These are a few of our favorite things

Shhh...do you hear that? It's the sound of silence.

What a contrast from the day we had earlier celebrating Christmas. I was first awakened by the sound of footsteps running across the hallway and through the kitchen, followed by squeals of delight upon seeing their stockings filled with presents from Santa. As eager as the children were to open presents, they waited patiently knowing that every year, our Christmas Day begins with a special breakfast made especially by their dad. This year's menu consisted of fruit, sausage, and pancake puffs in 3 different varieties -- plain, apple, and chocolate chip. The pancake puffs were more time consuming that Dan had anticipated, but they were well worth the wait! After breakfast we proceeded to open presents, eliciting more squeals of delight and jumps for joy! In its wake, the living room looked as if the proverbial tornado had blown through our house. For the remainder of the day, Mary and Joseph played with new toys, Danielle baked 2 pies and a batch of brownie bites to give to friends, we cleaned up and organized, and we all ate unhealthy portions of chocolate, cookies, and other tempting treats. We wasted no time eating all of the filipino snacks like champorado (chocolate rice porridge), coconut flavored polvoron (toasted wheat cakes), hopia (flaky pastry filled with sweetened mung bean paste), cracker nuts (peanuts in a tasty crunchy coating), and pan de sal (sweet bread). A high-calorie Christmas indeed!

Now that Santa has come and gone, Christmas mass has been faithfully attended, Christmas carols have been sung, treats have been had, presents have been unwrapped, toys have been opened, and the children are snug in their beds, there's just...silence. Shhh...do you hear that?

Here are a few of our favorite things from this Christmas Day:

Dan's apple pancake puffs -- Delicious!


Finally, the moment they've all been waiting for -- opening presents!

A very special candle holder made by Joseph in ceramics class at school


An assortment of yummy filipino snacks from Danta Claus!


Movie theater gift cards for 5 (to see The Tale of Despereaux) from Mrs. Claus!

Poke'mon cards from Aunt Linda were a sure hit!


A very special gift from Danta Claus.

....When the frost bites, when the cold stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad....

From our family to yours...

A Christmas Wish
by Michelle Martin

Like the ocean breeze
That spreads a whispering calm
May peace and harmony
Surround you this holiday season

Like the ocean current
That gives purposeful direction
May our hearts be moved
Toward goodwill and understanding

Like the ocean waters
That sustain life
May the waters of baptism
Lead us to life everlasting

Like the sandy shores
That sparkle in the midday sun
Let us proclaim the grains of truth
About His only begotten Son

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!


Love,
Dan, Michelle, Danielle, Joseph, Mary

Mother Angelica

Mother Angelica's story is a testament to God's love and omnipotence. Born Rita Antoinette Rizzo on April 20, 1923, her childhood was marred by poverty, unhappiness, abuse, and painful physical ailments. The young Rita Rizzo overcame many adversities and experienced spiritual conversion in early adulthood. Her sheer will and determination is proof of her unwavering faithfulness in our Lord Jesus. On August 14, 1944, the future Mother Angelica entered religious life as a nun, and later established Our Lady of the Angels Monastery on May 20, 1962. Among her many accomplishments, perhaps the founding of Eternal Word Television Network, EWTN, was one of the greatest. Now in its 27th year, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world bringing the gospel to more than 85 million households in 110 countries through worldwide short-wave radio station, direct broadcast satellite service, satellite delivered radio network, and Internet site, http://www.ewtn.com/.

I tune in to EWTN Catholic radio or television programming every chance I can. Call it spiritual food -- a constant source of hope and inspiration. The other day, I happened to catch the remainder of "Mother Angelica Live Classics" where she shared her views on faith. A listener had called the show asking for spiritual guidance because certain events in his life caused him to turn away from Christianity. He had simply lost his faith. Her response to this caller inspired me to share her words on my blog. In Mother Angelica's words:

"Faith is at its best in darkness. Faith is most pure when I exercise it in darkness. Faith is that vehicle through which I go straight to God. It allows me to see him in every incident and every occasion, and every moment of my life. It allows me to see beyond the curtain that is between myself and Him in this present moment. It allows me to see Jesus in my neighbor. It allows me to take the risks I need to take to spread the Good News. It allows me to forgive my enemy. It allows me to keep going when all seems lost. It allows me to say "I love you" when I feel no love at all. Faith is more than an intellectual ascent to truth. That total abandon and dedication to God as Father as Lord, as Redeemer, as Sanctifier."

