Fall Festival

We've been to three fall festival over the past few days and have one more at our church tomorrow. Eden and Josiah have loved it.

Hear are a few of my favorite pictures of my Superman and Tinkerbell :) 

Pumpkin Patch

Last week we took the kids to a local pumpkin patch. They Loved it! It had all of the things kids like; animals, hay rides, a huge pile of sand, a jungle gym and of course pumpkins.

 I was so proud of Eden. She feed the horse without any fear.

You can see how proud she is and then she heads off to get more pellets for the horse.

 Josiah getting a kiss from the horse. He's not so crazy about horse kisses :)

 Josiah picking out some pumpkins.

 Love this picture!

 I see this big ones, but I really like these little pumpkins!

I wonder how these taste?

 YUCK!!!! :)

 My pretty girl :)

A rare family shot of all  four of us.

On a hay ride to search for our pumpkin :)

Eden's first book

Tonight we went to the library for a special story time that was run by the Library and the local Child's Link program. Eden and Josiah had a blast. Heather did a great job with songs, activities and books. Sharon, from Child's Link, taught the children about authors and illustrators.Then she encouraged the children to become authors. She gave me the starter book and cut outs for the project. What a great idea! Eden really enjoyed making her first book.

This has so much potential for learning. We worked on colors and animals tonight. You could also do seasons, numbers, any theme you wanted to work on. And it is such an easy thing to make. This is four zip lock bags that have been stapled together, then the duck tape was applied over them to keep the staples from little fingers. Card stock paper was cut to fit into the bags and die cuts were used to make the animals and colors. You could use any thing you wanted, like plan paper, die cuts or cut out pictures from old magazine.

Rant on Racism

Usually I don't use my blog for rants or to vent, but today I feel I will make an exception. I wanted to share what happened while shopping at Wal-mart. Eden started running a fever this afternoon, so I ran to pick up some ibuprofen. While in the children's  medicine section I saw two women searching for something. The elder of the two has bent over a walker and  was searching without any luck. She asked if I worked there and I said no, but that I would be happy to help her find what she needed. She told me the two items she was looking for and went to sit in the pharmacy waiting area. Her daughter and I went searching for the medicines. The daughter thanked me for being willing to help. And we went off separately to search for the medicine.

After a few minutes, I located both the medicines and gave them to the older woman. She thanked and I walked off. Her daughter had not yet returned. I went back to the children's aisle to get Eden's medicine and while leaving saw that the daughter still hadn't returned and the elder lady was trying to stand, but couldn't get up.I was disappointed that the people near her were not helping and ran over to help her stand. I asked if I could get her a wheelchair, and she said she would like a motorized wheelchair. I left my stuff and went to the front of the store and asked if I could get one. The greeter told me they only had two and they were both in use.

When I returned to the pharmacy the daughter had returned and I let her know they had regular wheelchairs, but the motorized ones were being used. She said, "well then someone would have to push her." She grumbled something else then said, "You know, it's because those lazy Ni****s ride them around the store." I felt like I had been slapped in the face, I felt a scowl come across my face. But I was so shocked by what she said that I was dumbfounded. She quickly said, "I shouldn't have said that,"  and they walked off.

I still stood there for a moment processing what I had heard. I don't know why I was so shocked. Maybe because I was trying so hard to be nice and help them and was appalled by her reaction. Maybe it was anger at myself for not saying anything back. I have to work hard at not being sharped tongued and speaking the zingers that pop into my head. This was the perfect situation to let it rip, but I just stood there with my mouth open and my eye brows scrunched not able to say anything.

As I walked around the store, I had such a weird mix of emotions. I wanted to apologize to all the black people standing around the pharmacy that might have heard her. I wanted to to say, I don't think that way!!! Anger festered in my mind for a few minutes. I walked around the store looking for the ladies but they must have left the store.

Then the anger resided, and I began to look at all the people in Wal-mart with new eyes. Eyes of compassion. I focused more on every one's color. I guess I have never paid attention to skin color before. It's not as if I'm color blind. I had just not made it a  factor in how I thought about people.  So I smiled at everyone. I was trying to be very purposeful about loving everyone I came into contact with, especially anyone black. As if my niceness could erase the evil words the woman had spoken. I was trying to see everyone as Jesus would, loving them like Jesus would. I'm sure I looked like a nut case smiling all goofy, and trying to express love with my countenance, But I was really trying!

