SURVIVOR:Michigan...

I survived the weekend. The Lord has been SO GOOD TO ME! Thank You, Jesus!

FRIDAY: we celebrated Joshua's birthday by taking his 2 buddies, my husband, Tony and Ashley...out to play mini-golf. It was a fun, but HOT ...time. I bought water for everyone all around.

After that, we went to Chinese Buffet for Josh's birthday dinner. One friend cried, telling me he doesn't like Chinese food. I told him "I am sorry (but honestly I really wasn't that sorry), but if the birthday boy wants Chinese, we will have Chinese. Come on inside and see what they have, ok?" So we all piled into the restaurant, placed our drink orders and went up to the buffet. Josh's other friend's eyes were wide open and he pretty much wanted to try everything, even crab ragoon (but said no thanks to frog legs...). I was impressed. The friend who didn't like Chinese food found chicken fingers so that's pretty much all he ate. That made him happy.

We went back home and let the boys play, watch movies, whatever they wanted. They conked out around 11 or so, I think.

Honey, what time did they go to bed? I was just too tired.

SATURDAY...what did I do on Saturday? I did not feed the boys breakfast, but their moms came just in time to pick them up. The friend, whom I shall call "Idonotlikechinesefood!" ---his mom and I are close friends. Well, when I decided to treat Tony, Joshua and myself to breakfast, Tony saw "Idonotlikechinesefood!" and his mom sitting at one of the booths. (Thanks, Honey! Good eye!) SO we pretty much "gate-crashed" their table. We joined them and the mom and I chatted away. Josh and "Idonotlikechinesefood!" pretty much roughed around but enjoyed their brunch, and Tony pretty much focused on his breakfast. Was it good, honey?

We said our "see you laters" and "call you laters" and off Tony, Josh and I went to Pamida's. We bought Joshua's gift...a new PS2. WOW! (I'm now realizing I need to get a memory card for him...). My body was screaming for a nap, but alas, my time was pretty much full of stuff to do!

Later in the afternoon, Tony and I dropped Joshua off at Grandma's and then we headed to a post-wedding reception. That was very lovely. I saw many of my deaf friends from years past...but it is funny to watch Tony try to introduce me as his wife, not knowing they already know me (and yes, Tony did see me say hi and hug all of 'em in a "long-time-no-see" manner)....

The reception was very lovely. I did try to dance the hustle, but noticed my hips, knees and my feet were not cooperating. And I'm almost 40. Huh.

Tony and I left later, and headed home. I was up late late late that night online with a friend who had a heavy burden. So we talked and I pretty much listened. We both realized it was late, so I closed our IM with a prayer I thought would be short, but it was actually long. Thank you, Lord. I know we both needed that prayer. And yes the prayer was answered.

SUNDAY...okay, in the morning, before we went to church, Tony checked his emails. Well, he got an email from his boss saying, sorry, we've not been making money...we would need to lay off & suspend your job. And closed with an apology. I was glad Tony didn't get all despondent or anything. We try to look at it in a positive way. A friend, John, shared that when a door closes, a window opens. Thank you, John.

We went to our church as usual. Pastor Paul shared his experiences in Africa the past couple weeks---it was a big culture shock for him, but he has come to appreciate the opportunity to go on this mission trip with another man. He delivered a wonderful sermon. Check it out on www.peopleplace.org. Tony taught Sunday School, and then we took off for Flint. We went to Cornerstone Deaf Church...and had a wonderful time. Like Brenda posted in her blog today, it was just wonderful. I know Brenda has some shoes to fill but I am excited for her. John, whom I mentioned earlier, is her husband, in case I didn't say that earlier.

We ended up going out to eat after the evening service and got home pretty late. Oh yeah, a longtime member of another deaf church came up to me, and was happy to see me. She said, "wow! you look better as a woman!" HUH???? When was I ever a man before? I checked, nothing new about it. She caught her mistake and we laughed, then she complimented me on my short 'do. Oh yeah, she didn't see me get it chopped off at Deaf Cafe back in May. Yea, yea, I'll post a before/after picture ... eventually. Forgive me.

