Thanks to some chirping from a little birdie (Susanna!) ....I am finaly updating this dusty blog. Cant believe the date I last updated! (blush! blush!)

 

 A picture from early this spring when we were getting the garden ready My two favorite guys working together!

 Derek celebrated his 5th birthday back in April. He is already anticipating his next birthday and tells me HIS birthday takes the longest to come around of anyone in the whole family! Hmm...and I think mine come around waay to fast!

Ready to leave on a date with daddy!

This picture has a story behind it! Would you believe it that these two happy beautiful faces were scowling and angry moments before...speaking unkind words at each other! The consequense: They had to sit snuggled beside each other holding hands while mommy set the timer for a certain amount of time. They were not allowed to speak unless it was loving words like, "You are such a kind sister...Im so glad you are my brother....you are my BEST friend!" etc. It worked wonders and we were all bursting as the grumpies turned into giggles!

Cousin tea party time!

Derek's first visit to the dentist.

Cousins remembering sweet Jadrian..

This is where I found Karilee one hot afternoon.....asleep on the front porch!

Our first try at raising meat birds. we started with 50 and ended with 43. It was a good experiance, Derek loved the responsibility of feeding them. Not sure if we'll do them again, it got pretty stinky and dirty towards the end :( but we sure are grateful for the freezer full of meat!

Another first, was a big garden. It started off pretty but with the lack of rain it looks rather dejected now. The children love playing in it and finding new goodies to pick.

Precious Kianna! How fast she's growing and changing! She just turned 8 month and crawls all over the place and walks along furniture. We think she has a feisty little spirit in her! She sure is a package of joy!!

 Helping big brother with his dish washer duty!

So yes, we are busy, but enjoying this summer to the fullest!!!

A photo Update

Little love bug is growing like a weed! 4 month old and rolling over and scooting in circles on the floor like a wiggle worm. She's showing great interest in toys. Ah~~ our yummy little sugar dumplin!


Tender hearted Derek with his faithful letters/ drawings to his lil brother Jadrian. (you can click on the photo to see what he drew better)


This is what happened when Karilee tried snitching a handful of cookies from the pantry! Wheat berries all over the floor! We desided to laugh instead of get mad! LOL



Notice the cloth Steve is holding as a "drool catcher". :)


If you've never tried wearing your baby in one of these wraps, you should try it! Super comfy and snuggly!

We are so excited to see signs of spring popping all around us. I'm super excited to start my new garden. My orchard order is arriving this month

Gotta run prepare supper. ...

Enjoying Our New Home

See this darling baby!! It's why I havent been paying too much attention to updating this blog. I've been to busy enjoying my baby!! She is almost 3 months old and I know how faaaast babyhood flies so I determined that I am going to enjoy every stage and I sure have been! One of my favorite past times is nursing/ rocking her!! It's just so precious having a beautiful happy baby! She is charming us with ready smiles and darling giggles! She sleeps amazing at night and we all love the reddish tint in her hair and hope it stays :) I can already picture her with strawberry blond pig tails. It warms my heart because its the first feature in all my four children that is without a doubt from the Martin side. lol

And we ARE settled into our new home and loving it!!We are tickled pink with our beautiful view. Just look at what we get to see from our living room window in the evening!
And in the morning we have a beautiful view of the sun rise as well! We are so blessed! WE LOVE LOVE being in the country!!!!!!!
Heres a few pic's of some of the rooms. The rooms that are most presentable. Most of the rooms still have boxes and lots of organizing to do. But I havent been stressing about doing the fine details. Like I said, I'd rather enjoy my baby :) And besides, I'm scared to pound the first nail in the new walls to hang up decor :)
My beautiful kitchen that I love. So fun having space to work with!
Steve found a picture online of a mantel he liked and his uncle John duplicated it and did an amazing job.



I'll try to add more pictures sometime soon. Or you can just come see for yourself. We love being bale to accomodate company now!!

Remembering sweet Jadrian....

December 27 marked one year since the painful day we needed to say goodby to our beloved son and brother. How can it be a year already? Jadrian you are still so alive in our hearts and home that it really only feels like yesterday. We all miss you so much!







It all happened so fast....
When I see this picture it speaks of a thousand thoughts. Way too many to write, not that I even could put into words. They are very deep, private words to God.....the only one who understand when grief is too deep for words.
This picture also speaks of unconditional love, because thats what we felt for you Jadrian. A very deep protective, feirce kind of love. A love that hurts.















No parent ever wants to be told by the doctors that they have done everything possible for your child but there is nothing more they can do. we always knew Jadrian was in God's hands, but we have been forever grateful for the expertise of the skilled doctors that did so much for Jadrian. But they are only human...Today Jadrian needed something only God could give him. A new heart! We never could have imagined the pain of knowing we were needing to let go ..... we had cared for you 24/7. You were part of us, part of mommy & daddy and now it felt like part of us was being torn away. We never wanted to let go!!
But even in our terrible pain, Jesus was there! His presence carried mommy & daddy and He caught every tear and felt our pain. He gave us grace...He gave comfort...and a gave super natural peace. We knew Jesus was waiting to welcome you into His arms, and your tired worn body was going to be restored!
It was a sacred morning in that room. Mommy & Daddy held you for hours. We cried a lot. We sang to you and told you that it was OK, Jesus was waiting for you and He was going to give you a brand new body. No more doctors and IV pokes for you. We told you a hundred times over how much we loved you and how we would miss you.
We caressed & snuggled your warm body. treasuring every detail of your sweet body. Your blond hair that always wanted to stand up on top. Your chubby cheeks. Your hands..ah, those darling soft hands! we couldnt stop squeezing them.
We felt your heart beat become weaker and weaker. It was as if we could feel the angels in the room waiting to transport you to glory! You left this earthly world so peacefuly. Mommy & daddy were so honored to be holding you when Jesus took you from our arms into His. We can ONLY IMAGINE what that reunion was like!!
December 27, 2011 was a very hard dreary day for all of us. every thing felt sad and it was hard to choose joy. We all bundled up and spent some time at your grave. We watched all the home movies we have of you. We were amazed all over again what a warrior you really were! Today we choose to celebrate the time we had with you here and all the precious memories you left. And we celebrate your new body and JOY in heaven. See you soon buddy.

Karilee & Derek love visiting your grave! even though it was cold and frozen they ran around and found dead frozen flowers and pine needles to decorate with. Karilee took off her scarf and used it to make a ribbon.
Uncle Titus brought us this beautiful fruit boquet from him, Aunt Ruthie and Uncle Aarons. They probably have no idea how much it means to us to know they remembered! Thanks guys!
Uncle Reuben & Aunt Carmen brought us these lovely flowers and a very meaningful card where Carmen wrote a sweet memory of you. That ment so much to us!
Thankyou to everyone who remembered us with a phone call, text or prayer that day!


Life is changed.....not taken away.