A lesson in Life Engineering

Joseph and Mary love playing with Lego blocks. They can entertain themselves for hours building Lego structures such as forts, bridges, houses, planes, trains, and automobiles. And so it was on this night, after dinner, that Mary took to her Lego blocks and started building. One by one, she fit the pieces together while happily singing a song. Much to her dismay, however, her Lego construction proved to be architecturally unstable. Try as she might, her work of art simply collapsed onto the table, creating an unpleasant sound. Alas, she breathed a sigh of disappointment and cried, "It's no use." Just then, pearls of wisdom came in the form of her big brother. In a reassuring tone, Joseph said, "Don't worry, Mary. You just have to rebuild and rebuild until it doesn't fall anymore." He stopped what he was doing to help her, and together they built this masterpiece. Using their fingers to represent people and cars, they quilted a story about those who dare traverse this extraordinary bridge.

"Rebuild and rebuild until it doesn't fall anymore."

"What masterful words," I thought to myself. Especially in light of today's economic and political climate, combined with natural disasters and moral dilemmas facing this generation, I heed the words spoken by my son, Joseph. And someday, when he's all grown up and is faced with life's many challenges, I pray God will grant him the strength, the courage, and the resolve to rebuild and rebuild until it doesn't fall anymore.

What's your parenting style?

My friend, Shirin, recently posted a blog about the notion of parental control over the externals in our children’s lives. Shirin’s blog also referenced another blog whose author wrote about her ruminations on that very topic, and she concluded that “We can't control our children's hearts by controlling anything. We can talk about what's right and wrong and we can pray for them to understand. Then we have to live a life that demonstrates that we believe what we're saying. (We are) not responsible for who they choose to become. (We can) help them grow up with the knowledge that they have the ability to choose well.” This, of course, led me to ponder my views on parenting and evaluate my parenting style. To what extent do I try to control externals as an attempt to shape my children’s lives? Am I doing enough to help them grow in faith, character, and inner strength? After some instrospection, I submitted the following comments on Shirin’s blog: As parents, we have an enormous responsibility of caring for our children and ensuring that they are raised with certain values, and that they grow to love God. Our children have been entrusted to us, and we have a God-given right and obligation to act in their best interest…Occasionally, we are bound by our love and parental duty to take certain actions in order to discipline our children and to keep them on the straight and narrow. Ultimately, we are compelled to exert some form of control over their attitudes and decision-making. We have been granted incredible power to influence the minds and hearts of our children, but we must wield that power with great caution, maturity, compassion, responsibility, and most importantly, on the basis of unconditional love and centeredness in Christ.

I further commented that God is definitely always in control…He uses us as instruments of his love, peace, and mercy. With regards to parenting, it is through His divine grace and mercy that we have the wisdom and the wherewithal to teach our children valuable lessons that He would want them to learn; even if it means “controlling” (and I use this term very loosely) certain aspects of their lives. And because our children lack the life experience to possess such wisdom, we are called upon to be their beacon. But anyone who has children knows that we learn as much from them as they do from us. That’s because God uses them as instruments too!

Parenthood, I opine, is one of the most challenging jobs to have. More than just a job, it is a noble calling of service and selflessness. Parenthood is an infinite series of teachable moments and character-building opportunities for both parents and children. Due to our foibles, we continue to make mistakes. And at the end of the day, we wonder if our actions were too much, too soon, too little, too late. But beyond the quagmire of self-doubt, there are myriad moments of jubilation and affirmation of our parenting successes. And when faced with a difficult situation, I ask myself, “What would my parents have done?” Afterall, they’ve set the bar for me on parenting. The challenges I face today dwarf in comparison to the obstacles they have had to surmount as parents to 7 children and grandparents to 10! Might I add, too, that they’ll be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary next year. Now that’s fortitude!

