Mostly Pictures

It has been a while since I last took some time to blog.  Wow! Our summer isn't going to slow down at all.  I think I mentioned in the last blog about things settling down.  Not happening!
We finished our June off with a fun Father's Day.  In 1st grade Mrs. Scott has parents bring a white shirt for the students to make their dad a shirt.  We learned from when Emily was in 1st to invest in a nicer white shirt than just an undershirt.

Emily's shirt she made in 1st grade and Caleb's that he made in 1st grade

Phil wore his shirt made by Caleb to church and was honored to wear it!  That afternoon we went to a new place called "Main Event", it has glow in the dark bowling alleys, laser tag, video games and a ropes course from the ceiling.  Lots of fun playing and celebrating Phil.

VACATION!
The moment we all had been waiting on was our vacation to Destin, Florida!  We left the morning of Friday, June 22nd and couldn't wait to get to New Orleans, where we stayed the night.
Before making our destination for the evening we made some fun stops along the way!

Worlds largest Gummy Bear!  $150.00

Emily being serious with the serious looking Indian

Treats from the Candyland Cottage and Ice Cream Shoppe

We were so excited to make it into Louisiana.  After getting settled into our hotel, we made our way to have dinner at a unique restaurant, where an elderly lady was jammin' on the wash board and an elderly man was pulling the girls on the dance floor for a lesson in Cajun Dancing.  I'm happy to say that I am now a certified Cajun Dancer!  

We had a great time!  The following morning we woke and ventured off to check out the "French Quarters" and checked out some of the sights.  We then loaded up and were beach bound!  We could all hardly wait to get to the beach!

We found this NASA location on one of our many detours.

It was fun passing through all of the different States!

USS Alabama

Woo-hoo!  We made it!  We were all excited to be in Florida!

Emily and Caleb playing thumb war

We arrived Saturday evening and got settled into our condo to start watching to see where Tropical Storm Debby was going to hit!  We watched as meteorologist were covering the designated location for it to hit, Destin and Pensacola!  What?!  We were disappointed to think that we had driven all this way to watch it rain.  We prayed as a family, and asked Emily and Caleb to pray.  We clung to the scripture found in Matthew 8:27 "The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds 

and the waves obey him!"

This little chair was in Caleb's room and he ran to get Phil and I to come see brown bear.  He said "look!  Brown bear is already having fun!"  

We woke on Sunday to a rainy day.  We were discouraged as expected, and  even asked ourselves what in the world are we going to do for a whole week?  We were a little flustered, and I told Phil, we must know that this is His plan and we are good with it.  Phil came to the same agreement and that late afternoon the rain had stopped and we were able to go down to the beach for a short time.  We continued to pray for G-d to dissolve the storm or move it so that it doesn't effect our time on the beach.  We know that G-d can do what He wants to do when He wants to do it.  We were ready and okay with either direction.  However, our heart was for Him to clear the skies so we could enjoy the beach.

We continued to pray and stand on the verse Matthew 8:27.

The following day we woke to a partly cloudy day!  We rushed to the beach to enjoy what we could for however long we had.

The beach was closed, but Phil and the kids ventured in a little ways to play in the waves.  The sheriff would come by and request everyone out of the water!  Everyone would get out and soon after would re-enter.  We decided to play in the sand and not spend so much time in the water.  The under tow was powerful as well as the waved.  

Each day the clouds rolled away and the sun came out for us to play!  The ocean soon became safer for us to play in, but the waves and under tow were still strong and hard to stand your ground.  That evening after our first day on the beach we saw this and knew it was our promise from Him!  I tell ya, I felt like His favorite child! (I know that I'm not His favorite, we all are favorites to Him!  He cares for all of us equally)

The next day we woke to clearer skies!  We were so excited to have another day of sun shine!

Phil and Caleb played catch in the waves!

Caleb and Emily jumping the waves!

Boogie Boarding with Emily

Phil and Caleb playing catch and Emily and I boogie boarding!

That's Phil through that wave

Phil and Emily standing their ground through a wave!

Emily and I bravin' the wave!

We were so excited to see clear skies for our vacation!

Beautiful!

What a blessing!

Our visit to the Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach. 

Sea Lion

Shark!

Cute little Otter

Are they to big to pose in the sea shell...I think NOT!

They have Alligators 

Rescued Sea Turtles

The Gulfarium is a fun rescue center.  They do have dolphin shows and Sea Lion shows and they educate you on sea life.  Always a fun place to visit!

Back at the Beach!

Ready to catch some waves

Boogie Board Queens!

Caleb liked to jump the waves backwards

Beach Babe

That wave I think took me out!

Waiting to catch the football

Playing catch

A little time in the sand

Another Beach Babe

Emily kept digging these little guys up.  We decided after some research that it's a horseshoe crab.

