Braden Family Raft Trip

This summer we went on a two day raft trip on the American River. It was really fun and we'll have some great memories of this trip!

Lori

Mass Transit circa 1910

The man on the right is Carl Gibbs. He was a Conductor on the Inter-Urban, a trolley that ran from Richmond, IN to Indianapolis, IN. The trolley is behind the two men.

Since Carl and Lula were married in 1907 I'm guessing this picture was taken around 100 years ago.

Jaye

SPRING AT LAST

Lori's earlier post showed the whole central valley was in bloom by the first week of March. Indiana is not California. Our weeping cherry tree is the harbinger of Spring around our house in Indiana. This picture was taken yesterday and the bloom is only a couple days old.

Another, less pleasant, Springtime phenomenon is a Cold. Connie has one now. I suppose I'm next.

I've also started my bicycle riding. I did two 18-milers last week. This week I did one 18-miler and one 26-miler (against the wind!).

Jaye

LADIES MAN

Being the handsome brother includes certain burdens—such as attending girls' birthday parties. Notice the expression on Ron's face. Does he look like a deer caught in headlights?

Another interesting feature of most of these old pictures is the sober expressions. Subjects were obviously not told to "smile for the camera". Actually, I think more interesting photos were the result.

Jaye Gibbs

LOVEABLE BABIES

Well, most of you are ready to move on to the next generation (next after those who are the subject of most pictures in previous posts). So here come the baby pix.

The baby picture on top is Ron. The original has the date "4-19" in pencil on the backside. So, I believe this was taken when Ron was four months old. He was always the handsome one.

The picture at the bottom is Jaye, of course. I was always distinguishable by my prominent ears. I took a lot of kidding for that. But it evidently didn't keep me from being happy. I understand Barack Obama is sesitive about his large ears, too. He gets a "pass" for that, but it never worked for me.

Daniel James Braden

This picture was taken just a few weeks ago at Dodge Ridge Ski Resort @ Pincrest, Ca. Though not yet Daniel's favorite sport, he is getting better at it. Daniel and Mom like to ski on the same slopes together...nothing too hard!
Daniel is 14 years old now and almost done with his freshman year of HS at Turlock Christian HS. He really likes school and has earned 4.0 during the first semester. His favorite class is Bible where they are learning about Old Testament characters. He has easily made a lot of new and very good friends at TC.
One of the things he loves to do most is airsofting. In case you are not familiar with this "sport," it is played with rifles and pistols that have a plastic bb's. He hosts most of the "parties" at our house! If anyone hears of a college scholarship in airsofting, please let Daniel know!
He is a great big brother to Eli. He took up where Nick left off after moving away to college and Daniel takes great, loving (sometimes fighting) care of "Little Bro." They have some really fun times together as Daniel is not too grown up yet to be a great playmate.
Daniel has got a great sense of humor! He keeps us laughing all the time with how quickly he comes up with a memorable one-liner. It would not be a complete posting about Daniel without giving you a few of his sayings. They will give a glimpse of his silly side!

I'll do it! This is used whenever he is asked to do anything around the home. Using his military tone, of course.
Lets do this thang! Used often to encourage his little brother to go do something he's been told to do.
Do it Lad! Used to encourage little bro to get up and do what he's been told by the parents.
Kids these days. Should be said under your breath whenever little bro is acting up.
Shebagnii! This is used whenever something amazing has happened.
Good Nations! Use this whenever something happens unexpectedly.
Great Gallader! Same as above
Good Gravy! Same as above
Arriba Derchi! This is when you rapidly enter a room as in "hello!"
Her name was mom...Used whenever Mom enters a room or you enter the room mom is in. Done in a RAP tone and is used to give honor to his mom.
What's this nonsense? Use this often when someone is telling you something.
Fart snacker! Annoying names for little bro.
Bad twerp! Same as above
You Lelly Liver! Same as above. Use mean tone.
I see how it is. Use this when you are being "educated" about something.

That's just a small sampling of his many sayings! There are many more. We've been keeping a list! He's a fun guy to have around!

Over-and-out!

