Sarah and Lindsey Backen

Sarah and Lindsey Backen at the Backen home in Palacious, Texas on June 1st, 2008.

Directions...

I spent this week teaching students to use a compass. It is very important that they line everything up exactly right and keep an eye on what is straight ahead. If they don't get the degrees or the steps right the first time I send them to start back at square one. God has been reminding me that He has each step mapped out for us. If we miss something we need to start back at square one and try to follow the directions again.

"I will walk about in Freedom, for I have sought out your precepts." Psalm 119:45

Fish For Congress

Jim Fish

for United States Congress. Texas congressional district 28.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Fish at a local republican meeting here in Texas. He is a very down to earth man with a lot of good ideas and the country's best interest at heart. His platform runs along the lines of faith, family, freedom, and future. He needs our support.

Please check out his website www.Fishforcongress.com.

If anyone wants to donate to a good cause. He is your man. (and he doesn't know I am telling you this.) Go check him out. Give him your vote and tell others he is running. We need good men in Congress.

Carl Mordaunt Backen

Carl Mordaunt Backen was born on the 16th Oct. 1886 in McHenry, North Dakota in Foster County he was the son of George John Backen and Anna Marie Nagel Backen.

Carl's Father George was 24 years old when Carl was born. He was a Farmer born in Hamburg Germany. Carl's mother Anna Maria Nagle Backen was 22 year old when Carl was born she was a housewife who was born in Lyons, Iowa.

Carl married Bertha Louise (Lipscomb) Backen on the 20th of Oct. in 1913 in Palacios Texas.

Bertha and Carl had three children
(1) Dorothy Louisa Backen
Born on Dec. 15th, 1914

Died as an infant on Jan 23, 1915 (She is buried in Palacios, TX)

-Article in paper

A pretty and impressive christening service was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. M. Lipscomb Christmas day afternoon at 4 o'clock, when Dorothy, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Backen, was baptised and christened by Rev. Shepherd, pastor of the Presbyterian Church

-Article in Palacios Beacon in 1915 states

Death of Baby Backen

Dorthy Louisa, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Backen, died at the home of the mother's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lipscomb, at 12 o'clock las Saturday night, the 23d inst. at age of one month and eight days. Funeral services were held at the Lipscomb home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Shepherd, pastor of the Presbyterian church, followed by interment at the city cemetery. The sorrowing families have the sympathy of a large circle of true friends in the city in their loss.

-Article in paper

Claud Backen went over to Vanderbuilt Monday morning to take charge of the lumber yard a few days for his brother, Carl, who was called over here by the death of his baby.

(2) Carl Mordaunt Jr. Backen

Born 1916 in Cameron, Texas
Died in Hawaii (He will always be remembered as the Free spirit of the bunch. Perhaps this is due to the picture he sent home from Hawaii wearing only a shirt and his swim trunks with his arms wrapped around a beautiful girl. His ashes are said to have been spread partly on the beaches of Hawaii and I remember a small urn being kept by my Grandparents which may have contained the rest of him.)

(3) Roy Keith Backen

Born June 10th 1918 in El Dorado, Oklahoma (Carl and Keith playing with the family dog!)

Married Ruby Castle Church.

(To be continued...)

Carl and Bertha Backen History

(Notes copied from a yellowed slip of paper possibly written by Bertha Backen or Ruby Backen on a slip of paper with a stamp from Mona Lisa Studio Over Ball Drug Store Mineral Wells, Texas on the back.)

Carl and Bertha Backen History
Lockhart, TX 1913-1914

Vandabuilt, TX 1914
- Dorothy Louise was born and passed away at six weeks of age.
*Her younger brother (my Grandpa) once told me that she was fed formula and not breast milk and he believes that is why she did not live longer.

Cameron, TX 1915-1916
-Carl Jr. was born

Eldorado, Ok 1917-1920
-Keith was born (1918)
-Carl's father (George) passed away in 1920

Cement, OK 1921 three months

Buffalo, Ok 1921-1922
-Carl's mother passed away

St. Paul, Minn. 1923 Early Spring

Palacios, TX 1924 Came back in Summer

*Added note I thought should be included.

Backen Family History

1. John Backen (1816) married Lucia Margaretha Junge Backen (1818)

2. George John Backen (1853) married Anna Maria Nagel Backen (1862)

3.Carl Mordaunt Backen (1885) married Bertha Lousie Lipscomb (1889)
3-Claude Julius Backen (1887)
3-Roy Earl Backen (1897)
3-Edna Irene Backen Dale (1899)

4. Dorothy Louise Backen (1914)
4. Carl M. Backen (1916)

4.Roy Keith Backen (Born: June 10, 1918) Married Ruby Catherine Castle Church (Birth: 1919)

Eldest Son: Rodney Bob Backen (1946) married Lynda Kay Williams
Had Daughter Stacey Elizabeth Backen (1976)

Second son Larry Keith Backen (1948) Died as an infant.
Buried in Palacious, TX.

Daughter Cindi Gail Backen (1955) Died as an infant.
Buried in Palacious, TX

Third Son: Terry Lynn Backen (1957) Married Sheila Bouquet Backen (1962)
Had daughter Sarah Michelle Backen (1983)
Son Ryan Kieth Backen (1985)
Daughter Lindsey Renee Backen (1986)

Insurance Test

Well folks, there is not a lot of new stuff going on in my life at the moment. My murals are on hold. I am studying for an insurance exam which I take tomorrow morning. Oh,wait the FBI will fingerprint me tomorrow for the low, low price of $50.00 bucks. Aside from that ... not much.

When it comes to buying a car...

