Day 13

Thankful for neighbors, neighborhoods and cul de sacs...Been thinking about this since Kristen moved into her cul de sac w/ a gazillion kids...Something sweet about this slice of suburbia.

For my neighbor, Connie, from years ago in Shady Hollow in South Austin...still my friend and just texted me today to see how I was doing and 'could we get a lunch date in December?'

For my neighbor, Nimish, who came over to inform Patrick that this was a 'no Camero' cul de sac when he was visiting last week and rented this super duper Camaro (Nimish has a Mustang).

For my next door neighbor, Sherrel, who loves to stand and just water the yard as much as I do. We 'get' each other in that aspect!

For my newest neighbor, Sandra, who brought her son over to give me his carefully written thank you note (for trick or treat goody bag) and spent a good hour just 'gabbing' in the driveway.

For the people I see walking their dogs down the street every single day of the year...seems like. I wonder at their dedication, both to their walk and to their pets.

For the feeling of home when my car climbs the hill into the neighborhood.

For still the sense of awe I feel every single time I drive from the top of the hill out of the neighborhood and catch the panaroma of Austin in front of me.

For the Mr. Dan at the bottom of the hill who has cleaned our shirts at his dry cleaners for 8 years now...and how sweet he is each time I come to p/u shirts (Wm says he should charge a 'storage' fee for how long I forget that I dropped them off to be cleaned).

For the Subway guys next door who are so familiar w/ our faces, if not our orders...not yet.

It's nice to be home. It took me a little longer this move (04), but it finally feels like I've been here forever.

Day 12: Thank you for change

 I really, really do like change. I think part of it was growing up in a family that moved a lot. My parents still move a lot. I have given up on memorizing their address OR phone numbers. I also like to be around all kinds of people...not the same ones all the time...I also used to love to move the furniture in my house quite a bit, just for a change. Now I'm in a small house, I can't or don't do that as much. I don't really want to do the same things every single day...except drink about 2 cups of coffee b/w 6:30 and 8:30 AM. I think sometimes I may have a little attention deficit issues because my mind will jump around pretty happily from topic to topic. I have to make myself FOCUS if the task is longer than about 10 minutes. 

I truly love the change in seasons. I loved the wind blowing the cold air in this morning. Nice to put on long soft grey skirt and a fall wool sweater and not sweat once all day long. How fun to take a quick 2 mile walk with William tonight and wear a fleece and cap to keep my ears warm. But, I know me...and I will be equally happy when March rolls around with the promise of sunny and pleasant days.

But for now, I'm into the salted caramel hot chocolate and putting up lights for the coming holidays. 

Day 11 grateful for our Veterans

Every year my Dad works on a list of the people he knows have served our country in armed services. This is the list from last year. I'm grateful today for these men connected to our family who served us this way. I also want to say thank you to Tyler, a young man who is a Marine and serving right now in Afghanistan and is a son of good friends. We pray for his safe return. Dad's letter, dated May 30, 2011.

Another beautiful day in the land of the free....paid for by the sacrifices of those who died and served to keep us this way......and as a result, a large part of the rest of the world is also free.

 

Officially this is a special day to remember those who have fallen but also a day that I want to remember everyone who has or is serving.

 

In our collective family we've not lost anyone, that I know of, since the Civil War.  The five that I know actually died in service are:  from Marilyn's family, Benjamin Rowley, lost at sea, September 1, 1828, from the USS Hornet and A. Simpson, Tennessee, Army of the Confederate States of America.  From my family, on Grandmother Echols' side are the three Scott brothers who also served in the Confederate Army.

 

Here's my list from last year, amplified by information on Alexander McLean (my Grandfather Vandergriff's maternal line) received from Mindy Beaty last year.  I've also added Leon Russell, husband of Mother's cousin, Dorotha Good, and father of our cousin Vicky.  From Jan Weatherton, Marilyn's cousin, I've added Jan's father, Jack Bryant Hicks and her grandson Bryant Taylor Weatherton.

 

Please let me know if you see any errors or omissions or if you have other information to add.  Especially if you've sent me information that I failed to include......computer crashes and human error continue to plague me.

 

ECHOLS/JACKSON

 

Thomas Holland.... Captain David Arrell's Company, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Virginia Regiments, Continental Army, Valley Forge, enlisted June 28, 1776. Fifth Virginia Regiment.  On furlough, February, 1779.  G-g-g grandfather of Alta Jackson Echols.

Thomas Scott...Captain Millegan's Company, Tennessee Militia, War of 1812.  From Mamaw Echols' mother's side of the family.

James Edward Scott......Captain Skinner's 19th Alabama, Army of Tennessee, the Confederate States of America, War of Northern Aggression.

Anderson Scott.....Captain Skinner's 19th Alabama, Army of Tennessee, the Confederate States of America, War of Northern Aggression.

Doak Echols...U.S. Army, France WWI (from personal memory) and U.S. Army Air Force in WWII.

