As Miss Stoltzfus, I taught first grade in a private Mennonite school for eight years.  And I loved it.

But, I loved studying as much as I loved teaching.  So I paused my teaching career to get my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and Special Education.

After marriage and graduation, we moved into the city.  As Mrs. Martin, I entered the public school system and taught in a variety of grades and classrooms.

Then my son was born, and I said good-bye to the traditional classroom.  There are times I miss the traditional teaching model, for sure.  But I love this stage, too, of having a first-hand account in watching children develop. 

Currently, I am able to scratch my teaching itch by homeschooling my preschoolers, teaching first and second grade art and communications at a local homeschool co-op, teaching music and choir at Arrows Christian Academy, writing for the DOCK, and sharing through this blog.

I am married to Kevin Martin, the man who quietly and patiently waited eight years before pursuing me. There is very little quiet or patient about me and while we have many of the same interests and dreams, we tend to go about them in different ways. We currently have three boys – a 6 year old, an almost 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 1 year old.  I love this season with its juxtaposition of high-energy moments and slow-living; efficiency and savoring the moment; loud fun and quiet napping.

We live in the city and are Christians who have chosen to be part of a Mennonite church in a largely Hispanic area of the United States. These factors influence much of my day-to-day activities and what we choose to prioritize as a family.