Reasons To Love Monday - Oliver's Birthday Party

I couldn't get them both still long enough for a picture... close enough

Happy start of a new week, friends! On Saturday morning I stopped by the Dunkin Donuts to buy a pink donut with sprinkles for my sweet Cosy and an iced coffee with hazelnut flavoring for me... picked up baby girl and headed South to Marvin's. Then we switched Cosy's car seat to his car and loaded up all the things and drove down to Oliver's house in Riverdale for his third birthday party.

Last year due to my mom's illness, I wasn't able to go "down south" for Oliver's party. We held a small one here for him but it's not the same. If I had to drive me and Cosy down... we probably wouldn't have made it this year either. My back is just not good right now. But Marvin was a champ and took the day off so that he could go... and of course, he drove. It was Cosy's longest trip away from home... just 100 miles... she really is a little country girl.

It was hot and humid. We had heavy rain in the morning so the moisture was thick in the air. If you've never been to the Southern United States, you can't really appreciate how thick and heavy the air feels in the Summer. It's pure misery. As usual, I wanted to be where the babies were so I spent a lot of time outside with them. Cody set up the little bounce house that I bought for Oliver's first birthday and the kids jumped until their little heads were soaked with sweat. They played on the swingset, they filled up watering cans with water and poured the water out on ... everything. Although Cosy STILL won't let Oliver hug her, she had a really good time.

I think one of the best things for her on the trip was when Marvin took us to a parking lot near the airport where we could see the planes landing. Cosy was absolutely spellbound by the sight of those huge planes coming down so close. It's just the absolute best to be able to see things through the eyes of a child, isn't it? It doesn't take much to entertain them... bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a watering can with water... I love every minute with them.

Marvin was really good to help me remember not to pick the babies up. He even helped me with a poop situation (Cosy, not mine) by picking her up and laying her on the bed so that I wouldn't have to... and so that the poop wouldn't get everywhere by her climbing up on her own. (Side note - Cosy, if you're a teenager reading this, please don't be mad that I talked about your little poop accident - everyone goes through it when they're just learning to go potty and you did a great job staying dry all day and using a strange potty!) I didn't lift babies but I did stand a lot and ride in the car a lot and carry other - less heavy - things. Honestly, it's so frustrating because it's nearly impossible to not aggravate my back at the moment. Any little movement and I'm just done. Yesterday I did a small little Walmart run and just carrying that little bit up the stairs, etc, had me wrecked. So yesterday and today I'm resting and binge watching the tv series Bones. It's so good! Tomorrow I'll have Cosy for a little while but I'll also be doing a lot of resting. I'm not going to Marvin's until Wednesday morning because he starts his new Tuesday night trivia show this week.

 

I shared a ton of pictures from Saturday on Facebook but I have probably another couple dozen that I haven't shared. I took a TON of pictures! I wanted to share a few here for those who don't do Facebook or Instagram and also, I wanted to have a few posted here for posterity.

 


My Reasons To Love Monday this week:
Having two amazing, healthy, beautiful, loving three year old grandchildren who make everything better...
Having a great partner who makes every special occasion so much better
Knowing that we're past the halfway mark on Summer
Being able to take days like yesterday and today to rest. Even though my back hurts, it would be absolutely unbearable if I had to try to work while I'm in so much pain. There's just no way.

I hope your weekend was magical... and that your week is starting off well. Love and hugs, y'all!

 

 

 

Young Family Cemetery / Census Records

On the 4th of July, after we had lunch at Moonie's BBQ, Marvin and I stopped at an old cemetery across from the Falcons Complex (where the Atlanta Falcons NFL team trains) in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Being a genealogy and history enthusiast, cemeteries are always interesting to me. I had mentioned to Marvin that I'd like to wander through some of the ones in his area and so this is one he stopped at on the 4th. This one is close to the road, shaded and is small enough to cover the whole thing quickly. It was divided into two sections - one with ornate, well marked stones and another with simple, unmarked graves. We found a marker that indicated that one side was the Robert Young family and their kin and the other side was his slaves and their kin. I found a newspaper article from 2011 that explained that there were also some Native Americans buried in the slave portion of this cemetery.