I was so doggone tired, I went to bed around 11 pm. I crashed and burned and I haven't moved once all night long. But first I was online with a friend who had burdens and I listened while the friend unloaded.

Right now, I'm babysitting "Idonotlikechinesefood!" until 9 pm. His mom will be home at that time, and prayerfully (please pray for me!), I'll be able to share some spiritual things with her. It is very hard being a newly single mom after a rough divorce and being a mom to a child that has some emotional scars. But as I look at "Idonotlikechinesefood!" I see a strong boy who is well mannered and very kind with me. He is very sweet with me.

I took him to McD's to pick up a happy meal for him. He asked me how I could hear the intercom. I told him I have a hearing aid that lets me hear. If I can't understand anything they say, I hear them say something then I merely say, I can't hear very good so I'll be pulling up to place my order...and it always work! ""Idonotlikechinesefood!" was very impressed.

I have been feeling the Lord guiding me and directing me as I have found myself being a listener to a few women the past week with their burdens. Some were dealing with a difficult divorce and learning to be a single mom. Some feeling disconnected. Some with just everyday things. Anything. But as I listened to each of them, I have perhaps experienced something like that or just like that. I may have not been married before --- but the break up was as hard as a divorce because of having to LEAVE the house with almost nothing on my back and getting out of a bad situation. I truly felt God has given me a calling. I have been feeling the sense of peace and God's hand on my shoulder each time...and every time, I and those who have talked with me have come away feeling at peace or ... blessed.

Okay, more blessings:

Remember I shared that John said: When a door closes, a window opens?
I got an urgent phone call from my dad. There was a phone call for Tony!
So I IM'd Tony ... it went something like this:

"Remember what John said about a door closing and a window opening?"
"yeah, the door's been closed and the window is slowing cracking open"
"Well, the window's been flung wide open! Look out the window"
"Huh?"
"GM called and wants to set up an interview appt with you!" and I gave him the number, etc. So see, God is at work! And I warned him---PRAY before you call!!!!

Now... they need PROOF or documentation of Tony's deafness. So he has a caseworker from MichWorks! He also need to have his caseworker write WHY Tony needs an interpreter. And, thirdly, he himself need to write a letter WHY he needs an interpreter.

My imagination runs wild sometimes. I gave Tony a suggestion what his version should say explaining his need for an ASL interpreter:

Dear Sir/Madame, I cannot hear voices. I cannot read lips. I can hear sign language. I can read sign language. Therefore, I need an ASL interpreter.

So hey, he's pretty much 3/4th out the window....

And I survived the weekend. Survivor: Michigan. Did I win the game? Hey, where's my million dollars?

*UPDATE: "Idonotlikechinesefood!" went to Chinese buffet again, with his mom this time, and declared, "I love it here!" So now he shall be called, "Ilovechinesefoodnow!"

July 10, 2000

On this date 8 years ago, my son was born at around 10:15 pm on a Monday evening.

I did not know if I was having a boy or girl for about 8 months. The doctor saw no reason for an ultrasound. But, deep inside, my guts told me it was a boy. I had focused on choosing boy names.

When Joshua was born, as they placed him on my belly, I only saw the back. I demanded them to tell me if it was a boy or girl. The doctor was startled and lifted the baby's leg. "It's a boy".

(Kind of made me think of someone checking newborn puppies' sex)

Joshua David Wayne...
Joshua was picked from the bible, meaning bold/brave. And because it also means Jesus.
David was named after my stepdad, David, who is currently called Opa by his many grandchildren. Also named after his uncle David, who is his daddy's brother.
Wayne for his great-uncle, on his dad's side.

So, Joshua has 2 middle names. What a mouthful. It gets easier for me to yell if he's in trouble with me and I use his full name, last name included.