When it comes to buying a car. -Some websites you might want to know about.

www.fueleconomy.gov
www.Hwysafety.org
www.Nhtsa.gov
www.Consumerreports.org
www.carfax4CU.com
www.KBB.com
www.Edmunds.com

God's blessings continued

On New years day this year a friend and I decided to eat pizza and watch a movie. We stopped by the pizza place and the guy said, "Happy New Year!" and gave us two free pizzas!

Merry Christmas!

God's blessing

Last year I recieved a gift certificate for Christmas which I misplaced. I gave it up for being thrown out several months ago and thought that I would never have the chance to use it.

Then, on the very last day it could be used, and with less than 1 hour from the time the store closed for the evening my Grandmother found it. She tracked me down and met me at the store with 30minutes until closing and I was able to use it.

God's timing is perfect. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.

I started an on-line course today

I started an on-line course today.
Project 1: Introduce yourself to the class.

Greetings! I'm Sarah, I'm 23 years old and ready to see where life will take me. I started teaching art in highschool to earn extra spending money and hopped into mural painting. I've seen things explode from there but I added a day job to the mix to ensure a steady income. My goal in taking this course is to learn how to turn my hobbies into a lucrative business.

Today?

- I need to clean my turtle cage and I'm going to a softball game this evening. I don't feel all that great but I've been wishing I could go swimming. I got off work at 4:00pm today. Not early, not late. Just about right if you ask me!!!

I went swimming with Kyle Sunday night. The water was so cold it took my breathe away. We were having a lot of fun until I chickened out after a close call with a fish. I took off for shore and Kyle was a little worried that it might have been a snake so he climbed out as well. We continued our visit on a nearby bench and while we were there I saw this Nutria (otter like rat thing.) swim by, it was pretty cool. He went one way, then came back for some supper, he ate on the far shore but he was close enough that we could hear the crunching sound as he munched his dinner. We also saw geese, ducks, and crawfish but compared to a huge swimming rat they were not even a little bit impressive.

Oh, and just for kicks:

Apparently the nutria is a member of the rodent family and is native to South America. They were introduced to the coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana as important fur bearers. However, they are known for being destructive and are viewed as detrimental. The one we saw was brown, about the size of a cat or small dog, and had round tail which was extremely long.

What's happening these days??

What's happening these days??

Thursday night I caught up with some friends and spent the evening at the fair. We went through the petting zoo, hung out at the dance, and saw the world's smallest horse. Ok, -maybe not the smallest horse in the world, but he was a miniture pony. 26inches would be my guess. :)

Friday night I went back to the fair and toured the 4-H buildings and the exhibits with Clint. (Yes, this is a small town, no there is nothing else to do!!!)

Saturday, I, ....yes, went back to the fair. However, this time I can add a new twist to the same old story because I worked at the Republican booth for a few hours. Don't forget to vote next month! Clint and I also went to the dance which was fun though I still can't dance.

The Breeze..

Dance, while it carries the butterflies of spring.

Savor, as it gently brushes your cheek on a warm summer day.

Laugh, as it throws the leaves of autumn for you to catch.

Retreat, when it shudders and sends a chill through your soul in the deep of the winter.

Dance, Savor, Laugh, Retreat and Watch as it blows.

Ponder it's path for one never knows, where it is that the wind will go.

Do you have a chip yet?

People,
We are heading for mandatory microchips faster than we know. My dog decided to go for a walk today. She picked downtown. The beauty school called the pound to have her picked up because they feared for her safety. I was out looking for her for but when I couldn't find her I decided to check the the pound. She was there. No one was around so I left a message with her name, the facts about her shot records that I thought they would need to know, and a number to contact me. I also called the city to leave a message. When I got a call back they told me that I needed to bring her shot records and $45 along.

Now, the part that really ticks me off is that they told me they were going to put a microchip in her so that they would be able to locate her home if she was ever picked up again. I told them that I did not want to have a chip injected into my dog and they told me it was mandatory. This is wrong. I do not doubt that a chip can be useful but when someone forces me to have an animal chipped without my consent I am frustrated.

In a few years they may require you to put a chip in your baby before it leaves the hospital. Do you think it is still a good idea? What about the chip that will eventually track your every move? I am frustrated.

The question...

Where do you see yourself in five years? Or more importantly, who do you want to be in five years?

Home again

Well, I am home again. What a blessing. I have missed this place!

The play.

The play Lindsey and Lauren acted in this summer just ended. They did a beautiful job. Lindsey played the part of Beth in 'Little women.' She had the audience in tears when she died each night. (I know because I looked around to see who else was crying each night!)

Lauren on the other hand shocked us with her fine aristocratic snobbery and flirtatious actions She was the spoiled and rich ball attendee who handled herself very elegantly as she gossiped about the March family. It was a great show, and she makes a most excellent flirt!

Mom directed the whole operation. Once again she awes me with her talant and organizational skills. Dad worked in the sound booth this summer making sure that the sound and lights of the show would go on. Grandmother did a great job heading up the team of hairstylists and makeup artists. She worked for hours on end to make it a success. I can only watch and tell you that she is amazing.

In a production that consumed so much time from the others in my family you know I was around somewhere. My contribution to the play.~ Weeks of set painting, acting as a fill in makeup artist/hair stylist, acting as the driver for Grandmother and Lauren on the many trips to and from practice, collecting odds and ends for the show, saving one turtle, and video taping a preformance!

Quotes for the day!

"Teach him to call it "real life" and don't let him ask what he means by "real."

"All mortals tend to turn into the thing that they are pretending to be."

~C.S Lewis in The Screwtape letters.