Robert Young and his wife Selia Strickland Young were born in Virginia in the mid 1700's and moved to Georgia around 1795. They settled in the Hall County area (near what is now Lake Lanier). They had around a dozen children. Some died very young and there are many tiny graves in the family cemetery. Their son Robert married Martha Louisa Winn. There are several Winn family graves there as well with a marker noting that they were moved to this area when the Buford Dam was built to create Lake Lanier (around 1956).

I did a little research on ancestry.com for this family. I had hoped to find some addresses on census records to help correlate this family with actual locations in and around Hall County. Obviously, the cemetery would have been on what I presume to be a family homestead but as far as other locations in the area, I haven't found much. I don't want to spend a ton of time on it because... I still have years and years of research to do on my own family but so far I haven't found any addresses listed in the census records.

That's the thing about census records... sometimes they are an amazing wealth of information and sometimes they're blah. It is as varied as the number of people who performed the census searches over the years. I know that the few times I have responded to census requests I have been sort of aggravated by the intrusion BUT... as an amateur genealogist, I realize how important this record can be to future generations. Currently census records through 1940 are available online so it's possible to know far more about your great-great grandparents than your grandparents sometimes.

Up until 1840 the US Census just took a count of household members, not necessarily the names of individual members. So you may be able to see how many household members were literate, for instance... or how many slaves in a household (which never fails to make me cringe)... but you might not know exactly who lived there. Later records list the names of everyone in the household which shows us a lot about how families took care of each other back before welfare and social security. You will see elderly family members and sometimes young couples living with middle aged couples.

I think we've lost a lot by separating ourselves into individual households. Certainly if I didn't live with my dad, my granddaughter wouldn't know her great-grandfather as well as she does. Multi-generational households introduce their own set of problems, no doubt, but I think it's a great system for connecting family members who might otherwise feel isolated. Austin needs the financial support my dad and I can give... and the help parenting his little girl... but we need his physical strength and ability. Hopefully there's enough give and take to even it out for everyone. I just know that it cracks me up that Cosy gets excited whenever she hears Pop come in the door... and that she felt perfectly well at home enough to get out some of my mom's fine china out of the china cabinet to eat her pancakes on yesterday. I wish we were close enough geographically to give her that kind of familiarity with all of her extended family.

At any rate... I did find a nice write up about the Robert Young family on Genealogy.com and I thought I'd share it here, if you're interested. Hope you're having a great Sunday! Love and hugs!

