I am Grateful for ASL

I have found my calling in life!!! granted I found it a few months ago but yesterday night was a confirmation that I have chosen the correct career path. I am currently majoring in deaf studies with an emphasis on interpretation, this degree is an aid to assist me in my attempt to become a nationally certified interpreter for sign language. In order for me to polish my skills and get some hands on experience I go to 'deaf events' or events that happen in the deaf community so I have the chance to sign with the deaf community. I go the first Wednesday of every month to Fudderuckers because a percent of the proceeds goes to the Deaf Charter school here in Vegas.

I went there last night for dinner and some signing time! I always walk away feeling so so happy! When I was there I saw across the room a table of 3 or 4 hearing people but I saw that they used sign, so I went up and introduced myself. Turns out they are ASL I students named William, Maria, Amanda and Eddy they go to the Cheyenne Campus and have a really good teacher who doesn't allow voices in her classroom. They all have the same teacher and were all 3 pretty good at understanding what I was signing and stuff so I was way impressed! Well about 10 or 15 minutes into my conversation a balloon popped right behind me. Anyone who knows me knows how jumpy I am so needless to say I jumped about 10 feet haha. All 4 of them looked astounded at me. Maria sign 'you're hearing?!'

I was so happy and so proud that for 10 or 15 minutes I could trick a few people into thinking I'm deaf!! Granted they were ASL I students so they were no experts, and I have about 5 or 6 more years of study before I can even think about sitting the exam to become nationally certified, and my grammatical structure is absolutely awful, and sometime I am completely completely lost in a signing conversation, and I still a tiny bit terrified to go up and start signing with a random deaf person, and I often freeze up when talking to an actual deaf person but MAN OH MAN I felt so good that all three of them had no idea I was hearing :)

Today, I am grateful for ASL and the fulfillment I find from Signing!!

I am Grateful for Skype

Today Mom, Dad, and I had the opportunity to skype with the girls :)

When we first started talking the girls were a little distracted with their scissors ha so it took a while to get the conversation started haha.

The whole reason the Baker's called was so Mylie could say her talk that she gave in primary last Sunday for us! SHE DID AMAZING!! She's growing up sooo fast! Good Job Mymy :D Here's Mylie showing us her painted toes :) They got a surprise from the INFAMOUS Grandma Sherrie and wanted to show them to us. They're a straw and glasses combo!! bahahaha We were dyin!

There were plenty of silly faces!

I taught Brynlee the sign for surprise, this is how the sign looks. (try to ignore the obnoxiousness of Mr. stash)

This is Brynlee's take lol

Of corse there had to be kissy faces as well!

As we said goodbye i signed 'i love you' to the girls <3

Brynlee was workin soo hard ha

We LOVE our skype dates with the girls :D

Today I'm am Grateful for the happiness, smiles, laugh and love that Mylie and Brynlee (and Jakep and Braden for that matter) bring into my life. I have never been quite the same since April 23rd 2007.