Monroe Echols.....(my grandfather), U.S. Merchant Marines, Atlantic and Mediterranean, North Africa, WWII.

Uncle Woodrow (Brother) Echols....U.S. Army, Phillippines, WWII.

Uncle Melvin (Junior) Echols.....U.S. Army, WWII

Uncle Danny (Tiny) Echols....Tiny turns 90 years old this year !!!  U.S. Army WWII.

A.J.Crum (Uncle Jerry) (uncle by marriage to Margaret Echols)....pilot in U.S. Navy Air Force, Pacific, WWII.

Charley Echols...U.S. Army/National Guard

Skip Echols....U.S. Air Force, Vietnam

Daryle Echols....U.S. Air Force, Thailand

C.J. (Charley) Fields....U.S. Marines, 1953-55, U.S. Hornet, Pacific (Formosa)

Richard (Beanie) Williams....U.S. Marines, Vietnam.

Glynne Johnston.....U.S.Marines, 1957-60

Chris Echols....U.S. Air Force, Europe and Iraq

Leon Russell....Captain, U.S. Army, crossed the Elbe River and completed his tour in southern Bavaria, Europe, WWII

 

VANDERGRIFF

 

Alexander McLean, Jr. ....the son of Elizbeth and Samuel McElroy  (McIlroy).  He had two tours during the Revolutionary War. 

 

First Tour:  Volunteered Lincoln County, August, 1777. Joined company of riflemen for 9 months under Major Horry and Captain McKenzie.  Marched at times with Col. Marion.  Served in North and South Carolina.  Wounded, discharged.

 

Second Tour:  Volunteered summer of 1780 in company of Mounted Riflemen with Captain Mattox under Major Chronicle.  Company engaged in capturing Tories and intercepting foraging parties.  Subsequently joined Col. Benjamin Cleveland and Overmountain Men and others in defeating Col. Ferguson at King's Mountain.  Major Dixon and Captain Martin appointed to take the place of Mattox and Chronicle who died at King's Mountain.  Company joined with General Morgan's force at Cowpens to defeat Tarlton and then fought Cornwallis at Guilford Courthouse with General Greene.  Marched with Greene until he reached South Carolina where he was discharged.

 

Daniel McIlroy....(immigrated from Scotland, maternal side of my Grandfather J.T. Vandergriff's family)..Captured in the Battle of Long Isloand (Revolutionary War).

Lorenzo Hudgins.... (my father's grandfather) .....Tennessee 59th Mounted Infantry, Company G, Cooke's Regiment, Eakin's 1st Battalion, Army of the Confederate States of America, War of Northern Aggression.

Wayne McCarty ....US Navy, Pacific, WW II

C.E. (Chase) Collins ( husband of Bobbie Vandergriff Collins) .....US Army Air Force, India, WW II

Nelson McKinney (Sue Anne V. McKinney's father-in-law)...US  Air Force

Bill Laughlin (Shanel Hall Vandergriff's grandfather), ...US Army Air Force, shotdown and POW, Europe, WW II

Jason Summers Watson (Bobbie Vandergriff Collins' grandson) ....US Air Force

Horace Evans (husband of Juanita McCaffree, grand-daughter of Dad's Aunt Callie Hudgins Hastings)

W.H. (Dub) Hyso, Jr.  (grandson of  Dad's Aunt Callie Hudgins Hastings) received Purple Heart in WW II and still had the shrapnel in his back when he died.

DESOLA

Joe de Sola, Sr.....US Navy, Submarine Service, WW II

Charles de Sola ....(Uncle Charley) US Navy, WW II

Ben de Sola (Uncle Ben) ......US Navy, WW II

Charles de Sola (Inky) ....US Navy, approximately 1963-65

Richard Flowers (brother of Joe's mother, Margie).....US Army WW II

Steve de Sola (Joe's cousin)....US Marines, 1970's

HICKS/ROWLEY

The Townsend brothers, Samuel, John and Thomas..(Mamaw Hicks family)..Revolutionary War.

Benjamin Rowley.....US Navy, lost at sea from USS Hornet, Sept. 1, 1828

Alfa or Alfred Simpson (Marilyn's maternal grandmother's family)....Tennessee, Army of the Confederate States of America, War of Northern Aggression

John Knight Hicks, Sr., ...US Army, Europe, WW II

R. P. (Uncle Dick) Hicks.....US Army Air Force, instrumental in saving his fellow crew members when their bomber ditched in the Aleutians, WW II. Uncle Dick passed away in 2010. 

Jimmy Hicks......US Air Force, Viet Nam

George (Duck) Rowley.....US Army/National Guard, WW II

Robert (Uncle Mop or Bobby) Rowley......US Navy, Panama, WW II

Jack (Scratch) Rowley....US Navy, WW II

Alvin Rowley (cousin of Bobby, George and Jack)......US Army, WW II ( father of Jo Ann Rowely-Minhoto)

Bo Rowley (cousin of Bobby, George and Jack)....US Navy, Okinawa, WW II and Korea

W.O. (Uncle Pete) Edgar (brother-in-law of Bobby, George and Jack). ...US Army, WW II. Uncle Pete passed away in 2010.