Lori

You Can Use Your Own Account

If you create your own Google account, you can post under your own account on the Gibbs Family Blog. Any time you want to comment on the blog, you have the opportunity to create your own account by entering your e-mail address and a password. Once you create your own account, sign in on the Gibbs Family Blog using Jaye's email and password as you usually have been doing. Go to Blog settings once you sign in and go to "permissions" tab. You will see a place to "invite" other authors to the blog. Type in your own e-mail address and you will get an invitation to the blog from Jaye via e-mail. Click on the link in the e-mail and you will be given the opportunity to "accept" the invitation. You can now log into the blog using your own name and password, and any posting you add will be under your own name instead of always under Jaye's name. I'm sure this is as clear as mud! Hope to hear from all of you!
Gretchen

Hello from Gretchen

Hello Dear Ones! Jaye, what a wonderful job you've done with the blog site! I love the old pictures. I wish we could all get together more often, and I miss talking with all of you! Let me get you up-to-date on our lives here in Richmond...
Mike is working at Ivy Tech as a manager for Work Force Development. I think it has been an adjustment to work for someone else other than himself. He likes the people he is working with, and I think for the most part he likes the content of the work. He still shuttles back and forth between there and the print shop. Thank God for Ronda and Mom and Dad! I don't know what we would do without them! Ronda has really become quite a business woman, even though she is now juggling motherhood of two wonderful boys with her responsibilities at Augustin. Mike and I miss the fun things that went on at Charlie's Coffee Bar, but are quite thankful that episode in our lives is over! Most of all, we miss the music, and we are hoping that Mike will get the chance to sing some soon. I know he misses it, and I certainly miss hearing him. I still think he is one of the best singers in the business!

Beth is attending I.U. East full time, and working full time at Dillards. She is living in her own apartment and I think is enjoying it very much. She has plans to go to med school, so she is taking a heavy load of science and other courses. I am very proud of the way she juggles all her responsibilities and is very driven to excell in school. Even though she is living in her own apartment now, we seem to see her more than we did when she lived with us. I think independence suits her.

Paul is going part-time to Ivy Tech (one of the perks of Mike being employed there is free tuition for our kids!) and he is also working full-time at Dillards. He is thinking about going to IUPUI in Indy next year to become an athletic trainer. He works out every day, and, as Brad calls him, is a "monster." Paul is the only one left at home with us, and despite his propensity for leaving lights on, dishes various places, and wet towels laying around, we love having him with us. He also plays drums in a band with his big brother.

Brad and his girlfriend, Amy, are buying one of Mom and Dad's rental properties on contract. They have been together several years now, and we definitely consider Amy part of our family. Brad works at the print shop and has become quite an asset there. His true love, though, is his music. He writes music and sings and plays guitar in a band that includes Paul as the drummer. He is also working with Mike to start a DJ company (with all the equipment that was left over when Charlie's closed). Amy just got a new job here in town (she had been commuting to Indy and the surrounding area for her other job) and is now the manager of the Bath and Body Works in Richmond. She has only been in training one week, but seems to like it.

I feel very fortunate to have all three of my children living so close, but I know that will not last forever. I will just enjoy it while I can. Actually, Mike and I have made the transition to a couple with grown children quite easily. Maybe it has been easier with all of our children living close, but I also think we have both been so busy with other things, that we don't have time to miss being involved in marching band, drumline, volleyball, softball, soccer, sleep overs, shuttling people everywhere, and fighting siblings. We will always have fond memories of those times!

I have been working 4 weeks at a new position as Director of Nursing at Richmond State Hospital. It is something quite different from anything I have ever done, but I am liking the challenge so far. The nursing department is about 300 in number (that includes the RNs, LPNs, and psychiatric attendants), which is half of the entire workforce at the hospital. I have wonderful people to work with. I got to go to Baltimore for 3 days last week for a conference with the rest of the leadership team; they are a fun group (I laughed until I thought my sides would split!) and very committed to improving the treatment for our patients. Part of the agreement for my coming to work there was that I be able to do some clinical work as an advanced practice nurse, as I am not willing to give up direct patient care. I would probably still be working at Dunn Center if the administration had not decided to close the primary health care clinic that I was running (not making enough money). But I was obviously supposed to be doing something else, and I really feel I have found a new mission that will result in improving patient care on a much larger scale. The really gratifying thing for me is that the leadership at the hospital value my expertise, and support changes that I am making already. The people that I directly supervise are also very accepting so far, and are buying in to the vision the leadership and I have for a patient-centered treatment team. In the past week, I've been able to finally start getting out on the units to talk to patients and staff, and that is enjoyable. It is a little overwhelming at times to be responsible for so many people across 3 shifts, but each week is getting a little better. I don't know whether I will ever get used to having to terminate anyone's employment, and unfortunately have had to do that 5 times in the 4 weeks I've been there, but I'm sure every new manager inherits problems that need to be taken care of.

Well, I've been a little long-winded (as usual). Mike and I send our love to all of you. We will try to keep eveyone posted on what's new with our branch of this special family. We miss Grandma and think of her often. I personally feel very fortunate to be a member of this family and feel very blessed to have known and loved Grandpa and Grandma. Hope to hear from all of you soon!

Gretchen

WHO WERE THEM GIBBS'S?

