We need toilet paper.

If you have not read my previous post about rudeness, scroll down and read that first. Then you will see the irony in this one.

Ok, now that you have read the previous post.... I had the bangdaddy of rudeness happen to me this morning. I went out to my van to get my pink cofffee mug. Guess what I couldn't find? MY VAN. My grey huge big Astro van. Someone stole my van off of my driveway. So rude.

I could not believe what I was seeing, or not seeing is more like it. My neighbor across the street was on her front porch. I ask her "do you see my van anywhere?" She looks up and down the street and shakes her head. "SOMEONE STOLE MY VAN" I yell.

I call Lenny at work at the wrong station and wake the crew up. Sorry Station 3. Back to Station 1. I am telling this to Lenny and Jacob walks in the room. He is a little sleepy head with bed head rubbing his eyes. All of a sudden, his eyes widen at the prospect of something this incredulous happening to the Gisberts. He runs in to wake Sarah. "Sarah Sarah, we've been robbed" No, Jacob we were not robbed. Our van was stolen.

A while later the Sheriff comes to take the report. We are sitting at the table while the kids are eating breakfast. They were amazed at the idea of a real live officer in our home with a gun on his belt. I finally said "Hey, your dad is a fireman, get over it!" The deputy laughed.

So he asked if I had anything of value in the van. I blurt out "yes, my very favorite pink coffee mug that I use for my Sheri Leming imitations". Then I realize how utterly stupid I sounded and proceed to tell him that no, there was nothing of value in there. Just a few Christmas gifts (coloring books and markers). Oh, and a Sam's Club size pack of paper towels and toilet paper.

Jacob fell over laughing at this one. "36 rolls of toilet paper?" he asks. You can see the wheels not just turning, but going into overdrive thinking. He is really cracking up when he says, "Well, if they have to go poop then they are in good shape." ha haha ahahaha. And I answer back, "well what if we have to go poop?" Huge smile instantly turns to contemplation. "Oh, yeah I guess that's a problem." he says.

Then he has a great idea. We should look for houses that are TPed tonight and ask them who did it. Then we will find the thieves. Good idea Jacob.

I realize that having a vehicle stolen is a big deal. I really do. But you know what? I am just not at all concerned about it. Now, I want the van back. I want my van back. I do not want to get another one. I want mine. But, if we have to get a new vehicle, ok we will. If this one is found with damage, ok, we will deal with that. And if it is never found, so be it.

But, I just can not be "worried" about it. God has a plan. I am not a kamakazee Christian who let's life happen to her. But, isn't it ok - no I mean right - to let the peace of God rest on this household and situation? And that is what we are choosing to do. Just not at all worry about it. It is gonna be ok! If God cares about the sparrows, then certainly he cares about our family vehicle.

So Lenny was telling me this morning that the nurse at his doctor's appointment expressed concern and asked if she could do anything for us. I asked Lenny if he told her that we needed toilet paper.

Oh, and something even more hilarious about the whole situation is this. We are the block captains for our Neighborhood Watch. Ironic, eh?

Speaking UP!

Rude people are RUDE!!!

One of my pet peeves is rudeness. It bugs me when people don't say please or thank you, excuse me, etc. I can, however, shrug it off sometimes. I chalk it up to them having a bad day or something of the sort. BUT...when people are overtly rude to the point that it will inconvenience another person....that really irks me. Like when someone litters is an example. If person A chooses to litter, someone else is going to have to pick it up. Their rude actions will affect another person in some way. Today I had something like that happen.

This afternoon I was pulling into the 7-11 parking lot and noticed that it was packed. Very unusual for my favorite little place, but nonetheless I figured that I would get a spot. So I see one about halfway down the lot. I swiftly try to get in and realize that a big black Chevrolet truck it taking up one spot and about 1/4 of the empty spot.

OOOOOhhhhh I was so mad. The lot is packed and this guy/gal decided that his filty dirty-not-so-new-dinged-up truck needs two spots. So guess what I do! I fold in my side mirror and I carefully squeeze my big Astro Van in right next to him/her. I am completely in my own spot not infringing on any other vehicle.

I was able to get out and I knew that he/she would be able to get in. I go into the store, pour my diet coke and get in line. By now the only other customer in the store is the guy right in front of me using his debit card.

I decide to broach the subject. I was absolutely kind and spoke to this man respectfully.

"Is that your black Chevy truck out there?"
"Yes" defiantly
"Do you realize that you are taking two spots to park your truck?"
"Yes" even more defiant
"It's a little rude to do that, especially when the lot is completely full". I know, I know, that doesn't sound very kind in TYPE, but in PERSON it was.
"Uh!"
"I just wanted you to know that it made it difficult for me to park my van"
"Yeah well that delivery truck over there made it difficult for me to park my truck"
"Ok" What was I going to do? Beat remorse out of him?

So he finishes his transaction and walks to the door. He gets outside but holds the door open and yells at me "don't sweat the small stuff" and runs to his car.

By then he realizes that my van is so close to his truck that he has to work to get in the driver's door. I am standing there watching the whole thing, waiting so I can get into my van.