Poke'...what???

Pokemon, that’s what! (Pronounced with a long vowel e). These somewhat-adorable, sometimes-menacing, creatures have descended upon our home and taken up residence in the imagination of an 8-year old boy; while I find myself immersed in Pokemon 101.

This is what I've learned so far: They come with strange and curious names like Charizard, Beedrill, Meowth, Butterfree, to name just a few. Each Pokemon comes with its own special abilities to battle other Pokemon using strategic moves such as bone-rush, megadrain, jigadrain, flame-thrower, and leechlife, to name just a few. There are different types of Pokemon: fire, grass, water, earth, rock, electric, normal, and so on. Each type possesses attributes that are unique to that particular type. Most, but not all, Pokemon can evolve into other, more powerful, Pokemon. For instance, Treecko evolves into Grovyle, who then evolves into Sceptile. Torchic evolves into Combusken, who then evolves into Blaziken. As powerful as they may be, Pokemon are not without their weakness. For example, a grass-type Pokemon’s weakness is a fire-type Pokemon. A fire-type Pokemon’s weakness is a water-type Pokemon. Do you see the logic here?

Some might argue that the game of Pokemon promotes fighting and destruction; but as I see it, Pokemon is really no worse than some of the classic fairy tales that children worldwide have heard for generations. How many of us have regaled our children with tales of a fire-breathing dragon and a sword-wielding prince determined to rescue his sleeping beauty. Or the infamous big, bad wolf with a penchant for adorable pigs and a little girl wearing a red riding hood. Then there’s the evil stepmother-turned-witch offering poison apples to an unsuspecting maiden. And last, but not least, a downtrodden boy named Jack who reaps enormous rewards by stealing treasured possessions of another -- a bag of gold coins, a hen that lays golden eggs, and a magical singing harp. What values do these fairy tales espouse?

Ultimately, this is less about Pokemon than it is about giving importance to something that is important to your child; even if it doesn’t loom large in our adult world. It’s about giving him the time of day to listen to his hopes and fears; or, his latest Pokemon adventure. Yes, I think Pokemon can stick around a little longer, but that’s entirely up to an 8-year old boy.

All in a Day's Work!

Our morning routine usually consists of seeing big sister and big brother off to school, reading to Mary, grocery shopping, and going to the park or a scooter ride around the neighborhood. Inevitably, I fall behind on certain chores and projects at home. “It’s more important to spend quality time with Mary and indulge her in the things she likes to do,” I remind myself. “The dust bunnies and dirty dishes can wait,” I further declare. I can take on some of the chores during Mary's naptime and throughout the day, but my attempts to wrestle with the rest, after the children are in bed, can sometimes feel like an exercise in futility. By that time, I’m usually running on fumes, making it difficult to muster the energy to tackle bigger chores. On a few occasions, I’ve nodded off while trying to balance the checkbook or review the children’s homework assignments late at night.

But today was different. This morning after breakfast, I reminded Mary that we would be going out soon. To my surprise, she responded by saying, “I don’t want to go out today.” I turned to her and said, “Oh? Would you rather stay home this morning and do some things around the house?” “Yeah,” she said softly, her mind clearly more focused on her coloring book. That was all I needed to hear. I immediately set about doing housework. I made the beds, tackled the breakfast mess, cleaned the kitchen, mopped the floor, did 3 loads of laundry, unloaded the dishwasher then loaded it up again. All by 11:00 a.m. So pleased was I with my efficiency that I even used part of the morning to write this blog! In all fairness to Mary, however, she did help by sorting the laundry. She’s now educated on the intricacies of laundry-sorting: whites, light colors, bright colors, dark colors. She mopped her sister's bedroom floor. Then she loaded a pile of laundry into the washing machine, which meant I had to hoist her up so she could reach the opening. When all was said and done.…I probably would’ve been done by 10:30!! (wink! wink!)

Oh yes, Mary also played with bubbles and practiced her golf swing with her brother’s golf set. No, we’re definitely not at risk of ennui setting in. There’s plenty to do and the work we did this morning was just the tip of the iceberg!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Children are an embodiment of joy and innocence. Their joviality reminds us of everything that is good and peaceful in the world. They are our greatest hope for the future.

