MARTINE MADNESS

I saw what I saw ... and I won't forget it!

2011-12-12T07:19:00.000-08:00

"Mom, I don't want to leave", I heard him say as we made our way through security. Looking over at my beautiful 11 year old whose eyes were filled with tears, I realized it had happened to him too. Those darn Ethiopians had done to him what they do best, those thieves had stolen his heart!

This was my prayer ... THIS was my greatest prayer! That my family would see in them what I did - JOY, LOVE, and HIM!

75 LONG hours of travel chaos into a new culture they had never experienced, into orphanages and into the lives of children that now had become a face rather than a statistic gleaned more than any $ amount could tell. Too much money to mention to make that all happen and yet, watching my children come alive was the most priceless gift the Lord could have ever given me is still indescribable!

He arrested their hearts. He showed them himself in the children they loved. They couldn't necessarily put it into words at 11 and 9, yet then again ... at 37, I find myself stumbling through trying to find the perfect ones to summarize it all. Impossible!

Our trip to Ethiopia is one that will not soon be forgotten in our home. I watched as my blue eyed beauty came into her own. As she handed her water (and her lollipops and granola bars) to the homeless man with elephant feet, it hit me ... she doesn't see him ... she sees HIM! Isn't that what the Lord tells us about his Kingdom - like little children. Isn't it why he tells us to be more like them - they see past what the world sees and loves without abandon. My little girl showed me that on the side of the street of Ethiopia, Africa. This trip, it wasn't just a gift to them ... it was a gift to me!

As my sweet boy handed out cars to the children at the orphanage who all had HIV, I realized, he doesn't know what HIV is and well, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter! As Dakota held hands and danced away with her precious new friend, it dawned on me ... she doesn't know her story, she doesn't care that she is an orphan ... it doesn't matter. Every single one of those children are HIS!

As Canyon went to EVERY street kid he could find, I watched as he watched them. Judgement wasn't on his face. No, compassion and love were written all over him. He sized them up and all I could think that he was thinking is that "that could be me". "Daddy, Daddy, can I have some burr" he would say. "I want to buy some gum". We already had 10 packs ... but what is a few more when it means you get to support a child whose eyes you have just encountered. It wasn't about the gum, Canyon was dying to play and know those children! As he stood in the court building against the window, I saw him making sign language out into the street. Looking out I saw a sweet street child he had befriended. Never mind that they were probably signing to each other in two different languages ... it didn't matter.

"Yonas, can you pull over so I can buy that soccer ball" he would say. Thinking that he had bought himself a souvenir, we all worried as it got the tar beat out of it during a game of soccer at the transitional home. Adults all apologized that his "new" ball was now torn. Canyon, looking at us with confusion of why we'd be so upset said "I didn't buy it for me ... I bought it to bless the man I purchased it from and to give to the kids so they could enjoy it". That ball ... it didn't matter!

I will never be able to put our trip into words. I will never be able to write on paper or on a blog what we experienced together. Oh sure, the highlight was meeting our new brother and son, but what we had prayed would happen ... DID!

When asking Canyon if he could tell his friends one thing about Ethiopia, what would it be? He responded "They live in greater poverty than I have ever seen and yet they have more joy and compassion than anyone I have ever met".

JOY ... complete dependence on HIM = JOY

Indeed, it is true what Matthew says "Whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me".
Canyon and Dakota had many encounters with their Savior during their sweet 11 days. They saw him, they felt him and they loved him, with each smile and embrace of their new friends that had forever changed their hearts! This was our biggest prayer ... and God answered it more than we could have ever asked or imagined. Priceless!

*There were so many moments along the way that were those "perfect" picture moments in time. But in our keeping with trying to love others (and not make them out to be like animals in the zoo - taking from them something as we "take" their picture), those moments were simply captured in my mind, but here are a few along the way that I did take*

Shopping at the "post office" - Canyon's favorite time to talk with all the street kids and "Shop" from their boxes of gum

Dakota shows the girls at the transitional home how to do crafts with pipe cleaners

Dakota and her new friend, Sentauyu

Fast friends, you would have thought they had known each other for years

Sweet kids at the transitional home who sang us some great songs

A visit to "AHOPE" (an orphanage with HIV+ children only) stole our hearts. One little precious girl that climbed into Daddy's lap will not be soon forgotten! Canyon enjoyed giving each little one a new car toy to play with

Ashenafi - soccer buds

Play time with new friends

One of my favorite moments of the trip - running into Tesfay, a precious boy who lives on the streets that I had met on my trip in February. He remembered me .. and who could forget that smile. Not me! Here we are giggling and asking through broken language if indeed, we are who we both think each other is. "Tesfay", I said, "that means HOPE" (what he told me in February".

Zebene meeting us for the first time. I can only imagine what his little mind is doing in that moment

Silly girls

If only Maliah was with us ... this would be a PERFECT picture

Our beautiful boy. Those eyes and his smile stole our hearts!

November 3 - Maliah's Birthday

2011-12-10T17:11:00.001-08:00

My girl is 6!! It's only taken me a few months to get this out but I have a good excuse ... I was not only planning and celebrating a precious birthday this year but I was packing, organizing and preparing our family to head to Ethiopia to meet our newest brother, Zebene.

But November wouldn't be the same without a sweet celebration. This year, we combined forces with Maliah's bestie ... Libby. They are moving very soon to Amarillo (though I am not going to talk about that ... this is supposed to be a happy post) and so we had a joint birthday party over at the Foote's.
Of course, the girls had a great time and well, I have many many reasons to thank Cindy who by all accounts organized the majority of the precious day that was complete with of course, photo booths!

Here's a few pictures of the celebration! Happy Birthday Beautiful Maliah!

"fonetikly" writing.

2011-10-18T20:36:00.001-07:00

Maliah's favorite activity is learning. No, seriously, the girl is a sponge and as soon as she arrives home from school each day, she is right back to the kitchen table writing words, letters, coloring, cutting, doing addition facts, and reading books. I realized, as she sat at the table the other day that I can officially say I am a "Homeschool" Mom. Yep, indeed, I homeschool my kids every day after school and in addition, I send them to school for 7 more hours. That's some serious learners!

So, as Maliah was writing the other day she was interviewing her Daddy and asking him all sorts of questions. I looked at her paper later to discover her words all phonetically written. They made me giggle ... and I didn't want to forget so I thought I'd jot a few down here. Canyon loves to hear about how when he spelled the word Indian, he wrote NDN. Hey, it sounds like that right? Well, Maliah had several pages ... here is her "writing".

"Dadey Wut Do You Like" - Daddy, what do you like"?

"Zebruz" - Zebra's
"Pezza" - Pizza
"Chocklit" - Chocolate
"Goldfissh" - Goldfish
"Fissh" - fish
"Cofe" - Coffee
"Bukbed" - bunk bed
"kikats" - kit kat
"ifons" - iphone

Maliah's Likes

"Chinees food" - Chinese food
"Wofrs" - Waffles
"Wotrmelin" - Watermelon
"Jes tooDay" - just today
"Dofins and horsz" - Dolphins and horses

On another page, she wrote "Pez and Prite Pez". I asked her and that was "Please and Pretty Please"

On the same note, I saw the word "tmorwow". Giggling, I realize she is saying "tomorrow".

I then see the word "yesdrda". Hilarious. That is "yesterday".

The last one I see is "ugin", or perhaps is that "again"?

My little homeschool girl. In the 3 hours you spend each day after school practicing, I am certain that your little head is going 900 miles per hour. I am always blown away at what you already know ... even before I "school" you. On another note, your spelling of words often makes more sense to me than the way it is "suppose" to be.

Monday Moment

2011-10-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

As I made dinner last night, I looked out the window and saw this.

A Daddy/Daughter moment. Just hanging out, having conversation and checking in on each other.

Toothless Wonder

2011-09-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

Look who lost her first tooth! Someone please remind the Tooth Fairy that she has a job to do tonight and well, apparently, "pixie dust" is this little girl's toothless wish.

Maliah, "You're getting all growd up"!

2011-09-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

My blue eyed beauty makes me giggle. Today we had our "home study" update meeting for our adoption of "Z". The social worker coming to our home had never met our family as during our first home study and 4 visits, we flew in Adela from Dallas (our agency's DSS). Since then, AWAA has hired a social worker in our area and so today was our first meeting with her for our "update" (Texas home studies expire at one year so they must be "updated".

When a social worker leaves, it always makes you wonder how crazy she really thought your family was. BUT ... when your social worker is greeted at the door by your blue eyed, whimsical beauty ... your mind goes into overdrive.

Then again, this is the same gal who told our SW during our home study for the adoption of Maliah that she "Had lots of wrinkles on her face" and asked if "she had a baby in her tummy". Our SW was about 65 at the time. I about died ... and was never so relieved to see that mail arrive putting my mind to rest if we "cleared".

Check out how Dakota was adorned today. HAHA ... all you can do is laugh! She brings "abundance" to LIFE.

"Beat the Cat"

2011-09-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Maliah "Mommy, at school we read "Pete the Cat"

"What? BEAT the cat! (Thinking to myself ... WHAT are they teaching my kids?)

Canyon, across the table with a mouth full of drink, spews into laughter (literally)
I get drenched ... in my face, in my plate ... you name it.

The table goes into a complete uproar of laughter. Yep, welcome to dinner at the Martine's.

The next day ... Maliah draws, cuts out and glues together for us her special friend. Too bad for her, his name will never be "Pete" with a serious face in our house.

Maliah, I loved your cat! It will always make me smile.

Kindie 500

2011-09-24T13:29:00.000-07:00

Maliah has been studying "Transportation" in school and they ended their unit with the annual "Kindie 500". We're not quite sure who this homework was actually for ... but in the end ... it got finished.

I sure was impressed at some of the parents creativity. I think their was an inside competition ... little did I know.

Here's my girl and her "Princess" mobile.

OOPS ...

2011-09-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Handing me a white slip of paper, Maliah says "sign this please".

Looking at the piece of paper, I notice that it's a "permission slip" for her to buy snacks at school. Having done this tango with my two older kids, I smile and say "oh, Maliah doesn't need to buy snacks at school because Mommy sends you snacks".

Looking a little suspicious I start to get the feeling their is more to this story.

"Maliah, have you been buying snacks at school"?

With her finger pressed to her lip, she drops her chin and peers up to look at me and nods her head ever so slightly to signal a hesitant "yes"

"Oh, Maliah, Mommy sends you snacks. You don't need to buy snacks".

"But, I's still hungwy".

Remembering the lunch box 1/2 full of all the food she didn't eat each day, I ask, "Maliah, you didn't eat all your lunch, how could you be hungry? What did you buy?"

"Toast" she answers with the same hesitant voice.

"Toast?" I say with question.

Doing a little deductive reasoning and listening to my Mommy radar, I ask

"Maliah, have you been buying breakfast at school each day"?

"hmmmm mmmm" she says with that same finger pressed to those same lips.

"OH No, Mommy fixes you breakfast every morning. You don't need to be buying breakfast at school each day.

"But the 2 girwls and the boy do it".

Inside I laugh. I know another Kindergartner who did this once. He bought ice cream every day ... and sometimes more than one.

We go on to have the conversation about how she isn't to be buying breakfast, that Mommy has already fed her breakfast and that Mommy didn't send money with her to buy breakfast. I explain to her the "pin number" she keeps using and how Mommy will send her "cash" if she is going to buy anything. Don't get me started on the Pin number system. Yes, a brilliant system to teach our young children the system of DEBT that our congress also lives by! You know the one, where you spend money you don't have, to buy something you don't need. All the kids have to do is put in their "pin number" and bamb ... everything is at their fingertips. Little do they know, that "charge" is then sent my way. Yes, my sweet child, everything you BUY costs MONEY and I know alllllll about it!

So a few week pass by and Maliah is happy each morning taking her coloring book and colors to school to occupy her time while she waits to go to class (or so I think). On a side note, the poor girl has to get their before the sun rises each day as big brother is on safety patrol and has a "job" each morning starting at 7:00 to "patrol". Who said "yes" to that anyways?

So this past Friday, I get an e-mail from Maliah's teacher. It reads:

Hi!

"One of the morning cafeteria duty teachers brought it to my attention this morning that Maliah has been buying breakfast in the mornings. She had a note this morning from the cafeteria that says her balance is negative $14.55. I was just curious if she was supposed to be buying breakfast or not? I will send the note home in her folder today! Thanks so much and have a great day!"

Seriously!! NO NO NO! What is that girl doing?

Of course, what can you do but laugh? I mean, who wouldn't go to school each day and go through a line and get a yummy breakfast ... especially when everyone else is AND your Mommy doesn't even have to know? Of course, Mommy went through all of this with her ... but it seems that following the "herd" is far more tempting that the sound of Mommy's little voice on her shoulder.

Let's just say that Maliah had to empty her piggy bank this weekend. Unfortunately, 2$ isn't enough to pay off her debt. She's got 7.55$ left after she also "paid" us in one hour of her room "thinking about her choices". Cost of time - 5$.

So, officially, I have a Kindergartner who has more debt than I do. OOPS is right!

5th Gotcha Anniversary - 9/4/11

2011-09-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

Where does time go? Just last week, I was meeting an amazing woman named Cindy Foote who would soon become a dear friend (June 2005). Weren't we just meeting for coffee's and praying our girls would be from the same province so we could be in each other's "delivery room"? I swear, just yesterday sweet Amy Pearson was on the other end of the phone telling us about a beautiful almond eyed beauty in XuWen, China named Xu Xiao Wen ... and of the Foote's, XuFan, an answer to that prayer who was only 20 days younger and not only from the same province but the same orphanage - our girls were TOGHETHER!! And what feels like days ago, we boarded the plane to China to bring that beauty home. Full of emotions, excited beyond belief, with a stomach full of nerves - We were off! Gotcha day, September 4, 2006.

Fast Forward. Good times. Hard times. Happy times. Sad times. 5 YEARS! Can you even believe it! Our girls have been HOME 5 YEARS!

This year, in lieu of our traditional dinner "out" with the Foote family at the Ming Court restaurant, we decided to stay in, get take out Chinese and avoid stress! The kids loved it. The parents loved it! It was a Gotcha celebration hit! My have our girls grown. How great is our God who has blessed their sweet friendship. 5 years of memories ... but wasn't it just yesterday?

Our first glimpse of Maliah - Referral Picture (THEN)

Our pretty 5 year old beauty (NOW)

A very very scared Maliah - Gotcha day (THEN)

A pre-k graduate who is adored (May)

Mommy's Girl (THEN)

Mommy's Girl (NOW)

Maliah and Libby - BFF's (THEN)

Maliah and Libby - BFF's (NOW) - Gotcha Celebration 2011

Indeed, we traded in the stuffy restaurant ... for cooky and crazy FUN!

