The heart of man plans his way,but the Lord establishes his steps. —Proverbs 16:9

For the last 10 years, my favorite phrase was "When I graduate, I..." It always seemed so far away.  Now it seems that my favorite phrase is "It all depends on...."  Depending on where I get a job, I will move, or not.  Depending on where I get a job, I will have to break some summer commitments.  Depending on where I get a job, I will have to say some pretty hard good-byes.  Depending on.... the list could go on and on.  


Am I the first person to ever go through this? Nope, and I won't be the last.  Does it make it any less hard? Not in the slightest.


 To add to the pending move and good byes,  I have been contemplating going ahead and getting my masters while teaching.  Am I crazy? YES Maybe...I have been studying for my certification tests and am almost done with them.  Now, I am thinking about studying for the GRE.  Every time I look at the book, I feel a wave of nausea determination come over me :)  I have looked at grad programs at UH and at Texarkana A&M, both are good programs.  Both will get me to my next goal.  I am trying to be open and listen to where God has laid my path.  I am trying to be patient and not jump to a decision until I am sure I have weighed all of my options and listened to all that God has for me.  


To be honest, Texarkana is looking pretty good right now, but like everything else in my life at the moment... IT ALL DEPENDS!!

Dear Eli,
My how you have grown!
It has been 6 weeks since you came to be in our family. It is so exciting to see how you have grown! You have a lot more to go, but you are doing great.
Summer is starting soon. You don't know it yet, but it is starting to become really hot outside. I can't wait to see your face the first time you feel the sunshine.
Life has started to get crazy for your dear ol' aunt! I will be graduating in 2 weeks. I wish that you and your parents could be there, but we will video it, so someday, I will show it to you. Maybe it will be of some encouragement to you when you can't seem to study one more page while at college.
These six weeks have gone by so quickly. I can't imagine how fast the next 18 years will be! A little birdie told me that you might get to meet honey and grumps soon. Don't tell them, but I am a little jealous!! I suppose honey and grumps should see you before me and uncle Keith and aunt Sarah.

It is baseball season right now, too! I am excited to be there for your first Astros game! There is something about hanging out with the family at the ball park. I am sure you and your daddy will watch and play many games.

Sleep little Eli, sleep and get stronger! You are loved, my sweet nephew!


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Words can be powerful. From a simple "I miss you" to a heartfelt proposal, words can break your heart or melt it. A simple "congratulations" can mean the world to someone who has just experienced a thrill. A heartfelt "I'm sorry" can mend a broken heart or a broken relationship.

Today, while in the midst of her daughter's glorious and beautiful wedding, my aunt looked at me, smiled and said, "You know, your grandfather would be so proud of you". Oh my! Those were the words I did not know I had longed to hear. Those were the words that melted my heart and made me smile.

See, I am sad that my grandfather won't be there in person to see me walk across the stage. I am psyched that I will have many friends and family that will cheer me on, but there is something about knowing that the one person whom you adore and love will not be there at one of the most important days of your life. He was and continues to be my favorite person. He was my hero and the person I looked most forward to visiting.

That little sentence made me feel, that in all the chaos, all the craziness and long nights, that my Bappaw is here, sitting by me, knitting a cap for Eli and trying to pinch me with those dang toes of his. :)



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I had such a good day today! I sat on the beach for 4 hours with a friend. It was so relaxing to just chill out and hear the waves and feel the breeze.


Then I just got a new picture from my brother of Eli! I heart this little guy :)


Happy Easter!


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Since some of my kiddos at school are bilingual, and TAKS is just around the corner, I have been working with some small groups in my old 3rd grade class. We have been doing reading passages.
Today, one of my boys came up to me and was so excited. He had gotten a 100 on his reading quiz. I was very proud of him. When I expressed my joy and excitement for him, he simply said, "Miss Martin, it was all because you helped me."

Oh my goodness! I had to leave so he wouldn't see me cry. It was such an eye opening moment, one that I will remember forever. To know that I made a difference in a child's life makes all of the projects, papers, sleepless nights and long days completely worth it!



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I try not to get too stressed out...but with school and work and family, it has been an ongoing thing for the last few months. I have been trying to relieve some of the stress by relaxing. Going to movies by myself, reading, driving with the windows down, taking naps outside, and drawing are all things that relax me.

I have to be in certain moods to be able to draw and produce anything remotely worthy. The other day, my sister in law posted a picture of her aggie ring on eli's hand. It is adorable. So, while sitting at starbucks, mad because I had left a book at home I decided to draw.

This is what I came up with. It is still a work in progress. I need to add more to it, and transfer it to other paper...but it is okay.




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Dear Eli-
What a blessing you are for the family. It is so neat to see your mommy and daddy go from wife and husband to mommy overnight! They love you so much and have taken on the roles very well.
I love seeing all of the updates that your daddy puts up. You have so much blonde hair in that little head! Always remember that God knew and loved you before you were born. Your mom and dad loved you before you were born. All of your new family loved you before you were born!
I can't wait to meet you, precious one! Keep gaining weight and getting bigger! And keep making the nurses stay on their toes. I think your great grandfather, Bappaw, may have taught you some things.... :)
Sweet dreams, little one! You will be home soon!


Aunt Manda


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Dear Eli-
What can I say? I have loved you from the moment I got the news that you would be a Martin. You have been prayed for even before you were born...even before you were conceived. Once again, God showed his amazing power and promise of fulfilling his children's desires in His precious time. You are a miraculous answer to a family's prayer. You are the beginning of a new dynamic in the Martin household.

I don't know if you will ever realize the amount of people you have on your side. People that don't even know your mommy and daddy are praying and praising God for you!

Your mom and dad are busy preparing your room...with a space for me to stay when I come to visit. I think uncle Keith is already dreaming up ways to help you to annoy and humor your parents.
Grumps and honey seem ecstatic to have a grandson. I can't wait to see their faces as they hold you for the first time. I will tell anyone who will listen about you. I make sure they know the blessing and joy you have brought to our family.
You will be spoiled, babe... I bought you an elephant a few days after I knew you were here.





If you pull his tail, he plays music!

I can't wait to kiss and hug you...hold you and feed you. I will even change you (maybe) :)
I also can't wait to "kick" mom and dad out and have "Aunt Mir" time with you!! Maybe we can get grumps to make his famous chocolate cookies :)

Your daddy's family is loud, crazy, funny and the best role models of how to be a family. Your mommy's side is just the same.

There will be time to play and laugh, wrestle and snuggle... But for now, rest...eat...grow...and get better! You are loved, my boy, very, very loved!






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My ears are still ringing from the concert. I maybe (will be) tired tomorrow but I had so much fun!! The sleepiness was worth it.

Saturday and Sunday I spent the days at discovery green in downtown Houston. I went with a friend and saw panic at the disco, king's of Leon, Roger creager,





pat green,





uncle kracker,
and KENNY CHESNEY!





It was a blast and completely free!! :)