As I went to the other side of the store, I saw the two ladies using the motorized wheel chairs. They were both older black ladies. I'm not sure what their aliments were, but they appeared to need those chairs just as badly as the lady in the pharmacy. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought about the daughter cursing them and calling them lazy just because of their skin color, How horrible that she assumed her mother was more deserving to use the motorized chair because she was white.

I quickly finished my shopping and left. While driving home I couldn't hold back the tears. I'm not sure why I had such a strong response to this incident, but it touched me deeply. It's not like this was the first time I heard this word. Sadly, I've heard it a lot more often since moving to a rural area. It seems as if the town I live in is self-segregated, and everyone is OK with it. We have our churches and they have theirs. I can't help but imagine how sad that must make our Lord!

Maybe part of why this has effected me  so deeply is  because Larry and I desire to adopt, and are open to adopting a child of a different race. Race wouldn't have been such a big factor in our thinking a few years ago when we lived in the city. We have many different friends that have adopted outside of their race. We would have a support system. But here, It's a whole different story.We will not allow Racism to ifluence our decision, but we have

Lets say we're three years down the road and we've adopted a black child and that same woman in Wal-mart says the same ugly thing. Even though we're still in the planning stage, I think that's how my heart took that statement.....As a mother would.

The reality of racism smacked me right upside the head and I was angry, but more than that I was SO SAD!. I worry that my children, Eden and Josiah and any others we might be blessed with, would have to grow up in a culture that allows such hatred to be spoken so casually at Wal-mart. So casually that it can be spoken of openly as if  to describe the weather. How sad that she would assume that since we shared the same skin color, I would share her same thoughts. But the problem is so many do!!!

Sadly, people say..." well that's just the old people around here," as if it excuses it! I want to SCREAM. BUT IT"S NOT OK!!!! I want to quote scripture upside their heads. I know you're not supposed to Bible beat people, but when I feel like this I sure wish that would be allowed. I wish there could be an extra verse in 1 John that would read, and the let the light be whacked upside the heads of those that practice hatred! But then there would be way too much Bible thumping going on in the world.

OK So Now I'm done with my rant. Now I'm praying for God to give me insight into how I can love this community. How our lives here can help bring the Gospel in a way that reflects Jesus's love for ALL People! I'm praying for  racial healing in our town. I 'm  praying  people of different races would start coming to our church. Hoping we can sbe a part of the solution, So that our church might reflect the glories of heaven when ALL tribes and ALL Nations come to worship together to worship Jesus Christ!

Update

Life seems to be running in fast forward lately. We're in the middle of fall revival, and we spent the past weekend in Huntersville celebrating Shay's birthday. I've also started keeping a 6 month old. Eden and Josiah continue to be a great source of joy.

Eden is so grown-up sometimes. She says things that just amaze me. Tonight she started asking if she would be a mommy one day. I sure do hope so I said, but you have to get married first. Then she asked who she should I marry? I  her she didn't have to make a choice for a very long time.  Funny how her little mind works.  Larry and I have already started praying for Eden's and Josiah's future spouses.  I just didn't  know she would start asking about him so soon :)

Josiah seems to be my climbing monkey. As I was cooking dinner yesterday, he climbed up on the table and was grabbing at the chandelier. I'm sure he would pick up his feet and swing like an ape if he could! He is so cute when he is being mischievous. It's hard to discipline him when he smile and his dimple shows.

Here are a few pictures from some outside play time.

The check is in the mail

This time it actually was, and I was the recipient. Imagine how nice it is to open a letter and find out it's a check for you instead of a bill! A few weeks ago, my Dad called me and told me there was money that the State of Florida had in my name. He asked if I had ever lived and a specific address in Tallahassee. I said yes, I lived there after college.  Then he told me how I could could claim it on-line. So I went here  to check it out. He didn't claim a finder's fee either :) My Dad is GREAT!
Apparently, each state has a clearing house for accounts that different businesses, estates or trust hand over  to the state for various reasons. The money is held in an account for a time, if it is not claimed the state takes control of the money. My dad was looking up our family name. Unfortunately, his name was not on the list but mine and my brothers names were listed.

