What Texas Has Given Us

Everyone has heard about Davy Crockett and the Tennessee Volunteers, whose valiant, but fatal stand at the Alamo changed the world. On April 21st, 180 years will have passed since the War for Texas Independence ended with an 18 minute routing of the Mexican army in the San Jacinto Valley in 1836. These are facts that are available in most history texts from high schools and colleges across the nation.

But what, exactly, did the Texans accomplish in their grand opposition to the President of Mexico? The answer might surprise you: it changed the course of your life.

Mexico decided to open its borders to immigration in the 1820’s following a costly war for independence from Spain. Texas was sparsely populated at that time, and Mexico wanted to encourage settlements in the area to help control the hostile Indian population. As a result, they created a very liberal immigration policy that encouraged settlement in the Texas hill country. The first settlers, the “Old Three Hundred”, arrived in 1822 from the United States to colonize the grant which had been given to Stephen F. Austin.

By the 1830’s, an estimated 30,000 Anglo had settled Texas, compared to an estimated 7,500 native Mexicans. The population imbalance concerned Mexican President Bustamante, who implemented measures which prohibited further immigration to Texas and heavily taxed imports from the United States. The Mexican government ordered the settlers to stop producing the highly profitable cotton crops, and begin demanding that the farmers grow corn, grain, and beef.

Things became even more difficult for the new settlers when the Mexican government demanded that the colonists convert to Catholicism, and required a mandatory tithe to the church. But the real indignations began when the Stephen Austin went to meet with the newly elected president, Santa Anna. Austin wanted Texas to become a separate and equal state within the Mexican Republic, in an effort to minimize corruption of local officials. Santa Anna had Austin promptly arrested and then abolished the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Next, he dissolved the current federalist government and suspended the legislative branch. He then imprisoned several cotton plantation owners with the intent of redistributing the cotton within Mexico rather than be exported to other countries. These actions triggered outrage—outrage that eventually led to war.

In 1835, as the new centralist government was taking power, the Texans formed a committee, which staged a minor revolt against the taxes which had been imposed on them in July. The Mexican President responded by sending 200 troops into Texas. Stephen Austin was released, having never been charged. Fearing that stronger measures were needed to quell the growing unrest, Santa Anna ordered his brother-in-law, General Martín Perfecto de Cos to "repress with strong arm all those who, forgetting their duties to the nation which has adopted them as her children, are pushing forward with a desire to live at their own option without subjection to the laws”. Cos landed at Copano Bay on September 20, 1835 with approximately 500 soldiers.

Austin saw little choice but to revolt against Mexico and form an independent nation. A meeting was scheduled for October to discuss formal plans for a revolution.

However, before the meetings occurred, Santa Anna learned of the talks of secession and ordered the state militias disarmed. In the weeks that followed, the colonists banned together and formally opposed Santa Anna and his army in several indecisive skirmishes.

General Santa Anna captured 300 Texas revolutionaries in Goliad when they were caught in the open; they chose to surrender rather than fight the overwhelming Mexican Army. He then ordered the combatants to be executed. Santa Anna began a “slash and burn” campaign across Texas and ordered any revolutionaries to be shot on sight—and take no prisoners. In February, 1836, Santa Anna surrounded a small garrison of 185 Texas soldiers at the Alamo in San Antonio and ordered their surrender. The Texans knew their fate if they surrendered, so they defied the 5,000 troops and fought to the death, taking as many as 600 of the Mexican Army with them into eternity. The Alamo was besieged for almost two weeks, which was the precious time the colonists needed to organize their resistance.

The sacrifice made at the Alamo gave the struggling Texas colonists enough time to form a government and establish an official revolution against the tyranny imposed by Santa Anna. The Texas Republic placed the newly formed Texas Army under the leadership of Sam Houston. General Houston knew his army wasn’t strong enough to take on the Mexican Army in a face to face confrontation, so he successfully retreated to the San Jacinto Valley, where the odds of successfully confronting Santa Anna’s Army were more favorable. On April 21st, 1836, Sam Houston’s 900 man army attacked the Mexican forces, and in 18 minutes they virtually annihilated their enemy. To evade capture, Santa Anna donned the uniform of an ordinary soldier and hid among the troops. Only when his own people began to point and say, “El Presidente” did he finally surrender.

