He Lives!

"But Mary stood without the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept. she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre,

"And seeth two angels white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

"And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because the have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him.

"And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thoug? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if though have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master."

I can only imagine how sad she must have felt when she had come to the tomb, only to find it empty. Her Lord had been taken. I can also imagine the joy she felt when she realized the He who had been dead, was there, standing before her.

Today, the tomb is still empty. My Savior lives! He lives! HE LIVES!!

5 Unimportant Things

We all have those simple pleasures in life that make us happy, even though they are of no consequence. So I thought that I would blog about 5 of those unimportant things.

Good Music
There is nothing that can happen that good music can't get me through. I am a sucker for a good song in almost any genre.

Holding Hands
There is something about that outward display of the inward commitment. It gives me goosebumps when my sweetie holds my hand...still!

Wind Chimes
Wind chimes are a way of allowing the music in nature to be heard. I love hearing the wind singing from my front porch. It makes me smile...even if it keeps my visitors up at night. Sing wind, sing!

Freshly cut grass
It smells so good. I guess it reminds me of summertime: playing in the backyard and picnics and running through sprinklers. It is a great smell! Do you think they have that fragrance in a perfume? Hmmm...maybe not a good idea.

Baseball games
Maybe it's because I grew up playing but I love watching and playing this sport. It's a game where the individual is so important to the team. It doesn't matter your age, your gender, your skill level. Have fun! 

Play ball!!

I think that the Lord gives me these simple pleasures so that I can be happy, EVERYDAY!

What are yours?

Dear Laundry

Dear Laundry,

I don't know how to tell you this, so I will just say it. I wish that you would go away. I don't want to be your friend anymore.

For one thing, you are so needy! Everytime I turn around, there you are. I think that you are stalking me...I see you around EVERY corner in my house. You are in my bathroom, in my children's rooms. Sometimes I even find you trying to hide yourself under the couch! Oh, and what were you doing under my bed the other day! That is just WRONG!!

Even when I do pay attention to you, clean you up, brighten you up, fold you and put you away, it is never enough. There have been times when it has been required an EXTREME MAKEOVER to leave you looking your best.  But you still come begging for my attention.

Last week I decided that I was going to ignore you. I guess I thought that you would take a hint. I was wrong. There you were, with all your dirty laundry, multiplying by the minute. So this week I gave you all my attention, everyday I spent hours with you. Finally you are hardly visible in my house. But I know you are there and in due time you will be calling my name.

Consider this your eviction notice. Find yourself another friend! Don't come back until you are all cleaned up and ready to be put away!!

Adios!

Stef

Harmless Soda...

A little background first.

My mom had a brother who like to bite our ears whenever he would see us. It wasn't just a nibble either. He always had stubble on his face that felt like sandpaper. And he would try and tickle our side...but it was always too hard and so it would hurt. Then he would bite our ears. He did this so that we would remember him always. Well, it worked, but those memories of him are not fond. In fact I am still scared to hug him when I see him.

One year we had a family reunion in the mountains. We brought along our pop-up camper and we thought we were so cool. Luckily we got there before Uncle Ear Biter did and we were able to set up camp. When he finally arrived, me, my two younger sisters and younger brother locked ourselves in the camper.

We were NOT coming out! EVER!!

So there we sat...for hours. We had games to play and food to eat, pop to drink. We were happy.

UNTIL.... my brother had to go to the bathroom.

What were we going to do? He was afraid to go alone, and there was no way ANY of us girls were leaving the camper. So we came up with the only logical idea.

We dumped out the pop can and handed over his convenient latrine. We covered our eyes and he filled up the can. We placed it on the counter near the door so that when someone bigger than us came, they could throw it away.

About 30 minutes later, Dad comes into the camper, curious what we were doing. He walked it, grabbed the can of what he thought was soda and, you guessed it, took a drink. He immediately spit it out and we immediately busted up laughing.

"Do you know what that was, Dad?" we asked.

"Salt water?" he responded.

Lesson of the day, DO NOT allow your brother to bite your kids ears, or you may someday be drinking their urine.

