Thursday, August 13, 2020

I'm still here!

My my my...I debate whether to do a post or not...how long can a blog still "go" with no posts? Haha, its been over a year and a half since I said goodbye on this blog, and since then I only posted twice. So I guess I better keep up with my "every-half-year-blog-post" theme and let you know I am still alive and well! :) I hardly know what to write...actually I DON'T know what to write, so I guess I'll just see where my fingers fall on the keys! 

Life continues to be very busy and speed along at a sometimes alarming rate...like how in the world are we in August already?!?!

 But as I always say and what ALWAYS stays true, is this - God is GOOD and HIS plan is best and life is ALWAYS full of purpose if we are following Him. Now that doesn't mean that life is always dandy and hard things don't come! Cause they do. BUT He allows those hard times to refine and mold us into who He wants us to be. 

I continue to strive to follow Him and listen to what He has for me....and to do those things that matter for eternity! and I am preaching to myself when I say "Tune into Him! Pray! Worship! Love those around you!" and a lot will be accomplished. 

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                                               Now to a bit of an update on my life!

-I am working as a Secretary at my Grandpa's business and in my off time, helping Mom around home, mowing for my Dad, and trying to keep my life somewhat organized (the struggle is real!)

-Enjoying lots of family time...we've had some very happy times (like a cousins wedding and many birthday parties and evenings spent together)...but we've also had some very hard times! My Grandpa's health steadily declined this past year, and the beginning of July he left this earth for the most glorious place ever - heaven! Grandpa was an outstanding man and blessed so many people. I have lots and lots of fond memories and blessings from him that continue to this day! Please pray for my dear Grandma as she goes through these sad times.

-With summer time brings so many oportunities to be with friends...we've had many events and good times (so thankful to be together after quarantine loneliness ;) and last week was spent on our youths work trip down in MD cleaning up at a camp. it was a great week! 

-Lots of projects are happening around our house this summer as well...we are currently redoing most of our homes main level...new kitchen! Also growing a field of produce this year (lots of work!).  Annndd...its been a HOT July and August, so the pool has been givings us many a welcome break! :)

                             ....and now...enjoy these glimpses of my life!  💛💛




Back in June our family spent a few days in Florida, enjoying the sunshine, beach, togetherness, and relaxation! 

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In July we spent a few days at a cabin on the lake with my Mom's family. It was a blast! 

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First wedding on the Sauder side - a joyous occasion! 

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picnics and photos in the meadow with long time friends! 

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Rides on the tandem with Lindsey :) 

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Cousin Haley and I on work week at a beautiful state park! 




Hikes with these girls! 




love all these girls so much! we worked hard and played hard on our trip! 

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Beach trip and shopping! 

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Happy days with cousin Clara! 


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sweet times with Grandpa in Florida last year....😭💛





this picture is worth so much to us...the back story to this: the evening after Grandpa's funeral we wanted to take some flowers to his grave. our family was there, feeling rather emotional after the long and sad day. As Aubree was laying her flowers down, dad pulled out his phone to snap a picture. When he went to take the photo he could hardly believe this sight....the sun was shining right on Grandpa, showing us that Jesus ALWAYS cares and is there with us. Such a sweet moment! 

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Well... I believe that's all for now. Thanks for reading and see you again sometime (hopefully:))!!
                                                                                  


                   "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the ONE who
                                  is in your, is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4



Friday, September 20, 2019

Hello fine friends!

Well, whadda ya know, I am back in blogging world to say hello. The other day I thought of my blog, and I was like Wow, I almost  miss it. Sooo...as iI begin typing, I have no idea what I am going to write. My life has changed so much since I began blogging, in 2016, about 3 1/2 years ago. Boy, does that feel crazy! 😃 But it's good changes, and God is good. 
This summer has been one of change as well... I started a new job, the school year started without me (it does feel quite weird to not sit at my school desk anymore), and God is doing some other pretty amazing stuff in my life...my life and future does not always look easy and calm, but I know God's got big plans for me and so I am trusting Him for that!

Now I am going to proceed with showing you some pictures and highlights of my summer!! 



Maria, Kaela, and I - cousins dear at heart, but who rarely get to see each other - which resulted in finding time out of our very busy schedules to spend a day at the beach 🌞


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Our youth group spent a week up in Dryden Ontario at a camp,
 cleaning it up and doing random work projects! It was a blast, working with friends, and "ahem" cleaning men's bathrooms 😖😋



I'm so blessed to have my brother, and 6 cousins apart of youth group! 