I love M*A*S*H. I love to watch their reruns. Many nighttime feedings, I'd be in the living room with Joshua and feeding him. Whenever the theme music came on, Josh would stop eating and listen. As he got older, whatever he was doing, and the theme music came on, he'd stop. When it finished, he'd go back to eating or doing whatever he had been doing. At this age, he continues to stop and listen to the theme music (yes I still watch reruns).

He has grown so big in his 8 years. I am so amazed everyday with his ability to communicate full ASL with my husband Tony, who is deaf, and with his daddy, uncle Dave, and his grandmother, who are all deaf.

Joshua's first language was ASL. Being exposed to a deaf family that consisted of: deaf mom and dad, deaf grandparents, "Grandma and Popo" that lived next door, and a deaf uncle, plus many deaf friends who would visit the uncle that lived next door with the grandparents. Talk about full ASL exposure! Even a deaf dalmatian!

When Joshua's dad and I broke up, we remained friends and continued to grow in our friendship and relationship with the uncle and grandparents.

Joshua was extremely close to Popo. When Popo died a few years go, Joshua was very heartbroken. But as time went by, it got easier for him.

If you came over to my house today, you might find yourself watching Joshua's hands flying so fast. His facial expressions, his body language...it's just amazing. This is amazing for a 8 year old who communicates so well, and can develop ASL concepts if he gives it some thought beforehand. You would be amazed to watch his conversation with his deaf grandma over the VideoPhone. You would be amazed if you watched him conversing with our special friend, TJ, and having the patience with him.

With his involvement in our Deaf Cafe-Flint ministry, we have used him often as a junior stage actor.

Nowadays, he is active in baseball (he has a game tonight), he plays piano really well, and loves to play various video or computer games. He has one "bestest best friend", Seth, whom we gave a new sign name last night. Because Seth LOVES milk, we gave him the sign name Milk.

Tomorrow night, we'll have a small party. Seth has been invited to stay over, and we'll go mini-golfing and have Chinese for dinner. And conclude with ice cream (Josh is not a cake eater, just like me).

Happy Birthday, Joshua. You were my biggest surprise of all, as you are the first boy born in my side of the family. You may have been born 6 weeks early, but you were too big to be a preemie--at 6 lbs and 4 oz. You pushed yourself when your body couldn't keep up...you are the most determined boy I have ever known. And I'm very proud to call you my son. You amaze me every day. God has truly blessed me with you.

This and that...

The temps have been in the low 80's and the evenings maybe high 60's. Last night was really humid but I expected that. I am waiting to hear from the landlord if he has installed the central ac or not. I sort of drove around the building to see where he might have put the pad for it...and I don't see it.

As I cut through a neighbor's yard (gasp!)...my steering wheel froze. So I had to turn off the engine and restart it. Then it was fine. That was a weird moment. I think God was punishing me for going through someone's yard to get to the alley drive. Oh well. Sorry, Lord.

I could share something really scary that happened at work yesterday. I work on the second floor of the library, and there are computers in a circular corral (I believe 8). Well, sometime in the morning a student worker was pulling books from the shelves, looked over and saw this man viewing inappropriate sites online. So he reported it. And our campus police came and took him away. He was arrested for trespassing, among other things. The police also confiscated the computer to do some investigating as it is a very serious crime to peek into sites that involves children. My heart broke as I know it's still an ongoing problem out there. It's good, though, that we recognized this man as a trespasser from years ago, and we had to show him off campus, citing him for trespassing and not to return. Since we recognized him, we were able to quickly take care of this problem. I do have to admit I'm very glad the police took quick action.

This morning, as I walked into work with another worker, we both commented how shocking it was, and how this man dared to think he could get away with trespassing, let alone use the computers! And how did he think he could get away with it, knowing there is absolutely no privacy as it's pretty much an open area and everyone can see everyone.

One thing I need to point out about our computers---you need to be a registered student or if you're an employee of this university, you need to have your own account and password. All computers can't be signed in w/o having an account with the university. How this man managed to get into the computer w/o an account, we have no idea. One speculation was a patron forgot to log out. That, my friends, is not good.

I wish it was Friday already. It's gonna be a long week.