I filled out an on-line claim, printed out the forms and sent in proof of my address when I lived there. It took 10 minutes tops. Thankfully, I kept my old tax returns and had a copy of it on hand. Friday, I got the check and we went out to a nice dinner.

The money was from an insurance company. I think it is a refund for renter's insurance I had while living in that apartment. I had no idea it was even out there, and was pleasantly surprised to have gotten it back. So take a few minutes to go see if you have any money out there somewhere. If you do, I will not charge a finders fee either :)

Reflections on Haiti- Part three

While returning to the comforts of home has been wonderful, the lessons I learned and the people I meet in Haiti are still in the forefront of my mind.

This is a sweet little boy. I think his name is Dooley, but my Creole is not great, so I might be a little off. Dooley lives in the mountain with His grandmother. She's the lady standing behind him. Dooley used to live in the city with His mother and 8 brothers and sisters. He was the only one to survive the earthquake. This little boy has stayed in my mind as I think about the survivors of the earthquake. How did he make it out? What did he suffer through in order to survive? What will his life be like? I pray he will grow into a wonderful man. I pray that the tragedy he has suffered will make Him tender towards God, not angry.

Haitians are such a resilient people. They suffer well. Sadly it's because they have struggled just to survive. They bear up under their hardships in a way that is amazing. I watched so many people like Dooley. They only spoke words of thanks; never did I hear any complaints. There was a deep sadness that some shared through tears. Most everyone had lost a relative or friend. I was able to talk to one lady who had lost her two children. My heart broke for her as I tried to imagine how deeply sorrowful life would be if I lost my two children. I just held her hand and cried with her. Trying to offer whatever love could be communicated without words.

You can see what a beautiful countryside Haiti has. You can still see the ocean from some spots on this road. Yet this place only holds sadness. This is the mass grave yard for the earthquake victims. Over 200,000 people are buried here. These two crosses are the only markers.

Our compounds was about 5 miles away and we passed by this site daily. If our drivers wouldn't have said anything we might not have ever known we were so close. I never saw anyone there. I can only imagine it holds such deep sorrowful memories that people do not want to go visit.

As I share these memories it is with the hopes that We will be able to return to Haiti, To these people who have so deeply impacted my life. I see things differently, and will be forever changed.

Will I go to heaven?

A few weeks ago, our dog Max died. It was unexpected and a very sad event in the Gilbreath household. He got very sick after a long walk and died in the middle of the night. Josiah was completely unaware of Max's passing, but Eden knew something was wrong the next morning.

I sat her down and told her Max had died. "Oh" she responded sadly. Then a few moments later she asked, "What's died?" So I tried to explain on a three-year-olds level death and heaven. She solemnly responded. "That's not good." I said, living in heaven is good, but the people left behind are sad because they miss the person or pet that died. I showed her the picture of my grandmother that is in her room and explained that Granddot was in heaven too. I told her I missed Granddot very much, but that she was happy in heaven. "Are there toys in heaven? she asked. "There is something even better in heaven," I told her. "Jesus is there!"

"Jesus lives in Heaven?" I smiled as she stated to understand a little of the Gospel. I shared with her that Jesus lived and died for our sins. That sins are bad things we do, and they separate us from God. But Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. If we believed in Him, confessed our sins, and accepted him as our savior we would live in Heaven with Him too. She seemed content or maybe overwhelmed with my answer. And she went away and played.

During lunch, Eden kept saying. "Max died and is in Heaven." and I would say, "yes, Max died and is in Heaven." Then Eden asked, "Mommy, will I go to Heaven?" I couldn't hold back the tears at that point. I said, "Yes baby, I hope and pray you do go to heaven one day."

"Me too Mommy."

Will I go to Heaven? Oh the depth of that question! I long for my children to know and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. While Max's death was a said thing, I am so glad it opened Eden's heart for conversations about death, Jesus and Heaven. There were small seeds of Truth planted in her heart that prayfully one day will lead to a relationship with Jesus.