Today began like any other day. I got up around 9, checked the status of everyone on facebook and went back to sleep. I officially got up at 10 and went to the park to run 3 miles. It was great to be able to walk/run straight for that length of time. I was able to listen to goofy music and enjoy the fresh air. I ran and walked to, as embarrassing as this is, the HSM 2 soundtrack... it may not be the best movie, but the soundtrack is fast paced and great to run to.

I finished my run and came back home to show and then it was off to run errands. We are having a birthday party in bible study tomorrow, so I was in charge of the decorations. Balloons- check, favors- check, noisemakers- check, candy- check, punch- check. I got everything on my list and started home. I got caught up in the crazy Pearland traffic! FRUSTRATING!! What is it that makes a perfectly normal human being absolutely crazy when they get behind a wheel! It seemed that the entire city of Pearland was rushing to get somewhere and felt that they were the only ones on the road. I finally got home and started to get ready for my night. Then, I got a message..."got tied up, have to reschedule" Although I am good friends with the writer of this message FRUSTRATION set in again. I don't think that I was upset at the fact that someone canceled on me, I was frustrated at the fact that I, all of a sudden, had no plans. I had been looking forward to dinner, too :)

It has ended up being a pretty okay night. I bought a $2.97 bottle of wine, and have enjoyed a quiet evening at home. Do I want an explanation? Not really, I don't feel that it was done out of malice. Will I remember it in a week? Probably not. Like getting caught in traffic, it was just another interruption in my day.

Today, I joined thousands of other people that read Living Proof Ministries blog in memorizing 2 scriptures a month. Together with these fellow bloggers, I have decided to learn a scripture every two weeks for the entire year.

Deut. 32:46-47 "he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. [47] They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in theland you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

I think that it is important to keep God's word in your heart and to speak them daily. I have a hard time reading my bible. Not because I do not want to, but because I am fearful of not understanding it. Who wants to read something that they don't understand. I am realizing though, that to understand the Bible, and understand the plans that He has laid down for me, I have to read it, and to read it, I have to open it up. I am not one for new years resolutions, but i guess that in my desire to become closer to God, I will be trying to read my bible everyday and using the resources necessary to understand what He has written for me.

I will be writing my scriptures here. Please feel free to learn them with me, or learn your own! You can also follow the link to Living Proof blog (i have linked it in the beginning) and sign up with them.
January 1- Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Last year, I wrote out a list of some of the things that I learned in the past year. So I have decided to start doing it every year. Therefore, I present my list!

2008 has been a crazy year! So many things have happened, some good, and some bad.

1. God will bring me through even the most incomprehensible situations- When I think about what I have been through this year, I never thought that I would have made it. When I found out that my grandfather had passed away, my heart broke. And slowly, it is mending. When I started the fall semester of school, I had no life for 4 months. Yet, through sweat, tears, and many sleepless nights, I got through it, and was rewarded for my hard work.

2. Tell people what they mean to you- I made a choice to tell people that I was thankful and blessed to have them in my life. Sometimes I got a response, sometimes not. Those that responded to my letters blessed me more than I possible could have them. But telling the particular people was the greatest joy. I enjoyed knowing that I made someone smile, through my thankfulness.

3. Sometimes God is the only one that understands- Lately I have been totally and utterly confused. Unfortunately, there is no one to blame. And I am beginning to realize that God knows what is going on, and that he knew that I would be and will continue to be confused until His timing is right.

4. Sometimes it is not the end result, but the process that counts- Many things that have happened to me have resulted in me learning something. The end result was not the most important thing. I have learned that what I thought I could do is in no way comparable to my actual ability. I have made connections in my education, in my comprehension of life and my beliefs.

5. I deserve good things- I have learned, through a lot of soul searching, that I deserve things beyond my expectations. I deserve the guy that looks at me and thinks, "wow". I deserve the job that makes me want to get up and devote time to my students. I deserve the things that God has planned for me, no matter how long I must wait.

6. The things that do not come easy are the most satisfying- I had to work a lot this year. My grades did not come easy since I have been at HBU. I have worked for each of the grades and have been rewarded. Seeing the 3.4 for the semester was the best Christmas present ever. It gave me the inspiration to do that much better next semester.


I have gone through an array of emotions throughout this year. Confusion, sorrow, anger, and happiness to name a few. But looking back over the past year, I do not know that I would change things. I have no idea what God's full plan for me is, but I do know that He is there, cheering and wiping my tears. I also know that I am stronger, and braver because of all that I have gone through. I have grown leaps and bounds in my relationship with God and in understanding myself. That is something that I will never regret.

Happy New Years to all, and may this year bring peace, happiness, and love to your lives.

