You gotta choose........

I should root for the Broncos.
My state does touch their state.

But I should also root for the Seahawks.
They do have a deaf player on their team.

I will probably root for the Broncos.
Partly because I know the name of their QB.
But mostly because my middle son if rooting for them and that is it.

Hubs and Kobe are rooting for the Seahawks.
They know the players names.

Why must I choose if I don't really care about either of them?
Because we you must choose.
Okay, you don't have to.
But I do.

I do because we make shirts.
Superbowl shirts. Every year.
Every year we celebrate breaking the Sabbath...
...with a shirt.

And so choose I must.
Who are you screaming for?

I thought I would share the links to some of my favorite SB appetizers....
Enjoy:

Comfort Meatballs (Pioneer Woman)

Amber's Salsa (Note: Remember to wash your hands after cutting the jalepenos!)

One Hundred Thousand Calorie Bars  (I know this, because I have counted every calorie....on my midsections.)

Plus the good old 7 layer dip that eveyone knows about.

Enjoy your weekend!

And go TEAM!

Church what????

In case you didn't know this already, boys are gross.

G-R-O-S-S_!!!!

They do gross things. They talk about gross things. That make weird noises.....on purpose....in a specific direction...on purpose.

Why is this? Really. Why? I don't think I will ever understand this.

Well, as we were driving home from church two weeks ago, Brody let one fly. This is way too common. I think there is something about being in an enclosed space with a lot of uplifted people that brings the gas out of my children. 

Okay, so Brody lets loose. Kobe sniffs...gross...and says, "Oh my gosh! You just let a Church Fart!!"

Huh? What the heck is a Church Fart?

"A Church Fart is the worst kind of fart. Haven't you ever walked into a room at church after someone has cut the cheese? It stinks. Real bad. But oddly smells the same...every time.That, is a Church Fart. And Brody just did a Church Fart."

There, now don't you feel enlightened?

G-R-O-S-S

Man's Best Friend

So glad I didn't listen when Hubs said a stuffed dog was too girly of a toy for my 5 year old.

Pshaw...

"Now take a deep breath and hold it"

So yesterday I had 7 huors to waste and $1000 to throw away, so I thought I would head on over to the Emergency Room.

(Don't worry. They couldn't figure out what was wrong, so it was obviously all in my head, right? Great!)

While there, they decided they needed to take some blood and put in an IV. I'm not sure the draw-er knew exactly what he was doing because in the end, there was blood oozing down my arm and a puddle of it on the floor. He did, however, get the five viles of blood that he needed. Never mind me as I bleed out over here.

About 3 minutes after that I started to feel super light headed, woozy and I believe I was seeing little white dots. It was at this moment they informed me that I was going to head over to x-ray.

Okay, I thought. At least I will be lying down.

Wrong.

They wheel me in and the x-ray room and the man, after adjusting the machine tells me to stand up.

I'm feeling panicked.

"I want you to hold on to these handles and pull yourself really close to the machine," he instructed.

Handles? Okay, I may be able to maki it. As I stood up, the small cricles I had bneen seeing were now becoming bigger and bigger.

"Now, take 2 deep breaths," he said.

What? I can't handle breathing deeply.  Sheesh. Maybe I can do this. Just focus. As I did this, my head started to spin, and my stomach started to turn.

"Okay, now take one big breath and hold it."

Ack! A deep breath? Who are you, my torturer? Wow, everything is turning black.

"I think I am going to pass-out," I informed him.

Then suddenly I was on a tropical beach. And I was there for like three hours. The sun was shining. The weather was perfect. The water was warm. Like really warm. And it was running down my legs.

Wait a second. I don't think that is water.

"Stefanie! Stefanie!!"

I opened my eyes, and I was on the floor with about 6 other people. All of them looking at me with concern in their eyes.

I look over and there is yet another puddle of my bodily fluid.

"I think I just peed my pants."

So, not only was I able to spend half of next month's earnings, I also was able to completely humiliate myself so that I would have something to blog about.

All for you, my friends. All for you!

So I Married a Deaf Man: He's a good guy

My husband is deaf. Duh, right. He has been since he was 2 years old.

He is a God loving man, one who strives daily to live a Christlike life. He doesn't kill people, as far as I know. He doesn't steal.. He shows charity to those around him. He sets a good example for his children. He is a good husband. He attends his church meetings every week. He walks the walk and talks the talk...er...signs the signs? ...whatever.

So you can imagine how I felt when my mother-in-law told me that some woman at her church informed her that her son, my Hubs, would get his hearing back when he accepted Christ.

Excuse me? What was that?

If that was the case, then he would have been able to hear a long time ago. Long before he met me. And yet, he is still deaf. Imagine that.

