Tawny Martin Memorial Foundation

12/19/2013

We've been silent for a while, and while. Much of that due to the fullness of our personal lives, but also because of an ... introspection about the future direction of the Tawny Martin Foundation. (No, we're not thinking of ending the Foundation ... just pondering where God is taking us, and it.)

One of the initiatives I, (Roy -Tawny's dad), have been involved with since Tawny died, is the Eagle Springs Cemetery, where she's buried. It occurred to me the other day that although it's not officially a "project" of the Foundation, it's still something you might be interested in. We produce a newsletter, usually twice a year, and I wondered if you'd be interested. (If you'd like to be added to our e-mail distribution list, send an e-mail to [email protected].)

I need to figure out how to post the actual newsletter itself, but in the meantime, here's the text from it. (If anyone knows how to post an actual PDF ... e-mail me at [email protected] Thx!) Happy reading ... and have a blessed Christmas!

An Advent Wish and a Birthday Twice Forgotten

I forgot my wife’s birthday last week. Twice. (It’s been one of those kinds of months.)

So how does one forget a birthday twice? About halfway through the day, Lynn had pity on me and dropped a few hints so that I might still pretend that I’d remembered all along, but was delaying because I wanted to surprise her. When the hints fell flat, she simply asked, “So … you’ve forgotten, right? My birthday?” The fact that she said it with a mischievous smile let me know that I wasn’t in trouble, but mostly she was enjoying the situation. I admitted that indeed I’d forgotten, but promised we’d do something later in the day to make up for it. Then I forgot again. We still haven’t celebrated her birthday. (Sigh.)

That our lives have been insanely full is a major understatement. Her mom’s Parkinson’s, my dad’s bypass surgery, a teenage son who’s not quite driving but still has a full, extracurricular schedule, my own job which keeps me away from home most weeks - it’s easy for a take-charge guy like me to get frustrated when I forget life’s details and miss some of the more important things.

Deep in the throes of that self-pity and overwhelm, I flashback to another period where life had seemed to bowl us over. Our daughter had died just six weeks previously and while I had already returned to work, my wife was just that day going back to her job at a research lab. It was an early, frosty morning and while Noah was still tucked snugly in bed, I had gotten up to help Lynn start her first day back at the lab.

After Lynn pulled out of the driveway, I started to gather the makings of Noah’s breakfast and plan out my day. About five minutes into that process, I received a call from Lynn. “I’m okay, but I’ve had an accident. Can you come get me?” Having just lost our daughter to a wreck on I-35, my heart immediately went into my throat as I asked Lynn for more details. Was she okay? Where was she?

“Really, I’m fine … but be careful on the way here. There’s lots of ice on the road.”

After telling me again that she was okay, Lynn gave me her location and I hung up promising to be there as fast as I could. I woke Noah and while assuring him that Mommy was fine, said that she had a little accident and her car wouldn’t run so we had to go pick her up. In less than a minute I had him strapped into his booster seat in the car, bundled in the same comforter he’d just woken up in. Five minutes after that, we pulled around the bend to find Lynn’s yellow SUV backed into a stout oak tree.

The condition of the vehicle took my breath away. She’d obviously rolled or flipped it, and parts were scattered 30 feet from where the SUV had slammed into the tree. Leaving Noah belted in the car, I ran to driver’s door to discover Lynn still belted in, but moving very slowly. She smiled gently, “I know, but really, I’m okay.”

After further assurances that she was okay, Lynn started to explain what had happened. She had seen the patch of black ice just in time to swerve as she rounded the curve, but never did see the second patch. As the SUV spun around, she lost all control and it went airborne as she let go.

“Let go? Let go of what? The steering wheel!?”

“Well … yeah.” She looked away from me and her gaze turned thoughtful. “As I started to skid, a voice came into my head. It said, ‘You can’t control this. Just let go and trust.’”

“A voice told you to let go of the steering wheel?” I repeated, unable to process what I’d just heard.

“Yeah. And trust.”

As we gently eased her out of the driver’s seat and collected her personal items, I had to wonder at what she’d said. And today, in the midst of this overly packed, totally crazy and eternally blessed Advent season, as we’re driven to distraction and sometimes forget what it’s all about in the first place, I still ponder that message Lynn received so many years ago:

You can’t control this. Just let go. And trust.


We Need You!

We still have a few vacancies on the Cemetery Board of Trustees and we’d love to have you join us. It only requires a couple hours of your time and we really need your support. If you’re able and willing, please contact Board President Roy Martin at (254) 717-8161.

Thank You!

We received a few donations these last few months and I want you to know that we do appreciate your support of our mission of caring for the holy landmark of Eagle Springs Cemetery.

A few also sent personal thoughts and remembrances, and we especially enjoy reading your letters and cards.

Keep them coming - we love hearing from you!

The Promise of Spring

Like many of you, we’ve settled into “winter mode” and the recent, blessed rain has many of us holed up, scanning our seed catalogues and dreaming of the oncoming promise of spring … which also promises plenty of grass to cut, both at home and at Eagle Springs Cemetery.

So as you contemplate your own winter to-do lists and assorted honey-do’s, please also considered whether you or groups you know might appreciate a community service project in the spring or summer. Whether it’s grass cutting or other upkeep and maintenance, we’d love your assistance in keeping Eagle Springs Cemetery the beautiful landmark it is.

