Talent Show Teamwork!

This is a video club recorded at the recent Saint Patricks School Talent Show courtesy of Gabes mom.

We posted earlier this week the concept of goal setting and work.  Amber and Gabe have continued to work together weekly.  While we all enjoyed the talent show experience, it was even more fun watch them work together and learn team work.  Kelly Rojas said they make a good team.  We agree.  Well done Gabe and Amber!

Setting Goals!

Last spring Amber fouled out of the final track meet during the discus throw in 7th grade.  She was disappointed and I understand.  She had the meet best throws in practice and then lost focus, stepped out, and fouled out her long throw and lost.  After a brief disappointment, she said she wanted to win in 8th grade and said she would try to win the all time record.  A year later the goal paid off.  More on that below.  This is not a boast, but a testament to goal setting and hard work.  Trust me, I was there with her...

For the past 4 weeks she practiced 2 times during the week and once on the weekends throwing at least 6 sets of 5 and practicing general techniques.  Her coach was critical, encouraging, yet to the point reminding her.  He said many times "don't waste the potential!"  He was right and sometimes when she was throwing short distances you could recognize the pressure was bothersome.  She persevered, trained, listened and results showed each week.  Last evening, she threw an 98' and 103', both well beyond the record.  Now she had three events to make it happen, 3 throws over three events. 9 attempts.  The first and second throw today were solid, but they looked short.  Then on the third try, she exploded with a smooth toss and it sailed.  99'-3" was the result.  The former 1996 record at 95'-6" fell.

Not many really noticed and she did not excessively boast.  But her joy was gleaming.  She shared with me shortly after, she said a brief prayer before rotating on the third attempt, saying Please Lord, and then let it rip!!!

Goals are scary and easy not to set.  I am not impressed with just the win.  I am far more impressed with the experience that she learned.  She was willing to set the goal and take a chance, win or lose.  Praise God for this experience...

Good job Amberito!  We all love you and are very proud.

Thanks for reading...

Amber sings Royal's Cover

Enjoy this great music mix that Amber created on Garage Band.  There are no voices except for her own...  Enjoy...



Farewell Celtics Basketball

I must admit today was mixed with joy and sadness.  As I tried to hold back the tears, I hugged my daughter as the tears ran down her face.  They lost to Orcutt for the 3rd spot in todays school basketball tourney but that was not the reason for the sadness and tears.  Today, on the 4th year of this journey, she will no longer wear the Saint Paticks Catholic School Celtics basketball uniform.  Season is over, and she will enter high school at another school next season.  Lord willing, she will wear another uniform and play basketball.

As she wept and said "I dont want to be over", I simply said that that I understand.  I hugged her and reminded her that this chapter is over and there will be more to write.

Here are some photos to mark the day...

A comparison from today, to her 5th grade rise to the 7th grade team...

 Towing the line and leading her team...

 The mighty Celtics team...

 Coaches Kristen and Claudia, thankful for these wonderful ladies and their dedication...

Ambers first youth basketball coach and Fire Captain Steve Gonzales.  First class dad and SP parent...  As he always says "I taught her everything she knows..."

Praise God for these wonderful folks and experiences along the way.  So grateful for everyone involved and especially Coach Rob Burt and Coach Horace Grant for giving her a start and letting her release this passion and gift.

Much thanks to my wife for supporting her and the teams along the way.

Many blessings to Ambers wonderful teammates and friends gained along the way.

We love you Amber and so proud of you...

Wonder Glasses!

Amber sporting her new glasses.  I call them wonder glasses!  Do you remember the Buddy Holly story when he sported his icon glasses and referred to them as Wonder Glasses?  Not making that up...

Love this pic.  My daughter is changing, growing, yet the same.  Crazy how that works...

Love this kid.  Love everything about her.  What a privelge to raise and care for this precious jewel...

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...

Totally Thirteen!

In the year 2013, on the 13th day, our millennium baby Amber turned the age of 13!  

We had the great privilege to celebrate our daughters birthday yesterday evening with family.  At her request, we made sliders with brie cheese, mac'n cheese (by grandma) and TT made some great carrots with an amazing salad.  It was a fine meal in honer of our young jewel turning her first teenage year...

Amber got her wish of spending the day with her mother and her Aunt Debbie shopping for one of her favorite things, stylish clothing.  When she arrived back, she insisted on having me sit so that she could show me everything that she purchased with her own money.

Her is a stunning picture of my teenage daughter Amber - she is indeed a precious jewel and gift...

Over the past year, Amber has been exploring and practicing her gift of singing and music.  We chose to gift her a recording mic so that she could continue more effectively in that.  It was fun and enjoyable to listen to her belt it out last night.  

Did I tell you that my daughter turned thirteen this weekend!?  You are my little girl Amber, no matter what age!

I am so grateful to God for the giving of this wonderful daughter.  She is so full of life in everything that she does.  She is a a leader, a giver, friend to many, and gives her best efforts at everything she does.  We delight in watching her grow.  

Your family and friends love you dearly Amber and grateful for the way your life has touched us all.  We wish you a very Happy Thirteenth Birthday and many to come.

A thousand years

Amber asked to post these lyrics and music...  Fun and encouraging song...

Amber and Seany at Tinley's 2012

Multi-Sport Introduction - Scott Tinley

Eden, Amber, and Seany Boy with the sport legend Scott Tinley aka ST!

Tinley's Triathlon 2012

Tinley's Triathlon 2012, a set on Flickr.

So proud of the kiddos and our friend Eden Theule!

A few weeks ago, after nearly a year of talking about it, the kids jumped into their first triathlon. Eden, the resident dark horse, did not train in the slightest and only jumped in the day before completely unplanned and did excellent. Both Sean and Amber did very well too!

I was very grateful that the kids faced the fear of this thing called triathlon. Seany was pretty convinced he would not do it right up to the gun blast. He kind of said "he did not really have a choice since the others kind of forced him into the water..."

Amber was smiling and doing what she likes to do - compete!

I jumped in on the mountain bike version and revisited the former sport I loved many moons ago. It was a bit of a train wreck for me, but nonetheless very fun...

A few other notes: big kudos to Tyler O'Brien who smoked the field and got second place in my event. Sean Cheney and Mark Ernstrom also did very well on Saturdays race with Seany taking 7th overall in his first ever event.

Thankful for the time and fellowship with our Theule friends and their kids. I hope we continue with these life adventures!

Mammoth 2012

Mammoth 2012, a set on Flickr.

Another Mammoth Adventure for the Martin Clan. This year we asked the Haycraft family to join in the fun. It was a great time and fun indeed. Much fishing, hiking, mountainbiking, and just spending quality time with the kiddos.

Praise God. We really enjoyed his landscape on the east side this year!