My Life and Spiritual Growth as a Military Spouse

By Martha E. H. Franklin

I grew up in Pensacolatruly a beach girl, spending many days at Pensacola beach with family. As a little girl, I always wished for more and dreamed big. I refer to it as riding the waves of life. I believe in myself, Im my own biggest fan and have no intention of ever giving up on my vision.

I share the benefit of my personal development and gained wisdom, even during my darkest days. Standing in the light now is a blessing and a gift from God. I embrace this higher power every day. No one knows where their journey ultimately ends but I do know it begins with us.

I have four sisters but I am one of two daughters born to Creola and Wiley Hickenbotham. Even though my mother became a single parent, after the separation, we grew up in a spiritual home. When my mother was well she took great care of each one of us. I can remember how close we were while living in Pensacola Village, low income housing, and in my eyes, this was the best place to live where I had great friends. In spite of my early beginnings, I learned that you make the best with what you have been given in life.

I have opened up to the world and want you to know that you are not alone. Whatever you are going through in life I believe you will come out on top.

May God bless you,

Martha E. H. Franklin (Hickenbotham)

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512762495

Martha E. H. Franklin

I grew up in Pensacola…truly a beach girl, spending many days at Pensacola beach with family. As a little girl, I always wished for more and dreamed big. I refer to it as riding the waves of life. I believe in myself, I’m my own biggest fan and have no intention of ever giving up on my vision. I share the benefit of my personal development and gained wisdom, even during my darkest days. Standing in the light now is a blessing and a gift from God. I embrace this higher power every day. No one knows where their journey ultimately ends but I do know it begins with us. I have four sisters but I am one of two daughters born to Creola and Wiley Hickenbotham. Even though my mother became a single parent, after the separation, we grew up in a spiritual home. When my mother was well she took great care of each one of us. I can remember how close we were while living in Pensacola Village, low income housing, and in my eyes, this was the best place to live where I had great friends. In spite of my early beginnings, I learned that you make the best with what you have been given in life. I have opened up to the world and want you to know that you are not alone. Whatever you are going through in life I believe you will come out on top. May God bless you, Martha E. H. Franklin (Hickenbotham)

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Copyright © 2015 Martha E. H. Franklin.

Edited by The Liddell Group

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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First Edition

Designed by Martha H. Franklin

Edited by The Liddell Group

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Franklin, Martha H.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6250-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6249-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016918071

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/04/2017

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my parents, Creola and Wiley Hickenbotham, and grandparents

To my angels – Benita Stallworth, Mary Liddell, Barbara Walton, and Annie Hayes. I love you and thank you for your love on this journey.

Special recognition to my nieces and nephews who I love. You are all close to my heart.

Kyle Jason Franklin, thank you for all the life experiences, I have learned through growth.

I love you guys with all my heart!

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1      Winter Days And Nights Martha

Chapter 2      Hard Times

Chapter 3      Walking In My Growth And Strength Growing Up

Chapter 4      Fastening And Growing Pains

Chapter 5      Decisions Are Powerful

Chapter 6      The Way It Is

Chapter 7      Taking Off Your Boots And Hanging Up Your Handbag

Chapter 8      Building Your Faith

Chapter 9      Not Seeing But Believing

Chapter 10    The War

Chapter 11    The Fruit Of The Spirit

PREFACE

I am a native of Pensacola, Florida. I spent many days at Pensacola Beach with my family enjoying the salt life! Therefore, I am truly a beach girl who has been riding the waves of life ever since.

Shortly after leaving home, I became a Marine military spouse while working as a government DOD employee.

In this book, I share the benefit of my personal development and gained wisdom, even during my darkest days… I’m certain, as I stand in the light, I’m blessed and a gift from God. No one knows where their journey ultimately ends, but I do know it begins with us. I have a lot to share and I believe that you will come out on top no matter what life throws your direction.

Standing in the light; know it is a blessing and gift from a higher power!

My God.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special recognition to all military service members and their spouses. Thank you for your support in defending our nation.

INTRODUCTION

I’m Martha Elizabeth Franklin-Hickenbotham. I was born in Pensacola, Florida.

And I have been in your shoes, as a new military spouse. Maybe you’re trying to figure out how to make all the ends meet and need to get a job on base. Or, are you away from home and your closest friends for the first time and pulled from your faith?

I was there, too.

Married more than twenty years to a 1st Sgt in the Marine Corps, I came into my gifts and the fruit of the spirit when I fell on some hard and dark times of my life.

That’s when I really saw my gift from God – how I healed myself from stress heartbreaks, by faith and the Holy Spirit. There were days that I would awaken and darkness will speak death over my life. There were days when I would have sickness attacks on my mind, turning people against me who were dear to my heart. There were also days when I experience, shutting down of my finances from employment. I experience six years of dark times in my marriage falling apart. When I tried calling people, no one responded, but I fell on my knees crying for dear life.

I asked God for strength. My Transformation began.

I am now a spiritual leader starting a ministry with 200 spouses and civilians.

I am healthy, happy, and full of grace. Please never give up. Stand tall in your dark times in life.

I knew I wanted to give back to my military spouse family- that is when WOMEN OF FRUIT AND LABOR 53# came alive.

I started to prepare a snapshot of my life in 2000. It was not a good picture. I look at my snapshot in 2017, and it is working for my good. I have hit the golden snapshots of my life by God’s grace. I pray you all will get on board and allow my staff and I to start preparing for you a snapshot of your life.

Chapter 1

WINTER DAYS AND NIGHTS MARTHA

PCS ORDERS AND RELOCATION

K yle and I dated for six months. We met in Washington on January 7,