Sunday, November 28, 2010
Family Stability
This photo is one of our favorites. This is a drift on the Colorado last June during one of our family adventures. It is my hope and prayer that the Lord always keeps these two close and reliant on one another in so manny of life's journey. Got to treat family like paddling a kayak. Kayaks, when operated solo are fun but can be unstable. When 2 kayaks are together (see Ambers hand), they stay together and are far more stable. A little lesson to think about...
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Celebration of her life - Jeanette R. Martin
Jeanette R. Martin, my grandmother, and mother to my father passed from this world on November 12, 2010.
Grandma was born in Georgia in 1918 almost the same day and month of her passing in 2010. She was one child of a large family including two brothers (Gerald and Earnest) and four sisters (Lorraine, Cora Lee, Julia, and Annie Mae). She was the last living sibling.
Among several places her life may have taken her, I have knowledge of several that included my father in Las Vegas in 1946, Minneosota in 1952, and later her permenant residence in Vestavia Hills, Alambama (near Birmingham). This is where I always considered their home.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Robert Martin, her son Jeffery Davis Martin, and daughter Kaye Hodge in addition to their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We are blessed in the love and care the Hodge family has extended to our grandparents in these later years and thankful for them.
As we all greive at this time in her passing, let us have peace that she knew and loved the Lord. By knowledge of her faith in Jesus Christ, we are encouraged to know that she is with the Lord and her soul is at rest. May we all stand comforted in Gods word in which Paul reminds us "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain...having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better (Phillipians 1:21-23).
May God bless all of you and give you peace.
Sierra Summer Vacation 2010
The mountains have always had a special place in my heart. Especially this region that we visited in the Sierra Nevadas in the upper foothills of Plumas and Sierra Counties. These places shaped my life as a young man, let my heart soar as I trekked into the woods day after day with my brother, sisters, mom and dad. I'm now living the same experiences with the only change being the dad.
We did so much, experienced so much, and had a blast!
Fishing, horseback, climbing atop big mountains, and the kids really stretched themselves in ways I thought not possible for such young children.
Check the flickr site adjacent in recent photos for more pictures!!!
Few notables:
- Sleeping in a Walmart parking lot (really!).
- Grabbing coffee in Nevada City before the run up the 49.
- Fishing in Downieville at the same ol trustworthy spot and landing almost 10 fish or more within the first 30 minutes! Seany really hooked them up.
- Watching Amber pan for gold and getting a nugget (really!)
- Sleeping along the river.
- Listening to bears wrestle outside the tent, sleeping horribly, but loving every minute of it.
- Climbing atop the Sierra Buttes with the kiddos.
- Flyfishing with the kids just before dinner at Packer Lake.
- Taking my kids to the same ice cream joint I visited at their same age.
- Quality time with the wifey!
- Meeting strangers everyday and hanging out in campground settings.
- Swimming at the pond.
- Driving to Tahoe and Mammoth the last few days.
- Fishing, fishing, and more fishing!
- Riding horseback with the family.
- Road time and seeing the world!
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery and Diane Martin 50th Wedding Anniversary
We are very grateful to God for the blessing of their marriage and commitment to us all. Even through all the storms of life, careers, life changes, and circumstances, their commitment to marriage has set an example for so many.
Congratulations and many blessings to you both. We love you guys and appreciate the time we get to spend together!
May God continue to bless you both and this family.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Cannel Plunge 2010
Before playing the video, hit the expand video button for full screen...
This is video of Sean's organized 2010 Cannel Plunge Ride in Kernvillle, CA. See other posts for the survival ride on the same course in 2008.
Good job Sean and the rest of your crew!
Watch it all the way through with the music and still photos...
This Video Fires Me Up!
My Pastor recently posted this video. It fires me up and speaks volumes...!
Does it grab you as well?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Guide Fishing - Mammoth Lakes
Never thought I would take on a guide with fishing - but you can teach an ol' dog new tricks. I'm sold... Next to the real deal, Brad McFall. Kind of nice getting to use equipment that I would not ordinarily possess such as a $700 9 foot Sage rod with perfect line and gear. Kind of sweet really...
In action on the Owens near Mammoth Lakes...
Check his blog out - see the adjacent blog interests on this page...
Da bruddas
God bless you Johnny boy!
Family Photo
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Uncle Richard!
Uncle Richard is the real deal! The kids flock to him. He is selfless in his care and fun with the children and they love him. Day at the beach with the fam...
God bless you Richard - we appreciate you bro...!
