Family News

Todd and Jacob visited Kerri in Florida. They visited a lot of fun places like Universal Studios, Disney World and the beach! Glad you had a good trip and are home safe!

Christina and her kiddos drove all the way to Utah to visit me! They spent 3 days driving each way and Christina did all the driving herself!! We did so many fun things I can't even name them all (you can look on her blog). It was quite the adventure and I feel very loved :) Thanks for the visit!!

Suzanne had surgery on her hand recently because she had severed a nerve from a splinter while gardening. She is feeling much better and will start going back to work next week! Glad you're feeling better, sis!

From the James and Joanna White family:

James had FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) and he is almost fully recovered. I am sure he is thrilled to be able to breathe better now!

Joanna's brother, Josh, got engaged, finished his residency, got a job and moved to Cedar Park (very close to James and Joanna)... what an exciting time for him!

Jonathan got 2 ribbons in basketball camp for around the world and speed dribbling. I guess he is taking after his daddy in his athletic ability! Way to go Johnny!

"JIGGS"

Edward "Jiggs", Mary Pauline, and Ralph Weston

January 6, 1936

It was a different time and place. Children knew how to amuse themselves with sticks and balls. Girls made paper dolls out of pictures in catalogs. Upside down buckets made great drums. And, there were chores to do...weeds to pull in the garden, water to bring in from the well, and looking after the younger siblings.
For "Jiggs" and his older sister, Mary Pauline "Toots", and his younger brother, Ralph "Tiny", things began to change when their young mother died. They lived with their paternal grandparents in the little house on the hill in Jonesboro, Illinois.
Their father, Cedric "Ced" Weston had to search for work like most adult men in the late 1920's and early 1930's. Jobs were hard to find so a man took whatever job he could find, regardless of the distance. And, then he looked forward to the weekends and traveling home to be with his family and friends again.
On those weekends home, "Ced" begain to court a young widow, Madie Rendleman. She had two lovely little girls and a house on Green Street in Anna, Illinois.
When "Ced" and Madie married, his expectations were that his children would join them in Madie's home. However, Madie felt that she had enough responsiblities with her own children and that "Ced's" children should stay with their grandparents. After all, that was their "home".
As time passed, the grandparents became more feeble and needed financial help from "Ced" to support the three children. However, with times the way they were during the great depression, Madie felt that it took every penny that they had just to survive. She was adamant that there was nothing left over for "those children."
The grandparents tried to get assistance from the state to help with their financial needs. However, as soon as the social workers discovered that the elderly family was trying to survive on a meager amount of money in a small house with no indoor plumbing, the children were removed from the home and placed in an orphanage.
"Jiggs" and his siblings did their best to see each other as often as possible. It was not easy. The boys were not in the same dormitory as their sister and the younger children were seperated from the older ones.
"Jiggs" remembered how excited all of the children were when they got to shop for clothes and shoes. This only happened once a year, so they all hoped they didn't grow too quickly! They received two sets of clothes and one pair of shoes. ("Jiggs" always thought that his size 8 feet were because his feet could not grow properly in the too tight shoes!)
"Jiggs" became eligible for adoption when he was 9 years old. He was a nice looking boy and was academically advanced for his age. One particular couple were very interested in adopting him. They visited often and spent time getting to know the boy. They discussed with "Jiggs" their plans for his future and his education. However, when all of the paperwork was nearly completed and the time came for "Ced"'s signature to allow his older son to be adopted, "Ced"'s wife Madie convinced him that this would not be the best thing for "Jiggs". And, just how would it look for "Ced" to allow his son to be adopted by strangers? "Jiggs" was devastated.
By the time "Jiggs" was 12 years old, it was time for him to help support himself. He was assigned to work on a family farm. His bedroom was the barn. He used old newspapers to line his blankets during the coldest part of the winter. The barn roof was riddled with holes and he did his best to keep warm and dry during the rain and the snow. He always tried to get his morning chores completed before the school bus arrived. However, there were days when he had to walk. And, on heavy snow days, he often stayed on the farm. The farmer did not approve of "Jiggs" going to school because he needed him on the farm and discouraged the boys attendence.
"Jiggs" thought that his first year of high school started out perfectly; he was even moved up one grade. And because he was such an outstanding athlete on the football team, many people overlooked his young age and his worn clothes. However, it was an especially hard winter and "Jiggs" was absent so often that he became discouraged and soon dropped out of school.
By the time "Jiggs" was 15 years old, he was driving trucks and basically on his own.
That was also the same year that "Ced" and Madie temporarily seperated. During that time, "Jiggs" had opportunities to spend some time with his dad. He always considered that time one of the happiest of his life.
Near the end of "Jiggs" life, he and I had an opportunity to talk about his childhood. He discussed the couple who had planned to adopt him and all of the opportunities that he missed. But, then he said that he knew that it was all for the best that he grew up and learned life's lessons the way that he did. For, he knew he was not a perfect man, but he had always tried hard to be a good man. And, he continued, if he had lived his life as a rich man, perhaps he would not have become the kind of man that he wanted to be.
The fact is, of all of the boys his age growing up in the orphans home, he was the only one that did not end up in prison.

July and August Birthdays and Anniversaries

July

July 4   Edward Weston Jr's birthday

July 5   Susan Weston's birthday

July 10   Brent Wyatt's birthday

July 16   Brandon and Rachel Bodell's 6th anniversary ♥

July 19   Emma Brooke French's 3rd birthday

July 20   Chad Weston's birthday

August

August 7 Ron and Melinda White's 41st anniversary ♥

Augist 14 James and Joanna White's 6th anniversary ♥

August 27   Brandon Bodell's birthday

FAMILY HISTORY

Christine's maternal grandmother was Delia Pearl Lackey. Her great, great grandfather, Thomas K Lackey, was born in Ireland in 1744. He emigated to North Carolina as a young man.
The name of Thomas has been passed down in the Lackey family for generations. Delia's grandfather, great grandfather, etc were all named Thomas.
One of our ancestors from that line is yet another Thomas Lackey who was born in Londonderry, Ireland in 1673.
This Thomas' father, Alexander Lechy, was born in Gargunnock, Scotland in 1631.
However, the original family name was De Leckie and there is actually a town named Leckie in Dumbarton County, Scotland were Walter De Leckie (1535) was born.
Walter married Agnes Cunningham. And, through her lineage, we are decendants of Sir William Cunningham (1480); Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus (1469); George Leslie, Earl of Rothes (1416); and, William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney & Caithness (1408).
However, probably the best known of this heritage is King John (Robert III)Stewart, King of Scotland (1337)and Robert the Bruce (1274).
Robert's full titles are Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, Lord of Annandale, King of the Scots. He is called the "Hero King" for uniting Scotland. He is considered Scotland's George Washington.
You probably know him best from the movie, "Braveheart". William Wallace was protrayed as the hero in the movie, but it was Robert the Bruce who relentlessly pursued freedom for most of his life. He died within a year of reaching his goal of freedom for his people and for his beloved Scotland.

Robert the Bruce at his coronation as King in 1306

As a side note, I wonder just how many Scottish clan tartan plaids our family can wear????