Christmas Blizzard!!

So you may have noticed that the plains states have been hit by a blizzard right at Christmas. The includes the fair state of Nebraska which required some changes in plans for celebrating Christmas. We planned to have all of Janell's family here for dinner but none of them could get here. Mark and Judy planned to come to Lincoln to spend Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Martin but they got to stay in Omaha. Sooo, Justin and I hopped in the four-wheel drive Sport Trac and made it to the Hohlen's, picked up Steph, Carter and Turner and brought them to our house. Trip 2 was to G&G Martin's. They had called to say they would just stay home because of the huge drift of snow in their driveway. Here is what they saw from the garage:


So with great effort, a path was cut for bringing Grandma and Grandpa to the truck - we couldn't stand to have them sitting alone at home on Christmas Day.


Trip number 3 took us to bring Tyler and Leslie Engel and their kids Savannah and Camden to join us since they were unable to travel and be with their family. 14 people for dinner and a wonderful Christmas Day!

The great adventure came when we were ready to take people back home. We got stuck twice within 2 blocks of our house but finally got through and everybody was returned home safely. Steph and Leslie had started planning how the sleepover might work for this group with only two beds available. Fortunately, that plan did not have to be put in action.

As usual, snow falls horizontally in Nebraska, not vertically so drifting is signigicant. Perhaps the whitest Christmas we have had in years. It will be good for lots of stories and memories. We hope you all had a blessed Christmas and made great memories as well.

Tom

Happy "BELATED" Birthday, Aunt Marj!!

Sorry Aunt Marj, just noticed I didn't get this posted, I hope you had a great day!!!!!!!

Marjorie Nell

December 16

Happy Birthday, Sunnie!!

Sunnie De Lano Regier

December 13th

(with the fam in NYC I think)

Happy 4th Anniversary, Justin & Mitzi!!!

Justin & Mitzi

December 10, 2005

Four years ago today the Martins (and Uncle Wayne & Aunt Marj) were cruising the Caribbean with the newlyweds!! Fun memories from this wedding!!

Happy 5th Birthday, Leilani!!

Leilani Rutter

December 8, 2004

Welcome Bentlee!!

Bentlee Jodene

November 25, 2009

Happy 30th Birthday, Todd!!

Todd William

December 6, 1979

**The Huskers tried to give him a HUGE birthday surprise, but just couldn't quite finish the job! Congrats to Barry & Mitzi on the big win for the Longhorns!!

Nathanael Jay

I recently asked Aunt Judy to tell a little about Nate's adoption, here's what she wrote....

"Yes, indeed, this just happens to be the time of year when we love to remember back to when we received our adopted child 27 years ago this month... it was the day before Thanksgiving. We had gotten the good word toward the end of summer when the Martin family gathered for a little reunion in Chadron. I distinctly remember that the call came when Marj and Wayne were singing and playing at our piano, as they were staying with us at the time. Nate was the result of three long years of our trying to become parents... His Aunt Janell had put us in touch with a person she knew who had worked through Holt International Adoption Agency, which had been founded many years before, to assist with the Korean War orphans. Our very first gift for Nate was a car-seat given by the Martin family at the end of that reunion.

Nathanael Jay Rutter's Korean name was Kim Soo Dong (pronounced Chung) and in our prep for meeting him, we were told that men with beards might be stressful to him, as Korean men didn't normally have beards. So his new daddy shaved his beard off the morning that we left for Denver to meet Nate at the airport. His new mommy had never seen her husband with no beard, so she felt like she met two new guys that day. The funny part was that John, the person assigned to escort Nate from Korea, had a beard himself, and they got along fine!

Aunt Rachel met us in Denver (where she and Dennis, Josh and Zach were living at the time) and came along to take pictures. We cherish those and the memories of the first months with our son. Nate's first Korean word was "Oma" meaning mama and his first English word was "Wow!" He was 9 1/2 months old when he joined our family and we could tell right away that he was a very alert intelligent child. He amazed us with his use of big words at a very young age (I wrote some down somewhere, but the words "abandoned" and "coarse" come to my mind right now) Our Nathanael became an expert at just about everything when he began attending school as a kindergartner. All who know him realize that continues to this day! :) They would also agree that Nate has been totally Americanized... we are proud of all of his achievements."

Nate, Brett & Barry on the day Nate became an American citizen at the age of 5.

