Did someone press FAST FORWARD?

WOW ... so, let me think, it's been SO long since I've stopped in and written that I cannot even recall all that life has brought into our home since we've last chatted. I know things have been busy ... really busy!
I don't even think that I have shared some adventures that I wanted and intended to write about because of the lack of time and well, energy. I'll try to share a few now. Hold on as I may be all over the map on this one.

The first Martine adventure of the year was a blessed weekend that Doug and I spent in McLean, Virginia and D.C. For all of my America World readers .. that's right ... your adoption headquarters. After the very successful San Antonio, Gala, there was much to learn and glean from the experience. As AWAA is working to plan more Gala's in the coming year, Doug and I worked together to put together a "manual" of sorts to help them and future Gala Chairs streamline the process. Our goal was to make things clear and concise for anyone willing to take on the task and at the same time cover everything that accounting would need to have in order to precisely handle all those tax quandries. With a fun invite, we headed off to McLean for a few days and were amazingly blessed by the time we spent there. If I can say one thing it is this ... AWAA is the agency it is because of the man who is leading ... Brian Luwis (and of course a phenominal staff). Doug and I were blessed to spend our time in the office with him where he, like a kid with a big bowl of candy, showed us the 130 plus children's files who have become "paper ready" in Honduras because of the work and resources from the Orphans Ticket Home Campaign. He also allowed us to pray with him over one child who was the subject of the day in El Salvador as the goverment decided if he could make his way into the family who was seeking his adoption (also through the work of the OTH campaign). It was so fun to see that the work of the campaign to which we worked so hard with (in doing the Gala) is having such awesome fruits! Press on, Orphans Ticket Home ... until they all have homes!
We then had the sheer pleasure of going to Brian's home, meeting his beautiful kids and then enjoying a wonderful dinner with Renee (his wife), Brian, Amanda and ourselves at a gorgeous restaurant that overlooked the U.S. Capital (Yes, McLean is minutes from D.C.). The meal was great but the conversation greater! It was in those hours that the Lord confirmed what I believe in my heart ... that AWAA is led by a man with complete integrity who seeks to not only help fulfill the desire for families to build their family through the adoption process but to see to it that every orphaned child is cared for the way God intended. As Brian shared what is going on in different programs and his visions and his work, I was in awe at what the enemy will also do in this mans silence. You see, AWAA is quick to keep a tight lip. We have often laughed that they are tighter than the CIA -- not into playing a part in the rumor mills! It isn't in their desire to keep families in the unknown, but to keep the emotional journey of adoption ... less emotional. I have seen, however, in that silence that is aimed at protecting, the enemy has used it at times to place doubts into families heads that their agency isn't doing what they should and I have been on the receiving end (as an associate and sometimes a friend) of somewhat troublesome and difficult conversations with those friends. Many times they feel like they are being let down or possibly not advocated for the way they should. In my spirit, during those conversations, I have always aided on the side of just listening and trying to empathize but often the Lord has also made my heart be troubled as I just know from the work I have done with AWAA and in HIS confirmations that they are without a doubt advocates of the children first and the families second ... just the way it should be. During the few hours over dinner, Brian shared how with integrity he presses forward to be sure that all programs and humanitarian work in each country is done so with the utmost integrity as an agency who in all regards is the hands and feet of Christ. As Brian shared, I was confirmed what I often assumed ... that the popular and sometimes proficient aren't necessarily always above reproach. Brian Luwis leads AWAA with a few things in mind ... integrity, honesty, humility and with the heart of each truly orphaned child in mind first. To Brian, AWAA's work is a ministry and not a "business". The adoptions that transpire are the work of the ministry and the fruits of doing what Christ tells us each to do ...
"to care for the Orphans, Widows and foreigners among us".

As the month of January moved out, came February. It seems like a whir wind and right now the only thing I can recall with great substance was a morning that I won't soon forget. As I got my blue eyed beauty dressed for school, the day took a tail spin. As I was combing Dakota's hair, I looked up in the mirror to see that her face was loosing all sight of color. She had become pail and had a look of discomfort on her face. She spoke softly, asking for her blankie (the one thing that brings her security) and then in the next moments that seemed like a lifetime ... her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed on the floor. Dakota fainted and Mommy lost all rational. As I yelled for Doug in the adjacent room, Dakota came to and began to whimper. She asked if she could "Go to her bed". We carried her to our bed and then sat over her as she explained that she felt weird and that she couldn't remember anything. As you can imagine, school was put on hold and we took Dakota to the Dr. After doctors appointments, cardiology tests and more ... we still don't know what led to our episode and yet pray, that it was simply nothing like those tests tell!

The week of the the 9th through the 13th, we were blessed to have my two nephews in town from Oklahoma (staying with my parents). Crew will be 19 in April and has enlisted in the ARMY ... go Crew! Rhett turned 14 during his visit with us. Of course, Canyon, Dakota and Maliah thinks that those boys put the moon and stars in the sky so much of the week was spent working to be sure we could spend time with them while we could. The sweetest moment was my teary eyed boy who had such a hard time saying goodbye when it was time for them to go.

March 14th ... our 11 year anniversary. That was a day to celebrate only it was filled with baseball games, birthday parties and more. The evening of our anniversary, Doug and I found ourselves enjoying Saltgrass Steakhouse with the fruits of our years ... three beautiful kids! I guess that's what an 11 year anniversary looks like in the real world. HA!

Spring Break was this past week. We spent the first part of the week in a tent camping at Blanco State Park. It was there, in the wind and dirt, that I realized ... I"m a princess and I don't camp! Truly, it was fun to watch my kids bounce about, fish and dig in the dirt. The problem was ... Mommy hates dirt, being dirty, and going to bed without a shower. Suck it up, right. Well, day two came with the littlest Martine having numerous bouts of diarrhea. Could camping get any more fun? UGH! Luckily for us, Blanco State Park is only 40 minutes from home and so Daddy ran his two girls home and then the troops went back out to enjoy the rest of their trip. I think the best part of my camping trip was the moment I was camped out on the couch and received a sweet phone call from my son who exclaimed with excitement "We caught 18 fish and a snapping turtle, but it just isn't the same without you and Maliah". AAAAAH ... good camping memories ... even if they are from the comforts of my clean and wind free living room!

Well, the newest endeavor is the fulfillment of my husbands dream .. .to be his own show! After three years as a sole proprietor and doing work with one developer in town, Doug has officially started his own company. As of March 18 we are "Martine Consulting, LLC". Doug is being licensed to also do ADA work which is an entity that answers to government regulations. I suppose that we felt the need to be a part of the "big business" being created by our lovely president. HA (I won't get started). Doug will continue doing work with HPI and they will be his largest contract for now. He is also spreading his wings into other areas which is exciting! During the process it appears that I have become an employee of Martine Inc. I woke up one morning with a job of running the books and admin. work. HMMM??? I didn't know I was looking for a job!
The running joke is that you can't fire a volunteer ... especially one you sleep with. HA

SO, as you can see, life is really busy. Actually today I am well occupied with my middle of the 3 home with pink eye and strep throat. Yet another load of fun!
I hope that each of you are doing well. Leave me a note and let me know your still out there. I have had a few "readers" and friends drop by to see if I had fallen off the map. Still here ... just all over it!

On to the next endeavor ... cleaning up play dough that is overtaking the kitchen while I avoid the obvious .. referee work!

Here are some pictures of the week with my nephews. We spent the day on the River and I enjoyed putting my new DSLR camera to work!