I recently thought that All Out Events cancelled the local sprint events. After some quick research, it appears the Lopez version is still on in August and the former Santa Margarita event is limited only to the 12 hour event. My daughter expressed the desire to complete an event, and we plan to complete the August sprint course together. So cool...
I already thought of our new team name "the daddy daughter dance."
To call this a race, maybe correct. But a better description is an event. While in the early days of adventure racing, the participants were highly competetive, the majority of the participants these days are doing the event for the experience and not for the win. Nothwithstanding there are many teams there to compete, and excellent athletes to compete with, the majority are not.
I think this video shows the spirit and fun of these events and actually shows a lot of action with the team consisting of me and Korey last year. Watch it and join, get excited, and join us this year...
Important Note - Unless they can get 200 participants by April, the event will be cancelled. Here is the website if you are curious. http://www.ccadventure.com/llsprint/
My brother shared this video with me - reminded me so much of my relationship and fishing with my daughter. He gets it. He understands the joy of fishing with family and slowing life down, even if just for a moment...
Wow - our millennium child has grown. I cannot believe that 12 years has passed since our little gift of Amber came into the world. Our daughter is a delight, full of life, and fun to be around. A precious jewel, that is her name...
Amber had a great birthday yesterday and got to spend some time the night previously at Cal Poly and then to a sleep over with her friends from school. As is tradition, she was woke early by prayer in her room along with signing her happy birthday. I wonder what her friends thought about this being woke like that... Then as part of the tradition, to the kitchen for a pancake breakfast!
As part of the fun, Jenn took Amber and her friends to Forever 21 for a little shopping with their season and birthday gift cards. Both Jenn and I did not know that Forever 21 Owners shared their faith on their sales bags. Did you know they place John 3:16 on their bags? I appreciate those in their faith that take risks and share their joy of the Gospel. Very cool...
We were delighted to treat her to a meal on her birthday which included grilled pork loin, julian vegetables, and homemade mac'n cheese. We topped it off with celebration in the house along with homemade Cold Stone style ice-cream treats, karaoke, and fellowship with visiting family.
The girls at the CP basketball game on Thursday (from left to right: Jamie, Bella, Amber, Liz, Boo, and Kinsey)
The birthday girl pancake breakfast
Shopping at Forever 21!
Amber belting it out...
Loving my daughter - I appreciate my relationship with her. I love dancing with her on her birthday...
So grateful to God for this great gift. God bless you always and keep you my birthday girl...
Our young man Seany Boy clicked another year this morning - nine years of age. In fact, as I write this post, I am close to the actual departure date to the hospital that morning nine years ago. Seany is not much for sleep overs and we have not really had any big boy celebrations for him. But this was his wish this time and the last 24 hours has been a celebration indeed. Let me share his birthday wishes, which became reality since 12 noon on Saturday...
12pm - the boys showed. Sam, Kyle, Marcus, and Ian showed ready for fun with sleeping bag ready for a sleep over. As Sean asked, the following events unfolded:
Run to the downtown of Arroyo Grande. No idea why, but he wanted to have a jog to the village. They ran all the way there and met me and John (my brother in law) where we were fueling the boat for the next part of the adventure.
Kids loaded, headed to Lopez with fishing poles, food, and a hunger for adventure. Got there, fished, hiked, sped the boat and watched these boys be the adventurers they are...
Back to the house for pizza by the fire with treats of smores, and then Amber's amazing chocolate cake (thank you Amberito!)...
Bed by 2130 and then waking them at 0630 for the family tradition!
The wild men at Lopez!
The boat ride madness - glad John had my back!
Part of the fun - running wild as the bear chases!
So glad that the tough young adventurous boys have tender hearts - pray it never changes!
The tradition of waking with prayer to a pancake breakfast...
Happy birthday my son. You are a gift from the Lord and we are all grateful to Him for you!
TJ, Seany Boy, Papa, and yours truly went target shooting this past Monday. What a blast. TJ sported his new shotgun and we brought a quiver with us. Dad was the best on the pistol. TJ was ruling the shotguns. Seany boy nailed some targets as well...
What a great time indeed. I love that we get to experience our rights to bear arms and train our children in that tradition. We should not take these freedoms for granted. We must maintain these freedoms with good will and stewardship. When we were done, we left no trace of being there...
Our beloved Aunt Gwen, aunt to my mother and the last living sibling of my grandmother’s immediate family passed from this world on December 30, 2011. Aunt Gwen recently had had heart surgery in December and was thought to be recovering. But at the age of 83, the Lord saw it fit to take her home. In honor and memory of Aunt Gwen, I wish to share some brief history and words my mother shared with me about of her life with all of you and joyfully celebrate the relationship she had with all of us.
As is the growing tradition, we take a vacation between Christmas and New Years dedicated to being together. Unlike previous years which was a snow trip or a trip to SD and Dizzyland, we chose to hit the beach at Rincon Parkway in Ventura to enjoy the forecasted 70 degree and sunny weather. The time did not disappoint...
Both Jenn and I planned to catch up and do some joint planning into the New Year. Well that never happened... But what did happen, just lots of fun and reflection on God work in our lives and His blessing in such profound ways. We spent tons of time recreating, cooking, and sitting around the fire in addition to a few jaunts here and there. Look at the photos and get a peek...
Camp site front yard - Ventura's Gold Coast
Camp evenings at fireside
The "Rustler" Camp Cook - Dutch Oven Style
Evening sun sets - Gods handiwork on display
Santa Barbara area riding with the kiddos
Hydration break with the wifey and some lunch for the kiddos!
Time to slay some perch!
The trip was full of activity. The Martins could learn to rest more - note to self. We enjoyed much and some of the highlights were:
Surfing Campus Point with the kids at evening - both kids went for it and we said hello to local surfing pro Bobby Martinez!
Fishing a ton - we slayed em out there...
Lots of cooking together and eating outside. We only prepared breakfast and lunch inside. The rest was open fire cooking...
Loved talking with the wifey and kids as we settled down in the evening.
Enjoyed having no agenda to speak of...
Visiting with Mike and Jenn Easter clan in Ventura and seeing their family grow.
Looking at the stars and pondering on our creator God.
Enjoyed a New Years eve visit with TT and Korey and spent the evening with a meal and some games. Enjoyed having the praise song Glorious going through my head all evening long and then to bed by 10pm. Boy we are real night owls...
A little road ride along the coast and remembering how many times I've done this route before.
Seeing my family do what they do...
At the time of writing this post I am really reflecting on the amazingly free life we live and wonderful experiences we have. I am encouraged (and somewhat scared) of the reality that we are blessed so that we might bless others. Our family speaks of this often, and living in real grace in this fact. We are still in the throws as a family determining our short term "to-do's" in 2012 and ready to state our goals. Look forward to prayerfully taking this new year on, and all that it brings. Praise God for all years before, and this next year!
The kids and I enjoyed an opportunity to celebrate Jennifer's birthday with preparing her a great meal and dialing in the house chores. She spent the day in a spa with her mother and Diane and returned relaxed and pampered. To top it off, the kiddos played her a tune for an after dinner treat...
