And he opens the hearts and eyes of his people!

The Haiti earthquake has caused devastation that is unimaginable to any of us sitting in our comfy homes amidst our comfortable lives. Our country has been bombarded with news casts, reporters and telethons highlighting the devastation of the lives lost, the ruble and yes, the orphans left alone. It is unthinkable that children are wondering the streets without a home. It is unthinkable that entire orphanages have been destroyed and many have died. It is unthinkable! With those pictures, the Lord has begun to prompt the heart of his people ... and amidst the devastation, the Lord has created beauty!

I have watched over the past week or more and seen the hearts of people around me begin to open .. eyes seeing for the first time the plea of the orphan. It is completely beautiful! You see, for the better part of 3 years, I have been screaming from a megaphone the plight of the orphan as have the entire community in which I work, love and serve. The people behind the adoption agencies and ministries who spend every ounce of their energy working to do what has been done this week ... stir hearts and open eyes to the fatherless!

In 2008, I took on the task of organizing an Orphans Gala for our adoption agency, America World Adoption Association that Doug and I are Associates for. The campaign that AWAA is working on is called the "Orphans Ticket Home" and the goal is to raise 1 million dollars. EVERY penny will be used to not only care for the orphans that are living in transitional homes in Ethiopiopa (who await their forever families), but YES, to get 5,000 children into the adoption system all over the world! Children who literally have no identity will be made paper ready and yes, will be placed into the system that gives them the hope for a future. Children just like those children in Haiti .. living amidst devastation, poverty, and ravaged by a life of hopelessness!
During the time that I worked on the Gala, I attended bible study after bible study, meeting after meeting, small group after small group speaking on this very plight. My team knocked on the doors of businesses and shared everything we could to get them to be involved .. to help us raise the funds to get these children into homes. I can remember coming home sometimes feeling so defeated. I just couldn't understand why my community didn't see what so many of us adopting families saw ... the heart of the children who needed HOMES! The Gala was a huge success in the end. The Lord moved mountains and the event ended in 4 new adopting families, one man coming to Christ and 40,000$ raised towards the initiatives. BUT ... my hope for the Gala was that my community would see the one thing I see and saw ... the orphan. My desire was the this community would step up and say "Yes, Jesus, I will follow you, I will give you everything I have to do the one thing you have asked and have said is pure religion .. to care for the orphan, the widow and the foreigner among us".

So, I watch this week and I see how God used a devastation for his amazing good! I have watched friend after friend contact me and ask "how do I adopt a Haitian child" or say "I am willing to bring a child into my home". I have watched "the church" that we have BEGGED to preach adoption and orphan care from the pulpit, preaching James 1:27! It is so true, God uses all things for HIS GLORY, even the devastation of the Haiti earthquake!

This past week I was contacted by a friend through an agency that had 54 children in an orphanage in Haiti that they were petitioning for to come to San Antonio. They were looking for families who had been through the adoption process, had had home studies prior or currently and would be ready for fostering or evening adopting one of the children. OF COURSE, we said yes as did many of my precious friends in the amazing adoption community I run with. We began to follow e-mails closely and pray that the Lord would move mountains to bring them here. We waited patiently for news of what our State Dept. would say. It would take a miracle, the cutting through of mountains of governmental red tape by both governments. The end result ... a big fat NO. But there was beauty in that emotional week. I watched an entire community stand up and say "YES .. I WILL FOLLOW YOU"!

Frustrated? You better believe it! Disappointed? Absolutely! Grieved? You know it! There are 71 children amidst ruble, without Mommy's and Daddy's, food, and shelter ... and we can't get to them! This makes my heart sick and my soul cry out!

But in the end, our Lord is sovereign and he knows exactly what is going on!

I have had numerous people since learning of these children contact me and ask me how they can adopt one of them. Friends whom I have known for years have come out of the wood work to say they are open to adoption .. to helping one of these children. I LOVE THAT! That is our GOD!