Caleb and Phil were able to start a few mornings off with some hoops!  Yes, Caleb made the shot!  He is very good and puts in lots of practice...someday he may just play on a team!

The water is beginning to clear up and look like the Destin we remember way back in 2002!

Two thumbs up from Caleb

Emily attempting to catch some small fish.  She actually did catch some.

Two cuties!  Beautiful beach!

The kids buried Phil in the sand!  

Emily described the sand to feel like flour!  It's so soft and not gritty.  I think I could live here!

 Emily's turn!

We ate at Fudpucker!  Emily held a live Alligator!  This girl loves wild life. 

Playing catch!

Hangin' out and getting some girl time on the boogie boards.  We still talk about that moment.  Lots of laughs.

Caleb body surfing

 Boogie Boarding!

Last picture taken on the beach :-(  We were so sad to be leaving the next day.

We visited "The Track"  So much fun! 

Caleb is on the other side of Phil.

Our last night in Destin!

We drove straight home!  Not as bad as it sounds.

Our scenery on the way home.

We had a wonderful time at the beach and just as fun with the drive.  I'm thinking it should be an annual trip once more.
I'll write about our July soon!  I'm sorry for being so behind!  It's been a whirl wind of a summer.  We're still goin'.

We hope that you all are doing well.

Shalom,
Vicki

Sports, Sports and More Sports!

Well, our Spurs lost, but the sports continues for our family!  As soon as Emily arrived home from camp she has been playing SA Spike Fest and SA Summer Hoops.  She has volleyball practice on Mondays and a game that evening and she has basketball practice Tuesdays and Thursdays and a game on those evenings.  She is also still getting a horse lesson in as well.  Needless to say, we aren't home very much.  Caleb is still our backyard super star.  He continues to play sports in the backyard and improving his game.  Doesn't matter what game, he's good at anything he tries.  He plays hard and pushes himself to do better.  Some day he will make a great team mate.
We are looking forward to the end of June when everything will start to settle down a bit.  Well, at least as far as volleyball and basketball goes.

Last Sunday we floated the river with the kids and some friends from church.  Super fun.  We saw a snake swim between us and another family, a turtle and a fish jump up out of the water.  It was an adventure for sure.  We rode down a few rapids that the kids wanted to do over, that's kind of hard to do when the river is moving in only one direction.  It was a fun day for sure!

This weekend was much more relaxed than most.  We had a family day yesterday and went to see Madagascar 3 and afterwards came home and swam.  It was nice to not have an agenda.
Today we went to church and our teacher was our sweet friend, Megan Cullip.  Megan is a seminary student at Princeton.  She continues to blow me away with her knowledge and noticeable love for Jesus.  She was rescued by the cross and has an amazing story to be told.  However, it wasn't told today.  We talked about Peter and John from Acts.  Good teaching today.  Our pastor, Scott Heare and his family are in Jerusalem and working to adjust.  Scott starts school at Jerusalem University College on Tuesday!  You can follow them on their blog site at:  www.fromhearetothere.blogspot.com

We've had a recent discovery of a hummingbird nest.  Mama bird is in her nest often and she has two small eggs that we are all waiting to hatch.

The eggs are really small.  That is a red "Jelly Belly" held next to the nest.

Emily is taking notes of any changes.  We look forward to seeing baby hummingbirds!

So, you can read that it's been a moving forward summer for us.  I hope that everyone back home is having a great summer too.

Until next time!

Shalom,

Vicki Marquez

School is out!

Wow! It's been an exciting time here. We ended last week with Emily and Caleb's award ceremony and 5th grade graduation. We are so blessed by our kids and the hard work they put in to this school year. We will start with Emily's accomplishments and end with Caleb's. Emily received many awards, she received honor roll for the last nine weeks, along with All Year Honor Roll (which means she made Honor Roll every 9 weeks, she also received Christian Character Award (this is the students that showed a Christ like attitude all year long), she also received an award for being trash trooper, and an award for safety patrol. Trash trooper is a 4th and 5th grade responsibility to collect trash from each class room and carry it to the dumpster. Safety Patrol is only for the 5th graders. This responsibility is to assist the K-4 through the 1st grade out of their car and into the building before school and the after school responsibility is to retrieve those student for their parents that are in the drive through only, and assist the small student to the car safely and with any help carrying their backpack, etc. It's a big responsibility that the 5th grades look forward while in elementary.  As for Caleb, he did great!  He received High Honor Roll this last 9 weeks and received All Year Honor Roll as well.  We are so very excited for both, Emily and Caleb for their efforts in school.  After the elementary awards, the 5th grade class went through the school hall ways to receive high fives from the lower class grades.  Caleb could hardly wait for his sister to get to him for a high five.  So sweet to see.  This concluded our school day, then we were off to a local burger place for the 5th grade class to celebrate.

