58-04:00October 21st, 2013|Christ Follower, Human Sex Trafficking, Women, Young Adult|1 Comment

Porn, who does it really harm?

Do you watch movies? I love a good movie, but I avoid horror movies. I just don't like paying good money to be scared half to death. I see no purpose in it. Now I can go for a good action movie or suspense thriller any day like the Bourne Supremacy, Taken, or Red. While I enjoy them, they tend to get my heart racing at times. Have you ever wondered why? Have you ever asked yourself why you lean forward in a theater to get a better look? I remember being in fifth grade when the fire lady (That's what we [...]

By Susan Norris|2013-08-22T07:58:57-04:00August 22nd, 2013|Christ Follower, Human Sex Trafficking, Women, Young Adult|0 Comments

What? I can’t hear you. Speak up!

Photo taken by Sam Norris Do you enjoy art? If I'm honest, there are some pieces I look at and just don't get. I enjoy looking; however, very few pieces of art truly move me. I don't know if that says more about me or the art I've seen. As I looked through Sam's photos from his trip abroad one caused me to pause. It seemed to draw me in as I looked at it. It spoke to me. It is a picture of a sculpture outside of Auschwitz. Sam said he couldn't remember the name of the [...]

By Susan Norris|2013-08-15T07:20:45-04:00August 15th, 2013|Christ Follower, Human Sex Trafficking, Women, Young Adult|2 Comments

Have you ever flown on the red eye?

Have you ever flown the red eye before? The red eye is a flight that departs late at night and arrives early the next morning. About eight years ago, our family was flying home from vacation and had to take the red eye. Since I have a great deal of trouble sleeping on a plane and it was quiet because most of the people were asleep, I took the opportunity to have a quiet time. I opened my Bible to the book of Acts and started reading chapter 1. I felt the Lord tug at my heart when I came [...]

By Susan Norris|2013-05-03T07:19:50-04:00May 3rd, 2013|Christ Follower, Women, Young Adult|2 Comments

Bring trafficking to an end in Georgia!

Luke 4:18 [KJV] Today is Lobby Day at the state capitol in Georgia. I will be joining individuals from Wellspring Living, Out of Darkness, youthSpark, Street Grace, and others as we unite our voices as a voice for hope for the hundreds of Hopes held captive in the state of Georgia. If you cannot join us in person, please join us in prayer, as we speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves [Proverbs 31:8a]. Write and/or email your elected officials today, asking them to: Pass legislation that requires the posting of the National Human Trafficking Hotline number in bars, hotels, and venues where [...]

By Susan Norris|2013-02-07T06:18:06-05:00February 7th, 2013|Christ Follower, Human Sex Trafficking, Women, Young Adult|0 Comments