BUT here is the reality, adoptions in Haiti have shut down for now. In all honesty, it has to happen. You see, that red tape and all the mountains of paperwork that any family adopting internationally or even domestically walks through is CRITICAL and CRUCIAL for every single child. Can you imagine if we took away the checks and balances that are in place to ensure that a child isn't being sold, child trafficked etc.? Not everyone has the right motive and it is the responsibility of both the Haitian government and ours to protect the children who have no advocates. The red tape is not only necessary it is critical! To add, many of the children that have resulted from this devastation may not be truly orphaned. In the midst of the devastation, there are children who were orphans even BEFORE the earthquake. That happens to be the case for the now 71 that we have been praying and petitioning to our city. However, their are also MANY children who have been separated from their families and loved ones. The goal for them should most certainly be reuniting them with those loved ones. Our country can't simply go in and begin bringing children into homes without the appropriate measures because we can never be assured we have placed legitimately orphaned children unless the appropriate measures are taken.

So yes, there are 300,000 children in Haiti who are orphaned. The reality is heart wrenching but the beauty in that horrific crisis, is that the Lord has used devastation to open the hearts of his children. The reality is, there are also 4.8 million children who are orphaned in Ethiopia through the devastation of the AIDS crisis and extreme poverty, there are 20 million in China that are the by-product of governmental policies and cultures, there are thousands in Rwanda that are the product of horrific genocide. There are 150,000 right here in your back yard. Each of these children, orphaned, are unthinkable. Just as we look into the eyes of the children of Haiti on our TV's and want to rescue them, if you could see the children in these countries and witness their circumstances, you'd want to take them home as well.
The good news is, you CAN! Many countries have open and ready programs. My agency works with Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ukraine, Russia, China, Kazaksthan, India and Brazil. Other agencies may have other programs that you are called to. So, if the Lord has used this devastation to open your heart, I encourage you to pray earnestly to see if perhaps, he isn't calling you somewhere else. And if you feel called ... call me! I'd LOVE to help direct your path!

One of these days, after the dust settles and the infrastructure is put into place, Haiti will again open their doors, My agency, America World Adoption Association is already taking names of families interested in the program once it is open. And when it does, just like any other adoption, you will walk through a mountain of paperwork, through a valley of red tape and governmental processes but in the end, when you look into the eyes of your child, you will know that he/she was legitimately a child who was once fatherless and has now found their way HOME!

May the Lord continue to call on his children and place the spirit of adoption in each of their hearts. He demonstrated his heart for adoption when he adopted each of us into his family! He showed us his love when he took us in, broken and imperfect, and made us his sons and daughters. Is he calling you to do the same? Maybe that child is in Haiti ... but maybe, he or she is right now, sitting in the middle of a country that is incurring it's own crisis! Search his heart, I promise, when it comes to his fatherless child, he will show you the way!

Until they all have homes!

Confessions of a good Christian girl

A Believer .. someone who believes Jesus died on a cross for their sins so that they can have eternal life. Someone, yes me, who Believes and knows that I am a sinner and without him, I am unworthy of Eternal life with God. I have a faith .. one that is based upon things I have never seen but things I know to be truths. I have seen Jesus move, felt his presence, seen his miracles, heard his calling, and known his touch. I am a believer, and with that should come fruits of the spirit that he bestows on us: Joy, Love, Peace, Patience, Kindness, goodness, Gentleness, and Self-Control - according to the truth of the book I seek, the bible, and Galatians 5:22.

So, I have a confession, today, I lack many of those fruits aand today, I confess that though I believe ... I am frustrated, angry, and disappointed with the one I love! Hardly the picture of Galations 5:22 and a "Good Christian Girl".

I have walked in a body of disease for 4 months. That doesn't sound like a super long time. I have heard others who have ravaged for years in the land of the unknown. I have heard testimonies of sweet friends who waited a year or even more to know what ails their bodies. It doesn't sound long ... until you are living it! Every day, feels longer. Every ache feels deeper. Every moment, feels more and more frustrating.

