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

Weekend of Celebration

Hello family and friends!
I hope that you all are doing well.  This past week has been full of planning celebrations.  Our pastor, Scott Heare and his family are moving to Israel for the summer to study at Jerusalem University.  So, at the end of May, Pastor Scott, his bride, Cathi and their 4 children (ages of 3 to 12) will pack up for their summer adventure.   Traveling with children for any length of time can be challenging, so as you think of the Heare family this summer, please pray for travel mercy for them.  It is a privilege to be apart of the fair-well party planning committee for them.  I have also been blessed to be apart of the planning committee to help with our upcoming women's retreat this weekend.  So, needless to say it's been one planning meeting after another.  On top of those things I have been planning a early birthday celebration for Caleb and a baby shower for a sweet friend that took place this past weekend.  I'm so thankful to see this last week come to a close and to have been apart of such great celebrations and to move forward into the upcoming week.  Although, Caleb's birthday isn't until May 15, he wanted a Spurs basketball party (which included attending a Spurs game) and the Spurs regular season end's before his birthday.  So, we planned it for this past Saturday.  It was so much fun.  Caleb had 3 boys from his class and church join us for the Spurs game and a sleep over.  They had a ton of fun at the game.  Phil sent a special request to the Spurs requesting the Spurs mascot, The Coyote, make a visit to our seats to surprise Caleb.  It was for sure a surprise!  He was showered with all kinds of Spurs gifts and time with The Coyote.  A night I'm sure he won't forget!

Caleb and The Coyote!

Zane, Lane, Caleb and Colin

Niaya and Emily

Such a fun evening!  The girls had a good time as well.

Thank you for taking time out to keep up with us.  Our kids and community keep us going.  Never a dull moment here.

"Life's a garden....Dig it!"

Shalom,
Vicki

Our Community

Some of you already know that we have suffered some loss over the past few weeks.  Emily's hedgehog passed away.  He developed an infection that he just couldn't overcome.  Thank you to all who lifted a prayer for Emily.  She took the the loss really hard, but is adjusting back to life without her hedgehog, Orie.  Our community also suffered a loss on March 23rd.  A young man that attended our church and was involved with our kids in vacation bible school, was shot and killed.  To my understanding, Randall was attempting to be the peace maker in a heated situation.  He is survived by his parents and a younger brother in 9th grade.  We will miss Randall deeply.  He had a smile that was contagious and a laugh I will never forget.  Please keep his family and his friends lifted in prayer.

On a happier note, we did have some out of town guest come in for the weekend.  Robby and Rock Vaughn.  It was great to see them both.  The kids had a great time playing and keeping Rock entertained. We haven't seen them since Rock was a baby.  He's now 3 and a busy boy.  Caleb kept up with him well.

I discovered a talent that I've always wanted.  ART!  That's right, art.  Who knew that I could carry on my grandmothers gift of art.  My grandmother was an extraordinary artist.  I can still remember some of her paintings that hung in our home when I was a little girl.  Emily also has this gift, but she paints and draws effortless.  Hers is a natural gift.
My friend Jennifer and I went to a coffee, corks & canvas party that a friend put on.  My friend is doing this on a regular basis, and Emily and I will be attending a Mom and Daughter canvas party at the end of the month.  We are both looking forward to it.

Emily has started to play volleyball with the Mays YMCA with some friends from school.  She is doing really well.  She is also going to a sports camp this summer and has selected volleyball again this year as her sport.  She is also eligible to play in Spike Feast this summer that is put on by her school for 6th grade and older.  Yes, 6th grade.  Hard to believe that Emily will be starting Jr. High School this coming fall.  This also means that she will be able to play volleyball for her school.  I see a lot of practices and games in our season to come.  We are so very proud of her.  As for school, Emily continues to make high honor roll.  She has overcome her math obstacle and is bringing home 100 on most all of her math pages.  This is huge.  So, praise be to G-d for showing her that she is good in this subject.

As for Caleb, he still has a strong passion for all sports.  He is gifted at everything he attempts to play.  However, he is still not interested in playing on an organized team.  He is happy playing with his friends or his daddy in the back yard.  I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever seen someone throw their own pass and run and catch the football, until Caleb.  He loves the game...any game.
He is just now beginning to say that he will participate in upwards basketball for next season.  We will see.  We are so proud of him.  As for Caleb and his schooling.  He to continues to make honor roll.  We couldn't be prouder of both him and Emily.

We hope that you all are doing well.  We were really concerned for you all with the weather being so bad yesterday with all of the tornados.  We are so grateful that everyone is okay.  Thank you for keeping us informed.

Thank you for taking a moment for our family update.  Until next time.

Shalom,
Vicki

Spring Break Fun Continues!

Friday
We ended our friday with Emily's hair appointment and Lulu's Cafe and Bakery.  I know.  A hair appointment?  Well, not just any hair appointment.

Last week I had donated my hair and Emily couldn't wait to donate hers.  The minute we arrived home from school we measured hers to make sure she had the minimal amount required, and she did.  So we made her appointment that day.  She counted down the days until her appointment to get her hair cut off and to donate it.

Here are my before and after pictures.

Donated for a cause.  Emily and I both have cancer survivor friends, Molly age 11 and my friend, Veronica.  

After Emily's hair appointment, we caught up with some friends and headed to Freeb!rds for supper.  After that we headed downtown to Lulu's Cafe and Bakery, where we had a 3 pound cinnamon roll.  Yes, that's right, a 3 pound cinnamon roll.  Lulu's has also been featured on Man vs. Food on the Food Network.  It was great way to end our day.

Saturday

This morning we took off to Pedernales Falls.  We hiked and climbed up and down some really big rocks.  Everyone did great and had lots of fun.

This concludes our adventure for the week.  It's time for us to take a break and rest and ease back into the week to come.  I hope that you all have enjoyed our family blog.

Until next time.

Shalom,

Vicki