Jessie Rush Norman (2025)

26/05/2021

May we all huddle up together today, swap notes and hugs, and move forward with a new plan.

Maybe let’s retire dry it up, fix your face, and I’ll GIVE you something to cry about. No, I know we’ve been using them as a whole group of people for a whole bunch of years. Oh yes, I know the sentences now burst from our mouths in tense parenting situations, thus giving them eternal life.🤦🏼‍♀️

New plan, though. Let’s make space for each other to actually feel what we feel so that we can.....become snowflakes? Close, but nope.

So that we can feel it, be with it, decide we are greater than it, and let it go.

Part 2 of the plan. (It has 47 parts😉) When our kids display emotion that spurs uncomfortable emotions within us, rather than asking them to stop so that our pain can stop-essentially holding them responsible for our wellness, which they should NOT be.....let’s don’t, instead.

I’ll set the scene. They’re overwhelmed and angry, that makes you overwhelmed and angry. You go to EXCLAIM a combination of the sentences above but then all of the sudden....you don’t. You remember you’re the adult and have gathered tools along the way. You ride that first wave quietly in your room, with ONE section of Hershey’s if need be. You grab two more tools from your emotional tool box-deep breathing and prayer, this go-round.

In the other room your child felt they’re feelings, as you felt yours in yours. You sat in another seat. With a big exhale you watch your feels go as you lovingly notify them to not let the door hit them on their way out.

The angels worship loudly as they stand witness to your family using your struggles as stepping stones.

New feelings arrive. Good ones. Good job, Mom. Good job, Dad❤️

10/03/2021

That sparkle in her eyes when it’s time to go to work with Jay. She has no idea what she’ll be doing but she’s certain, from experience, it’ll be above her age-level and she’s so here for it! It lights her kid-heart on fire🔥

Growing up I was drawn to anything that looked like a horse, smelled like a horse, had dirt on it, or smelled like dirt! Even now y’all may wonder what the heck I’m trying to say but Lily probably read that last sentence and said, yep and yep☺️

I can’t help but wonder if God soothes our children’s hearts after our effective, monumental, game-ending mistakes with baby calves, the keys to an old farm truck, hard-heart-healing chores, and the obvious....that smell of dirt.

I will send out an army to find you
In the middle of the darkest night
It's true, I will rescue you
I will never stop marching to reach you
In the middle of the hardest fight
It's true, I will rescue you
🎶L Daigle

Thank you, Lord for marching though the darkest night to save my children❤️

05/03/2021

This one is too important to me. It’s frozen my sleep and my writing skills😉 To fail them with a less-than-beautiful caption, or create an episode that doesn’t honor them is grabbing the human side of me.

Then God corrects with a few,
I laid them on your heart.
You heard my call.
Quickly you cast their words out like falling snow.
When you team together, I’ll use your pain to provide aid to the hurting.
I’ll shape your trauma into a deep-breath for the ones that feel like they are drowning.
I’ll make it make sense, if you are obedient.

I had NO idea they would agree to sit down with us. I had an entire power-point presentation ready, and I didn’t even have to use it! They agreed before I could even pull it up❤️

Their story....and their willingness to vulnerably tell their story tells me that they’ve spent a lot of time talking to the Lord about what He’d have them say when the time came.

Through tears, I introduce to you my coach/“Dad” and his supermodel bride, THE Michael and Kenya Landers✨

This one was important. I think we can end on this note....just kidding.😉

21/02/2021

Growing up, this may sarcastically shock you, but I was always one of the good kids. Surprise!🤣

My identity was rooted in always being good, never getting in trouble, and surrounding myself with others like me. We would replace drunken, tailgate nights in the middle of a remote field with meeting at the church gym to judge the kids that were drunk, on a tailgate....in the middle of a field somewhere. We’d heard horror stories of “good kids that fell into the wrong crowd”, and we’d drawn a hard line at that ever happening to us.