Happy 5 years Maliah and Libby!

A glimpse of summer

2011-09-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

Summer 2011 is coming to a close here in Texas. Well, who are we kidding, that's not true ... it's Africa Hot here. But, school is back in session and so that means "summer is over". It was another great one around the Martine home. Busy as usual. Each of the kids enjoyed some special camps just for themselves. Maliah did a gymnastics camp and from my observation, I am certain that China is totally ticked off as we have commandeered their next great Olympian. She also enjoyed another awesome year of "China Camp" with all her precious almond eyed friends and their rockin' Moms. Canyon enjoyed baseball camp and TbarM sports camp. Dakota partook in Chef's camp, horse camp and TbarM sports camp. All were a hit and somehow, Mama managed to get her taxi to and from each activity on time and with gas!

As a family we kicked off our summer with the annual "Beach to Bay" run in Corpus Christi and family reunion with the Martine, Fergason, Gibbons, Rhodes, Gill reunion. This was like, our 5th year, I think. I don't know, they are all starting to run together. ~TRADITION~ ?? This was the first year that I, myself, didn't run a leg of the race. Why you ask? You getting old? Well, no comment there but I will say, it's not that I am getting old ... it's that my oldest is get old enough. He took on my leg this year (with Daddy struggling to keep up and stay by his side ... HAHA) and ran my leg. He knocked out almost 5 miles of running as if he'd been training all year and I think gave the Ethiopian competitive team a run for their money. Who is that white kid anyway? He never ceases to amaze me with his athletic abilities!! I'll sadly admit, those genes didn't come from me.

June wouldn't be June without Dakota's dance recital. I have lost track how many years she has been doing dance now. I think that was her 5th. Does that also mean it's now a ~TRADITION~?? Perhaps I should go count the $100 costumes that adorn her closet to verify. At that price, good thing both my girls think it's fun to use them again and again and make them into next years Halloween Costumes.
If you didn't know, there is nothing about kids activities that are cheap. There's a hefty cost for every.part.of.it. I'm thinking with 4 kids, I'll have to have a full time job just so they can be "extra-curricular". Then again, aren't they full time? Whose gonna pay me for driving that taxi?

In June we welcomed home our newest cousin, Rood, from Haiti. It was an awesome day and he has acclimated well into cousinhood. He is full of excitement and energy as he explores all things new.

Along with these great activities, we enjoyed a weekend at a friend's lake house for the 4th, summer birthdays, a family reunion day at the "Pecan Farm", last days of school, and many days of swimming in PiPa and Granny's pool or starting at each other as we wondered what to do next. Isn't that what summer days are for?

Our summer highlight for sure came on August 11th at 2:30 in the afternoon. You can go read about it here if you haven't already. Our family received our long awaited referral for our son and brother. We are smitten and he is precious! We are now anxiously waiting for courts to open so that we can get our court date and go meet him. Canyon and Dakota are going to make the long and exhausting trip with us. Having done it before, it's not a fun one (the travel) but one we think will be worth the work. They can't wait and have bravely already succumbed themselves to a hefty dose of shots to make it happen.

Well, I am going to admit, I get an "F" this year for keeping up with the madness. There is a reason I call it so. I have been devoted to making sure our adoption blog is kept up as I know that that will bless our little guy one day. Making the time for both has been tough and yet, I am kicking myself for not being more diligent. I love love love going back and reading the life and story we have lived through these posts. I have so many great pictures to share. Someone asked me once (or should I say I was told once), that they didn't understand why in the world I'd be so "open" with my life. I have many answers to that question, however, as I read back through my blog posts and see how much my kids have grown, one of them would be ... there is no greater way to document for myself the growth of my kids and family. The end.

Enjoy the days of our life through pictures.

Beach To Bay 2011

Walking the plank

Buddies

Maliah digging in the sand

Surf's up

The "Family Ties" team

All the kids of the gang

Cousins

Jumping waves

Dance Recital 2011

A ballet - from the Nutcracker

Look at my beauty smile

Granny, Pipa, Nana and Papa, Aunt Betty - Raving fans!

Chef's Camp

Thank you Granny and PiPa for an awesome birthday gift!

Gymnastics Camp

Almost has that flip flop

The girl can kick to her head

TbarM Sports Camp

Lake House - 4th of July

China Camp 2011

Building the "Great Wall"

Learning to write Pinyin Characters

Hope teaching Maliah and Libby to say "One, Two, Three" in Mandarin

Sweet friends ... all within weeks of each other in age with exception to Lilly

BFF's - Maliah and Libby

It's hard to believe these girls have known each other long before we knew them.
Pecan Farm

Family Camp

Saying Goodbye

2011-05-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

Ally Martine

March 28, 1998 - May 27, 2011

Today has been a tough one! I have neglected writing so many exciting and wonderful things that I need to catch up on ... but today, was a toughie that I wanted to be sure we got down.

As small as it might seem in perspective of so many things going on in this world right now; tornadoes, massive loss of life, famines, floods and orphans ... today, our family says goodbye to our 13 year old black lab, Ally.

Doug and I were married on March 14, 1998. Two weeks later, March 28, 1998, Ally was born. A pure bred lab was she, we picked her from a bunch of pups that were living under a deck with her Momma. The day we showed up to choose, Ally was the first to get her big ol' paws and awkward puppy body up to see us. She was also the only one with a distinct white marking under her neck.

13 years later, she has watched 3 kids come into our lives and together, we've been family.

Ally starting having signs of aging some months back. Last night, Doug noticed she wasn't eating her food and would only drink. He would be leaving for a trip first thing in morning for a long day trip. As he went to bed he said he wished he didn't have to go so he could take Ally to the Vet - he just didn't think something was right. He said that when he got home he wanted to take her to the vet first thing Saturday morning. Morning came and I opened the door to check on Ally and found her "sleeping" peacefully in the same spot I would find her each morning. Only this time, she didn't jump up and greet me at the door. This time she didn't slobber on me. This time, after calling her name a few times I knew.
Our Ally girl was gone.

We shed quite some tears, the kids and I. This is their first experience with loss and it was definitely traumatic. It also felt a little like a piece of our past passing away with her. Having her from the moment our marriage began, today has felt as though a piece of that sweet time and our past went with her.

Our time with Ally holds many memories. I found myself reflecting over the last 13 years and giggling over some of our "Ally times" today. I will never forget the 2 plus years we lived on "Ridgedale" in Arlington, Texas. We had about 20 oak trees throughout our property that were covered in squirrels. Those silly squirrels spent their days and nights taunting Ally and Ally spent her days and nights chasing them from tree to tree. Oh her glory days for sure! It could be a 100 degrees out and she didn't stop. Her high light came on the day she actually caught one. The phone call from the neighbor telling us so (as they could hear the squirrel making squeals as Ally threw it around thinking she was "playing) still plays out in our heads "Can you go outside and get the squirrel from Ally ... she's beating it to death and I just can't take it". That win made the squirrel chasing dog even more determined for the next chase.

And the time the blue jay flew into our massive living room window and fell to the ground. Ally, curious what had just happened went to see what had just joined her favorite patio spot. Little did she know, those blue jays are protective and they began dive bombing at her head. Daddy didn't let his girl down though. Strapped in leather gloves, he ran out to save her from those ferocious birds.

Ally had her hay days for sure. Arlington has many memories of park time with Ally. Long walks, chasing squirrels and moments of complete frustration when we were sure she was "addicted" with squirrels on the brain.
Moving to San Antonio was the therapy she called for. To a house with less trees, Ally's life became more quiet ... though more joy filled as she soon shared it with two kids to taunt her instead and her new love quickly became her days at the deer lease. Deer lease adventures wouldn't have been complete without Ally running along side the jeep. Oh the stories I would hear of her completely wearing herself out ... running non stop. She'd sleep for days after each weekend.
Ally LOVED the deer lease days and only in the recent years did she get left behind. Poor girl, age had gotten the best of her and she just couldn't keep up.
Our little ode to Ally. ;-)

I am so thankful to Papa and PiPa who come over today while the kids were away and took Ally for us. I couldn't muster to do it alone. She was cremated and her ashes will be spread in a place called "Paws for heaven" near Canyon Lake. Dakota's biggest concern was where would she be buried.

Rest in Peace Ally Martine. It already seems too quiet in the yard without you. All my complaining and fretting of the little trails you made in the yard and the hair you shed on my porch left me with mixed emotions this afternoon. Your prints are still there ... but will soon be grown over and be gone. BUT, the print you left on our family will remain. Our dog. Our kids friend. Our Ally.

One morning I awoke to find that Dakota had written on a sticky and stuck it outside on the door so Ally would know she was loved. This picture makes me smile. Even Ally got Dakota notes.

Vanishing blogger

2011-04-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

O.K., seriously, report me. The case of the Vanishing Blogger. I have neglected my poor Martine Madness blog as long as I can without being turned in. Of course, at this point, I may be it's only reader ... and yes, I won't lie ... I do go back and read it. Is that narcissism? HAHA It sure gives life a perspective when you can see the "whole story" he is writing. It's also so much fun to see where you've been, where you are and then dream about where he's taking you.

So I thought I'd play a little catch up. Then again, I think that seems to be my favorite phrase around here these days. BUT ... many of you who do follow me here, probably also follow me here ... and these days, that's where my heart and focus are (outside the family matters things) - getting Levi HOME!

So much is going on around our house though.

Baseball ... we live it, need I say more? O.K., in fact, I am going to say more. Can I just say that my little guy is a stud and SO much fun watching! Their little team just won the championship during their last tournament. In the 5 games they played ... they absolutely stomped their competitors with scores like 13-5, 22-1, 10-4, 13-2 and more. It was seriously crazy. Our boys have gone from winning one or two games a tournament last year to winners! Hard work has paid off and more importantly, big hearts have won out!

Sliding into second base ... mid air

Pitching

Championship - Boerne Tournament - 4/17/11

Team prayer

Aside from baseball and the adoption, I spent two weeks in Ethiopia on a mission trip with Visiting Orphans in February. I will say unapologetically, everyone should take the time to go and love on orphans. As we do with most things, we went thinking we'd be a blessing as we loved "the least of these" ... but quickly learned that Jesus said that whatever you do to the least of these you do unto me, is because HE is in them! I have never seen such joy, hope, faith and love amidst destitute ever! How quickly I learned that they would bless ME far more than I could ever bless them! I have forever been changed and without compromise, Ethiopia stole my heart. Not long before my trip I was challenged by someone for asking them what they were doing to follow James 1:27. I wasn't asking as a conviction ... but amidst a group of people meant to spur others on, I asked as a challenge. If we believe his word is truth then the truth says that "Pure religion is to care for orphans, widows and foreigners among us". And in fact, the hebrew word for "care" is actually "VISIT". So I asked and well, I offended big time! It got me in a whirlwind of trouble and caused all sorts of problems. But I can say that this trip left me with many truths and the truth is ... If your offended it's because the Lord just may be convicting you because he wants you too to be involved! I have been, seen, loved, and yes, brought an orphan into my home. So these days, I'm out to offend I guess ... if offense means sharing the heart of an orphan and speaking on their behalf to our American "church".
I wrote more about my time on my Levi blog. Go peruse if you want to see or hear. I'm still working on my slideshow video, but I would love to share a few pictures here too!

The girls have been busy as well. Maliah, as always, keeps us on our toes. Today she melted my hear though when we were checking out at Target. A sweet woman behind us was asking Maliah her name. Not so typical of other five year olds, she asked her back "What is YOUR name". "Grandma" is how she answered, only Maliah wasn't quite content with that answer. "What is your REAL name" she said.

Somewhere in that course of conversation, their must have been a light inside her head that went off. If only I were inside that mind of hers. Before I know it she said

"I have two Mommy's: a birth Mommy and a REAL Mommy. I also have 3 Daddy's" a birth daddy, a REAL Daddy and my Jesus Daddy".

Mommy's heart began to melt and honestly, I began to stumble upon my words as my very brave and very proud (and innocently naive) 5 year old began to share "her story".

Before I could get out a word, the Lord rescued me with this.

"Really, well, did you know that my daughter who is now 42 ALSO has 2 Mommy's and 3 Daddy's JUST LIKE YOU"!

Is that not sooo our Jesus to allow such a sweet sweet conversation to transpire. Right there in Target, my little girl was affirmed and re-affirmed "her story". I love that! Probably my highlight of the week for sure!

Well, I KNOW I am missing a gazillion things to share but by now, you are totally bored of playing catch up and I am bored talking about myself.

Until the urge prompts me again!

Warning ... Construction Ahead!

2011-01-30T16:26:00.000-08:00

My home is a construction zone. Every nook and crevice of it feels out of sorts and honestly, it is making me crazy! I know their is a beautiful end in sight and this is simply a means to the end and so we press forward ... living in chaos.
As I have been watching the past few weeks all the work go on, I realized that my life on the inside is not much different than what it is on the outside these days.

The Lord has a few themes going on in my life this year. One has been to simply SURRENDER! That's a toughy for a girl who struggles with control issues. Really ... surrender? I am working on this daily. Some days I am better at it than others.

A second theme in my life is "Identity". This one goes back as far as I can remember. At 36, he's still constructing me here. Identity that's a toughy too!

We're adding closets, built in bookshelves and a door in our once "playroom". It is a messy job to say the least.
The closets were framed out and slowly we could began to see the shape of our plans take form. Next came the sheetrock. That one was a doozy. Lots of cutting was involved and the mess it made was horrid. Dust, flying dust!

I think I have been the same. I came to know the Lord in 1996. He built my framing then and you could begin to see the structure of the plans he was putting into place. Over the next 5 plus years, the construction was messy for sure! Battling an eating disorder (yes, I'm that transparent ... I have nothing to hide and Victory to claim), the sheetrock construction was horrid. He did a lot of sawing away and just like our own project, just when we thought we were making progress, we realized we hadn't wired for the lights. UGH, the lights! Cutting more sheetrock out, re-wiring and re-installing took us more than a week off our schedule. The same went for me during those 5 years. On the days that I thought I was coming along, he'd begin to sculp me and re-wire me some more causing all sorts of dust!

The cabinets have been installed in the room and the paint is on the walls now. It's really beginning to take shape but you can't quite move in. We still lack trim work, doors, closet interior work and some painting. There is such progress being made and we are so so close to the day we can finally move all our stuff that is cluttered in all the rooms back into it's home. It's beginning to take on it's new identity as a "bedroom". But, just as that begins to happen ... we take a little detour. The doors aren't in. Nothing to install yet ...

Yep, we decide to add some crown molding downstairs while we await the doors to come in. Oh my gosh, you should now see the house. All that cutting and sanding again is making it really dusty and my house is now a total construction zone. Upstairs was just starting to take shape and then we go and add all this.

