Sweet Marriage Memories

Just ran across this poem by my friend Katie Kump.  She read it at our rehearsal dinner. So cute! It really made my day to read through it again. :)

"Celebrating the Martins" 

Thanks so much for your sweet friendship, Katie... love you!

Discipleship

Jesus' last words to the disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 were, "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." He commands for us to make disciples. What does that mean? For us it means being committed to a few hungry Christian students, doing life with them, walking through trials with them, helping them to have biblical perspective, and teaching them to love others well and share Christ with the people around them. Also, it means showing them that we don't have it all together spiritually.. we are horrible screw ups in need of God's grace.

You can pray that God would use us to lead these students into deeper intimacy with Christ.

Wyatt's Discipleship Group: Frank Collins, Corey Funk, Austin Garvin, and Cleve Cleveland 

My discipleship groups: Liz Justmann, Brooke Moran, Cassie Jones, and Emily Frederick

Community Group

This semester we started leading a Community Group through our church. The group is basically a missional community of college students who want to influence freshmen for Christ.  I am so lucky. I get to hang out with the coolest people! Seriously, spending time with these college students is so fun and encouraging. It is awesome to see their desire to walk closely with Christ and give their lives away that others might know the gospel. And they are so darn funny!

One of the coolest parts about spending time with them is their relationships with one another. They are mostly all sophomores at UGA and met in the dorms last year. They got so close their freshmen year that they decided to get houses right near each other (and conveniently, right near us!). The guys take such great care of the girls and the girls really respect the guys. You can really tell how much they care about each other just by the way they interact. The guys even got them walkie-talkies so that they can get in touch with them at all times! Adorable.

Here's some of them: Cleve, Frank, Corey, Elizabeth & Catherine 

I'm excited to see how God uses these friendships to display the gospel to their other friends and classmates. I'm so hopeful for all that God can do in and through their lives during their 3-4 more years in college. I feel very privileged that God would allow us to be an influence in their lives and serve along side them on the campus.

Tomorrow night we are going to play trivia, pray that many freshmen would be interested in coming to hang out with us. And also pray that anyone who doesn't know Christ would see a difference in us, and that we would be bold in conversations about Him.

New beginnings

It has been forever since my last post... not because nothing has happened since then, but because it feels like everything has happened since then. With school starting back at UGA, we have been so busy! I forget how much momentum there is with a new semester to meet new people and spend tons of time hanging out (before everyone gets busy with tests and papers). It seems like most nights Wyatt or I have been up at the dorms meeting freshmen, playing ultimate frisbee or flag football, baking treats for new friends, etc.

It has been lots of fun, but difficult at times. I have certainly wrestled with the fact that I stand out like a sore thumb... When a girl in the dorms asks what year I am or which dorm I live in it can be so awkward because how do I answer, "Actually I already graduated college and I'm married" without sounding like a creeper for still hanging out in freshmen dorms? ha! But even in those moments the Lord reminds me that my identity is in Christ and these girls can think I am super weird... and yet I am still loved, accepted, and treasured by my Savior. And in those moments it adds fuel to the fire of evangelism, because I want for others to know such a kind, compassion, loving and accepting Savior. I wanted their identities to be wrapped up in the God who has died for them. It has been cool to see God transform a question that I least look forward to into an opportunity to share, because in order to avoid strange looks I usually have to tell them that I work for a college ministry. And that usually opens the door for me to share a little glimpse of how God transformed by heart during college.

I'm actually going up to the dorms tonight, so you can pray for my time with the freshmen. Pray that God would provide opportunities to meet new girls to build a friendship with. Pray for boldness to associate with Christ and share the gospel with girls, not only with words but also with my countenance, peace, and interactions with them and others. I'm excited to see how God would honor our prayers to make tonight have an impact on eternity.

DIY Laundry Detergent

It's official.. I have finally jumped on the bandwagon for making my own laundry detergent. I was so skeptical at first, but after doing it... I really love it! It was really easy, so cheap and smells great.

I even calculated the difference between buying name-brand & making this detergent.

Name-brand detergent = $12.50 for 64 loads 

DIY detergent = About $13 for 240 loads. 

If you aren't great at math, that's almost 4 times more loads than using name-brand. I will likely only spend $13 for an entire year worth of laundry. That is outrageous. You have to try it!

Thanks to everyone who tried this first and convinced me to do it. :)

Recipe: 

1/2 cup Borax

1/2 cup Washing Soda 

1 bar of Fels Naptha soap

Each of these only cost $3-$4.  Bar of soap $1.  