I am a believer .. and I believe he can heal. I also believe and know he knows my inner most thoughts and every hair on my head. My creator who created me then must know what is destroying me a little at a time. So I cry out to him ... please answer me! As I sat in the shower today, I wept ... loudly and angrily ... "GOD, i just need your answers ... DIRECT ME ... HEAL ME!"
A sweet face peeks around the corner. It is Maliah. Though I have closed the door, she has heard her Mommy cry. She walks to the shower and looks through the glass

"Mommy, why are you crying"

"Mommy just doesn't feel good, I'm sorry Maliah"

Staring through the glass with sadness on her face

"Mommy, can I kiss and make it better ... don't cry"

This is my day, this is my morning. This ISN'T how it is supposed to begin!

I go to my Dr. - he stares at me. He asks questions. He then leaves the room and brings me in the name of a physician in Springfield, Missouri. He tells me that a patient of his had mysterious symptoms for 3 years and that she flew to see him. He says "Maybe you should contact him and see if there is anyone he'd recommend in our area for "out of the box" situations". My head swirls and I think ... How about YOU check with him ... I've paid you a co-payment to stare at me once a week or more for the past FOUR months! He hands me his information, sends me down for more mysterious blood work that has yet to return and then I'm on my way. No answers .. really, no direction. More unknowns!

So numerous friends tell me to look into a Rheumatologist. I receive the name from a family friend of my parents. I call him and the girl on the other end says "Why would you like to schedule an appointment"? I fumble my words a little before I mutter, "I've been sick for months with all sorts of pains and several have recommended I see a Rheumatologist". She asks about the symptoms, tells me to wait a minute. After a few minutes she returns to the phone. "I'm sorry, Dr ---- only sees patients with DIAGNOSED Rheumatoid Arthritis". Frustrated I say "Well, I don't know what is wrong with me .. that is why I am trying to see a Dr.". She says she understands.
REALLY? Does she understand? Does she feel what I feel every day? Does she have pain in weird places. Did she sit with her fingers pressed to a glass of ice water during an entire evening out with ladies just so she could stand the pain and try to enjoy her night? Does her fingers tingle on some days and feel perfectly normal the next? Does her hip ache? Did she have to give up things she loves to do because it hurts too much? Does she feel like she's 90 when she's 35? Does she REALLY understand?

Returning to the phone:
"I can get you in with another Dr. on February 5th".

I am learning that Health Care Reform may look like many things. I am learning as the patient that Dr's really don't give a FLIP about each patient and following their care. It is just a J-O-B! They provide a service. Once your gone and your chart has disappeared .. so has their memory of you, your ailments, and your mystery disease. I am learning that advocating for myself isn't fun. I am learning that looking for answers is incredibly lonely. I am learning that I have so many things to learn!

I am a believer! I confess that today, I am frustrated ... disappointed .. and crying out to my God and it doesn't feel like he's listening. That's not what should come out of the mouth of a "Good Christian Girl" ... but it does .. I CONFESS!!

