My love hate relationship with .... facebook

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"?

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 ...

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

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

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

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!