The couple at the top are Carl and Lula (Tate) Gibbs. I think it's a wedding picture. A family Bible records their wedding date as April 28, 1907. To those who remember their grandfather, Carl Gibbs, the most striking fact is that, "he's got hair!" Grandpa was bald from age 21 we're told. The Tate Family History records that the Tates were always well dressed. Certainly this picture of the couple shows them to be "ragged out".

The picture on the bottom shows Carl Gibbs with his family. My mother identified the people, although she couldn't name them. No one is left alive who can tell us their names. Carl has by this time become bald, as his brother mischieviously wants to immortalize on film. Obviously they aren't a wealthy family but their good humor makes the scene endearing. Grandpa Carl was always a "laid-back dude". As a child I just naturally felt at ease with him. I smile as I write this, remembering him.
Jaye Gibbs

CARL GIBBS FAMILY

This picture taken in 1936 shows the entire family of Carl and Lula Gibbs. Standing from left to right are Violet, Verda, Drema and DeZell. Seated are Lula and Carl, my grandparents. Violet and Verda were twins. Childhood pictures of Dad show that he and Drema were playmates. Dad also hunted rabbits and squirrels and fished as a youth. The purpose, he said, was not sport but to help put food on the table. Grandpa was a conductor on the Inter-Urban, a trolly line that ran from Richmond to Indianapolis. That line was closed down and Grandpa became a tennant farmer.
Jaye Gibbs

LET THE LESSONS BEGIN

Because Dad was usually the photographer we don't see as many pictures of him as we'd like. This is an especially touching picture, taken in 1938, that shows our young father with his two sons. We were to be the only children of DeZell and Dorothy. The economic depression of 1929-1930 had left a lasting impression on them. "Don't bite off more than you can chew."
Jaye Gibbs

ALMOND BLOSSOM TIME

This is how the entire valley of central California looked about 3 weeks ago! February and March are bloom season. This pix was taken from the roof of our house. The bees were out there in great numbers cross-polinating the trees! There are beekeepers who are hired to truck in their bees sometimes from as far away as our neighboring states to place their bees on ranches for the purpose of pollinating. This is very important to the nut development. The bees get the pollen on their feet and carry it to another row of trees which has a different variety of almonds in it's row. This is called cross-pollenating. Now the trees have dropped the petals and due to the pollination a few weeks before, there is a little nutlet forming at the center of what was a white flower. They will grow and grow until around August when they are harvested.

Lori Braden

HONEYMOONERS?

I think this could be Mom and Dad's wedding picture. They were married June 8, 1929. They would either be about to depart for the wedding ceremony or would be just returning.

Rev. Arthur Love married them in the parsonage of the Methodist church in Centerville, Indiana. I can just visualize them driving from the Cox farm off Penville Road, to Centerville on US 40, in Dad's Davis Roadster. He was very proud of that car. Mom said they went by themselves, and the marriage certificate shows the pastor's wife as witness.

They spent their wedding night at the Cox home. Dad said Mom's brothers had sewn fine copper wire into the newlyweds' bedsheets. They had connected the wire to a generator from a hand-cranked telephone. Dad could hear them in the next room giggling and cranking that generator. He had already discovered their plot and disconnected the wire.

Jaye Gibbs

OLD PICTURES

These pictures were taken by DeZell. I found them recently while my brother and I were cleaning up Mom's house to get it ready to sell.

The picture at the top, taken in 1938, is a portrait of my paternal grandparents, Carl and Lula Gibbs. They must have been 55 and 50 years old, respectively. Carl's birtdate was Dec. 9, 1883. Lula's Feb 7, 1888.

The picture at the bottom, taken in 1935, is of my maternal grandparents Martin and Maude Cox. They would have been ages 50 and 48 at the time. Martin's birthdate was July 25, 1885. Maude's was Feb. 9, 1887.

Jaye Gibbs

WELCOME TO GIBBSVILLE

I hope this blog will help keep us involved with each other. There are no rules. Just tell us what's going on in your life. 

It's Spring 2008 and you know how that affects a young man's fancy. This picture was taken in 1926 or thereabout and the lovers are DeZell Gibbs and Dortha Cox.  I thought it might be appropriate to acknowledge our authors in this inaugural posting.

There aren't many of our family left of the generation in this picture—only one. That would be Aunt Martha who is celebrating her 90th birthday on Sunday, Mar. 30th. Her children are throwing a party for her at the Leland Residence (previously the Leland Hotel) and we're all invited.  If you can't make it, send a card Her address is 11090 Arba Pike; Fountain City, IN 47341.

Well, I hope you will each and all post your own stories on the blog. I look forward to reading about you.

Jaye Gibbs