5th Grade Graduation!  Good-Bye Elementary, Hello Junior High!

Emily receives high fives from Caleb!

5th Grade Class

Sara, Faith and Emily

After this we headed to be there for our niece, Brittany's graduation that was the following day at 2.  We arrived into Rockwall just in time to see everyone briefly, give Brittany her graduation gift and tell everyone goodnight.  It was a short visit, however, it was very special and sweet.  We couldn't be more proud of Brittany and her accomplishments.  

Directly after Brittany's graduation, we left to return home.  For you see, Emily was to be at camp the following day.  I know, right?  Crazy weekend!  Full of excitement to say the least.  This morning we went to church, urgent care, and then headed out to drop off our happy camper at camp.  Oh, I left out that I woke up sick on Thursday and that symptoms worsened by Friday.  So, my family dropped me off at urgent care after church, and they ran up to Subway to get lunch.  The wait to be seen was a bit of a wait.  So, I thought we could cover more ground in a short time if they left me there.  Worked out great.  By the time they were done picking up something to eat and making a short stop at the grocery store, I had already seen the doctor, gotten a steroid shot, received 2 prescriptions and ready to go.  Off to the next thing!  CAMP!  Emily was so excited.  We wrote on the car windows with window paint for our travel to TbarM...I'm sorry, I didn't get pictures of our art work on the car.  Maybe next time.

Megan, Delany, Kendyl, Emily, Abby, Maddie, Jake and Noah are camp ready!

The Camp Coach's are in the yellow shirts greeting all the campers and parents
Emily and Kendyl make their way through!

All set up in her cabin!

After dropping off our happy camper, we came home.  Just for a short time.  We had the privilege of going to hang out and love on our church youth this evening.  So much fun and such a blessing.  We've been a little on the busy side, but hope to slow it way down soon.  We are all so grateful that it's finally summer!  Don't waste fun!

Thanks for keeping up with us!  I hope that everyone is doing well.  

Shalom,

Vicki

Sad Week

This week has been an extremely difficult week.  We received notice that Emily's sweet friend, Molly lost her fight with a brain tumor on Thursday, May 10, 2012.  Emily and I took this news very hard.  I'm still having good moments with sad moments.
Molly's service was Saturday in Waco.  The service honored her so beautifully.  Both of Molly's parents got up and shared about their daughter.  You can read Molly's dad, Dan's story about Molly and her mom, Jen's letter that she had written just a few days before Molly passed.  What they had shared is on Caring Bridge under "teammolly"  They both showed such amazing strength that can only come from G-d.  In lieu of flowers and gifts, they asked that memorials be made to the Ronald McDonald House in Fort Worth, 1004 7th Avenue, Ft. Worth, TX 76104.
Emily and Caleb's school did a Walk-A-Thon in Molly's honor.  I'm not sure the amount raised, but hopefully will find out this week.  Those check are made payable to:  Molly Martinsen Foundation

Molly is loved by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Today, Sunday, May 13th 2012
I woke this morning with Molly's mom, Jen on my heart.  As I sat down to celebrate Mother's Day with my children and husband, my mind was on Jen.  All day, my mind was on her.  I'm so thankful that the Lord didn't allow her to be lifted from my heart, as I was able to walk through my day lifting her up to our heavenly Father in constant prayer.  Please keep the Martinsen family in your prayers.
As for my Mother's Day, it was sweet.  Emily made me some potpourri pouches and Caleb had created a small booklet in computer class, just for me.  We had a delicious lunch at the River Crossing Club House.  After lunch, we came home and played several rounds of "Mario Cart."  Emily and Caleb beat us every time!  At the end of the day, Phil fixed a yummy dinner.  I'm so grateful and couldn't be a more blessed Mama.

May is December in Disguise!

Our Pastor, Scott Heare always says that May is like December in disguise.  I have to agree!  With end of school, graduations, Mother's Day, Memorial Day and all the Birthdays. Whew!  It's a lot!  Just taking one day at a time and not getting ahead.  Live in the NOW!
It's hard to believe that the last time I wrote was in a hectic April.  So, now I take a moment to write in our active May.  May is full of exciting days, the last day of school and the last day of school, along with some very special birthdays!  My dad will celebrate 69 this year (all praise be to G-d) and Lauren Cramer and Caleb will celebrate turning 8, and our nephew, Brenden will be turning 11.  With those we have some other sweet friends that will celebrate their birthdays as well...too many to name them all...really!  We finished out our April with lots of commitments, and some of those commitments are carrying over into our May.  Phil has been assistant coaching Emily and some friends in a Spring Volleyball League.  So twice a week we are either watching them at practice or watching them play a game.  She is also still in horse riding lesson once a week as well.  So, what I have heard is true...the older your kids get the busier you become.  Phil and I continue to lead a Marriage Bible Study once a week as well.
Emily and I took a Mother/Daughter paint class with my friend, Jenny Rudd.  It was so much fun to have that time with Emily and to see how gifted Emily is.