INQUIRIES and DONATIONS

You may send requests for information and donations to:
Eagle Springs Cemetery, P.O. Box 482, McGregor, TX 76657.
Eagle Springs Cemetery is a 501(c)(13) tax-exempt, non-profit cemetery and donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

05/21/2012

We recently visited three really great schools: Moody High School, Everman High School and Mildred High school. I've slipped a bit in keeping this page up to date, and it'll be this weekend before we can post photos, but hope to get photos of those events as well as our Toys For Tots drive (back in December ... Okay - I SAID I've slipped a bit. :-)) Stay tuned for those updates ... and my apologies to the great kids and staff at Moody, Everman and Mildred HS's. You were great hosts and we appreciate your kindness!

12/24/2011

A recent article we submitted to a local newspaper. With the many holiday celebrations out there, a reminder's not a bad thing ...

Losing a child to death is a lot of things: heart rending, fatally tragic, terminally sad. It’s also … unnatural. Of course, it’s not easy to lose anyone you love - a parent, a sibling or even a spouse. We don’t like to think about it, but it does occur to us that some day God might call them home before He calls us. But our child? That little one you held in your arms the day they were born and have nurtured ever since? Losing them to death just isn’t natural. It never enters your thoughts beforehand.
Yet due to drunk driving every year, the parents of about 3,500 teens in the United States have experienced just that. Each year 16,000 Americans lose their lives to drunk driving wrecks, and of those, 3,500 will be teens. This year, and every year, 3,500 sets of parents, grandparents and people who love them most, will have to choose a cemetery to bury their child in. They’ll have to bring clothes to a funeral home to dress their body in. They’ll have to figure out how to tell a little sibling that their brother or sister will never come home again. They’ll have to wake up every morning for the rest of their lives, feeling that their heart has been ripped out and will never come back.
Most of these wrecks involving teens are due to drinking by teens themselves. We parents have some sense that alcohol use occurs among teens, but most of us aren’t aware of the staggering magnitude of the problem. A report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found the following:
• Eighty-one percent of high school students drink alcohol.
• Of those who experiment with alcohol, 91% were still drinking in the 12th grade.
• Of Underage drinkers - nearly a third say they binge drink at least once a month.
• Underage drinkers now account for 25% of all alcohol consumed in this country.
The Tawny Martin Memorial Foundation’s primary focus is combatting the issue of teen drunken driving. The goal of the Foundation’s program is to create a measurable decrease in the instances of drunken driving in youth and young adults in our communities. To do this, we present information to ensure that our kids understand the consequences of drinking, of driving drunk and, most importantly, offer strategies to avoid both.
We share information, but mostly we share our story. Please consider having your school contact us for information about our in-school drunk driving prevention program. You can find more about our program at www.tawnymartin.org or contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook at “Tawny Martin Foundation.”
And finally, the officers we work with in law enforcement and at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission are clear and consistent about not calling drunk driving wrecks an “accident.” No one accidentally consumes alcohol. No one accidentally gets into a car after consuming alcohol. Clearly these are all choices; nothing is accidental. So please, if you choose to consume alcohol this holiday season, as an adult over 21, that’s your choice. Enjoy that choice responsibly. But if you make that choice, please don’t drive. Remember and remind your friends: “If you drink, don’t drive.”

Tawny Martin Memorial Foundation, In support of the physical, spiritual and emotional well-being of today's youth.

12/02/2011

We were hosted by the great folks of Valley Mills High School at their 2011 Health Fair

10/28/2011

West High School

10/27/2011

We were hosted this week by the folks of West High School. What a great place and wonderful people.

08/10/2011

I often worry, wonder and stress over our kids. The media seems so filled with stories of how spoiled, troubled and violent today's youth are. And yet, that's not been my impression. Those of you whom I meet in our presentations are really wonderful people. … and then along comes a story like the attached and my convictions are reaffirmed – you’re really great people; I’m blessed to call you ALL my kids!

Many adults begin talking early and often with kids about the importance of sharing and generosity. This is a story of a teenager who did something so generous — so big-hearted — that it’s making plenty of adults swoon.

08/04/2011

Nicole's wonderful photo of her and Tawny gave us an idea. We'd like to share any photos YOU'D like to share, of Tawny and you together. If you have one you'd like to share, either A) post it to the wall (which implies I can save it to a "Friends" photo album) or B) e-mail to [email protected]. Please describe the circumstances of the pic. Thanks!

08/04/2011

With Nicole Hof. Notice the calendar - taken during Tawny's last trip to Maryland.

05/23/2011

On May 2nd the Tawny Martin Foundation presented to students and staff at Bremond High School. Attached is a link to an article with some great photos. As with all schools we present to, we continue to be wow'ed by the staff and students. Some great folk there in Breymond.

http://bremondisd.net/vnews/display.v/ART/4dbab7fe241d3

The Tawny Martin Memorial Foundation presented an anti-alcohol presentation to the Bremond ISD students in grades 7-12 on Monday, May 2, 2011. The Tawny Martin Memorial Foundation, Inc, (PO Box 82, Moody, TX 76557), is a nonprofit organization founded in memory of Tawny Lynn Martin, killed January