Looking back over the past 13 years, I can see that I too have been much the same. I've come a long way. You can see my shape. I still lack some trimming out and painting. You for sure can't call me done ... I still have some work to do. But I was and am on my way. I recently heard someone say once "The Lord is less worried about where you've been, or where your are and more concerned about what you are meant to be". Beautiful. A new bedroom, crown molding, upgrades. That's where we're meant to be.
Identity

Then ... a trial came. No joke, I call it a trial and it was for sure one in the grand scheme of my construction. Full of prosecutors and witnesses alike, I sat in a room and the enemy began to do a little detour in my progress. Identity. I listened intently as some pretty hard and hurtful assaults were thrown my way. The dust was flying! I literally had to sit on my hands and ask the Lord to close my mouth from what I wanted to say back in my flesh. He did. He was present! Identity As the enemy who knows me so well sat on my shoulder that night, he whispered "your not worthy, your not welcome, your not loved, your worthless". He added "they can't hear you, they don't want to see you and they don't want to know you. The don't care about your Identity". UGH ... the agreements all over again. Just as the Lord had made so much progress in my life, the enemy totally threw a detour in the plans. The enemy was creating a mess that night. The dust was flying! What I didn't realize was that just like my "Crown" molding that would make such a beautiful finish on that second job ... the Lord too had his own finish ahead. He was and is still at work. Identity

As I drove away that night, I wept in tears. Big, ugly, snotty, tears! I was a mess! I felt worthless, unloved, unheard, not understood. I wanted to crawl out of that house. I wanted to hide. Disappear.
The dust was awful!

I got to a light and sat. Turning on the radio, the Lord said "look at that crown". Identity

The song played and these are the words he spoke to me!

Beautiful lyrics

Days will come when you don't have the strength
And all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart
They'd see so much

You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You're beautiful

Praying that you have the heart to fight
Cuz you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you've held inside so long
But they are nothing in the shadow of the cross

You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are made for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful, You're beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You're beautiful

Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed
There was one more precious
Of all the earth and skies above
You're the one He madly loves
Enough to die!

You're beautiful, You're beautiful
In His eyes

You're beautiful!
You are made for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful!
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You're beautiful!
You are made for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful!
You are treasured
You are sacred
You are His

Oh man, I wept! This was hard. Really hard. But he was there, even in the midst of that detour, he was there. It may have been an ugly mess in that home, but his crown would be so much better than the dust that was flying around!

So, now, I sit. Listening.

A friend told me after that night to ask the Lord what words spoken to me that night were from him. She told me to go and write everything down I remembered and then ask him ... "What do you want me to take away". That's hard. I did.

She then asked that I would pray. "Lord, whatever isn't from you, I ask you to help me forget, and whatever is from you ... I would hear, receive and know".
I am.

I can tell you, much of the words spoke to me that night I can't even remember. Some still haunt me. Some I know as untruths still eat at me. I will confess, I am bitter. I lack trust. I can't sweep it under the rug and forget. I remember the tones. I remember the faces. I remember the dust! UGH, so much dust!

Much of what the Lord has done in me so far is evident. But many days, he has to cut out places he's already built and go in and re-wire me. I am still far from perfect though if you look in some places, you'll see that I have (a) "Crown". Some days it's dusty. Some days there is a lot of progress made while others, not so much! Some of the projects take a lot of time. Some days, it's frustrating and others, I get a glimpse of the Identity he is creating in me. Beautiful.

If you want to be my friend (and come into my house), I should definitely tell you this first:

Warning, I am a construction zone!!

Adoption Day ... of the biggest celebration!!

2011-01-23T10:13:00.000-08:00

The doors flung open and there stood a beautiful, almond eyed, black haired little girl still dressed in her PJ's jumping up and down! "I so esited, I so esited, I can't believe I asked Jesus into my heart tomowow"! Jumping into my arms with her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms around my neck like a little monkey, she squealed in delight! Of course, tomowwow was actually yesterday, but it didn't matter because Jesus and one very excited Mommy will forever remember that moment!

"Welcome to the family, precious Maliah, welcome to God's eternal family. Mommy is so excited for you. Mommy is so excited that you invited Jesus into your heart"!!
Together we jumped up and down and hugged and hugged. Maliah is now not just my daughter, but a part of my eternal family!

It's true!! That very precocious, very curious, 5 year old precious beauty melted our heart just 12 hours prior. Sitting on the floor in the middle of her room, she held Mommy and Daddy's hands while her big brother and big sister laid their hands on her. Together we prayed the prayer .. the one spoken from her lips that asked Jesus to be Lord over her life. From her little precious lips she spoke such precious words "Thank you Jesus that you forgive my sins, thank you Jesus that you died on the cross for me, thank you Jesus that you love me ... and then, Jesus will you please come into my heart?"

As I sat in church today, my eyes began to fill with tears. It's every believing Mommy's dream to know that their child has taken Christ into their heart. But this morning something even deeper sat in me. A deeper truth sunk into my heart!

I got to be a part of that story .... Jesus did it! He brought an orphan, who would have never known his name, placed her in our arms and then through us and sometimes in spite of us, showed up BIG in her life! Our Jesus loved our Maliah so deeply that he chose her, plucked her out of the middle of a country who doesn't give free opportunity to know him, from the middle of an orphanage full of little girls just like her and made her HIS ... FOREVER!

I began to well up in tears. The reality that he chose me! The reality that I got to be some small part of that story he wrote overwhelmed me! I got to be just a little seed of the sweetest moment ... all because he called me and all because, through our fears and our worries ... we said "YES"! Oh, thank you Jesus, that we said YES!

The angels are rejoicing and no doubt, our Jesus is full of joy today as he celebrates Maliah's adoption. Again. This time, not the daughter to Doug and Cristie Martine. Not the heir to any inheritance we may leave her. No, on January 22, 2011, we got to celebrate an even more joyous and a more celebrated adoption day! On January 22, 2011, our Maliah became an heir to our precious Jesus's inheritance! On January 22, 2011, our Maliah, was adopted into a family greater than any family we could provide ... HIS FAMILY! On January 22, 2011, our Maliah, became the daughter to the King of Kings ... for ETERNITY!

September 4, 2006 - GOTCHA DAY!
September 5, 2006- ADOPTION DAY!
January 22, 2011 - ETERNAL ADOPTION DAY!

We love you, Maliah Jade Xu Martine! You are a princess indeed!

Oh my WORDS!

2010-11-19T07:10:00.000-08:00

O.K., the reality is, she's brilliant. I'm not biased because she's my daughter ... I simply am speaking truth ... she leaves me with no words .. well, o.k., I have a few.

Maliah LOVES to learn! She just turned five on November 3 (yes, backlogged on that post too). She is going to a pre-school 3 days a week that is a private little school ... 12 kids plus one amazing teacher in a classroom attached to her home. It is a Christian based school that utilizes many of the curriculum programs one may use while home schooling. The teacher also incorporates her own, the bible, scripture and most importantly ... the 10 commandments. Mrs. Kim has been doing this for over 25 years and the waiting list to get in is incredibly long. We are blessed! Maliah is LOVING it!
Every day when the big kids come home from school they have home work. At least 30 minutes of reading and 10 minutes of math facts are involved plus anything given that day (spelling, projects, you name it!). Every day they have home work is a day that Maliah does too ... according to her. She sits at the table working on her letters, cutting, reading and writing. Eagerly she shares her accomplishments and with excitement her big brother, sister and Mommy cheer. Yes, the Martine house home schools ... from 3-4:30 or 5 every day!

So today, she asked to do some cutting. From a little Kumon book we have, she cut out some pictures and then decided to glue them to paper for her beloved "Mrs. Kim" (teacher). A few minutes later I could see her working hard to sound out her words ... and when I had finished what I was doing in the kitchen, I walked over to the kitchen table, looked over her shoulder and found this. Seriously.

She wrote this!

To add, she also knows how to do her addition facts. She can easily add numbers up to 20 and eagerly practices ALL THE TIME ... SERIOUSLY!

Looks like in Kindergarten she'll be helping teach. She leaves me with no words ... she is brilliant!

Backlog Blogpost - 3.) 4th Gotcha Day Anniversary

2010-11-12T06:52:00.000-08:00

On September 4th, we celebrated our fourth Gotcha Day anniversary with Maliah. It is so hard to believe it has already been four years since we first stepped off the plane with our precious little girl. In the same breathe, I cannot remember nor imagine life without her!
Maliah is incredibly bright. She is learning to read and loves to do her addition facts with her big sister. She is loving and nurturing towards her friends and siblings. She is outgoing and doesn't seem to know a stranger. I sometimes watch her from afar and wonder just what the Lord has in store for her precious life.
This past weekend (November 6 and 7th) was "Orphan Sunday". Doug and I were hosting a table for America World at a church here in our area. During the service the pastor asked if anyone in the audience had been adopted or had adopted to please stand. With pride, my precious girl stood up in her chair and began to raise her hands. Her brother and sister proudly stood at her side. Indeed, she is proud of her story so far. We talk often about China and most recently over dinner she informed us she wanted to go back. At first, I was a little surprised and didn't know what she meant. She then clarified that she wanted to go back and "see the ladies who took care of her before we came on the big plane". Maliah, I can't wait to give you that wish someday!
So each year we spend our celebration with the Foote family. Libby and Maliah were from the same orphanage and with all intensive purposes have known one another since birth. Since each of them were brought into Xuwen Comprehensive Institute at birth, we know this is true. They are 20 days apart in age. It is special to have them so close in proximity to each other and even more special that they adore one another. Maliah would surely call Libby her "bestest friend".

Four years ago, only hours after we first met

Maliah and Libby and Klaire - Xuwen Sisters

Four years and many wonderful days later!

Sisters

Maliah and Libby

Gracie - "Cheese"

Figuring out Chop Stix

The awesome big brother, Canyon

Canyon and Dakota

Try getting a picture of 5 kids all looking at the camera. HA

My girl!

Me and my honey

Maliah adores Gracie

Fun and games

The girls

Our annual family picture. Gotcha Anniversary 2010

Blog Backlog - post 2. Family Camp!

2010-11-10T17:09:00.000-08:00

Labor Day we enjoyed our second year of Laity Lodge Family Camp. This is for sure one of our summer highlights. We spend 3 nights and four days in the beautiful hill country, worshipping and learning God's word, playing in the river, skeet shooting, arts and crafts, zip lines, cousin time and lots of delicious food.
We are already registered and looking forward to next summer. Who could pass up the fun? Check it out!

Blog Backlog - post 1. Baptism day!

2010-11-10T15:33:00.000-08:00

O.K. I have some serious blog backlog going on. I cannot even tell you how much I have missed posting on here about the ins and outs of all the wonderful things in our life lately. I swear, I need more hours in my days for sure. I am going to post some pictures on here of a few awesome and memorable things that I don't want to be left out of our year. For the sake of my someday ... and ever increasingly getting there, old brain.

The First and most important blog post is BAPTISM DAY!
On August 21, one of the most amazing and proud moments of my life took place. Canyon and Dakota asked to be Baptized and indeed they were. In the middle of the Guadalupe River amongst our church family, family and closest friends we watched them profess their faith to the world. It was a day I will not forget! Thank you, Lori Wilburn, for grabbing my camera and helping me capture the moments! Thank you for coming out and bringing Caden and Kennedy to share in the day with Canyon and Dakota!

I will not forget!

2010-10-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

On October 9, 2009 the lymph nodes in my neck began to swell. Not uncommon when someone is coming down with a sickness. A response to our body fighting off what shouldn't be there ... our lymph nodes doing their job. I didn't think anything of them and awaited a soar throat or other symptoms to follow. A week later I found myself in an urgent care and watching the doctor prescribe an antibiotic. I remember thinking her response was odd when she said "if they don't go down, please see your doctor as they could be other things; Mono or lymphoma". Passing it off as bad bedside manners, I went on my way without fear.

10 days later, those lymph nodes hadn't changed. I was beginning to have little energy and feeling as though I was really coming down with something. This time, I scheduled an appointment with my own physician who ironically enough had done a physical on me the morning of October 9th. Re-checking the nodes, he agreed they were abnormally swollen and thought that we should try a different antibiotic.
We did. Nothing changed. My condition worsened. 6 days later I returned to my doctors office, feeling little energy and really with the inability to do all the things I needed to do each day. I wondered if it was mono. I'd done that before. It felt familiar. My doctor agreed the chain of nodes spanning my neck were not normal and he ordered more intensive blood work. This is a post I wrote of what followed and what was to come. Click here.

I will never forget leaving the doctors office after he called me in for the results of that blood work and the results of a chest x-ray that he ordered. I will never forget hearing words like "Lymphoma" and "Sarcoidosis" come from his lips. I remember being partly numb and then each time I would have a moment where the reality would hit and I'd simply cry. I'll admit, I was terrified. The thought of what stood in front of me was daunting. The weekend was long after that appointment as we awaited Monday, the day I'd do a CT scan and find out what was really going on. Read about that here.
I also will not forget the day that Dr. Stigall called and said that my nodes were within a normal range and the spots on my chest were GONE - they didn't even show up in the CT! Praise be to GOD! I wanted to shout from the roof tops but couldn't muster the energy ... I still felt like crap! I returned and they re-tested that ACE enzyme and it too was in the "Normal" range. To Glory be God alone! You see, the doctors couldn't explain the normal results so they explained it away with all sorts of medical jargon and all sorts of things like "the x-ray must have had shadows on it" or "some use a different level comparison for the "ACE" levels and really ... you were always somewhat within a normal level (as described by an infectious disease doctor I'd later see). You see, no one could explain those results just like no one could explain the pain that began to move through my body for the next 9 months.

I have waited almost a year and have been itching to yell from the roof tops "HE HEALED ME"! I have moved throughout the summer and slowly with each passing day, the pain began to subside and I have begun to feel better than ever! But through all of this, there has been one thing left that has left me with a seed of doubt, one thing I believe the enemy is holding over me to say "He hasn't really healed you ... ". Today, I have an appointment with an ENT about yes, a suspicious knot in my jawline. That one seed of doubt. It's the same knot that has been there all along. The same knot that my physician looked at just a month ago and felt sure it was a salivary gland pushing on a node. The same knot that was there recently when my blood work was taken and it all turned out normal. BUT, also the same knot that left me in a weeks worth of pain last week as pain radiated down my jaw line and into my teeth. The same knot that led me into a random dentists office to beg for them to take a look at what could be causing the pain while my kids climbed like arangatang's in and out of my sweet friends car in the parking lot. The same knot that the dentist said indeed, was suspicious and perhaps was a salivary gland OR ... maybe a lymph node. The same knot, the seed and the root of the enemy's doubts and fears!