My big brother, Keith, and his girlfriend, Sarah......are engaged!!! I am so happy for them. Sarah's parents and brother spent Christmas with them and Keith asked her dad for permission to marry her!! Did I say that I was excited for them? Talking with Keith, it looks like it will be a summer wedding after she graduates (2010) That means that not only will Sarah, Russell (possibly) and I all graduate, but Keith and her will get married in her hometown! We have already decided that Meagan will be the only one that gets to have Christmas that year!!

Anyways... the happy couple are perfect for each other. They are both weird and quirky, and she fits in PERFECTLY with our family!

I am sitting here at my brother's house, listening to my mom wrap last minute presents, and my brother and dad play the Wii. Although some might think that these are unusual sounds to hear on Christmas Eve, to me, they are precious memories. My family is big, and because of that, we are required to do big family Christmases on other weekends. My mom's side celebrates the first weekend of December, while my dad's side has chosen to celebrate the weekend before Christmas. Because my brother works at a church, he usually has to to a service, and so my immediate family is up in Texarkana for this week.

As a child, I remember going to the Christmas Eve Candleight service at FUMC Pearland at 11:00. My dad and mom used to sing in the choir, so my brothers and I would sit with friends and listen to the carols and Christmas Story as it was read. After the service, we would all go home and try to sleep. This usually didn't work until around 2 or so :)

In the morning, we would wake up, have breakfast and see what fun stuff Santa brought us. After the flurry of paper settled and we thanked Mom and Dad, we would open the stockings. Personally, this was always my favorite part. We usually got socks and underwear, but Santa would make sure that we each got special treats too.

After the gifts, mom would cook and then we would pack up for the 5 min drive over to my grandma's house. Here I would instantly find Mary, my cousin that is my age, and we would exchange Christmas stories and talk about our presents. Then came food.... and was there a lot of it!!! My aunts and mom would spread the food out and let us devour it! The kids were done in a matter of minutes and then would proceed to the TV room to sit in front of the tree, waiting for the moment that we could open gifts. The adults would take an ETERNITY to eat and would usually tell us that we had to do the dishes before present time. We would all trudge into the kitchen, wash dishes as quickly as possible and then run back to the tree. Finally, it would be present time!! We would play with whatever toys we recieved and would then start the game time.
In the Martin household, pinochle is a must. It is a partner card game that takes entirely too long to explain. It is fun, and for those that don't know how to play, you will just have to trust me :) All of the adults, and older grandkids would sit to start the pnochle marathon while the younger kids would play boardgames, go outside, or watch a movie.

This generally would be our Christmas every year until I was in juniorhigh. Sometimes the whole family would be there, sometimes not. But no matter what, we would spend the whole day together, playing games, talking and enjoying everyone. This is why Christmas is my favorite season


This picture was taken last year. It is Meagan, Me, Keith, Sarah, and Russell.
Santa (aka Keith) left them in our stockings last year for us to enjoy and embarass mom and dad with :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Last night, for some holiday fun, Russell, Meagan, and I made gingerbread cookies! It was so much fun! I made the cookies and then we all decorated them. I chose a few of the good ones and you can view the rest of them by clicking here

School Pride!!

Dear God,
Thank you for being my father in heaven. I am thankful for the men that you placed in my life. My earthly father(s), brothers, uncles and friends. What an incredible bunch of Godly men. Thank you for the life you have blessed me with and the time that I was able to spend with my grandfather. Thank you for the gift of friendship with my best friend and the incredible impact she has had on my life. Thank you for the two most wonderful "sisters" and the love and devotion they have for you and my brothers. I believe (although I might be bias) that I have the two best brothers that anyone could ask for. One's love and devotion to you is inspiring and the other one has love just as strong although he may not be as open about it.
Thank you for a strong mother that has my best interest at heart. We may not see eye to eye, but I would not be who I am without her.
Thank you for the gift of music and the ability to glorify You with it. It is exciting to be able to perform a piece of music and hear it go through the rafters and into the heavens.
Thank you for the ability to draw and to use this gift to show my faith. It is wonderful to sit with a piece of paper, listen to music, and just draw. It almost always ends up being some sort of symbol of my faith.
Thank you for my passion of teaching children. They are the future of this world, and I am honored that You have allowed me to be able to work with them. I know that through them, I am able to change the place where I live.
Thank you for all of my hardships. Without these, I would not be who I am. I would have never become the strong, independent woman that I am today. Without the trials, I would not have come to realize what an important part of my life you and your love is.
Thank you for the opportunity to attend such a wonderful school and receive and education that will be vital to me continuing what you have planned for me.
Thank you for loving me so much that you have provided for me through everything. You know my heart and know what is best for me, even when I may not see it. You know which path I am to walk down and who I am to meet. You know where I will go and what I am to do. You love with out conditions and will never fail me.
Thank you~
Your Loving Daughter