I’m positive we, or I at least, misunderstood the assignment.

And it cost me.

I spent the front half of my life withholding love from the people in my life I needed the most. The ones that would’ve helped me to grow, change, and evolve.

Everywhere I would go people would clean up their language, hide the beer, and count the minutes to my departure. Everywhere Jesus went - people were DRAWN to him, wanted to go WITH him to his next stop....and then they would! They wanted to follow the love.

You’re a bad person?
So what!! C’mon! What’re ya drinking?

You’re a cheat and a thief?
No, I’m sorry I was just asking your name! It’s so loud in here with everyone being welcome and all!

There are things I should know about your past?
Oh I already know them, it’s why I’m here! You ok?

If I only knew?
I do. I love you. A lot. Let’s go on a hike!

If you have found yourself thinking that God won’t love you because the people that follow God don’t love you. First, I’m really sorry about that, we just misunderstood the assignment. Second, it’s bull$hit. Even if the entire world turns their back on you, God is for you...you are probably His favorite even. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit.

17/02/2021

We just got our water back and have not lost electricity. So many of our friends and family are without, though. Jay and Jerry found this little one covered in snow, not sure how they’re still alive but we’re doing the darn thing.

Cash has thrived using the woods as his bathroom🙈, the snow for water supply, and being a father to this new calf...it’s aged him as he’s taken it all so serious, and it’s been pretty fun to see as a momma.

Please send human connection immediately. Use a bunch of words, thanks❤️

Miss y’all

08/02/2021

I hopped our footboard in the night, nearly breaking my big toe, trying to escape the murderer that had me by the arm. Not me dying tonight! Wake up baby, the serial killer sternly pleaded. As I sobbed begging him to let me go, my mind immediately slipped to the cupcake(s) I’d eaten right before bed...knowing full well they give me night terrors.

Norman dragged me back over the foot railing into my resting spot, panicked and uncertain on how best to proceed...he covered me with him.

Have you ever been nearly murdered, dragged, and then smothered in your bed with one of those gigantic propane heaters?

I’m exhausted and Jay is affected.

Anyone have a story? Use a bunch of words💜

11/01/2021

When we found her she had one steer in a headlock, another by the tongue, and was gruntin’ and grumblin’ that we were blockin’ her path to the trailer. City-folk, idiots I think she called us😉

This week though, only 17 mos later, she called us with an idea💡

What if we ask everyone(she doesn’t like people) if they want to join together(she’s not a fan of groups) and help a family in need(strangers😩) at the local grocery store(gag the old her with a fork!!)🤣

God has a funny way with all of us, doesn’t He?!

When Jay agreed to do the podcast with me I KNEW it had to be God, because it wasn’t Jay-no way, no how.
When Kam brought this idea to us we knew it had to be the Lord, because this is the LAST position Kam Elliott would ever be caught in!

In less than an hour, in Durango, Co Kam will be taking all of your donations to pay for a sweet family’s groceries.
Luckily, God sent help! , you are sunlight! {see stories}

Dear God,

Please help this family to feel your love and presence in their lives today. We ask you to show them that when they beg you for help, you send a couple of cowgirls with a community fund in their back pockets. Thank you for showing us how to love on others, and prove your presence with a pack of bologna. We promise to never doubt your plan again. If less of us is more of you, take everything🤷🏼‍♀️

All our love,

09/01/2021

Why does this make my last post look like I need an intervention!? I would’ve have been none the wiser 🤣🤣

I love a good before & after 🙈

Now something to make this silly post count. But what 🤔

Oh!

For the past three years Lily has had coaches ride her tail. One year was so laughable how often and how loudly you’d hear the name “Lily” called. It bothered her, of course, especially since we would get so tickled....instead of storming to school to rectify the situation like idiots. We’d explain it was a good thing, rather. You don’t hear them repeatedly scream any of the names on the bench do you?? They are not going to waste their breath. When you need to worry....is when they go quiet.