As soon as I heard the dentist murmur that from her lips, the fear I felt on that day when he said that word "lymphoma" before came flooding back. In that moment in the dentists chair as she casually grinned and said she'd like to refer me to a Oral surgeon or an ENT for a greater look, my heart began to race and the enemy immediately arrested my thoughts. He knows that I haven't shouted "I am healed"because he continues to hold me prisoner to that joy with one small suspicious and unexplained bump. Today, I am asking the Lord to reveal all things hidden and to give me clarity so that nothing will be in the dark. I am asking him to give me the permission of all permissions to shout I AM HEALED!

Today, the pain that led me to make this appointment has once again subsided and the knot has also shrunk back down in size. It's still there but not yet gone.
I am sitting here, it's 1:23 and my appointment is at 3:00. My heart is racing and my stomach feels anxious. I can't choke down my lunch.
What if the enemy is right, what if he hasn't really healed me? What if this thing has been hidden from us and all along it was there waiting to be discovered? What if? What does that do to us, in the process of adopting Levi? What does that mean as we have just finished our home study and medical reports? What does that mean about my faith and what I truly believe was a year worth of the Lord showing me how he is the same today as yesterday ... and he still HEALS!?

I stood in the kitchen about an hour ago and shouted from the top of my voice "I REBUKE YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS". I cried out to God that I believed he healed me and I wanted with everything that I have to tell the world of his great works. I told him I was angry that this seed still sits in me ... unexplained ... leaving me doubts! I rebuked the enemy who I know has been working to arrest my thoughts today. I proclaimed that Jesus was the only authority over this body and anything foreign and not of him was not welcome here! I yelled as loud as I could "YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE IN THE NAME OF JESUS"!

Boy, I'll admit, it felt good to scream as loud as I could at the enemy who is raging a mind war today. It also felt good to cry out to the Lord!

Now, I await this exam and I will admit, I am scared to death but trusting that in any circumstance that comes, my God is sovereign and he has known ALL along what this seed is!

UPDATE:
So the ENT appointment went well today ... if you like camera's being put down your nose and all the way down your throat. WOW, that was not fun and neither was the darn spray that they sprayed down my nostrils to supposably numb me. Too bad, it left me feeling like I was choking and like I wanted to puke. UGH! Like I told the Dr. "I'm a baby and my hubby wasn't there to hold my hand". He laughed!

The news is good news as far as I see it and the way Dr. Desai sees it. The Dr. said that with clarity, it is indeed a lymph node - as he looked through his lens and down my nose. WEIRD! He said it is a lymph node that sits on the submandible gland (he calls it the spit gland). (By the way, on a side note, did you know he said we have like 250 lymph nodes in our neck! WOWIE!) He said that the lymph node has some calcification to it. He said that when I have drainage from say allergies or a virus, my lymph node collects but then has a hard time draining because of the calcification. He said that in time, it may totally calcify and if it does, it would need to be removed surgically.
As he told me all of this ... while the camera was down my nose and I could hardly talk, I asked "so, is this something I need to worry over. I just want to know ... is this a concern". He said that he didn't think that right now we needed to do a thing. He said the bummer of it all is the pain and that at some point it may need to be removed but for now, he'd rather not mess with it. He said where it is, is near nerves and where he'd cut also messes with the area of the mouth where you smile, those nerves etc.
So, the end of the conversations was him saying to come back in 3 months unless it begins to get hard or hurt too bad and then come on in. He'll just monitor it.
By the way, does that mean he'll stick that darn camera down my nose again. UGH! What joy to look forward to.

I am praising the Lord tonight for real answers. I am going to sleep well knowing that someone knows FINALLY what in the world they are taking about. It's been a long long year. To have answers ... any answers ... and especially ones we can walk into, is a PRAISE indeed!

Because I will forget

2010-09-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd write here a few things that Maliah has said lately so I don't forget. This is for my old years when I look back and say "ah, I remember that" ... because without these notes, I might not.

1.) "Wember" is remember. Now, the whole family says "wember" in it's place.
2.) At lunch she told me she didn't like "College Cheese". HAHA. My cottage cheese will never be the same.
3.) Walking out of the store, an unopened tampon was on the ground. Looking over she said "uh oh, someone dropped the thing that's supposed to be in their bottom". I couldn't contain my laughter. And by the way, WHERE and HOW did she learn that one?
4.) Her new cool phrase is "Oh, totally yeah"
5.) On the way to school, I looked in the rear view mirror to see her hands raised, eyes closed, worshipping to Chris Tomlin's "Where you Go I'll Go". She knows every word of the chorus. A few second later, the radio went staticky so I had to turn stations. Looking back in the rear view mirror, I see her worshipping to Kenny Chesney. I guess worship is worship ... and I suppose it's the posture of the heart that matters? The Lord created ol' Kenny too. Worship on beautiful!

Love you to pieces angel! I know I won't forget that one!

China Camp 2010

2010-09-18T19:09:00.000-07:00

In August Maliah embarked on a second year of the amazing China camp hosted by my precious friend, Shawna. Shawna, also an adoptive Mommy to a China beauty has worked and slaved for two different summers giving 8 of the most precious almond eyed beauties a heritage experience they won't soon forget.

Shawna's dining room is made over into a Chinese heritage sensation complete with a Great Wall to color, maps to locate birth places and provinces, Chinese music, books, noodles, games and more. They made noodle necklaces, read about noodle-making and ate noodle-soup for lunch. They looked at maps, learned about Pandas and even had a "Great Wall of China model they could all color. A Chinese woman from the Confucius Institute came on the last day and taught the girls about paper-cutting artwork and taught them a popular Chinese children's son. On the last day all the girls wore their Chinese silk outfits and posed for their yearly Chinese Heritage picture. They are breathe taking!
As I look back over the picture I am awed at what the Lord has done here in San Antonio. This is only a hand full of the Chinese girls we know. These girls, with exception to one, are all 4 .. within a few weeks apart from one another. AND, in this group, all but two were brought home through our adoption agency, America World Adoption.

What a fun week! Shawna, you have blessed us immensely!

The future looks bright!

2010-08-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

In July Dakota embarked on a week of Chef's camp at the "Young Chef's Academy". This was Dakota's long awaited camp that was given to her by her Granny and PiPa for her birthday. I have a girl who LOVES to cook and bake ... and LOVES "The Cake Boss". She has aspirations of going to Culinary school and she and her Daddy have big plans of opening their own business ... Daddy = business development, Dakota = Head Chef, Mommy = taster and head janitorial (ha), Canyon = funding the entire business while he plays MLB, Maliah = taking the products and marketing them (you know she LOVES to talk to anyone!). Yep, another family business in the works. Stay tuned, Dakota has plans on putting together her own bake sale to help raise funds to bring Levi home. How sweet it is!
So, check out our girl and one day, you'll say, I remember her when ...

All ready for her special week!

The them for the week was "Secret Recipes". Want your favorite restaurant meal ... ask Dakota ... she knows the secret to many of the most awesome recipes.

Chatting it up with one of her favorite teachers.

Don't waste fun!

2010-08-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

Earlier in my posts, I put the pictures of my kids being dropped at TbarM. Did you wonder if they got picked up? Indeed, the following Saturday, we met up with two VERY excited kiddos who couldn't wait to tell us about all they did in their week away from home.
I cannot speak enough about TbarM camp. The coaches and staff are incredible. The camp is completely centered on Christ, full of adventures and of course, they waste no fun!

Each day the kids go to "Batters box" where they are broken into small groups of 3-4 campers to one coach. In this time, they spend really getting into God's word. Those same teachings are then reinforced during their worship and in activities throughout the week.
This years theme was "UN1TAS" and the memory verse was Ephesians 4:4-6 "There is ONE body and ONE Spirit - just as you were called to ONE hope when you were called - ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; ONE God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all".

When we picked up the kids, we got to hear from each of their "Batters Box" coaches about the qualities they saw in our children. Dakota was given "Adaptable - with Phillipians 4:6 and "Good-Natured" - Luke 8:15. Canyon was given "Initiative - Exodus 18:21 and "Humility" - Proverbs 22:4. As they speak into the kids, they point out the characteristics and strengths they saw in them throughout the week - and scriptures that they felt they exemplified in those. THEN ... throughout the year, those same coaches follow up with the kids by sending them post cards, dropping them e-mails and notes that encourage them in their walk with the Lord.

I cannot tell you how valuable it is in the life of a young child to have a role model other than their parents to look to. We know our kids are going to look up to someone, who could be better than a group of Jesus Loving, passionate college kids that your kids have come to love. Each year we have been, the Lord has blessed my kids with coaches who have encouraged and inspired them to be set apart in this world. The coaches are college kids so you can imagine that these younger kids really look up to them. To see examples of what living out Christ in this life as a young adult is priceless to them!

Canyon's coach this year definitely left a mark on his heart. Even weeks and months later, he speaks of "Hodge" daily! He gave Canyon his contact information and asked that he would follow up throughout the year. His coaches from last year STILL send him cards and e-mails asking him if he's reading the word, growing in Christ, being a leader, living out his faith and loving his sports. Even more fun, when Canyon returned to camp this year, many of those coaches were there. You should have seen the bear hugs that transpired!

This was Dakota's first year of overnight. I worried all week about her ... for NOTHING!
She was all smiles and full of stories when we picked her up. She LOVED her coaches, made new and great friends and well, is already signed up for next year!

TbarM Camp - one week overnight - $850 per child

The impact on my child's lives - PRICELESS!

Dakota and "Gary"

Waiting to Charge the Field to meet us parents ... Canyon's in the camo shorts

Maliah was SOOO excited to see her "Best Sister"

Oh Mommy missed this girl!

Canyon with two of his coaches

Dakota and her sweet coach, Abby

Canyon and Hodge ... his awesome coach!

So glad to be back together! Nice grin, Maliah!

O.K. not much better of a picture. Oh well!

Great friends!

Great Friends!

Hedge Clean up

2010-08-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

I once again apologize for being SOOOO far behind on my family blog. I'm going to make my best effort in the coming weeks to play a little catch up. I don't want to miss out on documenting some really cute and fun summer moments, but I am FAAAR behind.
Paper chase for Levi, the end of summer and back to school has left me with little time to blog. My apologies.
I thought I'd start today with a picture of my helpers:

One day this summer I was trimming the hedges. I asked my beautiful girls to help out in cleaning up my trimmings. They busily got to work. I went inside for a short bit to get the dinner going. All the while I could see them out my dining room windows ... there heads going back and forth as they "Cleaned up". I could also hear giggling. I should have known then that "project clean up" became "project play".

FOLLOW US!

2010-08-01T20:20:00.001-07:00

It seems these days, an adoption isn't complete without a blog to keep family and friends informed on the process. I loved keeping Maliah's journey and it is has been a priceless treasure to be able to go back and re-read what the Lord was doing in our hearts during the 23 months it took to bring to her home as well as those initial days and months learning all about each other. Maliah loves to hear her story and I think there will be no greater gift than to one day be able to give her a window into her journey by reading it as though she had been watching through a window. In reality, that's just what these blogs are; a window into our lives and into the adventures that the Lord leads each family on when he says "GO".
So, in true adoption fashion, we have created a blog for our next adoption ... to our son, LEVI! This will be HIS story, the one the Lord is already writing in his life! I hope you will pray us to Ethiopia so we can find him and bring him HOME!

The Secret is OUT!

2010-07-30T06:18:00.000-07:00

We are EXPECTING!!

It's official ... we have signed our agreements and mailed them off to our amazing agency, America World, to bring home what our other 3 children have decided is ... a BROTHER!

We are beyond excited! SO much so, that our little munchkins spilled the beans before we even had a chance to tell my parents.
This past Sunday, we sat down with the kids to have a "Family Meeting". Our kids have expressed a great interest for some time to adopt again but we felt like they are old enough to be a part of the process, in every way. Coming out of a week of TbarM, they had just spent the week really looking into and understanding what Jesus meant when he said "Go and make Disciples of all nations". Daddy started off by telling them that we had been praying and that we felt like the the Lord was telling us to adopt again. Jesus said "GO and make disciples of all nations" and that we felt like Jesus was bringing some of those nations to us - first China, and now, Ethiopia.
Before we could even ask for a response or Doug could finish, their was an uproar from the peanut gallery. Cheers! Screams!
Saying they were thrilled is an understatement.
So, the next part of the conversation led to us saying that we hadn't heard with confirmation if we were going to have a brother or a sister but that we did know that we were being called to an older child ... somewhere between 3 and 5.
BROTHER, BROTHER, they began to shout! Um, Lord, was that my confirmation?

We swore our 3 little munchkins to secret and told them we wanted to put in our application and hear back from our agency before we shared with the grandparents and the rest of the world. HAHA ... are you laughing?
So, that was Sunday. I am proud to say they held it in for 4 (well maybe 3.5) days. Luckily, AWAA was SUPER quick to respond to our application. We submitted it online on Monday and on WEDNESDAY, the phone rang. Area code 703 ... the infamous and much anticipated number that all adopting families with AWAA love to see on that caller ID. Knowing that it is usually and always a full 10 days to hear back, I was sure I had neglected to complete something on the app. That would be embarassing, seeing as how we've done this before ... AND we are their Texas Associates. But, to my surprise, on the other end was the adorable and very loved, Amy Pearson. Amy was our family coordinator to bring home Maliah. I can still remember the referral call and her sweet voice on the other end "Cristie, are you ready to go to China", as she prepared to tell me all about the most beautiful, outgoing, and precious then 8 month old baby girl. Amy was incredible during our 23 month journey!
This time, however, Amy is the intake coordinator and so again her voice was greeted with excitement when she said they were super excited to see our app. come through and ... CONGRATULATIONS, you have been accepted into the Ethiopia program. YAY!! Let the paper chase begin!!

That same day Granny and PiPa had taken Dakota and Canyon for the afternoon. Dropping Dakota off at Chef's Camp, they headed to the Astrodome to watch the Cowboys practice with Canyon. Somewhere between the Subway that we all ate at, and Chef's Camp, 3 minutes down the road, the secret was spilled. If only I could have been a fly on the wall! To hear it told through their eyes and Granny and PiPa's is quite comical. Needless to say, once home that evening, Dakota admitted they spilled the beans. Granny and PiPa had still not said a thing ... sworn to secrecy by their yes, Grandchildren, after they spilled the secret themselves. We had a big laugh followed by lots of hugs and well, room planning for what will be our FOURTH blessing!

We are super excited, super nervous and SO READY! Of course, in the coming weeks, I'll have a blog for adoption. Who goes through it these days without one? I'll fill you in on the process, timeframe and the journey as we walk it out with the Lord.
We'll be doing some fundraising, some praying, rejoicing and yes ... traveling! We'd love for you to "Join us" in those things!

With much anticipation ...