Mark Richt Video

Hi Family,

I thought you would enjoy this video. Mark Richt is the coach of the Georgia Bulldogs--University of Georgia-- and is known for his strong faith. He used to coach with Bobby Bowden at Florida State, so is well-known in Tallahassee. He & his wife were recently on Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey. That's how I happened to find this video.

Hope you can watch it!

Love, Sharyn

Compassion Video

Dear Family,

I hope you can watch this amazing video. It took place at the "Catalyst" conference in Atlanta in October--several people from our church attended. The video starts out with 3 or 4 min of info about sponsoring a child through Compassion International. Then a young man from Kenya tells his story about being sponsored for many years, and even reads a letter sent to him by his sponsor 19 years ago. --He is now a student at Moody Bible Institute. The rest of the video is amazing! If you ever wondered if it's worthwhile to sponsor a child through these organizations, this will answer the question.

Our pastor showed some of this video in church Sunday, so I went online to find it. Take time to watch!

Love, Sharyn

http://blog.compassion.com/catalyst-2009-it-could-have-been-me/

Happy 3rd Birthday, Addison!!!

Addison Rutter

November 6, 2006

Happy 6th Birthday, Sydney!

Sydney Nichols

November 2, 2003

Happy Birthday, Janelle!!!

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to our newest family member, Janelle Dugger, who married Mike this past August!

Picture to come soon!!!!!!

First Day of School

The end of summer bring the start of school, here are a few shots of the 2nd generation cousins heading off to school!!! I think I'm missing one... am I?? Mommies or Grandmas are going to have to comment with the grades as I'm not sure they want another email from me with a questions or request for pictures!!!!!!!!

What Makes a Great Trip to Vermont and Maine?

How about a visit to Sawyer and his parents?

We think it is important for him to know his extended family, like a great aunt and uncle for instance. We were very privileged to have the chance to visit last week and see how great this wonderful little guy is doing.

What a good-looking guy on a colorful blanket.

Isn't this a good-looking family? So fun to visit them in their home. Thanks for the hospitality, Brad and Arja!

Happy and cute. (Both of them, right?)

Happy 3rd Birthday, Landen!!

Landen Thomas

October 24, 2006

Happy 2nd Birthday, Adrienne!!

Adrienne Marie

October 17, 2007

Happy Birthday, Brett & Barry!!!!

Brett & Barry

October 16, 1983

Brett Edward

with Addison

Spc Barry Kenneth

with Leilani & Landon

Welcome Naomi!!!

Naomi Apple

August 13, 2009

Michael & his kids!!

Happy Birthday, Michael!!!

Michael Dugger

October 7

Happy 85th Birthday, Grandpa!!

Kenneth L. Martin

October 3, 1924

How about everyone share their favorite Grandpa memory?!

Happy Birthday, Greg!!

Then: 16th Birthday with his family....

Now: With a family of his own...

Gregory Paul

October 3

Happy Birthday, Lori!!

Lori Beth

September 21

Happy Birthday, Uncle Wayne!

Wayne

September 17, 1947

Happy 7th Birthday, Presley!!

Presley DeLano Regier

September 16, 2002

Can anyone guess what this guy likes to do most?!?

Happy 2nd Birthday, Brynn!

Two days ago, little miss Brynn turned TWO!!!

Brynn Dugger

9/13/07

Happy Golden / 8th Birthday, Ainsley!!

Today Ainsley turned 8 on the 8th!!!!!!!!

Ainsley at 1 year!

born: 9/8/01

Ainsley and friends at her Crazy 8 birthday party!!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Trevor!!!

Trevor

August 29, 2007

Happy Birthday, Angela!!

Angela Marie

August 28, 1981

Happy 10th Birthday, Austin!!

Austin Craig

August 25, 1999

Austin surrounded by friends at his 10th birthday party!!

Saturday Snapshot

Grandma gave me this picture to scan along with some of the others. I thought it was pretty neat how they staged it! Anyone recall when this was taken?!

Happy 14th Anniversary, Kala & Brodie!!

Brodie & Kala

August 19, 1995

Memories?! I don't believe I was able to attend this wedding, but I do recall Grandma bringing me back a lovely decorated straw hat!

Happy Birthday, Josh!!!

Joshua

August 19, 1980

Happy 41st Anniversary, Jerry & Sharyn!!

Jerry & Sharyn

August 16, 1968

The Martin 7!

Who has a special memory from this day?!?