Robert Young and his brother, "Devil" John Young, came to Georgia at the time the state of Georgia, in collusion with the Federal government, was rapidly expanding into the tribal homelands of the Creek and Cherokee. Robert and John established a trading post at Ponce de Leon spring within the environs of present day Atlanta. (This site was later commemorated by a plaque placed upon the Sears store building on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta across from the old Ponce de Leon ballpark). Here they traded and became friends with many members of the Creek and Cherokee tribes. 
As stated, the state of Georgia, either by forced treaty or outright confiscation, was actively annexing Indian lands and making it available for settlement by lottery (at least in theory...there was a lot of corruption in the lottery system). After the discovery of gold in the Cherokee tribal territory this practice was escalated. The price of these lottery plats was inexpensive and Robert took advantage of the opportunity. He was able to acquire himself a 1600 acre tract in what is now Hall County, Georgia and erect himself a two-story, twelve room log house complete with chimneys, pillars and flagstone walks. (The site is now marked by the Young family cemetery located about two miles outside Flowery Branch, Georgia). Here he engaged in farming, trading and cattle raising. Because his home was located on the Federal Road (opened in 1805 and the first vehicular road opened in northwest Georgia) he also became a de facto innkeeper. Travelers frequently stopped at his home for lodging. One such visitor was Andrew Jackson, General in the 1818 Seminole campaign, who stopped there for a night with his staff and two companies of militia. That event is commemorated by yet another Historical Marker placed on the site in 1957 by the Georgia Historical Commission.
The writer J. C. Flannigan wrote a description of Robert Young in his publication "Gwinnett County History". "It is said he (Robert) marked out the road from Fort Daniel at Hog Mountain to Standing Peachtree (the Peachtree trail from Atlanta to Flowery Branch, Georgia). Later on Robert, John Young and Augustin Young were employed to grade and construct this road. Robert Young was a character, whose like will seldom be seen hereafter. He was original in his looks, in his language, in his habits, and in the character of his mind, wholly with no knowledge of books, except the great book of nature, from which he drew liberally. He was a man of superior judgement, and had stored up from observation a large fund of information that was valuable to him and his friends. He was true to his word, faithful to his honor, truthful to the fullest extent. His word, his promise, and his integrity were never questioned by those who knew him. He always wore his hair tied in a queue, which he prized most highly, and of which he was proud to the day of his death."
Many of Robert Young's children, siblings, nephews and nieces later settled in the Indian lands in Alabama. It seems that Robert also made trips to this country from time to time. In 1837, after one such trip, he returned home to find that his wife, Celia, had died some weeks earlier. He then married a Elizabeth Carmon of South Carolina; a woman some 49 years younger than himself. He sired two more children by Elizabeth but by 1850 she had left him. Robert died at half past four on the afternoon of 21 March 1854 leaving an impression on his surrondings that is still in evidence today.
Robert Young and family were enumerated in the 1820 Hall County, Georgia census as 4 white males under ten (Harrison, Richard, Robert and Isaac), 2 males of ten under sixteen (Wiley and Kerney), 2 males of sixteen and under twenty-six (Wilson and Unknown), 1 male of forty-five and up (Robert, Sr.), 1 female under ten (Luzaney), 1 female of ten under sixteen (Delany), 1 female of sixteen and under twenty-six (Irana), and 1 female of twenty-six under forty-five (Selah). Also enumerated with the family were 5 male slaves under fourteen, 3 male slaves of fourteen under twenty-six, 3 male slaves of twenty-six under forty-five, 1 male slave of forty-five and up, 3 female slaves under fourteen, 2 female slaves of fourteen under twenty-six, 2 female slaves of twenty-six under forty-five and 1 female slave of forty-five and up. Sixteen of the twenty slaves were foreign born. (NOTE: Of the two white males of sixteen and under twenty-six the unknown male would logically be Augustine. However, Augustine was enumerated that year as a single male in Gwinnett County, Georgia. It may be that he was enumerated twice if, perchance, the Gwinnett census was taken at some time after the Hall County census).Robert's brothers, Richard and John A. Young were living nearby with their families.
Robert Young and family were enumerated in the 1830 Hall County, Georgia census as 1 male under five (Samuel), 2 males over five under ten (Isaac and Robert), 1 male of ten under fifteen (Richard), 1 male of fifteen under twenty (Wiley), 1 male of sixty under seventy (Robert), 1 female of five under ten (Celia), 1 female of fifteen under twenty (Luzany), and 1 female of fifty under sixty (Selah). 
Robert Young, Sr. and family were enumerated in District 411 in the 1840 Hall County, Georgia census as 1 male under five (Nelson), 1 male over fifteen under twenty (Benjamin), 1 male over twenty under thirty (probably Wiley), 1 male over sixty under seventy (Robert, Sr.), 1 female over fifteen under twenty (Celia) and 1 female over thirty under forty (Elizabeth). Also enumerated were 4 black males under ten, 5 black males over ten under twenty-four, 6 black males thirty-six under fifty-six, 6 black females under ten, 1 black female ten to twenty-four, and 1 black female thirty-six under fifty-six.
Robert Young and family were living in the 38th District, Hall County, Georgia in October 1850. Living with him was his mentally retarded son Wiley. Also living with the family was "T. A. Young", female, age 17, born in Georgia.She was likely a child of one of Robert's deceased sons.
There were two other Young children, born in Alabama,living with the family of Allen Blake who's farm was not far from Robert's; "Toliver", male age 12, and "E.", female age 11. (In 1860 they appear again as "M. T." and "Elizabeth"). Allen was married to Robert's daughter Luzany and he was the brother of Thomas Blake who married Delany Young another of Robert Young's daughters. NOTE: "M. T." is Mathew T. Young who is buried in the Young family cemetery in Hall County, Georgia which is located on the site of Robert Young's plantation. He was the son of Richard Young, the deceased son of Robert, and Emily Long Young. This Matthew T. Young married Elizabeth Ann Wigley in October 1858. Elizabeth is also buried in the Young Family Cemetery. 
LEGAL RECORD
24 July 1838. Hall County, Georgia. Mentioned in the will of JAMES D. R. HARTWELL. "To old ROBERT YOUNG a new gold watch."
4 January 1848. Hall County, Georgia. Estate sale and auction of Richard Winn. "...the Allred Place was bought by Robert Young, Sr. for James Roberts."
24 May 1851. Hall County, Georgia. Book "A" Wills, pp 99-102. Will of Robert Young. "To wife, ELIZABETH YOUNG (2nd wife), one Negro by name CICERO. To minor son, NELSON T. YOUNG, 2 lots numbers not recollected in 8th district, 1 lot where my Mill stands on Mud Creek and the lot covering Beaver Ruin Place." Also named in the will are: daughter-in-law LUCINDA YOUNG, widow of son RICHARD; granddaughter MARY ANN YOUNG, daughter of RICHARD; son AUGUSTINE; son WILSON. Children named to receive distributive shares of his estate: IRENE STRICKLAND and children; SELANNAH BLAKE, wife of THOMAS BLAKE, and children; WILEY YOUNG; LOUZANA GATREY BLAKE, wife of ALLEN BLAKE; ROBERT YOUNG, Jr.; ISAAC YOUNG; SELAH STRICKLAND, wife of TALBOT STRICKLAND, and her children; SAMUEL B. F. YOUNG; ELIZABETH and EMILY YOUNG, children of son RICHARD, deceased; ROBERT LUMPKIN YOUNG; LOUISA; SAMUEL YOUNG; and children of HARRISON B. YOUNG, deceased. 
More About Robert Young:
Date born 2: December 12, 1760, Nash County, North Carolina.8779, 8780
Date born 3: December 13, 1760, Fredricksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.8781
Date born 4: 1766, North Carolina.8782
Burial: 1854, Young Cemetery, Hwy 23 near Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia.8783
Died 2: March 21, 1851, Hall County, Georgia.8784, 8785
Died 3: March 21, 1854, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia.8786, 8787
Occupation: Farmer..8788
More About Robert Young and Celia 'Selah' 'Sealey' Strickland:
Marriage: 1798, North Carolina.8789
More About Robert Young and Elizabeth Carmon:
Marriage 1: June 14, 1838, Hall County, Georgia.8790, 8791
Marriage 2: May 05, 1838, Hall County, Georgia.8792, 8793
Marriage bond: May 14, 1838, Hall County, Georgia.8794
Children of Robert Young and Celia 'Selah' 'Sealey' Strickland are:

1. +Augustin 'Gus' Young, b. August 17, 1799, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8795, 8796, 8797, d. February 02, 1868, Polk County, Georgia8798, 8799.
2. +Wilson R. Young, b. July 28, 1800, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8800, 8801, 8802, 8803, d. Aft. 1870, Lafayette County, Mississippi (?)8804.
3. +Irene Irana Young, b. December 15, 1803, Jackson, Butts County, Georgia8805, 8806, d. December 1895, Cleburn County, Alabama8807.
4. Kerney Young, b. 1805, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8807, d. April 27, 1841, Georgia (?)8807, 8808.
5. +Delany 'Selannah' Young, b. March 20, 1807, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8809, 8810, 8811, d. January 25, 1895, Cleburn County, Alabama8812.
6. Wiley Young, b. 1810, Georgia8813, d. November 23, 1851, Georgia (?)8814, 8815.
7. +Harrison Bennett Young, b. 1811, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8816, d. 1841, Georgia (?)8816.
8. +Richard Young, b. Abt. 1813, North Carolina (?), d. Bef. 1846, Randolph County, Georgia8816, 8817.
9. +Luzany Causey 'Gatsy' Young, b. January 08, 1815, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8818, 8819, 8820, d. November 11, 1857, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8821.
10. +Robert Young, Jr., b. January 15, 1818, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8821, 8822, d. March 31, 1869, Hall County, Georgia8823, 8824.
11. +Isaac Young, b. April 15, 1819, Hall County, Georgia8825, 8826, 8827, d. July 19, 1889, Fox Creek, Clay County, Alabama8828.
12. Celia 'Selah' Young, b. May 18, 1821, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8829, d. date unknown.
13. +Samuel Benjamin Franklin Young, b. October 14, 1825, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia8830, 8831, d. June 02, 1902, Flowery Branch, Hall County, Georgia (?)8832.