Someone is hard at work

2010-07-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

Something is BREWING! Stay tuned ...

We going to camp ... everybody go FUAGNEM!

2010-07-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. As I sit here and post this, Dakota and Canyon are living the crazy life of TbarM sports camp. We LOVE LOVE LOVE this camp and my kids count their days until it's time for the fun! As a parent, I'm super impressed with the counselors, the staff, the programs, the facilities. Everything they do is intentional ... one focus ... JESUS!
So we dropped off the kids this past Sunday. Today, it's Thursday and I'm missing them something awful! I've spied each of them in pictures and can tell they are having a blast. This is Dakota's first year doing overnight. She went knowing NO ONE! Canyon went with 3 buddies in his cabin alone. This is also old hat for him ... year number 2!
Thought I'd post a few drop off pictures. We pick them up on Saturday morning. I CANNOT WAIT TO HUG THEM!

I'm behind again, what's new?

2010-07-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

I'm so behind again in the world of blogging. How can I even imagine keeping up with 3 kids who are in constant motion, living a summer full of adventures, always coming up with amazing things to say and do. For a long time I convinced myself that I could but who was I kidding? I have thrown in the towel and claimed defeat ....
So, alas, these days, I post when I can and try to update with pictures when possible. Bare with me. I have three energizer bunny's as children!

I did want to update a few pictures of Canyon's birthday party with a few special friends. The big 1-0! It was a fun day. Lunch at Freddy's, we took in the Karate Kid movie, came back for swim time and of course pizza and cake. My neighbor Kimberly made THE BEST cake ever. I must have put on 5 pounds the next week as every night I found myself plopped on the couch and indulging in the most delicious of all desserts. HMMMM!

Great friends and Great Cake!

Pool Time - Boy style!

Who needs pool toys when you have fun Daddy! Caution: Do not show this to your kids, it may cause hours of endless throwing!

Even Dakota had a special friend for the day

Wordless Wednesday - why not, everyone else does!

2010-07-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

A hope and a future!

2010-07-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

Our family is growing ... and I don't mean our immediate home or our little nest, but rather, our extended family! I'm going to be an Aunt again ... for the 9th time now. This time, we await a beautiful and amazing young man from Haiti! I haven't "Blogged" or posted on this yet, but the Lord has given me an urgency in my prayers for him. With that, I felt it was time to share .. and ask you to join us in "bringing him home". After all, I believe it is the Lord's hands and your prayers, that will make it happen!

Rood is 14. His story is tragic and heart breaking and yet, the Lord's mercy has poured out on this young man in amazing ways.
I cannot even begin to tell you how the Lord has ordained his life to be grafted into ours ... well, into the home of Doug's sister and brother in law.
To be brief, when the earthquake hit Haiti, I had a friend who is as passionate for orphan care as I am send me an e-mail that Hope for Orphans was looking for families who would be willing to bring in children into their homes under humanitarian parole from an orphanage called "Haiti Children's Rescue Mission". When I approached Doug with the idea, he immediately said of course we would! With that, however, I also asked Courtney if I could forward the e-mail to a few friends whom the Lord laid on my heart ... woman passionate about Orphans and also adoptive Moms. But the Lord had also laid on my heart my sister in law, whom honestly, had never really shown a huge desire to us to adopt but is an amazingly Godly woman with 5 children (then ... they now have added 2 foster children .. yes, the Lord has done some work!). I wasn't quite sure why I felt so inclined to send the info to Karen, but I did.

Several of those ladies filled out the application for the children but my SIL/BIL did not. They did say in passing, because my brother is the head of prosthetics at BAMC, that they'd be willing to bring in a child who was an amputee ... if needed. But no paperwork, no application was ever completed.
A few weeks went by and on a Wednesday a video was posted by Doug Philips with Vision Forum (who was doing work in HCRM and documenting what he was seeing) about a young man whom had lost his entire family in the earthquake and even more tragic, he was under the debris and the body of his deceased mother for 2 days. Because of the pressure of her on him, he had also lost his arm. Can you even imagine living through what this young boy had already endured? The loss of his mother, his father, his siblings, his own arm, and the only life he knew. Now an orphan, Doug Phillips brought Rood to HCRM and quickly, Rood became the face of many videos and HCRM updates to come. As I watched the video of Rood's , I cried my eyes out. I then posted it on my facebook as a testimony of the loss being experienced and then for God's reason ... felt inclined to send the video to Karen. I knew that John would be moved by his story (with his work with amputees) and thought that was what compelled me.
This is the video

Rescue Haiti's Children: The Rescue of an Orphan from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

A few days later, Karen called. A little baffled she said "Hope for Orphans just called and we just accepted the referral of a boy at HCRM who is an amputee". Immediately, knowing that Rood was the only amputee there I asked "Is it Rood, the boy from the video"? My heart had ached for that boy, I had cried alligator tears for his tragic loss - I was so hopeful!! Karen said "Yes"! My question is, she asked "Did you fill out an application for us and send it to Hope for Orphans"? Giggling (because why in the world would I do that ... that's a HUGE decision) I said, "No, why". She then went on to tell me that she had NO IDEA how Hope for Orphans got their information ... that somehow, the head of Hope for Orphans had their "application" on his desk with all their correct information ... including John's background in Prosthetics and that they wanted Karen and John to consider bringing him in on a "medical visa" (one of many processes that was tried). Karen said she had NO CLUE how they got that information as she had never filled any such thing out and the only thing she could think of was that Doug and I had for them. In awe, we both giggled and said "WOW, the Lord is at work". God prints all over!

Another part of that story is that the day I sent the video to Karen, she sat all 5 of her children down to watch it. She asked them "What would you be willing to sacrifice to help a child like this"? Little did she know ... the Lord was preparing their hearts because two days later HE'D be calling them about yes, THAT CHILD! I LOVE THAT!

So now we wait for precious Rood to make his way into our lives! It's been a long 5 months working to bring him home! My SIL and BIL skype with him often. They've sent packages and letters through other families traveling. Several families have traveled and met him, including my dearest friends Billy and Cindy who also await a beautiful little girl living at HCRM. They've all said that Rood is amazing. He's described as having a "ferocious faith" and that he is a hard worker. Apparently he speaks Spanish along with Creole and is so smart! He's quickly picking up English because we've also heard that he is studying his heart out to learn the language.

Each time Karen talks with him he asks "Mom, when are you coming to get me"? We've seen several children leave already on their I-20 visas and make their way to San Antonio (PRAISE THE LORD!) ... the way that they are working to get Rood home. Their is some paperwork issues with death certificates on his father and they await only a few things. Those details must be worked out though before he can be released on the I-20. Later, they will work on adopting him out of that Visa. He's an orphan in every sense of the word.

I have hesitated to say anything or post anything here as it's not really MY story to tell. But Rood is very much a part of our hearts here ... we think and pray for him daily and my kids are as excited as any to see him finally be in the midst of the Fergason crazy chaos and play days. My SIL/BIL have bought a 15 passenger van and have added on to their home. YES ... they are prepared and ready for whatever the Lord has in store!

Karen will be traveling with my friend Cindy in late July to meet him for the first time. She's anxious and through her tears she said she wasn't quite sure she really wanted to go. Not because she didn't want to be with Rood, but because she can't bear the thought of leaving him behind ... and seeing where he is! It is VITAL that she does though ... she knows it. What a perspective she will gain. But it isn't easy, I'm sure, leaving 7 children to go to Haiti ... and then leaving the one, to come back to the seven. But the Lord went after the lost sheep ... the other 99 were just as important ... but he didn't forget the one!

So, I've come here because the Lord has instructed me to pray his favor in them! I am praying boldly that all details will be worked out and that through some great miracle, Rood will be on that plane home with Karen and Cindy. It's no small feat for a Mom of 7 to travel .... but he's called her to ... I'm praying it's because he has something more than she could ask or imagine in mind! Will you pray with me???

Rood, we are praying for you. You are close to our hearts and though in the worlds eyes, you are still an orphan. In ours, you have been CLAIMED! We cannot WAIT for you to be HOME! We cannot wait to be a part of your HOPE and FUTURE!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11

Evidence ...

2010-07-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

Recently I went into the play room to do some cleaning up. I came upon the evidence of a small, dark haired child who had left their evidence of mischief! Anyone wonder which one of the kids I am speaking of? Looks like someone is missing some locks.
HMMMMM ....

Celebrating a DECADE!

2010-06-23T05:51:00.002-07:00

June 23, 2010

Dear Canyon,

WOW, your ten today. Where has all the time gone? It seems like just yesterday I was learning that I was pregnant with you. I can remember the day like it was yesterday. I was so excited and so scared to become a Mommy.
I read every book I could find to learn about how you were growing in me and I was so excited the day I first felt you kick in my belly. It felt like a butterfly inside my tummy, but it made the reality that you were there overwhelming. I couldn’t believe that the Lord was really growing a beautiful baby in me. But as you grew, those kicks became stronger and stronger … and on some days, I could see the whole print of your foot under my skin. I knew then you’d be some athlete!
I remember the day we named you. Sitting at dinner, a friend of ours shared that he had a little brother named “Canyon”. I immediately looked at your Daddy and we both knew … Canyon it would be! “Canyon Martine” … that would be one cool name for one cool kid!

I can remember the day you were born so well. Your Daddy and I were so excited and so nervous. The middle of the night I awoke, there was no doubt that you were ready to make your entrance into our world, 3 weeks early. As the doctor delivered you and handed you to me, your Daddy had huge tears in his eyes and a smile I will never forget. And you had so much hair!!! I can remember when they gave you your first bath and brought you back to me, they had combed all your little hair into a perfect little boy’s hairdo. I couldn’t believe how much I loved you from the moment I knew about you … and how much my heart swelled the moment you were placed in my arms. All my children are special, but you, Canyon … made me a Mommy.

I can remember when you were a newborn, you would wake in the night to eat and you and I would rock in the glider chair Grammy gave us. I would feed you, and stare at every little toe and every little finger in amazement. I couldn’t believe the Lord had given me you! I remember the night I became overwhelmed at what my heart felt. Daddy giggled as I cried and told him that I never knew I’d love you so much!
I can remember the day Daddy told me “he’d have a gaggle of these” he was so in love with you. I can remember too that Daddy and I would fight (in a fun way) over who got to hold you and carry you into church and into friends homes. We loved to show you off and you were never lacking for love!

Each day when you awoke … 7:00 am promptly, we’d sit on the couch of our first new house and I would feed you. Daddy would have to tiptoe quietly through the room, careful not to make any sound because you were so curious that you’d stop eating and want to see what he was doing. When Daddy would leave for work, I’d lay you on the floor on a blanket and then lay down next to you. I’d just stare at you, sing songs and soak you in. At only a few weeks old I began reading you books every day … lots of them. I’m convinced today that that is one of the reasons you are so incredibly bright and such a great reader!

As you grew, you developed such a fun personality. You loved to run and play outside. You loved “Big trucks” and we would spend hours together outside watching the trucks in our new neighborhood build the houses. As the drivers of the trucks would go by, you’d eagerly wave your hand and say “Big truck” with a huge and excited grin.
I can remember that you learned to talk really quickly and often people were so surprised by how many words you’d say. I would beam in pride … you were brilliant! My favorite though was when you’d say “Where’d Papa do” or “Where’d Daddy do” and then you’d run around the house, searching for them and squeal in excitement when they were found.

When Dakota was born, you didn’t care much about the new baby, you were busy playing with your trucks in the dirt and being all boy. When I would set her in your lap, you weren’t quite sure what to think but you’d hold her … for just a few seconds, give her a kiss on the forehead and then run off to play balls and line up all your hot wheel
cars.

I remember when you were 4 years and 8 months old you started asking lots of questions about Jesus, and what it meant for him to live in your heart. For an entire week, you came up with the most amazing, soul searching thoughts and questions and we had great conversations. At the end of that week, I awoke one morning from being gone the night before at Bible study to learn that you had asked Daddy at prayer time the night before if you could invite Jesus into your heart. You were saved that night, Mommy’s biggest prayer answered!

I love that when we brought Maliah home, a few weeks later you sweetly told me how glad you were that we adopted her … that you couldn’t imagine her not in our family. I also love that as we drove down the road one day, you mentioned that when you can’t have babies from your tummy, you could adopt them. After a sweet discussion of how God called us to adopt Maliah out of obedience and not because I couldn’t have babies from my tummy, I noticed you pondering in thought as you looked out the window. After some time you said “I wonder where God is going to tell me my baby is from”. My eyes filled in tears as I watched you process what God’s plan might be in your life … instead of your own.

I can remember how I cried the first day you went off to Kindergarten. I walked out of your room and cried the whole way home. My baby had gone off to big boy school … you were growing up!

Over the past 4 years in school I have continued to be so proud of you and how hard you work. It is such a joy to have teachers and parents tell me how polite, how courteous, and how kind you are. Your teachers have always been amazed at your gifts … both physically and mentally. Your Daddy and I have always been so proud of all your accomplishments at school, but most of all, proud of who God has created you to be!

I have watched you grow a little each year and with each year, you bring our home more laughter, more insight, more joy and more pride. It is so fun to be your Mommy, Canyon. I am so blessed by you. It has also been so much fun watching you grow in your sports. I can’t tell you, Canyon, how much fun I have watching you in baseball or basketball. I’ve never been a real big sports fan … but you have changed my ways and I am your number one fan and can’t wait to follow you to wherever you go, and watch whatever it is your playing.

Canyon, you are not only bright and gifted athletically, but you are also such a leader. I watch you with other kids and around your peers and can see that the Lord has given you a real gift of leadership. I pray each day that as you grow, you will continue to seek him in your life. I pray that you become a Godly leader … with a warrior spirit!

I loved the day I watched you in church as you not only listened to every word Pastor Scott said but you laughed in all the right places. The same day, he spoke of someone missing in the Manger scene at Christmas, and that he wanted to shove him into everyone’s nativity. You leaned over with a grin and whispered “John the Baptist”. I was amazed that you processed that so quickly. It was a marked day that I knew that you were really receiving God’s word.

Canyon, it made my heart overflow this week when you told me that you were reading your bible in the mornings … on your own. That is the mark of such a mature young man. I am excited to think that Jesus is getting to meet with you, not just when we go to him as a family in prayer or in our bible reading … but alone.. just you and him. He has so much he wants you to know. He has so many plans for you. I know that as you seek him by reading his word and having those quiet times with him, that he’ll continue to grow the relationship he has with you and your life will be greatly blessed by his never ending presence and love. It is my greatest prayer … that you would love the Lord!

So, today, Canyon …. You are TEN! A whole decade has gone by. No longer are you a single digits little boy. You have graduated into a young man. I am so proud that the Lord gifted you into my life. I am humbly awed that I get to be your Mommy!

