23 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey All :-) Today marks the beginning of my baby boy's 23rd week/6th month. I can't believe I'm already this far along, even though at times I look at my stomach and wonder when it will get even bigger and when I will finally be able to meet my little man! I think it's cool for me to be excited, but I know I should relish this last bit of free time I have before our lives change forever!:-)

Nothing too new to report today other than I'm almost done writing my 8 page paper due tomorrow....I don't like to procrastinate but things have been busy.

Also, it looks like Nate and I will be registering at Target and Babies R Us for sure...so that's cool. The whole thing is sort of overwhelming just because there are so many choices and things we may need that hopefully I remember to buy. We're excited:-)

The baby's been moving a little today, but he's been mostly restful compared to yesterday when he must have been doing some serious exercises. I do love feeling him move though because it reminds me that he's there and growing strong. I'm already in love and have been trying to sing and even talk to him more each day. This whole pregnancy thing really has been awesome and a huge gift from God. I feel especially grateful that I did not have any morning sickness. I'd like to think that God knew how hard it would have been for me to be puking my guts up while working a summer camp with 3 years olds and going to grad school in the fall. I'm glad that He knows what we can handle!

Sweet Dreams Everyone!
Zeny

Movement

Hey Everyone. Right now I'm exhausted and could not keep my eyes open while reading for class but I can keep them open long enough to finish this entry. I will be so happy when this school semester is over. I honestly am tired of constantly having school work on my mind and feeling this sense of work hanging over my head. Plus, I want to be able to just focus fully on this new life inside me and all the exciting happenings of my pregnancy. Anyways...enough complaining.

I wanted to write to share that today I saw Baby Martin move for the first time. He was very active and kicked a lot this morning, including while I was writing a paper. I kept lifting my sweatshirt to see if I could see his movement because his kicks felt strong at times. So, after he'd kick, I'd push back in the same spot where I felt the kick and when I did this I finally saw him kick. It was just a really subtle little movement on my skin but so amazing that I laughed:-) In the last 2 days I definitely feel like he's been more active.

This past weekend, I went to a family wedding in Fort Wayne with Nate and even spent some time with my mom and brother. It was a good time to relax and enjoy some beautiful Indian summer weather in Indiana. We also brought home a car seat, a little beach chair, and a basinette (spelling?) for Baby Martin which my cousin Danny gave to us. (Thanks, Dan!) I'm excited to start clearing out the extra bedroom and getting it ready in a month or 2. Also, I'm pumped because Nate and I are going to start our baby registry this weekend:-) I love baby shopping!

Ok well...I should head to bed...I've got class, work and an 8 page paper to finish writing tomorrow. I need lots of prayer for motivation and strength! Good night.

Peace and Love to you all.

Zeny

Baby Update

Hey Everyone. Well, I am finally getting around to writing on our blog. Life has been so busy, it seems like there is always something going on. For those of you reading this who don't know, I'm in grad school part time getting my Masters of Social Work at Temple University here in Philly and working part time at a nearby school and occasionally subbing. School keeps me busier than normal this semester, but it's Jesus and the excitement of the future arrival of the newest member of our Martin family that keeps me going.

As you all know from Nate's previous blog, WE ARE PREGNANT with our first baby. Nate and I went to the 20 week ultrasound last Thursday and were so grateful to God to get a happy report from the Dr. about baby Martin:-) We were also really excited to learn that we're having a little boy!!! I had a feeling it was a boy:-) I am currently 21 weeks and 5 days along and feeling great other than the annoying allergies:-) I've been so blessed with great health throughout this pregnant thus far.

One new and exciting thing is that in the last week or so I've been feeling the baby move..it feels like a flutter within like everyone told me and it's so cool to feel at different points throughout the day. I am still so amazed by the miraculous life that is growing inside of me....I'm just truly amazed by how awesome and great God is.....it's hard to explain. But we're happy and so excited to meet our little man in February. I'm already having visions of talking to him and kissing his sweet smelling skin:-) Well, tomorrow is another prenatal appointment so more info. to come. Oh by the way, our little man is roughly the size of a large banana:-) I hope to have an ultrasound picture up here soon! Talk to you soon.

