Blessings to all of you!  It has been a while since we have updated you and I apologize.  The family has had a good holiday season and feel so blessed to have you as friends and know that many of you faithfully pray for us. 
 
There has been quite a bit of things happening since the last update.  The week after Christmas, Crystal was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She has since undergone bilateral mastectomies and partial reconstruction and has completed 4 rounds of chemotherapy with 2 more to go.  She has done remarkably well and has missed very little work.  She is amazing!  Her CT scans indicated that there were no metastases and there was no lymph node involvement.  The doctors feel that it was found very early and that she will have a very good outcome.  Thank you for your prayers for her.
 
Hannah has received national literary recognition for a poem she wrote.  It has been published and was voted as a Top Ten winner out of thousands of entries in the 4th-6th grade level category.  She continues to amaze me with her creativity and intelligence.  She recently had a birthday and is now 10 years old.
 
Andrew continues to excel in school and in sports.  He is playing soccer again this spring and his team is continuing to do well.  He will be playing baseball next and will probably play soccer again in the fall.  He recently had a birthday (7 years old) and received a new basketball goal and basketball.  He loves to play most sports and is very talented.
 
I have also had surgery to remove a kidney stone since the last update.  I was having pain for about 4 weeks before I went to the doctor and it was 6 weeks before we found out the cause and had surgery.  This was the second time I have had kidney stones and they are certainly not fun.
 
We surely do miss our little Erin Hope, especially on holidays, her birthday, which was February 4th, and on the anniversary of her homegoing.  The pain does improve with time and God surely gives us grace to continue.  If she could speak to us, I am sure she would tell us not to be sad because I know she is having the best time in heaven.
 
Please check out the link below to our new website featuring a new healthy fruit drink that we have recently started using.  With the recent diagnosis of cancer in Crystal and the history of cancer with Erin Hope and the health problems I have faced over the last few years, and our family health histories, we have realized the importance of a healthier lifestyle, including exercise and good nutrition.
 
As always, may God continue to richly bless you as He has us.  We love you all!
 
Jeff Martin
God is good...ALL the time!!!
www.erinhope.com  A Child's Cancer Story...Go Be Blessed!
www.jeffandcrystalmartin.natureswellnesssecret.com