Beautiful Feet.

I typed up an extremely long post and accidently deleted it...so, my loves, you are getting the short version of what I actually wanted to say. Sorry.

About a month and a half ago my dear friend Courtney and I  joined a gracious group of ladies at our church for bible study/missions. Hey Amanda!!!

"Beautiful Feet" an amazing group of woman who all share the love of Christ and helping others, all while needing their own little therapy session while making a journey through a bible study. 

 "How beautiful are the feet who bring good news"

-Romans 10:15

This group has everything I have been looking for. 

Courtney and I go way on back, like waaaay on back. For those of you who do not know we were almost sisters. Truest of stories. We share the same passions for helping and love homeless people. We even bought  a boat load of candle makings to make and sell and donate the money to a shelter or start something of our own.  We want to feed every hungry animal/human alive. Making someones day a little brighter. 

The idea that this group is already established is absolutely the push we needed.

Fast forward to tonight, the first night that the group is actually going out and serving and I am so excited I don't even eat or bathe. Yes people, this is that exciting.

I pick up Courtney a wee bit early, also hoping for some kisses from AG, eat the leftovers on Kyles plate, also a very true story, and we head off to do amazing things.

Side-note: Kyle "accidently" told me he loved me tonight, its OK to admit it Kyle, I love you too. 

We split off into several groups armed with about 10, five dollars gas cards and set off to make some lucky lady/lad's evening. 

Let me just say this(seriously, that's why I have a blog, because I have alot to say), as much as I wish I was great with words, I am in fact, not.  One can only wish. 

I met some people this evening who made me grateful for my "treasures", they made thankful to have a job, and so so blessed to be able to pray for them. People in my community are suffering everyday. They suffer from addiction, they suffer from poverty, they suffer from loneliness. They simply just suffer. I can only hope that I have made at least one positive impression on someone today. 

I am not promising, but I really want to blog about my experiences with "Beautiful Feet" I want to remember the people that are blessed by these amazing woman. 

  I want to bless someone.

big girl panties...

Has the time really come when we go shopping together for panties?! I was just holding my 5lb 6oz miracle and now she is picking out her own panties..for the very first time ever.  We have been putting little miss on the potty now for months, on and off.  Never really taking the full plunge. Well today we took a special little trip to Target to get panties.

picking out the perfect pair.

Minnie Mouse it is!

showing her daddy her new big girl panties.

Someone pinch me.  This can't be real.

Time to soak up every moment of her childhood, clearly it won't last long.

Spring in January.

This weekend has been so beautiful for mid January  with temps in the 70s. I don't know about you but that is paradise in Upstate South Carolina. On Saturday Jake and I packed up Scarlett and Lillian (Cady is way too domestic for the woods) and headed to a nature trail. Lillian had a blast. We took in the fresh air took on the adventure. I could not help but remember the old days. The days were Scarlett was our biggest responsibility, we would pack her up, throw her in the back of our jeep and head to the woods. Scarlett was actually very sick when we adopted her, after we got her healthy again we still could NOT get her to walk on a leash. Jake and I took her to the woods and she did not hesitate to walk on her leash. It was like that is where she belonged. Time crept up on us, we bought a house, adopted Cady and the brought Lillian into the family and poor Scarlett has not seen the woods in quite a while. It felt good to see her enjoy herself and Lillian got to see her sister in her element.  Afterwards we let Lillian slide and swing until she was falling over from exhaustion. Sunday was just as beautiful. Headed to church (where my child was genuinely excited to play with other children and did not miss her mama at all...but that is for another post) and afterwards we went to the in laws for lunch. Baked ham, cabbage, black eyed peas and carrot salad was on the menu. We grubbed and headed back outside for another day full of sunshine and family. The boys played wiffle ball and Lillian, Shelly and I all chased Roxie around the open field and dodged ant hills, took a family walk to McDonalds for ice cream cones and it made for the most amazing weekend we have had in quite a while. I don't feel so much dread for Monday when I know I got to thoroughly enjoy my weekend with my sweet, precious,beautiful family. So bring on the work week, I can already see Thursday. 

