BYU Football down South

We headed down South for the BYU vs Ole Miss football game in Oxford, Mississippi, then stayed over for the week in Liberty, Mississippi; next flying to Austin for the BYU vs Texas game. Ralph picked up his new BMW 328si hard top convertible the day before we left. It's a beauty but only got to drive home from dealer then park in garage while we traveled.

Ryan, Erin, Shari, Bert, Gay, Jocelyn, Ruben, Lenora, Sue, Ralph

Gay, Bert, Ruben, Lenora and Jocelyn with Ralph and I all drove up to Oxford from Liberty 4 1/2 hours early Saturday morning over Labor Day weekend to get there in time for a BYU Booster Club tailgate party. It was the first time ever for Gay and Bert to attend a tailgate party. They had a great time and Blalock's Grocery somehow survived without Bert. Shari, Erin and Ryan met us there with a couple friends. Ryan just enrolled at Ole Miss so he was rooting for the Rebels. There were twelve of us in all. BYU was scoreless in the first half but came back the second half to win by one point.

Sunday we attended the Red Star Ward near Brookhaven for the blessing of Lucy Caroline Britt, Amber and Blaine new daughter. Shari and Aaron families also joined us for church, then nice family dinner afterwards.We kept busy during the week picking and shelling butter beans. The best part was eating them fresh from the garden. Yum, my favorite! Kathy joined us as we drove down to Baton Rouge to visit Aunt Mary Shuckrow and Aunt Sadie Nickens. They were so pleased to see us. Aunt Sadie is very frail at age 89 weighing less than her age. Bert planned a special anniversary surprise for your dad and I with a jambalaya dinner and gospel music band across the street at their lake camp.

Ralph & Sue at Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

175th Alamo anniversary

Thursday evening, we flew from New Orleans over to Austin for the Texas game. Taking advantage of some free time on Friday, we drove the 80 miles down to San Antonio to visit the Alamo. It was very interesting plus we saw the Imax Alamo history movie. My 4th great grandfather John Clark with two of his daughter's families were part of Stephen F. Austin's first 300 settlers in the new Texas territory, then part of Mexico in 1827.  The Battle of the Alamo happened a few years later in 1836 where Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett met their deaths with less than 200 Alamo defenders while fighting for Texas freedom and independence from the greater 1500 man forces of the Mexican soldiers under Santa Anna. The siege lasted 13 days resulting in 500-600 Mexicans killed or seriously wounded. It also allowed Texans to rally under Sam Houston to the cry "Remember the Alamo" eventually capturing the Santa Anna army leading to Texas (territory included Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, California, etc) freedom.

Ralph, BYU Cosmo Cougar & Sue

We attended a booster club BBQ Friday evening at the famous Old Salt Lick. Jimmer Fredette attended. Coincidentally, Amy & Seth, Redmond friends of Melissa and JD sat at our table. So sad BYU lost by one point.

We visited Matt and JoAnne's new home in Austin. They are very much enjoying the area and good schools; not liking the 100 degree heat, scorpions and fire ants. They joined us at the game plus we attended their ward today before catching our return flight.