Reyes Gibbs Blog

Where are you from?...

2008-11-15T00:27:29-08:00

When people come up to me and what to know what my ethnicity is, they often don't know how to ask. The conversation goes like this:

Other: Where are you from?

Me: Stockton, California

Other: No, really where are you from?

Me: My mother's womb.

Other: What I mean is what is your nationality?

Me: American

Other: No, that's not what I mean, What are you?

Me: a woman.

Other: (very frustrated) You know what I mean?

Me: Oh, do you want to know where my parents were born? or do you want to know my ethnicity?

Other: Your parents!

Me. My ethnicity is Filipino. My parents were born in the Philippines.

Other: Why didn't you just say so?

I know I could have easily answered the question but I am just mean. This conversation doesn't happen that often anymore since I stopped traveling in the South and more and more people are becoming more educated about how to ask about one's cultural background.

Does it matter where I am from? I am a Filipina-American and proud of my culture and life experiences as a Flipiina. Often though, well-meaning people, like to put me in a culture not mine. For instance, I was being interviewed about something unimportant. The interviewer closed the Q&A session with, "I am pleased that Hispanics, like yourself are involved in the church." I just said to him, "I am a Filipina-American which is considered Asain or Pacific Islander but not Latina. He responded, "Oh, your last name is Reyes so I assumed you were Hispanic." He did not notice that I used the term Latina. Then I gave him the names of the Latino's I know involved in the church. For some people it still does matter.

The Best Worship Experience...

2008-11-07T08:27:00-08:00

Last Sunday was Bethel's Intergeneral Sunday. A Sunday filled with music! The Band, Choir, and lots of praise songs! We had our exceptional drummer, my son-in-law, Beadle and the house rocked. My message was on discernment and how we make choices (election Sunday). The church was pretty full.

While the band played, I sat next to my pregnant daughter, Lauren, and placed my hand on her belly. The music was loud and great. Maribel, my expected granddaughter in January, moved on the downbeat. (Is that an indicator of her musical gifts?) As I kept my hand on Lauren's belly, I felt this new life moving. Okay, I am a crier, but sitting in the sanctuary, surrounded by music and feeling the life of a child while protected in her mother's womb is truly a worshipful experience and moved me to tears. Tears, as I have said before, that were prayers to God. I am a blessed woman with exceptional children and grandchildren and I am thankful.

What to say....

2008-11-06T08:19:52-08:00

It's November 6, two days after the historic election and I am still having difficulty trying to find the words to describe how I feel about the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. My jaded and cynical view of politics was shaken by this election. For the first time, in a long time, I really believed that if elected there will be change. I even made small contributions to his campaign something that I have never done before except when required to by my bosses in the Legislature.

I wept when watching the people run to find their spot to witness history in Grant Park in Chicago. People running of different shades of complexions, generations of families holding hands, and the excitement they showed in just being part of history. I wished I were there. I wept at his acceptance speech. I wept when his children came on the stage.

I often tell people that tears are a form of prayer that God holds us when we have no words to say. Bloggers abound have written all the words one can imagine about the effect of this election. All I can say is "Thanks be to God! God protect and guide Barack Obama, his family, his peers and this country!! AMEN

Getting ready for Christmas!!!

2008-11-03T09:10:31-08:00

I can hear the groans!!! This year I decided that I would put together an Advent Devotional with stories from the faith community I serve. I've received a few and I am including stories from past devotionals (not an annual thing, Bethel has done about three of them in the last nine years) of folks who are no longer physically with us. As I was preparing the devotional I was sent this video and I thought most appropriate. Every year it seems that Christmas and the secular world get to meshed together and we lose the message of Christmas, "Peace." This video is a reminder how we can get back to the basics of Christmas!

What I leave in Oregon...

2008-10-22T09:29:35-07:00

Today is my last day in Oregon. Joel and I have been cruising the Oregon Coast for the past 11 days.
God's creation is awesome and amazing! And I was always reminded about how nature is uncontrollable. Every day I would pass by my favorite word to say in Oregon, TSUNAMI! I am going to miss passing by the signs that say "Entering Tsunami Hazard Zone," "Tsunami Evacuation Route" (pointing to the hills!) and "You are leaving the Tsunami Hazard Zone" My first night on the coast I read the what to do in case of a Tsunami. Our first few days we were on the 7th floor so the instructions said go to 4th floor or higher. So Whew safe haven! When we moved down the coast a bit, the instructions of our hotel went something like "In case of an earthquake, a Tsunami might occur in that case, head for the hills! Do not pack!!! Do not drive your car!! Leave everything and head for the hills!! Joel decided he wasn't leaving his car (see previous blogs) so we had a plan! The hazard of having your room less than 100 feet from the ocean's edge is that if there is a tsunami you had better run fast!!! Oh and the other word of caution was,
"It is dangerous to try and view a Tsunami from up close!" (These would probably be the same people would would vote for the Mcain/Palin Ticket!) Oh well, gotta love those ones!