I suppose I wouldn't know a mountain .. If I hadn't walked in the Valley

The past 3 months has been, well, frankly a walk in the Valley. The darkness over our home ... the spiritual warfare that has taken place has felt on somedays, more than I could bare. It started on October 9th with a case of swollen lymph nodes and has done the domino effect since. It has effected more areas of our life than just my health .. it has penetrated our finances (because yes, those darn bills are expensive!), our focus (taking our hearts and eyes off the things we want to do) and sometimes, even my joy (I do confess).
After numerous doctors visits ... still no answers. It is frankly frustrating. I find myself questioning my own self. Am I just crazy? I mean, after a CT, a chest X-ray, a trip to an infectious disease Dr., an appointment with a Pulmonologist, lung function tests, echocardiograms, mountains of blood work ... NOTHING firm!
Yes, I completely acknowledge that that is also a good thing. The LAST thing I want is to hear that my lungs aren't working properly, that an infectious disease has riddled my body, that my heart is ill, that my blood counts are off... but ...when you feel what I have been feeling and there is no explanation, it is FRUSTRATING!
In the beginning we know that my "ACE" levels were waaay out of whack. We know that my lymph nodes were swollen and abnormally large for oh, 6 plus weeks, we know that after 3 doctors, one finally said that the CT showed my esophagus to be very inflamed ... WOW, couldn't the first one have told me that? We know antibiotics didn't work - 2 rounds of them.
I know that when I awake each day, I pray that the sharp shooting pains that riddle my ribs and back would have magically disappeared. I know that in some moments ... I think they have and then suddenly they are back. I know that when I lay on my side that often I get a burning sensation in my rib cage area. I know that the bones itself that wrap around my back and under my chest are tender in different places to the touch and yet not always in the same place.
I know that I have had constant drainage since the lymph nodes began to clear ... that seems to make sense. I know that a few weeks ago, my left hip began to ache as if I had run into something. It felt bruised and yet it isn't ... and no, I haven't run into anything. I know that some moments of the day it feels just fine and others ... it hurts. I know that last night out of the blue, I began to have sharp shooting pains (like in my nerves) shooting up the top of my wrist in my left hand. Doug and I had to giggle .. what else could we do? I know that those same pains woke me at 5:00 this morning and left me with the inability to fall back to sleep they hurt so bad. I know that sometimes, when I wear my bra or a cami that is snug around my rib cage ... I begin to ache there. I know that last night, as I laid in bed, my knees began to tingle and yet today ... they feel just fine.
I know that lately, it's just been hard to get motivated ... I mean, when you have to take coffee out of your morning routine .. who would be motivated?

I know all these things and yet, with each visit, the Doctors are baffled and I can't get any firm direction as to the cause. I know that when they look at me, I begin to feel like I'm crazy. Am I depressed like the arrogant infectious disease Dr. said and concluded before asking me even ONE question about my symptoms (all the while Doug and I were totally laughing at him and the whole situation!).

I know that tonight, I am going to a healing service with my church. I know that it is TOTALLY out of my comfort zone. I'm not sure why really. I mean we know that Jesus heals and I have asked him time and time again to place his hand on me and heal me. I don't know why stepping into that place tonight sounds like THE most frightening thing right now. Maybe it's the enemy ... that fear surely doesn't come from the Lord who will be present and no doubt .. will heal somebody, some situation, some heart! Our pastor's wife asked me to attend as did a good friend in our family Acacia group. So I am going to go and I know that I will leave feeling full of the spirit ... because I KNOW he'll be present and will encourage me and remind me that no, I'm not crazy ... but maybe all those Doctors are.

I know that the Lord himself is my physician. I know he knows the pains I feel. I know he could reach inside of me and make them stop. I also know that during this walk in the Valley he has something for me to learn ... or else, I may never know what it is truly like to be on the Mountain. So, Lord, quiet my heart and my spirit and speak to me. I am ready to listen!

Re-adoption Day!

January 8th was "re-adoption day" for Maliah. Now, your probably asking the same thing Maliah did ... "Wasn't I alweady adopted in China?" The answer is yes, and yes she has always been ours. BUT in order to get a U.S. Birth certificate and for her to be able to apply for a U.S. passport someday, it must be done. It officially puts her name and birth place - Guangdong, China - on U.S. documents. This officially recognizes her adoption in our jurisdiction. It makes school registrations and all those things in life simply easier on her! So, it must be done.

So, yes, I suppose it is a big deal to have those documents but in our hearts, adoption day was September 5, 2006. The day the Lord made complete what was birthed in our hearts.

We enjoyed the day with many of our adopting friends who also had not yet completed the re-adoption. Some of Maliah's closest buddies and there families were present so it made the day extra special.