Through the years, our children have supplied us with a healthy dose of humor and laughter. Here are a few of those precious moments:

Danielle, at age 3, upon receiving a special toy: (Wide-eyed surprise) "I've wanted this my whole life."

Danielle, at age 4: "Arthur got the chicken pox...(pause)...That's from chickens!"

Joseph, inspecting a tube of SPF30 sunscreen: "Mommy, if I put this on twice, will I get SPF 60?"

Mary loves to help in the kitchen. She especially enjoys combining and mixing the ingredients for baked goods. The two of us were making lemon blueberry muffins this morning when I took out a bright orange box (labeled Arm & Hammer). Instantly recognizing the box, Mary exclaimed: "Oh, I know that. Babies can have that soda. It's baby soda."

Before driving off this morning, I put on my ear piece because I was expecting an important phone call on my cell phone from school. At this point, Mary asked: "Mommy, why are you putting on your loosetooth?" (I was in stitches trying to tell her that this device is called a "Bluetooth").

As they say, "Laughter is the best medicine." Hope your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Whose Idea Was It to Play Tag in Cyberspace Anyway?

From My Friend at The Schneider Web

I got Tagged!

Here are some things about me -

I am: a content stay-at-home mom.

I know: a thing or two about raising children.

I have: very little me-time.

I wish: I could go back in time and re-live all of my experiences from childhood until today.

I hate: when the best laid plans go awry (although "hate" is a bit strong. To say that I am "sorely disappointed"....would be more accurate).

I miss: my grandparents; and growing up in the Philippines and Guam.

I fear: I could be doing a better job in the faith formation of my children.

I feel: worrisome about the future.

I hear: the clothes dryer.

I smell: fabric softener.

I crave: time with family.

I search: for the good in everything I do and everyone I meet.

I wonder: what my life would be like today if I had made different choices.

I regret: cleaning up the kitchen instead of playing tennis with my son this afternoon.

I love: God and my family.

I am not: a risk-taker (though I venture outside my comfort zone on occasion).

I believe: in the power of prayer.

I dance: with my children.

I sing: terribly. I hum mostly.

I cry: easily at movies.

I don’t always: iron my clothes.

I fight: against temptation.

I write: for the joy of it; as a hobby.

I win: some.

I lose: some.

I never: take time for granted.

I always: make the bed first thing in the morning.

I confuse: my husband sometimes.

I listen: to my instincts.

I can usually be found: in the kitchen.

I am scared: of snakes, sharks, wild creatures, and poisonous animals & insects.

I need to: be near my children.

I am happy about: having grown up with six brothers and sisters. It was so much fun.

I imagine: Heaven.

Fruits of our Labor

One of the things that appealed to us about this property was its verdant lawn and the wonderful array of fruit trees that line the backyard. Today, these fruit trees are a veritable cornucopia of nature's goodness. During the cold winter months, our orange tree is adorned with large, plump, juicy oranges. Their bright orange color radiates a glow of warmth on an otherwise cold and gray season. In the summer months, Mother Nature sprinkles our yard with virtually every color of the rainbow. From red-orange tomatoes that hang so delicately from their vines, to mouth-watering lemons that are perfectly yellow, clusters of crisp, green apples too heavy for their branches, two-toned nectarines that are deliciously tart, and deep-purple plums that are refreshingly sweet.

In as much as we are blessed with an abundant supply of fruit, we are equally burdened with the task of picking up fruit that have fallen to the ground. Overripe, smelly, decomposing, bug-infested fruit! Small wonder that the children have developed a mild disdain for this particular chore.

Armed with little more than gloves and plastic bags, we set out to rid our yard of decaying fruit. It was on such a day, crouched in the shade of the apple tree, enveloped in the pungent aroma of rotting fruit, and gingerly picking up globs of mush, that this prayer came to me:

Thank you God for the sense of smell
That I am able to appreciate all that nature has to offer.

Thank you God for the use of my arms
With which to swat these pesky fruit flies.