Bus ride entertainment with cousin Ben and friends. 




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We spent many happy hours by the dock - watching the sunsets and taking wayyy too many pictures! 

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Supper with the fam bam to celebrate graduating!! 

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frisbee and friends 😎


cousins and frisbee 😎

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Many happen weekends with friends - on this occasion we had a cardboard boat race, we didn't win, but we had fun!! 

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I spent a week as a Jr. Counselor at a girl's camp - a huge highlight of my summer!!

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Happy days with baby Clara and Lance 😍


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My dear cockapoo Sage had a litter of 8 puppies, so our summer was filled with happy puppies!! 

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Another highlight was helping to teach Bible school to these energetic kindergartners for a week! 

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These girls are some of the best! Many happy memories made ↓↑






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That's all for now friends....I hope to be back a few times with in 
the next few months, but no promises 😉

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"The most beautiful things in life are not things. They're people and places and memories and pictures. They're feelings and moments and smiles and laughter"

"But you, oh Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head." -Psalms 3:3

Friday, February 22, 2019

Just sayin' hi

Hi friends! 
Just popping in quickly to say hello to y'all, let you know that I am still alive, and doing well 😋

I just wanted to let y'all know that my sister Leah (next in line to me!) started a blog and she will be updating that quite frequently...so if you wanna hear her life and more about the Martin fam, head over to her blog and you might even catch snippets of me here and there! 😉

also....I can't help but think how I last posted in November, and it is already almost the end of February! 
Time flew by, and it is only 26 days till spring!!! 😎

Blessings + love, Shalom


Monday, November 5, 2018

Hola + Adios


Hola to my dear blogger friends!!
I hope this blog post finds you happy and well 😀

I'm sure many of you have realized that I have been pretty slackish over here in the blogger world. Cause I too have come to the conclusion that I have been pretty absent. And sad to say it, I am here to tell y'all that you probably won't be hearing from me much anymore. I am not going to totally quit blogging, and shut everything down, but just kicking it back a couple notches! I hope to update this blog a couple times a year, but probably not much more than that. 😔 I've realized that this "adventure" in life is coming to a close...life as a teenager is keeping me pretty busy, as well as home responsibilities and I no longer have the time and energy to keep the blog updated. 
BUUUT....I am honestly so very grateful for each one of you that has read my blog. Whether you've been here ever since the beginning, or only stopped in a time or two, THANK YOU. Each of your comments, tags, ideas and etc. all meant so much to me!! I am grateful for each one of you.
Keep serving Jesus with your whole heart...He loves each one of you dearly. 

"Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of  love and peace will be with you."
-
-2 Corinthians 13:11

Love and peace to y'all, 
Shalom 💕
                                      





Friday, September 28, 2018

Summer Wrap-out




Howdy friends! I am here with a few last pictures of my summer days...some are from the beginning of the summer (that I never posted) and some are just recently.
 So without further a-do...enjoy these pictures of life! :) 


Tiana + Cambrie (a fun photo shoot with cousins)

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^^ This past weekend we had our fall youth retreat - it was a good time! 


^^3 of us hiked the whole way up to the power line and got a beautiful view (and did a bit of climbing on the actual power tower thingy)

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A big highlight of my summer was getting my license and being able to drive myself around to different stuff... ^^like ice cream with the girls 🍦


^^And a Saturday spent shopping!!

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We had a TON of rain this summer...I mean it just rained and rained!! There was a lot of 
flooding in Lancaster County and some on the Martin's farm! :) 



^^a road about 2 minutes from our house 

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^^we hit the time of year where the corn comes down! it's always such a fun and busy time on the farm...lots of equipment, and excitement. I can't fully explain it...it's just the kinda thing that makes a farm girl happy! :) 




// Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 //

Friday, September 14, 2018

from my little place on the earth

Wow. It's been forever. But HELLO from my little place on the earth! 

Here is some little snips of my life lately 😊




 west virginia bound! (vacation with mom's family in the hills of WV!)

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these people are just pretty great. enough said. >

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one beautiful evening a couple weeks ago, we packed up some food,
 and headed to the nearby project for a picnic supper! 

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frozen yogurt with the girls >

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family bowling night - and FYI dad won, BUT I came in second. 😉

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"And they were calling to one another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory."
-Isaiah 6:3