Jason and Amberly

Two of my favorite people came by the restaurant a couple of weeks ago. Amberly had seen the May issue of Southern Living and had to come and see. Of course, I wasn't doing much when they knew me. I can understand a little verification of the facts :) We were able to catch up around their active children. Time certainly has flown. It really did not seem like very long since I had seen them last, but I guess about 9 years had passed. Anyway, Amberly has a blog and this picture was on it so I thought I would put it on mine too! If your reading this Amberly, thanks for coming by. I look forward to seeing you guys again soon.

Flag Day.

Tomorrow is flag day. A day we recognize our flag and what it means to us as Americans. The first thing that comes to mind are the people who have fought and died for the flag, not for the piece of cloth, but for what that piece of cloth symbolizes, a free people, in a great land. I am grateful to those who have thought the flag meant enough to die for it. We are Americans, and should be proud to say so, and proud to live under that flag that means so much in so many ways.

Tortillas Blanco's early beginnings in Southeast Texas in the 1940's??

The story of Tortillas Blanco actually began in the early 1940’s at a cotton gin in southeast Texas. My grandfather Lynn Headrick, his father, and brothers operated a gin in Corpus Christi, Texas. During cotton picking season migrant Mexican workers would come to work. It was during that time my grandfather learned the Spanish language. Later on, my grandfather began preaching and continued to have an interest in Spanish mission work. He built strong relationships with the Hispanic people.
Moving forward to the 1980’s…My grandparents raised me and allowed me opportunities that I otherwise would not have experienced. My grandfather would take me on some of his mission trips. It was then I realized my love of good Mexican foods especially the fresh, hot, tortillas!!
In 1998 my grandfather passed away I was 18 years old. As an 18 year old I really didn’t know what I was going to do with the rest of my life. So, the search began. Several years went by, 7 years to be exact, of not finding what I was interested in doing. Until one day, while driving down Florence Blvd in Florence, AL, it hit me! Not a car, but an idea, an idea to make that wonderful bread I remembered as a young boy, tortillas!!
The work began of developing the concept. Little did I know how much work would take place, but I did it. Today, Tortillas Blanco is a restaurant and a chip manufacturing company with 6 stores currently on our route. Things are happening and growing. I cannot help but think about that young man working in the cotton gin, learning Spanish, and making another young boy a part of his life and leading me to where I am today.

Abilene, TX

May 31st...it is my grandfather Lynn Headrick's birthday, he would have been 80. May 31st, 2008 the day his youngest brother Edwin Headrick passed from this life. To the left is a picture of uncle Edwin and Aunt Shirley, April and myself. We were able to enjoy some horseback riding on our last visit in October 2007. Edwin knew April wanted to "ride a horse in Texas", so he set out to find a place to ride. He was just that kind of guy. Edwin was the last existing brother after Rob Headrick passed away in April. Being raised by my grandparents has moved what actually is "great" family members to immediate family members. Great uncles and aunts are in the role of immediate aunts and uncles. Everyone is bumped up a generation. The sad part is, there is a great deal of loss with the ages of these people whom I love so much. My uncle Rob passed away in Texas 2 months ago and now uncle Edwin. They had an interesting family history from growing up on a cotton gin in Ellis County, Texas, to teaching in colleges and preaching the gospel. As I sit here at Uncle Edwin's house in Abilene I think about how much all these men will be missed. I have missed my grandfather for 10 years and I will the rest of my life.