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Wow- much has happened since my last post!

As most of you know, Micah & I took a tumble down the stairs in our home on Thursday. I will describe it as absolutely terrifying, and leave it at that. We ended up in the ER because Micah hit his head pretty hard...I can deal with broken bones and bloody noses, but I don't mess around with head injuries. After a CT scan, the ER doc felt comfortable enough to send us home...no fractures or significant bleeds. Thank you Jesus!!!! Needless to say, I was a nervous-wreck for the next 48-hours. And, I was devastated as a mommy (all I can remember was saying over and over to Micah "I am so sorry", while waiting for the paramedics to arrive)...but the Lord is slowly melting away the trauma.

We went to see Micah's Ped on Fri for an ER follow-up -- we were already suppose to see him on Monday for Micah's 12-mo check-up -- so, the doc said Micah appeared well, and gave him 3 vaccinations...POOR BABY!!! Talk about a rough two days!!! (oh, and he's almost 22 lbs...my little piggy!!)

Micah has since bounced-back to has usual self (and his head has even receded to its normal size). He's actually bounced back so much that he started crawling this morning. We had begun to think he was going to walk first because he was totally not interested in crawling -- well, were we wrong!! That boy is all over the place...of course, making a b-line to every plug in sight!!! It's so much fun to watch him scooting across the floor, as he enjoys his freedom!!

Nursery Woes and Whining

Little Micah Yoseph is kicking-off the life of a one-year old with a bang!

He refuses to stay in the nursery at church! I'm not sure if the metal crib-lined room is too reminiscent of life in the TH, or if he's simply experiencing separation-anxiety. Maybe a combo of both. I've sat in his room and played...we've tried dropping him off and sneaking away...we've tried not sneaking away and saying good-bye (this actually worked once). When we initially started leaving him in the nursery he handled it o.k. -- that is until someone change his diaper. For some reason this caused extreme panic. We think being laid in the metal cribs freaked him out because being changed on the floor did not evoke the same response. Regardless, he is 'not cool' with hangin' in the nursery!

Ahhhhh, who knows. We will continue to go through the motions, and pray that he will eventually feel safe (not abandoned).

And, ohhhhh, everyone LOVES little Micah -- they ooh-and-ahh over him no matter where we go. This is not necessarily a good thing because he's now begun to expect this attention. And when he doesn't receive proper doting at home, he's more than happy to let us know...by whining. I guess he whines partly because he cannot communicate his wants with words....needless to say, mommy has stepped-up our vocabulary lessons!!

FIRST birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We celebrated Micah's birthday with a trip to the Birmingham Zoo -- despite the sweltering heat, he loved it! His favorite animals were the monkeys & the sea lions...I think that is because they offered the most action.

We're looking foward to Micah's official birthday celebration in Springfield/Branson when we head north for America World's Africa Reunion!

Yes, this is an out-house...couldn't resist!

Micah loved the big, white kitty...err, albino Bengal Tiger.

I was most excited about seeing the giraffes...Micah did not share my enthusiasm...maybe because they were too far away.

Any time, any place...happy baby...excuse me, I meant one-year old! :0

Ohhhh, sugar coma, here we come! No, the icing didn't make him sick! And despite the sugar-high, he slept most the night!


So funny, he'd never eaten cake, but he knew exactly what to do -- this kid don't mess 'round when it comes to food!


All clean...time for presents!






Thanks, Graham & Sawyer for my super-cool plaid jumper!!

f o u r m o n t h s h o m e

This past Saturday marked our fourth month home with Micah. We spent the week-end at Panama City Beach with our Singles from Hunter Street -- fantastic!! On 8/4 Micah will turn the big "one" year old. Vince is taking the day off work & we're going to the zoo!

Do you know what He is doing?

As promised, I'm continuing my thoughts from my previous post...thank you for sharing your wisdom/experiences via comments...very affirming!!

In my last post, while contemplating our (the Martin family's) worldly pursuits, I referenced Jesus' comments describing the servant-master relationship. But I just have to share the following verse to complete my train of thinking:

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.-- Jesus

Applying that to our housing situation, I've had to ask myself, "Do I know what He (God the Father) is doing?" Do I know what He's doing in the lives of the people in the neighborhood where we reside -- Have I prayed about what He's doing in one of the several neighborhoods we could relocate to? Has what He's doing even been a consideration in our decision-making process? Actually, not just a consideration, but the priority. Especially since Scripture say I'm not simply a servant, but a servant in the know...a friend...

Not to mention, what we're teaching our son through our decisions...I know, he's young now, but he's a direct recipient of the results that come from choosing to serve God...or, serve self.

...it's been refreshing to pray about what God is doing, instead of what we're doing!

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Asking God for wisdom so we can 'wisely' go into debt??

Something about that doesn't sound quite right??

We finally sold our home in Missouri several months ago! And, of course, we immediately started contemplating a home purchase here in Birmingham (that's what you do in America, right??...one mortgage to the next). We have the option to purchase the home we're leasing, but I/we haven't been completely sold on the idea for several reasons (though, it's a great house)...

Ideally, we'd like to be closer to the church -- but, that means spending mucho $$ -- which isn't the grandest of ideas since we lost most of our equity in our MO home (thanks greedy people & crooked banks for killing the market). Not to mention we just finalized one adoption, and have a second one in the works (which ='s more mucho $$).

Up until now, we have been very comfortable rationalizing why we should spend more money on what I like to call "a pile of bricks"...convenience, community, schools...blah, blah, blah. Wow- it's so easy to mindlessly get sucked into American culture...because, of course, that's what God wants for us, right??? A life of ease...comfort...status...

Uhhhhh...NO!!!!!

And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Matthew 8:19-20

Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. John 13:16

Are you tracking with me???

Jesus wasn't concerned with his zip code registering Capernaum or Jerusalem...and is a servant greater than his master...??

No, I haven't gone off the deep-end -- and, I am aware that I can be very idealistic -- BUT, that doesn't mean I should disregard the above thoughts (that's what's wrong with Western Christians anyway: "God couldn't possibly expect me (privileged American) to do X, Y or Z...", so discard thought-process)

Another lame arguement: owning a home is a great investment...hmmm, is that's why we walked away from our last home with pocket lent?? And, an investment in what?? Temporary or eternal. Yes, again being idealistic... Guess I'd rather be idealistic than "luke-warm"...

So, where am I going with this rant...oh, who knows...

What I do know is that God has me thinking outside the box about a lot of things...and I love it...and not to mention, I love the way everyone else squirms when someone is thinking outside the box...I think it's called "counter-culture"...

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them- Jesus

...more thoughts on this soon...