Zeny

Life in General

Well once again I have waited a long time to post. One of these days I will make it a habit to post weekly. Well if any of you have checked this blog you probably already know Zen and I are pregnant. We are really excited about the new addition to our family coming in February. I was hoping zen would start posting on this blog about being pregnant but she wants to do a baby blog so she will start another one.

Things with me have been good. A lot is going on and it seems like we are sitting on the edge of something good. I am not sure what it is but I enjoy where we are at right now. Getting to be on the ground floor of an up and coming church (faith confession) and Timoteo is really exciting and I can't wait to see what both become. Of course having a child will be a huge change in our lives but I know he or she will be a great addition to our family. Of course with all these transitions and possibilities there are a lot of ifs which can be frustrating and stressful if you let it get to you but I wouldn't trade places with anyone. Well maybe I would trade bank accounts but hey things could be worse. This is what life is all about. I am not saying that you struggle just for the sake of struggling but at least I feel something and we are striving for something. So often our goal is to get to a life of comfort where we slowly feel numb or at least dull any sort of pain. I am not saying if you have stuff and are doing well you automatically become numb from comfort but it is a lot easier to fall into that trap. The pain, doubt and struggle are not fun but once we make it through the joy is overwhelming. Just like having a child there are a lot of unknowns and emotional rollercosters but when that day comes the joy will be so overwhelming that the worries and struggles that we had will just fade away.

God thank you for the struggles so that we might see you at work and thank you for the joy that gets us through the tough times and especially the joy of an answered prayer. Thank you.

Sorry for the delay

Well a month has past and I have not updated the blog. Sorry. Things have been really busy lately with work and Timoteo and Zen's school. Hopefully Zen will be posting soon since she will have a break between semesters next week.

A lot has been going on and in my last post I mentioned sharing another story from that day but honestly I don't remember it. That proves why I need to blog because we forget so many of the stories and interactions we have during our day. So I will give a short update and share a story I recently had.

Timoteo Flag Football is going strong and I suggest you check out the website www.timoteofootball.com. Please keep the league in your prayers and that Timoteo is a positive influence for the young men that participate and a light in the community. We have come up against some issues of tempers getting a little out of hand but have also seen forgiveness and grace at work. We are already hearing about some stories of youth asking about God and a few are near excepting Christ into their lives. I do hesitate to share this because I don't want to use these stories to simply raise funds or make the league out to be some perfect amazing thing because there are a lot of things we are trying to work out and make better. However, I do think we should rejoice as followers of Christ when someone hears and receives the good news. I am sure there will be many more posts about Timoteo in the near future.

The story I wanted to share with you was about a 6th grade kid I worked with when I was teaching chess a few weeks ago. His name was Maleek and he was decent at chess but could be a handful at times to deal with due to his rowdy behavior. However, I still got a long with him pretty well. This one week in particular we just finished playing chess and Maleek had a really good day and did well. His mom walked in to the room and Maleek turned to me and asked "can you tell my mom I did good". Not thinking much of it I said sure and proceeded to tell Maleek's mom that he did well and had a really good day today. His mom smiled and said that was good to hear and then Maleek and his mom left. Why Maleek asked me to tell his mom this could have been for many reasons. Maybe Maleek wanted to be rewarded, or avoid a punishment or maybe just wanted to feel some love from his mom and have her be proud of him. I still am not sure. However, I walked away thinking about how much more I need to praise the youth that I work with. I am currently working at one after school program and there are some really difficult kids to deal with and we (the staff) are always correcting, yelling or saying no and rarely congratulating, celebrating and thanking the kids when they do well. Discipline is needed I don't see the yelling or correcting stopping anytime soon but I feel I need to do better reconizing these youth and the gifts that God has given them. I feel that any time a kid has to ask you to tell his mom he did well it is a sign I have not been saying the positive things enough. I know I won't be perfect with this but it challenged me to check my attitude with these kids and to search for their gifts and talents no matter how buried they are underneath the pain, anger and hurt that they often act out of. Recently I heard Tony Campolo speak and he reminded me of this as he shared the need for there to be celebrations in communities and especially those that feel the weight of oppression and pain. There is a lot of rough stuff happening and ugly things that take place but do we look for the celebrations? Do we rejoice with others even if they have wronged us in the past or said something disrespectful?

