ASL and sign name

I have a long standing interest and desire to learn ASL (American Sign Language) and have had classes and etc. BUT the only way to really learn a language is to use it. Frequently. So, at my new job there is a little boy who is Deaf. I have certainly been making use of all I know, and also looking up words fairly frequently. I was so proud the other day to ask him his lunch choices and be confident of his understanding (fish, chicken, or peanut butter and jelly sandwich). Well, the only way to "say" your name is to spell it. UNLESS you have a "sign name". Sign names can only be given by a deaf person, and are yours alone (for example two people named Joe would not necessarily have the same sign name). Our main teacher is an "S" shaken along the side of your head like curly hair (yeah, she has curly hair. Her name is Suzanne). A girl with a C name has chubby cheeks, so her sign name is a "C" by your cheek. I used to have one, a "P" at the shoulder (Proctor, and shoulder is medical sign, since I was studying speech therapy). I didn't like it though, and it was mostly just for a class I was taking (like I was Alejandra in Spanish class). Well, this week, my little boy was talking to his interpreter and told her my name is "Z". She confirmed that was what he meant for my name, since my name is Deena, and there is not a "z" in it. He grinned and signed back "Yes, she's 'Z'". So I'm "Z". With the rest of my name it sounds like Xena (warrior princess), and that's cool too. yo.

Borrowed children

The other Sunday, I was teaching about Hannah and Samuel. She asked God fervently for a son, and promised she would give him to serve in the temple if God would give her the child. He lived with her only until he was weaned, then she took him to the temple to live. My lesson text said this: “Therefore have I lent him to the Lord;” Hannah said, “as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.” One of the discussion points was that really God just "lends" us our children, until they are needed to do His work.

A friend and I were discussing surrogate mothers. She asked if I could carry a baby for her. (hypothetically, I believe.) I said "yes". As I thought about it though, I realized that I would expect to have access to this child that I had carried. That I would feel more of a bond with this child than with the one she has now. That I would expect her to be... not just a good mother, but a good mother "like me", for this child. Then I realized that God trusts us to take care of His children. That He would have every right to expect me, not just to be a good mother the way I see it, but to be a mother like He would want me to be.

Now that I have had these revelations, though, I am scared. Why does God want me to know this?? How am I supposed to use this information? Obviously as a reminder to be a godly mother, as much as is humanly possible. But what if He's preparing me? "My" kids aren't mine. If He has need of them, I want them to be ready. They are both Christians, my brother and sister (they think that's funny, that Mommy is their sister); what if it would serve God for one of them to suffer? to die? Life is full of the unexpected. I hope that I will remember to praise God no matter how He uses my children (or me, or my husband). I am thankful for my church family and the support I've seen for others who have needed it. I know they would be there for me as well. And my family and in-law family. I'm not feeling morose, lest anyone be worried, just contemplative. (sorry if I've gotten anyone else down.) Thanks for reading.

Mother's job

Our job as mothers and fathers is to raise our children to eventually not need us. Right? So why do all the little steps they take away from us hurt so much??

Tomorrow, C goes for his first sleep-away church camp. Sunday through Friday. I've got him all packed with toiletries, clothes, Bible, swim trunks. I've got him psyched up and excited and ready to go. Now I just have to let him go. Just. Just. Just let him go. That's all. I'm ready. I think.

This August, my baby girl starts school. I am definitely conflicted on this one. But I just have to let her go. She's ready. She can write her alphabet, mostly. Can read some words. She's psyched up, excited and ready to go. I'll just have to let her go. Just. Just. Let. Her. Go. Ugh.

On WAY FM today, there was a commercial for their college finder website. They said "It's never too early to think about college." So I thought about it. Yikes. I have to let them go for THAT long?? No, wait. I have to let them go forever? Just let them go???? At least I have a while to think about this one.

I wonder how hard it was for God to let Jesus become man. Knowing that he would suffer and die. Knowing the hardships of human life, the sins that He would bear for people who definitely don't deserve it. To just let Him go. Knowing that was the best thing to do. Knowing that it was the right thing to do. Knowing He would come back, someday. Surely it was hard to let go.

Unearthed Treasure

We were cleaning out closets on Saturday. We keep all sorts of things, and I came across some cards from when my daughter was born. She just turned 5. Well, inside one of the greeting cards was a gift card from J.C. Penny's for $25. So I called then number on the back, knowing that a 5 year old gift card wasn't going to be any good. Sure enough, it had a zero balance, from non-use fees over time. BUT J.C. Penny's operator offered to send me a new $25 gift card!! I couldn't believe it! I haven't gotten it in the mail yet, but what awesome customer service!!!!

Teenager Repellant

Created by Train Horn

Weird. Unfortunately, I can hear it, too. So, I guess I won't be loitering wherever these are in use either. :D