The family of Pierre & Isabelle Gibault of France

As I have been researching a branch of my family tree, I have uncovered some really great information.  I decided that it is time for me to start to share some of the great family history that I have learned along my journey.  Starting with the Gebeau branch of my tree.  The "Gebeau" originates from France and has a very strong history.  On my tree, it comes from my mother's side, whose father was a "Gebeau".

This branch begins with Pierre Gibault and Isabelle Huau De Montaguerre.  Pierre I was born about 1585 in France.  He married Isabelle, who was born about 1585 as well, in France and they bore a son, Pierre Gibault II.  I have not been able to confirm other children of this couple, but given the large families in the 1500's, I would imagine that there were other children born to Pierre I and Isabelle.

Pierre Gibault II was born on February 15, 1613 - which to me is of great importance because February 15th is also the day my own daughter was born.  He was born i Notre Dame, Lusignan, Poiters, France.  Pierre II married on December 31, 1642 in Lusignang, Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine, France.  He married Renee Lorliere.  Renee was born about 1616 in Chavy, Indre, Centre, France and died in about 1714.  They too bore a son, Gabriel Gibault de Poitevin (of Poitevin).  Again - given the times, it is likely that Pierre II and Renee has more children.

NOTE:  The French pronunciation of "Gibault" is Gee-bow. - Listen here: https://translate.google.com/m/translate#fr/en/Gibault

Who are you?

Who are you? Seems like a silly question doesn't it?  Well, to me it's not. For years I have been intrigued by history and learning more about where my family comes from.  It is kind of an obsession of mine.  So when I met my husband, I of course asked him all these questions about his family.  Unfortunately, he couldn't answer a lot of them.

Documenting family history wasn't a priority to his family.  He really didn't even know what his ethnicity was - other than "American".  I decided to embark on a journey - researching HIS family history.  This has been a HUGE project and at many times very difficult.  But at the same time it's been fun.

Recently I renewed my subscription to Ancestry.com and it has open the flood gates for information.  Not only in researching his family, but also in filling in the blanks on my family tree.  I have even gotten my sister started on working on her husband's family tree!  I enjoy teaching other people what I have learned about researching your family roots.  I guess it's just part of me.  

I ordered the new Ancestry DNA testing kit that you cn purchase from Ancestry.  You send away a DNA sample and they analyze it and tell you what ethnicities you are and if you have other relatives who have also sent in their DNA, you could get matched with relatives based on your DNA matches.  I am very curious to find out if what I have always been told is true and if in fact I am Native American as my Grandmother told me 30 years ago.  

I will be sure to share what I learn about myself as I embark on this new chapter in my journey.  

There are so many aspects to genealogy that I have even begun to work on and the list just keeps growing of the things I want to accomplish when it comes to documenting my lineage.  Photos to be scanned, newspaper articles to be located, marriage llicenses, death certificates, birth certificates, property records - I better stop while I am ahead.  

So who do you think you are?

What's ahead for the Cleveland Browns in 2014?

For the last week and a half Cleveland Browns fans have been reeling from the events that unfolded during draft weekend.  First, those of us diehards who dream of the day that we see our beloved team in the playoffs contending for the AFC championship and our first Super Bowl appearance sat with our attention glued to TV's all over the world - waiting to find out who the Browns were going to pick in the 1st round.  First, they trade away our 4th overall pick and move down to the 8th spot -- then we watch helplessly as Sammy Watkins - perhaps the highest profile college WR this year - goes to the Buffalo Bills.  Heartbroken.

Then, our pick comes - and they choose a Cornerback from I don't know what school - Justin Gilbert.  I had never heard of him and neither had my husband.  I had to "Google" him so that I could figure out if it was a decent move or not.  Okay - I can take a little bit of a breath - I think it may have been a really good move for the direction I think the team might be headed.

Now - here we go - our next pick is 26th....are we going to take a quarterback?  If we do - who is going to be?  Johnny Manziel? Teddy Bridgewater?  Maybe Ohio's own, Kenny Guiton from the Ohio State University?  No, maybe it will the next top WR since after all - they had just signed Vince Young a couple of days before the draft - we didn't really need a QB now - we have Hoyer and Tanney - and now Young.  Wooooh wait just a minute - a trade at 22?  That's right, the Browns have just made another trade and moved up 4 spots to the 22nd pick - and I sit there, biting my nails. I really didn't want them to pick Johnny Manziel, but the internet had been all abuzz all day saying that he was going to Cleveland.  Silence fell over the Dawg House Saloon where we were watching the draft as the commissioner walked to the podium. "...And for the 22nd pick of round 1 of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns pick JOHNNY MANZIEL"  Half of the place cheered - the other half booed.  Well, there you have it - the fate of our team hangs in the balance and history repeats itself where the Browns sign an overrated college QB who is too small for the NFL and unless they give him a stellar Offensive Line to protect him, he will probably get killed out there on the field.  Just like Brady Quinn.  Just like Tim Couch.  Just like Brandon Weeden.  All of them amounted to nothing with the Cleveland Browns...and in fact, I still don't think they have much of a career in the NFL.  So what's going to happen?  If the press conference with Coach Pettine is any indication, I might get my wish - keep Manziel at 2nd string, let him learn and develop.  Give him time to grow up before we throw him to the wolves.  Hoyer should be our starter - I think he is going to surprise a lot of people as long as he stays healthy next year.