I will not miss the fact that in every place we stayed or had a meal, I felt like I was the only person of color in the room. Joel did affirm the fact that I was the only one! Not that I got treated differently, it just feels different when I am used to being part of a community that has other folks that look like me. Can't wait to get back home where I can blend in with the wonderful mix of diversity.

Our next stop the Somoa Cook House in Arcata!! Yum!!!

I am just saying....

2008-10-20T06:33:00-07:00

We took a drive down the Oregon Coast today and stopped in at a few Oregon State Parks that are pretty amazing. I always check license plates to see how many cars are from California. While doing this, I noticed that there were a lot of "Obama" bumperstickers but no republican bumperstickers. So I figure that the Obama folks are the ones who appreciate the environment. I'm just saying that I believe that Obama supporters are much more aware of the environment and know the importance of taking care of this world that God created so beautiful!
This of course is my unscientific sample of a few parking lots at state parks but I'm pretty sure I'm 99% accurate!!

How far is Nebraska?

2008-10-19T09:20:00-07:00

In the news we have all read or heard about Nebraska's "leave a child" sanctuary laws. They intended that when young parents cannot take care of their baby the could leave their child at a "safe" place and not be charged for child abandonment. Although their intent was good, they didn't restrict the age, just made the law to cover a "child" which means any child under the age of 18.

So we all know the story of the father who had eight children or the aunt who could no longer control her 15 year old nephew--how the children were left - in hopes that someone would give them a better home, a better life, help that the parenting parties could not provide.

It is very sad for me when parents/guardians give up their children. I don't know what it is like to have no hope for the future of their children and have to give away children they have loved and care for for years. Not that I don't know that feeling when my children have had me at my wits end and my wishing for me to go away on a remote island with servants and leave them hasn't come to mind on occasion.
It is tough to raise children. When I was a teen parent,working mom raising a child was overwhelming and difficult. I was saved by wonderful parents and family who helped when I needed them. I was not a very patient parent. And my oldest can tell you that if they had child abuse laws back then, I might have been on a "suspicious" list! And as a single mom, it was my family and friends that came to my rescue. I didn't have to ask, "How far is Nebraska?"

I understand completely about parents finding it almost impossible now to raise children. The economic times are difficult, adolescents become "another being" and societies demand certain expectations and changing cultures requires parents to be nimble on their feet. Our calling as parents who have raised children is to share our experience and presence with the families who are in the midst of raising children to become good adults or at least have directions to Nebraska.

How to stop spending money!

2008-10-18T09:02:13-07:00

Joel and I are on a tour of the Oregon coast for vacation so far it's been relaxing and fun. As many of you know, I love to shop. In these difficult economic times, I still tell myself, "I was once very poor and now I am very rich (compared to when I was a child!). I am very rich in a loving and kind family, a calling/vocation I love, and of course my granddaughters are the best! But...get me near an outlet and I become a bit unreasonable. My sweet husband, of course, says he doesn't see an outlet when we drive by but rather birds flying in the air and relishing the sweet smell of ocean air, blah, blah, blah....as if this tactic would deter me from saying, "Can't we stop just a bit to see...bargains, values...etc.'

So he relented, and "we" started shopping. Joel went into a kitchen shop (who would have thought?) and I went to shoes and clothing shops (go figure!). Anyway as "we" were shopping, we both realized that we could only buy a couple of things. Why?

We drove our two-seater, little trunk space, no back seat, Miyata!!! Packing for a two week vacation left us little room in the trunk, especially since I packed my minimum amount of shoes (damn!!!). So we didn't spend as much as I thought we would and can't spend any more because there is no more room in the trunk. And the floor space beneath my feet in the front seat is minimal now!!

So my solution to the economic crisis! Drive a two seater, fuel efficient car which may mean don't have any kids (expensive), have no more than one friend to take anywhere, and no room for COSTCO shopping trips.
Thanks be to God! I have a van!

How to save your relationship!

2008-10-15T09:00:00-07:00

Joel and I stopped to observe and take in the beautiful Oregon Coast. I found a bench that faced the horizon, sat down and then noticed a bunch of papers stuck in the slats of the bench. I didn't pay attention to it. I sat there thanking God for my abundant blessings and asked God to watch over my family and friends. Joel came and sat down and picked the paper out of the slats and said, "What's this?" I told him it was there when I sat down. Joel picked it out of the slats and opened it up to reveal the title, "When Watching a Sunset can Help a Relationship Dawn Anew: Nature Guided Therapy for Couples and Families." We started to laugh, put the paper down and at that moment, the woman who belonged to the paper came to the bench and picked it up and walked off with her partner. It was funny, but then I remembered, how in our early dating years we would make it a ritual to find someplace to watch the sunset. Those times have been fewer over the years--jobs, children, chores...etc. Maybe finding that paper was God's way of telling us to take in more sunsets!...and on the Oregon coast, the sunsets are beautiful!!!

Google Ads Stink 2

2008-10-14T22:53:20-07:00

I just checked my site and there is an ad against Obama! I support Obama/Biden!!! How does this happen? HELP!!!!