Look, I know that God can do anything. He can move mountains. He can part the waters. He can calm the storms. And yes, he can even make the deaf hear. If that is his will, that can happen.

But what if Hubs being deaf IS God's will? What if there are children of God that can only be reached by Deaf Hubs? God could have stopped him from losing his hearing. But he didn't. And it is amazing to watch God work through my Deaf husband in a way that no hearing man could.

It reminds me a little of this story found in John 9:1-3:

"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

"And his disciples asked him, saying, 'Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'

"Jesus answered, 'Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

So, yes, Hubs is Deaf. Not because he made a big sin in his youth, though I am sure he did. And it's not because he is not good or righteous enough, because he is. Maybe, just maybe, God needs Hubs to do his work among his other Deaf children.

And if there comes a time, when God decides he needs Hubs to hear, then it will happen. And the glory will be to God because of his works...not Hubs'.

That Deaf Guy Comics

In case your were looking for a great comic strip about a deaf guy and an interpreting wife, check this one out.

That Deaf Guy

No, I didn't write it. But it is a fun read.

But some of you will be happy to know that I am one step closer to publishing my book......I am just a little nervous that no-one will want to read it.

Sigh.

Until then, enjoy the comics.

Thoughts on marriage

"Keeran is so lucky. He got to have two Christmases," my 9 year old told me.

"Two Christmases? How did he get that?" I asked.

"One with his mom and one with his dad. That is so lucky!" he repeated.

I thought for a minute.

"Having two Christmases is pretty lucky. But think about every other day of his life. He has to live apart from one of his parents all the time. And only see his dad on the weekends. That would be so hard, don't you think?" I asked.

He thought for a minute.

"Why don't people, when they get married, sign a contract that says they won't ever get divorced?" He was serious in his answer and to him, it seemed that this was the logical answer.

Isn't this what society sees marriage as... a simple contract between two people who love each other enough to give their word that they will spend this life together? And yet the divorce rate has never been as high as it is now. Never.

Doesn't marriage mean more?

I say to that question, yes!

You see, when Hubs and I got married, we didn't just make a contract with each other. We made a covenant, or a sacred promise, with God. We promised God that we would always love each other. We promised we would weather the storms or life. We would rely on Him to help us through whatever life would bring our way. And in return, He promised to bless our marriage.

Marriage can be hard. Rewarding, yes. But at times it is really, really hard. But what isn't hard? For every person who lives on this planet, there will be hard times, things we have to overcome, trials we have to go through. Heartbreak. Pain. Loss. You name it. 

But I can't imagine facing that alone. Wouldn't want to. That's why I chose to get married. 

Every marriage goes through a "mourning" stage when the happily ever after wears off and you are left with the Handsome Prince who farts, leaves his whiskers on the counter, his socks on the floor, and dirty juice cups in the car. No-one is perfect. None of us are.

So what! Move on,. Get over it. And love him anyway. Figure out what that looks like to HIM. What that feels like, to HIM. What that means to HIM. And when hard times come, rely on the Lord.

That's what marriage is. Caring. Supporting. Counseling. Playing. Listening. Loving.

Yes, my son. Marriage is more than just a contract. As long as you make it that.


* I understand that there are circumstances where divorce IS the only answer. I don't mean to offend anyone. Just felt I needed to write this post. 

The mind of a four year old boy....

I came down the stairs, dressed and ready for work.

"Are you wearing that?" my four year old asked with a disgusted look on his face.

"Yes I am, why?" I answered, feeling a little self-conscious.

"Mom," ...deep sigh...."you are going to be so embarrassed."

"Why is that?" I asked, while inspecting my vest for food or other unwanteds.

"Because it's pink!"

So I Married a Deaf Man: Flooring

"You know what I think we should do?" he asked.

"Sell our children and buy a small island?" What? Don't tell me you haven't ever considered..... nevermind. "What should we do?" I ask.

"We should take out all the carpet in our house and put down hardwood."

"Are you kidding me?? You couldn't pay me to put hard floors in my house!"  Mmmmm...okay. On second thought, maybe you could pay me, but only then.

Don't get me wrong. Having wood floors would look really classy. And it seems it would be easier to clean. Stain resistant. Pet smell resistant. There are many many pluses.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because we have five children." He sometimes forgets. "And those five children are not quiet. They play... loudly. They play with each other... loudly.  They play with friends...loudly. They play the piano,.the trumpet, the violin, the recorder, everything...loudly. Sometimes they are quiet...when they are sleeping. That's about it."

He just looked at me, smiled and said, "And the problem is...."

Sigh.....

He could use a lesson or two....

Were you an egg-er? 
I was never an egger. More of a T.P-er myself.

But the number one rule for pranking another person is to NOT GET CAUGHT. I mean what is the point of doing something like that if you are going to be seen doing it? Duh.