Not even 24 hours after 1/2 of Browns Nation gets done celebrating our new QB - news breaks of a possible suspension.  Josh Gordon failed another drug test - this time he was smoking the wacky weed. (probably trying to kill the pain of having to play on the same field as Brandon Weeden).  And now, because it's supposedly his 3rd strike - he could be out of the NFL for a year - but wait - the Browns aren't commenting - NFL officials aren't commenting and Gordon's agent is saying the rumors are not true.  So what in the world is going on?  I can't help but partly feel as though it's a conspiracy to make sure that Cleveland can't come out of anything on top.  Do something good for the team, but then knock them back down to reality.  After all - we are the "Mistake by the Lake".  Or are we?

Even though I don't get my mail there anymore and even though the pillow that I lay my head on every night now stays in Tennessee - in fact Nashville - the home of the Tennessee Titans - Cleveland and NE Ohio is home.  Brown & Orange is in my blood.  I can't help but believe that Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine know what the hell they are doing.  I can't help but believe that they have a vision for the future of the Cleveland Browns that WILL bring a winner to Cleveland.

After all....Cleveland is BELIEVELAND!

Drop the Rock

Wow, time sure flies by!  I have been letting life get in the way so much that I didn't even realize that I have posted anything on the blog in a while.  It's sometimes funny how life can just take over and soon all of the hours and days blend together into one long robotic motion.  But even through all of the madness that life has to offer, I still have been trying to take some time for me (if you ask some people I might just be taking too much time for "me")

After I finished "Does the Noise in my Head Bother You?", I decided that I was not going to stop there.  I have a list of over 100 books that I would like to read "someday".  The hard part of being a "reader" is that there is always a new book coming out that looks interesting or looks like something tha tyou want to explore further.  So, you just keep on reading. 

A while back I posted a list of 85 books that I want to read.  That list continues to grow, but I continue to read.  I am now reading a self-help book titled "Drop the Rock".  It is a book written by individuals for individuals who are working a 12 step recovery program.  It is mainly focused around the program of Alchoholics Anonymous, but it is a great read for anyone who is actively working the 12 steps.  This books is completely about Steps 6 & 7 of the 12 steps program.  These steps deal with our character defects and shortcomings and learning how to allow your chosen Higher Power to removed those defects and shortcomings from your life with the belief that it will make you a better person. 

I have said for a very long time that I wish that everyone had the 12 steps in their lives.  This world might be a much better place if they did.  But then I think about the fact that there are the 10 commandements (which aren't really that much different) and the world is a still a crazy, misguided, confusing place.  However, what I do know is that the most caring, genuine people I know are individuals who actively work a 12 step program or live their lives by a certain set of "commandments" that are meant to make their lives, and the lives of those around them, better.

So why does recovery through a 12 step program appear to work?  There are 2 main reasons explained in "Drop the Rock": 1. We surrender ourselves to a Higher Power that we understand; and 2. Recovery gives us daily insight into what we can do to remove what blocks us.    Daily awareness of our character defects is needed so that we can apply principles which are opposite.  If a person works the steps of the recovery program, they are less like to be miserable. 

Here are the principles set forth in all 12 step recovery programs:

Step 1 =  Honesty
Step 2 = Hope
Step 3 = Faith
Step 4 = Courage
Step 5 = Integrity
Step 6 = Willingness
Step 7 = Humility
Step 8 = Brotherly Love
Step 9 = Justice
Step 10 = Perserverance
Step 11 = Spiritual Awareness
Step 12 = Service

We need to stop grasping and holding on to old patterns of behavior, thinking and feeling that are harmful to ourselves and others.  The actual words of step 6 state "Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."  So what in the heck does that mean?  It means that we have to be WILLING to rid ourselves of the shortcomings that hold us back. We need to sit back and take a look at ourselves, who we are, how we behave and how we treat the people around us.  Not just our friends and family, but everyone that we interact with through our daily lives. 

The book explains that when we are studying and trying to put this step into action in our own lives, we have to consider the 7 deadly sins:
1. Pride - excessive belief in one's own abilities
2. Envy - the desire for other's traits, status, abilities or situation
3. Gluttony - consuming more than required
4. Sloth - avoidance of physical or spiritual work
5. Covetousness - desire for material wealth or gain while ignoring the realm of the spiritual.
6. Lust - excessive craving for the pleasures of the body
7. Anger - how were we taught as a child to deal with anger?  Was it healthy?

There is a lot more to Step 6 than what many people who practice a 12 step program are taught or are led to believe.  For many, they are told that you just simply have to be willing - but according to this book - it's a lot more than that.  There is constant action needed on our part.