Before we left I took a video of Maliah and asked her what the day was. I also asked her what adoption was. My heart melts when she tells me "it is the day that Mommy and Daddy claimed my heart". We have talked about it a hundred times. I always tell her that same thing. I also asked her in the video "Who else claims your heart". We also talk about this ... JESUS DID! When I asked her why "Because he loves me". Such a fitting and perfect answer! He does. HE claims our hearts when we become HIS! We too can be adopted into his family. His Kingdom on earth ... his Kingdom in heaven. I am HIS! I have been adopted. My name is in his book. It is official. There is no need to re-adopt me as the Lambs book of life will recognize my name. When I travel there, there will be no need for a passport of any kind. My passport was paid for and granted to me the day Jesus died on a cross for all my inequities and the day I received and believed him in my heart ... my passport was granted! How about you? Have you been adopted?

I love adoption and how perfectly it solidifies what our father did for us. Unconditionally he loves us. He adopts us. We are HIS!

Maliah is ours. We have loved her from the moment we said yes ... and didn't even yet know her name. So re-adoption day was special because it had to be done and well, anything that has to do with one of my kids is special. One day, I pray that she is "re-adopted" only this time ... it is into our Father's family. The day Maliah says "yes" and her name is written officially in the Lambs book of life!

Christmas 2009 pics

Christmas has come and gone ... and yes, I am finally going to post a few pictures. We had a great and relaxing holiday this year. The kids enjoyed spending countless hours outside. One moment I will never forget is Dakota finding her confidence riding her bike. As she came peddling down the street with the biggest grin on her face yelling "I love my bike, I love my bike" .. my heart about leaped from my chest. She had be really self conscious of riding her bike and wouldn't really try. She had taken off her training wheels almost a year prior and although she had rode it a few times, she just never seemed to gain her confidence in her ability to really do it. Little by little one day, she rode and by the days end, she was screaming in joy at her accomplishment. Her grin and her look of pride said it all. Later, this was the conversation that took place in the car ...

Mommy: "Dakota, now you can teach Maliah how to ride with just two wheels"

Maliah "I don't want to ride on just two wheels"

Dakota "Oh, Maliah, you have to learn to ride on two wheels. You don't want to happen what happened to me. Last year at the bike rodeo, I was the ONLY person in the entire first grade with training wheels ... and it didn't feel good"

UGH ... my heart sank in that moment as I realized that for a whole year she was sad and struggling with the fact that she was the ONLY one who "couldn't do it". No wonder her face was full of such pride!

That is probably the highlight of my Christmas. Many other moments of joy took place. As always, the excitement of Christmas Eve and the anticipation of what the next day holds is so fun with 3 kids around. Christmas Eve service at Anhalt Dance Hall with our amazing church is a highlight. Each year they decorate it all full of lights. They serve hot coco, hot apple cider and cookies. There is worship and an amazing message from Scott. They even include in a few special "characters" for the kids. This year as we walked up there were live sheep outside and Shepherds welcoming us in. It is always a beautifully special night that the kids also enjoy!

Christmas Eve is spent each year at Nana and Papa's. At tradition holds, this rang true this year as well. My parents always join us. We eat and then there is always a birthday cake or cupcake for Jesus. This year Papa bought all the grandchildren lights that went on their head and they went on a scavenger hunt for all the characters in the manger scene using only the lights on their foreheads to find their way. I wish you could have seen them all ... it was a hoot!
We read the story of Jesus's birth from Luke and then together as families we sang several Christmas songs ... Away in the Manger, Silent Night. Drexel, who is 3 just wanted us to sing "David Crowder" .. how funny is he!

When all that was over, the fun began ... present time from Nana and Papa to all 8 of the grandkids. It is always fun watching them open up their gifts and all the excitement that comes with all their new goodies. The event is repeated on Christmas morning with us and then again Christmas afternoon with my parents. Believe me ... my kids weren't lacking for gifts!
But all in all, at the end of the day you could ask any of them what we were celebrating and they would tell you ... Jesus's birthday! Praise the Lord!