Junior Lifeguards - Avila Beach
For approximately 5weeks this summer Amber woke early and participated in beach fun, fitness, and beach guard training. Her mornings were filled with fun activities, a one mile beach run, and various other lifeguard based activities. Her participation and enjoyment made her father and uncle very proud and she is the fourth lifeguard in our family following in the footsteps of her Uncle Sean, Aunt Donna, and her father...
She competed in many regional lifeguard competitions and I had the joy to watch her in action in Santa Barbara. She had a blast with 250 of her buddies and nearly 2000 other competitors on the beach and I praise God for the instructors and staff that made it safe, fun, and learning for the kiddos!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Adventures in Marriage
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Lake Mead - A Desert Paradise
Black Canyon Adventure
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Desert and River Adventure Part I - Hoover Dam
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Jeffery Davis Martin - 70 x 70
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Jeffery Davis Martin 7.0 (circa 1940)-Part I
Cannot quite describe May 8, 2010 and the absolute celebration for my dad who was born Mary 8, 1940. More to follow on that amazing celebration complete with pictures and the fun stories.
But the video for dad is a must watch. Grab some popcorn and enjoy a life story in pictures. Thank you father God for this great man, father, husband, and friend.
More to follow...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Just felt compelled to do it...
Do you remember the historic photo in 1945? Living it out in real practice in front of San Diego Bay, Christmas 2009. Praise God for marriage!
First CI - New Stick!
I had the pleasure to recently surf it at a place in SoCal that I grew up surfing. We called the place zeros. They now call it many more things. The place has not changed an ounce. Awesome time, and more on that later.
My surfing protege was with me for the photo - I will call him, mini-me!
Sean's First Season of Basketball
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Ch Ch Ch Changes...
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Richard "Bud" Nance
We wan't this to be part of our family blog and for our children to know of this memory.
The letter I wrote to my wife and her family while Jenn was in FLA.
Donna, Michael, and my dear wife:
God Bless Bud and may he rest in peace.
I wish to express my sincerest and heart felt blessings to you all this morning. Although we are grieving and missing him greatly, I know you all find peace in knowing he suffers no longer in his humanly shell and his soul is in a more peaceful place.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Bike Safety
Monday, February 15, 2010
Seany Boy - Born Cyclist!
The same idea - just a more hansome boy with a lighter bike! GO SEANY BOY!
Amber
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Pacific Coast Trail Run - TT and Big Seany Boy
TT running towards the second ridge below Valencia Peak.
TT showing smiles with gritty determination!
Sean and TT atop Valencia Peak at a bit more than half way. You can see the rock in the background. Gods handiwork on display!
Love to see the family enjoying Gods creation and pushing the athletic endeavors. Praise God for these special times!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Too Cool for School!
Amber and I sported our 50's theme for the recent Saint Patricks School daddy daughters dance last Saturday. She and I cut a rug for 2 hours plus with about 100 other dads and daughters. We had a fine time together.
Credits for Ambers poodle dress goes to TT and Nana!
Both of us sported chucks. Jenn did not know I could pomp my hair with 2-3 inch dew(wop!)!
So cool!
Sounds like a bromance!
Yours truly with a really decent sized perch. You may not be able to tell by the pic but this lil fish was about a pound!
The Martin Boys...
Very grateful to those who made the time to enjoy this day of play. God has been so faithful in my life and has placed very precious friendships to keep me in check. It is my prayer that we all honor His name in our activity, our fun, and our birthday celebrations.Thank you Dad, Rudy, and Korey for helping Sean and I celebrate this great day. Happy Birthday Seany Boy! God bless you all.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Seans first big boy shot!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Peddlin with Papa
Friday, January 15, 2010
Amberito turns 10!
As everyone likely knows already, the celebration started at 6am, a prayer for the day, and sang happy birthday to wake her (they will likely grow out of enjoying this...). Then pancakes abound. Nana and papa joined us and presented Amber with her first BB Gun (pink daisey red rider). She also recieved a desired cash gift from her parents and TT and Korey.
Importantly, this was Ambers 10th birthday and it was important to demonstrate a right of passage and celebration. 4 years earlier, after denying earings to my daughter, her mother and I were delighted to present the opportunity. She now has beautifully pierced ears!
Ambers pierced ears!!! Light blue to match her beautiful eyes.
We ended the day with a family dinner with the Carrols, nana, papa and the rest of the fam. We did some dancing and horsing around the rest of the night and stayed up late on a school night!
The kids getting funky with TT in tow!
Amber - your name is so fitting. You are truly a jewel to us all. We thank and praise God continually for the gift of you sweetheart. Happy Birthday Amberito!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Seven!
Ready to bust out a few shots!
We are so grateful to God for the precious gifts in our children. God bless you little man. We love you dearly and Happy Birthday!