Thank you God for the ability to hear
The sweet sound of my children's voices;
Even when they cry out, "Yuck","Ewww",
and "Do we have to do this?"

Thank you God for the gift of sight
That I may bear witness to life's everyday miracles.
Like the trees that give life to fruit
And the fruit that give life to tiny, little creatures.

Suddenly, picking up fruit doesn't seem so bad.

Seeing the forest for the trees

The view along Highway 50 towards Lake Tahoe is truly a sight to behold. The narrow, winding roads, centuries-old trees, ageless boulders, formidable stone walls, steep mountainsides, tranquil creeks, and rustic cabins. Driving along, we marveled at nature's glory and splendor in anticipation of our family vacation to south Lake Tahoe.

For me, this vacation was a chance to let my hair down -- figuratively and literally. While on vacation, the words chores, piano, and workbook were noticeably absent from my vocabulary. It was as if the mountain breeze had toppled my stack of priorities like a house of cards. I surprised even myself by resisting the urge to make the bed first thing in the morning. And I'm sure I surprised my children by not requiring them to do likewise. The summer sun seemed to melt away our cares of yesterday and our worries of tomorrow. We lived in the moment.

And so while our house sat empty and quiet, we sat poolside amidst the sounds of water splashing and children laughing. The cries of "Marco! Polo!" reverberating through the air. While mail accumulated in our mailbox at home, pictures of our vacation accumulated in our camera. While our To-Do list hung steadfastly on the refrigerator, I hung on ever-so-tightly to my children as we raced across Lake Tahoe on a speedboat. And while our sun-loving tomatoes turned riper and redder with each passing day, our sun-drenched skin turned tanned and golden.

Now that we are back, and the children's summer vacation draws to a close, we can forge ahead with invigorated spirits to face the hectic school schedule that lies ahead. Oh how I wish to have a few more months of these carefree summer days.

To see pictures of our vacation, view our slideshow (with background music)!!

Are you a MOM?

Although multitasking is not exclusive to women, many of us, especially mothers, have become quite adept at it. The ability to multitask could mean the difference between surmounting obstacles versus being overrun by them. Which begs the question, are you a MOM? You know, a Master Of Multitasking? Extreme organization and forward-thinking are paramount to becoming a MOM. A MOM is analogous to a well-oiled machine. She can run a household, manage finances, run a part-time business, coordinate social functions, head the school PTA, take up charitable causes, and still manage to devote ample quality time for her family. The list goes on. To a degree, I strive to be a MOM; but mostly I am just a regular mom. You know, the kind with a perpetual To-Do List. The kind of mom who finds herself folding laundry at 11:00 p.m. while watching the late night news. The kind of mom who, at the end of the day, wishes she had more time to complete certain tasks.

If life were an ocean, a MOM would glide swiftly to shore; whereas a regular mom would dog-paddle through the water. We enter into motherhood without the imprimatur of any formal training. We learn on the job, gaining invaluable experience and wisdom along the way. For me, combating the effects of sleep deprivation was perhaps the most difficult. Combined with the baby’s crying spells and nursing around the clock, it was quite overwhelming. I was elated with my new baby, yet there were fleeting moments of despair. I can honestly say that being a first-time mother was tantamount to a deer caught in headlights. Fortunately, the baby blues gradually faded over time; and once I got my bearings (and a little more sleep at night) life seemed “normal” again and my world was turned right-side up again. I even found ways to do ordinary chores with a baby in tow. For instance, I found a way to cook while rocking baby in the infant carrier using my foot! I learned to wash dishes, dust, and vacuum with one hand while holding baby in the other.