You can use a food processor to grate the soap and mix it.  Or you can grate the bar of soap with a cheese grater. Just mix it together and you are done!   I went ahead and doubled the recipe so that I would have to make it less frequently. 

 

Approximately 4 monts worth of laundry detergent 

As you can tell, when you grate the soap with a cheese grater, it ends up looking a lot like cheese. ha! :)  If you want it to be more the consistency of normal detergent you will want to use a food processor. But it will all dissolve in the wash, so it doesn't matter either way.

The best part, you only have to use 1 tablespoon per load. (2 tablespoons if really soiled).

Enjoy!

Wisdom Tooth Adventure

So, Wyatt had a wisdom tooth taken out on Tuesday. After hearing many stories of embarrassing things people had said when they were on heavy medications... Wyatt was a little worried about embarrassing himself.

Matthew 12:34- "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" is best way to describe what Wyatt was like coming out of surgery. He was thanking the doctor and nurses, asking if they were Christians, and saying "Glory be to God". Even in a confused state, Wyatt knew that this whole life is about Christ and that God deserves all the glory. Once we got in the car he told me how much he loves me and wants to lead me closer to Christ. Then we talked about the college students that he is discipling this year.. He said, "I want them to be men who know the gospel. I want them to have tough-skin and a tender heart. Do you think I can teach them that?" And a little later he told me that he was hoping that he would get to go to heaven. I reassured him that there is much work to be done here before he gets to go be with Jesus. Later that evening, once all the medicine had worn off.. I told Wyatt everything that we talked about and he didn't remember any of it!

It was so good for my soul to see how much he truly loves Christ. His devotion to Christ isn't just at the surface or a show or fancy words... It is a unfading love that has transformed him so much that even when unconscious Jesus is all that Wyatt could think about. That was convicting for me! It makes me wonder what I would say if unconscious. Would I want to tell everyone that I see about the truth of the gospel? Would I so desire to see my Savior? Would I want my life to be about selflessness? I hope so.

I truly have the most wonderful husband. He constantly points me back to Christ, even when he is unconscious! :)

The funniest part of the day was when Wyatt was looking at his tooth. They put it in a little baggie so that Wyatt could see it later.  He said, "This is gross... it looks like it has hepatitis." Ha!

He's Always Been Faithful

Yesterday, I went down to Atlanta to celebrate the birthday of my sweet sister and one of my dearest friends from college.  I'm so thankful to have both of you in my life.  

While I was visiting, my sister recommended that I listen to the story about The Stark Family on the Bert Show website.  This family adopted 6 special needs kids.  If their life wasn't hard enough, the wife recently died of a stroke.  The father is unemployed and has to dedicate his entire life to raising these children on very little money.  It's an incredible story.  Recently I have been thinking a lot about suffering, as I have seen family and friends go through various trials.  Sometimes, in light of everyones problems it is difficult to understand how God is good.  And how Romans 8:28 ("And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose") could possibly be true.  As I have watched friends struggle at work, loosing their loved ones, difficulty finding employment, having trouble getting pregnant, and troubling finances I have often had to question, "Lord, why is this better?  How is this for their good?"

Well, on my ride home this song came on  Sara Groves- He's Always Been Faithful . (Click on that link... it is definitely worth listening to).  It spoke directly into many of the things I have been thinking about.   I really like the part when she says: "I can't remember a trial or a pain He did not recycle to be me gain".  It's helpful or me to remember His faithfulness to me and to my friends and family. And just because He is faithful doesn't mean all of the problems will go away and life will be perfect... His faithfulness means that He is using these trials for our ultimate gain. That's enough for me today.

In light of that improvement in perspective for me, I was thrown a curveball on my way home. As some of you may know I was a habitual speeder in the past. And because of my past speeding and multiple tickets, I have become a faithful cruise-control-setter.  Well, to my shock, I was pulled over and given a speeding ticket for going 80 in a 55. My cruise was set for 59.. and I checked it right before I was pulled over. I am 100% sure I wasn't going any faster than 60mph.  But that is a 25 mph over speeding ticket which will be a "Super Speeder" ticket if I am convicted in court.  Wyatt and I calculated what that could cost us in fees, extras fees, and increased insurance rates... over $1,000 in the next 3 years.  So needless to say... we are a little stressed, but claiming God's faithfulness.  Even if I can't get the ticket dismissed, He is still faithful and will bring us great gain from this trial.  

