Tis the Season

Well, things have been crazy, busy in the Martin household!! I have been doing PTA stuff, CJs school stuff, did the flowers for a friend's wedding, and taking care of the husband. Last week before our nutty Oklahoma weather happened Jon went 4 wheeling with a buddy and rode over a log that y'd, well (the log) it basically flipped around and pinned his ankle to his 4-wheeler! OUCH!! We put it in a boot and waited until Monday- sad thing is it sleeted all night and we had to get out on that horrible ice!! It is everything but broken, so he has been limping around all week. Starting in the beginning of December, I coordinated the Broken Arrow PTA Holiday luncheon it was stressful, but really came off without a hitch. At Madison and Andrew's school we had the Holiday Shoppe all week and I was up there most of last week! Our school did well and the kids had a blast and I am pretty sure I am getting some gaudy jewelry which I am totally stoked about! LOL Wednesday of last week I made 16 graham cracker "gingerbread" houses for CJ's class and he mutilated and ate it before he even got home from his party. He actually took it off the plate and decorated the inside of the house-that can't be right! I did my first set of flowers for a wedding on Friday. I did the bridesmaids and bridal bouquets, as well as the ladies corsages. I will post pictures when I get them!! It's amazing what you can learn on You tube. The kid's were all in the wedding and did an amazing job! The boys were the ringbearers/bell ringers and they rang bells walking down the aisle and said " THE BRIDE IS COMING! THE BRIDE IS COMING!" It was wonderful and Madison was an amazing flower girl and Jon and I were so proud! It was a great night! Today, December 21st is Savannah's 2nd anniversary in Heaven. I am 2 years closer to Heaven with Jesus and that is such an amazing event to look forward to! I sang at church today and I believe that I have found the most amazing new Christmas song it is called "How Many Kings" by Downhere. The group is amazing look them up they are awesome!! Tomorrow, I am singing for a friend's grandmothers funeral, so I hope that I can do her justice. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday with their families! I will post pictures of my beautiful babies soon!! Love to all and MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Sarah

Pray for Sweet Bella

http://delangefamilytx.blogspot.com/

Above is a website of a family that had their sweet girl at 24weeks. We spent a long time in the NICU with Savannah and it is an exhaustive process and they need our prayers!! Good or bad they need a gentle touch from God that no matter what everything will be ok. God is good all the time.. Sarah

Branson 08

Here is just 2 of of our 96 pictures my camera took in Branson!! We had a great time with our family! We have such sweet kids! On Saturday we went to watch the Dixie Stampede which was awesome! It did not leave our minds though that our sweet Savannah was celebrating her 2nd birthday with Jesus. We miss her- but we are truly, truly blessed and just humbled by what God has done in our lives these last 2 yrs. We are not the same, and for how horribly we lost her God has wrapped us constantly in His love. We are better people because of her. Thank you for all your prayers- it gets us through the tough days that creep up on us. I might add more pics soon but I am off to clean and recoup from our trip!!

TODAY IS THE DAY

I WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW.....
HOPE YOU DO THE SAME!





SARAH

Praying for Rain

Alright!!! OK I need some motivation from my blogging buddies!! It's coming up that time of year again and I am trying to focus on the business of living and not grieving over Savannah!! It's not that I don't grieve, but now it doesn't consume me. I have done really good and then the Monopoly game came out for McDonalds and my brain shifted towards that grief. Weird,

I know but for me it is sequences of events that I know happen every year. Monopoly @Mc Donalds, Halloween, Drew's Birthday Nov 2, Savannah's Birthday November 8th. This is the post I wrote 2 weeks before I had her-and this point we had no idea she had any problems.

Conspiracy

Alright, due to my insanity of being about 4 weeks away from having a baby I have began participating in the McDonald's Monopoly game. I don't really like McDonalds yet I have managed to go there more often than I would care to mention. The hilarious thing is that I truly believe I could win that 5 million dollars, and all my problems would be solved and new ones would surely arise. The conspiracy is that McDonalds gives everyone 3 out of the 4 Railroads, and now everyone is searching for that dang Short Line!! I don't care if I am 9 months pregnant I would fight my older brother for that Railroad!! LOL (because I know he is playing) Let me give you an example: I have managed to rope my normally level headed husband into the insanity! Yesterday, I call him about 5pm from our home phone and he begins the conversation with "I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU OWN A CELL PHONE WHEN YOU NEVER ANSWER IT!" (By the way he never calls me!!) A little taken a back I said "excuse me?" He asked " What Railroad do you need? I said What? He said What Railroad do you need? Not remembering I said B&O and he proceeded to go on like a 5 min rant about how he saw a B&O railroad on the counter at the Midway McDonald's and he didn't want to pick it up if I already had it, I never answer my phone, and he was almost home and how mad he was at me because he did not pick up the small little piece of sticky paper on the counter at the Midway McDonalds. Soooo, what is my first instinct? I start laughing!! I said Are you kidding me? Which made him even more angry because I have now lost HIM 5 million dollars!! After he hung up on me I ran through the house and found the monopoly board only to find that I needed Short line not B&O!!! So, I ran back to the phone and called to assure my normally level headed husband that I had not lost him 5 million dollars!! See maybe my question is how was that my fault? LOL What would have been the problem for him to just pick up the little game piece and stick in his pocket? I need to have this baby or win 5 million dollars that's all I'm saying! I Hate McDonalds!! LOL