YUCK!!!

So I Married a Deaf Man II: Labor Pains

About 11 years ago, Brian and I found out we were pregnant. Of course we were so excited and couldn't wait for the day. Brian, understandably, wanted to be there every step of the way and be as much a part of it as he could. He and I discussed what he wanted to do when it was time to have the baby: did he want an interpreter there? I had thought yes, but apparently he felt that he wanted the whole experience to be more personal and private. I was a little surprised, but accepted it was what he wanted.

When the big (and I mean I was huge) day arrived, I had no idea what labor felt like. I started having contractions about 7am and they progressively got worse, then uncomfortable, then painful, then annoying, then I would have to stop walking. I thought they were Braxton Hix. I was sure I was going to be late and here it was a week early.

I had put in a full day of interpreting at an elementary school, ran errands, taught 2 sign language classes, and attended a bridal shower. It wasn't until I climbed the 3 flights of stairs up to our apartment and the dam broke my water broke that I realized the baby was coming. I tell you all this so you will understand my level of pain and exhaustion at this point.

Off we go to the hospital. The contractions are closer together now and they are really intense. We get there, I am leaking, nauseous, contracting, tired, a little weepy, and half naked.

My husband, on the other hand, decides he is curious. He starts asking the nurse:

"What is that for?"
"Is that the contractions?"
"Is that the baby's heart rate?"

Now remember, my husband is deaf. So HOW was he asking the nurse these question?

Me! That's how.

I did that for about 5 minutes before I finally looked at him and signed:

"Look. If you need an interpreter, let's have them call one. But I can't be that interpreter. I am a little distracted here, pushing out our baby, thank you very much. So either call an interpreter, find a pen and paper, or STOP ASKING QUESTIONS!!

He stopped asking questions and sat down on the couch near the bed.

And so it went for the next 3 babies. We would get to the hospital, he would get curious, I would remind him that birthing mothers don't interpret, and he stop.

With the birth of our 5th baby, I was done with labor interpreting. I arranged for an interpreter and I must say....this time around was so much nicer. Brian was much more involved, he was much more aware of everything that was going on, WAY more attentive to my needs. Good thing too because the epidural didn't work...

"Ouch!" is all I could say.

And someone, not me, was there to interpret it.

Tough Luck!

I have a pimple on my nose
And everyday it grows and grows

A dab of makeup hides it well
So no-one else can really tell

I'll put that theory to the test
Kids' brutal honesty is the best

"Good morning, crew! How was your sleep?"
One glance at me and she starts to weep.

"Oh mommy, mommy, does it hurt?
The volcano nose is sure to burst."

"Lemme see. Come over here.
I'm so short. It's just not fair."

"I know just how to fix it mom!
A neon band aide, I'll get you one."

"I'll kiss it mom, so you won't cry."
 Hiding it, why do I try?

"That's much better. What do you think?"
"I think you're right," I say with a wink.

Forget the pimple on my nose,
It is my heart that grows and grows.

For these children only see,
The mommy they love. That's ME!!

Tough luck, pimple!!

You know you're a mom....

You know you are a mom when you hear:

"Watch me throw up so I don't get scared."

"You did my homework wrong."

"How did the baby get in your belly?"

"Today is opposite day so when you say no, you really mean yes..."

"Mommy, I am scared. Can I sleep in your bed?"

"Baby is poopy...and it is falling onto the floor."

"What's for dinner? I hate that!!"

"When I grow up, I am going to marry you!"

"What is an adult video store?"

"When I am a mom, I'm not going to make my kids clean their rooms!!!"

"I love you more than anyone else in the whole world."

You know you're a mom when you say:

"Did you wipe good?"

"Don't eat the dog food!"

"You are really smelly. You need a bath."

"Yes, you have to put clothes on to go to the store."

"No, boys can't have babies."

"That just means Ruffus (the dog) likes Katy (friend's dog), A LOT!"

"Dont suck your boogers!"

"No, you can't wear undies that are peed in."

"Your butt cheeks are so cute!!"

"1......2......2 1/2...."