So here are a few pictures of the fun. I will also be putting in a few of the school parties on the last day before break. I ran back and forth between both of them .... could someone just clone me? What will I do in two years when I have three parties and three precious kids to make special!

New Lips

So the other day Maliah fell hard and big. The inside of her lip has a huge cut ... one that almost took us to the ER until I quickly remembered that you can't do much with the inside of a lip. A few days later while brushing her teeth, Maliah asked if Jesus would give her a "new lip" .. that she needed a "new one". Before I could answer, she opened her little shirt, looked down on to her chest and said "Jesus, can you give me a new lip". Giggling, I asked .. "Is Jesus in your heart"? "YEP .. he's there" she replied.

Well, it looks like good news. Maliah officially knows that Jesus is the one who heals our boo boo's AND that indeed, he resides and lives in our heart.
Sweet moments by Maliah!

Where did it go?

O.k., so 2009 came and went and I realized somewhere along the way I got really lazy about posting on my family blog. I am not even sure anyone reads it, but in all honesty, I write it for myself anyways. You see, last year, I took the posts of 2008 and made them into a really cool book using an online site. It was so fun to receive a hard bound book of my journals of the ins and outs of 2008 that I was resolute in doing the same for 2009. AAAH .. what happened? I think I'll blame it on Facebook. That silly social network has stolen my inspiration. Instead of coming here to blog about the fun or cute thing my kid just did, I find myself using a one liner and making it my status update. There .. then it's done and over .. inspiration gone. Poooey on that! You facebookers may just have to come here to see all the wonderfully amazing and cute things that come out of the mouths of the Martine babes!

So, it's 2010. Before we move out into this new year, I needed a chance to say goodbye to ol' 09! It was quite a year of adventures. Many of which, I was TERRIBLE at posting on here. We had a lot of family fun ... vacations to S. Padre, North Padre, Laity Lodge Family Camp and camping (o.k. so I could have totally done without that one). The kids went to 9 camps between the three of them. YES .. we are crazy! Dakota did horse camp, art camp, Tbar sports camp and VBS. Maliah did gymnastics camp, Canyon did UIW baseball camp, golf camp, TbarM overnight sports camp and VBS. I'm totally missing a few in there. Sad that I cannot even recall all of them. Perhaps another great reason I should be blogging ... I'm loosing my mind and my ability to recall things.

I sent out our annual family Christmas letter ... 3 weeks late. HA. I think my friends should be receiving them TODAY (Yes, January 6th). I decided I had spent the time and money to put them together so heck, I was sending them out. Besides, about now those who spent their lives away on those plastic things called credit cards are totally hating themselves as they are receiving their most recent statement ... "I went overboard on Christmas". So, perhaps my little card and picture will bring a smile to their day. I hope so. Maybe I should have sent them a copy of the "Total Money Makeover" instead. Gotta love that Dave ... no debt here!

SO, 2009 ... I say good bye to you. I say good bye to all the adventures and the wonderful days we shared. I also hope to say good bye to all these health things that ail me ... if I speak it maybe it will happen! I am thinking positive and praying that 2010 is the year of healing and the year of fruit (as in the Lord blesses all of my sweet hubby's endeavors).
Last post for the 2009 book ... here it is. Before I close out, I'm gonna put in my letter. In 20 years I will look back and laugh and get to see all the Lord did since I wrote each tale.

Friends, stay tuned for 2010. I hope to be inspired ... or in any event, do a better job at keeping up with all my kids and their amazing adventures!

Happy New Years!!

Thankfully, hesitation and procrastination didn’t outweigh determination in getting out our greetings! YES, they are arriving in your mailbox a little after Santa made his way into town, but as the saying goes “Better late than never”!

2009 was the year of the Martine Great Adventures! Between a summer of 9 kids camps, three mini vacations and many new business adventures, I am not quite sure where to begin … or end.

