A Day With Debbie

So, after a fun day yesterday it was back to the regular Saturday morning routine---lots of errands....Our Honda needed inspected, so we took it then stopped to fill it up for Mikes work week, needless to say the cost of gas is horrible right now---then off for a burger at Fuddruckers...Lions Park for a final fling on the go-karts, a yearly thing for Mike and Cody to do together...
THEN, the fun began--Mike noticed that the car was running hot--we pulled over and let it cool down some, he checked the water, etc...started it back up, got as far as WalMart, hot AGAIN...sat there for a little while---tried to get it all the way home, end up at a gas station about 2 blocks from our house, it was boiling by then...Mike checked the engine again, he got back in--said the car was junk--engine had blown---SO, we walked home, called wrecker service to bring car home...
If anyone knows of someone that would like a car with a good body please let me know...no engine tho....
We both knew it was coming,it was a 97 Accord, with over 215,000 miles, we bought it new, it has really been a good car for us!
Now, guess it is time to look for another car....UGH....Mikes dream car is a Vette, my dream for Mike is to have one but not in our budget right now----Lindsay said maybe it was Gods way of telling us to go on a get that Vette...maybe the right one will come along soon...
Oh, and the $50 worth of gas we had put into it is not included, it will be syphoned and go into our Volvo...

We had a great 4th of July---after a big breakfast, Mike and Cody went to see "Hancock" and Lindsay and I took the girls to see "Kit Kitredge, An American Girl", which was very good, I highly recommend seeing it. Then Mike and I took Cody to Red Lobster for a nice lunch...home to relax for awhile then off to see the fireworks display downtown Waco...

Awesome Graphics and Myspace Layouts at pYzam.com

Two very sweet stories about Madalyn this week---
On Monday, Madalyn and Loraly stayed with me because Lindsay was not feeling well---I had to go get a few groceries and as we were walking thru WalMart she noticed a wine rack in the middle of the aisle...she looked at me, said, Ma, there is that bad stuff like you collect in your kitchen----we don't drink, I just have a wine rack with cheap wine sitting in it for decoration----needless to say, it is no longer in my kitchen!
Then on Tuesday, I took the girls along with their friends to MDO and also picked them up afterwards for Lindsay...Madalyn and her friend had gotten a popsickle and candy from their teacher, Loraly and her friend didn't have anything--so about halfway home Loralys friend asked her sister(Madalyns friend)if she could have some of her candy and the little girls said NO, I don't want to share---I am driving thinking, ok, how do I handle this??? Then out of the blue, Madalyn says Loraly, here is half of my candy, I want to share with you....so sweet!!! I don't know if the little girl shared with her sister or not but I do know she heard Madalyn, so I hope she thought about how see was acting and maybe next time she will share with her sister like Madalyn shared with Loraly.I am so blessed with such pretty, sweet, granddaughters, I cherish every moment I get to spend with them!

We all met up with Amber and her family on Saturday at Lake Whitney for a day of camping, grilling and fishing plus swimming in the lake---was nice to be together, enjoying the moments and watch all the girls laugh and play together!

Just don't tell mommy!

Cams company has a suite at the American Airlines Center and last night was the first part of the American Bullriding Championship...so Cam had 7 tickets and asked us if we would like to attend with him---after a fast dinner at Chilis, we all got there and the suite was so pretty! Cody and Kaitlyn thought they were so special overlooking everyone else...
Our friends Doug and Dale met us there and we caught up on our lives....
Thank you Cam for asking us...next, Rascall Flatts, Dave Matthews, Neal Diamond?????
MAYBE????

Cody and Sarah came to visit for a few weeks and Kaitlyn has been staying here also, so most of the time, they have played on the big slide, played Wii or gone to Lindsays to swim...we all got to go and watch Madalyn and Loraly sing and dance at Sonshine School, they both were so cute and did so good!

We all celebrated with Tiffany the first of June, she graduated High School...

This happened over the weekend on the street where I was raised for the first 6yrs of my life--only a mile from where my mother lives now...so sad and senseless!





Tuesday
June 3, 2008
Serving the
Texas Hill Country
since 1910


Ingram shooter had history of abusing

By Alyson Chapman
The Daily Times

Published June 3, 2008

INGRAM — Investigators confirmed Monday that John David Young, 38, shot and killed his wife, two sons and mother-in-law early Sunday morning in their Ingram home before turning the gun on himself.