Texas functioned as a Republic for nine years, proving it was a viable country and that it could survive on its own merits. President Sam Houston envisioned Texas joining the United States, a dream that was fulfilled in 1845. However, Texas and Mexico were still in conflict about the boundaries between the two countries. While Mexico was hot and cold about the surrender terms of President Santa Anna, and the boundary proposed between Texas and Mexico, they eventually fully recognized the Rio Grande River as the formal border between the two countries during the Mexican American War of 1846.

So, you might ask, how did these events change the course of my life? When Texas was a republic, it claimed an area that encompassed most of present day New Mexico, and large portions of Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming, almost reaching Canada. When Texas joined the Union in 1845, that land mass transferred to the United States. As a result of the Mexican American War (1846-1848), Mexico, via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ceded California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, and the rest of New Mexico, Colorado, and more of Wyoming to the United States.

It is distinctly possible that had Texas never declared independence from Mexico, and never joined the United States, the world as we know it would be far different. Can you envision a world where Mexico owned all the territory from Louisiana to the west? Can you imagine a world where the California Gold Rush would have occurred on Mexican soil? Our lives would be completely different had the colonist of Texas not chosen to fight the oppression that was being pressed upon them by the corrupt Mexican government.

The United States is now standing on the precipice of socialism, and very nearly communism. The pundits and media elites are continually professing the virtues of our rapidly evolving government, praising the increasing power of the federal government. The power grab in Washington, DC is proving to be alarming, and is a distinct threat to the American way of life. We are now facing a government that is radically altering our culture and our laws, many of which are unconstitutional. What we are now facing is not dissimilar to what the Texas colonists faced in the 1800s.

The colonists of 1836 Texas recognized the injustice pressed upon them by Mexico and the instabilities produced by a President who had the temerity to suspend the existing government. Despite the odds against them, the Texans gave us a model to follow of standing up for what’s right, even if the world is standing against us.

Let us long remember the example of those who have gone before us, those who have given us an example of courage and duty.

Eavesdropping on Dawn V. Cahill and the Twins

Two amazing young women are visiting us today.  Please help me welcome identical twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary, singers and dancers extraordinaire, who star in Dawn V. Cahill’s new novel, Sapphire Secrets. We are also privileged to have Dawn join us. Dawn is in the process of conducting a radio interview with the twins, and I thought I’d provide you a transcript of that conversation…..

Dawn V. Cahill: Livy, since this is your story, why don’t we start with you? Tell us why you want to share your story with the world.

Livy: Picture this--a spooky graveyard at midnight. Howling wind. And a strange old man who tells me to seek the truth about my mother’s death. Wouldn’t you be curious, too?

DVC: Indeed I would.

Livy: Sapphire Secrets is basically my testimony. And what an incredible journey. Not only did I find out the truth about my mother’s death, I also found God. Now, I just want the world to know that God loves them. So many people have never experienced His love. They don’t know what it’s like when God grabs ahold of you and pulls you into His arms - so unlike anything you’ll ever experience.

DVC: But you weren’t raised to believe in God. What made you change your mind?

Livy: I met someone who wasn’t afraid to share Christ with me. At first, I was resistant. Our parents and grandma raised us to be suspicious of organized religion. But then, one day everything changed. I had an accident and…

DVC: Spoiler alert!

Livy: Whoops. Anyway, as a result, I might never dance again. But without the accident, I might not have found God.

DVC: DeeDee, what do you think about Livy’s conversion?

DeeDee: She’s always spouting religious mumbo-jumbo. Not my thing. But ask me anything about dance. I can get into that.

DVC: Okay, dance it is. One of my readers wants to know, were all those dance lessons growing up a pleasure, or a chore?