Canyon continues to speak one language, “Sport”. He is definitely all boy and has developed that man gene – ESPN + remote control. I love that the success of a school day is measured in how many touchdowns he scored at recess. Thankfully, there is also plenty of room for excellent academics, hilarious wit, sweet compassion and endless joy. It is so hard to believe that 2010 will take my boy into double digits. Time flies when your having fun with Canyon!

Dakota has renamed herself “The Cake Boss”. Our creative and whimsical girl has a new found love for cake making and has blessed us with many delicious creations. Dakota is a big second grader and an independent reader who loves to talk to us by spelling her W-O-R-D-S out. She is a full time game! She is also in her fourth year of dance and this year added in some English Saddle Horse lessons. A week at horse camp in the summer and Dakota had found her first love, “Top Gun”, a beautiful Morgan horse. Along with all her activities, she is one awesome big sister who loves quiet moments in the playroom playing with her American Girl dolls, horses and Maliah.

Maliah continues to keep us on our toes and amaze us! Recently someone told me that “Imaginary friends” were a sign of intelligence. We’ve decided that Maliah must be Einstein as she has an entire family we’ve never met complete with a husband, kids and several best friends! This year, if it could be possible, has brought the year of complete independence. I went into her room one night while she was sleeping to find her talking her in her sleep. No surprise she was saying “I do it myself”. The girl even dreams strong willed. Maliah and I get lots of Mommy time which is filled with gymnastics, play dates and “helping Mommy” around the house. It’s so hard to believe she’s four!! Before I know it, I’ll be sending my baby to Kinder. UGH!

Doug. Where do I begin? In March Doug officially became the proud CEO of “Martine Consulting, LLC.” Being on his own has brought great joy and challenges but truly has been an adventure that could only be navigated by the Lord. He continues to use his knowledge and experience in Construction by providing Construction Management services for several developers but has also added “Business Developer” to his list of titles. The Lord works in awesome ways and this year led Doug to an amazing Coffee Roasting Company called “BIQA” that is truly a ministry changing the lives of the growers it works with. Go check out Doug’s newest endeavor for yourself and be sure to order yourself some of their delicious organic coffee. Put “Doug” in the comments, he’d love to know you stopped by! Aside from growing companies, being the #1 Daddy, an amazing husband … there is a little time for working out and grabbing an evening with a few men he loves now and then.

The past year seems like a blur to me. I am still working with America World Adoption agency as their Texas Associate. In January, Doug and I were blessed with an opportunity to spend a day in the corporate office in McLean, VA. in a meeting with Brian, the founder, and some of the staff. Our time there solidified what we already knew … the heart of the agency is Christmas himself and their passion is orphan advocacy in its entirety! Since we were only minutes from D.C., we stayed over for a few nights and did the appetizer tour of all that D.C. has to offer. We hope to return one day, as we loved it. 2009 brought me the proud title of “Full time volunteer” for Martine Consulting. I help Doug with the administration side of his business. I love to tease him that I have a demanding boss but in reality, it is super fun being a part of the journey. Aside from those duties, the 9 camps and after school activities all require a taxi driver – thank you! The end of 2009 also gave me the joy of putting to test our health care system and all their diagnostic tests. I feel like I have spent the better part of the past 3 months in a doctor’s office and or milling through medical bills. To date, there is no firm diagnosis on what ails me, and so I am left as the mystery to be solved. Doug says he’s not surprised … he’s been trying to figure me out for years! HA In the little free time I have, I enjoy getting to the gym, coffee chats with friends and ladies bible studies.

Well, I’ve never been one for brevity. It is so hard to compress all the Lord has done in a year into one page. We look back and see his hand and his blessings throughout each adventure and praise him for all his provisions! We look forward to a new year and all HE will bring.

In His Love
The Martine’s
Doug, Cristie, Canyon, Dakota and Maliah
www.martinemadness.blogspot.com
www.biqacoffee.com