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...

North San Diego Run...

Great visit in northern San Diego county at Brendan's house.  It was a visit long overdue and did not disappoint.  Lots of surfing and we experienced a horse race at the Del Mar Race Track for the first time.  The animals are simply impressive...

Couple of photos and videos below:

The kids went for it surfing.  Here is a video of Seany boy doing his thing over and over...

At the paddock watching these animals strut their stuff... 

Great time and look forward to doing it again...

Christmas Break 2011

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!

God bless you all, and thank you for reading...

Amber and Sean Surfing Pismo

I recently published these videos of the kids learning to surf.  I am grateful for their trust and their adventurous spirit.  Listen to little Sean's voice.  So precious and full of excitement.  Thankful for these little gifts for sure...





Praise God for these experiences...

First CI - New Stick!

Jenn treated me to a new stick - a Channel Islands, closed cell foam epoxy glass screamer.

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!

Surfing-Cycling-Fishing

Pinch me!

At about 4pm last night it all began. Surfed the Ranch last evening, road ride this morning, followed with a troll in the shallows in Port San Luis for Halibut. Finished almost 24 hours later... One word - Sweeeeet!

Patrick is the brohymn! Patrick, Kory, and I hit the ranch at around 5pm with light off shores and head to overhead perfection for nearly two hours. It was a total session catching probably over 20 perfect waves in the first hour and just had a blast. The Ranch is the most special place on the coastline. Finished it up with a few beers and a trip to In 'N Out on the way home. Big thanks my friend Patrick. Home and in bed by 10:30p.

Woke at 5:30a for a quick road ride through SLO, Shell Beach and looped back home. It was cooking at around 90 degrees by 7:45 when I got back into AG. No power and back was sore from the previous morning.



What a good deck hand - we are the ultimate team wifey!

Couple of other good hands Amber and Papa.

Just loving the day and the end of 24 hours of fun. Life is short - Pray and play hard!

Packed the boat, fishing poles, lunch, wifey, kids and Papa and we were rolling at 9:30a. In the water finally again and toured the coast. We had some significant Halibut hits along Pirates Cove but no lands. We stayed sufficiently away from the view of the fruit cake naked folks on the beach. We had a great time - until ofcourse the wind landed and swung the center window and proceed to shatter the glass all over my beautiful wifes legs and cut her in a few places. She is a good sport. Back to the launch dock at 2:00p and back to the house for some chores...

Did I mention it was our 11 year anniversary. Happy Anniversary my lovely wife. You are the best and thanks for the fun this weekend.