He is seething mad. I just stood there smiling, not a Cheshire Cat smile, but just with a pleasant and patient countenance. He drove away and ran over the curb he was in such a hurry to get out of there.

What would you have done? Would you say something to someone? Or would you..........?

Cute Kids

Two of my current favorite pics of the kids. OOOOohhhh I could eat them up!

God Bless Grandma and Grandpa

Today, several kids from our kids church choir went to Woodruff Convalescent home to perform selections from the Christmas musical. They were so cute all wide-eyed at their first field trip with Pastor Heidi. Cowboy hats on and singing voices ready, they were all set to go.

Once there, it was a long walk down a long hallway to the big room where everyone was. There were a few residents in their rooms watching these kids march through the place. I heard one sweet little lady ask "what in the world is going on here?" Another lady commented to a nurse, "that little girl has high heels on." It was amusing to hear their take on the company.

The first thing we did was sing a few Christmas carols with our hosts. One kind ol' fella sang at the top of his lungs the same verse to Silent Night even though everyone else was singing the other two. He didn't care...he was singing. He didn't mind at all if people were watching or wondering. He sang his heart out. I hope to be like that. Not wondering so much what others are thinking.

The kids were great, the company was wonderful and the blessing that I personally received from spending time with these folks is immeasurable. Thank you Pastor Tom for faithfully ministering to the "gray hairs". Thank you for allowing us to come in and be a part of their day. By the way, you look cool in the hat!

Here are a few pics.

I

It's December

I can not begin to decorate for Christmas until it is December. I know some people like to start the day after Thanksgiving, but for me, I can not do it. It is already too hot here to think of Christmas so waiting until it is actually the month of December makes it a bit more real for me. Besides, we are getting new carpeting so really, I can't take the decorations down from the attic until then anyway.

BUT.... in the spirit of moving into the holiday, we brought something out. We bought this item a month ago and kept it for Lenny until December. So yesterday morning, Jacob and Sarah gave Lenny a preChristmas present. It is by far the most appropriate gift for him. It is corny and completely ridiculous. It plays "Shake Shake Shake, Shake Your Booty" by cool and the Gang. And, to make the evening bright, it actually turns around and ..... shakes it's booty. The kids beg him to sing this song and do the dance that goes with it.

Merry Christmas!

True vs. Truth

This morning a verse that I was reading in Psalm 119:160 struck a conversation between Jacob and I. I read him the verse and we discussed what truth is.

160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. NIV

160 Your words all add up to the sum total: Truth. Your righteous decisions are eternal. TM

160 The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. NKJV

Not only is God's word true but it IS TRUTH. Many things can be true.. example....I have two kids. And those things are simply factual and probably temorary and the body of true things can be inclusive of many ideas. But, there is only one TRUTH. God's Word, His holy and divine scriptures are TRUTH, they are eternal and that TRUTH is exclusive.

It was one of those holy moments that God blessed me with this morning with my 8 year-old. And that conversation provided a springboard for a few other ideas with Lenny, Sarah and us. Then we had to cut it short to make it to the Christmas musical practice.

What's on Your Shelf????

In the Family Life class at church we are studying Psalm 119. We have been doing this for several weeks now. This chapter is the longest in the Bible. It has been for me one of the best studies I have done. I use three Bibles to do this. I read from my “church” bible which is the NIV, then I always read the text from the Message because I love the “in your face” paraphrase. Then I might use my Life Application Bible (NKJV) so I can read the study notes. Please don’t misinterpret my using so many Bibles are conceit or piety. I am not a Bible scholar. I need as much help as possible. I don’t always get it the first time around.

So this morning I sat down to read and study verses 153-160. And wow, did this not only speak to me, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I want to share with you one thing that struck me.

The study guide in my Life Application Bible says almost every verse in this chapter has a direct reference to God’s word. Maybe it says precepts, or law, or scriptures, or commands, but the reference is still GOD”S WORD. Repetition was common in the Hebrew culture because the Hebrew people did not have their own personal copies of the scriptures (I did know that) to read as THE GISBERT FAMILY has. They memorized his word and passed it on orally to others.

WOAH. I have to soak this one in. So I began to imagine myself living in those times. And then I came back to 2006 and thought about my own Bible…and all of the other Bibles I have.

How many Bibles does my family have on our red bookshelf? The answer? FIFTEEN . We have 15 Bibles in our home. Of those 15, there are:
5 different translations,
3 daily Bibles
2 study Bibles
1 Boy’s Bible
1 Firefighter’s Bible
And a few standard text-only Bibles

And, to supplement those Bibles (not that God’s Word needs supplication), there is a vast array of Bible study guides. Where To Find It In The Bible, a Bible dictionary, a Concordance, etc.

That right there is enough evidence to show that I should be bathing in God’s Word. I have no reason whatsoever to not have better understanding, better knowledge, a deeper relationship with God.

I challenge you to something. Look in your home. Count the number of Bibles you have. Does that number reflect the amount of time you spend in His word? I will tell you right now that in this household there is quite a disparity between the two. If you are brave enough, leave a comment here with your number.

Oh, and, the next time I hear a call for sending Bibles to a foreign country, I am going to give enough money to send 15 Bibles.