Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The Alabaman Clans

To our sincere delight, our distant Alabama Clans paid us Californians a visit.  And what a time it was...

My grandfather Robert Martin, Aunt Kay Hodge, and cousins Athesia Davis and Deanne Slaughter spent a recent two week vacation with us here on the central coast.  I can only imagine they were exhausted on their way home after their time here which was filled with adventures, food, family time, lots of activities and visits, wine, and tons of fellowship.

While I have found memories as a child spending occasional summer vacations in the south with our Alabama relatives, I(we) had no idea how much we had in common.  But most notable, I am so grateful that God blessed us with the time in fellowship and the discovery of love and affection that we all had for each other.  We just immediately hit it off and got along better than I could have imagined.

There was so much experience in our time together and I will post more photos.  But for now, I wish to share some of the experiences:

  • Spending time in fellowship every day with a little wine and food.
  • Sharing how God is at work in our lives.
  • Praying together at meal times and enjoying the prayers of my grandfather.  He shared to me the prayers that he covers until he falls to sleep at night.  If only I could pray like that...
  • We are a hugging family, great to hug each one of them and let them know we appreciate them and their visit.
  • Eating moms food with everyone in town, over and over again.  They probably think we eat this gourmet stuff everyday.  
  • Spending time showing them the SLO town, AG, upper coastline, Avila Beach, Hearst Castle, So Cal areas, and Reagan Library.
  • Independence Day celebration at the house and seeing them enjoy some of our friends here on the central coast.
  • Having supper in shell beach and a good one at that - Ventana does not disappoint...
  • Getting to know our cousins better.
  • Getting to know Aunt Kay better and know more about her life over the past 25 years.
  • Seeing our father enjoy his family connections and see the joy in his relationship with his Alabama relatives.
  • Seeing our family, and my own kids love on our relatives.
  • Seeing our children love on their great grandfather and experience this time.  

(This is part of the family visiting a Cal Poly Memorial - From top to bottom and left to right:  John, mom, Athesia, Seany boy, Deanne, me, Donna, Jenn, Amber, and Aunt Kay)

(The homeboys - Dad aka JD and Grandpa Martin)

While it was sad to see them depart, I was totally encouraged by the experience of being with them.  I am excited to know there is a solid bond between so many of our California and Alabama families and look forward to the fact that we will see each other again.  I know when this time comes the fellowship will be rich, meaningful, and lots of fun.

I am so grateful to God for his blessing in all of this.  I believe this experience has had a profound affect on everyone involved and hope my children are taught the importance of keeping family bonds and relationships...  Praise God.

P/s - I need more pictures visiting family!  I only have my dads so I am a bit limited.  Send me a few of your favorites so I may post them!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Family Weekend

Started Thursday with a drive to Valencia to hang with the brother brohem Uncle Sean and his wife Deb.  We started things off with our treat at La Cocina for some awesome mexican cuisine...

On Friday, we started the day off with a morning run and Sean ripping my legs off in the neighborhood.  We then got the family ready for the day and headed to Hurricane Harbor at Magic Mountain.  At the park all day until 6pm and then headed to my sister Donna's house for some more family get togethers with our visiting Alabama family.  Great time.

(The Martin Fam at Hurrican Harbor ala 95 degrees F!)

On Saturday, spent the day at Castaic Lake and had a blast.  Tubing, food, site seeing, swimming, boating, and a little bit of fishing.  Great time and memories were being remembered and created on this lake.  When we finished, we hit the pool for a bit more of water - we were water logged by 7pm...  My kids could not get enough of it.  I'm tired, and cannot explain why...


(Tubing Castaic Lake)

(Heading into Elizabeth Canyon at Castaic Lake)

(Wifey enjoying some summer sun in the Canyon)

(Martin Family Totem Pole!)

Really enjoyed the adventurous weekend.  I don't think I took a shower the entire weekend.  My wife confessed she took one shower!!!  We never got out of the water.

So thankful for the experiences and what God has provided in our lives.  I woke this morning and had the delight to read Isaiah 53 in the Bible and was just simply humbled to read about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.  Sweet time this weekend.  Good rest for the brain, even though we never slow down...

Looking forward to more of lifes adventures.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Fathers Day Fun 2011 - Lopez Adventure Challenge

Got to experience the 2011 Lopez ARS with my good friend and boss, Rudy.  The weather and race did not dissapoint and the race directors added a new special treat to the format - a zip line!

We entered the event with no expectations except to work as a team.  For the first time, Rudy and my age totaled 90 years which through us into the Masters Men mix.  Don't let the age bracket fool you, there was another very competitive team who was primed and ready to win the division.  To our surprise, we beat the other team and won the Masters Male division and hit the 2nd place spot overall...  So cool.

Rudy did a fine job and pushed himself on the MTB.  He was even kind enough to talk me through a quad cramp on the run.

It was fathers day that day.  A fitting day to exercise and take on a treat as men!  The kids and our wives had a blast and we are grateful to them all for their support to our madness.

(Yours truly going Tarzan!!!)

(The kiddos in their groove.  What a blast!)

(Rudy and Jeff 2nd Overall and First Place Masters Male)

So grateful for these special times.  Praise God for Rudy and my family for the enjoyment on this years fathers day.  Hope more of these adventures are in the future...