Melvin Dreiss (Marilyn's second cousin).....Merchant Marine

L.V. Holley (Johnnie's father-in-law).......US Marines. South Pacific, WW II

Justin Hayes (Uncle Dick's grandson)...US Medical Corps, Iraq

John E. Seaman (Molly Hicks' brother) served in the U.S. Navy in the Mediterranean during Viet Nam era on the U.S.S. Shangri-La aircraft carrier.

Rudy Salazar (Molly Hicks' uncle, her mother's brother) U.S. Marine Corps, Korean War

Roy Salazar (Molly Hicks' uncle, her mother's brother)

Monico Torres, Jr. (Molly Hicks' cousin) U.S. Navy, Viet Nam era on "The Big E" air craft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise.

Jack Bryant Hicks (husband of Evelyn Rowley and father of Jan Weatherton and Nancy Trippet)  US Army, Battle of the Bulge and crossing the Remagen Bridge over the Rhine into Germany, Europe, WW II.

Bryant Taylor Weatherton (son of Robert Weatherton and grandson of Jan Weatherton)  US Marines, Lance Corporal, deployed May 18, 2010, on board the USS Dubuque.

Days 6,7,8,9,10

Wow, I had a busy week!
Tuesday, Day 6
I'm so grateful for a country where I have the 'right to vote'. It's truly a privilege to walk into that voting booth and have the right to vote privately and w/o any fear. I am grateful that God hears us when we pray for our country's leaders.

Wednesday, Day 7
I'm thankful for the 'girlfriends' who God has put in my life to help navigate the twists and turns, stop signs, screeching halts, raceways....
old friends like Twyla B. and Michelle M. and Connie L. and Mary Ann P.
newer friends like Judy E. and Phyllis P. and Lynda W.

Thursday, Day 8
A job where I get to go out ALL day and see PEOPLE!! Love going from home to home or hospital to hospital and hearing stories about how others have come to know God in personal ways and see how He cares for the intimate details of their lives...OR asking God to take care of them whether it was a new mom w/ her 5th baby and first time success at breastfeeding,  women with thyroid cancer, breast cancer, hysterectomies, a woman who lost her sweet mom unexpectedly this week, a woman spending last moments with her husband who in declining rapidly. So grateful for a LIVING GOD. Each had a story to tell of unexpected ways God came through for them...each of them thankful.

Friday, Day 9
A family that doesn't seem to mind eating pizza AGAIN for a family gathering, just glad to be with each other and again, for my son being home this week. Really.

Saturday, Day 10
Chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate...any kind of chocolate, but especially this:

Day 3 and 4 and 5

Kristen and Patrick

Jeff

Max

Tamera

Katherine

Day 5...grateful for my kids...and Kristen's new home and the chance to spend the day with Patrick. We will catch up w/ Tamera, Max and Jeff and the girls at Rudy's tonight. Katherine and Ty and Grey will be here the week of Christmas. Did a little bit of Christmas shopping today!

Day 4...grateful for the family I was born to...my 3 brothers, David, Dayle and Dean...Mom and Dad. The older I get, the more stories I hear, I know how blessed I am.

Day 3...grateful for this man. 

Day 2 Thankful for ...

I'm so glad we have this little R pod! It's a tiny house on wheels that we both enjoy. Remember those days when you were a kid and liked the idea of 'playing' house. I feel like a kid again in this little camper. We are taking it to east Texas (Jasper, TX) this weekend to celebrate a family reunion. We will park it right outside the cabin that my grandfather built with his brother back in the 50's. Some of us will sleep in the cabin, many at the local Holiday Inn and we will sleep in the pod. Looking forward to a great weekend. More gratefulness to come!!!

Day 1 Thankful!

I love what Bethany is doing on her blog at

Our Little Family

with 22 days of Thanksgiving!

So, here goes, I want to get on that train, too! May have to do some catch up posts! 

November 1

I am so grateful for these Texas fall evenings that are so, so pleasant. Last night walking around with our 'trick or treaters' was just a balm to my soul! The air was still, but perfect. Warm enough to not wear a jacket, but cool enough that the mosquitoes seemed to have taken a break. The lights shining from the homes, the friendly neighbor faces, the very well mannered kids...all combined to make this wonderful night. Then to top it off, William and I sitting by ourselves to finish handing out candy until 9 pm on the driveway in our lawn chairs... Perfect!

Sorry for the blurry pix. Nobody would keep still. Except Jeff. That's Max in the Bee Keeper's suit. Tamera is a 'bee', but she conveniently is holding Meg, the Cookie Monster. Annie is "Merida" (sp?) from BRAVE.