These days, as a mother of three, my multitasking skills are always put to the test. At home, I bounce from child to child, activity to activity. All of my senses are on overdrive. My ears are tuned in to Joseph’s piano playing; my eyes and lips follow the words on Mary’s book; my brain is focusing on a math problem that Danielle needs help with; and my hands are busy stirring a pot or chopping vegetables. On the road, the children and I talk about anything under the sun and I am peppered with stories and remarks. My brain undergoes mental gymnastics as I respond to each of them as attentively as I can. Danielle says, “Oh mommy, there were French exchange students at our school today and everyone was following them around. Celeste gave one of them a hug (giggle).” “Did you meet any of them?” I ask. Then Joseph says, “I played basketball at recess today. But Jordan never passes the ball and it’s not fair.” “That’s great, but it’s too bad Jordan doesn’t pass the ball. Who else was on your team?” I reply. Just then Mary chimes in excitedly, “Mommy! Mommy! That man is riding a bike without a helmet!” And to this I respond, “Tsk, tsk, he really should wear a helmet, shouldn’t he? A helmet will keep him safe in case he falls.” It is almost like being in a Seinfeld episode, and I can’t help but be amused.

As mothers, we become a hybrid of sorts: part teacher, counselor, spiritual leader, cheerleader, chauffeur, life coach, nurse, psychologist, problem-solver, caretaker, playmate, and friend. The list goes on. In retrospect, I realize that multitasking has always been a part of my life with a few subtle changes. For instance, I used to read the newspaper while having breakfast. These days, I also read Mother Goose nursery rhymes while Mary eats her breakfast. On leisurely afternoons, I used to take up a hobby or paint my fingernails. Today, playing board games, coloring, and painting are our leisure activities. And just as I knead dough to make biscuits for dinner, I also knead Play-Doh.

It’s amazing how these subtle changes make such a remarkable difference in our lives; but more importantly, in the lives of our children.

Here’s another take on motherhood from the “William Tell Overture Mom”. If this is your first time seeing this video clip, you’re in for a treat. If you’ve seen it before, it is definitely worth seeing again!

A Tribute to Mothers Everywhere

Black & white photo
(from left to right):
Seated: Michelle, Rose (on Mom's lap),

Mom, Vivian

Standing: Melody

Not pictured are Grace (youngest of 7)

and 2 older brothers, Ray and Paul.

Fast forward 38 years later...

Colored photo

(from left to right):

Back Row: Grace, Melody, Rose

Front Row: Vivian, Mom, Michelle

Today, four out of five sisters are

"mommies" with 10 children between us.

A Tribute to Mothers

-Anonymous

This is for all the mothers
Who have sat in rocking chairs
For hours on end soothing crying babies
Who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers
Who show up at work
With spit-up in their hair

Milk stains on their blouses

And diapers in their purse.

This is for all the mothers
Who run carpools and make cookies
And sew Halloween costumes.
And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers
Who gave birth to babies they'll never see.
And the mothers who took those babies
And gave them homes.

This is for the mothers
Whose priceless art collections
Are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

This is for all the mothers

Who froze their buns on metal bleachers

At football or baseball games
And that when their kids asked,
"Did you see me, Mom?" they could say,
"Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,"
And mean it.

This is for all the mothers
Who go hungry, so their children can eat.

This is for all the mothers
Who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year.
And then read it again, "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers
Who taught their children to tie their shoelaces
Before they started school.
And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers
Who teach their sons to cook
And their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for all the mothers
Whose children have gone astray,
Who can't find the words to reach them.

This is for all the mothers
Of the victims of recent school shootings
And the mothers of those who did the shooting.

This is for all the mothers
Who taught their children to be peaceful
And now pray they come home safely from a war.

The emotions of motherhood are universal
And so our thoughts are for young mothers
Stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation.
And for mature mothers learning to let go.
For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.

In the end we can only do the best we can.
Tell them every day that we love them.
And pray.

Happy Birthday Honey!