Emily and I at the Mother/Daughter Paint Class

Our final piece!

At the end of April the kids school has a school wide field day.  It's one of my many favorite things about Bracken.  Each student participates with their S.A.L.T Partner (Serving And Leadership Together)  Its a mentoring program.  So, the now 12th grade have been S.A.L.T Partners with 5th grade since we started Emily there in kindergarten.  Caleb is assigned with the 8th graders.  Each grade level either has a SALT Partner or IS a SALT Partner.
Field Day is Olympic type events.  Each grade is assigned a Country that they represent...the Seniors are always team USA.  Something to look forward to!  They set up games around our football field and have a set time at each game.  At the end of the games is pizza for everyone for lunch and after lunch is the awards ceremony.  Everyone gets a medal!  Something else that's done.  The Seniors all wear a Red, White and Blue bandana during the games and at the end, during the closing they select a child to give their bandana to.  They give it to the child that they saw being encouraging to their classmates and that had a Christ like attitude on the field.  Its such a sweet moment.  I'm so happy to say that Emily received a Red, White, and Blue bandana this year.  This is her second USA bandana!  Caleb received one two years ago.  Always a surprise and always a blessing.

Caleb with his SALT Partner

Emily with her SALT Partner

Caleb trying to fill the bottle with wather

Emily making the shot!

Caleb and his SALT Partner, waiting for the game to start.

One of the games.  Wet sponge toss.

Emily after she received her USA bandana.

Field Day is lots of fun and the kids always look forward to it.  Next school year Emily will be a SALT Partner.  She is so excited and looking forward to loving on those K-4 kids.

Now then...for the now!  Last week I took off to be with my parents while my dad had his defibrillator replaced.  The battery only last for five years and it was time to have it replaced.  With the medical history that my dad has, it always makes for an unsettling moment with my mom and sometime for my dad as well.  So, I took off on Tuesday to be there for his surgery time on Wednesday.  I left Thursday morning to be home in time to pick up Emily and Caleb from school.  

On my way to Rockwall, I was able to stop in at First United Methodist Church of Waco for a prayer vigil for Emilys friend, Molly.  Molly was diagnosed last summer with a brain tumor and underwent an 11 1/2 hour brain surgery in July 2011.  Molly and her family were recently informed that the brain tumor has returned and also in other areas.  Molly and her family were granted a Hawaii trip with The Make A Wish Foundation, but her health has declined so much that they are not able to go.  Hospice has been introduced to Molly and her family.  We are praying that G-d heal Molly this side of heaven.

The 5th grade girls were taught how to crochet in November 2011 from a sweet friend, Ana McCrum.  Ana thought it would be sweet for the girls to crochet their mom's a Christmas gift.  I have been asking the Lord to give me a unique idea that would let Molly know how much we love her and are thinking of her.  With each of my request to the Lord, I felt like I was getting nothing.  I was getting so discouraged and was thinking and even googling for ideas.  I ask Emily and she quickly responds with lets get the 5th grade girls to crochet squares and make her a blanket.  I'm so overwhelmed with joy when Jesus speaks to my kids.  That was it!  That was the unique gift!  So, I contact my friend, Ana and she puts it into action.  She had all the 5th grade girls over one Saturday afternoon, and spent 3 or more hours with them to get them started on their squares.  Ana then decided it would be neat to attach crocheted pockets on each of the girls squares for Molly to know which square belonged to who and for the girls to place a note of encouragement in the pockets on the blanket.  This week the blanket was delivered to Molly.  She was so happy to receive it and began to open the pockets and read each note.

Molly with the blanket that the 5th grade girls crocheted for her.

You can keep up with Molly on her CaringBridge web site, under "teammolly".  Please help us keep her lifted up in prayer, that G-d would heal her this side of heaven.  Emily has shared with me that she has faith that G-d will heal Molly this side of heaven.  It has taught me to have faith like a child.  I learn so much from my children.  

Here the things coming up for us in May!

Volleyball,  and more volleyball, Caleb's Birthday!, Mother's Day, BCS Graduation, (Emily's SALT Partner, Payton will get her diploma!), our Pastor, Scott Heare and his family's send off party, Heare's leave for Israel, Daddy, Lauren, Ty share a birth date, our nephew, Brenden will celebrate his 11th birthday!, 5th Grade Graduation & last day of school, our niece, Brittany Graduate's!, and Emily leaves for Summer Camp for a week!  So much to do and so little time.  Like I said...living in the now and so thankful for all that the Lord has done for us and giving us.  We have lot's to give thanks for.

Thank you for keeping up with us through our blog!  I hope that each of you are all doing well.

Shalom,

Vicki