I love you, sweet boy! With all my heart, Mommy loves you!

Happy 10th Birthday!

Love
Mommy

Summer has begun!

2010-06-23T05:51:00.001-07:00

Summer is a time of lazy days and swimming pools. Here's us doing our best to make those happen!

horse camp ... a place where dreams do come true!

2010-06-23T05:50:00.002-07:00

Dakota enjoyed yet another year of Horse Camp this summer. She definitely has a love of horses and it is such a joy to watch her glow when you talk to her about them or when she is riding! How does a parent put a price on that?
This year, we showed up for the "Closing" ceremony that Mrs. James gives and Dakota had a huge grin on her face. From across a large distance she mouthed "I cantered, I cantered". If you don't know horse language or the mechanics of English Saddle, you may be as lost as I was when she said that. I didn't REALLY know what a big deal that endeavor was until Mrs. James went on to explain during the ceremonies how scary it is to Canter the first time ... it takes quite a bit of courage and skill. So, my girl now Canters on ....
Here's a few pictures of closing out. I don't have any pictures this year of riding. I'm sure I"ll get some new ones when we're at lessons one day.
This is the grin as I walked up ... she was so ready to tell me she cantered!

New friends!

Horse camp ... it's more than just horses!

Dakota looks at the memory book of pictures Mrs. James made for her of camp

Mrs. James and Dakota ... she talks about how quickly and eagerly Dakota would respond during bible study

Mrs. James talks about characteristics she has seen in Dakota

The beautiful horse that Dakota first "Cantered" on.

baseball 2010

2010-06-23T05:50:00.001-07:00

This was a fun year for Canyon in baseball. It was the year he ventured into kid pitch. No more Daddy's on the mound, soft tossing the ball in the perfect place to work to assure a hit for each kid. Nope, this year, we were looking for STRIKES!

Last fall Canyon tried out for a "Select" or sometimes known as a "Club" team that played out of San Antonio. He had worked with the Coach on some hitting the spring before and some dear friends boys played with the group so we ventured out to try outs to see if it was something Canyon would want to do. Very quickly the Coach said he'd be happy to make a spot for Canyon on his team for the spring. As it grew closer to ball time, we began receiving phone calls from the Coach about the upcoming season and if Canyon was ready to commit. After some conversations, Canyon made the decision he just wanted to play Little League at Jumbo Evans. Doug and I were content with his decision so off he went for the "Little League Draft".

After the day of Canyon's draft try out, Doug received a call from a Coach who was also on the board of the LIttle League and had been out at try outs doing his own "Draft". This coach was putting together a team from our area of boys 9U for a "select" team. He wanted to use this season to let the kids get to know each other, give them some experience with a higher level of competition and then be ready for a great 10U year! He had his eye on Canyon and wanted to know if we were interested. Canyon went out to a few practices with the Bulverde Angels and quickly became enthralled with the team. Several of the boys go to his school and even our church ... he felt right at home! Before we knew it, we were playing both places. It worked this year because all the boys on the Select team were also playing Little League and impressively Coach Groves scheduled all tournaments and game times around each boys Little League games ... quite a feat. It was busy doing both leagues but fun is an understatement!

We hesitantly went into the Bulverde Angels not sure if Canyon was ready for the whole Club thing. Actually, I will admit, Mommy wasn't quite sure I was ready to commit to the time and possible travel. I will say, however, the Lord paved a path as we have been so blessed by the families we have met, the coaching Canyon has received and how much fun it has been to watch him bloom ... and cheer him on. We anxiously await January ...

Our Angel season ended a few weekends ago with a tournament in Austin. The final game Canyon hit a in the field home run to tie up the game. That rallied our team and in the last inning they scored 5 runs to achieve a win by 2. I can't tell you how excited Canyon was to get that amazing hit. He's quite a hitter. Coach moved him from the 4th hitting spot to lead batter this year. He also began pitching as well as played Center Field and First Base. The one thing that Canyon has when it comes to baseball (or any sport) is speed and heart! His team this year nicknamed him "Flash" .. you should see that boy run ... and steal! Impressive!

I thought I'd put a few pictures I loved from the season. I print each year of my blog into books to keep. I love being able to go back and look at the pictures and read them so often, they are as much for me as they might be for you!
Enjoy!
Canyon pitching!

Canyon stealing 2cnd ...

Leading off second

I love this one, the pitcher looking back at his 1st base runner, looking for the pick off. (Canyon at first)

Coach Groves talking with the team after one of the games

Listening to his coach

Canyon is so serious before he bats. Concentration!

Coach Groves Coaching Canyon before at bat

Canyon bunts ... so beautiful!

Love this!

Sliding back to third after trying to pick him off!

This next series of pictures is of Canyon when he hit his in the park home run. My all time favorite is the one of him with the huge grin as he came into the dugout with his buddies! Can you tell how proud he was! I was so excited for him!
WHACK! THE HIT!

Running like the wind! GO Canyon, GO!

Rounding 3rd base!

The team congratulates him!

The SMILE!

Lady in Red!

2010-06-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

This year was Dakota's fourth year to take dance. As always, her recital was precious and she was the star of her dance. Of course, I'm not even being biased or anything! She's such a little cutie. Enjoy some pictures of her special tap dance this year ... the song "The Mommy Dance".

Dakota's birthday bash!

2010-06-14T09:05:00.001-07:00

On the 20th of May, my blue eyed beauty turned 8! In the midst of baseball, end of year activities and Beach to Bay, we celebrated with a special day at Granny's with 3 special friends. Crafts, swimming, cupcake decorating were a hit!
Dakota, you are a doll! I can't believe you are EIGHT! I had so much fun at this party ... dancing to your "Dakota Mix" CD you made of all your favorite songs, helping you make your aprons, watching you be silly as you created the worlds largest amount of icing on one cupcake, and watching you swim with your friends! Special times and special memories!

The finale!

2010-06-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

It is so hard to believe that another year has come to completion. My kids are now officially a fourth and third grader. I can actually remember being in those grades ... who could forget Mrs. Marsh ... my awesome 4th grade teacher? It's so crazy for me sometimes to think that I'm a Mom to a soon to be 10 year old. Every now and then I walk by a mirror and catch a glimpse of myself and wonder who that person is. I still look like a kid and for the most part usually still feel like a kid ... so where did all these kids and responsibilities come from? Perhaps they aren't really mine, maybe I'm just baby sitting. THEN, someone calls my name "MOMMY" and my wonderment turns to reality and I quickly realize, nope ... it's for real ... I'm really this old, married, with 3 kids. CRAZY!
I wouldn't change it for a minute though ... the Mommy (and of course marriage) part. I might like to subtract a few years from my age. The closer I'm getting to 40 the weirder that whole saga feels. 40 .... eeeeew, let's not think about it! The downside of my kids aging is that somehow that means so am I.

So anyways, totally on a side tangent there. Lost in my reminisce of memories and disbelief that my children are growing up before my very eyes.

The end of the school year always comes with awards, parties and field trips. This year was no different. Dakota had a great end of year fun field trip to Sea World, Canyon went to a Rock Quarry and I was blessed to get to be on both trips. Kudos to my parents and in-laws for special Maliah days so I could join them! Add that to my list of reasons to be thankful for family close by and not working outside my home.

The last day of school the kids had a school wide carnival. I worked the Kinder hours so I could run around and with the kids during their time out at the carnival. The older they get the harder it is to keep up. They are definitely busy with friends which is bittersweet. Remember those days when they wouldn't leave Mommy's side. Not so the case any longer! They had a great time, were busy with friends and I enjoyed just getting to be that "Fly on a wall" so to speak as they did their "Thang". I love watching them in their elements.

Both the kids did awesome in school as always. We have been blessed so far by amazing teachers and two kids who take school seriously. Awards day came and I was once again a very proud Mama of all their dedication and hard work. Canyon won the A honor roll, PE award, citizenship award, top AR reader award for his class (and the third grade). AR is "Accelerated Reader". He earned the most points of any child in third grade. Canyon also was given the "Student of the month" for the Comal School district twice this year. Dakota also did incredible this year. She won the "A honor roll", Music award, citizenship award and was given the Comal School District "Student of the Month" in April and May.
I'm so very proud of their achievements. It is with great delight that I get to watch them get their awards.

Here's some photos of a few of the highlights from those events.

Happy 8th Birthday

2010-05-20T12:13:00.002-07:00

Today is the birthday of my blue eyed beauty! It seems like just yesterday she was born. How could 8 years have already passed? It's such a bitter sweet to watch your children grow. Each phase you leave behind one stage and begin something new. Dakota is all girl ... a big girl now!! A princess in the purest sense. Well, maybe a Cake Boss ... her passion and the thing she aspires too! She has a sweet innocence about her. In fact, when I watch the other girls in her class, it is so apparent that she has such a sensitive and innocent heart. It is something I relish .. and pray over! May the Lord continue to allow her to be in the world and not of it! May he allow her to see the ugliness of the world, and protect her heart from it. That has always been my prayer! Her teacher this year remarked one day that she worried about Dakota for next year ... third grade. Not because of a lack of abilities as she is very bright, but because Dakota plays with such innocence. Maybe the Lord is answering my prayers ... may he continue to guard her heart!
Dakota doesn't care about what she wears, who's she's friends with, who "Justin Beiber" or Hannah Montana are. In fact, she only just recently discovered Miley Cyrus and that was only because she loves to dance the Hoe down, Throw Down. I love these things about her!
Dakota is artistic, creative, and whimsical. She loves to imagine and make believe. She will create something out of just about anything. One day, she created art out of old trash, tape and some rocks. This past week, I found her in the playroom making "play food" from paper for her babies. Never mind the fact that she has a play kitchen and the parts ... she'll make her own.
She's an awesome big sister and truly, her best friend is Maliah. She gets in the car each day from school and the first thing they talk about is what they are going to play after she does homework. When they get home, they'll disappear for what seems forever in "Baby land" in the playroom.
Dakota is sensitive. Recently she got her feelings hurt by some boys at the baseball park who were saying "mean things". Upon further examination, I discovered the boys were ... FOUR ... we may need to work on thicker skin!
She loves special time with her cousin, Andi. Together, they'll spend HOURS playing horses and babies. Recently at the beach, they did just that! It was like heaven for Dakota. I love watching them play!
Dakota loves horses, ballet, reading Junie B. Jones, the Book of Acts in the bible, her favorite bible story is "Jesus dying in the cross", she loves the color blue, watching Cake Boss, curling up on the couch with her blankie and her Mommy, painting her fingernails, collecting rocks, riding her bike, her American Girl dolls and horses, her "Dakota Corner" full of barbie's and her doll house, and her second grade teacher, Mrs. McCracken! We adore her!

We're headed to Zio's for dinner tonight for Dakota's birthday. This will be the 3rd year. She chooses Zio's every year because she says they have the best chocolate cake ... and now it's a tradition!
Saturday she'll be having a special party with a few special girls. IT's all GIRL TIME! Special crafts, a mix of Dakota music that she made and chose, swimming, and last but not least .. at Dakota's request, everyone gets to decorate their own cupcake.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my beauty! YOU are adored, my princess! The Lord created you in my womb, and when he did, he could see you there. He you knit you together perfectly, he knows every hair on your head. You were fearfully and wonderfully made! He knows and has great plans for you! He will give you a hope and a future!

Beach To Bay 2010

2010-05-20T12:13:00.001-07:00

2010 ... the year the kids would take the baton. What a fun Beach to Bay trip!! The past three years we have run the 6 legs of a marathon as a family under the name "Family Ties". This year would be no different we thought. That is until age and illness started playing tricks on our bodies and we realized that several of our "Legs" weren't fit to run. BUT ... you can't just let a good number and 200$ in entries go to waste. SO, this year, we strapped number 46 to 6 of the cutest members of our "Family" and off we all went to run leg number one together. With the logistics of baton hand off, getting into spots and running alone, their was NO WAY we were going to let our kids do the entire 6 legs of the race, but we sure could do it all together ... leg number ONE! We probably threw the people who shout out the numbers for leg number 2 pick up for a good loop when 6 of the same numbers came across the finish. Of course, they were at different times so maybe they forgot. I will say, it was funny because Dakota and Jared were with me (who was numberless). As Jared passed the guy by, he radio's in "number 46" .. followed by "number 46" as Dakota came right in at his heals. Looking puzzled he looked at me ... numberless ... and grinned. I think he got the picture. I didn't know I would have so much fun running with my girl. I was cheering so loud behind her as she crossed the finish line. My blue eyed beauties first race debut!
Anyways, it was so fun. Dakota and I ran together the whole time, mixed in with my nephew who picked up with me the last 1/2. Dakota did great. She ran and walked and was a real trooper. For a girl who has never run more than a mile at school, she did AWESOME .. and she did it grinning the whole time!
Canyon on the other hand ... has found yet ANOTHER sport where he excels. Leg number one runs out 2 miles on the beach and then back 2 miles. It loops so the last two your coming back to where you started so you pass the slower runners if your in the lead pack. Very shortly into my run .. here came my son ... followed by a Daddy coming BACK! He was with the big dogs .. RUNNING FAST! He did the whole 4 miles that way. Doug said that he could barely keep up with him and Canyon definitely was running at a much faster pace than Daddy would have done. I'm not surprised, it's Canyon!

The rest of the weekend we did the usual ... pool time and beach time. As always we had a great time. The cousin gang and my kids always enjoy each other but this year, the buddies to watch were Maliah and Drexel. They were a HOOT! Drexel, my nephew who is 3 and Maliah have a love hate relationship. They LOVE being together ... but they also both LOVE being the boss which can cause some interesting moments. They are like watching two lab puppies as they run after each other with their goofy big paws. So fun!
Dakota and Andi also had a ball as usual. They spent countless hours playing horses in the sand and in the pool. They soak in every moment they can ... and then some!
The boys spent a lot of time jumping waves and playing soccer and baseball in the sand. This year we had five boys to keep up with ... not including Puppy Drexel. We also had Maliah, Dakota, Andi and my littlest niece Brooklyn. Good times watching all those kids for sure!

We're already booked for next year. We shall see what team transpires for the run. I'm thinking that for sure, Canyon will be leading the team of "Family Ties" in the near future! Looks like Papa may have lost his spot. UH OH!

Enjoy!

36 reasons I am blessed (a tribute to my 36th birthday)

2010-05-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's official. I am getting OLD. I am officially closer to 40 than 30 and officially have reached the age where I can remember my Mom being that old. I have also officially began to see the visible and not so visible signs of the mark of my age. I try to not let that consume me in my human flesh ... thinking about all that I have been blessed with gives me perspective. So, as I was driving down the road today, to celebrate my birthday with a few special friends who so graciously organized a fun birthday lunch, I began to think about all the things I am blessed with and all that I have to be thankful for. I thought I'd write them down ... as a reminder to myself for those days or those moments of in my days where I am feeling 36!
What about you, could you write down 36 things to be thankful for? I bet you could!