The hits keep coming in your life? As you come up for air from one huge wave another comes crashing down? Once you finally scrape through one storm, another one is heavy in the forecast?

If you haven’t realized it yet, third-base runner, the struggle simply symbolizes your greater height.
My love, you must only worry when things get quiet, like a toddler in the next room. Smooth is no longer our friend, and easy ended in our early 20’s.

Count it ALL joy my friend when you experience trials of all kinds.🤩{James 1}

Let’s Celebrate!
-

09/01/2021

I shared my darkest words with a friend yesterday, words I didn’t think I could return from after they left my mouth. They were confirmation that I, indeed, was as broken and messed-up as I’d always suspected. You may search the earth for the worst heart and sadly......land at mine🙄

My dear friend blew my hair past from my face laughing. Not with me. At me. My big, bad, dark words fell “small-time” at her feet, as she expressed she could out-do them on a Tuesday. I’d never been so relieved in my life to be laughed at.

It may not be considered correct for all of us to share our personal stuff with the world, to “air our dirty laundry”.

The deeper I’ve waded in, though, the more clear its become that in the quiet can come isolation, and in isolation a rewriting of the truth with our own stupid, stupid version.

So for this morning I beg you one thing. Take two things, your most tender thoughts and your phone. Call your most trusted friend. The one that’s not divulged someone else’s private truth to you. {DM me for my number if needs to be me} Make the call, empty your heart, and catch your breath.

We’ve got a life to lead, people to help, and fake-shackles to ditch.

Go to my stories for Sherri’s incredible description. Love y’all!

03/01/2021

I lost my aunt last year. Or way more importantly, my cousins lost their momma, and my uncle lost his perfect bride❤️

She’s my sunlight. The times I allow my crazy to come untucked, I can feel her gentle nudge to “soften”.

I tease the Lord in my prayers, “of course you would take the best of us for yourself, none of us could blame you”.

My favorite part of 2020 was that my favorite person on earth got her ultimate reward....to walk the streets of gold with Jesus.

Talk about T-total FOMO, the absolute best kind❤️

Oh....and here are my favorite captures from our ski trip this week. Creed is the closest I’ve ever been to Heaven, so you can bet my beautiful Aunt Mary lived in my mind rent-free all week long, and I wanted to honor her this morning✨

02/01/2021

In my last post I expressed my gratitude to each of you for saving my broken life, and I wanted to bring the three leaders of your charge into focus.

This small help mission arrived early 2017 and immediately deployed a divide-and-conquer strategy on Lily, Liza, Cash, and I picking up pieces of our broken hearts and slamming them back into place. They only have one gear, full-tilt.

They walked in, tore up my pathetic game plan, said my name a whole bunch - it’s my love language - and then went to work on the kids.

I’m not the same.

They made sure of it.

Because the “me” they found would not have survived the new plan. She would’ve made a horrible stepmom, and an even worse new wife.

The seven of us each had to stretch, and rise to a much greater height to make it through something SO demanding - blending our family.

I skied with my stepson yesterday, just he and I. He doesn’t know but I had tears the entire run behind my sunglasses. I just kept telling God thank you for such a special opportunity.

To be their stepmom, for them to be so loving, and for not making me ride down the mountain in one of those rescue sleeping bags🤣

I love you❤️

02/01/2021

Well.

Who is that, and who in the H does she think she is?

She’s a woman that comes in last place pretty often.

Then why in the hooty-who does she host a podcast??! Isn’t that like the blind leading the blind.

Yep.

That was my first refute to the Lord. But, God I’m the least of these, I’m not “leader material”. And He replied, “go out there and let them know what the least of you can accomplish, just trust me, go shake things up!”

