April?

Woah, woah, woah.
It's already APRIL!?!
This is just madness, I tell ya.  Time is flying by!


Spring break has already come and gone.  It was filled with blissful, extended amounts of time outdoors hiking or running.  Haha I got so sunburnt.  It was great.  Everyone deserves at least a few days off to enjoy the sun every once in a while.  It clears the mind.  Makes everything seem alright with the world again.  If it were up to me, I would spend one day in the city with society then run away to the mountains and just live outdoors.  One day of real life, then one day of sheer bliss.  Haha...I can dream, right?


This week I'm off work!  Woohoo!  It feels like I have Spring break all over again.  Well...kinda.  Projects and papers seem to be piling up in this final month of school.  That's how it always is though.  
Just one more month.  Just one more month.  Just one more month!


Over the course of the last few weeks, dad had to go to the hospital once.  He was having severe abdomen pain and had to stay over night.  But, thankfully they were able to fix that with no problem.  While we were there, they found that part of his lung was collapsed again.  However, they were unable to operate on it so they just told him to stay on lots of oxygen.  Also...


drum roll please...


they said the tumors have shrunk a little bit!! Wwwwwoooooooooohooooo!  Praise God!  We're praying that continues in these coming months.


So, he is continuing with chemo treatment.  They want him to keep doing chemo until the tumors stop shrinking.  With this glimmer of hope, dad seems to be in higher spirits and is currently making plans for a long fishing trip.  He's been wanting to go fish for over two years now so I'm thinkin' this is the Summer to do it (Lord willing)!  I'm praying he'll continue to feel better so we're able to do some of the things he has been dreaming about during these rough winter months. 


This last weekend was so stinkin' wonderful and gorgeous!  I got to spend a few days on Mount Evans with the college group from my church.  Hahaha...it was totally ridiculous, hilarious, and just altogether great.  We played card games, cooked, drank delish coffee, roasted marshmallows, played Korean games that involved slapping each other, improv, deep conversations, building a fire by the lake at midnight, falling asleep to the crackling of the fire, hiking, running, playing in the river, and getting to know each other...real well.  So thankful for awesome friends, God, and gorgeous mountains.

I could look at this everyday.  Never gets old.

retreat! 

adventure downtown: on the hunt for a bridesmaid dress!

Reading this in the ER.  haha I love this book.

sunrise in the city 

every once in a while...I love downtown

sick stick

 

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.

I will praise you forever, O God,
for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
in the presence of your faithful people.

(Psalm 52:8-9)

I got hit with the sick stick this week.

WHAAAAAAAAAAM!

Just like that.  Took me off my feet for most week/weekend.

Everyday (minus Saturday) was spent on the couch.

Saturday I felt like I was getting better (haha what a joke) so I took my little nieces out for the day then went to see Valor High School's play.  If you're not busy this weekend, you should go see their play - it will be the best high school production you'll ever see.  Get details here: ValorArts.com.

I took some cute little pictures of my day at the park with my nieces!  Check them out here: brookemartinfoto.blogspot.com! 

 Dad Update:

- Last week he got another chemo treatment.

- He felt really sick after this treatment.  Feeling flu-like symptoms. He said he's never felt so sick in his life.  :(  Poor papa

- This week they didn't do another treatment because he wasn't feeling up to it.  So, they postponed it til next week.

 

Found an art gallery at school!  haha who knew?!

Out to lunch with these two gorgeous girls

haha I think I wore them out...

OFFICIAL first day of flip-flop wearing and sun bathing of the year! :)

His train

Midterms have been in full swing last week and this week.  Projects, tests, studying...

However, I was able to sprinkle my week with a little bliss by doing a photoshoot!  You can check it on the Photography Blog!

In other news, I went to a college group on Friday night that was just...incredible.  The guy who spoke talked about this scripture:

¹ It was in the year King Uzziah died^[a] that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. ² Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³ They were calling out to each other, 

   “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies!
      The whole earth is filled with his glory!” 

 ⁴ Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

 ⁵ Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”

 ⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. ⁷ He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” 

 ⁸ Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

   I said, “Here I am. Send me.”  

(Isaiah 6:1-8)

On Friday, the speaker talked about how the word "train" refers to God's holiness.  So, just imagine a huge throne room and the train of God's robe (His pureness) filling the whole place.  

In this moment, Isaiah realized how sinful he was.  In the presence of God, when he was so close to God's purity, he was able to see how sinful he was.  He said, "I'm doomed."  

He confessed that he was a man of "filthy lips."  Right after he said this, a seraphim got a coal from the altar and touched his lips.  He was then purified, by God, in the area he was most sinful: his mouth.  

After all this happened, he was then able to respond to God and accept his calling to be a messenger for the people.

I had never heard this scripture taught like that.  I love how it is so descriptive of how God works in our lives.

When we draw near to Him - when we know Him intimately - we are able to see how screwed up we are.  It's that moment of, "Dang it...I'm so messed up."  However, when we are raw and honest with God, He is able to take a coal from His altar and heal us from it.

