A Martin Minute

This girl is turning 13 tomorrow! This girl is growing up SUPER fast & turning out to be SUPER pretty! She has her act together & works at keeping the rest of us together - it truly is an impossible job. She is smart & funny & organized & responsible. She is pretty close to darn near perfect. What will happen over the next 13 years for this girl of mine?  HUGE life-changing things will happen - big, fun, exciting, world view defining things will happen to her.  I pray I get to be a part of these things, these adventures.  The good and the bad will shape her & the rest of her life.  She will be more independent, more grown-up, BUT she will always be mine. My first baby, my one that didn't sleep.  My one that taught me so much about me.  I was scared to death to have a girl, but the adventure is one that cannot be matched.  Yes, there is a lot of responsibility in raising a girl (I feel more pressure for some reaso...

I am writing to remember on this blog . . .I am writing so that one day they can understand better (me & them) , so that we can remember & so we can cherish. All of these moments happen fast & sometimes all at once, but they are precious & life-changing & life-giving. My struggle now is to raise 4 VERY different people in the same house at the same time, while appreciating their differences & strengths & weaknesses & quirks. An example is talking to a pre-teen girl about friends while sitting next to the potty training a 3 year old boy how to use it - CRAZY times. They will all 4 study & learn differently.  We discipline differently & talk to them differently. We cheer differently at their games & react differently to wins/losses. To me: Remember this as they grow (really fast) These days are quick & precious & real & true. These days are gifts, not to be taken for granted.

2016 is going to be great! A lot is going to happen this year for our little family. A lot we do not even know about. In a few days our 2nd kiddo will hit DOUBLE DIGITS, in a  few months we will have a teenager, we will potty train one last time, we will play harder, we will have a wedding, we will travel, we will spend more time with family & love more. What a blessing to journey together into a new year. May God bless you & yours. Love, the Martins

MERRY CHRISTMAS! from the Martin Crew "Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night!" Our nights around here are a little loud & crazy.  We go from soccer, to baton, to football.  Then we throw in some church time & Daddy has client meetings.  At some point we find some dinner & study for some A's.  We try to bathe & brush our teeth & then at some point we climb in to bed. It sounds crazy & those are just the hours between 5 & 9 PM. Life is good in this family of 6, but we definitely do not slow down. Well, maybe our princess slows down when she is reading a book - her favorite past time. She has started MIDDLE SCHOOL & loves it!  She rocks locker decorating & cannot make any grade below an A if she tried. "W" number 1 definitely does not slow down.  He runs up & down any soccer field he can find & I believe he talked his teacher into basketball in the classroom.  He runs from o...

trying to ride in a big-boy seat "helping" with laundry He is our Baby.   He is the final installment, the caboose & the last hurrah. He is our wild boy forever. Lee-Lee, You know no boundaries.  You are fearless & always moving. You LOVE Paw Patrol & anything with wheels. You love to ride fast down hills. As I begin to write this you are re-arranging furniture to build something. Our family is better because you are in it.  We are so glad you joined the crew. Romans 9:33 "and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame." Luke 2:52 "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God & men." Happy 3rd Birthday! All my love on your next year ~ Mommy

I am thankful, I am just a few days late in writing it all down.  I am thankful everyday - I just don't always say it.  I know I should say "Thank you" more, for sure. I am thankful for the people that make messes in my house. I am thankful for the people who stand in the street with me & monitor bike races with me & eat fake food. And the little hands that make & serve said fake food. I am thankful for the LARGE family that gets a little loud. I am thankful for the people that show up in their "cool cars" to take a loud 2 year old to Chick-fil-A. I am thankful they can run & thankful that sometimes they are still. I am thankful for life & Bible studies & our church.

This is one of my favorite Christmas pictures. It was about 3 years ago  & there will be 3 more grandkids in the picture this year! "The Lord has done great things & we are filled with joy!"