It's a funny blog- I still laugh because I remember how funny it was when it happened, but I feel like we were so oblivious to the life changing events that were getting ready to happen to us. I have worked really, really hard to keep going - but somedays there is a push to keep going. Sometimes it feels like the flu, and sometimes it feels like hormonal depression. So, January of last year I started on Weight Watchers and I am like 35 lbs down, and I want more off, but getting through this time I pray I don't start eating again!! So again I ask for you to pray for my sweet family during this time and give me a shout out!! I NEED IT!! LOL

17 days and counting!!!!

Love that ride!! We are going to Branson in 17 days!!
Pure exhaustion

Reroofing, Fall Break and New Hair- and All the Pics are mixed up!!

I am not very blogger smart at all right now and it is late so all my pictures are backwards!! Anywho!! If you read the paragraph the pics explain themselves!! LOL
Well I have a couple of weeks to update so this blog might take a while! Read if you dare!! LOL We started off last weekend by letting the kids get on the roof with us and help rip some of the shingles off the house. Jon and I being young and stupid thought that we could re roof our house ourselves with some amazing friends might I add and be done by the end of the weekend! (slight smirk with a giggle) No that is not what happened- by Monday night at 11 pm I am on the roof praying that our neighbors don't call the police because we are nailing shingles STILL onto the roof!! Jon kept saying will you shut up and let me finish- it is going to rain!! We were up there until 1AM and we still were not done!! We knew rain was coming and we had to get tar paper laid and everything covered!! We made it through the rain with no leaks and our roof looks really good!! We have on more spot to finish but we are pretty much done- other than making sure around the house is good and clean! Jon and I have learned a few things reroofing our house together. 1.) We are going to write a book "If You Want to Test Your Marriage-Reroof Your House together. It will Make or Break a Marriage! LOL We had some really tough, irritating, and uncomfortable moments- but we love each other a lot and think we want to stay together another 50yrs or so, and 2.) We will hire someone next time to do it for us- we were really stupid! LOL We talked about it though and we are really proud of ourselves for what we have accomplished!! Fall break started on Wednesday and it rained so we had a movie day, Thursday they just wanted to play outside, and Friday I took the kids to Ray Harrel nature park and they ran around and were big explorers! It was fun and got us out of the house- even if Drew didn't believe that I hadn't got us lost!! He is such a guy!! LOL! Then, I have been desperately trying to decide what to do with my hair it was getting freakishly long for me and I was tired of putting it in a ponytail bun!! Let me know what you think?! I hope everyone had a great weekend!!
Do I look like a grown up?!


Madison tossing shingles to the ground!

The mighty explorers (Extra kid is Kayla, Maddie's friend)
How big was that spider?!
CJ- was tired and wanted me to carry him- me with the weird ponytail-bun!!

Climbing on the roof


I am helping Mom!!
Busy girl!! Gotta get to the top!

For Mandy

I am in no way a photographer and I desperately seek tips from friends and their awesome pictures but I saw this precious face and had to catch it! I hope you can get this Mandy and put it to your collection. He is so adorable. You are an awesome mom!

The Punkin Patch

I had a few problems uploading pics so I will post more later. I am just in awe at how pic CJ is getting- such a big boy! We went on our last pumpkin patch field trip for preschool yesterday. WOW!! I will update more soon!

Stroller Skating

I read all kinds of blogs while I post my own on Blogspot, but the most interesting one I have read was the one about Stroller Skating!! I thought it sounded so fun and the girl said she got quite a workout! Well I emailed the skating guy in Broken Arrow and I am proud to advertise that


BA Roller Sports is now offering Stroller Skating!!


Mommy and Me Days at BA Roller Sports
When: Tuesdays 9:30-11:30am
Beginning September 16th, 2008
Admission is $3.00 (skates included in price)

Broken Arrow Roller Sports is located 1 block South of the Broken Arrow Expressway @ (Elm Place Exit) on Oakland Pl. For General info; call 918-251-6200

Bring your baby, bring your friends, and skate the morning away!!! You’ll be amazed at the workout!!!

What's your Favorite Bible Verse?