So, let's strive for rawness with God. Yeah?

DAD update:

-He's back home!  Yippeee!

-They did not have to do the surgery on him because his lung remained inflated.

-He is going back to the oncologist today to check his numbers and possibly do a chemo treatment.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers!

Mile High sunset via the car

Empty hallways = upside to Friday morning classes

Getting through the creepy lightrail tunnel while it's still light!

My happy place on campus

big time updatin'

"The LORD directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives. 

Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the LORD holds them by the hand"

-Psalm 37:23-24

Heyooo

I figured it was time for a big dad update.  So, here it goes:

-Things in Texas didn't work out so great.  They basically said all they can do for him is give him chemo.  So, he got his first round of chemo down there then came back.

-Second round of chemo here a few weeks ago.

-Got a partially collapsed lung last Thursday.  Stayed in the hospital a couple of days to fix it then came home.

-Sunday night his whole left lung collapsed so we had to rush him to the ER.  He has been in the ICU since then.  They clamped off (or something to that affect) one of his arteries because he was coughing up so much blood.  They also found that his lower, right two lungs are not inflated.  Yesterday they used a scope to see what was blocking it.  We were hoping it was something that could be removed from his airway so that he could have the lungs fill up again.  However, they found out it is a tumor.  So, they said they can't do anything for it right now.

-As for now, they might try and get him out of the ICU sometime in the next few days.  He still has a tube in his left lung to keep it from collapsing.  They are talking about possibly doing surgery to make it so the lung will not collapse again.  

I think that about sums up these past few weeks.  It's been quite the roller coaster.  A rough, stressful week to be sure.  It's weird knowing over half the staff in the ER and the ICU.  But he's getting great care where he's at.  

If you could just continue to pray over my whole family and I, that would be so great.  It is so interesting, some of the most least likely people in my life have been the biggest blessings these days.  A few months ago I would have sworn I knew who would help me if I needed it.  But, it has been quite the opposite.  I feel so blessed by so many unexpectedly awesome people in my life.  So, thank you to those of you who have been there for us during all of this.  I really can't say thank you enough.  It means the world!

On a happier note...I went snowshoeing last weekend!  It was super great!  Go look at the pictures on my PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG!    

a vow to love

I haven't been blogging as much this year but I felt like this is worth talking about...

Last night I went to see "The Vow" in theaters with an amazing friend of mine. To get the synopsis of the movie you can watch the TRAILER!  It's a total chick flick.  Girls: you'll love it + cry.  Guys: you most likely will be checking your watch during the movie. haha but I liked it.

This blog isn't really about the movie though.  It's more about what happened after I saw the movie.  I was driving home late in my heat-less car as it was starting to snow. There was something about the movie that really hit me.  As I was trying to pin point what it was, God connected the dots for me.

The movie follows the love story of two people.  They're super cute + in love so they get married.  One night, they got hit by a car and she received a head injury that caused her to lose some of her memory. She had no idea who her husband was.  So, the rest of their story is about him trying to make her fall in love with him all over again.  There were so many times he wanted to be with her yet she continually pushed him away.  She shoves him aside and pursues her own life - the life she remembered before him.  

I was driving home and I realized the movie plot is so similar to that of our love story with God.  I mean, how many times have we had something happen in our lives where we seem to get a brain injury and forget His love?  

He becomes a stranger to us.

Instead of working things out with Him, we push Him away.  We decide to figure things out for ourselves.

It really hit me how persistently and recklessly He pursues us.  Consistently trying to make us fall in love with Him.

He LOVES us.

He loves US.

How incredible is that?

  “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
      With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."

- God 

 (Jer. 31:3)

Have a wonderful Valentine's weekend!
I hope you all can feel loved in a deeper, more meaningful way this year.

the "Martin" family

Since the beginning of 2012, each week could easily be described as "crazy."

I started my Spring semester of my Junior year!  Woopwoop!  My stubbornness might come to bite me in the butt this semester.  I'm determined to finish school in a prompt manner and come out debt free.  This means taking around 18 credit hours each semester.  Up till now, I thought, "No big deal."  Ha...this time around I might be regretting this life choice.  But, it's all good.  I have some really quality professors this time which makes a world of difference.

Also, I'm back at work!  Oh my goodness, praise GOD!  I flippin' love my job and all my little kiddos so much.  Makes me happy.

Things with dad have been a whirlwind these past few weeks.  To catch up:
- Did another CT scan and found out the cancer has spread to his liver & bones. 
- The bump on his stomach that we thought was a torn muscle is a tumor
- There is a tumor pressing against his heart
- He is still on oxygen
- Had more fluid removed from his lungs (less than two weeks after the last operation) and there was more fluid than before.
- My parents will be heading down to Texas for a few weeks to get treatment from a guy down there. 