Born on April 12 forty-some years ago, Dan weighed 8.5 lbs and measured 21 inches long. The youngest of 3 children, Dan was the “baby” of the family and the cheeriest. According to his mother, Dan used to “wake up singing” in the morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Other stories I've come to know revolve around Dan’s boyhood mischief and adventure. Like the time when Dan walked out of the house and wandered aimlessly around the neighborhood. He was 2 years old! I can just imagine the agonizing moments his mother endured while searching for him with the help of neighbors. And later, incredible relief when they found him a few blocks away from home. Or like the time when he was ordered to “Stay in the closet, or else!” as punishment for misbehaving. While in the closet, nature called, and suffice it to say that Dan unduly baptized his brother’s favorite train set. Then there was the time when Dan and his friend decided to play a prank on their friends. One cold, winter morning, the two boys decided to water the driveway. After some time, they proceeded to call friend after friend asking each one to “come over and play.” Unbeknownst to these poor boys, the driveway had been coated with a thin sheet of ice, causing them to slip and slide on their bikes. Luckily, no one was hurt and they all had a good laugh out of it.
Ah, childhood memories.
Mischief and pranks aside, Dan grew up in a very loving home with a mother who sacrificed greatly in order that her children could have a stable home. As a 12-year old boy, Dan was the youngest All-Star to play for PAL Football. He was also voted MVP in his baseball league. In college, Dan graduated from San Jose State University with honors and a member of the Dean’s List. Today, Dan is a husband and father with three young children. Along with those roles and responsibilities, he is also the family’s handyman, mechanic, gardener, weekend chef, occasional laundry person, comic relief, and sports coach. Dan also helps with the nightly routine by doing the dishes every night after dinner. He is a man with many hats. Of all the hats he wears, one of his favorites is the one labeled "Coach Daddy". He derives great pleasure in coaching his children's sports activities and teaching them about nuances of the game. He delights in watching them compete as he once did. At 6’4”, Dan looms large on and off the field. With a booming voice to match, he has earned a reputation for being a “mildly-intense and boisterous” coach. It is not unusual to see him exchanging good-humored quips with the other coaches, or engaging in friendly banter with team parents on the sidelines. As a coach, Dan also has a serious side. He coaches with the very best intentions of helping the children reach their fullest potential. His coaching style would be a tremendous asset to any team.
So today, on his forty-something birthday, we wish him lifelong health, happiness, and togetherness as a family.
Happy Birthday Honey!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

JOSEPH MARTIN SIGNS WITH BVPL ANGELS FOR SPRING 2008

By Michelle "Mommy" Martin

Daily Gazette

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- March 29, 2008, BVPL (Blossom Valley Pony League) Opening Day Ceremonies.

Hundreds were in attendance to hear commencement talks, enjoy carnival-style games, delicious food, and camaraderie. Slightly cooler temperatures and soggy fields were not enough to squelch the day’s excitement. Among the players was our very own Joseph Martin. Having just ended the season with the YMCA Warriors, Joseph is wasting no time. Dressed in red, white, and blue, Joseph is ready to play America's favorite pastime. Go Angels!!

"Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd.

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,

I don't care if I never get back,

Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,

At the old ball game."

A bit of history: This song was written in 1908 by a man named Jack Norworth. One day when he was riding a New York City subway train, he spotted a sign that said "Ballgame Today at the Polo Grounds." Some baseball-related lyrics popped into his head, that were later set to some music by Albert Von Tilzer, to become the well known baseball song, "Take Me Out To The Ballgame." Despite the fact that neither Norworth or Tilzer had ever been to a baseball game at the time the song was written, it is one of the most widely sung songs in America.

(Source: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/ballgame.htm)

The audio visual recording of the song was played on a 1900 Autophone Roller Organ. To learn more about this interesting instrument, visit www.theantiquesalmanac.com/rollerorgan.htm or http://home.vicnet.net.au/~wolff/mechmusic/GemRollerOrgan/Gem.htm

More pictures....

Following in his sister's footsteps, it seems rather fitting that, by pure coincidence, both Joseph and Danielle were assigned the No. 1 jersey.

EXTRA!! EXTRA!! Read all about it!!