And we are gonna blindly and wonderfully lead you into this new year under one circumstance....while we’re draggin, promise you’ll be pushin’! It’s the ONLY way we are gonna all pull this off😉

Thank y’all for a full year of making us feel WAY COOLER than we are, well not Jay - he really IS that cool😉

Thank y’all for making my trip around the sun have total worth. I owe my broken life to you🙏🏼

30/12/2020

Kam: Jess, what’s wrong here lately?

Me: Oh, I’m fine. It’s just that life is pointless and nothing matters and I’m always tired. Also, I can’t sleep, I’m overeating and none of my old hobbies interest me🤷🏼‍♀️🤪🤣

Kam: My person, Decembers are like the Sunday’s of the year, go take a nap, you’ll be fine!🥰

21/12/2020

The ladies that help me with our home called me from inside my home while I was dropping Lily at practice this morning. They sounded a little confused, and a lot annoyed. It took me a bit to realize they had never, and I mean NEVER, seen our home look anything other than like a bomb had gone off.

They assumed they had caught us hiring someone else to clean, and I truly cannot stop laughing. Jay wheezed.

It’s been a tough year ok? Geez get off my back😉

Seriously though, I remember waking up earlier and earlier each week after the pandemic started. I could find the healing in that. Today, I stand in my home that was clean before the cleaning ladies arrived, and I’m going to tell God thank you and do a little jig💃🏼

This too is passing, y’all✨

14/12/2020

For nearly a month we've been asking the the Lord for two things. First, that He would send us those of you that would feel led to donate monetarily, whether 50 cents or $50. Second, and most importantly, that we would be able to hear Him clearly enough to get to the correct small table in a very large Ft. Worth, Tx....to be with her face-to-face and tell her about all of you and your BIG love. So that she could confirm how BIG our God is, and how faithful and charming He can be when we Huddle around one another.
Here is Jeannie and as it turns out she had been praying to find us as much as we'd been praying to find her. 🖤
Thank you all SO much for the generosity and love you brought to this Teacher & Momma of a 7 year old daughter who waitresses on the weekends. Y'all are the real MVPs!

08/12/2020

Lily took Sat and Sun, and my girls are flying in from Wed to Mon....but he wanted one night.

What he wants, he gets. I’m thankful it’s me.

@ Official NFR Experience

07/12/2020

I asked them to clear the streets for this pic. They did not. Rude.😉

The anxiety that you’re feeling this morning that your babies are going to grow up. Can’t blink, can’t take that nap or shower for what you’ll miss. They’re only little for a bit right?

I get it. I was the same as you, still am.

If I can give you a breath of hope this morning, Lily growing up has been my favorite part of her growing up 😉

She’s my oldest and each year has gotten better and better....if I can scratch years 11 and 12, which I can because it’s my post 😂

Taking her away to Fort Worth for the night as she lets me dress and paint her face like Rodeo Barbie....could you just pass out??! Go back to the hotel, each of us get a bed with snacks, wake up and repeat!!

I’ll take your giant forehead bows and mini knife sheaths and raise you a gal that laughs at my mildly inappropriate jokes, loves BIG, is finally a momma’s girl, and can lug JUST as much luggage as me to the car!

I pray this can give your sweet, amazing-momma-heart a nice calm this beautiful morning. I like you so much better when you’re a bit more calm😉😘

👜: 🤩

06/12/2020

just feels right, you guys. Thankful knew to tell me who I was so I could get an extra deep breath and chill out🥰

Heading home to take the kids to school, grab my other boots, and my favorite human on earth to start the week back in Ft. Worth🌵

It’s not Vegas, no, but it’s not lacking in magic or wonderful people by ANY means.

God bless Texas 💙❤️

@ Will Rogers Memorial Center & Facilities

Jessie Rush Norman

26/05/2021

10/03/2021

05/03/2021

21/02/2021

17/02/2021

08/02/2021

11/01/2021

09/01/2021

09/01/2021

03/01/2021

02/01/2021

02/01/2021

30/12/2020

21/12/2020

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