His motive remains unknown, but his criminal record from Colorado reveals three arrests for domestic violence from 1993 through 1995.

John Young had no criminal record in Texas, and local authorities had no contact with the family until Sunday.

What happened

John Young shot his sons, Jonathan Young, 9, and Mason Young, 6; his wife, Starr Ann Young, 42; and mother-in-law, Linda Dale Hughes, 64, in a mobile home in the 100 block of Third Street in Ingram.

“There’s no additional shooter or anything,” said Ingram City Marshal Rowan Zachry. “We are following up with co-workers and friends, trying to find out what happened the day prior to this.”

It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were factors in the incident, and toxicology reports will not be available for four to six weeks.

The 911 call

Hughes, Starr Young’s mother, placed the initial call to 911 at 2:19 a.m.

“In reviewing the tapes, we discovered some information on the tapes prior to the operator answering the call in which she reported her son-in-law was killing her family members, and she needed help,” Zachry said.

When a call is placed to 911, a recording begins as it is ringing, before an operator answers.

Zachry said John Young and seven shots from a 9 mm pistol can be heard on the recording.

“What we learned from the number of shots heard and evidence collected at the scene is it adds up,” he said. “I don’t believe we heard the first shot. I believe the first was before the call was initiated.”

Preliminary autopsy reports indicate Starr Young was the first family member shot, and she was shot once. Hughes was then shot twice before calling 911, and she was shot once after. The boys both were shot while in their beds, Jonathan Young twice and Mason Young once.

“This is a very sad situation. I hope I never have to listen to another (911) tape like this in my career,” Zachry said.

The scene

Officers kicked in the residence’s door to gain entry. Hughes was found alive, lying on the floor between the hallway and a bedroom when deputies arrived. She died en route to the hospital.

Starr Young was found dead in the hallway. John Young was in the back bedroom — the pistol lying near his body — with a single gunshot wound to the head.

The Young family lived in the trailer house on Third Street since June 2007 and resided just outside the Ingram city limits before that, Zachry said.

The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation.

Who were Starr

and John Young?

Authorities have learned John Young was a new employee, still a trainee, at Mooney Airplane Co. He previously worked as an independent truck driver.

Starr Young, who was employed at Hilltop Nursing Home in Kerrville, also has a daughter, June, who is in her 20s. June is on her way to Texas from Colorado to make funeral arrangements for the family.

A 2007 graduate of Christian Women’s Job Corps of Kerr County, Starr Young was remembered by those who helped her achieve that goal.

“She had a great attitude and a wonderful work ethic and was generally very happy,” said Debbie Ridout, assistant director of CWJC of Kerr County. “Her faith grew while she was here, and she learned to trust God with all her needs. We all loved her.”

Ridout said Starr Young always focused on her family.

“She loved her family and talked about her kids all the time,” she said. “They were the center of her life.”

Any signs of distress at home were unnoticeable.

“At the time, her husband was driving a truck, so he wasn’t home much of the time, but she never complained about their relationship,” Ridout said.

CWJC board member Deana Blackburn said she remembers Starr Young as a hardworking lady.

“I think she worked full-time, as well as going to class for 12 weeks, and my memory is that she was one of the ones with perfect attendance,” she said. “I would have hired her in a heartbeat if I had been an employer — totally honest and focused.”


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To my only son, I wish a very happy birthday!

You were always my challenge when you were young, I can remember you would run from me when I tried to spank you, around the couch, to other rooms, where-ever, you knew you were a lot faster than me.You love to torment Lindsay, always gave her such a hard time! But, then again you could be so sweet, always wanted to hold my hand when we shopped, sit by me and put your arm around me, give me kisses...
You didn't like to be bored, your poor teachers, remember the cut up dollar bill in first grade?

And I love how you adore your nieces....

Your birth was fast and furious, I went in labor with you, couldn't get comfortable, tried to sit, stand, lay, NOTHING WORKED...your dad got home from work, dropped Amber by Memes and off to the hospital we went...2hrs later, you were here...I remember the tears on your dads face when he saw you--you were a big boy, almost 10lbs----loved to eat!

You were baptized after we moved to Waco by the youth minister in Robinson, we were so proud you made that decision on that Sunday night. I hope one day you find the right church in the D-FW area and be happy there...

My hope for you is one day to find your soul mate and have a few little Cams, stay happy, love life, and remember how much your dad and I love you and how proud we are of you!