The following verses have been so helpful in remembering God's goodness in all of our circumstances:

Hebrews 12:10b-12 - God disciplines us for our good, in that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.  

1 Corinthians 4:3-4 - I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

1 Peter 4:12-13,15-16 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed... But let none of you suffer as a murdered or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

God is good... not in spite of our circumstance, He is good because of our circumstances.  Even the hard ones are for our benefit and ultimate joy in Christ. We have much to praise Him for and much to trust Him with.  

All I have is Christ

I don't know that I will ever forget our last night at the Summer Leadership Project this year.  We ended the summer with a night of worship, praising God for all He had done this summer.  As we were singing "All I Have is Christ", the instruments stopped playing and all the voices of staff and students were singing as loud as possible "Hallelujah! All I have is Christ. Hallelujah! Jesus is my life".  To hear how passionate these students were about their savior blew me away, especially because some of them had just come to know Him this summer.  They had such willingness to forgo all the luxuries and comforts that this life offers to wholeheartedly follow Christ for the rest of their lives, in response to his infinite grace toward them in Christ.  God is doing a great work on the college campus!  I am so thankful to be able to watch what He is doing with amazement.  

Lyrics for All I Have Is Christ (By Sovereign Grace Music):

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God's love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let me song forever be
My only boast is you

Oh Oh.. It's magic!

I think I have discovered my new favorite food.. Peanut Butter Magic Cookies. If you like ooey gooey cookies and reese's cups... this cookie would blow you away!  I found the recipe in one of my favorite cook books, The Bright Family Cookbook.  It was given to us as a wedding present and we use the recipes in it all the time, especially for sweets.  Thanks Shelley, Jordan, and Mrs. Bright for enlightening me to my new favorite food! 

As you can tell, they have a fantastic gooey peanut butter center.  My favorite part :)

Recipe for Peanut Butter Magic Cookies

Filling: 

3/4 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup powdered sugar 

Cookie Dough: 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/2 cup butter/margarine, softened

1/4 cup peanut butter 

1-1/2 cup flour 

1/2 cup cocoa 

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla 

1 egg 

• Combine filling ingredients & blend well.  Form into approximately 30 (1-inch) balls.  Set aside. 
• Beat sugars, margarine, and peanut butter until light & fluffy. 
• Add the rest of the ingredients.  Blend well.  
• With floured hands, take about 1tbsp. cookie dough and wrap around peanut butter ball, covering completely. 
• Place 2'' apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  
• Flatten with bottom of glass dipped in sugar (or flatten with your hands as your cover them with dough). 
• Bake at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes.  

New Painting

Well, because I had been desperately missing doing craft projects, I decided to do a new painting for our living room..  I've been thinking about doing it for a while, just never had the time or (honestly) the guts to start because I knew it was going to take forever.  But I finally did it!  I found a painting that I loved at Cost Plus World Market and decided to model  my painting after that one.  I love to paint, but I'm not very creative, so I usually need a good bit of inspiration!  

My inspiration: World Market Circle Painting 

The finished product, I think... I might make a few more changes.

On display.. 

Here are some close up- so you can imagine how long this took me.. ha! 

Shower for Baby Koon

A couple weeks ago, I helped to throw a baby shower for one of my best friends from college.  I was in charge or decorations, so I made a banner! After spending the day working on it... I realized how much I missed crafting. 

SO excited about Baby Boy Koon! :) 

The Beach..

I can't say enough how much I love our job!  The Summer Leadership Project was so much fun!   Every morning we were able to get up and spend time with Jesus while looking out at the water.  There is something special about the ocean that make Jesus seem so near.  Maybe it is the memory of watching the sunrise almost every morning during my first summer at the SLP while studying God's word. 


Connecting with the students was so fun. I really enjoyed getting to know some of the UGA girls better and some of my younger sorority sister from Georgia Tech were there as well.

All UGA staff and students at SLP

Some of the highlights: 

**Leading the Women's Time at the beginning of the summer.  Every year we have a break our time with just women where we get to talk about girlie stuff (like modesty and how to relate to guys). This year, Wyatt and I were asked to lead this time.  I was sooo anxious about it as I was preparing what I would say, but I am thankful for God's faithfulness to speak through me.  I think He really used me during that time to speak hope and give wisdom and truth.  The gospel was really the main point... I wanted them to know how deeply loved they are by God and how He displayed His love for us through Christ.  Deuteronomy 7:6-9 has always been a favorite verse for me on this topic.  Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that I am truly that loved. I pray for these college women, that they would be transformed by a greater understanding of God's deep affection for them. 