DeeDee: I won’t lie and say they were a piece of cake. Dance lessons are grueling. If I hadn’t had Livy to learn and practice with, I’m sure I would have given up a long time ago. But now, I marvel at what my body can do. I’m pumped that we get to pay it forward by teaching other little girls the beauty of dance.

Livy: Our mom’s passion for dance rubbed off on us. I couldn’t have quit if you paid me. The downside of dance for me was the memorization. Not only the choreography, but all the French terminology. Like pas de bourres and ronde jambs…

DeeDee: The competitions…

Livy: Outgrowing our favorite leotards…

DeeDee: Hardly ever any boys in class to tease or flirt with.

DVC: How times change! A couple of single fathers brought their daughters into your studio for lessons.

Livy [giggling]: Don’t forget to mention how cute they were.

DVC: And now you’re dating one of them, aren’t you?

Livy: Spoiler alert!

DVC: My lips are sealed. Let’s let the readers find out for themselves, shall we?

DeeDee: Don’t forget to tell them about your prequel, When Lyric Met Limerick, a short story about a fateful meeting…the day our amazing and talented parents met.

DVC: Readers, just click on my Amazon author page to find both books: http://www.amazon.com/Dawn-V.-Cahill/e/B00QPRC2EY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Check my webpage, dawnvcahill.com, for future giveaways and updates on Livy and DeeDee’s continuing saga. And thank you, ladies, for letting my readers get to know you  today.

Livy and DeeDee [in unison]: So long, lovely readers.

DeeDee: You have to come back for Book 2, because this crazy author is going to put me through an even worse ordeal than Livy’s. I have no clue how I’m going to get out of this mess…

Sapphire Secrets

Filled with mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Sapphire Secrets is the story of a Seattle woman’s relentless pursuit of truth and God’s power to heal and transform broken lives. 

Twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary open a dance studio in honor of their late mother, whom they lost when they were six. Problem is, Livy remembers nothing of the day her mother died. The more she questions her family about that awful day, the more she suspects she’s been lied to all her life. While she’s seeking answers to what really happened, she keeps crossing paths with handsome engineer Scott Lorenzo, who compels her to question the New Age philosophy she was raised on. What if there is a personal God out there who cares about her? 

Before Livy can discover answers, a brutal accident interrupts her search. Her life flips upside down as she faces a future she is not prepared for. Yet the unanswered questions continue to haunt her. Can she find the strength to keep on with her quest, even if it means losing the two people most dear to her—her twin, and the man she loves? 

2015 Finalist, ACFW First Impressions Contest 

Dawn V. Cahill’s bio:

Author Dawn V. Cahill pens "Stories of Victorious Faith for the 21st Century," nearly always with a crossword puzzle, sudoku, or dark chocolate nearby. "The characters in my stories face situations that would have been unthinkable even 20 years ago. We live in a vastly different world than our parents did, and that's the world I write about."

Seeing an unfilled niche in the Christian market for edgier fiction, Ms Cahill birthed Hot Topic Fiction (HTF) at an intensive four-day writers conference. HTF isn't afraid to explore the question, how does God want us Christians to live out our faith in this not-so-brave new world? Without insulting the reader by offering pat or easy answers--because there aren't any--HTF tells stories of ordinary Christians following hard after Christ in a world of terror and violence, of upside-down morality, of hostility to Judeo-Christian values.

HTF's first book is due for launch in June 2016.

A Couple of Days with Dawn V. Cahill

Hello again! I have awesome news that's gonna tickle you sapphire. I was able to book Dawn V. Cahill for a two day visit this week, and I know you're gonna love her from the get go. She has a really awesome book series running that compliment each other and make for great reading. Check out her latest release: Sapphire Secrets.

Filled with mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Sapphire Secrets is the story of a Seattle woman’s relentless pursuit of truth and God’s power to heal and transform broken lives. 

Twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary open a dance studio in honor of their late mother, whom they lost when they were six. Problem is, Livy remembers nothing of the day her mother died. The more she questions her family about that awful day, the more she suspects she’s been lied to all her life. While she’s seeking answers to what really happened, she keeps crossing paths with handsome engineer Scott Lorenzo, who compels her to question the New Age philosophy she was raised on. What if there is a personal God out there who cares about her? 

Before Livy can discover answers, a brutal accident interrupts her search. Her life flips upside down as she faces a future she is not prepared for. Yet the unanswered questions continue to haunt her. Can she find the strength to keep on with her quest, even if it means losing the two people most dear to her—her twin, and the man she loves? 

By the way, Sapphire Secrets was a 2015 Finalist, ACFW First Impressions Contest!

So, who is the woman behind the book? And as you have come to expect, I'll ask her questions that no one else will think to ask, so let's get started....

Thank you for stopping by for a quick interview. Let's start with who you are:

What is your favorite childhood memory?

When my sisters and I made up impromptu plays…costumes and all. I remember “Red Coats Blue Coats,” in which we played soldiers from opposite sides, getting all dramatic with our theatrical greetings and tearful goodbyes. J Sometimes we even attracted an audience!

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

When our grandma sent us Christmas boxes, usually with identical dresses for my older sister and me… blue for her, red for me. (Funny how the red/blue theme kept repeating itself in my childhood!)

What was your favorite toy?

It’s a tie between Spirograph, Creepy Crawlies, and my brother’s Hotwheel set.

Who was your secret crush as a teenager?

Now if I told you, it wouldn’t be secret anymore!

What was the first car you owned?

An old beater, early-model Toyota that needed a lot of fixing up!

Where did you grow up?

Various spots on the left, I mean West, Coast.

You have a passion to help single moms. How did you come to develop that passion?

Raising three sons largely alone was THE HARDEST, most grueling job I will ever, ever do or will ever do. I wouldn’t have survived without a support network. And my sons wouldn’t have grown up relatively normal and healthy had God not heard my cries for help. If not for prayer & God’s guidance, my sons might have ended up as just another statistic. So now I want to pay it back and share encouragement with other single moms who struggle with simple, day-to-day basics like I did.

What makes you really, really mad?

When divorced women turn their kids against their dad.  Nothing makes me more furious. Children, especially sons, need their dads, even if the parents are no longer together. In my blog, it’s one of the things I caution women against. Because once the tie with their dad is severed, there’s no going back.

What is your biggest disappointment from your childhood? That I didn’t have any allies except my best friend.

Okay, we have a sense of who you are. Now let's talk about your book:

Is your book appropriate for young teens? Probably. It does contain a romance thread, which might be a little beyond their scope.

Which of your books is your favorite?

I only have two published so far. I would pick my newest one, Sapphire Secrets, the full-length novel. The other is a short prequel, an appetizer, you could say, for the main course.

Are there things you would change about your published stories?

Shh…don’t tell anyone, but I tweaked and re-uploaded Sapphire Secrets four times before I was happy with the end result. And, I revised When Lyric Met Limerick with edited content and a new cover. I’m much happier with the new, improved version.

Who gets credit for your really awesome cover art?

The talented Dineen Miller!

If you couldn’t be a writer, what would you do to release your creativity?

I would choreograph dance.

Can we get autographed copies?

Sure, if I can figure out how to autograph Kindle copies.

Lightning Round:

Coke or Pepsi? Water (sorry, I’m boring)

Biscuits and gravy or protein shake? Protein Shake

Lost or Lost in Space? Lost in Space

Pride and Prejudice or Little Women? Little Women

Dogs or cats? Both

Fishing or Hunting? Ugh L

Double dating or staying at home? Double-dating

Mac or IBM? Mac

SUV or Prius? Prius

10 million dollars or a time machine? 10 mil

Mega church with lots of stuff or small country church with ancient pews? Little Country Church on the edge of town (remember the band Love Song?)

Dawn, thank you so much for stopping by. And tomorrow we will have a special treat. I understand she has the twins with her, and we will have a chance to watch her interact with her favorite characters!