DANIELLE MARTIN HITS A GRAND SLAM,
12-8 VICTORY FOR CRUSADERS

By Michelle “Mommy” Martin
Daily Gazette

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- It’s the bottom of the 2nd inning. Bases are loaded. The score: 0-0. Danielle Martin is next at bat. She walks up to the plate just outside the batter’s box and takes a few practice swings. Good follow-through. She enters the batter’s box, her feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. With her aluminum bat, she taps home plate to signal she is ready. She wraps her hands firmly around the bat and raises it to eye-level. Her arms flexed, prepared to absorb the shock when her bat collides with the ball. She turns her head to face the pitcher, her chin just above the left shoulder, her countenance showing no signs of nervousness. The pitcher takes a few moments to survey the situation. Danielle maintains her stance, looking statuesque. The pitcher launches the first pitch, a wild one that nearly hits Danielle. Instinctively, she squats to avoid being hit. “Ball!” yells the umpire. Unshaken, Danielle assumes position while the pitcher tries to regain her focus. Decisively, the second pitch is thrown right in the strike zone. Danielle seizes the moment and hits the ball with one powerful sweep. The ball is catapulted to an unmanned section in centerfield. A Grand Slam! One by one, the four Crusaders make it safely to home plate securing an early lead to a victorious outcome.

JOSEPH MARTIN BEGINS SPORTS CAREER
WITH YMCA WARRIORS

By Michelle "Mommy" Martin
Daily Gazette

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Joseph Martin, younger brother of Danielle Martin, makes his debut in the sports scene. Beginning with a 10-week stint in the YMCA basketball league, Joseph proved himself a worthy opponent. To say that Joseph eats, lives, breathes, basketball is a fair and accurate statement. And although Joseph’s enthusiasm for the sport currently exceeds his skill level, he puts forth his best effort in every game. And in so doing, he has shown marked improvement in speed, agility, and skill. In his coach’s words, “Joseph has turned out to be a great point-guard.” Joseph looks cool and collected in possession of the ball, moving slowly at first, like a cougar watching a herd of deer. The sound of the ball bouncing on the court is like a slow, steady drumbeat. Gradually, the tempo increases as Joseph sees a narrow opening and runs to have a closer shot at making a basket. However, he is soon surrounded by a pack of defensive players like lions to a zebra. He hovers over the ball, dribbling faster now, all the while looking for an open teammate. When, over his shoulder, Joseph sees a fellow Warrior with his arms outstretched. Joseph pivots and passes the ball to his teammate who, in turn, scores for the Warriors. Now that’s teamwork!

F.A.M.I.L.Y.

Faithfulness And Meaningfulness In Loving Yahweh

Family. That, for me, is what it’s all about. We would merely be an empty vessel if not for the love of our family and our F.A.M.I.L.Y. Family is a like a big, soft blanket that, when wrapped around us, is a wellspring of warmth, security, joy, strength, courage, confidence, faith, hope, and love. F.A.M.I.L.Y. is fulfilled when we are able to give and receive those gifts unconditionally. Through God’s grace, gifts abound: The gift of solace when we are troubled. The gift of wisdom at a crossroads. The gift of patience when time seems to stand still. The gift of compassion when we are tired and weary. The gift of understanding when we blunder. The gift of forgiveness when we trespass against another. The gift of faith when tragedy strikes. The gift of hope to propel our dreams. The gift of love when we feel alone in the world. Gifts beyond measure.

My cup runneth over with God’s blessings of good health and a loving family. May we all continue to grow in our F.A.M.I.L.Y.

Language of the soul

There is in souls a sympathy with sounds:
And as the mind is pitch'd the ear is pleased
With melting airs, or martial, brisk or grave;
Some chord in unison with what we hear
Is touch'd within us, and the heart replies.
How soft the music of those village bells
Falling at intervals upon the ear
In cadence sweet!
~ William Cowper (1731 - 1768) ~

On January 27, Danielle and Joseph had a piano recital at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto.

Danielle played "Rondo" by Clementi and "Polka" by Tchaikovsky.

Joseph played "Little Brown Jug", "Ciapanecas (a Mexican song)", and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands".

Both worked hard practicing for the recital and we are very proud of them!!

Our Greatest Treasures!!

Children Are A Gift From God
by Sandra Tolson

God sent me three packages
That needed special care

"Take care of these tiny gifts

For they are very rare."

"Watch over them with all your love

And let them feel your touch

Take care of their every need

For you are needed very much."

"These gifts will grow up very fast
As you soon will see

Love them with all your heart

And let them be what they will be."

"When these gifts have fully grown

Look at Heaven up above

Know they exist because of God

And all his precious love."