Some of the girls from Georgia, Georgia Tech, and North Georgia

**Connecting with other young married couples.  Some of our closest friends have gotten married within the last 2 years and are also working with Campus Outreach at different schools.  Being at SLP with such great friends for a month was a real treat.  I was able to see how marriage is such a picture of the gospel and how all different marriages can display Christ and truly honor God.  We learned so much from spending time with other young couples, and not to mention how much fun it is to have so many couple friends that we love so much! After the SLP, we actually stayed at a beach house with 3 other couples.  It is amazing to see how friends can really feel like family.  So thankful for our time with great friends! 


**Wyatt's talks- honestly Wyatt's talks about stewardship were some of my very favorite times this summer.  I know that I am partial, but I think he gives such clear and convicting messages.  I can't wait to see how God continues to work through Wyatt!

Wyatt & Connor- Connor is the student leader who is giving the Stewardship talks for the rest of the summer.  

**Getting to know my little, little, little sister in Alpha Delta Pi.  Like I said earlier, some of my sorority sisters came on SLP this summer, and it was such a privilege to get to know them better.  The neatest part about spending time with her was seeing what God is still doing in ADPi at Georgia Tech.  He really began something while I was in school, and I'm seeing how He is committed to bringing it to completion.  I'm encouraged to see more and more women catch a vision for sharing their faith with other ADPi girls.  I hope that it always continues, and that eventually ADPi is a place that is known for godly missional women.      

Me and Katie- this picture was taking at the Ski Trip in February. 

**Hanging out with the UGA Freshmen.  One night, we went out for ice cream with all the up-coming Sophomores at UGA.  Wyatt leads a discipleship group with 4 of those guys and I would love to get to know those girls more.  It was really encouraging to hear what they were learning and experiencing.  They seemed so excited to take back what they had learned this summer and apply it to their lives on the campus.  I hope we can continue to be invested in their spiritual growth, and grow deep and lasting friendships!


**Working and doing ministry with Wyatt- It is so cool that we work together.  I can see how God would get more glory with us married than He did when we were single.

**Our staff team 
**Extended time in the word and prayer 
**Being completely exhausted everyday because of the grueling schedule 
**Staff Development (a weekly time where the staff dedicate extra time to enhancing our personal relationships with God).  
**Getting weekly updates from our friends on mission in Johannesburg, South Africa.  
**Seeing the sparks in a students eye who is really experiencing God for the first time.  
**Beach volleyball 
**Really funny skits- hopefully I can post the one that Wyatt was in! 


There are so many more things I could add to this list.  We are blessed to have such a rewarding job!  

Home again, home again..

We just got home from the Summer Leadership Project.  Finally, we haven't been in our apartment for 7 weeks.  When we moved all of our stuff back in this weekend, it felt like we were moving in again for the first time.  Sorry that it has been so long since my last update... this summer has been a little hectic and there is never great internet connections at the beach.  But look for more updates and stories about our summer in Panama City coming soon!

One Year Anniversary

I honestly can not believe that we have been married for a year... It still seems so new! I wonder when it really hits you? Because, often when I am in the kitchen making dinner or straightening the house I think about how fun it is to "play house". Then I remember, "I'm not playing house, I'm actually married!" It sounds silly, but it still feels too good to be true. Honestly, marriage has been a delight!

This pictures is us... in a nutshell.

As I have been thinking about our anniversary, I keep coming back to the story in 1 Samuel 7:12: "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us." Samuel was basically putting up a memorial of the Lord's faithfulness through his life and various trials. He wanted to always remember how God had helped and provided and taken care of him, so that if/when life gets really hard he would have something to look back to and remember the Lord's goodness and faithfulness. That's how I feel about our first year of marriage. I know that life will inevitably get harder, either financially, physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally. BUT one thing I also know is that God has promised to be with me. Once it does it get harder, I want to remember the way He has provided for us this year. Because I want to continue to trust Him... So, our first year of marriage will always be for me an "Ebenezer"- a memorial of the Lord's faithfulness to us.

Well, our anniversary is today, BUT we celebrated it on April 29th because we knew that it would be hectic at SLP and we might not get to enjoy our anniversary the way we would want to. So, we went to see Shrek the Musical at the Fox Theatre. Sooo fun! We also stayed in a hotel across the street and walked to Baronda for dinner. It was the perfect night!

