Jennifer's Page
Updated1/20/00

Written by Jennifer Martinez especially for the Martinez Home Journal - January 2000
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M & M's Jennifer's Favorite Treat
Yes, M & M’s is a candy, but it is also a Bible Study Jennifer attends on Tuesdays. This is the one thing Jennifer does for herself that is as rejuvenating as a sugar high from
eating those chocolate treats that don’t melt in your hands. She is not only studying Ruth, Esther, Ezra, & Nehemiah, but she is also in a small group being mentored by 2 lovely ladies who treat her as a daughter. This is perfect because in this complex world it is a challenge to stay grounded in what is important while parenting 3 small children. Therefore having women who volunteer their time to share their wisdom, their time and their prayers with Jennifer is an incredible joy and asset to our entire family.

Driving, Driving, Driving
As the Mom, Jennifer is thankful for the van because her life is spent in it! As a family we have chosen to have Kaitlyn not go to our neighborhood school which means driving 15 – 20 minutes each way to get Katy to school. This has been great because we have perfected our routines of getting in and out of the car and getting to places on time (most of the time). When Jennifer is not driving, she spends her time juggling nap schedules and errands so nobody feels the effects of the standard line — Get in the car — it is time to go get Katy.

It's Food Swap Time…
Our kids believe that food comes from coolers in other people's garages. Once a month Jennifer works hard cooking about 20 meals of the same thing. Examples include, Chicken Pot Pie, Tamales, Montery Chicken, Meatloaf, and Grilled Pizza. Then she meets in someone's garage or on our front porch where 20 other women gather and swap out the meals. People who have eaten over at our house know they are not eating Jennifer's cooking and the kids are used to saying, "Who made this meal." The benifits of food swap are enormous. We get a variety of foods, we save money (it is always cheaper to shop bulk), We never have the thought - "I have no idea what to have for dinner" - and if someone is sick, had a baby or is overwhelmed, there is always a meal in the freezer to help out. Click on the Recipe link for this months recipe.
Click here to see the recent
recipes from Food Swap

What's the next project?
In an effort to keep life simple… Jennifer tries hard to not over commit. It is a nice thought. her current involvents include the following…

• She helps plan and implement the Sunday school and Children's Chapel programs at church.

• She helps in Mikaela's classroom which is a wonderful joy. She also is the class cordinator for Mikaela's class which takes little effort because of the efforts of the rest of the parents in preschool and luckily does the preschool work hours by doing laundry.
• This year she volunteered to serve on the Valley Swim Club board as Management Officer. Hiring and working with the lifeguards will be very rewarding plus it looks like this is the year to start working towards Valley Swim tearing out the 40 year old pool and building a new one. This is very exciting and will be great to watch this change in the pool, but were sure this will require some unique challenges while serving on the board.

• In Kaitlyn's class, Jennifer publishes a new version of Author Share (remember when Jennifer stopped teaching in the classroom, she and a good friend published a little magazines for children's writings). Jennifer took this idea and to support the teacher's efforts in writing, Jennifer does a weekly 1st grade publication showing off the writings of this smart and talented group of kids.

• Keeping up with her Creative Memories is always a priority and she is proud to report she is only about a year behind in all three photo album.

• Remember she does this all with Courtney in tow!

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