Sister Martinez - Called to Auckland NZ

Yep, it's happening!  Carly received her Mission Call today.  She will be serving in Auckland, New Zealand, Mandarin Chinese Language!  She opened her Call with all her college friends, and they were very supportive and excited with her.  The rest of the family was able to watch via Skype.

She reports to the Provo UT MTC on 09/11/19.  We can't wait to see what's in store for her!

Happy 19th Birthday, Carly!

It's this special girl's birthday!  Nineteen years ago I gave birth to this little dark-haired beauty at West Valley Hospital in West Valley, UT.  It was Easter Day, and I labored all day at the hospital.  When she was finally born, I was so happy and relieved.

 

She was my first (and only) girl, so I really enjoyed dressing her in the girly clothes, doing her hair with barrettes and ribbons, and she definitely brought a different spirit to our home!  The boys always took pride in helping to take care of our little baby girl.

Happy Birthday, Carly Chase Martinez!

Snow in the Pacific NW

I feel like I'm back in Utah with all the snow that's falling right now in University Place WA:

I'm so grateful for Nature's beauty all around me.  These times of extreme weather bring our family closer as we "hunker down" at home!  In all the local Social Media posts, we are hash-tagging #Snowmageddon

Married 25 Years!

It seems like just yesterday that we started dating, but it was March 4, 1992!  We dated for a year, then we were engaged for a year.  That second year was kind of torturous, but it was really important to me to be married in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint's Temple.  Since Daniel has just been baptized on 01/24/93, the rules at that time required he wait a year before going to the temple.

We celebrated this big anniversary year by getting away for the weekend to Ocean Shores WA -- that was my gift to Daniel (a weekend where we just focused on each other), and he agreed that we could purchase a diamond anniversary band for me to mark the milestone.

We still enjoy each other's company, and along with all the "romantic" activities, we like to go to movies, eat out, and play cards/board games.  I love you, Daniel Silvester Martinez!  Here's to another 25 years!

Jan 2019 Home For The Holidays!

It was so nice to have all the kids home for the holidays!  As they get older, they are doing better at having good relationships with each other -- Carly and Gabe got along really well as younger kids, and when Gabe was away at college, Carly and Sam had the opportunity to bond.  I love these people so much!

Daniel always "shines" at Christmas.  He really enjoys the process of decorating and cooking for the holidays.