Children of Robert Young and Elizabeth Carmon are:

1. Nelson T. Young, b. 1840, Hall County, Georgia8833, d. date unknown.
2. Elizabeth Young, b. 1842, Alabama8834, 8835, d. Aft. July 24, 1860, Georgia (?)8836.

Wedding Wednesday

Today is my brother Bryan and sister-in-law Helen's third wedding anniversary! Since it's Wednesday and I have a busy day planned with my sweetie, I thought I'd give you a look back at their fabulous wedding in Connecticut in 2015. This was a precious time for our family and I have to admit it's a bit bittersweet seeing the pictures of my mom. We never would have dreamed that she would leave us two very short years later. Anyways... I'm linking the blogs below. They're fun to read, I think. It truly was an amazing wedding, definitely the loveliest I've ever attended. I'll be back to my regular programming tomorrow. Hope you enjoy! Happy Anniversary to Bryan and Helen!

Going to the Chapel Part One (although it really wasn't part one of the series) takes us through the ceremony

Going to the Chapel Part Two (although that isn't how it was originally numbered) takes us through the reception.

And here is a little aftermath if  you want to see just a little bit more of that fabulous reception tent. Happiest of happy times for our family.

Small update on Bryan and Helen... they have a perfectly adorable little 2 year old son who lives the best life you could possibly imagine. I get daily photos of him out and about in New York City and I seriously would love to do NYC HIS way! He will soon become a big brother and I am soooo excited to become an aunt again to another precious little  Gant Girl. She is already treasured and loved!

Hope you have a Wonderful Wednesday! Love and hugs!

Questions And Answers...

I thought it might be fun to use a few questions I found on the internet as a writing prompt for blogging. I don't always wake up feeling creative with the words just pouring out. In fact, today I woke up quite sick from a migraine so my only thoughts were ... ugh. Fortunately, I had written this blog a few days ago. Hope you enjoy! I'd love to see your answers to the same questions!

1. If you had the opportunity to change one thing in your life, what would that be and why?

Just one thing? Can I make my one wish to wish for a thousand wishes? If not... I would wish to be really wealthy. Although my first thought is, "I'd like to be healthy and strong," I feel like having money gives you opportunities to improve things in your life. I would be able to have access to better doctors (no shade toward my current doctors intended there) and possibly find answers to some of my health challenges. I would be able to afford people to do some of the things that cause pain for me. I could afford someone - a chef, maybe, or even just one of those meal subscription services- to help me eat better and possibly lose weight which obviously would make life easier. My back needs less of a load to carry. Money could change some of the situations that bring me stress. I could make it so that Marvin doesn't have to work as much - or at all, up to him - and we could travel or... just hang out together more. I need a car in a bad way as the one I'm driving is difficult for me... it's hard to turn and I feel exhausted from driving it.. grateful to have it but you know, if I'm wishing... I would have the best mattresses to sleep on and massages and ... oh, I think I need an inversion table. It seems shallow to thing that money could change everything because, obviously, that's not true but it could make some things easier...