Romantic dinner at Baronda

Outside the Fox- waiting to see Shrek:The Musical

But we haven't forgotten about tradition… we brought our cake topper down to Panama City. We had cake in bed this morning!  :) 

 I'm so unbelievably thankful for this year, can't wait to see what God has in store for us!

Summer Leadership Project

Today we are leaving for the Summer Leadership Project.  As most of you know, Wyatt and I met on our first "beach project" 3 years ago while working together at McDonald's.  I can't begin to explain how influential that summer was on us... and not only because we met each other! :)  We both grew so much in our understand of God's character, how to study His word, pray and share our faith.  I wouldn't have traded that training for anything in the world, because it gave me a great foundation for the rest of my life.  That's why I am so excited about all the students from UGA, Georgia Tech and North Georgia that are going with us.  I can't only hope and pray that it will be as beneficial for them as it has been for me.  

To get a better idea of what the Summer Leadership Project is all about, check out the video below. 

Summer Leadership Project 2010 from Campus Outreach ATL on Vimeo.

I'm excited for the opportunity to return to Panama City Beach as staff on the SLP.  Even though we won't be working minimum-wage jobs with the students, we will definitely still be busy.  For example, Wyatt is the Jobs Coordinator... more affectionately known as "The Job Father".  He is responsible for lining up jobs for all 100 students and staying connected with all of the employers.  Also, he will be giving training talks every Sunday night about "Stewardship".  He is mainly talking about how to be good managers of the time and money that God has given us.  We have both already learned so much just from his preparation.  I'm excited to see how this training influences the students to be responsible and God-honoring with their time and money during college and into their careers.  

The SLP is definitely one of my favorite parts about our job!  We are so blessed.  We get to spend a month at the beach loving on college students and growing in our relationships with God..  I don't think it could get much better than that.  

Living vicariously...

So, all of the blogs that I read are about families with kids. Funny stories and pictures of what their children have done.  But we don't have kids yet, so I have decided to live vicariously through my siblings and post funny pictures and stories of my niece and nephews. This week we are in Peachtree City visiting with my family before we leave for the summer.  Yesterday my whole family came over to celebrate my nephew Sam's birthday, Wyatt's birthday and Mother's Day.  Needless to say, it was eventful.  I guess it always is eventful/chaotic when you have a 7 year-old, 4 year-old, 3 year-old and twin one-year-olds running around. 

My dad aka "Grandpa Pip" holding Hunter (left) and Ryan (right). In this picture you can really tell how different they look.  Sometimes it's hard to believe they are even twins. 

Sitting out on the porch Avery says out of nowhere- "Oh, what a beautiful day".           Not something you expect to hear from a 3 year-old.

Happy Easter!

I should just say "Happy Spring" because it has been almost a month sense Easter, but oh well! This was probably my favorite Easter yet. Friday night, we went to the Good Friday service at Christ Community.. And wow! We are so blessed, our band is amazing! Then, we went down to my parents house on Saturday to celebrate with family… and it was so much fun. We went to 2 Easter egg hunts with all the kids and they loved it. And my brother practically did a photo shoot in the backyard.

Clockwise: Me, Sam (my nephew), Wyatt, Daniel (my nephew), My Dad,

Courtney (my sister), Anna (my sister in law), Avery (my niece)

When he heard the "say cheese", Daniel (left) spit his gum at the photographer...

which of course made us laugh for a while

My brother was calling this the sorority pose... she is too cute!

Last but not least, the best picture of the day....

Ryan (left) & Hunter (right) fighting over the car.

I don't know that I have ever laughed so hard! Look at the panic on Ryan's face, priceless.

Then, Sunday we spent the day in the hammock resting and spending time with Jesus. I was pretty blown away with the fact that He is risen.. He beat sin and death.. He is victorious forever! And because of that one event in history my life will never be the same... Thanks Jesus.

In all the excitement of the weekend I realized on Sunday morning that we completely forgot to do Easter baskets for each other… maybe adults aren't supposed to get Easter baskets?! But this was certainly my first Easter without one. Everyone says I'm still just a little kid… I guess they are right! I'm still craving those delicious Reese's Easter Eggs... guess I will have to wait for the pumpkins at Halloween.

Welcome to our blog!

Hello everyone!

I decided to start a blog because it seems like the trendy thing to do AND it could be a really great way to keep up with the people we love. Not really sure how all of this works yet, so give me some grace while I figure it all out..