                                                                                       

Lillian wanted to play ball with the boys!

              Spent some quality time with her Nina and Bumpa

best seat in the house

                                                     Nature trail on Saturday

deuces 2012

Why hello there, 2013. I hope you have super big plans for me and my family. Don't disappoint. Lets review 2012 shall we?

Well 2012 started off and I had a 7.5 month old. We made a trip to Alabama for our little bald headed beauty to meet the one and only, Big Mama.

 Celebrated her first Valentines day.

We got to meet Abby Grace!

Learned to sit in a high chair...

No biggie...just turned one year old.

finally got enough hair for a BOW!

visited the beach with the Lawsons!

Daddy got a new job! You may all call him Mr. Martin from now on...

Met baby Ian..

Picked a pumpkin.

Stole her mamas heart...again.

celebrated her 2nd Christmas

and I dyed my hair..

There you have it. My year in pictures. 2012 has been good to me. I got to watch my daughters crazy awesome personality burst. Made new friends and had awesome memories with old friends. Here's to you 2013. Let's do this.

That one time when

The time my daughter said "Oh. My. GOSH" when she saw her new clothes from her nanny and papa. 

Alright people, I get it. It's totally my fault. But that was the biggest reality  check ever. I was just showing her the newest outfits for her ever growing closet and all the sudden my sweet innocent baby said those three words. My nanny said "can't blame anyone but yourself" woah. I'm not gonna lie, it was hilarious and adorable but I am successfully making her, me. Ahhhhhh. 

 I'm gonna go watch my child pull ornaments off the tree. Merry Christmas Y'all. 

Christmas traditions, Martins style.

    Christmas around our house IS about JESUS.  This is our second Christmas with our little miracle. The second time buying Lillian gifts. There is alot of pressure on parents in America to buy their children the best, most and coolest.  I have a small problem with that. (I have bigger fish to fry than spoiled children of America, but it is annoying)  I do not want Lillian to think my love can be measured by how many presents are under her Christmas tree. I also do not want to take away the excitement every kid gets from running in the living room and seeing presents and knowing Santa came to visit! See my dilemma?  A coworker of mine gave me the PERFECT solution. From this Christmas forward,  Santa will bring Lillian (and any of Lillian's future siblings) three gifts each. One gift from each of the three wise men who graced baby Jesus with gifts at his birth, which is why we have this tree decorated and stockings hanging on our mantle. If  gold, frankincense, and myrrh were good enough for our Savior then three gifts from a fictional but jolly man is perfect for our children. Of course she will also have other gifts from us and other family members BUT I refuse to let the tradition of Santa make my child(ren) ungrateful little turds. I think it is beautiful that every family have their own traditions and values and this is just what is simply perfect for The Martins! Hope Lillian loves her carefully chosen gifts from Santa, mama and daddy!

In other news...keeping an 18 month old out of the tree is worst than you could ever expect, and potty training is 100 times harder than keeping little hands off of glass ornaments. Needless to say, all I want for Christmas is for my child to pee in the potty....how things change when you become a parent.  

We are wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas and the best 2013 possible.

Lillian last Christmas

Lillian this Christmas!

My girl sure has grown!

Lessons.

Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)

Lesson of the day:

I cannot handle hearing the sweet voice of my daughter saying "mommy" when she is sad. I wouldn't have been able to relate before becoming a mom and certainly wouldn't have understood. But when your child, the one you grew for 9 months, the child you prayed for and you have spent all your energy loving says your name when she is sad... You melt. Maybe ha! (it probably wont) get easier the longer lily and I know each other. I don't ever ever EVER want her to feel pain, fear, reject anything other than pure happiness. I will always come running when she needs me. I may not be able to fix every broken heart or boo boo but I can promise I will never let Lillian feel lonely. For as long as I live I will always protect her. Always. So here's to the mamas out there that struggle and the babies that need their mamas.

Lillian, take it easy on your folks. We love you so much more than you know!

All my love,

Mama.