Oh Lord help me to forgive so that my unforgiveness does not hinder me from rejoicing with your people and celebrating the gifts that you have given them.

Nate

Interactions

Well I don't know if anyone will read this but I really feel I should document things I experience not just so others can read it but to reflect on life and what I experience. I really believe life happens in the details and the little interactions that we have each day. However, we are often too busy or too focused on bigger things that we miss the small moments that God speaks to us through others. We always look for God in the big stuff which I think he is there but he is also in the quiet and subtle moments that are often overlooked. I think of this scripture in 1 Kings 19 Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. The Lord was in the quiet whisper.

If big stuff happens I want to write it down but I want to talk about those whisper moments. The small stuff but where God is present. The reason I write this is because of an experience I had this pass Sunday. It was a busy day and I had a lot going on. Zen was in DC but I was keeping myself busy. I got up early and ran about 6 miles with a friend from church then came home and showered quickly. Then headed off to church for service and then church clean up day afterwards which we all stayed after to just give the church a good cleaning. Then in the evening I was going to meet up with a friend to go see a Flyers game which I was excited about since I don't get to go to many hockey games. However, I don't want to talk about those big events. Rather it is two short experiences during the day that stick out in my mind.

First of all I was heading to the train from the church to go meet up with my friend for the hockey game. As I was walking I was thinking about the future, job stuff, money and a lot of important things going on in my life at the moment. On my way I passed by a middle aged African American man holding a few tree branches. As I passed he said "Whats up with you". I continued to walk acting as if I didn't hear him because I wanted to get to the train and not be late. Then he said it again and began to follow behind me "Hey whats up man" in a kind voice. Realizing he was now following me I knew I had no choice but to acknowledge him. I was not fearful but more annoyed because in my mind I assumed this guy was going to ask for something. He introduced himself and told me people call him "country". I introduced myself and shook his hand. We started talking and he was asking me where I was from and I did the same. He shared that he was from Birmingham and came up to Philly with his mother but ended up getting married and it fell a part and now he was homeless (I am paraphrasing). So I asked him where do you lay your head. He mentioned a few places and said he usually can find something and that "God always provides for me". He continued to follow me to the train the remaining blocks. We stopped once on the way as he asked me to hold his tree branches so he could look at a speaker on the curb and a box of papers and electronics that someone was throwing out. I was running late and told him I needed to get going. So he said "well I will come back I want to finish our conversation." So he walked the rest of the way with me as we talked more about Philly and where we had both come from. Then we parted ways. He shook my hand and said it was nice to talk to me and then walked off not asking for a thing. The conversation was probably only 10 minutes long but I could not stop thinking about it.

Once I got on the train I replayed the conversation over and over again in my head. Wondering if I should have given him something or if I should have asked if I could pray for anything or invite him to church or whatever. I still don't know if I should have done more but reflecting more on it maybe God was wanting to speak to me through him and maybe Country just wanted to have a conversation with a person and feel like he had a friend instead of people ignoring him or always trying to get away from him because of his appearance. So who really knows why this interaction took place. I can't say with 100% certainty the reason but I know I walked away convicted because of the assumptions I made about him but also humbled and thankful that God put Country in my life for a brief moment to remind me to see God at work in the details and to trust him. In a moment of doubt you may never know who God will send across your path to remind you to trust Him for your needs and to be reassured that God is here and is working. God may just speak to you in a small whisper or even in a brief conversation with a homeless man from Birmingham.

Well due to the length of this entry I will save the second story for the next entry. Plus I am tired of typing.

I am going to try this

Well we thought it would be a good idea to do a blog after mission year but have not got to it. So we am going to give it a shot and see if we can do it. Hopefully we will keep up on it.

Nate