2. What do you find yourself thinking about the most?

I definitely can't make this just one subject. I think about Oliver and Cosette every single day... and my nephew Finn and his baby sister due later this year... and how much I want to love these babies the way that my mom would have loved them if she had the chance. I think about Marvin and how he's feeling... if it's a rough day for him emotionally or physically. I think about our relationship uh LOT... not in a "where is this going?" kind of way, not like you might think... I think about things we can do together, even as simple as where we might go to lunch this week. I think about how I can be a good partner for him and what would make him happy. I think about my kids and each individual relationship... not just my boys but also my girls... Ryan's fiance Sara and Cody's wife Marquee... and also Tasha, even though she and Austin aren't together, she's the mom of my granddaughter so I think about how she is doing. I think about my dad and his happiness... his health... and so forth. I think about my brothers and their families. My nieces and nephews are so precious to me and as they're getting older I get to communicate with them on a more adult level. It's quite a lovely bonus. Sarabeth has a blog you can click the link to see it (be kind if you comment) - it's amazing considering she's grown up on my blog. My nephew, Cory just recently got married and we've enjoyed a much closer relationship as he's gotten older. And of course, watching Jamie blossom as a performer has just been such a joy for me. I think about all these moving pieces to our family.  I still think a lot about my estranged brother and his family and how much I want them to return to the fold, so to speak.

But there's so much more... I think about my friends, in real life and people I know only (or mostly) online. When one of my online friends went through a hard time recently there were about a dozen ladies who rallied around her and prayed for her and encouraged her and just really cared on such a deep level. I realized how invested we are in each other's lives and how unique that is to our generation and the ones that follow because of the relationships we've been able to form online... and it made me want to nurture those relationships more. Whether friends or family... I think about whether or not I'm giving people enough love and support. But I also think about whether or not I'm being kind to myself, remembering my limitations and respecting my boundaries. I have a tendency to push myself too hard when I have the chance to be with others and then I end up feeling very isolated and lonely when I am in too much pain to keep up.

I also think about a lot of superficial stuff like the upcoming Royal Wedding and who will walk Meghan down the aisle if her father doesn't. I think about the political climate and racial issues and just all the hate there is in the world toward people who don't think like us or look like us or love like us. I think about what makeup colors I want to try and whether I have enough yogurt to get through to the next day when I feel like going to the store. I think about whether my meds are all filled and if they're working. When I talked about my schedule I talked about staying mentally busy and this is exactly what I mean... my brain is never quiet until the ambien kicks in at night and then, and only then, does my mind stop racing.

3. What are the things that bring you the greatest pleasure?

The things that bring me the greatest pleasure aren't things, they're people. It's weird because as an introvert I so greatly value the time alone to rest and recharge but I love the time I spend with the people I love. I love texting with people... and facetiming with Oliver... and the long talks Marvin and I have on the phone when we're apart. I LOVE being in my nest but I also love the nest I have at Marvin's and how safe and loved I feel there. I love every single minute with Oliver and Cosy although I am definitely worn out when they go home. I love hearing from friends (I love it more via text than on the phone, though... ) But I also love a good meal out... (or in)... going to concerts with my honey because it makes me feel so alive... I love traveling, even if it's not a major travel destination. Marvin and I took an overnight trip to this place in East Nowhere, Tennessee to handle some business he had. We did no sightseeing (there were no sights to see) ate in a really average BBQ place, spent the night in a basic hotel and it was just fun to have a change of scenery... although I am 100%  homebody and love to be in my nest. We had a really good time.

4. What is your biggest accomplishment in life?

Bringing my children into the world and helping my mom leave this world. It all took so much strength and courage and faith... and in all of those moments I felt so empowered and capable. Those events make me believe that I can do anything. I also feel like having the courage to wake up every day and keep going is a huge accomplishment. There are a lot of things that have happened to me that should have taken me out of the game... made me bitter and jaded... and I feel like the fact that I don't allow myself to feel defeated is a battle I win every single day.

5. Where are you most comfortable?

Two places: my nest at my house and my nest at Marvin's. They are the places I feel the most calm and relaxed, the places that I have the least amount of pain... they are the places that allow me to be my most authentic self and to take the time I need to introvert and recharge.

I would love you for you pick any or all of these questions and answer them! I know it's easier to comment on Facebook, rather than on the blog and that is perfectly fine. I think we all would draw strength from seeing each others answers and it's a really cathartic exercise to stop and think about these things. I've got more questions like this if you're interested in seeing my answers... let me know! Love and hugs, y'all!