Our Visit to the Monument

The San Jacinto Monument stands 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument and honors those who fought for Texas’s Independence.
We enjoyed our visit to the monument, though we will want to go again. Due to the rain early in the day and the long tour of the battleship, we did not have it in us to do the full museum. We only did the bottom floor free museum which was wonderful, but we want to go through the full museum and go up the the star at the top and see the observation deck. That is on the calendar for August when we go to the THSC Conference in Houston.

A Short History of San Jacinto
In March of 1836, the war for Texas' independence from Mexico was not going well for General Sam Houston and his Texan troops. On March 11, Houston abandoned Gonzales and retreated eastward in advance of the numerically superior forces of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the President of Mexico. Houston's poorly trained troops were restless, eager for revenge after the Goliad massacre and the fall of the Alamo. Houston realized, however, that the Texans had little chance of winning over Santa Anna's much larger army without some sort of advantage.
San Jacinto Day reenactment.

On April 18, Houston arrived at Buffalo Bayou and found that Santa Anna had already sacked the small town of Harrisburg. Through a captured Mexican courier, he learned that Santa Anna had isolated himself from the bulk of his troops and had a force of about 750 men, slightly smaller than Houston's force of 820 men. Houston realized that his chance had come. On April 19, Houston and his men crossed to the south bank of Buffalo Bayou and marched east, setting up camp near Lynch's Ferry on April 20. An advance guard of the Texans captured a boatload of the Mexican Army's provisions at the ferry, providing food for the famished Texan soldiers.

A small party of Texans retreated back to Houston's position near Lynch's Ferry, with the Mexican forces not far behind. Upon his arrival at nearby San Jacinto, Santa Anna tried to draw the Texans into battle. Skirmishes continued into the late afternoon, when Santa Anna established a camp about three-quarters of a mile east of Houston's position.

In a brief skirmish at sunset, a detail of Texan cavalry almost met with disaster, stoking Houston's fears about his poorly trained, individualistic troops. As darkness fell, both armies settled into camp for the night. Houston ordered his men to eat and rest, while he stayed up all night worrying. Santa Anna, realizing that Houston's forces was slightly larger, built fortifications using saddles, baggage, and anything else available and hoped that reinforcements would soon arrive. Even though his men were exhausted, he kept them up all night on alert, believing that the Texans would attack at first light.

On April 21, dawn came with no attack and Santa Anna relaxed. At about 9 AM about 500 more Mexican troops arrived, to the chagrin of Houston and his men. Houston sent a small detail to destroy Vince's Bridge to delay additional Mexican reinforcements. At noon he held a council of war, at which no decision was reached.
San Jacinto Day reenactment.

That afternoon, Houston assembled his troops and laid out a plan of battle. The main force advanced quietly in a frontal assault, hoping for the advantage of surprise. Two other groups circled around to the left and right flanks of the Mexican camp. The Mexican troops had relaxed in the knowledge of their numerical superiority and many were eating and sleeping.

The Texas had advanced to within 200-300 yards of the Mexican position before they were discovered and the alarm sounded. The main group of Texans charged the camp, screaming, "Remember Goliad! Remember the Alamo!"" A pitched battle quickly ensued, much of it hand-to-hand at the Mexican fortifications. The two other groups of Texans attacked the flanks, quickly overwhelming the Mexican camp. Houston was wounded, but fought on with his men. In less than twenty minutes, organized resistance ended and many Mexicans were killed by revenge-driven Texans even as they tried to surrender. As the sun sets to the west, the battle ended, the marshes stained scarlet with blood. Nine Texans and 630 Mexicans lay dead or mortally wounded, a tremendous defeat for the Mexican Army.

Those with medical training did their best with minimal supplies to treat the Texan and Mexican wounded. The 700 uninjured Mexican troops were disarmed and placed under guard. A small number, including Santa Anna, escaped from the battle and headed westward to the several thousand troops waiting west of the Brazos River. Houston knew that if Santa Anna was able to reunite with the main body of his army, the war would continue, so he sent out scouts to search for the escapees the next day. By noon, Houston's men had captured Santa Anna, who was disguised as a private. Santa Anna ordered his troops to withdraw from Texas, securing independence for the Republic of Texas.