So, all this news is for sure not "good" news.  I think that's pretty obvious.  And yes, it really stinks.  But at the same time, I firmly believe God holds us when everything is spinning out of control.  He picks us up when we've fallen to our knees.  He provides in the nick of time.  And he speaks tenderly when the worries of the world are screaming.  But most of all, He is a God of healing.  He is a God of miracles.  

Blake flew in town the weekend we found this out.  Along with my uncle.  It was great having them here.  It's always so nice to have family close.

This past weekend all my aunts, uncles and some cousins from my dad's side came in town.  Talk about a family reunion!  The last time I saw them I was like 7 years old.  So, I basically met them all for the first time.  Haha, it was odd to introduce myself to someone that I'm blood related to...but the awkwardness quickly disappeared.  We went from strangers to family in just one weekend.  There was laughing, joking, story telling, picture showing, tears shed, food eaten and pictures taken.  They are all awesome and I can officially claim them as mine :)

I'm working my way through reading the Bible in a year and I couldn't be loving it more.  Check out CCV's program to read it in a year.  It's so easy to keep up with and it's awesome.

I STARTED A PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG!  Oh my goodness, so pumped about it!!  Go follow it to keep up my some of my pictures!

Anyways, I guess that's a summary of what's happenin'.  Please keep my parents in your prayers as they travel and get treatment.  We are praying in faith that this will be a turn around point for dad.  And pray for my sanity this semester ;)

P.S. God blessed me with money from a house sitting job this weekend.  So, looks like I'm ditching school and work for a few days to venture off to the Lone Star State with the parents!  I wanted to help them with travel and get them settled.  Anyone have any tips, advice, or know anything/anyone in Houston?!?

This perfectly describes school:

-the lightrail

-people

-and lots of cigarettes

Got to watch these beautiful babies.  Love them so much!

Some "Martin" family

looking back to go forward

Happy 2012!

Can you believe it's a new year...already?  As always, it seems like just yesterday I was sitting down praying and thinking about goals and aspirations for the new year.  Yet, here we are again.

Some major points of 2011 include:

-Chaperone for missions trip in South Dakota & Costa Rica

-Summer Youth Intern at church

-One brother married, and another engaged

-Dad diagnosed with cancer for the second time

-Month of July living in Arizona

-Long weekend with my sis-in-law, Ky, in Seattle & Spokane, WA

-Got back into running

-Mourned the death of Tom & Steph.

-Road tripped across Colorado with my girl, Irene

-Bought a new camera/got more into photography

-Over half way done with college 

Every year has it's ups and downs.  It's challenges and it's victories.

Looking back on 2011 I am reminded of the awesome places God allowed me to go and how he used me.  Mmm makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.  However, I am also reminded of the long, trying nights.  If I'm being honest with myself, and you, 2011 was by far one of the hardest years I can remember.  There were many trying times.  Lots of late, stressful nights.  And way too many tears shed.

But I can't complain. 

I got the chance to live another year.  I grew in ways I can't even begin to explain.  I realized things about myself that I never knew before.  I came to a point in my life that I felt like everything was spinning out of control, but God held it together for me. In 2011 I arrived at my breaking point multiple times.  But looking back I can see God was faithful in getting me through it all. And now that is something to be thankful for.

Okay, so that was 2011.

But now it's 2012, a new year.

Some of my goals include:

-Read the Bible in a year

-Run over 8 miles

-Get paid for my photography 

-Love/bless people through their love language(s)

-Be overly generous 

I'm excited to see what God will do in this next year.  As the saying goes:

"I don't know what my future holds.  But I know who holds my future."

Dad Update:

I know many of you are wondering what on earth happened this week.  Well, let's just say this week has been anything but good and relaxing.  Dad was in severe pain with constriction in his chest, making it very hard to breathe.  When his fingers started going numb, we called 911.  The paramedics were unable to take us to the right hospital so around midnight I drove my parents to the ER.  That night they controlled the pain and ran some tests.  We ended up staying two nights in the ICU because the hospital was full.  They did a procedure where they extracted fluid that was around his lungs (around 1 and a half liters of fluid).  They sent us home with many pain meds and an oxygen tank.  Apparently his oxygen levels were/are very low so he now has to always be hooked up to oxygen.  Therefore, the newest addition to our house is a huge oxygen machine with two portable tanks.  The pain meds have helped reduce the pain greatly but he is very...ummm...well, drugged while taking them.  He is very weak and low on energy.

I think that sums it up for the most part.  It was a really hard, emotional, and stressful week for everyone.  I'm just praying things will settle down in the week to come and God will give clear guidance on what to do next.  Thanks so much for all your continued love, prayers & support! 

"The LORD sits enthroned over the flood" (Psalm 29:10).

I love the visual of God sitting above the floods of our lives.  When the storms are raging He pulls us up out of the waters and sits us with Him.

In this new year I hold onto this promise:

"I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD."

-Psalm 27:13-14 

some pictures of the week: