A Month in the Life

Here in my little Michigan town, we've continued to have major storms for the last few days. I don't mind the rain, thunder or lightening. I just like to switch it up every once in awhile, so I can appreciate whatever the weather isn't doing. Today it was B-E-A-U-TIFUL! It was about 80 degrees, not very humid, and clear blue skies for most of the day. We spent our Saturday visiting Family and lounging around our apartment.

I figured today I'd share my passion with you all today. I may have mentioned this in an earlier blog. I don't recall. I have an excitement for most things Sign Language. Our church holds an annual Deaf revival. This was the first year we were allowed to hold it in our newly remodeled sanctuary. It is so cool to see the deaf worshiping God, singing, and talking in Tongues. The local faithful deaf suddenly become more animated than ever. The entire service is signed (with voicing for the hearing folks) from start to finish. There are signing choirs and our favorite deaf preachers. The video below is a very small taste of what we do. These are some of my hearing friends in the community. I would've recorded longer but I suddenly realized my group was next.


A couple important things to know about Deaf culture to keep in mind. Its considered just fine to call the "hearing impaired" deaf or hard of hearing. Sign Language is rather blunt. Sign Language is NOT the same from city to city or even country. It's just like any spoken language. It has different accents from place to place and is signed completely different country to country. The deaf community doesn't see being deaf a disability. They say if a hearing person walked into a room they would have the disability. The thing I've learned that keeps me involved with the community is that most deaf children who are born into hearing families aren't able to communicate with them. The hearing parents view themselves as failures for producing deaf children, so most of the time they never learn Sign Language or teach their brilliant deaf child(ren). I can only imagine how painful that could be to want to share with the people I love most that I love them or I'm hungry and not having a way to tell my family. I think I'll stop talking on that note. I could talk for hours on the things I've learned since I've been signing. Just remember: You could be their salt and light......



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Labels: Deaf Revival and Music., Sign Language

What do I have to say about today? Not a whole lot due to not much to do. I resigned up for my favorite temp agency. I paid bills and went to Wal-mart. I needed some new t-shirts and was ordering a picture for a friend of mine. Andy came home and went to Bennigan's Restaurant for dinner. Around 7, we went to see The Incredible Hulk, which was great by the way. It was a rather blah day. That's that.

Chat tomorrow. God Bless!


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I have some crazy news for those of you out there reading this. After all my hard work during training, the bank fired me this afternoon. They stated I wasn't learning things fast enough. They were concerned with my pace. They said they were concerned that if I moved on as planned I'd just get buried under the responsibility. They told me I could go home an hour and a half early. They would count my drawer down under duel control. They said they were impressed with my social skills. I didn't say anything. I couldn't trust my voice. I stood up and the controlled tears came. I'm not an emotional type usually. I went and got my things and left.

As soon as I got outside and got in my car, I let everything go. I was sobbing. I called my mom and let her know. I've been chatting with her everyday about the progress. I cried when I called Andy, my husband, to tell him. I called my sister, Karly, who just got a similar job at a different bank. I cried the rest of the way home.



By faith, I have a job appreciates all of me. It is a custom built to fit all my skills. I am free to go to church. I got this job a week to two weeks ago. The pay is above minimum wage and the benefits are great. It is close to my house and will let me go to school next semester. I am very blessed. I am celebrating this victory.
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Blogger wasn't working last night. I gave trying to load anything after an hour. So, I putting last night's blog and tonight's blog together.

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Today has been the best. I had my first real day off in weeks. It was so relaxing. I sat around for most of the day. At one point I looked up and it was 1:30. I went to the movie store. I rented a movie to take my mind off the doing the dishes. I hate doing the dishes.

I feel like my little apartment is finally looking clean. I enjoy when our apartment is picked up. My life feels less cluttered.

Today went so well I don't want it to end. Work has been pretty stressful. I feel like my trainer and bosses are trying to pressure me to learn everything quicker. I've never been good at having limited time to get everything. I'm like the last flower to show it colors after Spring has passed. I'm still beautiful but need to take my time to show the spectrum of my colors. They are wanting me to be independent on my window by noon tomorrow. I have until Friday to to get everything down. Next Monday, I am supposed to start go to the branch I'll be working at. I'm trying to be more confident than I feel. Fake it until you make it, right?


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

Today has been the best. I had my first real day off in weeks. It was so relaxing. I sat around for most of the day. At one point I looked up and it was 1:30. I went to the movie store. I rented a movie to take my mind off the doing the dishes. I hate doing the dishes.

I feel like my little apartment is finally looking clean. I enjoy when our apartment is picked up. My life feels less cluttered.

Today went so well I don't want it to end. Work has been pretty stressful. I feel like my trainer and bosses are trying to pressure me to learn everything quicker. I've never been good at having limited time to get everything. I'm like the last flower to show it colors after Spring has passed. I'm still beautiful but need to take my time to show the spectrum of my colors. They are wanting me to be independent on my window by noon tomorrow. I have until Friday to to get everything down. Next Monday, I am supposed to start go to the branch I'll be working at. I'm trying to be more confident than I feel. Fake it until you make it, right?


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

Hey everyone!
I was having a really hard time loading my blog last night. Here is a shortened version.


My point in loading this picture is we need to be careful what we internalize from those around us. The message that plays inside ourselves is very important. We need to let our self talk to be uplifting. It'll change everything around us because we'll see ourselves differently.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

Sundays are often a day of introspection and questioning for me. So allow me to share....

I woke up thinking about how I can better serve the "church." I decided the best way is not to pretend anymore the building I frequent for meetings is THE church. I need to be the church. I know a few situations in my life right now where this would be helpful. I can't let the world pass me by without trying to be a beacon. I need to be informed on what's happening around be so I can be the proverbial salt and light.

I got to church building this morning on time. (My being on time is not a strength for me. I work on it all the the time.) I was sooo proud of myself. Everyone was headed their separate directions. Sunday school is my time to become a better sign language interpreter. I sit in class attempting to explain effectively what is being said. We've been studying a seminary level book about God's one-ness. Now it's nearly impossible to interpret things you don't understand, so I didn't try today (or any Sunday morning we study this book). (I know, I know Mom. If I don't try, I don't know if I could have succeeded.) I sat there when my phone started ringing, embarrassed I found it in my purse. I saw the call was from my Father-in-Law. I suddenly remembered I was supposed to pick him up this morning for church. I felt a wave of guilt rush over me for forgetting the man. Luckily, he lives close to the church. I left to go get him and came back. I was amazed I could be so spacey! I got through the rest of service just fine.

My afternoon felt kind of like the 50 yard dashes we used to have back in Elementary. I did laundry. I made lunch for Andy and me. I picked up around our little living space. We've been using it a hotel without the daily cleaning service: run in, shower, change, eat, sleep, run out. I knew I needed to study for work because I said I would. I took a nap instead.

I went to church to night (with my Father-in-law in tow) where I finally got to interpret songs and offering. During preaching, I helped out in the nursery. We played games, eat snacks, raced each other, and ordered queso from the imaginary drive-through window.

I took my father-in-law home and turned on the Christian radio station. They have a talk show every Sunday night focused for young adults and teens. The topic was a about sexuality. I got to questioning, why in Pentecost we make this issue is often made taboo? If the topic is ignored, it doesn't disappear. (Disclaimer: This is only in my experience. I don't want to offend anyone.) It just like procrastination doesn't get things done. Enough on that. It is late. Sweet dreams to all.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!