Updates from the Marin Family

It has been a while since my last post. It has been a wild ride to say the least.

Let's see, in July, Brandon moved out to his own "home". When I heard him say later that he never felt he had a home, my heart broke. I can understand, one week here and one week there could become frustrating. I choose not to regret the decision others forced on me, but this in what Brandon wanted. I am glad he has a place that he can call home and I am thankful for the people who continue to pour out their love to and for him.

In September Nikki moved in and about 1 week later, Juan Marin took ill and we had to go down to be with Martha. Juan passed away on a Sunday morning, just a few days after we arrived. It was good that we went down. John was able to speak to his dad and say the things he needed to for closure. Nikki was glad she had gotten to see Juan before she left Miami. She was full of regrets for not seeing more of them, but you can't live on regrets. You have to move forward with your life.

John took care of all of the arrangements for his dad so Martha would not have to do a lot. The identification of the body was hard enough for her. But it was done and we were able to say goodbye and come back home to Tennessee with the understanding with Martha, that she would be selling her home and moving up with us in a few months.

So now we are up to Hoedown with church. I got the privilege of working with a very talented group of people! They are great puppeteers and song leaders. The show they put on was wonderful. The children loved every moment. I was able to get them water and provide traffic control with the kids that wanted to 'help out' with the production and 'meet' the puppets. It was a lot of fun to watch the little faces light up when they could join in and perform with the leaders. God has been so faithful to our group!

Thanksgiving went well. We invited a friend that John works with to come join us for dinner and the four of us ate a satisfying meal. We played the Wii and enjoyed harassing each other. Brandon came by later in the afternoon and stayed for a while. It was a good day.

Christmas was very eventful. Martha flew up and stayed with us for 3 weeks. We had a great time with her. We went to two concerts at church, she cooked several great meals and we had people over at the house for a meet and greet for Martha. She enjoyed herself for the most part. There were a couple of bumps along the way, but we muddled through. One incident that really sticks out is when the septic tank back flowed into the shower. Can we say NASTY!!!!

I texted the Lombard's to get the name and number for the septic people they used. They came out the next day and took care of our issue. Thank goodness, because we had company coming over in a couple of days. The folks were quick and very efficient.

Then it came time for Martha to go back to Miami. I was saddened at her leaving, but knew she would be back soon. She wanted to go back and say goodbye to the house and the memories she had made there with her husband, best friend, lover, cousin for all of her life. She put the house on the market and has accepted an offer in March. Closing should occur at the end of May.

In the meantime, we are trying to get another garage built so that we can get started on Martha's room. The current garage will be converted into her private suite with a half bath, sitting area and bedroom. We hope she will like it. We will be gaining a mudroom and moving our laundry room in an area of the mudroom. Eventually we will expand our kitchen. We will bring down a wall and enlarge the area to include more cabinets and an island. Can't wait for those changes. Those may be in 2014.

Brandon will begin his last semester at MTSU in the fall. Hard to believe that my baby has grown up and will be finished with this part of his chapter in the life God has for him. I pray that he will always seek first what God has for him and will lend his ear to the wise counsel of those who hear the word of God.

Nikki has applied to Motlow. She wants to begin classes in the summer but she needs to find out if the pell grant will cover the summer or just the fall and spring semester. This will be an exciting time of her life. I just pray that she develops a heart to know God more personally and that when she is ready, God would send her the mate He has been preparing in advance for her.

I am worthy to be called a daughter of God!

Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Hi, everyone, my name is Tina Marin. I am a mother to a son, Brandon, age 22, a daughter Nikki, 25, and a wife to John for 17 years. I live in Murfreesboro, TN where I attend World Outreach Church and serve in a couple of different areas. I have known Megan for a little over a year while serving with High School Infinity, but more intentionally through an online Bible study. I must say, I have found it easier to have a relationship with other women as I mature than when I was younger. Partly a trust issue I suppose. Not much of a role model in that area and never saw it modeled very well.

However, through it all God has his hand in my life. My aunt and uncle adopted me, while both of my parents were still alive and I always seemed to know I did not belong to them somehow. We lived in Memphis, TN for a while and moved to North Mississippi until I was around 22 when I moved to Memphis to live with my half sister. That was an adventure. Anyway, God always had made my heart soft and pliable, not able to hold a grudge after I worked through the anger, hurt and forgiveness necessary. You see, even though I did not have my original family, God knew what family I did need, and what I would go through as a child in while I lived at home. I love my parents, both sets, and I know my Aunt (Mom) did the best she could with what was going on. Even though I was mistreated, I still had to honor them for who they were to me and I had to release them from the anger, guilt, and shame I had. It was up to me to release it, not them to say they were sorry, because God would take care of that for me. I had to take care of my part in everything that happened and forgive myself. Once I was able to do that, I could move on. Did that happen overnight, in two months, two years? No, I had to work on some of it for a while. God had his hand in my life, it was not until I received deliverance that I knew I was a daughter of the King, forgiven and redeemed through the precious blood of Jesus. I felt His loving embrace, encouraging me to become the woman I strive every day to be for Him.


Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for revealing the truth, that I am a child of the King! I know the precious blood of Christ your son redeems me and that you have adopted me, yet again, into your Family! How great and wonderful is that. I love you Father and pray your grace and comfort to those who read this today. In Jesus' precious name, AMEN!

July 5, 2012

Well, it has been two days since John's birthday. Got up and prepared him breakfast (pancakes and sausage). I went to work while he stained the patio concrete a nice golden color. The dinner was great at Blue Agave with friends, Janet and Don Mott, Sherry Atkinson-Hill and Dave, Denise Pope and Chad, Lacey and Clint Campbell, Julie and Charles Ludwig with Jenna, Brandon Westbrook, Tina Lombard with Gabriel and last but not least, John Fuller.We stayed out until around 9 pm. That was late for us old folks.

Then on Wednesday we got up to go celebrate the 4th with the Lombards. Good food, nice swimming and visiting with everyone! Tom is the grill master!

Today is Thursday, and when John went in to work some for AeroMexico it was to find out that his position with them had been eliminated. He is working to find out if there will be a severance package. I sure do hope so. Then he went up front to check with Embraer to see if they have any job postings. If you all should have/or know of any job openings please send his way.

Brandon is preparing to move out in a couple of weeks. I am still trying to decide if I want to be depressed or happy or just experience both as part of the cycle of life. I knew this day would come. I pray that we have prepared him well for his future and Brandon will always listen to the Holy Spirit in all things. Some decisions are not always wise. Like him purchasing the new guitar before he moves? Hmmm. Anyway.

Nikki may move up in August. That should give us time to prepare her room and I hope she does well in telling her mother. Not like I did and not telling them and just moving. I am proud of the both of them. You learn as you go I suppose.