I love this question..... I would love to know what your favorite bible verse is? What spoke to you? How did God speak to you? It is always so interesting how God uses His own word to feed us.... Here are mine

Phil 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

John 9:1-5 And as He passed by, He saw a man that was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him saying, Rabbi, who sinned this man or his parents, that he should be born blind? Jesus answered- It was neither that this man sinned nor his parents; it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent me, and long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Let me explain both of these passages of scripture to you....
Phil 3:14 is from a youth camp week I went to in junior high and it was one of the most amazing weeks of my life. I just wanted the prize- I wanted to seek, learn, and know what that prize was. I am a child of God and that is the prize here on earth but oh Heaven with Him, there are no words.....

John 9:1-5 the bible I got this out of was the NASV, but I believe in the New King James it is changed from "it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him" to That I May be Glorified" that verse changed my heart and that is what is on Savannah's headstone
"That He May be Glorified" John 9. That verse continues to give me strength everyday.

Every time someone gives me a verse that helps them I try to look it up. (thanks Amy) I want to know if that verse speaks to me the same way or if God hands me something completely different. He is quite amazing that way.

So- I want to know your favorite verse.. What gets you by/ What verse at a pivotal moment saved you from yourself? What verse changed you? I am so curious... Plus I want to soak in His word and I would love you help.

Thanks- Sarah

Sarah Started Thinking Outloud Again

I have been really searching my heart lately. Since Savannah died, I have been so focused on learning about the physical heart and will probably continue fundraising and supporting the American Heart Association for the rest of my life, but something occurred to me recently what happens if you work on someone’s heart physically and never even invest on their heart and its true eternity, have you missed the mark? Wow even to type that makes me sick to my stomach. What am I doing? I mean everything I talk about regarding Savannah is basically about how God saved us from ourselves. Self destruction is almost inevitable because you lose something in yourself when a child dies, but could this be a way we lead people to Jesus, or do we lose people when they have to comprehend what we have been through? I had 2 very important couples lose babies before us and just being a friend it broke my heart, and then I lost one of my own - it is still devastating even behind the smile. Here is my dilemma- How can I share my faith without sounding like a grieving mother or an annoying broken record? Because I know that after awhile people don't want to hear about her and that sounds harsh but seriously isn't there a point where it feels overused? I struggle because she is gone and never, ever coming back; and it makes me sick that I feel she is being forgotten. I know that 10 yrs from now someone could drive past the cemetery and say "oh yea that is where the Martin baby is buried; but shoot I can't for the life of me remember her name." Do you see my point? Heartbreaking- See, I am now at weeks that are good and then in an instant it will hurt, then it is gone; and I move on again, but how can that turn into a way I can reveal my faith? What about sharing it? I am frustrated that I have come to the realization that I am defined by the death of my child, but am I leaning on that? Is this what defines me? Will it define me forever? My kids started school this week and I love my kids but I danced a jig! We thrive on routine, but I kept thinking never a first day of school for her. I got upset about thinking about having to take CJ to his last, first day of preschool. She will never be an Orange Tiger, Purple Porcupine, or even a Red Rabbit. It hurts my heart, but it just is what it is. I am trying to be active at Madison, Andrew, and CJs schools but they will all be in school all day next year and I am already worried about what I am going to be when I grow up. LOL I have been a mother since I was 20, and I have never truly regretted making the decision to come home and become Jon's wife. Now though- what do I do? There is just only so long I can consume myself with PTA. I mean I love it but on some level I want people to talk to me because they want to not because they see the "Oh Lord PTA lady what does she want? “ LOL! This post was really not supposed to be as serious as I believe it has become, but it is where my mind went so I went with it! It has always amazed me how life works. I am not really good at it sometimes-Life. I just feel sometimes I am always a step behind, Sometimes a step ahead. Why is that? I feel I am such a walking contradiction! I don't know. . I think I am just searching for answers- from God. It’s funny how He works- getting us on our face asking for His help.

Yea!! CJ started school today!!!

Green playdoh to match my shirt!

Ready with my Kung Fu Panda Lunch box and Diego Backpack!! His shirt says "Yes, Girls, I'm Single" that is funny stuff!!
We have to make funny faces Mom!!!

Well we started our last first day of preschool today! No tears! CJ loves school!! We are sooo excited about being a Red Rabbit! School is going to be so fun this year!!

2 Down 1 To Go!!!

Babies, I Don't Think You Get It?

Drew playing with an enormous play gun!


Let me explain why this is so funny... My children have just recently discovered that there is a bed in our couch. It is like a campground in my house. They asked tonight( or begged) to sleep on it and I gave in to their request. I had gone to Wal-mart and Jon put them to bed. When I got home this is what I saw. They pulled the bed out only to put the cushions on the bed and lay on them!! It cracked me up!! They are a hoot!

Want Smore?

YUM!
oOEY Gooey!!

