India Update - 3 Weeks & Counting

In three short weeks Adonái and I will be in India. I can hardly believe it is so closely upon us.

My to-do list keeps growing:

• I still need to send out some prayer magnets to those who are supporting us. I made half of them and then ran out of ink. Doh.
• Get immunizations. This needs to happen ASAP. No one wants to be coming down with typhoid.
• Check out travel insurance. Shari (one of our teammates) works for  a company who supplies this, which is nice.
• Update our wills. I don't expect anything to happen while we're gone, and this needs to happen anyway, so the timing is good.
• Make a "to communicate" list for my sister-in-law about the kids. She'll be watching the girls for us while we are gone and I want to write down a few FYI's, like, Natalia always holds her dolly and glow worm at bed time, and Naiya doesn't take a nap any more, but usually has an hour of quiet time instead, and if Natalia wakes up at 2am, let her cry, she's often back asleep within 2 minutes, but if she keeps crying, I usually give her a drink of water, lay her back down and she'll go back to sleep (no need to stay up with her), etc.
• Set-up Skype. I can skype with the girls while I'm there, but will need it set-up on this end to make that possible.
• Figure out work schedule and child care the week before and after the trip. I don't get paid time off, so for the 2 weeks I'm gone I'll be making zero income. I'm going to try to  work extra the weeks before and after the trip, which unfortunately means less time with the girls when I'm already going to be gone for 2 whole weeks, but for some reason the bills don't stop coming just because I'm out of the country. Therefore, I need to make a schedule of days in the office vs. extra hours at home and who will help with the girls in the midst of all of that (in-laws are in town, which will hopefully be very helpful).
• Buy new hair trimmer. I know this one sounds silly, but Ado has been asking for a haircut. I've been cutting his hair for about 10 years now and our trimmer finally died. Why pay to go the barber when we could buy a new one for the same cost and I can use it for the next 10 years. So, need to buy it and then do some shaving of the head.
• Sell collectible cards. Ado has a collection of cards that he agreed to sell forever ago, but never did (we have a bin in our bedroom full of them). He said he would go through them all, organize them, and then sell them to help pay for our trip to India. Tick tock babe, we have 3 weeks until departure. (I think secretly he changed his mind about selling them and doesn't have the heart to tell me.)
• Write thank you cards to vendors who helped with our Amazing Race fundraiser. The fundraiser was, well, AMAZING. 16 teams participated and the team as a whole raised about twice what we anticipated the week before the race. We want to thank all the local businesses who contributed by donating prizes or allowing us to use their premises for the race. Everyone had a terrific time and asked when we would be doing it again (um, not for a while, I'm exhausted from all the planning!).
• Plan next fundraiser. The team is talking about networking with local fast food restaurants to have an eat-out day on October 1st. Anyone who buys food and mentions our team at those particular establishments, a percentage of their purchase will go toward our India trip. Of course, that all has to be set-up and then communicated first.
• Pack for the girls. Clothes can be done last, but the pack 'n play and booster seat and double stroller, etc. all need to be pulled out for my sister-in-law to use.
• Pack for us. Probably to be done the day we depart knowing us, but I'm starting to make piles and lists.
• Compile little gifts for the kids. I am leaving a few small presents for the girls to open every few days while we're gone. My parents did that for me when I was a kid and I loved it. Helped take away some of the sadness of being away from mommy and daddy. The dollar store has some great little kid stuff that I need to pick up and then wrap.

I'm sure there is more, but that is all my brain can remember for now. Please pray for us as we wrap up all of these preparations over the next three weeks.

The good news is that Ado and I both got our visas approved and our passports returned to us. So that is one big important element taken care of.

Our support-raising is coming along, but still has a ways to go. Aside from the fundraisers, which go toward the team as a while, Ado and I have had 14 families partner with us financially on this trip (thank you) and have raised about 1/3rd of what we need. Unfortunately, plane tickets to India are not cheap! Please continue to pray that God shows His faithfulness and provides the rest of the funds needed for us to go. I have no doubt that He called us on this trip, so we're waiting on Him to make it possible.

I guess that's it for now. If you have any questions, please let us know. We're really excited about this opportunity.

In Him,

Kelly (and Adonái too)
India Mission Trip: October 13th-28th

New Look

Don't close your browser! This really is still The Martinez Home blog. I gave it a facelift. While I loved the dandelions, I hated how as a watermark image they infringed on the ability to read the blog text. So, I opted for this version, which has the dandelions at the top, but solid colors for an easier read. I'm not sold on the green for the major backdrop element, but would love your feedback. Feel free to comment on the new look!

In honor of new looks, I thought I'd embarrass myself a bit. So.... here goes.

Anyone who knows me personally, know that I look like this:

I cut my hair short two years ago and it really took about a year for me to find a style I truly love. Shortly after that Ado asked me if I'd grow my hair back out. He didn't mind that I'd cut it short, but didn't love it per se either. He wished it looked like this again:

I grew my hair out for about 8 months and gave up. Growing your hair out sucks. It will always suck... that awkward in between phase. The only way I felt my hair looked cute was to pull it back, but I have chronic headaches and that style didn't contribute to those very well. Plus, I have a preschooler and a baby to chase after and spending time on my hair or feeling ugly wasn't doing me any good. I asked Ado if I could cut it short again. Honestly, I wasn't done having it short. I like it short. I like it long too, but after almost many years of long, I'm still enjoying the short phase. Plus it is SO EASY.

Ado agreed. However, while he says I'm still pretty and he doesn't mind, I know he does.

All this said, I want us to both be happy, so.... for a while now I've been chewing on getting a wig! I thought it might be fun to sometimes go out on a date and me have long flowing hair again. That he would think I was pretty... prettier.

And then last week I was walking through the mall and there they were. And I thought I'd just look at the price tag so I'd know. And the lady asked if I wanted to try one on and... well, I fold like a house of cards when it comes to sales.

So here it is!

Ado thinks I look better al natural, which is sweet. And he thinks I'm silly for buying it, which is true. But, I don't think you can return a wig. So it's mine. And eventually I'll dare to wear it out!