It’s a little after 9 pm here — I’m exhausted and coming down with a cold so I’ll make this short.

Just writing to share what a lovely day I had with my son’s family today.  It’s grandson Tyler’s birthday (he’s 8) and so we went to a theme partk called Legoland, in Carlsbad, CA (near San Diego).  I went along so I could drive a couple of the boys (they brought a 2 of Tyler’s friends and cousin Nathan whose family lives with me), and so I could take care of my precious baby granddaughter while everybody went on rides:)

We had a good time.  The sky was mostly overcast, the high was about 71 (around LA it was in the 90′s), and so that made it a great day to enjoy the park. I forgot my camera but my son had the camcorder.

Here is a picture of Tyler and his baby sister.  She was a week or two old when this was taken.  Tyler is a very sweet, kind boy who loves to have fun:)

That’s all for now, I’m gong to bed to fight this cold:)  My university mentor is coming 2nd period (my worst bunch, and he knows it) to watch me teach.

Love and blessings to all,
Gerrie

Some of you know I teach Sign Language at a high school, and that I was an ASL interpreter before that.  What you may not know (Jimmish does), is that I love music to the point where it touches and feeds my soul.  Worship music feeds me and helps me get my head on straight.  Signing to worship music takes it even a few steps further.  The double whammy of auditory input from music and visual or kinesthetic input from sign hits me emotionally on several levels (including spiritually) like nothing else can (Spanish songs come close).

One of my students told me about a website called D-Pan.  They have made several music videos including sign language, combining video elements just like on MTV with signing.  The impact is indescribable.  The original purpose was to bring music to the deaf in a way they can enjoy it more than they already do.  And yes, many, many deaf people love music!

Very few deaf people are completely deaf.  Most of them have at least SOME hearing, and with earphones turned up real loud, or the drum/base line at maximum, they can enjoy music…  of course they can’t usually hear the lyrics but they enjoy the music in their own way, and many love to dance to music.

Enter D-Pan:  Deaf Performing Artists’ Network.  The driving force behind this is a young deaf man born hearing to two musical parents, who lost his hearing at age 1, and has always loved music.  With him is a successful producer who shares his passion for bringing music and creative videos to the deaf.  They have made videos of several popular songs (not worship songs).

I don’t know how to put a video in a blog, but you can find their videos on You Tube.  Just search for DPan.   Their rendition of the Christina Aguilera song “Beautiful” is innovative, and “Waiting for the World to Change” by John Mayer is fun and touching at the same time.  You can also see some of them by going to the website http://www.dpan.com.

There are several more; my student loaned me the DVD she bought, and tonight i bought my own.  I showed these above two videos to my classes and they loved them.

Watch them, and let me know what you think.  Notice the “other” parts besides the signing, of “Waiting for the World to Change.”  It’s a message the deaf community has wished for a long time that the hearing community would get.

Even the Bible has a scripture about not putting a stumbling block in front of the blind or talk about the deaf behind their back.

Love to all,
Gerrie