2013 In the Rear View, Welcome 2014!

For those who read our family blog it is obvious that my post activity was low.  This is not to suggest our activity was low and not jam packed, because it was packed indeed.  I praise God for his faithfulness in providing work and occasional rest and leisure time for which our family finds important.  You can see the outdoors and activity is a large part of our lives in addition to family time.

Since I did not post much, I am going out of 2013 with a mega picture post of experiences.  There was so many highlights only to name a few:

• Every waking day with my lovely wife and wonder children Amber and Sean - I praise God for you both every day!
• Family 10k run at the Miracle Mile for Kids 2013
• John's 50th birthday fishing trip on the East Side Sierras (East Walker and Lower Owens River)
• June family camp at Gold Lakes Basin and Salmon Creek Campground
• Summer surf trip at Brendan's in Del Mar with Sean and Debbie
• Seeing Amber rip  it up in volleyball and basketball seasons
• Seanyboy experiencing new sports and passions including Puma swim team this year
• Pittsburgh trip with the wifey and visiting my Uncle Al and Aunt Nancy
• Kendra and Daniels wedding celebration at Red Rocks!
• Christmas Dinner together at the house with the family fully present (except Richard!)
• Big Sean becoming a grandfather to Ellie
• Living everyday in the company of my parents 
• We miss our friend Doris Schonert but enjoyed the time with her daughter to celebrate her life. May God rest your soul Doris...
• Experiencing community with Korey, Christina, and Gavin, our neighbors and family
• Loved this past week in Ventura camping together and enjoying the visit of John, Donna, my brother Sean in uniform, and my parents this afternoon.  This time capped the year and was an amazing time to celebrate family...

I praise God for the experiences of this life and the wonder of his creation.  God willing, there is much more to go and look forward to 2014.  Every day is simply a gift so lets suck the life out of every day.  Bless you all and thanks for reading...

Here are a bunch of pictures (sorry if I did not get you all in the pics!):

Easter Sunday celebrated at Lopez Lake Camp - sweet reflection and prayer on a hike

Celebrating our beloved brother in law John Otis' 50th birthday on the east side Sierra fishing trip

JO showing his skills!

Seany with the men on the trip and showing his skills quickly...

East Side views

Tag team!  Seany on the net...

Seany boys first 10k run

The Martin family at the finish line MMK13

Amber growing in her work...

Amber on the beach scene in Pismo

Amber really growing in 2013

Summer Camping trip heading out...

Salmon Lake Campground

Downtown Reno on the Truckee

Camp critters

Coveted ride in Irish Hills with my wifey...

Seany in the water doing his swim team passion!

One of Seany's new skills

One of Ambers new music skills

Donna and John on the beach...

Del Mar weekend surf trip with the family

Del Mar trip to Brendan's with Sean and Debbie too!

Harvest Season!

Harvest celebration!

My beautiful wife...

End of summer craziness at the wedding celebration 

Wedding weekend of Kendra and Daniel!

New nickname for the former BEAST

Fishing with the officer team from my work!

Seanyboy cutting loose in the vineyard!

Seany boy pinning it at Tinleys Triathlon...

Mammals...

Brothers Martin 1st and 2nd at Tinley's Triathlon 2013

End of Summer time with family...

My sisters with me and dad...

Some of my favorite peeps, Korey, TT, and Gavin!!!

Long date trip in PA

Fishing in PA?

Falling Water tour in 2013

Big Sean on his bird!

Christmas vacation on the Gold Coast Ventura

Evening surf with my son...

Sunny December ride with the wifey

Thank you God for the joy of family and friends...

Thanksgiving 2013

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

I woke 5 am to no alarm this morning and rustled in bed only to get the normal and reasonable response from my wife, "why don't you get up and have some coffee."  My ears hear, "get out of here and let me sleep!"  Time to serve my wife and get up...

Love Thanksgiving mornings and the thoughts of what is ahead in the day. Group ride, hanging with family, playing with the kids, delicious foods, wine, and a stomach ache (or two) as the day progresses.  It is one of those days that reminds me that "my cup overflows..."

As I sat this morning looking to read various news articles of the world, I found this article Opening the Gates which describes that the leaders of Iran were considering (or reconsidering) their rule of whether the women of their country may watch world soccer.  As I read on, I was reminded of the realities of the world and different countries that oppress their people in the name of their religion.  Unfortunately, the article does not seem to state that the reality for women in Iran will change anytime soon, especially under the regime of the nations Islamic Law.  It pauses me this morning to give thanks for so much.

This guttural thanks is not just rooted in giving praise for basic comforts and our country's prosperity (those things are good too), but a much greater thanks for our real and eternal freedom in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is my prayer that both our religious freedoms and basic liberties never change.  I also pray for those who are oppressed (such as the women of Iran) and looking forward to when God decides to explode his Church in even that part of the world.  May he open the real gates of freedom!

God thank you for this life and the wonder of your world.  Thank you for my marriage and the joy of family.  Thank you for my children, Sean and Amber.  Thank you that my daughter can live in freedom without oppression and being cursed a second class citizen!  Thank you for your hand in our lives.  Thank you for the reminder to trust you always, and to remember that it is not our circumstances that say we are blessed, but rather the much deeper and eternal blessing of knowing you and being loved by you.

Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving to you all...

Martin Family Surfing

My brother and I have always loved the water and surfed since a young age.  We just loved being in the water, and every kind be it rivers, lakes, and ocean experiences.  We hope to pass on the baton to my kids and have them enjoy it and make it part of their life experience.  Here is a long overdue post and photograph back in early summer in Ventura.

I promised the kids some level of safari this summer which now includes Ventura this weekend and then North San Diego in August.  Looking very much forward to the times...

(Seanyboy, Amber, yours truly, and big Sean)

Praise God for these experiences and family times.  Hope you all are having a great summer...

Double date night...

Had the privilege to enjoy a date with my daughter and her good friend Liz.  Saint Patricks School dance night.  Picked up my dates at the house, a fun italian dinner, and dancing at the school with a bunch of dads and their daughters.  Mike Silva and his daughter Jamie joined us for dinner and it was a fine time indeed.

The dates for the evening.  Amber asked if her friend Liz could join us...   

The traditions...

My beautiful daughter...

Great time and love recording these events.  My time is running out.  She is growing quickly and just the way it is intended.  Praise God for his wonderful gifts and the memories of these moments...

Seanyboy's First Rifle

This past Sunday, Seanyboy and I had a moment to go fire his new rifle.  What a great time at the Hogue Gun Club in San Luis Obispo.  Spent the first 30 minutes calibrating his red-dot scope.  Got it close enough for his range of shooting.  We had a great time as men together...

Seany boy in action on his Marlin Model 60

A viewpoint on range...

The tools of the day...

This experience of gifting my son a firearm provides much good.  Not only will he learn how to expertly handle his rifle, he will experience extremely important lessons in safety, discipline, respect, care, and humility.  My upbringing was much the same way and the tradition will be shared as best I can.  In time he will also grow to understand the important freedom and the stewardship that it comes with.

Much thanks to my dad for his training and care for me in these areas.  I look forward to continuing that same family tradition with my children.  

Great time with my son this past Sunday.  He was glowing with excitement of the experience and really did well with the instruction, safely and respectfully.  Looking forward to more together...

Thanks for reading...