1. I am the daughter to the King of Kings! WOW ... indeed, I am a princess!!
2. Jesus paid my ransom ... I have been set FREE!
3. I was born into a family with the two most amazing parents EVER! I have BIG shoes to fill when I become a Granny!
4. My brother is SUPER cool and all my life ... I have thought so! YEP, Clint, that's right ... even now, you hold the cool factor!
5. I am married to the HOTTEST man there is. Don't argue with me .. he is!
6. My son is as adorable as they come. His birth was one of the highlights in my 36 years. I will NEVER forget holding him the
first time! He made me a MOMMY! I am blessed!
7. My blue eyed beauty is one of a kind ... she is amazing and I am amazed that she is MINE! All girl .. I am blessed!
8. I was CHOSEN to parent the most adorable almond eyed beauty ever. I am SO humbled that my Lord thought that much of
me. REALLY ... Can you even believe he CHOSE ME??? Who would have thought!
9. I have wonderful in-laws .. and yes, I even like hanging out with them! I know some who can't say the same. I am blessed!
10. I live comfortably in a nice home, with plenty!
11 Every month the Lord provides what I need to eat and live far beyond what I deserve!
12. I was given wisdom of finances and because of that wisdom and our discipline, we live debt free!
13. My husband works SUPER hard and because of all his hard work, I am blessed to stay home with my children and care for
our home!
14. The Lord took me on an adoption journey and along the way, he blessed me with HIS eyes for the fatherless! Forever
changed!
14. On that same adoption journey, he blessed me with amazing friends. I am so thankful for each of them and their children!
15. My children are healthy!
16. In October of this year,. they thought I had lymphoma ... I am so thankful that it didn't come to pass!
17. Even though I have days of pain and I still battle an unknown health dilemma ... all the tests show I am "healthy". I am
so thankful for a gazillion medical tests showing nothing! (Of course, an indicator of the pain would be good too!)
18. I am thin and have been all my life. YEP, I am thankful for that. We all live in the same world ... you know the world
pursues that. I was blessed with my Grandpa's "Skinny genes".
19. Even though I am thin, I love to work out and excersise. I am thankful I enjoy those activities because it makes it much
easier to stay healthy.
20. I have two college degrees and a real estate license .. paid for. So thankful for opportunities!
21. Thankful for the way my husband makes me laugh!
22. Thankful that I lived in so many places growing up. I have gotten to see and experience much!
23. Thankful for like a gazillion birthday wishes today on Facebook. WOW ... princess for a day!
24. I love that my son is so great at sports. It makes all those hours watching and cheering so much fun!
25. My kids are super smart. Not even biased .. the report cards and the GT classes tell me. I am so thankful that they were
given such a gift!
26. I am so thankful that my sweet nephew married his girlfriend and is working so hard to make a young marriage and being
a young Daddy work. Madeline is a CUTIE!
27. I am so thankful for my awesome church! I cannot tell you how much the Lord speaks to me through Scott's messages!
28. I am so blessed and thankful for the opportunity to be a Texas Associate for our adoption agency ... I love the look on
when someone knows they are being called. I can see it in their eyes!
29. So thankful that tonight, I get to eat at Chuey's ... hmmm, I love Mexican food!
30. So blessed and thankful that we have the finances to send our kids to TbarM this summer. I love that place and so do
they!
31. So thankful for awesome neighbors! Kimberly, your sweet card and balloon was a bright spot today ... as are your
delicious "Sweets" you send over so often!
32. So thankful that both of my parents are still healthy! I love watching them enjoy retirement!
33. Blessed by my parents who give and give and give of their time to help me out in pinches or just because they adore my
kids!
34. Thankful for Doug's family who all lives so close. I love that my kids get to grow up around their cousins, grandparents
etc.
35. So thankful for the men in my husbands life who have helped mold him. He is so incredible and I know that their have
been key men to help that process along.
36. Thankful for BIQA coffee company. I LOVE the coffee ... and I think one of the roasters is extra fantabulous!

O.K. so that was in NO particular order but I can't tell you how easy it was to spew out blessings and things to be thankful for.
But as every birthday goes .. you have to give one to grow on. SO, last but not least .. whoever is reading this, I am thankful for YOU!

An identity ... but not yet a crisis!

2010-05-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Maliah is brilliant, precocious, curious, outgoing, friendly, artistic, athletic, loving, gentle, loud, and charismatic. Yep, these are just a few of the characteristics I can think of off the top of my head to describe my angel. It's who she is ...it's how G-d created her. When I think of her, they are a part of her identity that makes up WHO SHE IS!

This past week, the Lord began to show me that she too thinks of herself as having certain traits and gives herself an identity. I have noticed that if she ever hears someone say the world "China", she quickly will say "Mommy, they said China, I'm from China". She smiles with complete pride as she tells others, I am "Chinese". It's who she is .. and yet, when I thought off the top of my head of those qualities, I never thought of adding "Chinese" to that list ... but she did! I guess it just goes to show me just how important our "belonging" is to our identity.
This past week Mailah said out of the blue ...
"Mommy, did you know I grew in your tummy"?

Now, we have talked lots of times about where she grew, but it seem this week, it began to sink in a little. So answering I said,

"Well, Maliah, remember, you grew in another Mommy's tummy. Remember that word "Adoption"? G-d grew you in another Mommy's tummy but he was growing you there for ME. He knew you there. He tells us so in the bible (Psalm 139) THEN .. I got to come to china and "adopt" you. You became Mommy's daughter, Daddy's daughter and Canyon and Dakota's little sister.

"Oh yeah, that's right". But what do we call THAT Mommy"?

"Well, we can call her your birth Mommy"

"My birf Mommy"??

"Yes, Maliah, your birth Mommy"

"She's really special, right?"

"She sure is. She gave me YOU and she is very special because she gave me such an incredible gift"

"You mean I have TWO MOMMY'S"? (said in great excitement)

"You sure do, your THAT special"

That's how the conversation went on Tuesday. Wednesday rolls around and Maliah says this ..

"Mommy, what do we call that lady again?"

Knowing just where she was going I said ...

"You mean your birth Mommy? We call her your birth Mommy"

Yeah, my birth Mommy. Can we go and meet her?" (SIGH)

"Well, Maliah, your birth Mommy lives in China and I don't know who she is. BUT .. let's pray that she comes to know Jesus so that one day, in heaven, she and you can meet. I bet Jesus would love that!"

Matter of factly she says .. "O.K. let's do".

The very next day, from the back of the car, Maliah says (in great excitement), "Did you know that Jesus lives in your HEART"?

Giggling a little, I say "He sure does if you invite him in". Maliah replies "Oh, I totally want him there". Giggling more ..."well, then all you have to do is invite him there .. say "Jesus, I want you to be in my heart and guide me in my thoughts and my living every day".

Clearly this week was one full of questions about her identity. As I began to put all the pieces together I was struck with the fact that first and foremost, she is proud of her culture and her place of origin (China). Starting from a very early age, she knew that she was Chinese and the word "China" was something that was hers! It was something she identified herself with.
I don't believe she really knew what that meant though. But recently, she is beginning to realize or question what that means for her identity. If she was born in China and from another Mommy's tummy .. then how do I fit in with YOU? We continue to paint the picture over and over again of the gift of adoption. It isn't a "taboo" word in our house and honestly, on a given week, it is mentioned several times. Our goal has always been that Maliah would know her story and feel free to ask any questions and share ANY feelings she has about her story ... including asking about her "Birf" Mommy. This week, she had lots of questions about that person. Who is she? What does that really mean? Is she good?
I hope that over the years we can convey just how special she was to us and should be to her. I want Maliah to know that she was a gift to us and that we believe (given the circumstances in China and the horrendous rate of abortion) that Maliah's birth Mommy loved her very much. She indeed is THAT SPECIAL!
As she progressed through the week, it is much like our own progression of our own identities as adults. As she began to ask where she fit in here .. her earthly circumstances .. it brought her into a greater question. Who is this Jesus? Where does he fit into my life?
I love that so emphatically she wanted to share her excitement of where he is and where he lives ... in HER HEART! I know that at four, she might not quite get what that means. Sure, she can recite what we teach her, but it may not quite sink into her heart. Then again, if she's invited him in ... I don't question that he's there! I love that!

OH Maliah, my beautiful girl, I pray that over the years that first and foremost, you'd know that you are indeed a daughter of the King of Kings. You are a princess! You are an heir to the inheritance of the greatest King! You are his beloved!

I also hope you know that although you weren't born of my womb, that you are indeed one of my greatest gifts ever! I have been blessed more than you'll ever know because I was CHOSEN to be your Mommy. Of all the families, he chose ME for YOU!
That humbles me!

And Maliah, I pray that you will know just what a special woman your birth Mommy must have been. She gave me you! She CHOSE life for you. Though you may never meet her here on this earth, I indeed pray that one day, your Savior will introduce you to her. I pray that she hears his name and she too invites him into her heart just like you! I pray that one day, I'll meet her ... face to face ... and when I do, I will get to tell her just how special SHE IS and YOU ARE!

SO, we're on a quest for our identity around here. I believe, as long as we continue to talk about it, then the enemy can't hold it over us. I pray that if all those answers to her questions are kept in the light .. and never hidden .. then maybe, just maybe ... that identity will never be one of crisis but one of REDEMPTION!!!

My love hate relationship with .... facebook

2010-04-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

339 friends. That's what it says. 339 people who I can keep in contact with, see their pictures, get updates on their days (should they post them) and get a peek into their world through the world of facebook. It's a crazy thing actually that the world of facebook can give you such an intimate window into someone's life and yet ... you might not really even "Know them" . There are so many things I LOVE about facebook. I love that my best friend from second grade until I moved in 6th grade (who was in my wedding and that I lost touch with) , found me. That was a wonderful surprise and a wonderful day - Thank you FACEBOOK! I LOVE that through Facebook, I found out that she would be traveling into Austin and we got to arrange a date for lunch and reconnect. A blessing! I LOVE that I found my best friend from Junior High. The friend that I did all sorts of crazy antics with and when I moved to Texas, I never thought I'd find another friend like her. ( Honestly, I'm not sure I ever did)!
I love that the funny boy I had a crush on in 7th grade, found me through that friend as did many other friends from those junior high years. CRAZY FUN! It has been fun to see what life has brought them and funny to see how much everyone has changed. I LOVE that I have connected with college friends, elementary friends, teachers, and ministries that I love. I LOVE that many of my friends in the adoption community are on my page and I get to stay updated on their processes, their celebrations and life with their children simply by the click of one button. I LOVE reading people's updates and their praise reports on their families. I LOVE being able to jump on and get an urgent prayer request out to the masses. Can I tell you how many responses I had the day I needed prayer when Dakota had a seizure? A few keystrokes on Facebook, and the world was alerted and the warriors were summoned ... we needed prayers! It was amazing! I LOVE that I can follow ministries I love and see what the Lord is up with them. As I sit in my home unable to "GO", I get to be a part of them in a little way by praying for them, and getting a window into HIS work! It truly is a blessing! I LOVE that I can get on someone's page and scroll through their pictures and "Lurk" (haha) and they never have to know. I love that I have met some of the most amazing people through facebook and that I get to connect with people all over the world. I love that! I love that in some way, I get to be a part of 339 amazing people's lives!

I also LOATHE Facebook for many reasons. One of those is that I have 339 " friends" and yet on most days, my phone doesn't ring, unless it's my precious Mom or my husband and really, I'm often so lonely for a friend to talk to. I am not prideful, I'll admit it! I find that people who used to call and check in have no need to do so really. I mean, they can get on Facebook and usually, through a few of my posts figure out basically what life is up to in the Martine home and know we're still o.k. ... or so they think - and they can do it all in their own time. Who needs to call? I hate that "Friends" will leave me a comment on my page about how they miss me and yet, I'm just a phone call away and often, a five minute drive. And let me be even more honest ... because I know this happens to you too! I hate when you see that other friends have had "girls nights out" or have gotten together for "play groups" and you think ... I wonder, am I not a "Good enough" friend to be included too? I hate that you have to find those things out through Facebook. I hate that facebook is like high school all over again. You get a peek into what everyone else is doing and you wonder where you fit in.
I hate that like some addictive substance, I find myself, stealing what I think will be a few seconds away to see "what is up" and then loose total track of time surfing through the "home" page to see what every else is doing. I hate that that means that I just lost those minutes ... for nothing ... and I will never get them back! I find it humorous some of the things that people will post on their site and find it comical that some are willing to share their deepest thoughts and yet when I run into them, it is as though they are complete strangers. Let's be honest, it is weird and I really don't like that! I hate that their are some "Friends" who friended me and yet, I don't think they even like me ... much less think of me as their "Friend". But what do you do, "ignore" them because well, that wouldn't be right ... but then again, isn't facebook a place to keep up with "Friends"? It seems twisted!

UGH, there is this total Love - Hate relationship I have with Facebook. My husband asks me why I even have a "page" and in my honesty I tell him because I really want to have "Friends" and yet on the inside I realize the Lord didn't design relationships to be built through two people sitting behind computers sending one another messages. Oh yes, they can have great conversations and exchanges, but if we're honest then we know that 80% of relationship happens through those things that can't be seen through a monitor ... voice tone, body language, facial expressions, human touch, and more. The Lord intended us to carve out time for one another, be in each other's lives ... COMMUNITY! It makes me wonder, is Facebook another tool of the enemy to lull us into a deeper sleep and out of the community G-d intended and into one the deceiver designed instead. To be honest, I don't really think this is what the ACTS church's definition of community was and I don't think leaving a nice "comment" or hitting the "Like" button was the Lord's intention when he said "Love your neighbor". What do you think? I'm just wondering .. and be honest.
So, does that mean I am giving up on Facebook? I wish I could tell you yes. BUT ... I'll be honest, I don't want to "miss out" on my "Friends". I know ... it's as twisted as this crazy post. HAHA

So, thanks for stopping in. I guess I'll probably see you around "Facebook". (Giggle)

By the way "Cristie Martine is ... now getting off the computer". Do you have a "Comment", do you "like"?

2010-04-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

Maliah loves to write letters and draw. She also loves to practice all her letters and the sounds they make. Amazingly, she knows EVERY single one without fail. We've always known she was bright, but today, she really threw me off. She drew two pictures. In one, I believe she was drawing me and in the other, you will see her whole family. Pretty great fine motor skills for a four year old. The part though that took my breathe away was the word she wrote "MOMMY". I didn't tell her how to spell that word. No one was around when she was creating her masterpiece. Somewhere along the way, I am sure she has seen her sister or brother write it and alas, she has learned it herself. Maliah, you are a real piece of work!