I don't think that Justin Beiber ever learned that rule. I mean who eggs their own neighbor with 20 eggs in broad daylight while everyone is awake?

He needs to take a lesson from the person who egged our house a few months ago.

I suspect they did it at night while everyone was asleep. They were aiming for my kids open windows. Lucky for my boys, the vandals needed a little target practice.

Unlucky for us, we didn't realized we had been egged until about 1pm...you know, after the eggs had time to fry in the hot sun on the front of my house.

Don't know if you knew this, but cooked egg does not easily come off stucco.

On the bright side, there has been an influx birds in our neighborhood so it's all good.  

Books!!

Remember last year when I didn't really write very much on my blog?

Yeah, well, I was reading. Actually, I was working. But while I was working, I was reading. For whatever reason, I was able to read some really great, fun books. I thought I would share them with you....because I am a giver.

Hands Of My Father: A Hearing Boy, His Deaf Parents and The Language of Love. I really liked this book a lot. It is rich with cultural information and a great perspective of what it was like growing up with Deaf parents. LOVED this book!

Dragon's Keep This was a fun read. For young adults.

29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life  This book came highly recommended. I started it, but it didn't hold my attention so after trying to finish it, I decided to stop. It was alright.

Unbroken Yeah, I think everyone has already read this book. But if you haven't, IT IS A MUST! An amazing story of survival in so many different ways. Favorite book of the year.

Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant  I couldn't put these books down. The last one wasn't my favorite, but worth finishing the series. To me it was a combination of Hunger Games and The Giver. It's coming out in movie form later this year I believe. So hurry and read them.

The Joy Luck Club I really enjoyed this book. I kept getting the characters confused but the stories were fascinating.

The Beyonders Series  All three of them. It is a fun, adventurous tale that my kids will love! I would recommend it for young readers and parents alike.

American Sniper This is Chris Kyle's story. Of course we know that he was killed last year. So sad. But this guy was amazing. Great read. Lots of swear words though.

A Tale Dark and Grimm  This was probably my second favorite books this year. Takes Hansel and Gretel's story and expounds on it. There is death. There is magic. There is adventure. I recommend it. Fun and quick.

Death Be Not Proud  Mehhh. This book was super disorganized and depressing. Would not recommend it. At. All.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane  A fun tale. I liked it.

The False Princess  Fun read about a princess who found out she was never a princess and her adventure finding the magic within her.

Lone Survivor An amazing true story about Marcus Luttrell. I won't watch the movie because it is rated R, but the story is amazing. The language got worse as the book went on. If you can overlook that, then it is a great read.

My Story by Elizabeth Smart  Fascinating story. I loved hearing how she drew strength from her family, even though they were not physically with her. It's a tough one to read.

The United States vs. Santa Claus An exaggerated yet humorous tale of how the political system in our country can destroy something as meaningful as Santa. It is a little crude at times, but most of it is amazing.

The Uglies Series I liked the first two books more than the last. But also one that I had to finish because I just needed to know how it all ended. I didn't read the last book...The Extras. I was done.

Allerednic This was an interesting read although the last few chapter bothered me. But still overall, a good book.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty This book was so short! Like 10 pages maybe. But I want to watch the movie and couldn't do it until I read the book. Done!

Miracles and Massacres  Fascinating untold stories from America's history. I am not done with this book, but will be soon.

So what books do you recommend? I'm always looking for a good book to read. Do share!

Funny?

Funny how sleeping with your mouth open with the heater on will cause your upper lip to go numb and look like you have permanent lip liner on. A deep, dark red lip liner. Very attractive. And hot.  It matches the dry mouth nicely.

Funny how when people say the heat of a jalapeno is mostly in the seeds, they are right. Mostly that would be The Pioneer Woman. She says that all the time.

Funny how some people with chapped lips feel the need to test out the seeds to the jalapeno. 

Funny how there is just some pain that you can't describe, no matter how hard you try. Sometimes, there are no words.

That really wasn't funny.

Funny how no matter how many times you wash your hands after handling said jalapeno, the burn somehow secretly stays on your fingers and escapes into every crevice that finger touches.

And I do mean EVERY crevice. The burning is deep, and hot, and painful and surprisingly long lasting.

Somethings really aren't that funny.

This was one of those things

It's how I knew....

I had a dream last night that I let my 9 year old drive a truck that was not his

After he wrecked it into a cement wall, we left the scene. I mean, how was I going to explain to people that I let my 9 year old drive a car....that was not mine.

But then again how was I going to explain the red paint that somehow went from the stolen truck to the front of my van...which was in no way involved in the accident.

I was so overcome with guilt that I drove back and admitted to the teenager who owned the truck what had happened.

He was TOTALLY fine with it and said he hated the truck anyway.


This was my first clue that I am sick....

All you east coast friends, stay warm!!