A Martin Minute

Merry Christmas! How are we here?       How has this year gone by so fast?            How is it almost 2024? I can tell you how . . . because there are 4 kids (in 2 cities), 1 dad (sometimes traveling for work), 1 mom & her minivan, multiple teams, multiple schools & 1 cute puppy. Whew!! Baylor is 20 & LOVING her apartment life in Auburn! She is studying hard & keeps a busy schedule with tailgating, church events & general TALKING with friends. She is doing some babysitting & pre-teaching over her Christmas break & some more TALKING with friends. William will be 18 any day now! He just made the Men's Soccer Varsity squad for his Senior year & so that makes the 3rd team of this year! He will be joining big sister in Auburn come August & I am sure his dorm room will be a little less complicated. He is half-way through his Senior year & doing well in school. He studies, works, plays soccer & ...

  "I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord,  & they shall be my people & I shall be their God. . ." Jeremiah 24:7 Merry Christmas 2022! Wow! What a year ~ I am exhausted & joyful & so excited all at the same time! We have a COLLEGE STUDENT! She did AMAZING! I cried like a baby & still do from time-to-time. Baylor is 19 & is loving life on the plains. She has gotten involved & made new friends. She studies & loves her classes. She loves football & basketball games & amidst all that STILL manages to squeeze in 40,000+ words a day! WFM5 - William, our Cinco is a soccer champ once again! He drives to work, school, soccer & EATS. He has made me so proud managing work, school & soccer & studying for ACT & college visits. Doing all well & having fun! He will be a Senior Fall '23 & we are looking forward to that fun year. Whitty is my runner & jumper! He is on the high school track & field team no...

 So many things have happened . . . So many things good things & so many hard things. So many things that we cannot explain & things we saw coming years ago. So many people & so many places. This momma's heart has had to learn to watch them fly & soar. I keep thinking back to what my Daddy said at our wedding " . . . you give your children roots & wings." It is hard to give them roots that run deep & how you instill true values in them. It is also hard to watch them open their wings ready to soar. They are soaring! They are learning SOOO much & watching these adventures is a true gift. I know one day I will look back as this being a great joy of my life. I am experiencing hurt but it is amidst such beauty & growth. My baby girl has started to fly & she is flying strong. As soon as she started off on her journey she hit a few unexpected bumps & she took a minute, re-grouped & then just kept on going. She was strong & brave. S...

  " Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, & God our Father, who loved us & gave us eternal comfort & good hope through grace, comfort your hearts & establish them in every good work & word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16 & 17 Merry Christmas from our family to yours! We keep busy around here - everyday! Bay is 18! She is an adult! She has decided to head to Auburn University next year & spread her beautiful wings. She has had jaw surgery, to correct some "issues," & enjoyed some very extended & quiet time at home.  She is a Senior in high school & loves her school! She loves all the fun Senior dress-up days & even had 3 costume changes in 1 day! She has so much stuff planned for next year - my head is spinning. WFM5 will be 16 in a few weeks! I realized that with him driving himself to soccer practice that I will have an extra 4 hours in my week. He works at a local ice cream shop, which is quite beneficial, & is growing up so...

 I am so THANKFUL for all my crew! I am so GRATEFUL for what they all mean to me! I am so BLESSED to be a part of their lives! (I am obviously a little bit cheesy on the holidays) This year I am thankful for . . . My much better half ~ he takes care of us all so well. I love you! My 4 kiddos ~  even with the eye-rolling.     Baylor is beautiful!     WFM5 is funny!     Whitty is sweet!     Lee-Lee is  . . . .well, he is Lee-Lee!  My family ~ as loud as we are we are truly blessed to do life together. My favorite neighbors ~ you know who you are & thank you for always helping & being a part of our family.  I love that some came over last night to cook spicy ramen, because they knew my kitchen would be open.  I love that we can walk in without knocking & that Dr. Peppers get left on my doorstep. I am thankful for Dr. Pepper! I am thankful for Chicken-Moo! PSALM 107:1 "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, H...

Just a few little thoughts as you will soon turn 18 . . . *(started May 31, 2021) God is sovereign! God is good all the time - even when we do not understand. I will always love you ~ forever & ever! You are my favorite daughter! VOTE! Vote wisely! THINK! Think before you speak or post or tweet or text. Apologize & forgive - everyone makes mistakes. Give Grace ~ especially to those that make it hard. Big things are happening over the next few years , but don't forget the small things. Taylor Swift "the Best Day" Thomas Rhett!! Be a role model & make wise choices ~ how many times have I said this? Keep talking! Family is everything! "Okay Lewis & Clark. . . ." Chick-Fil-A ~ enough said "Never let anyone treat you like a yellow starburst. You are a pink starburst." Always walk in the front door like you live here. ~ Be a pineapple~ "In all things give thanks." READ your BIBLE! "The fact that our heart yearns for something E...

How is it time for Summer? How are we buying teacher gifts? How have I registered my baby girl for her senior year of high school? How have we had 5 days of soccer try-outs & we are only halfway through? How are we scheduling senior portraits & ordering senior jerseys? How are 2 of them taller than me with bigger feet? How do they make their own plans & inform me of what they are? How do we have 1.5 drivers at our house? How do they stay up later than me? How is all this happening so fast? HOW?