We had a great week-end starting with Madalyn and Loraly staying overnight with us on Friday night---they wanted chinese food and Mike and I love to watch them drink the egg drop soup and use their chop-sticks to eat with---the owners of the restaurant know us there, we eat there a LOT!!! After eating we took them to Kiddie Land, we let them ride 2 rides a piece then we took them over and rode go-karts--Loraly with me and Madalyn with Mike---poor Loraly, I am a grandma driver but she did help me steer...of course Mike and Madalyn passed us up, I think 2 times, I actually stopped counting....and come to find out they did not have brakes....

Saturday, the girls had a party to attend so we took them home at lunch---went to run a few errands---stopped at the Vitamin Shoppe, got out, well--I decided to shut my thumb in the car door...OUCH!!!! It is blue in the nail and the other side is red/blue, not nearly as sore as it was last night!

Today, was church, Mark and Lindsay came with the girls, it feels so good to have them sit with us... we are so proud of our family! Afterwards, we took them to Olive Garden to celebrate Mothers Day...Cam and Amber were not able to be here today but were in our hearts. The girls came back home with us after eating then Lindsay picked them up a little later and they surprised me with 3 pretty rose bushes, one for each girl... Cam sent a beautiful bouqet of flowers on Friday. Mike got me a wonderful new Precious Moment, it is absolutely awesome, I am so proud of it! I have a wonderful family, I love each of you so much!

I know today was hard for Leigh, it was her first Mothers Day without Paul, but you have been in my thoughts and prayers today.

I hope all my family and friends had a wonderful Mothers Day!

Tomorrow morn be sure and lift your prayers to my friend Mindys family--her dad will be going thru bypass--I have been there with my dad, I know her feelings...I pray for peace for her family as they have been thru so much with the illness of her daughter Christine and then an accident a few wknds ago with her youngest daughter Emily. You can read Mindys blog here...www.melindagayle.blogspot.com( you can link off my page to her---Mindy)

Also, on a lighter note---Sophie gave her G-daddy his first kiss today, so sweet!

Funny what things from the past we remember---I was watching "Valley of the Dolls", a very old movie even then, when I remember going into labor with Amber. Mike was working nights then, at a new job, only the 3rd night there---I remember not being able to get comfotable and go to sleep...only to figure out, I was in labor with my first child! Mike got home a few hours later, I let him sleep for a few more hours, when I decided it was time to get to the hospital...
Good old Irving Community Hospital, Baylor now....I labored for 8hrs, remembering every time I had a contraction Mike would have to leave the room because he did not like seeing me in pain--- I remember being wheeled down to x-ray cause they thought they were gonna have to do a c-section, passing by my worried parents that were not allowed into the labor room back then--THEN all the sudden just a few minutes after getting back to the labor room after I was checked by a nurse and being told it would be a while, I felt that urge to push--told Mike the baby was coming---he ran out and got the nurse...I was wheeled down to delivery and a few minutes later, (and I mean a few minutes later) Dr.K barely made it in time to deliver her! I was a mommy, my lifelong dream! And were we proud, she was absolutely beautiful--still is!
Mike got to hold her first--but I convinced him to let me hold her when the nurse left the room---she had blue hands and feet, she was a few days late---but none of that mattered. During labor, Mike would write down names, none of which we could agree on--except Amber---finally decided upon her middle name and everything was perfect.
We stayed in the hospital for 3 days then went to mamas for a few days before going to our apartment..We took Amber to church when she was just a week old, I remember having to turn around and go back home and change her cause she made a big mess all over her 1st church dress!
Her daddy had the priveledge of baptizing her when she was 12 at WebbChapel, we were so proud of her for making that decision that Sunday night.
Seems like yesterday, she started Kindegarten then a blink of my eye and she was graduating HS...Now, my firstborn is turning 33, a mother herself.
Amber is living her dream now, being a nurse, something she has talked about doing since she was very small.
My wish for her is to always be happy, to know how much her mama and daddy love her , to be the best she can always be, a loving, gentle person with a very tender, sweet heart. We Love You Amber!
Happy Birthday!

Thanks to my sweet daughter and now contributor for this pretty new look---I love it!

Gas to Houston...$50
Holiday Inn Express, Texas City...$100
Parking at Cruise Terminal...$65
Cruise to Caribbean with sweet Hubby...Priceless