We successfully gave Jonny a Surprise Party

While Joshua and Jonny are at camp we plan a surprise party for Jonny.

Full Day The boys got home and unloaded from camp, we had lunch, started some camp laundry and opened Jonny’s birthday presents. We then loaded up to go to the Drive In. Jonny was a little bummed because none of his friends were going to the movie. He had called a couple and they were doing things with their family that night.
Surprise WE arrived at the Drive in really early and no one was there, we had time to waste so we left and drove around Granbury and then went back to the theater, by that time we were the 4th car in line, but the two ahead of us were from church. We got out and the guys played football and we visited. Then another family came from church. Then a family gave Jonny a gift. He came and said Mom I feel bad, I think they found out it was my birthday and they gave me some of the movie candy they brought, I just smiled. Then I said... Jonny do you not get it, this is about you. This is a surprise party for you. He said oh, since they showed up, it is a party. I said no, we sent out invitations and more are coming. It is a surprise 16th birthday party. He said “No Way!”
Guests: Sorahs, Bruces, Hentz, Powells, Youngbloods, Huses, Sniders, Jessica and Hannah Johnson, Brittany, Victoria and Annie Moffett, Shelby Hewitt, Hamptons. and Rachel Beck.
Before the movie, the kids played frisbee, football, and tag. We got Jonny a Kung Fu Panda book and a t-shirt from the Drive In and we had all the guests sign them. We took lots of drinks and junk food and lots of blankets and lawn chairs. We ordered pizza and have it delivered to the theater. Pizza for 55 pizza is a good amount of pizza!
I think he had a good birthday celebration.

Jordan's birthday June 3rd

Hot Dogs At Jordan’s party we had hotdogs (chili, mustard, ketchup, chips, grapes, lemonade, and fixins) We had a monkey pinata, though everyone thought it was a cat. We made sand bottle necklaces, all the kids signed her birthday shirt and we all enjoyed the food, fun and fellowship. Though it was rather HOT.
Who came to play? Emma and Allie Hewitt and family, Victoria Moffett and family, Jillian Sorah and family, Christina Lowrance and family, Mercades was brought by Rachel and Wyatt Spraggins and they also brought Riley Huse. And as for the Russell’s it was all of us except Joshua and Jonny who had gone back to camp before the party began.
Sarah organized a few balloon games. They did a balloon popping relay and follow the leader with balloon tricks. The kids just had a good time playing together. And the parents sad in the shade and enjoyed the fellowship. Daniel had a blast crawling and walking around everywhere. He pushed a toy car all the way across the yard to where the big kids were playing and he played with Amanda Joy while she was in his walker.

Anniversary June 1, 1985 - 2008

23 years!
Though we spent the day very busy first with church, then lunch with friends (The Huses) then getting the house ready for company and packing the boys for camp, then having 30 plus people over for Jordan’s birthday party. We still enjoyed our anniversary together.
My Knight In Shining Armor I have always seen Darrel as my knight in shining armor. I often wonder how God loved me so very much to provide Darrel just for me. I really do stand in awe. I know I am not deserving of either of their loves. But am very grateful for both. Darrel is my hero.
Gloating Darrel had a great day... he got me a card and thoughtful gift and left it on the bathroom counter for me to find first thing in the morning. I had not put out a card for him. He was so proud of himself. I held my card for a couple of days so that he could bask in his gloating. It was fun. I will enjoy what he gave me... bath salt, aloe bubble bath and a wonderful bath washer scratcher type thing for showering and/or bathing. He said “You can lock the door and get away, even if it is just for a few minutes.”
Traditions The card that I got Darrel is one I had seen on a friends refrigerator like 8 years ago and loved. It looks like a marriage certificate. I looked for years and found it months ago.
A neat tradition that John and Loetta (Darrel’s parents) do is they have a box full of cards they have given each other through the years and each year they pick a card, add a few words for that year and re-give the card, along with a gift. I think it is a cute thing. Sort of like when my parents take communion, they break up their piece of bread and share it with each other. I love it!