From tragedy to triumph.
From shattered to whole.
From empty to full.
From lost to found.
This is our story. This is our journey home, because as they say HOME is where the heart is.
1997.
Scared
Lost
Abandoned
Alone
Unworthy
Unloveable
Discarded
Expendable
Abused
Shattered
Empty
2018.
Joy
Hope
Peace
Love
Family
Whole
Full
Excited
Found
Worthy
Together
In 1997, as most of you know my family was ripped apart. My parents were abusive, drug addicts and one thing led to another and all nine of my siblings and I were eventually placed into the foster care system. Seperated, split up, and eventually adopted out. Some of us didn't get so lucky though. some of us fought our entire childhood, teenage years, and even early adult years to survive. Bouncing from one foster home to the next. It was never an easy situation. Loosing our sibligns to the system. Not knowing where they were, if they were ok, or if they were even alive anymore. Can you imagine?
After a TWENTY year search, with more dead ends than you can imagine, Our journey has come full circle. I finally after so much heart ache, hopelessness, tears, and gut wrenching sorrow have found what I had been looking for, for so long.
I am ecstatic to introduce you to the Martin 10 Strong. Ten siblings who have each seen their own fair share of tradgedy finally together again. A family reunion is in the making where we will all be able to get together and be in the same place at the same time. So many years, so much lost time to make up for. Now is now.
More on our story to come....but until then enjoy :)
Here is a short Bio of each one of us:
This is Joshua, he is the oldest Martin sibling. Josh was ten when we were placed in the foster care system. He would be thirty going on thirty-one this year. He was our protector and took the responisiblity of being the oldest very serious. Joshua bounced from foster home to foster home from the time we got in to the system in 1997 to the time he aged out at eighteen. Josh spent many years trying to overcome the horrible things that happened to him as a young child, and the trauma he endured in the foster care system. Sadly, Joshua passed away August 17, 2016 due to an accidental drowning. He is and forever will be a huge part of who we are. We miss him every single day, and cannot wait to hug him when it is our time. He will forever be remembered as a kind, funny, hard working brother.
This is me Rebecca, but most people call me Becka. I am the second oldest of the Martin siblings. I was nine when we were placed in the foster care system. I am twenty-nine going on thirty-years-old this year. I have an identical twin sister (more of her to come) whom is TWO whole minutes younger than me. I was also bounced around from home to home from the time I entered the foster care system in 1997, until I aged out right before graduating High School. I have seen and experienced my fair share of tragedy and abuse while in the foster care system, but I also found love and will cherish those relationships forever. Today I am working as the Secretary of my church, and going to school full-time working on my Bachelors degree in Health and Human Services because I WILL change the broken system and make a difference.
😉) Pauline was nine when we were placed in the foster care system. Pauline was also bounced from home to home from the time she entered the system until she aged out. One good thing was that Pauline and I got to stay together in all of our homes. Pauline has also seen and experienced her fair share of hurt and tragedy while in the foster care system. Today Pauline is a hard working mama. She is currently finishing up her Bachelors Degree in Special Education, working full-time, and taking care of her seven-year-old son Preston, who is the light of all our lives!
This is Daniel, he is the fourth child in the Martin sibling line up. Daniel was eight when we were placed in foster care. Daniel is 28 going on 29 this year. He is currently on vacation "finding himself" and trying to better his life. Daniel grew up bouncing from foster home to foster home. A family that had him for quiet a few years got guardianship of him and he lived there until he graduated high school. Daniel has had some truouble staying out of trouble, but I hope and pray this will all be in the past. Daniel is an intellegent, hard worker, not to mention he has the greatest humor there ever was, he can make us laugh and keep us laughing for hours!. He has great potential, and in a few months we will get to hug him again.
This is Brandon, and he is the fifth child in the Martin line up. He lives in West Virginia . Brandon was six when we were placed in the foster care system. he is 26 turning 27 this year. Brandon was in a few foster homes, he experienced his own forms of tragedy and at the age of 14, he was adopted. I haven't seen him since that day, but I'm hoping he comes around, be cause we would love to get to know him and see him. Brandon is a phenomenal artist and talented musician.
This is Samuel and he is the sixth Martin sibling in the line up. Sam, is by all accounts our mountain man!! Sam was four when we were placed in the foster care system. He is twenty-four going on twenty-five this year. He lives in Jackson hole Wyoming. He loves it there, it is home to him. Sam was adopted at an early age when we entered the foster care system. He was raised in Tehachapi, CA and his parents did an amazing job raising him into a hard working, respectful, compassionate person. Sam makes me laugh on a daily basis, and I love calling him our Ginger. Because, obviously. Sam can also play a mean guitar and has some great vocals!
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This is Noah, he is the seventh child in the Martin Line up. Noah was three when we were placed in the foster care system. Noah is 23 going on 24 this year. Noah has had a rough time growing up and was bounced from home to home until he was adopted, in La Cracenta, CA. His adopted mother changed her mind, and Noah was then placed in to the care of his Adopted Aunt, who has spent many years trying to give Noah a family and life he deserved. She has done a great job of loving him, and is his mother through and through. Noah is currently on vacation "finding himself" and I pray that when he is done he will be a better person. Noah is a great guy, and just needs support to get back on his feet!
This is Joseph, affectionately known as JoJo or Joey
😉. Joe is the eighth Martin in the sibling line up. Joe was 19 months old when we were placed in the foster care system. He is twenty-two this year and he is in the process of moving to Wyoming. Joe and Sam were adopted together in Tehachapi, CA where they grew up. Joe is a character and always makes it a point to make us laugh. Joe is talented on the guitar and can sing also. Joe is always on the go and likes to travel, fish, and be outside. In the last few years he has lived in Tehachapi, Bakersfield, and even in Arizona, and like I said he is currently on his way to Wyoming to join Sam.
This is David and he is the ninth sibling in the Martin line up. He was actually born Jesse James but when he got adopted at a very young age and lived in Bakersfield, CA they changed his name to David but we all call him Bender. David was two months old when we were placed in the foster care system. David is twenty going on twenty-one this year. He is a Marine and currently lives in Japan, but will be state side at the end of this month in San Diego! David loves to play hockey and is all about that hockey life. He was raised by two great parents that did a wonderful job.
Last but certainly not Least is number 10! Matthew, he is the baby and is eighteen going on nineteen this year. He is working on graduating high school. He was adopted at 13 days old from the hopital by his wonderful parents and lives in Napa CA. Crazy thing is he was born two-years after we were all taken from our parents. I remember holding him when he was a month old and then that was the last I saw or heard of him until this last year! Matthew is very talented on the guitar and has some killer vocals too. We just got to see and hug him for the first time in eighteen-years this last weekend!