Another First ...

2010-04-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

This week Canyon took the mound to pitch for the first time at his Little League game. I was so nervous for him. Canyon is also playing on a Select team this year. Coach Groves had worked with Canyon on his pitching recently and told him to tell Daddy that he needs to be pitching. So, I was so nervous for him when he took the mound and yes, Coach Groves had showed up to watch some of his game and was getting to see his grand debut. I wonder if he was as nervous as I was. He so calmly took the mound, warmed up with a few pitches, chomped away on his gum and threw. I was taking photos so I didn't keep the pitch count .. but i know that 3 kids got up to bat, and then, the inning was over. Great job, Canyon!
Here's a few shots from his debut. It is so fun to watch our kids take on new things.

Happy Easter

2010-04-08T12:13:00.001-07:00

This Easter we broke "tradition" of going and spending the day at Aunt Karen's for a special day at Granny's with my brother and his new wife, Johnna. We don't get to see him often enough and we've only met his wife one time so it was a special day. Of course, Granny made a delicious lunch and the kids enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt in their backyard. Here are some pictures of our Easter fun.

A hard lesson to learn

2010-04-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday Canyon was invited to spend the afternoon with a neighbor at Fiesta Texas. It wasn't a pre-planned thing and in fact, we were in the middle of eating lunch when his friend knocked on the door and said they were going to do a "last minute" day of fun and wanted to see if Canyon could come.

For about 6 years now, Doug and I have followed a cash budget. Each month I get out what we're going to spend for the entire month and nothing more. At times, we'll pull from savings for those "extras" that come up during the month but for the most part .. when it's gone it's gone. Our inspiration ... one beautiful almond eyed beauty and a friend called "Dave Ramsey" who had a plan to help us bring her home DEBT FREE! It's worked and we love it. Now, the kids might say differently, especially from the back of the car as I listen to his show day in and day out.

So on Saturday, Canyon wanted to go with his friend for a day of fun. Knowing that I had just spent a large amount of our month on Easter and on some new summer clothes for the kids, I knew that we were down to only the 'Must haves" of the month if our cash was to make it. We told Canyon he was welcome to go but we'd only pay $20 towards his day. If he wanted to go, he'd have to spend the other $40 or so from his own savings. Canyon agreed and up he went to get his money.
I heard him tinkering in his "save jar" and shortly later he returned downstairs to say that he didn't think he was going go. Asking him why he responded, "Well, I was saving my money for a catchers mitt .. and that's just a lot of money".
Canyon went outside to break the news to his buddy and in a few minutes he returned only this time ...

BIG TEARS!

Asking Canyon what was wrong he admitted that that decision was really hard. He so wanted to go and play with his buddy. He was so disappointed that he was going to miss out on the fun. But the reality is, he thought long and hard and decided $40 was just too much to spend for a short day of fun. He was working hard to save for that catcher's mitt and a few other things on his "Wish list" and that $40 would put a pretty big strain on those plans.

As Canyon cried it became the perfect opportunity to teach him about sacrifices. We shared with him that so often Daddy and I have to make those hard choices too. Instead of driving brand new cars and living in a nicer house, we choose to drive paid off cars and a house that is much less than we can afford so that we can have money for other things like their camps, after school activities, select baseball, family camp and more. We told Canyon that we had to sacrifice things we thought we wanted to do or have so that we could meet our goals .. to send them to college, have retirement and most importantly, give to ministries we love and support. We also talked about how it was hard to not meet those immediate wants ... just so hard!

What a valuable lesson. Canyon learned pretty quickly the value of the dollar and how hard you have to work to get it. He also learned pretty quickly that immediate gratification doesn't pay off. He made a hard decision .. one that I'm so proud of. He gave up a day of fun and sacrificed what he wanted in the immediate, to save for those things he wanted long term.

I'm so proud of you, Canyon. That catchers mitt is going to feel good on that hand .. paid for .. and all YOURS!

Spring Break Fun

2010-04-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

Spring Break came and went! It's so hard to believe that my children only have 9 more weeks of school left until the end of the school year. Actually, Dakota reminds me .. it is now, only 8 1/2 weeks. Canyon is ready for summer. Dakota is bummed to leave second grade and Mrs. McCracken because well, she's the best teacher EVER and her brother has reminded her often that "You better enjoy 2nd grade because third grade is ALL BUSINESS". HAHA.
So, a much needed break we had! We began the week with a fun trip to the San Antonio zoo with 3 of our favorite people, Mrs. Cindy, Libby and Gracie. It was a perfect day. You couldn't have asked for better weather or of course, better company.

Thursday of that week we departed for the much anticipated yearly family camping trip. This year we decided to try our luck at Inks Lake outside of the Burnett, Texas area. WOW .. it is indeed, beautiful! We will definitely return.
Camping was a hit for all involved. I will admit that I'm not really a camper. I tell Doug that he married a princess as my idea of camping is a room at the Holiday Inn where I can shower at the end of the day. But, aside from flip flop showers at the State Park and interrupted sleep ... I can't complain too much. The first night, we had a "Friend" join our camp. I awoke in the middle of the night to a strange rustling sound outside our tent. As I looked around at all my camping cohorts, I realized that I was the only one who was awakened by the sound. I laid there for some time wondering what in the world was outside the tent before I finally drifted off. A few hours later I heard Canyon "WHAT in the world is outside"? We still aren't quite sure but we surmise that our friend was a raccoon enjoying a poke into the trash that Daddy forgot to put in the back of the truck.
Night two brought it's own share of adventures. About 1:00am I heard Dakota begin to cry out. Nothing new since she is a girl who readily cries out in her sleep with all sorts of weird dreams. She will look you square in the eyes and have an entire conversation with you ... only she's not awake .. and the next day she hasn't a clue what you are talking about. Might come in handy during those teenage years. I wonder what wonderful trivia I will be able to pull out of her during those less than coherent moments. HAHA.
Well, this night, she wasn't dreaming .. unfortunately. A few cries into her "dream" I heard Doug yell "Momma, she's throwing up:". Scurrying out of my bed in the pitch black and making my way across the tent in the midst of 5 cots and 5 bags was like playing frogger. I got to Dakota but honestly, what could I do in the complete dark? Fumbling through Canyon's bag, I found his head flash light. Turning it on, I found Dakota sitting up with throw up all over her face (eeew!). all down her hooded sweatshirt (NICE .. try getting that off her head!) and all over her pillow. GREAT! What now? I'm not exactly equipped with all the things a Mommy would have to clean up her angel. Once again, fumbling around I found the box of baby wipes I had brought, a towel and garbage bags. Off with the puke covered sweatshirt, and out with the pillow. I could next concentrate on how I could find Dakota's blue eyes again. Poor baby!
Needless to say, I didn't sleep much the rest of the night wondering how many episodes would follow. Thankfully, I think our stomach bug was called "Too much hot cocoa and too many smores" as the rest of the night SHE slept like a baby. At least someone did!
Well, enough of my TMI descriptions, I know you just want to see pictures anyway. Enjoy!

Love notes from my Savior

2010-03-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

It's been a LOOOONG 5 months. If you follow me along much, you'll know that I have been plagued with all sorts of ailments that date back to October 9, 2009. I have had every medical test under the sun ran ... and with confidence I can officially say "I have had THE best physical of my life!".
If you refer back to here, then it will catch you up with how the Lord led me to Dr. Kempf ... my little love note to let me know that in the middle of what I felt was the wilderness, he could see me and he hadn't taken his hand off of me.
So I returned to Dr. Kempf on March 2, 2010 for a follow up on all the blood work and the total body bone scan he had run. For the month prior, he had me taking Celebrex for inflammation as well as multiple supplements. I am not sure I saw a huge change in the way I felt except that If I look back to how I felt in October and November until today ... I am world's away from where I was. Still have pains, still have weird aches and tender spots in my ribs. Still feel pain in my knee joints at times, often in my hips .. some days better than the others ... but there is improvement I believe.
So I returned to see him and was so excited to hear these words "NOTHING showed up in your blood ... no celiac disease, no RA, no Lupus ... nothing!". He said the same for the bone scan with exception to the fact that he did say that my spine had slight scoliosis. My prescription: take some Yoga and Pilates classes to strengthen my back muscles and core. YOU GOT IT!

As he visited with me he said that I did have some of the "trigger" spots for Fibromyalgia, in which there is nothing definitive to test that with. He said "you may keep that in the back of your head". I didn't say it aloud, but as he left the room for a minute I turned to Doug and said "No way will I put that in the back of my head ... that is the enemy's prescription for a life sentence of pain". No way will I fill my head with anything that could rob my life of HIS abundant life. No way!

So Dr. Kempf feels that I am dealing with something he calls "Post Viral Sydndrom". He doesn't have a definitive test for such a thing but believes that the swollen lymph nodes and the chronic pain is the result of a virus that has plagued my body. He said that he has seen cases of people who have dealt with such symptoms for 6 months, 12 months or more. He said he believed that 6 months from now that I'd be calling him and telling him I'm pain free, that there would be no need to keep those future follow up appointments. NOW, that is what I will put into my head and something I do want to set my heart to believe!

You know, all that I have gone through and what Dr. Kempf is saying falls right in line with a few messages from the Lord that have been delivered to me through a few incredible prayer warriors. As I think over these past five months, and through all these tests, I have to stop and ask myself just what the Lord is wanting me to learn and take away from this experience. I know that in times of wilderness, there is definitely something he is teaching us and this journey has been no different.

In the beginning of this "virus" and during the time that my lymph nodes were swollen, a precious woman that I know invited me to her home. She asked if she could visit with me and pray with me. She had called and shared that in her quiet time the Lord had given her a picture and a vision of me that she needed to share. I listened in awe as she gave a vivid description and then said with firmness .. the Lord said you have a "toxin" and you will be fine.

Since coming to know the Lord, I have always believed in the power of prayer but the times that would follow this visit with this friend would prove to grow my spiritual eyes into the realm of his Kingdom that I may never fully understand. I have begun to see the true power of the holy spirit as he manifested himself through others to speak to me.

I was prayed over one day in a way that I won't ever forget. From across the room, my sweet friend asked "Are you o.k., you don't look well". Without giving her any indication of where I was in pain in those moments (my chest area), she moved in towards me and said "Can I pray over you"? Another friend was walking up at that time and together they began to pray. S** began to pray aloud. As she did she placed her hands on my chest bones just below my neck ... in the exact spot I might add that I was feeling the pain. I didn't tell her that was where I was hurting .. how did she know? The prayer continued and I literally could feel heat moving from her hands into my body. I can tell you that I had mixed feelings of an awkward uncomfortableness to total peace I still don't understand. She continued .. and then paused. Thinking she was finished, I began to look up at her and when I did, she drew in closer .. and closer. In the moments that followed, I experienced something I have never felt. The holy spirit manifesting himself through her. I can only explain it as praying in tongues ... something I am not versed in, nor have never witnessed. Her hands began to tremble and I began to weep. She asked "I see a bright light, does this mean anything to you"? She described where she saw it. The same place that ached in pain. She continued to pray and then, as she finished, she embraced me. I was in tears. Looking over at the other precious woman who had walked up in the beginning, I noticed she was still praying .. only she wasn't praying for me, she was praying for "S" whom when I looked at had turned as white as a ghost and looked completely exhausted. My friend still praying, opened her eyes and we made an exchange that said "Did you feel what I felt, did you hear what I heard, did you see him MOVING"?
I can't tell you definitively that I was healed in that moment but I can tell you that the following Monday, I went in for my CT scan. The X-rays the Thursday before had revealed that I had spots on my lungs ... you know, the chest area that plagued me in pain. Upon receiving the results of the lymph nodes scan and the chest I was greeted with these words ... "the spots are gone, and your nodes are "Normal".
Did the holy spirit heal me in those moments? I cannot fully attest to it ... but I do know that the Lord used those moments to show himself to me in a way I had never seen! Looking back, I believe her hand became his!

So a few weeks go by and I am invited to a healing service. I go. I actually did a post about this ... the awkward out of my comfort zone faith walk I was on by simply just "going". I went. At the end of the service a few ladies from my church asked if they could pray over me. As they prayed, I felt someone place their hand on my back. My eyes were closed, and though I couldn't "see" that person, I knew the touch. There was something familiar about it. I knew the hand that was on my back ... it was "S". It wasn't because it was "her" ... it wasn't ... I felt the Lord in that moment as she laid her hand on me .. the hand was HIS. As quickly as I felt her hand and the familiar presence, it was gone. As the prayer time ended, I looked up to find "S" on the stage worshipping with her husband. Confused, I thought ... I KNOW his touch ... I know it came from her but she is there ... not here. As quickly as I thought that, another lady looked at me and said "S came and laid her hand on you to pray. Her hand began to shake and I thought you were shaking ... and then, "she left".
The following day I received an e-mail from this woman that read "I came to pray over you when I saw others gather. As I laid my hand on your back and began to pray I heard the Lord clearly say "It is Done". With his message, I left.

The same night, a man I do not personally know well came and stood by my side. As we worshipped he moved in closer and said these words to me "As I was praying I just saw a vision of you touching the hem of his garment". Looking at him in disbelief my eyes filled with tears. He knows in his physical state nothing of my illness and yet the Lord gave him a vision of me touching the hem of his garment. Recalling back to your own bible readings you will recall the woman who was healed simply by the brush of his garment as he passed. I have only shared that moment with Doug and yet ... I am learning that in this life our one purpose is to know him more and make him known more.

I still have pains and I still have aches that aren't "normal" yet but I believe that the Lord has indeed healed me. He has been showing me that I cannot see with what I feel but know with what I know. I know that my tests reveal NOTHING. I know that on multiple occasions he has sent the Holy Spirit to me to show me that he is at work. He has taken my faith into places I had never been. He has walked me into uncomfortable places that honestly, I even hesitate trying to share. I have seen him work and manifest himself in people around me that I have never seen before. I even hesitate to try and put words to those moments because what can words do to tell of his presence? What description could capture his manifestation? Simple black and white on a paper could never do, when everything about him is color!

So, I don't know where this story ends. I don't know on what day I will awake and be pain free. But in the meantime, I reflect back on the moments that I have seen his presence like never before. My savior became more tangible than before. I believe he is relentlessly pursuing me and has used these past 5 months to show me just how much he is madly in love with me ... and sees me.

Watch out Tony!

2010-03-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

Canyon just finished another season of basketball. Could it be any more fun to watch your child than it is to watch Canyon? I cannot tell you how awesome he is .. and how much the Lord blessed his talents in so many things, including and namely, Athletics. I know, I am totally bragging and well, deal with it! This Momma is loving watching his gifts bloom. You would to if your child moved like this. Watch out Tony (Parker), you have competition.