Roasting marshmallows is serious business- it takes technique
Drew soo excited! LOL

Madison is growing her bangs out and it is driving me nuts the hair in her face! She is not a ribbons and bows girl when she plays outside so keeping her hair maintained over the summer has been virtually impossible!! She's still my cutie pants!
I did the pics out of order but I think you get the idea of what our summer bedtime ritual is! My mom started this at her house with them roasting a marshmallow over a tealite! Not to be outdone I do it over the stove!! My mom has amazing things she does with my kids and I try to not to do the fun things that she does at my house because I love that they come back and tell me ALL the things they did at Grandma's! I do however believe that smore making is universal- they are special anywhere!! I don't like marshmallows due to peep incidents growing up that I choose to keep trapped in the recesses of my mind! LOL No, I just loathe marshmallows!! My husband is an amazing sport- he enjoyed his time making smores!! His goal is to look like a goob as much as possible while I take pictures so I said fine I don't care what you do but these pics WILL be on the internet!! LOL!

Interesting Little Scenerio

Well- I am sending out a little (well rather big) prayer request. It's a funny thing what God calls people to do. We are learning that God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the Called. We are searching for what God wants us to do. Jon and I believe we are being called to join our churchs Medical and Dental mission team that goes to Nicaragua each year. We as happy surburban lifed people have really been settled with the attidude of "that is not what I am called to do" well frankly our hearts have changed. So now we lay on our faces trying to search out what God wants us to do. If we choose to go It will be the July-20th- July 27th, 2009, exactly a year from now. There is a lot of prayer, money, and emotional investment going into this trip. So, we are asking for prayer in our decision and frankly I think I need an audible reply from God in one form or another! LOL (Actually, I am quite excited about it!) All the advice thrown at us and prayer support is greatly accepted.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes-

Bible School

I love bible school. I remember it as a kid ya know the sit down, stand up song they used to play. Walking the flags and the bible down and how you were money if you got picked to carry one of those things, and the importance of not letting the flags touch the ground. I always was nervous watching the other kids carrying the flag because I knew that if it touched the ground there might be a flag burning ceremony (never happend but they sure scared the crap out of us huh?) I just love the piece of wood that you painted with broken tooth picks or pieces of sticks that up close you couldn't tell what it said but when you walked away you could read JESUS. So cool. Game time is what my kids talked about tonight. I remember game time at my church so fun Jennifer Nelson and I would get taunted my Beau Bradshaw and maybe Steven Roberts because they were the competive boys! LOL Cameron his brother was older and in elementary school he was my romance and always somewhat saved the day. All of us have kids now- except Cameron he is with Jesus now. Thinking about those amazing times like making Peanut Butter balls rolled in coconut that we took home on Friday night when our parents came to see ALL the crafts we made that week, it makes me miss Cameron- what his wife would have looked like or how many babies he would have had. Just so unknown. I wonder if he has met my Savannah yet? Anywho. I went to Starbucks with a friend tonight for my time out and we got to chat. We have wasted a lot of time not being friends- it is funny how God changes your heart when you never thought your heart could change again. She was and is my friend. It is amazing what God has brought to my mind taking my kids to Bible school. My kids played a game tonight that they all loved- it had to do with bubbles in a pool and what they were thankful for. It was really funny listening to them try to explain. I love them so much. It made me start thinking about what I was thankful for- my husband he is utterly amazing, my kids the ones that are still with me- they make me so frustrated and so proud and happy in the same thought, my parents who have loved us(my brothers and I) unconditionally, my church what an amazing place to worship and seek Him, I am thankful for friends- new ones, old ones, prodical ones, ones that left in anger that were probably misunderstood, grace, I live off of it. I am thankful for Jesus who with out Him I am nothing, Family, Family, Family in whatever form that God gives them to us. Hope- that one day I will see my Savannah again in a place I can only dream about. I still every so often struggle for a breath- I sometimes feel I have failed my other children on the days it hurts to breathe but I keep getting up and trying again, I am thankful for that. I just keep wondering how I deserved all of this?

The Natives Are Restless...

Well we are mid way through summer and let's just say that trying to keep my kids busy is getting difficult. I read of a friend who froze toys in water so her boys could chip away at the ice and dig them out. I am trying that on Monday or Tuesday- a little transformer frozen in an iceberg of ice makes me laugh! I will post pics! Thanks Ashley! Well this week we have built tents, swam, and tortured our poor shih-tzu Boomer. He is praying for school to start to I know it! LOL! Here is some fun pics!
MOM WE NEED MORE CHAIRS!!!

COME ON I AM NOT EVEN A DOG ANYMORE!! So patient! Sweet Boomer!

Drew he is so charming when he wants to be!
CJ
Just climbed up from falling through the innertube!
Such buddies!
Boomer chillin in the tent!